Rancho Cordova is ready for the big leagues — but they just have to make sure fans can find a parking spot first. The California city is moving forward with plans for a massive new 10,000-seat arena that could become a sports and entertainment destination for the Sacramento region. But before fans can pack the … Read more
California has recorded its first West Nile virus death of 2026 after a Kings County resident died from the mosquito-borne illness, health officials announced Monday. The death comes weeks after Kings County confirmed its first human case of the 2026 season, according to KGPW. California has recorded its first West Nile virus death of 2026 … Read more
As screens compete for families’ attention, children’s development is paying the price, top federal health officials warn. Early and excessive screen time can trigger severe neurocognitive delays in young children, impacting attention spans, memory and language skills, according to Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, interim surgeon general and principal deputy assistant secretary of health. “Parents are now fighting for attention … Read more
Lunch with a side of rabid bat. A rabid bat landed on a munching family’s table at a San Diego deli restaurant this past Sunday. San Diego public health officials are concerned, issuing a notice to anyone who may have touched the bat that they are at risk of contracting rabies and should call their … Read more
What the cluck. Federal health officials have issued a warning about chicken products due to potentially dangerous mislabeling concerns. The problematic poultry, sold at Kroger stores in nine states, is the subject of a public health alert courtesy of the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The agency issued the alert … Read more
West Nile virus has been found in two dead crows in Southern California, officials have revealed — a week after it was detected in a mosquito. San Diego County officials detected the new cases in Rolando in East County and near Encanto and North Bay Terraces. While there are no current human cases reported, the … Read more
Four Californians exposed to the deadly Hantavirus outbreak linked to a Dutch cruise ship are being monitored by health officials — including one Bay Area resident who was aboard the vessel before the illness was detected. The California Department of Public Health said on Monday it is coordinating with the CDC and local health officials after … Read more
A wave of low-cost Chinese-made vehicles is slipping into California through Mexico — and the issue is now headed to Washington. Panicked lawmakers are working to close a border loophole that allows cars that would never clear US safety or emissions standards to enter the country. In Mexican border cities like Tijuana’s Zona Río, dealerships … Read more
It’s not a typo. One Wisconsin county has set one area’s speed limit to 17.3 mph in an eye-catching move aimed at jolting drivers into staying alert in a high-traffic work zone. Officials in Outagamie County rolled out the unusual speed limit at the county’s Recycling and Solid Waste center, where a constant flow of trucks, contractors and … Read more
NEW YORK — Book bans and attempted bans remain at record highs, according to the American Library Association. And efforts to have titles removed have never been more coordinated or politicized. The ALA on Monday issued its annual list of the books most challenged at the country’s libraries, part of the association’s State of America’s Libraries Report. … Read more
Nearly 500 ducks are looking for a new place to waddle after the owner of a troubled Southern California rescue sanctuary surrendered the birds following allegations of overcrowding and improper care — with local animal activists squawking that the situation is more “fowl” than the public knows, and that officials should have acted sooner. The … Read more
St. Maarten’s government is warning travelers about a scam that charges tourists to process an immigration form that should be free. The fake third-party website is charging a fee to help visitors complete the island’s embarkation/disembarkation form, a form that’s required for entry. However, there are no fees associated with the real form, the St. … Read more
A bill introduced in Florida takes aim at paper drinking straws and stirrers at food businesses and restaurants. Senate Bill 958 was introduced Dec. 18 — with an identical House bill, HB 2195, introduced Dec. 26 — to limit what cities and counties can do to regulate drinking straws and stirrers. “Many businesses and communities in this … Read more
A disbanded court in Las Vegas may come back to life as lawmakers look to attract visitors to revive Sin City tourism. Vegas tourism has continued to decline, with just over 3 million visitors in September, an 8.8% decrease from the same time last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCA). A specialized court was … Read more
No need for vacationers to test the waters here, experts say. The summer vacation spoiler has been identified as a cyanobacterial bloom — and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) says that the crummy blue-green conditions seem to be spreading, with a noticeable increase in scale since Aug. 2. Currently, the contamination stretches … Read more
A new federal estimate shows a rise in prediabetes among American adolescents, a finding that is spurring concerns about the health of U.S. children — and the way Trump administration health officials are conducting research and communicating information, experts said. In 2023, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. youngsters ages 12 to 17 had prediabetes, according … Read more
US agriculture officials are warning that ground beef sold at Whole Foods markets nationwide may be contaminated with potentially dangerous E. coli bacteria. Officials issued a public health alert for 1-pound, vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher beef, produced on May 22 and May 23, by NPC Processing Inc., of Shelburne, Vermont. The products have use-by dates of … Read more
Public health officials in Washington state are warning residents that a Canadian traveler who was contagious with measles visited several public locations, including the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The person, whose vaccination status is unknown, traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and visited multiple public locations in Renton, Bellevue, Seattle, Everett and Woodinville between April 30 and May 3, according to … Read more
Federal health officials plan to cut funding to the Women’s Health Initiative, effectively shuttering one of the largest and longest studies of women’s health ever carried out. Its findings changed medical practice and helped shape clinical guidelines, preventing tens of thousands of cases of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. The study, which began in the … Read more
The City of Canals is fed up with tourists who treat Venice like a pit stop — and now it’s slapping them with another toll for treating the floating city like a food court. Starting Friday, day-trippers who “eat and flee” — a phrase officials use for tourists who pack their lunch, snap a selfie … Read more