Here’s a look at ricin, a natural, highly toxic compound that is extracted from castor beans. Facts About one million tons of castor beans are processed every year, worldwide. Ricin is part of the waste from the beans when castor oil is made. Sometimes this is called “mash.” Less than a pinpoint can kill a
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Here’s a look at obesity in the United States. A person is considered to be obese when he or she reaches a particular body mass index (BMI). Adults with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, while adults with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese. Obesity can increase the risk
Continue ReadingHere’s some background information about Mars exploration. The United States and the Soviet Union are the only two countries to land a spacecraft on Mars. Facts There have been nine successful US Mars landings: Viking 1 and Viking 2 (both 1976), Pathfinder (1997), Spirit and Opportunity (both 2004), Phoenix (2008), Curiosity (2012), InSight (2018) and
Continue ReadingClick here for updates on this story PALATINE, Illinois (WBBM) — Police in Palatine have cited the owner of a pair of dogs that attacked two smaller dogs and killed one of them this week, and have also arrested the woman who was walking the violent dogs at the time. Melenia Teodoro, 22, of Palatine,
Continue Reading Here is a look at autism. Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) incorporates a group of neurodevelopmental disorders causing impaired communication skills and social skills. ASD generally starts before three years of age and lasts a lifetime, but early intervention plays a role in treatment and progress. ASD is about four times more common among
Continue Reading Here’s a look at Zika virus, an illness spread through mosquito bites that can cause birth defects and other neurological defects. Facts Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and CNN Zika virus is a flavivirus, part of the same family as yellow fever, West Nile, chikungunya and dengue fever.
Continue ReadingClick here for updates on this story CHICAGO (WBBM) — A suburban man is out $8,000 – and his story is tale of loneliness, love, pain, and a popular ruse. The man is also not alone. The year 2020 turned out to be a record year for romance scams – costing victims more than $300
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The European Union is mulling fresh sanctions against Belarus in the wake of what EU leaders have described as the state-sanctioned hijacking of a passenger flight over Belarus last Sunday. The EU has already applied a ban on Belarus-registered carriers flying to and from European airports and urged European airlines to avoid Belarus airspace. The
Continue ReadingWhen it comes to support for transgender Americans, respondents to a recent Gallup poll were divided: The majority said they support trans Americans’ right to serve in the military, but most of them also said trans athletes shouldn’t play on teams that align with their gender identity. The divided results come from the polling firm’s
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Larry Summers is urging Washington to tap the brakes on stimulus — or risk unleashing a serious burst of inflation. “I think policy is rather overdoing it,” Summers said in recorded comments at a CoinDesk conference that were released Wednesday. “The sense of serenity and complacency being projected by the economic policymakers, that this is
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Data obtained exclusively by CNN shows that interest in getting vaccinated against Covid-19 increased right after Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced two weeks ago that vaccinated people could take off their masks. “This shows incentives matter,” said Dr. Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine and surgery at
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One of President Joe Biden’s closest advisers is rallying allies to embrace White House proposals that have come under sharp criticism from Republicans as the President moves to put the spotlight back on his sweeping economic agenda Thursday. With a group of Senate Republicans set to unveil their latest infrastructure counter-proposal Thursday morning, Mike Donilon,
Continue ReadingThe Pentagon is in the early stages of planning for the potential evacuation of thousands of Afghan nationals whose work for the US could make them Taliban targets when the American military withdraws from the country, according to four administration officials. The officials emphasized that a formal request to develop a contingency plan has not
Continue Reading Democrats are bracing for a deluge of disinformation in next year’s midterm elections, and they view leading Republicans, not foreign actors or armies of online trolls, as the biggest disinformation threat. After the 2016 election, there were concerns about how Russia, a foreign actor, had used platforms like Facebook and Twitter to set up thousands
Continue Reading Civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging West Virginia’s new anti-trans sports law, arguing that the measure banning transgender girls and women from participating in school sports unconstitutionally “discriminates on the basis of sex and transgender status.” The lawsuit challenges a measure that prohibits transgender girls and women in the state from competing
Continue ReadingInvestigators are working to learn more about the man who shot and killed nine people Wednesday in the latest act of gun violence in the US that has stricken a community. The suspected gunman in the shooting at a San Jose, California, light rail yard has been identified as Sam Cassidy, a law enforcement source
Continue ReadingOver the course of the last week, packages containing suspected cocaine have washed up onto the beaches of Matagorda County, Texas, authorities said. “Please keep in mind that if you ever find a suspicious package on the beach, do not touch or pick up the packages. Packages could contain substances that are harmful if touched.
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After months of pandemic restrictions, a US cruise line is set to sail once again starting next month. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. (You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.) 1. San Jose
Continue Reading In the weeks after the January 6 riot, Capitol Police officers were shell-shocked and wounded, both physically and psychologically. They’d been through hell, they’d sacrificed their bodies, they’d lost colleagues who died as a result of the attack. But in the end they had safeguarded democracy and upheld their primary directive: Secure and protect the
Continue ReadingThe nine victims of a mass shooting in San Jose on Wednesday have been identified as investigators begin the process of figuring out why such a fierce burst of violence happened during the early morning hours at a light rail yard. Eight of the victims, who ranged from ages 29 to 63, were identified Wednesday
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