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MedWatch Digest: CDC recommends antibiotic to prevent STIs — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

For Monday, Oct. 2, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including:CDC recommends antibiotic to prevent STIsThe CDC has made a new recommendation to prevent sexually transmitted infections. For the first time, the health agency says doctors should consider giving the potent antibiotic Doxycycline after sex to stop the spread of some STIs.The approach, dubbed 'Doxy-prep' for short, comes after growing research that the antibiotic effectively prevents bacterial infections from taking root in the days after exposure. The recommendations are open for comment for 45 days. A final version will be drafted next year. Warning about artificial sweetener erythritolThere's a new warning about an artificial sweetener.  A study in the Nature Medicine journal linked the sugar replacement erythritol to severe health risks, including blood clotting, stroke, heart attack and death. Erythritol is used to add bulk or sweeten Stevia, monkfruit and keto-reduced sugar...

Powerball jackpot hits $1.04B: What a winner would actually get

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — The Powerball jackpot has continued rolling, hitting an estimated $1.04 billion ahead of Monday night's drawing. Despite its record-setting size, a winner won't become an instant billionaire. Powerball players have been watching the jackpot grow since mid-July when yet another record jackpot worth $1.08 billion was hit by a ticket sold in California. Without a winner on Monday, the current jackpot could easily surpass that yet-to-be-claimed jackpot.Regardless, the current jackpot stands as the fourth-largest in Powerball history, and the ninth-largest lottery draw game prize in the U.S.Don't be deceived by its massive size: If you beat the overwhelming odds and win the Powerball jackpot, you'll be taking home far less than $1.04 billion. Here's why. Powerball payoutsPowerball jackpot winners can either receive their payout as annuitized payments or a lump sum. The first is represented by the big, flashy number of $1.04 billion, which is the annuity value. The second is t...

Missouri teacher on leave after school discovers OnlyFans account

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

ST. CLAIR, Mo. (NewsNation/KTVI) — Officials at a Missouri high school placed one of its teachers on leave last Wednesday after discovering she was performing pornographic content on the site OnlyFans, according to multiple reports. Brianna Coppage, a 28-year-old English teacher, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that her teaching days at St. Clair High School were likely over and that she'd probably never teach again. She said she knew the risks of joining the website, but did it to supplement her salary, which was only around $42,000 last year, according to CBS News. To Coppage, the risks were worth it as she made an additional $8,000 to $10,000 a month performing on the website, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Girl, 9, may have been abducted at New York state park: authorities “I do not regret joining OnlyFans. I know it can be taboo, or some people may believe that it is shameful, but I don’t think sex work has to be shameful,” Coppage told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “...

Free COVID tests arrive today – but they may look expired

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The United States Postal Service might have a special delivery for you today. The agency started delivering free at-home COVID-19 test kits in mailboxes and at doorsteps Monday.People who ordered their allotment just after the website relaunched last week received tracking information Monday morning alerting them the delivery was on the way. Each package contains four tests plus an information card on the test kits' expiration dates. That's because the tests being sent out may be past their originally designated best-by date. Free at-home COVID tests are back: Here’s how to get yours A package received by a Nexstar employee contained tests by Celltrion DiaTrust with the expiration date Feb. 2, 2023, printed on the packaging. But the Food and Drug Administration says these tests aren't actually expired. The agency has extended expiration dates for at least 19 different brands of COVID tests.A USPS delivery of free at-home COVID tests received on Oct. 2, 2023. (Alix Mar...

Vehicle of suspect in Bell County homicide found abandoned in Leander, suspect at large, BCSO says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for Oct. 2, 2023.BELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The vehicle of a suspect wanted in connection with a homicide in Bell County was found abandoned in Leander last week, the Bell County Sheriff's Office said on social media.Law enforcement believe Ryan Adam Madden may be in Travis, Williamson or Burnet Counties, BCSO said. Furthermore, he is also known to have ties to the Bell County area, more specifically, in Belton.Madden is wanted in connection with the homicide of Cody Wayne Kinslow in Little Flock. BCSO said an arrest warrant for murder was issued, and there was an attempt to arrest Madden on Sept. 28. However, he evaded that arrest attempt, BCSO said.Image of Ryan Adam Madden provided by the Bell County Sheriff's OfficeMadden was last seen driving a white GMC dully pickup, which was found abandoned in Leander, according to BCSO. The truck has the Texas license plate SHN9954.Anyone with any information on Madden's...

Outspoken former Miss Texas will try to unseat longtime incumbent in competitive House race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

DALLAS (Nexstar) — Once outspoken on GOP politics as Miss Texas, Averie Bishop is running as a Democrat in a competitive district northeast of Dallas, aiming to unseat the longtime Rep. Angie Chen Button, R-Richardson. Bishop announced her bid for Texas House District 112 in late August, months before the November filing deadline. In a campaign launch video, the 27-year-old highlighted her upbringing in North Texas and said she never saw people who looked like her in government or in leadership roles.When crowned Miss Texas in 2022, Bishop became the first Asian competitor to take the crown pageant's 85-year history. Her mother emigrated to the United States from the Philippines, and Bishop said she would be the first Filipino American to serve in the Legislature. Currently, she works as a substitute teacher in the northeast Dallas area. Her presumptive opponent has shattered glass ceilings of her own. Button is the only female Asian lawmaker in both the Texas House and Senate. An i...

William County burn ban lifted

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell approved Monday lifting its burn ban for unincorporated areas within the county's jurisdiction. The ban officially lifted at 3:30 p.m., according to an updated county news release.Residents are still advised to exercise caution when it comes to any outdoor burning activity, which must be done under state regulations outlined in Texas Administrative Code Section 30 TAC 111.219.Anyone conducting control burns are advised to contact the local fire department, with county officials noting some departments require a burn permit before a control burn is done. The county also stressed calling and reporting the controlled burn to Williamson County Communications at 512-864-8282, with the office available to provide information on any burning restrictions countywide.

Austin FC, Q2 awarding $150K in grants to 3 Central Texas nonprofits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC and Q2 Holdings, Inc. will provide $150,000 in grants to three different nonprofit organizations as part of the third annual Q-mmunity Gives grant program. Three $50,000 grants will be allocated to three nonprofit organizations that help advance underrepresented communities throughout educational work, job skills and readiness programming and health and wellness initiatives, per a news release.Last year, Central Texas Table of Grace, Latinitas and Literacy Coalition of Central Texas were named recipients of the 2022 grants.“During its first two years, the Q-mmunity Gives grant program has shown its ability to make adirect impact in our community, and as such, it has become a staple in our calendar,” Austin FC President Andy Loughnane said in the release. “We’re grateful to be aligned with Q2 on this key initiative given the importance of directly supporting Austin’s nonprofit community.” PAST COVERAGE: Austin FC, Q2 grant three Austin nonprofits with $50,...

LIST: Annular eclipse events in Central Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Central Texans are in for a treat Oct. 14 as the region bears witness to an annular eclipse, the first of two eclipses poised to pass over the Central Texas region within the next seven months.An annular eclipse happens when the moon passes over the sun but leaves a ring of fire visible around its edges. Austin isn't in the path of totality for this annular eclipse, but approximately 88% of light will be blocked out by it. Solar eclipse takes big stage during ACL weekend two The eclipse will peak at 11:54 a.m., according to the University of Texas in Austin’s Department of Astronomy.To commemorate the natural phenomenon, several communities are slated to celebrate with community events.Junction, Texas will be home to the Texclipse Music Festival Oct. 13-14. The event will feature live music, a chili cook-off, a songwriters competition, community vendors, contests and other elements. The entire natural event will take approximately three hours, but annularity w...

Planned emergency alert test sparks new COVID conspiracy theories

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:15 GMT

A planned test this week of the nationwide Emergency Alert System has led to claims that people’s cellphones will be used to activate nanoparticles introduced into people’s bodies.The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct the test at approximately 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday. One test signal will be sent to radios and televisions using the same familiar audio tone in use since the 1960s, while a test of the newer Wireless Emergency Alerts system will be directed to consumer cellphones.“When a tornado is coming, you need to know your warning system works; you don’t have time for troubleshooting,” John Dooley, with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said in a test announcement. “This annual test gives us confidence in our technology.”Some social media users, however, have been imploring followers to shut off their cellphones on the day of the test because they believe it’s part of a broader conspiracy to exert control over the population.One popular vid...