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Ian Wilmut dies at 79; British scientist led team that cloned Dolly the sheep

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

Associated PressLONDON — Ian Wilmut, the cloning pioneer whose work was critical to the creation of Dolly the Sheep in 1996, has died at age 79.The University of Edinburgh in Scotland said Wilmut died Sunday after a long illness with Parkinson’s disease.Wilmut set off a global discussion about the ethics of cloning when he announced that his team at the university’s Roslin Institute for animal biosciences had cloned a lamb using the nucleus of a cell from an adult sheep.Initially referred to as “6LL3” in the academic paper describing the work, the lamb was later named Dolly, after the singer Dolly Parton. The lamb’s cloning was the first time scientists were able to coax a mature adult cell into behaving like a cell from a newly fertilized embryo in order to create a genetically identical animal.While Dolly’s creation was heralded as a revolution by some scientists, it unnerved many, with critics calling such experiments unethical.Dolly, the first cloned sheep, is ...

Suspect in East Bay freeway shooting arrested in Oakley

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

A man suspected of firing a gun at another vehicle on a Bay Area freeway in June remained in custody early Monday after his arrest last week by the California Highway Patrol.Detectives and a police dog unit with the CHP found the 57-year-old man in Oakley. The CHP announced his arrest late Friday afternoon.He was in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility early Monday in lieu of $1.35 million bail, according to jail records. The CHP said they arrested the man on suspicion of attempted murder, shooting at a vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm.The arrest stemmed from a shooting near the Interstate 580 interchange with state Highway 24. The CHP said a single bullet from the gunfire hit the victim’s car but not a person.Detectives identified the suspect during the investigation and arrested him without incident Sept. 7 about 5:35 p.m. The CHP said that detectives found a concealed loaded pistol on the man when they arrested him.Please check ba...

Was 49ers’ sublime opener vs. Steelers their best ever?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

Keep in mind that the Pittsburgh Steelers are supposed to be pretty good.And were at home.Yet after Christian McCaffrey broke loose on a 65-yard run on the first drive of the second half, the game was over. The 49ers won 30-7 Sunday, and it didn’t seem that close.“We got kicked in the teeth in a lot of areas,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.I can think of only one season-opening win that compares — a 44-14 win over the Los Angeles Raiders at Candlestick Park to open the 1994 season.Which also happens to be the last season that ended with the 49ers hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.The Raiders, in what turned out to be their last season in Los Angeles before returning to Oakland, were regarded as AFC contenders because of their speed and athleticism. They may as well have been running in quicksand against the 49ers.In that game, the 49ers took control in the second half as opposed to taking apart the Steelers in the first half. The 49ers led 23-14, and won going a...

Mountain West power ratings: Fresno State, Wyoming remain on top as Air Force, SJSU rise

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

Last season, the Hotline published weekly ‘Best of the West’ power ratings that considered not only Pac-12 teams but those in the Mountain West and Brigham Young. The exercise was so popular that we’re adding a MW-specific column to our array of offerings this season.Through two weeks, the Mountain West has the following records:— 4-12 against FBS opponents— 2-12 against Power Five opponents (Fresno State over Purdue and Wyoming over Texas Tech)— 2-0 against Group of Five opponents— 0-7 against the Pac-12How quickly things change. Just two years ago, the Mountain West was feasting on the Pac-12.Now, let’s plunge into the power ratings …1. Fresno State (2-0)Last week: 1Result: beat Eastern Washington 34-31Next up: at Arizona StateComment: EWU was a trap game all the way, sandwiched between trips to Purdue and ASU. Victory in any form was all that mattered, even if it required overtime.2. Wyoming (2-0)Last week: 2Result: beat Portland State 31-17Nex...

Oktoberfest 2023: 7 best festivals in the U.S.A., from Leavenworth to Stowe

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

Munich’s Oktoberfest is the stuff of legend, with nearly 6 million people heading to the Bavarian city each year to join the revelry, enjoy the carnival rides and eat and drink tasty fare and sudsy steins. But you don’t have to fly to Germany to enjoy the fun.The Bay Area alone hosts more than two dozen Oktoberfest gatherings, and there are epic festivals held from coast to coast. Viator, the tickets, tours and attractions wing of Tripadvisor, recently ranked seven of the biggest festivals in the U.S., complete with oompah bands, lederhosen and plenty of sudsy sipping options.The list includes Fredericksburg, the self-styled “Polka Capital of Texas,” where the Oktoberfest celebration includes five stages of oompah and polka music. In Ohio, Cincinnati’s Zinzinnati fest serves up tens of thousands of Bavarian pretzels and brats plus a dachshund race each year. And in Stowe, Vermont, the party is hosted by Von Trapp Brewing and Trapp Family Lodge, run by t...

San Francisco Fire Department honors 9/11 victims, first responders

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

(KRON) -- The San Francisco Fire Department is honoring the victims and first responders who tragically died 22 years ago today during the 9/11 terrorist attacks that shocked the nation. Every year the fire department holds a remembrance ceremony at all SFFD facilities. Fire personnel gathered at their respective station's flagpoles at 6:59 a.m., which is the time the south tower collapsed. A bell was rung three times, signifying the "last alarm" or the end of the last call for the firefighters who responded to the towers. Sailboat stuck at Stinson Beach must be removed today The flag was then lowered to half-staff for a moment of silence at 7 a.m. The names of each of the 343 firefighters and 8 medical personnel who died risking their lives to save others were read aloud. The flags will remain at half-staff for the rest of the day, SFFD said.Mayor London Breed was also in attendance at one of SFFD's 9/11 ceremonies located along the Embarcadero.Photo: Mayor BreedPhoto: Mayor Bre...

Piggly Wiggly owner buying 10 DC-area Harris Teeter stores

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

Harris Teeter owner Kroger will sell 10 D.C.-area Harris Teeter stores to C & Wholesale Grocers, owner of the storied Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain.The move is part of a larger plan to divest hundreds of stores in order to win regulatory approval of Kroger’s planned $24.6 billion merger with Albertsons. But whether that means a return of the Piggly Wiggly brand to the D.C. market remains to be seen.Keene, New Hampshire-based C & Wholesale owns hundreds of Piggly Wiggly and Grand Union supermarkets, as well as wholesale operations and private-label store brands.Albertsons and Kroger will sell a combined 413 stores, as well as distribution centers in 17 states and the District for a total of $1.9 billion.Albertsons, whose foothold in the D.C. market is its ownership of the Safeway grocery store chain, also owns Balducci’s Food Lovers Market, which has three stores in the D.C. area.The list of stores being sold does not include exact locations, but does list 10 Harris Teete...

Music Review: ‘Who’s Next/Life House’ is a dive into The Who’s masterpiece that mostly slipped away

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

“Who’s Next/Life House” — The Who’s massive new box set — dives deep down the archival rabbit hole to shed light on the development of one of the band’s greatest records — and one grandiose idea that (mostly) slipped away.The 10-disc, 155-track collection out Friday shows how Pete Townshend ’s self-described “mad idea” for a science fiction rock opera “Life House” project, which was abandoned and eventually became 1971’s “Who’s Next.” But the sprawling original concept from The Who’s songwriter, lead guitar player and vocalist never left his mind and got refashioned numerous times in various formats over the ensuing half century.At its most basic, Townshend’s original “Life House” concept foresees a future where an autocratic government, in a land ravaged by pollution, enforces a national lockdown where every person is hooked up to an entertainment grid to distract them. Music becomes an inconvenient diversion to the powers that be, while inhabitants se...

A new campaign ad from Poland’s ruling party features Germany’s chancellor in an unfavorable light

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s conservative ruling party unveiled a new campaign ad Monday that portrays German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an unfavorable light, drawing criticism from opposition parties and ridicule on social media. The Law and Justice party has governed Poland since 2015 and is seeking to keep power in parliamentary elections on Oct. 15. In the new campaign spot, party leader and Poland’s most powerful politician, Jaroslaw Kaczynski pretends to reject a call from Scholz suggesting that Poland should raise the retirement age, which is one of the topics of a voter referendum taking place at the same time as the election. The question targets the main opposition party, Civic Platform and its leader, Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister and European Union president who was on good terms with Germany. Civic Platform raised the retirement age before Law and Justice came to power. In the spot, Kaczynski speaks into a cellphone and tells a pretend employe...

Damar Hamlin not expected to play in the Bills’ opener against the Jets, AP source says

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:00:17 GMT

Damar Hamlin is not expected to play in a regular-season game for the first time since going into cardiac arrest when the Buffalo Bills open the season against the New York Jets on Monday night, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.Hamlin, a safety who had to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati in January, played in three exhibition games this summer. He made the Bills’ roster as a backup after many doubted he would be able to take the field again.The decision not to activate him on Monday night, which was first reported by ESPN and NFL Network, was confirmed to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Bills did not announce their lineup ahead of the game.Listed as the fourth safety on Buffalo’s depth chart, Hamlin is expected to be limited to mostly special teams roles barring injuries to starters Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde.Hamlin, 25, was starting in place of an injured Hyde against the Bengals on Jan. 2 when his heart stopped as a result of com...