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MedWatch Digest: Spider venom may treat erectile dysfunction — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

For Friday, Sept. 29, WGN’s Lourdes Duarte has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Exxua approved to treat major depressive disorder The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the medication Exxua to treat major depression. The maker of Exxua says, unlike many anti-depressants, it doesn't have side effects like sexual dysfunction and weight gain.   The FDA had previously rejected the drug's approval twice, reportedly because of some failed studies. But drugmaker Fabre-Kramer Pharmaceuticals says recent studies were conducted on over 5,000 patients and Exxua proved safe. The anti-depressant is expected to be available in pharmacies next year. Spider venom may treat erectile dysfunction A Brazilian spider may hold the key to curing erectile dysfunction. A pharmaceutical company created a synthetic version of the wandering spider's venom and says it's getting good results in early testing. The following testing phase will focus on patients who...

Study finds link between drinking some diet soda during pregnancy and autism in boys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A team of researchers say they have observed a link between autism diagnosis in boys and their mothers drinking at least one diet soda daily or consuming an equivalent amount of the sweetener aspartame during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, according to a new study. In the study, the researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio asked the parents of 235 children with an autism spectrum disorder and 121 children without autism, who were the study’s controls, to complete a retrospective questionnaire about their diet soda and aspartame intake while pregnant or breastfeeding their children. Researchers asked biological mothers, “While you were pregnant or breastfeeding your child, how often did you drink diet drinks containing artificial sweeteners? Please count diet sodas first, such as Diet Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper, and Diet Sprite, and then other diet drinks, such as Crystal Light, sugar-free Kool-Aid, Slim-Fast, and other ‘lite’ drinks."...

Dean's Reviews: 'The Creator'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

Check out Dean's Reviews on the new movie based in the future about a war between humans and high-functioning AI.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

House Republicans advance stopgap bill to avoid government shutdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

House Republicans advanced a GOP-crafted stopgap bill Friday to avoid a government shutdown, clearing a key procedural hurdle even as some hard-line Republicans oppose the legislation.The chamber voted 218-210 along party lines to kick off debate on the continuing resolution (CR) and tee up a final vote expected Friday afternoon.The successful procedural vote marks an incremental win for Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who has worked to coalesce his conference around a short-term funding patch in order to increase the conference’s leverage in funding negotiations with Democrats in the Senate and the White House.McCarthy, however, is not in the clear just yet as a number of conservatives line up against the bill.At least eight House Republicans have said they are against or leaning against the stopgap bill, with some saying they will not support a continuing resolution under any circumstances. With Democrats opposed to the legislation, McCarthy can only afford to lose a handful of...

AFD finds body while responding to west Austin grass fire; Police investigating as homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Firefighters found a body in west Austin while responding to a grass fire Friday morning.The Austin Fire Department said its firefighters had responded to a grass fire at 5:15 a.m. in the 6300 block of Mesa Drive, a residential street in the Northwest Hills area. The Austin Police Department responded to the scene after AFD found the body. -->APD crime scene investigators worked at the scene on Mesa Drive between Edwards Mountain Drive and Cat Mountain Drive. AFD arson investigators also responded to the scene Friday morning.During a press briefing, a sergeant with APD's homicide unit said that the victim's time of death was 5:37 a.m. He also said that investigators are working to identify the body, and did not provide details on what evidence led to the incident becoming a homicide investigation. One resident living in the area told KXAN that his wife smelled smoke when she left home in the morning. Another resident said that they saw the crime scene tape, w...

The lasting legacy of Vikings legend Adam Thielen in Minnesota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

Adam Thielen admitted that it’ll be weird playing against the Vikings this weekend. Why wouldn’t it be?As a native Minnesota with an underdog story that has been covered in ways defenders never could with him, Thielen became synonymous with the Vikings, emerging as the face of the franchise over the past decade.The 33-year-old receiver grew up idolizing Randy Moss. A couple of decades later, kids grew up idolizing him. It was a movie script fit for Hollywood.That’s why the fact that Thielen now plays for the Carolina Panthers still doesn’t make sense. He was supposed to play his entire career with the Vikings, then garner a farewell tour akin to that of Twins legend Joe Mauer of St. Paul, culminating with Thielen watching his No. 19 jersey get raised into the rafters at U.S. Bank Stadium.All of that might still happen. There’s a chance the prodigal son returns home at some point.In the meantime, Thielen will live on in the hearts he touched along the wa...

Walz shifts gears on Minnesota cannabis office leader

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

After a major misfire with his first appointment, Gov. Tim Walz shifted focus Tuesday, Sept. 26, to find a Minnesota marijuana market oversight official who has regulatory experience rather than coming from within the cannabis industry.Walz resumed his search for somebody to lead the new Office of Cannabis Management after initial appointee Erin DuPree resigned soon after she was announced. The DFL governor said his prior interest in having an insider as director was misplaced.Erin DuPree was named the first leader of Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management. Gov. Tim Walz shifted focus Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, to find a Minnesota marijuana market oversight official who has regulatory experience after DuPree resigned soon after she was announced. (Courtesy photo)“We’re going to hire a regulator in this,” Walz said after an event to highlight a new chemistry building at the University of Minnesota. “And I think that was probably the way the focus should have been in the beginning. I...

Vikings at Panthers picks: From 0-2 vs. 0-2 last week to 0-3 vs. 0-3 this week … this is embarrassing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

Members of the Pioneer Press sports staff who cover the Vikings forecast the outcome of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C.:DANE MIZUTANIVikings 27, Panthers 17At some point the Vikings are going to win a game, right? That happens this weekend despite longtime Vikings fan favorite Adam Thielen, now a receiver with the Panthers, doing everything in his power to beat his former team.JOHN SHIPLEYVikings 24, Carolina 22After a battle between 0-2 teams last week against the Chargers, the Vikings are half the card in a battle of 0-3 teams. After this, the Kansas City team that stomped the Bears last week. The Vikings are better than Carolina, right? … Right?CHARLEY WALTERSVikings 24, Panthers 21There are four winless teams left in the NFL: The Vikings (0-3) play the Panthers (0-3), and the Bears (0-3) play the Broncos (0-3) on Sunday. We’ll be down to two winless teams by the end of the day.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | The Loo...

Ballston Spa man arrested following larceny investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Ballston Spa man has been arrested following an investigation into a shoplifting incident, according to State Police. Tony Prichard, 35, is facing multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On September 27 at 9:46 p.m., troopers responded to the Walmart in Queensbury for the report of a larceny in progress. Before police arrival, the suspect, later identified by troopers as Prichard, reportedly fled the business in a car, possessing store merchandise valued at over $1,000.Police located the vehicle on Aviation Road and conducted a traffic stop. Prichard was then taken into custody and the stolen items were recovered. Man connected to suspected shooter in Tupac Shakur’s killing arrested in Las Vegas Further investigation by troopers uncovered felony-weight narcotics and drug paraphernalia within Prichard's car. Prichard now faces the following charges: ChargesThree counts of third-degre...

Two arrested in connection to shots fired incident in Albany

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department announced the arrest of two suspects in connection to a shots fired incident in July. The incident happened in the area of South Pearl Street and Madison Avenue. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! An investigation resulted in the identification of Jaimeir Smith, 29, and a 16-year-old suspect. Smith was charged with attempted murder in the second degree, hindering prosecution in the second degree, and criminal facilitation in the second degree. He was arraigned in Albany City Criminal Court and remanded to the Albany County Jail.The 16-year-old was charged with attempted murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He was arraigned in the Albany County Family Court and remanded to the Capital District Juvenile Secure Detention Facility. Due to his age, the suspect's name will not be released.