Latest news with #Nexstar
The Hill
11 hours ago
- Health
- The Hill
Brain-eating amoeba: Who is most often infected?
The family of a 12-year-old boy who died in South Carolina this month have confirmed his cause of death to be an infection associated with Naegleria fowleri, more commonly referred to as a ' brain-eating amoeba.' It's believed the boy, identified as Jaysen Carr, contracted the infection while swimming in Lake Murray, a central South Carolina reservoir popular with swimmers, boaters and fishermen, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 'The family has many questions about how and why Jaysen died and wants to do everything in their power to ensure this doesn't happen to another family,' an attorney for Carr's family wrote in a statement shared with Nexstar's WCBD. What is Naegleria fowleri? Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled organism primarily found in warm freshwater and soil, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 'It's very commonly found in nature, in soil or warm freshwater around the world … or in places where the water is warm for other reasons, like a thermal hot spring, or pool water that isn't chlorinated properly,' Dr. Dennis Kyle, a professor of infectious diseases and cellular biology at the University of Georgia and the scholar chair of antiparasitic drug discovery with the Georgia Research Alliance, once explained in an interview with Nexstar. The organisms have also been observed in improperly treated tap water, and, in lower concentrations, even cooler freshwaters. The highest concentrations, though, are generally found in freshwater with surface temperature readings of 75 degrees F or higher, especially for extended periods of time. How do infections occur? Infection of N. fowleri usually occurs after water is forced into the nose, allowing the organism to enter the nasal cavity and cross the epithelial lining into the brain, where it begins destroying the tissue of the frontal lobe, Kyle said. There's an increased risk among those who partake in freshwater activities during the warmer months, he added. 'This time of year is when we typically hear about these cases,' Kyle said of the summertime, in general. 'When people are out doing summer activities in the water, or on the lakes.' The resulting brain infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), can lead to symptoms including fever, headaches, stiff neck, seizures and hallucinations within two weeks of exposure. It is almost always fatal, with death occurring 'within about 5 days after symptoms first begin' but potentially up to a few weeks afterward, the CDC says. Can it be treated? Treatment of Naegleria fowleri infection consists of antifungal and antibiotic cocktails, and doctors have also induced hypothermia in patients to reduce fevers and protect undamaged brain tissue while the treatments are administered. Survival, however, is 'rare,' with a fatality rate estimated at about 97 percent the CDC says. Early detection and treatment can be key to improving chances, but infections may go ignored — or be misdiagnosed — until it's too late. Kyle, in a previous interview with Nexstar, said he was only aware of a handful of cases in which patients have survived, but he was optimistic about the use of collecting cerebral spinal fluid for testing purposes. Prevention (e.g., avoiding warm freshwater bodies of water, wearing nose plugs, keeping your head above water, etc.) is currently the best way to combat infection. Raising awareness of the danger also helps, Kyle said. 'But I think any warm freshwater facility, or hot spring … and at splashpads, you have to look at it carefully,' he told Nexstar. 'It's incumbent on people running these facilities to minimize risk and minimize exposure.' Who is most often infected? Anyone can contract Naegleria fowleri infection, but the CDC has identified 'young boys' as the group infected most often. 'The reasons for this aren't clear. It's possible that young boys are more likely to participate in activities like diving into the water and playing in the sediment at the bottom of lakes and rivers,' the agency said. Is climate change making infections more common? Even the CDC acknowledges that climate change may indeed be 'a contributing factor' to the conditions which allow Naegleria fowleri to thrive. 'Warmer climates means, yes, more exposure and more cases,' Kyle had said, adding that there had been a 'significant increase' in cases in recent years. But he warned that increased cases cannot be linked solely to warmer waters, but rather more awareness and fewer misdiagnoses. 'There's more recognition that these amoeba are possibly causing disease, when before, virologists were misclassifying these cases as bacterial meningitis or [other diseases],' he said.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
IKEA opening new, smaller-footprint stores in 6 cities this year: What's inside
(NEXSTAR) — For those who love wandering through dozens of model rooms, furniture with Swedish names, and assembly instructions known to cause ire online, there is no better place than IKEA. But with only a few dozen stores in the U.S., experiencing the joys of using their small pencils, dining on Swedish meatballs, and leaving with an iconic blue IKEA tote bag might be just out of reach for you. That may soon change, though. IKEA expects to open five more locations before the end of the year, and at least one store in 2026, a spokesperson confirmed to Nexstar. Already this year, the company has opened locations in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Beaverton, Oregon. Unlike the massive warehouse IKEA stores you may be familiar with, these stores are much smaller. For comparison, the IKEA in Portland, Oregon, is roughly 280,000 square feet with 1,200 parking spots outside, while the new Beaverton location fits into a shopping strip with just a few stalls for parking. Known as Plan & Order points with Pick-up, these IKEA locations' smaller footprints 'make it easier for the IKEA customer to shop with us more frequently, or in some cases, for the first time ever,' a spokesperson explained. 'While customers will not find the entire IKEA product range on-site, the small store format offers the most relevant range of products and provides digital access to everything that IKEA offers,' they added. There are IKEA experts available to help customers 'plan and order home furnishing solutions,' though you would not be able to take home your new furniture that same day. Instead, you'll be able to schedule delivery or order pick-up at the same location. The IKEA locations also serve as pick-up points for online orders. Another Plan & Order store opened in Hunt Valley, Maryland, outside of Baltimore, earlier this month. More are scheduled to open within the next year, an IKEA spokesperson has confirmed. Those locations will be in Manteca, California, and Henderson, Nevada. As of July 2025, IKEA has 17 Plan & Order locations across 10 states, though the location in Alpharetta, Georgia, is set to close at the end of August. IKEA opened an additional store earlier this month in San Marcos, Texas, describing it as a 'small store.' Measuring under 35,000 square feet, the San Marcos store showcases ''local living' solutions thoughtfully tailored to reflect the unique everyday needs of the San Marcos community,' IKEA explained. Despite its small size, more than 2,500 products are on display with 2,000 items available for purchase, including 'a small range of Swedish Food Market items.' Other small IKEA stores are scheduled to open in Syracuse, New York, and Dallas and Rockwall, Texas, later this year. Another is on track to open in Phoenix next year. In total, three of IKEA's more than 50 stores are considered 'small stores.' In addition to San Marcos, those stores are found in Arcadia and San Francisco, California. Unlike Buc-ee's, IKEA isn't stepping into any new states with these store openings. Including retail spaces and pick-up locations for furniture and large orders, IKEA can be found in more than 30 states.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
‘Whites-only' community seeks Missouri expansion
A 'whites-only' group called Return to the Land (RTTL), derided by critics as racist and antisemitic, is looking to expand its reach from its base in northern Arkansas to an area near Springfield, Mo., a co-founder of the group said recently. The prospect of a growing 'whites-only' community — where members are evaluated based on European ancestry and where Jews are denied membership — is raising concerns among state and local officials and activist groups. RTTL, which describes itself as a private member association, began development in 2023 on its base in northern Arkansas, which sits on 160 acres of land. A co-founder of the group, Eric Orwoll, told Nexstar's KOLR that he hopes to expand soon to an area of land outside Springfield, and, eventually, expand to all 50 states. 'We want to ensure that White Americans who value their ancestry will have the ability to live among like-minded people in the future if they choose to do so, regardless of demographic changes,' Orwoll told the news outlet. He said RTTL plans to coordinate homeschool groups, health care networks, legal advocacy groups and more — all of which would be barred to people of color. 'Whites should have the ability to live among their own people if that's what they want to do, and mass immigration is quickly making that nearly impossible in many Western nations,' Orwoll said. 'If individuals decide to live in multi-racial communities, then they should be allowed to do so, but we don't want racial forced on us in every aspect of life,' he added. Missouri Democrats are pushing back on the effort. Chelsea Rodriguez, communications director for the state Democratic Party, called RTTL a 'hate group' and said they won't be welcome. 'Missouri families are fed up with the fringe extremism Missouri Republicans keep inviting into their communities. If this hate group tries to relocate to Springfield, they shouldn't expect to be embraced,' Rodriguez said in a statement. 'Missouri Democrats have a clear message for any hate group eyeing our state: This is our home. We were raised here, and we share the same respect for the Constitution and Second Amendment as our neighbors. Your hate has no place in our home,' she continued. State Rep. Jeremy Dean, a Democrat who represents part of Springfield in the Missouri House of Representatives, said he has 'no doubt' that groups like RTTL are 'emboldened by federal and state politicians who attack marginalized communities and fuel a climate where hate can grow.' 'Southwest Missouri has a racist past, but we've made progress and we're not going back. White nationalist groups have no place in our country, especially not here,' Dean added in a statement. Another Missouri Democrat who represents part of Springfield in Jefferson City, state Rep. Betsy Fogle, said the 'blatant racism embraced by Mr. Orwoll's group' is not welcome in there. 'Southwest Missouri is too beautiful to be ruined by a worldview so ugly. History has been very clear about the outcomes of groups like Mr. Orwoll's who seek to leave behind others based on the color of their skin,' Fogle said in a statement. 'I refuse to let history repeat itself in my hometown and would ask my colleagues to do the same,' she added. The group has faced pushback in Arkansas as well. Lindsay Beach Friedmann, Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) regional director of the south central region, said the move 'revives discredited and reprehensible forms of segregation' and should be illegal under federal and state civil rights laws, as well as under the Arkansas Fair Housing Act and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. 'We urge the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission, local elected officials, and law enforcement to act swiftly to ensure that Northeast Arkansas remains a welcoming and inclusive community, not a refuge for intolerance and exclusion,' the ADL said in a statement earlier this month. Orwoll pushed back on the ADL's remarks, saying his group embraces a 'shared ancestral values' and not violence or hatred, according to KOLR. He also brushed off concerns that the organization is breaking the law, noting RTTL is a private association and doesn't sell real estate. 'The attorneys we've consulted believe what we're doing is legal,' Orwoll said. 'Americans have the right to freely associate and form intentional communities on whatever basis they choose.' Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (R) does not share that view. 'Racial discrimination has no place in Arkansas or anywhere in a free society. These allegations raise all sorts of legal issues, including constitutional concerns,' Griffin said in a statement. 'My office is reviewing the matter.'
The Hill
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Cause of death for celebrity chef Anne Burrell released
Celebrity chef Anne Burrell's death has been ruled a suicide, authorities confirmed Thursday. Representatives told Nexstar that Burrell, 55, was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in her New York home in June. A 911 call report obtained by PEOPLE showed first responders were initially called to Burrell's home about a suspected cardiac arrest. Reports later indicated that Burrell may have died of a possible drug overdose. On Thursday, the New York City medical examiner's office confirmed to Nexstar that it had ruled Burrell died by suicide. Her death was labeled as 'acute intoxication' from the antihistamines diphenhydramine and cetirizine; ethanol, which can be found in alcohol; and amphetamine, which can be used to treat ADHD. The New York Times previously obtained a document explaining that Burrell had been found unconscious and unresponsive in the shower, 'surrounded by approximately [100] assorted pills.' Burrell was well-known for her appearances on multiple Food Network shows. She grew up in upstate New York and attended Canisius College in Buffalo, earning a degree in English and communications, her Food Network biography reads. She later attended the Culinary Institute of America and the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners. Burrell used that knowledge to work in some of New York City's top restaurants. She spent more than three years teaching at the Institute of Culinary Education before returning to restaurant life, according to a statement from her representation. Burrell made her Food Network debut on 'Secrets of a Restaurant Chef.' She and her iconic spiky hair quickly became fan-favorites, and she went on to appear in multiple shows on the network. That includes participating as a competitor on 'Iron Chef America,' a judge on 'Chef Wanted,' the host of 'Worst Cooks in America,' and as a guest star on 'Beat Bobby Flay.' You may also recognize her from 'Chopped,' 'Food Network Star,' and 'House of Knives.' Burrell's work can also be found on bookshelves. She wrote two cookbooks, 'Cook Like a Rock Star' and 'Own Your Kitchen,' both of which became New York Times best-sellers. 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,' Burrell's family said in a statement shared with Nexstar last month. 'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.' Recently, Burrell had been partnering with CareRite Centers to bring a Signature Culinary Excellence program to the company's rehabilitation and nursing centers to '[redefine] what it means to dine well while healing.' Press releases show she had worked with facilities in Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey, and New York this year. She is survived by her husband, Stuart Claxton, whom she married in 2021. They share a son, Javier, from Claxton's previous marriage.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
PHOTOS: Remembering Hulk Hogan, iconic wrestler dead at 71
(NEXSTAR) – Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, a household name also known for his work in Hollywood, and, more recently in politics, has died at the age of 71. In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Police said Hogan was pronounced dead at local Morton Plant Hospital, according to Nexstar's WFLA. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE's long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon. The WWE said in a statement Thursday that it was 'saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,' adding that he was 'One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.' 'WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans,' the statement continued. Ric Flair, Hogan's friend and a familiar rival inside the ropes, mourned the news in a social media post, saying, 'I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend @HulkHogan!' The post continued: 'Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business,' he wrote on X. 'An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father! Our friendship has meant the world to me. He was always there for me even when I didn't ask for him to be. He was one of the first to visit me when I was in the hospital with a 2% chance of living, and he prayed by my bedside. Hulk also lent me money when Reid was sick. Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you! Rest in peace my friend!' Hogan won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
