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Recipe: Make this seafood chowder with fingerling potatoes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

Small potatoes have become the darlings of chic cuisine. Whether they are Baby Dutch Yellow beauties with their crisp golden flesh, or gnarly fingerling spuds that look like digits sprouted from the hand of a fairy-tale witch, they take up prime space in local supermarkets.They are delicious in chowder, adrift in a tasty bacon-y broth spiked with saffron and thyme. Halibut fillets are a delectable addition, added during the last few minutes of cooking.When entertaining, I’ve been known to make the broth in advance, then cool it and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Reheated to a simmer, the fish is added atop the mix, covered, and then cooked about 10 minutes or until just barely opaque. Scrumptious.Chowder With Saffron and Fingerling PotatoesYield: 6 servingsINGREDIENTS4 thick-cut slices bacon (about 1/4 pound), cut into thin crosswise strips1 1/2 cups chopped leeks (white and pale green portions only, about 2 large leeks)3 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice1 pound fingerling potatoes o...

A lesson from a hacked healthcare provider: Keep track of your medical history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

Leslie Dengler wants to get her annual mammogram but she doesn’t have access to her previous images to compare the results.“I have a pre-existing cyst that seems like nothing, but they are watching it,” she said. “It’s crazy that I can’t get my records.”Nearly three weeks ago, Akumin, a multi-state, Plantation-based imaging company was hit with a ransomware attack and shut down its systems. The company provides services to as many as 2 million patients.  Dengler and others are still trying to access their electronic medical scans from Akumni’s 50 Florida imaging centers.When, and if,  Akumin’s medical files will be fully recovered remains in question.The situation has patients like Dengler contemplating whether they need to do a better job retaining their own personal medical history.Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting healthcare providers, often corrupting their data and demanding a fee to restore it. The last few years have seen a record number of hacking incidents at healt...

Chicago Bears Q&A: Why wasn’t an extension in place with Montez Sweat before the trade? Could Jaylon Johnson get the franchise tag?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

Another busy and tumultuous week for the Chicago Bears has seen a trade for defensive end Montez Sweat, a trade request from cornerback Jaylon Johnson, a second assistant coach leave the staff — and it all started with another blowout loss.Before the Bears get back on the field Sunday in New Orleans, the Tribune’s Brad Biggs digs deep into the weekly Bears mailbag.How close are the Bears and Montez Sweat to an extension and why didn’t Ryan Poles have one in place before trading significant draft capital for him? — @wrigleykordtIn a perfect world, the Bears would have finalized a new contract with Sweat before completing the trade with the Washington Commanders on Tuesday. However, a source with knowledge of the situation told me Washington did not grant Sweat’s representation permission to shop for a trade and new contract. That would have made it easier for the Bears and removed an element of risk in the deal. The Commanders also could have increased t...

Staff picks for Week 9 of 2023 NFL season: Dolphins vs. Chiefs, Cowboys vs. Eagles, Bills vs. Bengals and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 9:Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.)Brian Wacker (71-51 season; 13-3 last week): SteelersChilds Walker (77-45 season; 11-5 last week): SteelersMike Preston (68-54 season; 11-5 last week): SteelersC.J. Doon (78-44 season; 11-5 last week): SteelersTim Schwartz (75-47 season; 11-5 last week): TitansMiami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs in Germany (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.)Wacker: ChiefsWalker: ChiefsPreston: ChiefsDoon: DolphinsSchwartz: ChiefsMinnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: VikingsWalker: FalconsPreston: FalconsDoon: FalconsSchwartz: FalconsArizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: BrownsWalker: BrownsPreston: BrownsDoon: BrownsSchwartz: BrownsLos Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: PackersWalker: RamsPreston: PackersDoon: PackersSchwartz: RamsTampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans (Sunday, ...

Fentanyl exposure during pregnancy is linked to a new medical syndrome in babies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

Tom Avril and Aubrey Whelan | The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)PHILADELPHIA — The babies are born with small heads, underdeveloped jawbones, conjoined toes and rounded, “rocker-bottom” feet.Physicians at Nemours Children’s Health say they all have one thing in common: They were exposed in utero to significant amounts of fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid.In a new study, the authors say they’ve identified 10 such babies so far, describing their constellation of symptoms as a “novel syndrome associated with prenatal fentanyl exposure.”Six of the children were identified at Nemours clinics in Delaware. Four others were identified by physicians in California, Boston and Rhode Island who are coauthors of the study, published this fall in Genetics in Medicine Open.While illicit fentanyl use has been on the rise for years, no one had previously established a link between the drug and these birth defects. That’s likely because children born to parents who use the drug may not receiv...

US Senate circumvents Tuberville holds and confirms new Air Force head, first female on Joint Chiefs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, TARA COPP and LOLITA BALDOR (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate, circumventing holds by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, on Thursday confirmed the nominations of two senior military leaders, including the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Adm. Lisa Franchetti was confirmed by a vote of 95-1 to lead the Navy, making her the first woman to serve as a Pentagon service chief and hold a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. David Allvin was also confirmed by a vote of 95-1 to be chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. The Senate was expected to vote later Thursday to confirm Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney to serve as assistant commandant for the U.S. Marine Corps.Franchetti’s historic confirmation as the chief of naval operations comes as Tuberville has drawn bipartisan criticism for holding up almost 400 military nominations in an effort to protest Pentagon abortion policy. In a remarkable display, several Republican sen...

‘Abnormal’: Quebec says there are still too many asylum seekers entering the province

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

Quebec’s immigration minister says the number of asylum seekers entering the province is “abnormal.”Christine Fréchette told reporters today that the federal government needs to do more to distribute would-be refugees across the country.She says that since the closure of Roxham Road — the irregular land border crossing between Quebec and New York state — there are now too many asylum seekers showing up at the province’s airports.Federal government statistics show that 17,080 people claimed asylum at Quebec airports between January and September of this year, more than double the second-highest province for airport claimants, Ontario.Fréchette says Quebec has welcomed more asylum seekers so far this year than all other provinces combined, which was also true in 2022.The minister also says Ottawa is too “loose” with the way it gives travel visas, saying many migrants are taking advantage of that pathway to claim asylum in the country. This report by...

West Virginia jail officers plead guilty to conspiracy charge in fatal assault on inmate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Two West Virginia corrections officers pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony conspiracy charge stemming from the fatal beating of an inmate in a case that has brought scrutiny to conditions and deaths at the jail.Southern Regional Jail officers Andrew Fleshman and Steven Wimmer entered the pleas during separate hearings in U.S. District Court in Beckley. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Their sentencings have been set for Feb. 22. The officers were charged in a criminal information that they conspired to deny Quantez Burks’ right to due process of law. Burks, 37, was a pretrial detainee at the jail in Beaver who died less than a day after he was booked into the jail in March 2022 on a wanton endangerment charge.According to court documents, Burks tried to push past an officer in order to leave his housing unit. Burks then was escorted to an interview room, where Wimmer and Fleshman assaulted Burks while he was handcuffed and po...

Man killed after pursuit and shootout with Alaska authorities, troopers say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A man was killed during a shootout after leading Alaska State Troopers and other officers on a chase that closed a 7-mile stretch of highway, authorities said. It was the second fatal shooting involving troopers this week. Troopers on Thursday identified the man killed a day earlier as Michael Grimes, 45, of Fairbanks. Troopers tried to stop a pickup driven by Grimes on Wednesday afternoon north of Healy in connection with an “active felony-level investigation,” Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the state Department of Public Safety, said in an email. The troopers are part of the department. According to the agency, the truck failed to stop for marked trooper vehicles and a chase ensued, during which time Grimes shot at troopers. Troopers were joined by officers from other agencies assigned to a trooper-led narcotics team, McDaniel said. Troopers and other officers returned fire, hitting Grimes, the department statement said. Authorities used spike strips and...

Arrest made in fatal shooting of Salem State University student

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:15 GMT

SALEM, Mass. (AP) — Police have made an arrest in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Salem State University student just days before what would have been his first college basketball game, an official said.Missael Pena Canela, 18, of Salem, has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting early Wednesday of Carl-Hens Beliard, 18, according to Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker.Canela was arrested Wednesday evening by Salem police detectives and arraigned Thursday in Salem District Court. He pleaded not guilty.Salem police said they received a 911 call at about 1:24 a.m. for a report of a shooting and found Beliard inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to Salem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Police said Wednesday that a preliminary investigation indicated the shooting didn’t appear to be random. Police said there also doesn’t appear to be any ongoing threat to the Salem State University community, adding that the investigatio...