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El Nino-worsened flooding has Somalia in a state of emergency. Residents of one town are desperate

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — First, some families fled drought and violence. Now they say they have nowhere to hide from intense flooding as rainfall exacerbated by the weather phenomenon El Nino pummels large parts of Somalia.Among the worst hit towns is the densely populated Beledweyne, where the Shabelle River has burst its banks, destroyed many homes and caused thousands to flee to higher ground near the border with Ethiopia.Hakima Mohamud Hareed, a mother of four including one who is disabled, said her family constantly looks for shelter.The family recently moved to Beledweyne, fleeing battles between the extremist group al-Shabab and Somali government forces. “We left our home in search of safety and stability, but little did we know that we would end up facing another calamity,” she said by phone.In the displacement camp of Kutiimo in Beledweyne, the floods destroyed the family’s small, tattered tent. Wind lashes the damp and flimsy fabric.“The floods washed away all...

Chicago's immigration court cases double in 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

Newly arrived migrants have a long road ahead as they search for shelter and begin their battle to remain in the United States permanently.More than 25,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago since August of 2022 when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started busing them here.    The majority of the new arrivals are hoping to be granted asylum, but a massive backlog at immigration courts means the process could take years.Chicago’s immigration court has seen its cases double in the last year from more than 80,000 pending cases to more than 160,000 in 2023. Immigration Judge Sam Cole says, “it’s progressively worse – much much worse.”In a rare interview, Judge Cole spoke to “WGN Investigates” as part of his role with the National Association of Immigration Judges. The Justice Department operates immigration courts around the country which Judge Cole thinks isn’t working. He says, “having a law enforcement agency manage a court is a recipe for disaster and we are seeing tha...

The busiest travel day around Thanksgiving, by the numbers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

CHICAGO — With Thanksgiving just a day away, Wednesday marked the busiest travel day of the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but what exactly did that traffic look like on the road and in the air?According to AAA, the busiest time to drive Wednesday was from 2-6 p.m., and an estimated 49 million Americans across the country hopped on the road to get home for Thanksgiving dinner.Before getting to that meal though, many travelers that went through Chicago got stuck in the heavier-than-usual traffic."It is the busiest day of the roads, that's for certain," said Molly Hart, spokeswoman for AAA. Exploring AI: Artificial intelligence’s development and future potential Transportation data and insights company "Inrix" said Wednesday is likely the busiest on the roads during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, where average travel times could be up to 80% higher than normal in some cities.While travel on the roads to get to the turkey was up, one thing Illinois drivers benefitted fro...

Deer poaching incident under investigation in Greene County

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

LEXINGTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is looking for two people involved in a deer poaching incident in Greene County. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The DEC was called to a home Wednesday in the town of Lexington of a report of a deer taken illegally from the front yard of another home. No one was home at the time of the shooting, but the poaching incident was caught on a Ring camera.Anyone with information should contact DEC officers at 518-478-1698 or 518-703-3529. The New York State ECO dispatch line is 518-408-5852.All callers may remain anonymous.

Victory Church opens outreach center in Albany

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Victory Church has opened a new outreach center in Albany. It is located near Quail and Bradford Streets.The church ran a similar center near First and Quail Streets for 25 years, but it was shut down a couple years ago because of safety concerns. The center will offer fresh, healthy food each week as well as life training and counseling services. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "There's a need for outreach centers that really look and meet the needs of people in the community," Pastor Charlie Muller said. Pastor Muller said he's heard from people who used the church's old center in the past and are now doing well. He's excited to help a new generation of people through the new facility.

Seasons change, concerns remain over St. Louis sidewalk squatters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS – There are growing concerns about a Sudanese refugee couple living in squalor for nearly three years in front of someone's house in St. Louis.Even with a harsh winter predicted, city officials are no longer responding to health and safety issues repeatedly raised by residents and police, according to multiple residents.Emails from city officials to residents reveal a plan to have the makeshift dwelling built moved by early this month, with the refugees relocated to safer, more appropriate shelter.As of Thanksgiving eve, the dwelling is still occupied at the corner of Spring Avenue and Chippewa Street. And it is larger than ever.The seasons have changed since FOX 2 first told you about this in the summer. The size of the dwelling has changed, too. It now takes up more street than the sidewalk, sticking out slightly beyond cars parked along the curb on Spring.Concerns about summer heat for the couple living there have become concerns about potentially dangerous cold.“It’s s...

Cops report startling confession after car break-ins, gun heist

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Crestwood and Sunset Hills police officers claim they’ve solved a series of parking lot car break-ins, one of which resulted in stolen guns. It involves an intriguing evidence trail that led the police to an unexpected confession.It was a brazen crime spree that impacted mostly shoppers recently. Six cars alone, court records say, were broken into at a busy parking lot near Lindbergh and Watson on Sept. 2.It’s just one of at least seven businesses where consumers were targeted in September and October, mostly during dinnertime hours. One case involved a Porsche stolen from a Watson Road gas station.Court records indicate a police breakthrough identified a north St. Louis County suspect, who reportedly confessed that he "committed so many car break-ins that he couldn’t remember all of them.”“It shows that we have a problem not just in this region but around the country,” St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell said.Bell’s office charged Javaughn Lesueur, 19, w...

St. Louis shoppers think safety this holiday weekend

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Some St. Louis area shoppers were already taking advantage of Black Friday bargains on Wednesday. Wildwood resident Josette Bradford started her holiday shopping back in October. She was wrapping up her list while keeping safety in mind as she shopped in Chesterfield.“I try to park close and park in a spot where it’s visible,” Bradford said.Some area police departments have seen a recent increase in car break-ins. Corporal Corey Hawkins-Byrd, North County Police Cooperative, said it’s not unusual to see more car break-ins during the holiday season and said victims often leave valuable items in plain sight.“Remember to take those valuable items out,” Hawkins-Bird said.He also advises shoppers to find spots in well-lit areas and near security cameras. Hawkins-Bird also cautions shoppers not to walk to the cars with their arms filled with bags or purses hanging away from their bodies. The words only people in Missouri say “Make sure everything is as close to y...

KC mom invents luggage that doubles as nick pillow to avoid airline baggage fees

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City mom finds a way around the pesky fee for extra airline baggage, all while avoiding a pain in the neck on a plane.Inside a Zipplicity bag, Amber Waldeier said she's ready for a five-day vacation."I've got three pairs of leggings, five shirts and six socks," Waldeier said.She said it can hold about five pounds. Kansas drivers riled by ‘Mizzou colors’ on new default license plate Waldeier said she designed the fabric sleeve suitcase with a zipper to cut costs on luggage at the airport.Instead of checking a bag, you're now carrying a neck-pillow.She invented the idea in 2019 when her family took a trip."I didn't want to spend the money on the baggage fees," Waldeier said. "I wanted to spend the money on memory making, like all the money on fun."They were celebrating good health. For three years, Waldeier battled a bladder disease and hip issues, but got cleared to walk on the beach.She said overcoming those challenges led her to becoming a succesful en...

Local dog shelter scrambling to house 100+ dogs ahead of emergency repairs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A local animal shelter serving the City of St. Louis is in a dire situation. Emergency repairs have forced the CARE STL Adoption Center to scramble to find temporary homes for more than 100 dogs. They are hoping people will step up and adopt or foster the dogs for the two weeks it will take for the repairs to be completed.The shelter, located near the corner of Jefferson and Clark avenues near Midtown, has a separate building to house dozens upon dozens of dogs waiting for a forever home. But state inspectors with the Missouri Department of Agriculture recently informed CARE STL that the facility’s patched-up floors must be replaced immediately.It means a shelter already way over its 80-kennel capacity must move around 130 dogs out of the facility by Dec. 18. It’s something CARE STL executive director Abbie Knudsen said comes at an already difficult time of the year.“It was definitely something we were not prepared to have to do this holiday season, in particular when we...