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Israel presses on with its Gaza offensive after US veto derails Security Council efforts to halt war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel's military pushed ahead with its punishing air and ground offensive in Gaza on Saturday, bolstered by a U.S. veto derailing U.N. Security Council efforts to end the war and word that an emergency sale of $106 million worth of tank ammunition had been approved by Washington.Unable to leave Gaza, a territory 25 miles (40 kilometers) long by about 7 miles (11 kilometers) wide, more than 2 million Palestinians faced more bombardment Saturday, even in areas that Israel had described as safe zones.The sale of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition was announced a day after the U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, a measure that had wide international support. The U.S. said Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined that “an emergency exists” in the national interest requiring the immediate sale, meaning it bypasses congressional review. Such a determination is rare.A day after Israel confirmed ...

Fears of a NATO withdrawal rise as Trump seeks a return to power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

For 74 years, the NATO has been America’s most important military alliance. Presidents of both parties have seen NATO as a force multiplier enhancing the influence of the United States by uniting countries on both sides of the Atlantic in a vow to defend one another.Donald Trump has made it clear that he sees NATO as a drain on U.S. resources by freeloaders. He has held that view for at least a quarter-century.In his 2000 book, “The America We Deserve,” Trump wrote that “pulling back from Europe would save this country millions of dollars annually.” As president, he repeatedly threatened a U.S. withdrawal from the alliance.Yet as he runs to regain the White House, Trump has said precious little about his intentions. His campaign website contains a single cryptic sentence: “We have to finish the process we began under my administration of fundamentally reevaluating NATO’s purpose and NATO’s mission.” He and his team refuse to elaborate.That vague line has generated enormous uncertain...

7 deaths linked to small magnets found in toys, U.S. warns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

A federal safety agency warned this past week that small, powerful magnets have been linked to seven deaths after they were ingested, announcing one company’s voluntary recall of a toy set that contained such magnets and issuing warnings about six other companies with similar toys.The agency, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said Thursday that it was aware of seven deaths, including two outside the United States, and about 2,400 emergency room visits between 2017 and 2021 linked to ingesting the small, high-powered magnets.The danger is that they could easily attach with magnets or other metal objects, making them an even greater hazard if swallowed along with another object. Even swallowed alone, the small magnetic balls pose a risk of perforation to or blockage of the intestines, blood poisoning or death, the commission said.Last year, the commission approved a new safety standard for small magnets, requiring that products be either too large to swallow or weak enough ...

Cody Jinks to perform at the Palace Theatre

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Palace Theatre announced they will be hosting a performance by country singer and songwriter Cody Jinks. The show is scheduled for February 8, 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The independent outlaw country star has released eight studio albums across his career, with his upcoming record "Change the Game" set to release in March 2024. He is backed by his band The Tone Deaf Hippies. Jinks will be joined for the performance by folk singer-songwriter Calder Allen. The show is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Hank Williams Jr. to perform at SPAC The Palace Theatre is located at 19 Clinton Avenue in Albany. You can buy Cody Jinks tickets online by visiting the venue's website. Tickets go on sale on December 15 at 12 p.m.

Silver Dollar City's "An Old Time Christmas" named America's Best Holiday Event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

BRANSON, Mo. (KNWA/KFTA) — Silver Dollar City's "An Old Time Christmas" was named America's "Best Theme Park Event" by USA Today's 10Best, according to a news release.The Branson-based theme park collected the most votes among the 20 nominees including Busch Gardens, Legoland Parks, Disney Parks, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. Silver Dollar City announces record-setting roller coaster “We sincerely thank our friends and fans from all around the globe who took time out of their busy schedules to vote every single day,” said Silver Dollar City Company President Brad Thomas. “Christmas is such a special time for us, and we’re so grateful to our fans for highlighting The City as the nation’s must-visit holiday destination.”This is the sixth time that Silver Dollar City has been given this award, winning in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021, according to a Facebook post.SDC's "An Old Time Christmas" runs through December 30.

Family, friends 'outraged' after Illinois mother shot dead during mental health call

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

MORRIS, Ill. — Family and friends are “outraged” after a mother of three was shot and killed by Morris police responding to a mental health call in late September. WGN News obtained the body cam footage of the incident.It had been nine days since Alivia Schwab, 40, transitioned out of Bourbonnais Terrace, a mental health facility on Sept. 29.The mother who "lived for her kids" had been battling schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder for several years, according to family and friends. That morning while at her new apartment, 911 was called after Schwab informed a case manager in a phone call that she had a knife and was going to hurt herself. That information was relayed to the 911 center, according to the state's attorney's office.The case manager stayed on the phone with Schwab as police were dispatched to the complex in the 1800 block of Anne Lane. Two officers arrived at the scene at around 10:53 a.m.Editor's note: Viewer discretion advised above.The officer who ended up firing thei...

Missouri man accused of trying to burn house down with wife, elderly aunt inside

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

LIBERTY, Mo. -- A 48-year-old Clay County man is facing multiple charges for allegedly trying to burn down a house with his wife and her elderly aunt trapped inside. Clay County prosecutors charged Darin Thomsen with first-degree assault on a special victim, arson, attempted assault and domestic assault. Kansas City police search for package thief caught on camera According to court documents, Clay County deputies responded to a house just after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Arnote Road and N. Brookside Road in Pleasant Valley. Thomsen's wife called 911 from the home saying her estranged husband was in the house when he was not supposed to be and was threatening her with violence. She barricaded herself, and her 78-year-old aunt with dementia, in a bathroom out of fear for their safety and began to smell smoke, court documents say. The victim said Thomsen was not supposed to be at the house due to him being an alcoholic and aggressive, court documents say. Thomsen told the v...

Fire breaks out at LAX terminal; cause under investigation  

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

A terminal at Los Angeles International Airport caught fire Saturday morning.Video posted to the Citizen App shows smoke billowing from the American Airlines “Eagle’s Nest” Regional Terminal, which exclusively serves flights on American Airlines’ American Eagle regional airline.  Part of Ventura County community evacuated due to brush fire Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters responded to the blaze, which was first reported around 11:10 a.m., and were able to extinguish the flames in 40 minutes. Video posted to the Citizen App shows smoke billowing from the American Airlines “Eagle’s Nest” Regional Terminal, which exclusively serves flights on American Airlines’ American Eagle regional airline. (Citizen App)Video posted to the Citizen App shows smoke billowing from the American Airlines “Eagle’s Nest” Regional Terminal, which exclusively serves flights on American Airlines’ American Eagle regional airline. (Citizen App)Video posted to the Citizen App shows smoke bill...

State champs! Acalanes storms back to beat Birmingham for 3-AA title

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

MISSION VIEJO – Acalanes, an East Bay school that opened its doors in 1969 and had never won a section football title until last month, completed the championship trifecta on Saturday.The Dons overcame a two-touchdown deficit to capture their first state title, beating Birmingham of Lake Balboa 35-23 in the CIF Division 3-AA championship game at Saddleback College.Acalanes scored on the final snap of the first half to cut the deficit to seven and took the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.The Dons put the game away on a 10-yard fourth-down pass from quarterback Sully Bailey to Paul Kuhner with 31 seconds left, adding a state championship trophy to the section and regional titles the Lafayette school has won the past two weekends.It was Bailey’s fourth TD pass of the game. He finished 23 of 36 for 290 yards.Acalanes (11-4) ended the season on a five-game winning streak and became the first Northern California team to celebrate a title at Saddleback since the CIF star...

New US aid for Ukraine by year-end seems increasingly out of reach as GOP ties it to border security

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:04 GMT

By Stephen Groves and Lisa Mascarao | Associated PressWASHINGTON — A deal to provide further U.S. assistance to Ukraine by year-end appears to be increasingly out of reach for President Joe Biden. The impasse is deepening in Congress despite dire warnings from the White House about the consequences of inaction as Republicans insist on pairing the aid with changes to America’s immigration and border policies.After the Democratic president said this past week he was willing to “make significant compromises on the border,” Republicans quickly revived demands that they had earlier set aside, hardening their positions and attempting to shift the negotiations to the right, according to a person familiar with the talks who was not authorized to publicly discuss them and spoke on condition of anonymity.The latest proposal, from the lead GOP negotiator, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., came during a meeting with a core group of senators before they left Washington on Thursday afternoon. It coul...