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US and major donors demand independent UN aid operation in Syria’s rebel-held northwest

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States said Monday it has joined major donors in demanding that the United Nations be able to deliver aid through a key crossing from Turkey to Syria’s rebel-held northwest independently and to everyone in need. That’s a rejection of conditions set by Syria and backed by its ally Russia that Damascus control all aid and banning U.N. communications with rebels in the region. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the U.N. Security Council that the Syrian government’s offer earlier this month to allow aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa crossing showed the need for cross-border assistance, but she said Syria’s restrictions were unacceptable and “would hinder relief and put humanitarians, including U.N. personnel, at risk.”After the latest six-month mandate expired on July 10, Russia vetoed a nine-month extension and the council rejected a Russian resolution for a six-month extension. President Bashar Assad’s government then gave a ...

B.C. resort manager says ‘biggest shocker’ is how quickly wildfire neared its site

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

VANCOUVER — The manager of an evacuated resort near the Ross Moore Lake wildfire in British Columbia’s Interior said he could not believe how fast the fire grew over the weekend.Jason Upton, manager of the Lac Le Jeune Nature Resort south of Kamloops, escaped to nearby Merritt with four staff members after the blaze came within a few kilometres of the property on Sunday.Upton said he had been keeping track of the fire because it was so close to the resort and thought it was out on Sunday morning when he saw very little smoke.But hours later, Upton and his staff were rushed out as visible flames approached.“I would say the one thing that really was the biggest shocker out of this whole experience was how fast it could happen and move,” he said. “I didn’t ever expect it could move that fast.”The resort, which offers lodging on the lake, only just reopened this spring after a 3-1/2-year pandemic shutdown, Upton said. The wildfire, located about 20 ki...

CTA's Forest Park Branch rebuild is underway

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority has officially begun work on the 'Forest Park Branch Rebuild' project.Starting early Sunday morning, the CTA Began its first phase, which they said will unfold in two parts, the first portion they are aiming to complete by late August. According to the CTA, the project aims "to provide safer, more reliable and accessible transit on Chicago's West Side," where construction crews will replace three miles of train tracks, as well as rebuild the Racine station to improve accessibility to riders who use mobility devices.During the first phase, CTA officials said the Clinton, UIC-Halsted and Racine stations will remain closed through late August, with a local shuttle bus route to accommodate the gap between the Illinois Medical District and Jackson stops. Two types of shuttles will operate along the route, one with immediate stops at all times, and another non-stop, express option that will operate during morning and evening rush hours on weekdays...

Obamas' former chef found dead near family's Martha's Vineyard home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

(The Hill) - Massachusetts authorities said that the body found near former President Obama Martha's Vineyard residence is that of the family's former chef. In a news release on Monday, Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said that authorities recovered the body of a missing paddleboarder from Edgartown Great Pond. The department’s Underwater Recovery Unit divers made the recovery after a body was located by the Massachusetts Environmental Police, who found it by deploying side-scan sonar from a boat.MSP later identified the victim as Tafari Campbell, 45, who was previously employed by the Obamas as a personal chef. Two hikers found dead in Nevada state park Campbell, a Dumfries, Virginia native, was visiting the family’s Martha’s Vineyard residence at the time of his death. Authorities noted that the Obamas were not home at the time of the incident. In a joint statement, Former President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama remembered Tafari as a “beloved part of...

Mega Millions jackpot hits $820 million: How much the winner will actually get

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

(KTLA) — If you didn't win the $1 billion Powerball jackpot last week, you still have a chance to become a big winner with the Mega Millions jackpot, which currently stands at $820 million.The current jackpot is the fifth largest in the game’s history, but how much of the money will go to the winner?Should you win the Mega Millions jackpot, you'll choose between a lump sum cash payment (currently estimated at $422 million), or the annuity option, which is one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that grow by 5% each time. The same goes for Powerball.Regardless of the payout you choose, you'll still see your prize decrease thanks to taxes. Every state lottery is required by law to withhold 24% in federal taxes automatically on any winnings over $5,000 in Mega Millions, Powerball, or any lottery game, according to the California Lottery Winner’s Handbook. These are the best, worst states to win the lottery in Certain states also withhold taxes on winnings, while oth...

Former UT golfer Pierceson Coody all but assures his PGA Tour card with Korn Ferry win

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Former Texas standout golfer Pierceson Coody is well on his way to getting his PGA Tour card after a win on the Korn Ferry Tour over the weekend.Coody outlasted the field Sunday at the Price Cutter Charity Championship at Highland Spring Country Club in Springfield, Missouri, to finish the tournament 25-under-par over 72 holes. Coody shot a 5-under 67 in his final round to hold off a hard-charging Ben Silverman who blistered the course with a 10-under 62 to finish at 23 under. Silverman tied for second with three others, one of which was Pierceson's twin brother Parker.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersIt's Coody's third career win on the Korn Ferry Tour and second this season, and after he missed four of the last six cuts coming into the event, he moved into fourth place on the Korn Ferry Tour points list. If he ends the season in the top 30, he'll get h...

Team Paxton asks Democrat senators be removed from impeachment jury, prosecutors reject request

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After attorneys representing suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requested some Democrats be removed as jurors from the upcoming impeachment trial, the prosecuting lawyers said the three senators are capable of acting fairly and should not be removed from the jury. In a motion dated July 21, attorneys presenting the case to remove Paxton from office rejected his request that three Democratic senators should be disqualified from acting as jurors in the trial. In a motion also filed on July 21, attorneys defending Paxton argued that three of the Senate's 12 Democrats — Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio, Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas, and Sen. José Menéndez of San Antonio — have shown prior bias toward Paxton and should therefore be removed from the jury. The Senate is set to act as a court of impeachment starting on Sept. 5, with senators acting as jurors who will decide whether to remove a statewide elected leader from office for the first time in more t...

47 ATCEMS, Austin Fire stations need generators

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Dozens of Austin-Travis County EMS and Austin Fire stations need generators, according to the city's Building Services Department. After doing an inventory on sites across the city, the department found 47 ATCEMS and Austin Fire stations needed that backup energy. 'Hugely important to public safety'It's a source of energy ATCEMS said it relies on throughout the year. "These generators are just hugely important to public safety and our continuity of operations," ATCEMS Assistant Chief Wesley Hopkins said. Both in the extreme heat and cold, power outages are a concern for them. "It's really important that those ambulance stations do not lose power," Assistant Chief Hopkins said. "All of the medical equipment that we have to power, even if the ambulance isn't running, when it's off, it has to be plugged in."Austin EMS Association President Selena Xie said they also see a spike in call volume during these extreme weather conditions."That means that we're using a lot more...

Hunt for 2023 Union Depot holiday tree kicks off

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

Union Depot has officially begun their search for the next Union Depot holiday tree and is asking Ramsey County residents to keep an eye out for an overgrown, 50 to 70-foot evergreen tree to be the anchor for the transportation hub’s holiday event series.If the tree is selected, the county will remove it and grind it down to its stump, and the tree owner and their family will be able to participate in the holiday tree lighting celebration on Dec. 2 at Union Depot.The tree will be adorned with more than 15,000 energy-efficient LED lights and will “command a warm, festive ambiance for travelers and eventgoers,” Union Depot officials said in a press release.To be considered for the holiday tree, the tree must be:Located in Ramsey CountyBe an evergreenHave overgrown its location or have another reason for removalBe in good condition as it will be seen from all sides.Those who have trees worth considering can email a photo of the tree with their address to info@uniondep...

Don’t count Minnesota out of new women’s pro hockey league

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:14 GMT

When it was announced June 29 that a new ownership group with deep pockets aims to start a new professional hockey league in January, it was immediately assumed by many that Minnesota would be the odd team out.That was already the case in the Premier Hockey League, geographically if not competitively. The Whitecaps’ six league rivals were in New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, Buffalo, Montreal and Toronto.Furthermore, the new, unnamed league — which expects to announce name, teams and markets within a month, according to commissioner Reagan Carey — will be a team smaller than the Premier Hockey Federation, in which the Whitecaps have been playing since 2018.Surely, a new league trying to establish itself as the first economically viable women’s pro hockey league won’t want to start with one market more than 800 miles away from its closest rival.Well, maybe.Reagan Carey, former director of women’s hockey for Team USA, will be the commissioner of a new women’s league expecte...