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US arranging evacuation flights for Americans who want to leave Israel as war with Hamas rages

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is expected to announce soon that the U.S. government will begin operating evacuation flights to help Americans leave Israel as Israel prepares to escalate retaliatory action against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, according to two people familiar with the plans.The evacuation flights are expected to begin operating as early as Friday, according to the people, who requested anonymity to discuss the plans before the official announcement.The U.S. government is arranging for at least four charter flights a day out of Israel through Frankfurt, Germany.There are still some commercial carriers flying in and out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, and ground routes are open to leave Israel. White House officials, however, have voiced concern that those options may not be feasible or affordable for some Americans in Israel who want to leave.White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday that the administration ...

Leak in LA council racism scandal may have come from 2 ex-labor employees, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police say two former employees of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor are the focus of an investigation into a secret recording of several City Council members and a labor leader that entangled City Hall in a racism scandal.The aftermath shook public trust in government and led to the resignations of then-Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez and the powerful labor leader. Councilman Kevin de León has resisted calls for his ouster, including from President Joe Biden, and is running for reelection. The scandal was triggered by a leaked recording of crude, racist comments during a private meeting in 2021 at the labor federation’s headquarters involving Martinez, de León and two others — all Latino Democrats — in which they plotted to expand their political power at the expense of Black voters during a realignment of council district boundaries.Rivalries among groups separated by race, geography, partisanship or religion have a long history i...

Raoul Peck’s ‘Silver Dollar Road’ chronicles a family’s battle to hold onto their land

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — The filmmaker Raoul Peck was sitting in a Toronto hotel lobby talking to a reporter when Barry Jenkins beelined over to embrace him.The two know each other, though it had been years since they saw one another. They also share a mutual affection for James Baldwin. Peck made the incisive, incendiary Oscar-nominated 2017 documentary “I Am Not Your Negro.” Jenkins, following his “Moonlight,” made the 2018 Baldwin adaptation “If Beale Street Could Talk.”“Anytime you make work,” Jenkins told Peck, “I will see it.” The latest from Peck is “Silver Dollar Road,” which opens in theaters Friday and streams Dec. 19 on Prime Video. In it, the Haitian-born filmmaker of “Lumumba,” “Sometimes in April” and some of the most thoughtful, prodding essay-film documentaries, chronicles the story of the Reels family in North Carolina.For generations, the Reels have owned and lived on 65 waterfront acres along Adams Creek in Carteret County. The land, known as Silver Dollar Road, has b...

The morgue at Gaza’s biggest hospital is overflowing as Israeli attacks intensify

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The morgue at Gaza’s biggest hospital overflowed Thursday as bodies came in faster than relatives could claim them on the sixth day of Israel’s heavy aerial bombardment on the territory of 2.3 million people.With scores of Palestinians killed each day in the Israeli onslaught after an unprecedented Hamas attack, medics in the besieged enclave said they ran out of places to put remains pulled from the latest strikes or recovered from under the ruins of demolished buildings.The morgue at Gaza City’s Shifa hospital can only handle some 30 bodies at a time, and workers had to stack corpses three high outside the walk-in cooler and put dozens more, side by side, in the parking lot.“The body bags started and just kept coming and coming and now it’s a graveyard,” Abu Elias Shobaki, a nurse at Shifa, said of the parking lot. “I am emotionally, physically exhausted. I just have to stop myself from thinking about how much worse it will get.” Nearly a w...

Canadian police forces upping local patrols in response to Israel-Hamas war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

TORONTO — Some Canadian police forces say they are increasing local patrols in response to the Israel-Hamas war while offering assurances they have not received any credible threats. Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw says there have been no specific credible threats locally, but the war has shaken the feelings of peace and security in the city.He says police divisions have been directed to “ensure a high visibility presence,” and increased patrols announced earlier this week have now been expanded to include cultural centres, synagogues, mosques, schools and other places of worship. Police in Ottawa, Vancouver and Winnipeg have also announced similar steps.Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Dominic Leblanc says he’s in regular contact with the RCMP and stands with Jewish communities across the country who are feeling vulnerable “ahead of the Hamas-led call for mobilization around the world.”Hundreds of people have been killed after Hamas carried o...

Sailing vessel that suffered broken mast, killing a passenger, had previous incidents

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A historic sailing vessel on which a passenger was fatally injured by a broken mast was involved in three previous accidents in 2022 and 2019 when the schooner was under different ownership, according to Coast Guard records.The Grace Bailey, built in 1882, was returning from a four-day excursion when its main mast splintered and tumbled onto the deck, killing a doctor and injuring three other passengers Monday outside Rockland Harbor. The most serious previous incident happened on July 8, 2022, when the Grace Bailey’s skipper apparently misjudged distance while maneuvering and struck another schooner anchored in Rockland Harbor, with the Grace Bailey’s front boom hitting the American Eagle. American Eagle’s mainsail suffered a large gash, and Grace Bailey’s boom crashed into the water, according to a Coast Guard report. The Grace Bailey also ran aground in 2022 and in 2019. Both times, there were no injuries and only minor damage, according to Coast Guar...

One of two brothers pleads guilty in fatal shooting of Chicago officer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

CHICAGO -- One of the two brothers accused in the fatal shooting of Chicago officer Ella French has pleaded guilty.Eric Morgan, 25, pleaded guilty to several felonies in exchange for a seven-year prison sentence and his cooperation. Prosecutors said Morgan's brother, Emonte Morgan who is also in his 20s, killed officer French and shot her partner Carlos Yanez in the summer of 2021.When their SUV was pulled over in Englewood, Eric and another woman followed the officers' orders, but prosecutors said Emonte refused to get out of the car and a struggle ensued. Former NFL player Sergio Brown arrested in San Diego on murder warrant of mother Emonte is accused of shooting both French and Yanez. French died from her wounds and Yanez was critically injured but recovered from his injuries. Another officer returned fire hitting Emonte twice. The brothers have been held in custody since their arrest and Emonte has been charged with murder and several additional felonies. French was remember...

Family of Dick Butkus releases statement after legend's death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

CHICAGO — For the first time since the death of the football legend, the family of Dick Butkus is speaking out to fans.Their message to those in Chicago and around the country is one of thanks.On the X account for Butkus on Thursday morning, the family released a statement which was a tribute to the College and Pro Football Hall of Famer who is one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of Chicago. The former Chicago Vocational School, University of Illinois, and Chicago Bears standout died at the age of 80 on October 5."Please join us in celebrating the life and legacy of #51 Dick Butkus.Dick lived an extraordinary life representing the heart and soul of Chicago, both on and off the field.We Want to thank you all for the outpouring of support. All the messages, notes, and memories you shared during this difficult time. Each has meant the world to us.Go Bears. Go Illini"Matthew Butkus and The Butkus FamilyAs part of the family's celebration of Dick's legacy on and off the field, ...

450,000 children's loveys and bibs recalled due to choking hazard

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

(WHTM) -- Little Sleepies has issued a recall of their Sleepyhead Loveys and Bandana Bibs due to a choking hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Thursday.According to the commission, the care instruction label on the products can detach and possibly cause young children to choke.The recall affects 450,000 products that were sold in the U.S. and about 3,331 sold in Canada. The recalled loveys and bibs were sold online and at stores nationwide from February 2021 through September 2023.Loveys are security blankets for children, while bibs protect a child's clothes while eating or teething. Both come in a variety of designs and colors. Social Security Administration announces COLA increase for 2024 Two incidents of detached labels have been reported to the California-based company, though there have been no injuries so far.The commission is telling consumers to immediately take the recalled loveys and bibs away from children and remove the label or return ...

Woman accused of hiding ATV, lying in deadly suburban crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:21 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — A woman has been charged after authorities allege she coordinated to hide an ATV and lied to investigators following a deadly crash of an acquaintance.At around 1 a.m. on Feb. 7, Lake County deputies responded to the area of North Lake Shore Drive and Greenwood Avenue, in unincorporated Spring Grove, on the report of a person down.Upon arrival, Glenn Luthardt, 56, was located unresponsive and he was transported to Northwestern Hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital.Shortly after the incident, police told the public Luthardt was drinking at a nearby bar and had a revoked license. He left on an ATV, police said.At the time, they alleged an acquaintance, identified Thursday as Samantha Jacobson, 45, of Crystal Lake, had the ATV removed off of Luthhardt so it didn't look like he was driving. Previous: Suburban man leaves bar and dies in ATV crash, acquaintances hide evidence Police allege Jacobson coordinate...