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Much of Florida under state of emergency as possible tropical storm forms in Gulf of Mexico

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Saturday for most of the state’s Gulf coast as forecasters say a weather system off the coast of Mexico could soon become a tropical storm and start moving toward the area.DeSantis’ declaration covers the Gulf coast from the southwestern city of Fort Myers north through Panama City in the Panhandle. Thirty-three of the state’s 67 counties are covered in the declaration.The National Hurricane Center says there’s a 70% chance the system will become a tropical storm by Monday and a 90% chance overall. Currently, it would be named “Idalia” if no other tropical storm form before it. Forecast models do not show the storm’s center approaching the areas of southwest Florida where deadly Hurricane Ian struck last year.It is not immediately clear if the storm would reach hurricane strength or exactly where it will go. Still, any storm of this nature can cause massiv...

7 people shot in Dorchester near annual Caribbean festival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

Seven people were shot in Dorchester Saturday morning in the area of a local Caribbean festival, officials said.Police were on scene in the area of Blue Hill Avenue and Talbot Avenue Saturday morning, delaying festival activities. The shooting happened around 7:44 a.m., and all victims have non-life threatening injuries.Boston police said arrests have been made, and firearms were confiscated at the scene.The Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston hosted a parade Saturday morning in the area, starting in Roxbury later today and heading down Blue Hill Ave ending at Franklin Park. J’ouvert Bands also began at 5:30 a.m. Saturday on Talbot Avenue.Further information was not immediately available.

Simone Biles ends the first day of competition at the US Gymnastics Championships with the lead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

(CNN) — Simone Biles kicked off her quest for a record 8th US title with a remarkable performance at Friday night’s competition at the US Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, California.The four-time Olympic gold medalist ends the opening day of competition in first place with a score of 59.3, 2.75 points ahead of the field.Biles had a dazzling balance beam routine in her first rotation, though it got off to a shaky start after Biles’ foot was off-balance on the beam. She recovered to score a 14.50, placing her at the top to start the day.Biles and world all-around silver medalist Shilese Jones were tied at 29.25 points through the second rotation. Biles then took the lead after pulling off a Yurchenko double pike and following it up with a Cheng on the vault, then closed out the night with a miraculous performance on the uneven bars.“Beams started off a little bit rough, but that’s kind of to be expected. You get your nerves out of the way and then after that, it was pretty s...

Homelessness on the rise in Somerville

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

Homelessness continues to be on the rise in Somerville, an issue pushing city councilors to say the mayor must declare a state of emergency.Around 21 people slept at Chuckie Harris Park in the East Somerville neighborhood recently, according to city officials. Councilor Matthew McLaughlin said he predicts there are “hundreds” of residents living on the streets.Of the “unhoused” population, McLaughlin said he believes a small fraction is causing mischief, including public defecation, fighting, thefts, destruction of city property and trespassing. But still, those incidents are becoming too commonplace, he said.“I’m not talking about a historic trend. This is an escalation in the past month,” McLaughlin said during Thursday’s council meeting. “These are just unacceptable conditions for anyone to live in whether you are homeless or you are housed.”McLaughlin sponsored various resolutions and orders pertaining to the problem, all of which the council approved Thursday, one calling on Ma...

7 people shot during Boston’s J’ouvert celebrations; Boston police arrest two

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

Boston police arrested two individuals connected to a Saturday morning shooting in Dorchester that left seven people with non-life threatening injuries, authorities said.Officers responded to multiple gunshots in the area of 10 Talbot Ave. at 7:43 a.m. just as people were celebrating the J’ouvert parade, which happens before the Caribbean Carnival later in the day, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said. Multiple weapons were recovered, according to police.Officers stationed at the parade rushed towards gunfire and started applying tourniquets to the wounded, Cox said. The investigation into the shooting is in its early stages, Cox said, but police believe two groups may have had some form of “altercation.” Cox said there could be a possible eighth victim who was grazed by a bullet.“I just want to say to any bad actors who want to potentially come to any large gathering or crowd to do harm, that we have many, many officers out here and we will absolutely do all we can to make s...

Woman electrocuted after crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A woman was electrocuted Saturday after a crash in the Ridgeview/Webster neighborhood, the San Diego Police Department confirmed.A 31-year-old woman was driving a 2014 Kia Forte southbound on the 1300 block of Euclid Avenue round 2:30 a.m. when for unknown reasons the driver veered to the right, authorities explained. According to SDPD, she drove over the sidewalk and collided with an electrical box. County officials update residents on water boil advisory At that time, the driver and passenger -- a 22-year-old woman -- exited the vehicle, police said. The passenger reportedly attempted to push the vehicle off of the electrical box and was electrocuted. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, SDPD confirmed. The driver was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of minor electrical burns. The driver's injuries do not appear to be life threatening, police said.SDPD's Traffic Division responded and is handling an investigation into the matter...

Longtime 'The Price is Right' host Bob Barker dies aged 99

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

Bob Barker, the longtime host of the gameshow "The Price is Right," has died at the age of 99.Barker's publicist Roger Neal confirmed his death early Saturday morning."It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World's Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us," Neal's statement read.Longtime friend of Barker and co-executor of the staunch animal activist's estate Nancy Burnet also released a statement regarding his passing:I am so proud of the trailblazing work Barker and I did together to expose the cruelty to animals in the entertainment industry and including working to improve the plight of abused and exploited animals in the United States and internationally. We were great friends over these 40 years, and he will be missed.Barker retired from hosting "The Price is Right" after 50 years on TV in 2007.

German state official denies writing an antisemitic flyer when he was at school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The deputy governor of Germany’s Bavaria state on Saturday rejected allegations that he was responsible for an antisemitic flyer as a high school student, claims that came weeks before a state election.Hubert Aiwanger said in a statement that he didn’t write the flyer and considers its contents “disgusting and inhuman.” He said he knows who created the handout and that the person would explain himself, adding it wasn’t and isn’t his style to “squeal on other people.” The politician’s brother later said that he was the author.Daily German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported Friday that when Aiwanger was 17, he was suspected of writing a typed flyer calling for entries to a competition titled “Who is the biggest traitor to the fatherland?” It listed, among other things, a “1st prize: a free flight through the chimney at Auschwitz.”The newspaper said it spoke with several people, whom it didn’t identify, who said a school disciplinary com...

Thousands converge on National Mall to mark the March on Washington’s 60th anniversary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands converged on the National Mall on Saturday for the 60th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, saying a country that remains riven by racial inequality has yet to fulfill his dream.“We have made progress, over the last 60 years, since Dr. King led the March on Washington,” said Alphonso David, president and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum. “Have we reached the mountaintop? Not by a longshot.”The event is convened by the Kings’ Drum Major Institute and the Rev. Al Sharpton ‘s National Action Network. A host of Black civil rights leaders and a multiracial, interfaith coalition of allies will rally attendees on the same spot where as many as 250,000 gathered in 1963 for what is still considered one of the greatest and most consequential racial justice and equality demonstrations in U.S. history.Inevitably, Saturday’s even was shot through with contrasts to the initial, historic demonstration. Sp...

A second merchant ship leaves Ukraine’s port of Odesa following Russia’s exit from grain deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

A second container ship sailed Saturday through a temporary Black Sea corridor established by Ukraine’s government after Russia halted a wartime agreement aimed at ensuring safe grain exports from the invaded country’s ports. The Primus, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, left the port of Odesa on Saturday morning and was steaming south towards the Bulgarian port of Varna, according to data from marine traffic monitoring sites. Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko also posted a photo of the vessel leaving port on his Telegram channel.The Primus’ departure came 10 days after the launch of another container ship that had been docked in Odesa since before Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor, the Hong Kong-flagged Joseph Schulte. Analysts had surmised that China’s political closeness to Russia might have eased that ship’s passage and raised doubts whether vessels registered elsewhere would follow.The interim corridor, which Kyiv has asked the Internation...