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A fiery explosion in Dominican Republic kills 2 and injures dozens of others

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

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A powerful explosion rocked a town near the capital of the Dominican Republic on Monday, killing at least two people and injuring more than two dozen others, authorities said.The explosion occurred at a bakery in the town of San Cristobal, which lies just west of Santo Domingo. Officials said the fire then spread to a hardware store located next door and a nearby furniture store. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the explosion.Charred cars and debris from a couple of collapsed buildings lined the streets as thick black smoke rose from the town’s center and prompted several businesses to evacuate while crowds gathered to film the incident.The country’s 911 system said at least two people died. Meanwhile, Pura Casilla, the governor of San Cristobal province, told Noticias SIN that at least 28 others were injured. She told the local TV station that the explosion occurred in a commercial area and greatly affected businesses near...

Texas woman who helped hide US soldier Vanessa Guillén’s body sentenced to 30 years in prison

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

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas woman was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison for helping dispose of the body of a U.S. soldier, whose 2020 killing sparked a movement of women speaking out about sexual abuse in the military and led to changes in how they can report it, according to the Guillén family’s attorney.Cecily Aguilar is the only suspect arrested in the death of Vanessa Guillén, who was killed at Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood, near Killeen, Texas. Aguilar was 24 years old when she pleaded guilty in November at a federal court in Waco, Texas, to one count of accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of making a false statement, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The sentence came after hours of testimony from attorneys, experts and Guillén’s family. Aguilar aided boyfriend Army Spc. Aaron Robinson, 20, of Calumet City, Illinois, in dismembering and disposing of Guillén’s body in a rural, wooded area in Killeen, according to federal and ...

Utah man accused of threatening president pointed gun at agents, FBI says

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

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah man accused of making violent threats against President Joe Biden before a trip to Salt Lake City last week pointed a handgun at FBI agents attempting to arrest him, the agency said on Monday.Craig Robertson, a 75-year-old Air Force veteran, was killed during a raid on his home in Provo last Wednesday, hours before Biden arrived. FBI agents went to his home early in the morning to arrest him for three felonies, including making threats against the president and agents who had been investigating him for months, according to court records unsealed after the raid.“Robertson resisted arrest and as agents attempted to take him into custody, he pointed a .357 revolver at them,” FBI spokesperson Sandra Barker said in a statement Monday.Two law enforcement sources — who spoke to The Associated Press last week on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of an ongoing investigation — said Robertson was armed at the time of the shooting. Monday’s state...

‘No Labels’ movement says it could offer independent presidential ticket in 2024

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

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A national political movement that could offer an independent presidential ticket in 2024 as an alternative to major-party nominees said Monday it has now won ballot access in 10 states, after North Carolina election officials formally granted official status to a “No Labels” affiliate.The State Board of Elections voted 4-1 on Sunday to recognize the No Labels Party as an official North Carolina party following a successful petition effort. It joins four other recognized parties with which voters can now choose to be registered and field candidates.The new North Carolina party is linked to a national No Labels effort that lists a wide array of mostly centrist political leaders backing it. They include ex-North Carolina GOP Gov. Pat McCrory, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Democrat who became an independent.No Labels is poised to offer an independent ticket for president and vice president if Democrats and Repub...

Singh joins Alberta NDP in push for 2035 net-zero grid, while Sask. NDP wants 2050

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

OTTAWA — New Democrats in two Western provinces are split over the Liberal government’s goal of a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, with the federal party now saying it supports that timeline.Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault released draft regulations last week aimed at making good on the Liberals’ pledge to rid the grid of emissions, sparking sharp reactions from provincial governments in Alberta and Saskatchewan about the 12-year deadline.Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck has also come out swinging against the Liberal policy, saying it’s unrealistic to replace the province’s generation capacity with renewables in that timeline.She believes 2050 is a more attainable goal. “With more than two-thirds of SaskPower’s generation coming from fossil fuels today, it isn’t realistic to replace all that generation capacity with renewables in the timelines proposed by the federal government,” Beck said in a statement.In neighbouring Alberta,...

New image of Our Lady of Guadalupe unveiled at shrine in Des Plaines

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

DES PLAINES, Ill. — A new image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be unveiled at the shrine in Des Plaines on Monday evening.Back in June, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrated its 10th anniversary and the current Archbishop of Mexico City, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, gifted the shrine the image, which bears his coat of arms.The image symbolizes the connection between the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City and the shrine in Chicago, a place of worship for many across the country who flock to the site for the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe each December.Sunlight, dust and moisture had taken their toll on the old image, so there is a lot of excitement surrounding the new depiction.A rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. on Monday at the shrine before a mass is held at 7 p.m.Afterwards, a procession and the enthronement will take place, which will make the new image official.The ceremony will take place outdoors in the plaza of the shrine located near Central Road an...

'Three decades of service:' Mayor Johnson introduces pick for next CPD Superintendent

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

CHICAGO — During a press conference at city hall on Monday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling as his choice for the department's next superintendent. "He will build upon his three decades of service, most recently, of course, as Chief of the Bureau of Counterterrorism, after rising through the ranks of this department," Mayor Johnson said. The mayor says Snelling is a proven leader with an impressive reputation and resume who will unify CPD and ensure Chicagoans are safe. Johnson chooses Larry Snelling to be next CPD Superintendent "We will work together to continue to build the partnerships that ensure every single voice is heard, that every resident feels safe and those who are most impacted by crime in our city have a seat at the table in influencing the solutions that our communities deserve," Johnson said. Snelling, a lifelong South Sider, says he is eager to begin his new role. "Every member of this city has to b...

Downpours to cause flooding concerns before heat, humidity settle in

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

An unusually strong August storm threatens additional heavy, occasionally thundery downpours that are likely to continue sweeping the Chicago area—particularly the area from the I-80 to I-88 corridor northward—from time to time through midnight to 1 a.m. Tuesday morning. Additional showers, more sporadic, are to continue beyond that into the opening hours of Tuesday.  Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here The storm has already dropped 1.50" of rain at Midway and just over 0.26" at O'Hare as of the 3:30pm post time for this message and the latest forecast.  But the rains are hardly over.  It's widespread rainfall totals of 0.90" to as much as 2.70" are likely to fall with the potential for a few heavier totals of, as much as 2.50"-5" not out of the question, given the involvement of t-storms. The Chicago area—particularly from the I-80 to I-88 corridor—is being advised of AN EXCESSIVE RAINFALL RISK by the Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.  &...

Woman connected with Vanessa Guillén's death sentenced to 30 years

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

WACO, Texas (KXAN/KWKT) – A woman charged in connection with the death of U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release.Cecily Ann Aguilar, 25, entered a guilty plea to one count of accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of false statement or representation. She appeared before Judge Jeffrey C. Manske in November 2022 – where she admitted to being an accessory after the fact and making false statements to law enforcement. Woman pleads guilty to four counts in connection with Vanessa Guillén’s death Guillén disappeared in April 2020 after meeting with Specialist Aaron Robinson in an arms room on Fort Cavazos, which was called Fort Hood at the time, KWKT reported. Guillén’s body was found in July 2020. Robinson later died by suicide when confronted by authorities about Guillén’s disappearance. Aguilar was facing eleven counts connected to Guillén’s murder, including Tampe...

Texas Longhorns offensive line strikes NIL deal with nonalcoholic beer company

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

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It started with The Pancake Factory, and now the Texas Longhorns offensive line is part of another NIL deal.Athletic Brewing, makers of nonalcoholic beer and sparkling hop water, and the Longhorns offensive line have formed a partnership and will formally introduce it Aug. 19 at the Hancock Center H-E-B, located at 1000 E. 41st St.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/newslettersDJ Campbell, Cameron Williams, Hayden Conner, Neto Zulu, Kelvin Banks Jr., Cole Hutson, Christian Jones and Jake Majors will all be on hand to sign autographs and host a nonalcoholic beer sampling at the grocery store from 1-3 p.m.The new NIL deal for the linemen comes after the landmark NIL partnership started by Horns With Heart, now part of the Texas One Fund. The Pancake Factory initiative pays participating offensive linemen $50,000 for contributing to various charitable activities.