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French parliament approves a divisive immigration bill, prompting an uproar for Macron’s government

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government faced an uproar on Wednesday after parliament approved a divisive immigration bill backed by the far right.The bill, meant to strengthen France’s ability to deport foreigners considered undesirable, passed the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, with a 349-186 vote late Tuesday. It had been adopted by the Senate.Macron’s health minister resigned to show his opposition to the draft legislation, and some left-leaning lawmakers in the centrist alliance decided to abstain or vote against it.Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who championed the bill, said the government wants “greater firmness against foreign offenders.”“Who here can say that we must allow criminals, people on our land, who attack us, attack our professors, and who attack our police forces and who attack the youth on the cafe terraces, without reacting?” he said in a speech at the National Assembly.He singled out the recent scho...

5-month skid in home sales snapped in November as easing mortgage rates give buyers breathing room

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in November, ending a five-month skid, as easing mortgage rates provided some breathing room for homebuyers.Existing home sales rose 0.8% last month from October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.82 million, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. That tops the 3.78 million sales pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.Sales were still down 7.3% compared with November last year, and are down 19.3% through the first 11 months of 2023 compared with the same period last year. The pickup in sales helped push up home prices compared with a year earlier for the fifth month in a row. The national median sales price rose 4% from November last year to $387,600.The modest increase in sales arrives with mortgage rates in decline after a sharp runup that sent borrowing costs on home loans higher. The rising cost of borrowing money compounded hurdles for buyers because there are so few homes on the ...

Acusan a un hombre de robar a bordo de un avión US$ 23.000 en efectivo a otros pasajeros

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

(CNN) — Un hombre fue acusado de robo después de supuestamente robarle más de US$ 23.000 en efectivo a tres compañeros de viaje durante un vuelo económico de Vietnam a Singapur.El hombre fue nombrado en los pliegos de cargos judiciales como Zhang Xiuqiang, un ciudadano chino de 52 años que había estado a bordo de un vuelo operado por Scoot, la aerolínea económica de Singapore Airlines. Un portavoz de la aerolínea dijo a CNN que “estaba al tanto de un incidente” ocurrido a bordo de un vuelo de la ciudad de Ho Chi Minh a Singapur el 16 de diciembre.“Nuestra tripulación de cabina fue alertada por parte un pasajero sobre un presunto robo en la cabina y activó la División de Policía del Aeropuerto”, dijo el portavoz. “Los pasajeros involucrados fueron escoltados fuera del avión por las autoridades del aeropuerto para una mayor investigación, y el desembarco se desarrolló como de costumbre para el resto de nuestros pasajeros”.Estos desconocidos se...

Montgomery Co. police arrest California man for 31-year-old rape case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

Montgomery County, Maryland, police arrested a California man Tuesday in connection to a 31-year-old cold case.Xavier Battice, 62, was arrested and charged for a 1992 rape in Chevy Chase, Maryland.DNA evidence from the crime scene was submitted to the Combined DNA Index System by cold case detectives, which came back as a match to Battice, according to a news release from police.After detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Battice, they contacted the Morgan Hill Police Department in California, where he was residing. Battice was arrested by Morgan Hill police and later extradited to Montgomery County Central Processing in Maryland on Friday, Dec. 15.Battice was charged with two counts of second-degree rape and one count of second-degree sex assault and is being held without bond.According to police, on Sept. 24, 1992, a female exited a bus near the 5400 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase when a suspect, who police have identified as Battice, followed her before he forced he...

Downtown Kingston arena to officially become Slush Puppie Place

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

After 5 years of being known as the Leon’s Centre, the naming rights for Kingston’s downtown arena have been made official. The arena will for at least the next ten years be known as “Slush Puppie Place”, taking the namesake of the frozen beverage company after their fifteen year bid. McKercher Kingston Ltd. who owned the previous “Leon’s Centre” naming rights declined to extend their agreement past its June 25 expiration, but agreed to keep the name in place until a new sponsor was determined.Slush Puppie Canada Inc. will pay $135,000 per year for a total of $2,025,000 over the course of 15 years.Slush Puppie will acquire signage rights, family events, advertising, and social media presence as part of the deal, but certain elements from the previous deal are not involved including the use of suites and the option to use the facility up to 12 times per year.On Tuesday night councillors voted unanimously for the name change to be approved, an...

Denver man recognized after rescuing unconscious 80-year-old in creek

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver resident John Chase was recognized nationally after saving the life of an 80-year-old man who was swept over 200 feet down Gore Creek.According to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, on July 17, Joseph Radtke had gone fishing with his dog in Vail. When he began to cross a shallow part of Gore Creek, his dog pulled away, causing Radtke to fall into the 56-degree creek. Colorado rancher asks state to remove wolves after latest attack on his livestock He was swept into the rapids headfirst. After hitting multiple rocks, he was knocked unconscious in the creek with his head face down in the water.At the same time, Chase, 53, was biking with his wife when he saw Radtke in the water.Chase caught up to Radtke and jumped into the icy water and grabbed him.The two men were swept downstream another 225 feet before Chase was able to pull Radtke into shallow water and perform CPR until first responders arrived.Radtke was hospitalized for six days but made a full recovery...

Caught on camera: Armed robbers' getaway car stolen by another thief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Three armed suspects who allegedly robbed a check cashing business in Commerce City got an ironic surprise when their getaway vehicle was stolen by a separate thief.The unexpected twist was caught on camera and released by the Commerce City Police Department.The initial robbery began around 11 a.m. on Dec. 16. Commerce City police said officers arrested two of three masked and armed suspects who were allegedly robbing the HiLo Check Cashing in the 7200 block of Monaco Street.During the robbery, the suspects themselves were robbed. ‘Grinch’ caught on camera slashing holiday inflatables in Wheat Ridge Commerce City police said a fourth criminal stole the armed robbers' getaway vehicle. Police are not sure if the getaway vehicle belonged to the alleged robbers or if it was previously stolen. Police decided to release a video of the ironic moment due to what they said was "popular demand." In the clip, you can see a person who was standing on the sidewalk notice the ve...

Recovery efforts underway after gas explosion in West Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

The task of clearing debris commenced after a catastrophic blast rocked a West Park neighborhood on Tuesday. Leroy Wilkerson, among the affected residents, spent Wednesday repairing the aftermath of the explosion that knocked out windows and caused extensive damage the night before.The intense home explosion, likely triggered by gas, resonated blocks away, leaving a family of four, including two children, hospitalized. Neighbors rushed to the rescue as paramedics swiftly arrived on the scene.Fire Rescue PIO Battalion Chief Michael Kane addressed the incident in a press release. “At this point, we don’t know the source of the explosion. We just know that the explosion was caused by some type of gas,” he stated. Some residents reported smelling gas for two days prior to the incident. “The kids smelled gas,” said Wilkerson. “They talked to the authorities yesterday that they smelled gas for two days.” From the air, the extent of the devastation...

Patients at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood receive sweet surprise for the holidays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

Young patients at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood got their hands and their bellies full.The staff on Wednesday transformed the City Furniture Family Lounge into a sweet factory that was filled with cookies that the children were able to decorate.They also got some help from Lotsy Dotsy the clown and Freedom the therapy dog.“We wanted to make sure we brought a little bit of that cozy home feeling to brighten their spirits and make them feel a little bit more excited about the day, even though they’re going through some tough times,” said Caitlin Maribona with City Furniture. The event was held for children who will be spending their Christmas at the hospital.

Suspect in killing of TV news anchor’s mother has been captured in Connecticut

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:23 GMT

GROTON, Conn. (AP) — A man wanted in the killing of a television news anchor’s mother in Vermont in February was captured at a Connecticut hotel Wednesday, the U.S. Marshals Service said.Shawn Conlon, 44, was arrested in Groton by marshals, local police and Rhode Island State Police. Authorities said Conlon will be arraigned in Connecticut and later extradited to Vermont to face a second-degree homicide charge.Claudia Voight, 73, of Windham, Vermont, died in her home Feb. 20. Law enforcement officials initially believed she suffered from a medical event but later determined she died from neck compression that was detectable only during an autopsy.Voight was the mother of Heidi Voight, an NBC Connecticut news anchor and Miss Connecticut 2006.Heidi Voight did not immediately return an email message Wednesday. On her Facebook page, she posted “HALLELUJAH.”In a July Facebook posting, Heidi Voight revealed the manner of her mother’s death.“I have been carrying this ...