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Man convicted in stray-bullet killing of Puerto Rican Olympian’s mom in her Connecticut home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

A Connecticut man has been convicted of murder in the stray-bullet killing of the mother of a two-time Olympian rifle shooter from Puerto Rico.A jury found Franklin Robinson, 40, guilty Friday in the death of Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi. The 56-year-old was in her sewing and crafts room in Waterbury when a bullet flew through a wall and hit her in the head on April 9, 2022.Martinez Antongiorgi’s daughter, Yarimar Mercado Martinez, competed for the family’s native Puerto Rico at the 2016 and pandemic-delayed 2020 Games. The athlete was in Brazil for a competition when her mother was killed.A message seeking comment was sent to her Saturday. At the time of her mother’s death, she anguished in social media posts that she “couldn’t even say goodbye.” “Why you? Why this way? You were just sitting in your little house sewing, as you always did,” she wrote.According to trial testimony, a jealous Robinson was gunning for a man who had said hello to Robinson’s gi...

Hundreds of thousands march on Jerusalem to try and halt judicial overhaul

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

Tens of thousands of protesters marched into Jerusalem on Saturday evening and hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in Tel Aviv and other cities in a last-ditch show of force aimed at blocking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial overhaul.Also Saturday, more than 100 of Israel’s former security chiefs signed a letter pleading with the Israeli premier to halt the legislation, and thousands of additional military reservists said they would no longer report for duty, in a protest against the plan.In scorching heat that reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit), the procession into Jerusalem turned the city’s main entrance into a sea of blue and white Israeli flags as marchers completed the last leg of a four-day, 70 kilometer (45-mile) trek from Tel Aviv to Israel’s parliament.The marchers, who grew from hundreds to thousands as the march progressed, were welcomed in Jerusalem by throngs of cheering protesters before...

Some critics see Trump’s behavior as un-Christian. His conservative Christian backers see a hero

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

For eight years, Donald Trump has managed to secure the support of many evangelical and conservative Christians despite behavior that often seemed at odds with teachings espoused by Christ in the Gospels.If some observers initially viewed this as an unsustainable alliance, it’s different now.Certain achievements during Trump’s presidency – notably appointments that shifted the Supreme Court to the right – have solidified that support. He’s now the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, even after he recently was found liable for sexually abusing a New York woman in 1996 and was indicted in a criminal case related to hush money payments to a porn actress.Robert Jeffress, pastor of an evangelical megachurch in Dallas, has been a staunch supporter of Trump since his first campaign for president and is sticking by him even as rivals like South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Vice President Mike Pence tout their Christian faith.“Conservative Christians con...

Smothered, covered, starstruck: Lana Del Rey spotted working at Waffle House in Alabama

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) — A number of people have spotted singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey in Alabama, where she's reportedly recording, visiting friends and … working at Waffle House?The singer, originally from New York, was first sighted in Birmingham on Monday at a nail salon. In an interview with Nexstar's WIAT, 21-year-old Jordan Suttles described his experience with the "Summertime Sadness" singer. “I saw her sitting [in one of the chairs] and I basically did a double take and I thought, ‘Oh, this must be like a look-alike’ because I knew she just did a concert in Canada,” he said. “But I immediately put my hand over my mouth in utter shock and she just smiled at me, waved and laughed a little.” Waffle House has a ‘secret’ plate-marking system for keeping track of your order That night, Del Rey made it up to downtown Florence where fans got the chance to take a photo with the six-time Grammy-nominated artist.But it was few days later, when Del Rey was spotted at Waffle House, th...

How much do you need to be a 'one-percenter' in Illinois?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Data shows the wealthiest 1% of Americans control over a third of nation’s total wealth. But what it takes to be a “one-percenter” can vary based on where you live, a new analysis has found. Personal finance website SmartAsset reviewed data from the IRS and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate how much income it takes to be among the top earners in each state. Nationally, households earning just over $652,650 are considered the wealthiest. When it comes to individual states, SmartAsset found the requirement to be among the top 1% ranging from $368,000 to nearly $1 million.  Here’s the richest person in your state, according to Forbes States with the highest floor to be a one-percenter were primarily along the coasts while those with the lowest floors were primarily in the center of the country. Technically, it was our capital that had the highest 1% threshold, not a state. The top earners in Washington, D.C. earn at least $1,013,698, SmartAss...

Drought conditions cause several boil water notices throughout Central Texas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

MANOR, Texas (KXAN) – A boil water notice was issued Friday morning for some residents in Manor, according to the Cottonwood Creek municipal utility district (MUD). Environmentalists say that as drought conditions worsen, boil water notices will become more common. Officials said a precautionary boil water notice was necessary due to low water pressures. They said the low water pressure is a result of extreme drought conditions and supply issues from the district’s wholesale water provider.“To ensure the destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes,” a Cottonwood Creek Spokesperson said.Customers also have the option to purchase bottled water instead of boiling their water.Manor Water WoesOn Thursday night, Alexzandrea Draughon, her husband and their thr...

Fire near Jarrell drops to 286 acres, 95% contained

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Officials are responding to a large grass fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County. The Texas A&M Forest Service is helping respond to the fire, named the Cobb Creek Fire, and estimates the fire is about 286 acres and is 95% contained as of 3 p.m. Saturday.The forest service initially estimated the fire to be about 100 acres on Wednesday but said in an updated tweet Thursday morning that it was an estimated 500 acres. The service said the increase in acreage is a result of more accurate mapping. On Thursday afternoon, the forest service said crews built a containment line "closer to the fire's edge," dropping the estimated size of the fire to 300 acres. "Aviation and ground crews are making good progress," the Texas A&M Forest Service wrote on social media.The grass fire started Wednesday afternoon at 1001 Cobb Creek Road shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to a news release from Williamson County. Shortly before 9 p.m., Will...

Biden picks female admiral to lead Navy. She'd be first woman on Joint Chiefs of Staff

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has chosen Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy, an unprecedented choice. If confirmed, she would be the first woman Pentagon service chief and the first woman member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Biden's decision goes against the recommendation of his Pentagon chief. But Franchetti, the current vice chief of operations for the Navy, has broad command and executive experience and was considered by insiders to be the top choice for the job. In a statement Friday, Biden noted the historical significance of her selection, saying, “Throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas.”Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recommended that Biden select Adm. Samuel Paparo, the current commander of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, several U.S. officials said last month. But instead, Biden is nominating Paparo t...

Rockies rally past Marlins behind Nolan Jones, Randal Grichuk

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

The Rockies have suddenly become homewreckers.They won their second straight game at Miami’s loanDepot Park Saturday afternoon, rallying from a 3-0 deficit to win, 4-3. The victory clinched Colorado’s first series victory at Miami since 2013.Randal Grichuk delivered the go-ahead run in the ninth off Tanner Scott with a single up the middle to score Ryan McMahon from second. McMahon led off with a single to right field with a terrific nine-pitch at-bat. McMahon advanced to second when Scott plunked Elias Diaz.As of Thursday, the Marlins were 30-17 at home. Now they are 30-19 after getting hammered by the Rockies, 6-1, on Friday night, and then losing again Saturday. The reeling Marlins have lost eight consecutive games since the All-Star break.Rookie right fielder Nolan Jones resurrected the Rockies with a three-run homer off right-hander JT Chargois in the seventh. He turned on Chargois’ first-pitch slider, sending it 445 feet to right-center. Jones’ homer wa...

CU Buffs football notes: Cormani McClain flashing talent even through adjustment period

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:39 GMT

Colorado freshman cornerback Cormani McClain goes through a drill during a workout on the Boulder, Colo., campus in July of 2023. McClain came to CU as a five-star recruit from Lakeland, Fla. (University of Colorado Athletics)LAS VEGAS – There are growing pains that every freshman must go through in college football.Not even the blue chip prospects are immune.The Colorado Buffaloes are excited about the potential of true freshman cornerback Cormani McClain, a five-star recruit from Lakeland, Fla., but the adjustment to high altitude has been rough at times.“Cormani’s funny,” CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders said at Pac-12 media day on Friday. “(Sophomore Travis Hunter), he calls Cormani, ‘Pukey.’ Cormani, he’s getting adjusted to the altitude real well. We have a bet like every day that he’s not gonna throw up.”Once McClain settles in, the Buffs are excited about his potential. Rated the No. 1 cornerback in the country for the 2023 class, McClain chose CU over Miami and had about two ...