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Biden wants to compensate New Mexico residents sickened by radiation during 1945 nuclear testing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

BELEN, N.M. (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he’s open to granting assistance for people sickened by exposure to radiation during nuclear weapons testing, including in New Mexico, where the world’s first atomic bomb was tested in 1945.Biden brought up the issue while speaking Wednesday in Belen at a factory that produces wind towers.“I’m prepared to help in terms of making sure that those folks are taken care of,” he said. The state’s place in American history as a testing ground has gotten more attention recently with the release of “Oppenheimer,” a movie about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and the top-secret Manhattan Project.Biden watched the film last week while on vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico spoke of how the first bomb was tested on soil just south of where the event was. The senator also discussed getting an amendment into the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which gives payments to people become il...

Virginia prison officials won’t divulge complaints about facility where inmate died

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Department of Corrections, under scrutiny over the death of an inmate that raised broader questions about conditions at a southwest Virginia prison, is refusing to release public records documenting inmate complaints about the facility.Allegations that multiple inmates were treated for hypothermia arose as part of a lawsuit over Charles Givens’ death last year at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center. The lawsuit alleges Givens was tortured and beaten by guards off-camera.The Department of Corrections said Wednesday that it isn’t required to turn over dozens of pages of documents because they involve incarcerated people and relate to their imprisonment. The agency refused to hand over the documents even with the names of prisoners’ and corrections officers redacted. The Associated Press had asked the department for two years’ worth of any inmate complaints related to topics such as uncomfortably cold temperatures at the prison, nonfunctioni...

Sudan fighting is driving country to collapse and millions face a ‘humanitarian calamity’, UN says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Nearly four months of brutal fighting is driving Sudan to collapse with millions of people trapped in a “humanitarian calamity” and the possibility of a new ethnic conflict spilling into the region, U.N. officials said Wednesday.The dire briefings to the U.N. Security Council by Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee and the U.N. humanitarian agency’s operations director, Edem Wosornu, painted a grim picture of escalating clashes and no sign of an end to the conflict, which the government said in June had killed more than 3,000 people. No figures have been released since then.Wosornu said the country’s descent into “a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe” has only deepened with more than 4 million people fleeing their homes and over 20 million — more than half the population — facing “high levels of food insecurity,” or serious hunger.The fighting pits forces loyal to top army Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan against the paramilitary forces commanded by his rival, Gen...

Hawaii officials prepare for thousands of people displaced by fires. Follow along for live updates

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

Follow along for live updates of wildfires that are racing across part of Maui in Hawaii, destroying sections of a historic town on the island and forcing some to flee to the relative safety of the ocean, where the Coast Guard rescued them. The fires forced evacuations in some areas, including the popular tourist spot of Lahaina Town. The National Weather Service says Hurricane Dora, which is passing south of the island chain at a safe distance, was partly to blame for strong winds driving the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters. OFFICIALS PREPARE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DISPLACED BY FIRESOfficials are preparing the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu to accommodate up to 4,000 people displaced by the wildfires that swept across parts of Maui. James Tokioka, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, said the center is not just for tourists, but also for locals. “Local people have lost everything,” he said. “They’ve lost ...

Man charged in sexual assaults near Toronto’s Dufferin Mall

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

A man is facing charges following alleged sexual assaults in Toronto’s Dufferin Grove neighbourhood, and police believe there may be more victims.Toronto police responded to a call for a sexual assault in the Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West area around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2.It’s alleged a man approached a woman while she was walking across Dufferin Street. He sexually assaulted the woman and fled the area.Toronto police responded to another sexual assault call in the Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West area around 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 5.In a similar incident, investigators said a man approached a woman while she was walking in the Dufferin Mall parking lot. He then sexually assaulted the woman and fled the area.Toronto police arrested the suspect on Wednesday. He was identified as 48-year-old Carlos Palmer of Toronto. He’s facing two counts of sexual assault.He’s expected to appear in court on Thursday morning.

Motorcyclist killed in Brampton crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

Peel regional police say a motorcyclist is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Brampton on Wednesday.Emergency crews were called to the Goreway Drive and Auction Lane area at around 4:44 p.m. The motorcyclist, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene.The driver of the vehicle remained on scene. There’s no word at this point on possible charges. Police are advising drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.

Elmhurst community hosts watch party for team on verge of Little League World Series

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

ELMHURST, Ill. — The boys from Elmhurst Little League are one step away from making it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania — and on Wednesday — the local community organized a watch party for their game against New Albany, Ohio.Friends, family, and local supporters of the team gathered at Doc's Victory Pub in Elmhurst to watch their favorite Little Leaguers play, while the team itself prepared to take the field in Whitestown, Indiana, where they are playing for a regional championship."We all have confidence in our boys," said Margaret Wente, a parent of a player on the team. "This group of boys is good and they work so hard. They play well together."This is the first time Elmhurst Little League has made it to a Little League regional championship, where they are representing the state of Illinois in the Great Lakes Regionals. More on Elmhurst's journey: Elmhurst baseball team on the brink of Little League World Series If Elmhurst wins their matchup aga...

What's expected out of Justin Fields in Bears' preseason opener?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - There are usually two main questions that are presented to a head coach ahead of a preseason opener: How much will the starters play and will the starting quarterback take the field? Matt Eberflus had an answer when it came to the Bears' signal caller on Wednesday. "Yes," said the head coach when asked if Justin Fields will play against the Titans in the team's preseason opener on Saturday at Noon at Soldier Field.How much time he'll see, along with the rest of the starters, is still being sorted out as the Bears still have another practice before the contest with Tennessee. Ebeflus said they'll have a discussion about how many reps each player will play in the contest, and that's the case for Fields as well. So what is Eberflus looking for out of the quarterback when he steps on the field for the first time in a game situation this season, even if it is just an exhibition contest?"When you're looking at the quarterback position, the operation No. 1," said Eberfl...

Disney+ to begin cracking down on password sharing, CEO says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Following in the footsteps of Netflix and Costco, Disney will soon begin cracking down on account sharing on its streaming service, the company's CEO announced Wednesday. In a move to "drive monetization," CEO Bob Iger said the password-sharing crackdown for Disney+ will begin in 2024, The Wrap and CNBC reported, citing the company's third-quarter earnings call. “We are actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family,” Iger said, adding that changes will come to subscriber agreements later this year. He explained that account sharing is "significant." Netflix could introduce ads later this year: report The announcement comes as Disney+ reports another drop in subscribers — it's the second quarter in a row the streaming service has shed viewers. Disney will also be raising prices for its ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu. In October, the Disney+ version will rise to $14 wh...

Biden touts climate efforts on tour of western United States

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – President Biden is touring western states, touting his administration's accomplishments addressing climate change and announcing new actions as well.In New Mexico on Wednesday, President Biden and allies such as New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham lauded the administration's accomplishments in fighting climate change.“We can be climate leaders for the world,” Lujan Grisham said. The governor highlighted the administration making “the largest investment in clean energy jobs…because this president had the courage to make it a reality.”The president says companies are making major investments in green energy projects across the country in states like New Mexico, Colorado and New York.“CS Wind broke ground on what will be the world's largest wind tunnel manufacturing plant,” Biden added. “Every one of these companies has pointed to the clean energy law that we originated, and I signed as the reason for making these investments.”While visiting Arizona on Tue...