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Restricted rights put Afghan women and girls in a ‘deadly situation’ during quakes, UN official says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Women and girls are in a “not only difficult … but deadly” situation following recent earthquakes in Afghanistan because of the humanitarian and civil rights crises in the country since the Taliban seized power, a U.N. official said Sunday. An update from U.N. Women highlighted some of the problems women are facing in areas of Herat province, where a series of violent earthquakes and aftershocks this month killed thousands of people, more than 90% of them women and children, and destroyed nearly every home.Cultural norms make it impossible for women to share a tent with neighbors or other families, the U.N. agency said in its update published Thursday. Many women also have difficulty obtaining humanitarian aid if they don’t have male relative who can access it on their behalf and there is an absence of female workers aid distribution points, the U.N. said Women affected by the earthquake have told the U.N. they cannot access aid without the nati...

German leaders voice outrage and thousands rally in Berlin in reaction to rising antisemitism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s chancellor and president strongly denounced a rise in antisemitism in Germany in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war in separate appearances Sunday that stressed the same idea that it is unacceptable for such hatred to flourish in the nation that perpetrated the Holocaust.In Berlin, thousands of people gathered at a demonstration called to show opposition to antisemitism and support for Israel. People carried Israeli flags or posters with photos of some of the people reported to be missing or held by Hamas as hostages. The protest, organized by a broad alliance of various organizations, comes as antisemitic incidents have been rising in Germany following the violent escalation of the war in Gaza.“It is unbearable that Jews are living in fear again today — in our country of all places,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told those gathered in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. “Every single attack on Jews, on Jewish institutions is a disgrace for Germ...

Sunday Forecast: Sunny, breezy and Good air quality

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

Sunday: Mostly sunny, breezy & seasonal temps. N/NE 5-10 mph. Air quality in the Good category. High: 57Sunday Night: Mostly clear evening. Increasing clouds overnight. SE 5-10 mph. Low: 44Monday: Mostly cloudy with some mid-day showers & building winds. S 10-20 mph. High: 63Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for a nice start to Tuesday and temps to build into the mid to upper 70s. Showers likely by the evening-- and we'll see on/off rain at times and a few iso. t'storms getting into Wednesday with temps settling back into the mid to upper 60s. And we'll stay pretty cloudy for the rest of the week as well with each day through the coming weekend has a chance of showers. The good news is that the rain will help the near peak to peak fall colors to really pop on the trees. 

Michigan State apologizes after Hitler's image on videoboards in pregame quiz

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State showed Adolf Hitler's image as part of a pregame quiz on videoboards before playing No. 2 Michigan on Saturday night, and later apologized for the inappropriate content provided by an outside source.Hitler and Austria, his birthplace, flashed on the videoboards long enough for some on social media to share what was seen by some fans more than an hour before kickoff.“MSU is aware that inappropriate content by a third-party source was displayed on the videoboard prior to the start of tonight’s football game," Michigan State spokesman Matt Larson said. The 5 highest – and lowest – paying college degrees in the US "We are deeply sorry for the content that was displayed, as this is not representative of our institutional values. MSU will not be using the third-party source going forward and will implement stronger screening and approval procedures for all videoboard content in the future.”The pregame quiz pro...

Who needs 3 vaccines this cold and flu season?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — There’s a chill in the air and, depending on where you live, there may even be snow in the forecast. Sure, that could be a sign that the holidays are around the corner, but it also means cold and flu season is knocking on our doorsteps. With that, of course, comes the push to get vaccines, whether that be for the flu or the latest COVID booster. But, if you meet certain criteria, you may be due for more than one or two shots. What’s the best time to get the flu vaccine? Let’s start with the obvious: the flu vaccine. The season’s flu vaccine was released last month, and according to the CDC, as many as 170 million doses are expected to be dispersed. As usual, the CDC is recommending everyone 6 months old and older (unless you’re allergic to the ingredients or have had an adverse effect to a previous vaccine) get the single-dose shot. For the first time, the CDC is recommending a higher dose flu vaccine for those who are 65 years old and older.While you’re gett...

Person detained following hi-rise fire in downtown Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin firefighters responded to a hi-rise building in downtown Austin Sunday after a person reportedly set items on fire on the twenty-third floor, according to the Austin Fire Department.AFD said the fire on Red River Street was controlled by a sprinkler system, and crews were working to mitigate the smoke and water inside the hi-rise building.The person involved in the fire was detained by officers with the Austin Police Department for fire investigators, according to AFD.

Man sentenced in fatal 2021 road-rage shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced Wednesday in connection with a 2021 fatal road-rage shooting in north Austin.According to Travis County court documents, Xzaver Griffin, 23, was sentenced to serve 15 years in state prison for manslaughter, a second-degree felony, in connection with the death of Arlen Sanchez on Sept. 14, 2021.According to court documents, Griffin faced a murder charge but was convicted on the lesser charge of manslaughter following a plea deal.Travis County jail records showed Griffin was booked into the jail Dec. 2, 2021. It is unclear if he will receive jail credit toward his sentence.

U of M police ask for help in finding missing college student

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

University of Minnesota police on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, were asking for help in the search of 19-year-old Sumith Maddi. (University of Minnesota Police)University of Minnesota police are asking for help in finding a 19-year-old college student.Sumith Maddi was last seen leaving the 17th Avenue Residence Hall around 2:40 a.m. on Saturday wearing a black puffy down jacket, black pants and white shoes, according to the department.Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the University of Minnesota Police Department at 612-624-2677.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Justice Barrett expresses support for a formal U.S. Supreme Court ethics code in Minnesota speech Crime & Public Safety | Tyler Cowen: U.S. higher education needs a revolution. What’s holding it back? Crime & Public Safety | Some Rosemount residents hesitant about $700 million Meta data center at UMore site Crime & Public Safety | L...

Exercise horse rider dies at Los Alamitos race track

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

An exercise horse rider was killed during a training exercise at Los Alamitos race track early Saturday morning. The rider, identified as 53-year-old Alfredo Luevano, was training a 2-year-old filly on when he was found on the ground on the backstretch of the track by first responders, Los Alamitos said in a release. He was rushed to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Los Alamitos is located in Cypress.“As of now, there have been no eyewitness accounts with any precise details on the incident,” the Los Alamitos Race Course release said.  The 2-year-old horse, named Fly From The Fire, was not injured and ran off, race course officials said.  She had made five starts this year for trainer Mike Casselman and was entered in the seventh race at Los Alamitos on Saturday night, but was scratched from the race as a precaution, according to track management.  San Fernando politician, environmental justice advocate Cindy Montañez dies “On behalf o...

Manhunt continues for Nashville police chief's son suspected in shooting of 2 Tennessee officers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

LA VERGNE, Tenn. (AP) — Police in Tennessee were searching Sunday for the estranged son of Nashville's police chief as the suspect in the shooting of two police officers outside a Dollar General store.Officers in La Vergne, a city about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast of Nashville, were investigating a stolen vehicle outside the store Saturday afternoon when they sruggled with the suspect, who pulled a handgun and shot them, said LaVergne Police Chief Christopher Moews. Police identified the suspect as John C. Drake, Jr., 38, who is the son of Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake.One of the officers was shot twice, in the groin and right forearm, while the other officer was hit in the rear left shoulder. Both were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. One of the officers was released from the hospital Saturday night. The other officer was kept overnight for observation and was in stable condition, said Anne Smith, a spokesperson for the city of...