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American mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas released as humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

(CNN) — Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan, on Friday nearly two weeks after launching a deadly attack in Israel and abducting around 200 people.The US citizens were handed over at the border with Gaza and are now in the care of the Israel Defense Forces, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Friday. They are currently on their way to an Israeli military base to be reunited with family, according to the office for Israel’s prime minister.The Raanans are from Chicago and had been visiting relatives in Nahal Oz, a farming community in southern Israel, when they were taken hostage on October 7, according to their family.During the attack, Hamas militants killed more than 1,400 people, including civilians and soldiers, according to Israeli authorities. It was the most deadly attack by militants in Israel’s 75-year history and revealed a staggering intelligence failure by the country’s security forces.Israel has sinc...

Riders forced to walk on tracks, take shuttles after electrical problems shut down service on part of Green Line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

Dozens of riders needed to walk along the tracks of the brand new Green Line Extension Friday after electrical problems shut down service along both the Union Station and Medford/Tufts branches of the Green Line. Regular service had resumed with some residual delays as of around 7:30 p.m. Still, the issue came as another blow to the MBTA which just this week announced the same branches are in need of major repairs. “It’s frustrating,” said T rider Rick Jones. The MBTA first announced delays on the Green Line in a post on X around 3:45 p.m.The T did not say what exactly went wrong with the overhead electrical system, only saying the delays were the result of a train with a pantograph problem near Lechmere station.In an update shortly after 4 p.m., the T said shuttle buses were replacing service between North Station and Union Square station as well as between North Station and the Medford/Tufts station. During the disruption, some riders waited for more than an ho...

Spotted lanternfly infestation confirmed in Wellesley 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

Officials have asked residents to be on the lookout after an infestation of the invasive spotted lanternfly was confirmed in Wellesley. The town of Wellesley in a statement Wednesday said the infestation was documented near Carisbrooke Reservation in town. In Wellesley and beyond, both state and local officials are now asking individuals to report any additional infestations.“Snap a picture of it, send it our way, we’re always happy to look at things and help people identify them,” said Dr. Elizabeth Barnes of the state Department of Agricultural Resources.“I usually say, as soon as you see it, get a picture,” Barnes said. “Don’t try and get closer because you might startle it. Just get that picture immediately.”The spotted lanternfly is identifiable by spots on its upper wings and red markings on its underside. The insect was first introduced to the US in 2014 and can seriously damage local agriculture as it feeds on more than 100 species of plants. While falling tem...

Domestic violence suspect arrested after police chase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A woman suspected of violating her restraining order was arrested Friday after a police chase that went through several San Diego neighborhoods, authorities said.Police say the woman was not allowed to be at 6600 Vista Del Mar in La Jolla due to her domestic violence restraining order violation, the San Diego Police Department confirmed with FOX 5. Around 4:05 p.m., the cops arrived at the home, prompting the woman to get into a Jeep and drive away, police said. SkyFOX was over the scene, where the suspect led police on a chase on the Interstate 5 freeway, through downtown San Diego and along state Route 94. City of San Diego increases distance parked cars must move every three days While on SR-94 eastbound in Lemon Grove, the suspect was seen getting out of her vehicle and crossing the westbound lanes of the highway before police took her down. She is in police custody at this time.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Ed Sheeran to perform at Rady Shell for benefit event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Ed Sheeran is performing at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on Friday night at a private ticketed event. Officials are closing off the public promenade, where people have set up to watch events in the past. The San Diego Symphony which operates at the Shell said each event they have to weigh the ability of access versus prioritizing safety, and said closing is the best option for public safety inside and outside the venue.  There will be no catching a free Ed Sheeran show from the immediate right and left along the Rady Shell on Friday night. Sheeran is performing at the San Diego-based nonprofit Curebond for their concert for cures. The private event raises money for cancer research. The Port of San Diego gave permission to close the public promenade around the Shell, after receiving a recommendation from the harbor police chief.  Craig Hall, the vice president of marketing and communications for the San Diego Symphony, said Sheeran’s high profile is one of the driving f...

Fantasy Fest kicks off in Key West with 10 days of masquerades, parties and costume competitions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Key West’s Fantasy Fest began Friday, launching a 10-day schedule of masquerades, elaborate parties and costume competitions.The masking and costuming festival is themed “Uniforms & Unicorns: 200 Years Of Sailing Into Fantasy” to salute the Florida Keys’ 2023 bicentennial and that of the U.S. Navy’s presence in Key West.The Fantasy Fest schedule features nearly 100 events including Sunday’s Zombie Bike Ride, the Pet Masquerade for costumed pets and their people, the flamboyant Headdress Ball and the Masquerade March that draws several thousand costumed participants in historic Old Town.Events are to culminate next Saturday night, when some 60,000 spectators are expected to line Key West’s downtown streets for the Fantasy Fest Parade, a procession of large-scale motorized floats, costumed marching groups and island-style dancers in colorful feathered attire.The festival has been notoriously famous for its decadent motif, but during the past few years, festiv...

Police arrest 2 in connection with 2021 Lake Tahoe-area shooting that killed a man, wounded his wife

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Police arrested two people, including a former professional baseball player, Friday in Nevada in connection to a Lake Tahoe-area attack that left a man dead and his wife in critical condition.After a two-year investigation, Danny Serafini, 49, and Samantha Scott, 33, were arrested separately, hundreds of miles apart in Las Vegas and northwest of Reno. Authorities say they knew each other and the victims — Robert Gary Spohr and his wife, Wendy Wood.Spohr, 70, was killed and Wood survived the shooting at their home in an unincorporated community in California off the shore of Lake Tahoe, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said. The two will be extradited to California, officials said. “Today, justice was served,” Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said in a statement. “The apprehension of those responsible for the tragic events that unfolded in Homewood, North Lake Tahoe in 2021 stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our detectives, law enfor...

Brazil’s Lula vetoes core part of legislation threatening Indigenous rights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday vetoed the core aspects of a bill passed by Congress that threatened to undo protections of Indigenous peoples’ land rights.The bill proposed to enshrine a legal theory that argues the date Brazil’s Constitution was promulgated — Oct. 5, 1988 — should be the deadline for when Indigenous peoples already had to be physically occupying land or be legally fighting to reoccupy territory.That legal theory was rejected by Brazil’s Supreme Court in September. A week later, the Senate — dominated by conservative lawmakers backed by Brazil’s powerful agribusiness — approved the bill on a vote of 43 in favor and 21 against.Friday was the deadline for Lula to act if he wanted to block all or parts of the legislation.“Today I vetoed several articles (of the legislation) … in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision on the subject. Let’s talk and keep working so that we continue to have, as we do today, legal ...

What do I do with damaged money?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

(KHON2) — If you accidentally ripped a dollar bill, you may not be completely out of luck. But what do you do with the mutilated moolah?According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, commercial banks will exchange your damaged, or "unfit" currency, for another, after some checks are made. Do you have unclaimed money? Find out how to check "Unfit currency' is currency which is unfit for further circulation because of its physical condition such as torn, dirty, limp, worn or defaced," the department states on its website. The currency "may be exchanged at commercial banks."You could tape the green stuff back together but be warned that merchants may not accept the bandaged bills.If you have, what the government refers to as, "mutilated money" then you can send the cash off to the Treasury for exchange. $13,000 in hair stolen from Tennessee store "Mutilated currency' is currency which has been damaged to the extent that: one-half or less of the original note remains; or its co...

Heat-related calls increase at COTA due to high temperature, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As the U.S. Grand Prix kicked off Friday at the Circuit of the Americas, officials saw an increase in heat-related calls due to temperatures, according to a spokesperson with Austin Homeland Security Management.At least 51% of attendees are not familiar with the weather and not expecting it to be this warm.Friday afternoon brought Austin’s hottest temperatures on record so late in the year as highs reached 97°. Record-breaking heat Friday, but rain returns soon Coolers, free water stations, shade tents, medics, EMS and Ascension Seton were on site, and the spokesperson said there were also signs at COTA informing attendees of the resources available.Attendees are encouraged to stay hydrated and be aware of signs of heat stroke, the spokesperson said.