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Hilary downgraded again to Category 1 hurricane as Mexico and California brace for storm's impact

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Hilary roared toward Mexico’s Baja California peninsula late Saturday as a downgraded but still dangerous Category 1 hurricane likely to bring “catastrophic” flooding to the region and cross into the southwestern U.S. as a tropical storm.The National Weather Center in Miami said in the most recent advisory at 9 p.m. that the maximum sustained wind speed is 90 mph and the storm was about 175 miles (281 kilometers) south of Punta Eugenia, Mexico, and 535 miles (855 kilometers) from San Diego, California.Meteorologists warned that despite weakening, the storm remained treacherous.One person drowned Saturday in the Mexican town of Santa Rosalia, on the peninsula’s eastern coast, when a vehicle was swept away in an overflowing stream. Rescue workers managed to save four other people, said Edith Aguilar Villavicencio, the mayor of Mulege township.It was not immediately clear whether officials considered the fatality related to the hurricane, but vid...

Tanker believed to hold sanctioned Iran oil begins to be offloaded near Texas despite Tehran threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An American-owned oil tanker long suspected of carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil began offloading its cargo near Texas late Saturday, tracking data showed, even as Tehran has threatened to target shipping in the Persian Gulf over it.The fate of the cargo aboard the Suez Rajan has become mired in the wider tensions between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic, even as Tehran and Washington work toward a trade of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets in South Korea for the release of five Iranian-Americans held in Tehran. Already, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has warned that those involved in offloading the cargo “should expect to be struck back.” The U.S. Navy has increased its presence steadily in recent weeks in the Mideast, deploying the troop-and-aircraft-carrying USS Bataan and considering putting armed personnel on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz to stop Iran from seizing additional ships.Ship-t...

Man, 19, charged in vicious assault, death of man in Moss Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of another man who was viciously assaulted before being struck by a vehicle in downtown Toronto last week. Police say 54-year-old Douglas James MacDonald was physically attacked by a man on the west side of Sherbourne Street just north of Queen Street East just before 11 p.m. on August 15. As MacDonald attempted to flee his attacker, he stumbled and fell onto the roadway, where the attack continued.The suspect then fled the scene on a bicycle.Police say seconds later, a car travelling northbound on Sherbourne Street struck MacDonald as he lay on the roadway.“It was a violent attack, it appeared to be very one-sided with Mr. MacDonald simply defending himself throughout,” Det. Sgt. Brandon Price said in an update to the case on Thursday. Police say following an investigation, 19-year-old Wenzile Ndlangamandla of Toronto was arrested without incident on Saturday and is facing a charge of second degree murder.

As world warms, Sweden sees opportunity to grow its young wine industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

NYHAMNSLÄGE, Sweden (AP) — It’s mid-afternoon in late summer and a fresh North Sea breeze blows through the vines at Kullabergs Vingård, a vineyard and winery at the vanguard of producers seeking to redefine what Swedish wine can be.Scandinavia isn’t exactly what connoisseurs would define as prime wine country and commercial vineyards are still tiny compared to France, Italy or Spain. But with climate change making for warmer and longer growing seasons, and new varieties of grapes adapted to this landscape, the bouquet of Swedish wines is maturing nicely.As drought, rising heat and other extreme weather events are forcing traditional wine-growing regions to reassess their methods, Swedish winemaking is shifting from mostly small-scale amateurs to an industry with growing ambition.Kullabergs Vingård stretches over 14 hectares (about 34 acres) and most of the vines were planted less than a decade ago. By 2022, the winery had reached an annual output of over 30,000 bottles — most...

Ron Cephas-Jones, ‘This Is Us’ actor who won 2 Emmys, dies at 66

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ron Cephas Jones, a veteran stage actor who won two Emmy Awards for his role as as a long-lost father who finds redemption on the NBC television drama series “This Is Us,” has died at age 66, a representative said Saturday. Jones’ manager, Dan Spilo, said in an emailed statement the actor he died “due to a long-standing pulmonary issue.” “Throughout the course of his career, his warmth, beauty, generosity, kindness and heart were felt by anyone who had the good fortune of knowing him,” Spilo said. Jones had a double lung transplant in 2020 because of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and spent nearly two months in a Los Angeles hospital. On “This Is Us,” Jones played William “Shakespeare” Hill, a biological father whose life is renewed through his relationship with the family of his son Randall Pearson, played by Sterling K. Brown. “One of the most wonderful people the world has ever seen is no longer with us,” Brown said in an Instagram post after...

'She wanted to be a dental hygenist:' Grandmother remembers granddaughter after fatal West Side shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

CHICAGO — Two teens were shot in the Austin neighborhood late Saturday afternoon, and one is dead, according to multiple sources.The Chicago Police Department said a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl were in a park in the 5700 block of West Bloomingdale Avenue around 4:10 p.m. when they were both shot by an unknown gunman. The 17-year-old girl, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as Ashuntice Wilburn, was shot in the buttocks and taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, where she later died."She wanted to be a dental hygenist," said Patty Ringo, Ashuntice's grandmother. "She helped me with all kinds of activities ... She volunteered in the community, she was an exceptional person, [an] exceptional individual."According to community activist Andrew Holmes, the family is in shock, as Ashuntice was preparing to start her senior year in high school Monday."We spoke with her father. He is grieving and he is hurting," Holmes said. "He told us he had just r...

14-year-old boy dead after Calumet Heights shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

CHICAGO — A 14-year-old boy is dead after a shooting in Calumet Heights Saturday evening, according to the Chicago Police Department.Police said officers were called to the 8700 block of South Cregier Avenue around 6:50 p.m., where they found a 14-year-old boy who had been shot in the head and chest.The boy was initially taken to Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition, where he later was pronounced dead. 2 teens shot, 1 killed, after fatal Austin shooting If you or someone you know has information that can help lead police toward making an arrest and conviction in the investigation of this incident, CPD encourages you to file an anonymous tip online at cpdtip.com.Police have no one in custody.

Reset helped Saints reliever Austin Schulfer put struggles behind

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

The Saints bullpen, solid all season, has been particularly stingy of late, leading Triple-A baseball with an earned-run average of 2.78 in the month of August.The group has been led by right-hander Austin Schulfer, who has made five appearances this month, allowing one run in seven innings for an earned-run average of 1.29. The 27-year-old Schulfer has put himself in position to be a late-season addition to the Twins.“When he’s at his best he’s attacking the zone early, getting early strikes and putting guys away without giving them much of a chance to get back into counts,” said Saints pitching coach Pete Larson prior to the Saints’ 5-4 loss to Indianapolis on Saturday at CHS Field.“Sometimes when he does have a little bit of a struggle it hasn’t really been falling behind, it’s not putting hitters away.”There was nothing “little” about the struggles Schulfer went through midway through the season.Through the first 66 games, Schulfer was a force out of the bullpen, and fulfilling ...

Hilary downgraded again to Category 1 hurricane as Mexico and California brace for storm’s impact

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

By IGNACIO MARTINEZ and STEFANIE DAZIO (Associated Press)CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Hilary roared toward Mexico’s Baja California peninsula late Saturday as a downgraded but still dangerous Category 1 hurricane likely to bring “catastrophic” flooding to the region and cross into the southwestern U.S. as a tropical storm.The National Weather Center in Miami said in the most recent advisory at 9 p.m. that the maximum sustained wind speed is 90 mph and the storm was about 175 miles (281 kilometers) south of Punta Eugenia, Mexico, and 535 miles (855 kilometers) from San Diego, California.Meteorologists warned that despite weakening, the storm remained treacherous.One person drowned Saturday in the Mexican town of Santa Rosalia, on the peninsula’s eastern coast, when a vehicle was swept away in an overflowing stream. Rescue workers managed to save four other people, said Edith Aguilar Villavicencio, the mayor of Mulege township.It was not immedi...

Rockies’ hot bats finally get Kyle Freeland in the win column

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

A bright rainbow appeared over Coors Field Saturday night and Kyle Freeland finally got some run support. A sign from the baseball gods or a mere coincidence?Either way, Freeland got his long-awaited W in the Rockies’ 11-5 victory over the fading White Sox.Freeland (5-13, 5.02 ERA) wasn’t super sharp, giving up four runs on eight hits over five innings and needing 95 pitches to get there. But, as manager Bud Black put it, “Kyle battled.”Freeland walked only one while striking out six. He was able to limit damage, especially in the fifth, when the White Sox sent seven men to the plate but cashed in only two runs on four hits.The left-hander entered the rainy night with a career-worst 13 losses (also the most in the majors this season) and had not won a game since May 14. He was averaging just 3.12 runs of support this season, the lowest among all qualified starters.“It’s been a while — it’s been three months — since I had a win,&#...