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Pence’s early exit from the presidential campaign offers a reminder of Trump’s grip on the GOP

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mike Pence has a resume most White House hopefuls would dream of. A congressman. A governor of a big Midwestern state. A one-time vice president.In normal times, someone with such credentials would be well positioned to win their party’s presidential nomination. But these are not normal times and Pence’s decision to end his campaign more than two months before the first contest in the Republican primary underscores the extent to which the party has been subsumed by former President Donald Trump and his lies about the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.Pence made his surprise announcement Saturday in Las Vegas, where he and other GOP presidential hopefuls spoke at a summit sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition. But in many ways, Pence’s campaign ended years before it officially began, in the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021. That was when Trump, desperate to hang onto power, became convinced that Pence, as president of the Senate, cou...

UAW escalates strike against lone holdout GM after landing tentative pacts with Stellantis and Ford

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union has widened its strike against General Motors, the lone holdout among the three Detroit automakers, after reaching a tentative contract agreement with Jeep maker Stellantis. The escalated walkout began Saturday evening at a Spring Hill, Tennessee plant, GM’s largest in North America, just hours after the Stellantic deal was reached. Its nearly 4,000 workers join about 18,000 already striking at GM factories in Texas, Michigan and Missouri and Tennessee. The UAW did not immediately explain what prompted the new action after 44 days of targeted strikes. The added pressure on GM is substantial as Spring Hill makes engines for other plants in addition to big-ticket vehicles including the electric Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Acadia and Cadillac crossover SUVs.“The Spring Hill walkout affects so much of GM’s production that the company is likely to settle quickly or close down most production,” said Erik Gordon, a University of Michigan business ...

Trade tops the agenda as Germany’s Scholz meets Nigerian leader on West Africa trip

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Sunday as part of a West Africa tour as the European country looks to diversify its trade partners and expand economic partnerships in the energy-rich region.In his third trip to Africa since he took office in 2021, and his second this year, Scholz pushed for further development of Nigeria’s capacity to meet local needs even as Germany seeks improved trade relations with its second-largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Germany-Nigeria trade volume is estimated to be about 3 billion euros annually. Major aspects of the two countries’ cooperation include working with Nigeria to help tackle regional and global issues such as migration, security and rampant coups in West and Central Africa, Scholz told Tinubu during their meeting in the capital of Abuja. “There are a lot of chances not just from gas and oil … but for better using the capacities of your country, but a...

1 found dead inside of house fire in Montgomery

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ill — One person was found dead inside a home during a fire Sunday morning in Montgomery, according to officials.The house fire was reported around 8:45 a.m. in the 1800 block of Ness Avenue. Human remains found in field near Chicago high school When firefighters arrived, they found three people who were able to escape and heard a male was still inside, according to a joint press release from Montgomery police and the Sugar Grove Fire Protection District.Firefighters went inside and found the man dead inside, according to the release. His identity hasn't been released.Six fire protection districts assisted police and the Kane County Sheriff's Office at the scene.Several nearby homes were evacuated. Only minor injuries were reported to the other people involved, according to the release.The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and is under investigation by the Kane County Fire Investigator Task Force and the State Fire Marshal's Office. The Montgomery Police D...

Two more Big 12 teams move into AP Top 25, Longhorns remain at No. 7

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas remained No. 7 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 rankings released Sunday after its 35-6 win over BYU.Oregon leapfrogged the Longhorns to land at No. 6 with a 35-6 win of its own over Utah. The Utes dropped five spots to No. 18 with the loss. Instant Analysis: Shaky moments for Murphy, but solid 1st start The top five teams remained the same from last week. Georgia sits atop the poll for the 20th consecutive week followed by Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State and Washington. The Ducks, Longhorns, Alabama, Penn State and Oklahoma round out the top 10. The Sooners tumbled four spots following their 38-33 loss to previously unranked Kansas. The Jayhawks moved back into the poll at No. 22 with the victory.Kansas State, Texas' next opponent (11 a.m., Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium), moved into the poll at No. 25 after its 41-0 drubbing of Houston.Oregon State tumbled five spots to No. 16 after a 27-24 loss to unranked Arizona in Tucson. Lousiville and...

Man charged with murder after admitting to detectives he shot a man several times

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested and charged with murder following a Tuesday homicide investigation in southeast Austin, according to a Travis County arrest affidavit.Court documents said 46-year-old Joshua Fernando Trezaratti shot a man, later identified as Joshua Rivera, several times, which ultimately caused his death.As of Sunday, Trezaratti remained booked in the Travis County jail on an $800,000 bond.KXAN has reached out to Trezaratti’s attorney. This story will be updated if a statement is received.According to documents, Austin Police officers responded to the 11200 block of Mickelson Drive at approximately 5 p.m. for reports of a man who had been shot, and Trezaratti identified himself as the shooter.During an interview with APD detectives, Trezaratti said Rivera invited himself over to the house and Trezaratti’s wife said he could come.Records said Trezaratti told his wife to lead Rivera to believe the two were alone, and when Rivera arrived, he made “sexual advances tow...

Corporal punishment is now banned in all New York schools

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

N.Y. (WETM) -- New York State just banned the use of corporal punishment in private schools and is now one of just a few states to outlaw the practice in all schools. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! A bill that prohibits teachers, administrators, officers, and all other school agents and employees from using physical force against students in all schools was signed into law on October 25 and went into effect immediately. The use of corporal punishment was banned in public schools in 1985 but had been allowed in private schools until this past Wednesday."Corporal punishment is an inhumane and counterproductive form of discipline and has no place in New York's educational settings," states the bill. "Scientific studies have shown that students exposed to corporal punishment exhibit lower test scores and increased chances of behavioral disorders, experience more feelings of inadequacy and resentment, may be more aggressive and vio...

How cold is it going to get tonight?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS – This weekend has been the complete opposite of last weekend’s sunshine and nice temps. What a change!This weekend has been all about the chill, the clouds, and the rain. And there is more cold coming.A freeze warning has been issued for the entire area overnight, with more widespread below-freezing temperatures for Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning, too. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here If the freeze doesn’t hit you tonight, then it will get you Tuesday or Wednesday morning. There is some a recovery of temps by the end of the week, but our focus will be the cold for the next few days.

How extreme weather in the U.S. may have affected the pumpkins you picked this year for Halloween

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

By MELINA WALLING and BRITTANY PETERSON (Associated Press)HUDSON — Alan Mazzotti can see the Rocky Mountains about 30 miles west of his pumpkin patch in northeast Colorado on a clear day. He could tell the snow was abundant last winter, and verified it up close when he floated through fresh powder alongside his wife and three sons at the popular Winter Park Resort.But one season of above-average snowfall wasn’t enough to refill the dwindling reservoir he relies on to irrigate his pumpkins. He received news this spring that his water delivery would be about half of what it was from the previous season, so he planted just half of his typical pumpkin crop. Then heavy rains in May and June brought plenty of water and turned fields into a muddy mess, preventing any additional planting many farmers might have wanted to do.“By time it started raining and the rain started to affect our reservoir supplies and everything else, it was just too late for this year,” Mazzotti said.For some pumpki...

Energy exec lists 14-acre Greenwood Village retreat for $18M

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:50 GMT

Susan Morrice spent nearly 30 years creating an idyllic escape in the middle of the Denver metro.Now, the oil executive needs to spend more time in Belize, so she’s selling the property, which includes three parcels:On the 5200 block of South University Boulevard: Includes a 6,615-square-foot adobe home on 7.24 acres;Also on the 5200 block of South University Boulevard: Includes a 2,535-square-foot Irish farmhouse-style home on 2.24 acres;And on the 2700 block of East Willamette Lane: Private ponds and horse pasture on over 4 acres zoned for residential building.Morrice purchased her first Greenwood Village property in 1994 and, since then, added any available land on the property’s perimeter to create the compound. “Our vision was to create a private valley that allowed nature to take its course,” she said.When you enter the property after a busy day, you experience a sanctuary that lets you escape the world’s hassle, noise and traffic.“When the gates close behind you, it’s like yo...