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Polls close in Guatemala’s presidential runoff as voters hope for real change

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Polls closed in Guatemala on Sunday evening after a tumultuous campaign that pitted an anti-corruption advocate against a former first lady seen as an ally to the outgoing government in a presidential runoff election.The two candidates offered starkly different paths forward. Former first lady Sandra Torres became an ally of outgoing, deeply unpopular President Alejandro Giammattei in her third bid for the presidency. Her opponent, Bernardo Arévalo, with the progressive Seed Movement, rode a wave of popular resentment toward politics to his surprise spot in the runoff.But moves to drag the electoral process into the courts after the first round of voting in June led many Guatemalans to wonder what was to come between Sunday’s results and the transfer of power Jan. 14.Central America’s most populous country and the region’s largest economy continues to struggle with widespread poverty and violence that have driven hundreds of thousands of Guatemalans to mi...

Egyptian journalist briefly detained following mysterious plane coverage, his employer says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian authorities briefly detained a journalist working for a fact-checking platform following its coverage of a plane that was seized in Zambia along with its cargo after making a stop in Cairo, the outlet said Sunday.Security forces arrested Karim Asaad early Saturday from his home in al-Shorouk neighborhood in eastern Cairo, the platform, Matsda2sh, or Don’t Believe, said in a statement.The platform accused security forces of assaulting Asaad’s wife and threatening their child while detaining the journalist. The platform said security forces asked Asaad about its extensive coverage of a mysterious plane intercepted in Zambia earlier this month after making a stop in Cairo.The Egyptian Press Syndicate’s Freedoms Committee urged authorities to reveal Asaad’s whereabouts, investigate allegations of assaults against him and his wife and called for his release, in a statement Sunday.Late Sunday, the outlet reported that Asaad was released and returned to his home.There...

North Korea’s Kim watches cruise missile launches as US, South Korean troops begin annual drills

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has observed the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from a navy ship, state media reported Monday, as the U.S. and South Korean militaries kicked off major annual drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal.The North’s report on missile tests came three days after the leaders of the U.S., South Korea and Japan agreed to expand their security and economic ties at a summit in the United States.During an inspection visit of a navy flotilla on the eastern coast, Kim boarded a patrol boat to review its weapons and preparations for combat. He later watched its seamen conducting a drill of launching “strategic” cruise missiles, the official Korean Central News Agency said.KCNA didn’t say when the missile launches happened, and a state media photo showed Kim watching the launch of a missile from another place, not on the patrol boat. KCNA’s use of the word “strategic” in reference to the tested weapons implied th...

Investigation underway after 2 killed in Glenview shooting, both ID'd

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

GLENVIEW, Ill. — An investigation is underway after two people, including a 16-year-old boy, were killed in Glenview on Saturday night, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).Authorities say the deadly shooting happened just after 9 p.m. in the 10400 block of Michael Todd Terrace in unincorporated Glenview. String of 7-11 robberies within 30 minutes on North Side Officers say when they first arrived on scene, they found two victims who had both been shot several times. One was pronounced dead on the scene, while another victim was taken to the hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. Man, 38, killed in Austin hit-and-run ID’d The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has identified one of the victims as 16-year-old Jose Guzman, and the other as 19-year-old Carlos Guzman, both from Glenview, IL.Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and police say an investigation is underway. Shooting in Chicago Heights leaves 18-year-old dead Anyone with infor...

A light in Lahaina town as one community remains standing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) -- The fire that consumed almost everything in its path did leave some buildings untouched in Maui's Lahaina town. An entire subdivision somehow managed to emerge practically untouched, even as the areas around it were destroyed. Now, in the subdivision of Kilauea Mauka, located right below ​Lahainaluna High School, there's an overwhelming sense of good fortune, mixed with guilt."God blessed us. He saved us, I believe that," said Lahaina resident, James Tanaka, whose home just lost a few shingles. The fire burned right alongside the subdivision. With the exception of some burnt rooftops, there isn't extensive damage.Residents who consider themselves lucky are doing what they can to pay it forward. Leo Ramelb set up a distribution hub in his driveway, handing out water, food and other supplies to families who weren't as fortunate. PHOTOS: Intensifying fires wreak havoc on Maui Others are doing the same. Drive through the streets of this small community and you'll s...

Rains from Tropical Storm Hilary swamp roads, trap cars and flood buildings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP/KTLA/KSWB) — Deadly floodwaters inundated streets across Mexico’s arid Baja California on Sunday as Tropical Storm Hilary moved ashore carrying torrential rain into Southern California, and concerns mounted that flash floods could strike in places as far north as Idaho that rarely get such heavy rain.“Life-threatening and locally catastrophic flash flooding is expected this evening across Southern California as Tropical Storm Hilary advances north and…produces very heavy rainfall,” the National Weather Service said. “This is a large storm with a huge footprint and unlike what we usually see in San Diego,” said Chris Heiser, executive director for the City of San Diego Office of Emergency, during a news conference.Forecasters said Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, bringing the potential for flash floods, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, high winds and power outages.Hilary made landfall along the Mexican coast in ...

Preparing for dangerous heat as students go back to school

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS – As many students across our area get ready to head back to school, the summer heat is making a dangerous return.DJ Howard and Orion Castillo go back to class on Monday. Their family brought them out to Hyde Park for WEPOWER's Selfcare Sunday event.They say the weather was perfect for some yoga and setting some positive intentions for the new school year."This is just kicking our weekend off to transition into that more routine time in our lives," Arion Castillo said.Organizers from WEPOWER say this was another successful three-day event."We have very busy lives that keep us in work and keep us in classrooms; so grateful that the weather cooperated; grateful for the trees, for giving us shade; grateful for the tents and the people that set them up," Paula-Breonne Vickers, early childhood organizer of WEPOWER, said.Dr. Farzana Hoque, an associate professor at St. Louis University School of Medicine, says as families get into their back-to-school routines, it's important to...

Make a difference by recycling your scrap metal; proceeds donated

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS - They have been at it for about 14 years. Volunteer members from the Mary Mother of the Church Chapter of St. Vincent de Paul have been recycling scrap metal since 2009. To date, their recycling efforts have raised about $194,000.And the group has almost achieved a goal they could never have imagined at the start; they hope to reach their $200,000 goal by the end of the year. One hundred percent of the funds earned go directly to helping the poor.Currently, our recycling earns about $1,500 a month, providing funds to aid those in need. “Summertime is busier for recycling,” says Dick Drury, coordinator of St. Vincent's scrap metal program.The recyclers had humble beginnings, according to Drury. A fellow Mary Mother of the Church parishioner, Dan Schoenekase, used his own truck to pick up old appliances, lawn mowers, heaters, patio tables, cabinets, and anything made of metal that was to be discarded.“We’ve had pinball machines, we’ve had tanning booths, we’ve had prostheti...

Tropical Storm Hilary makes landfall, causes widespread flooding in Southern California

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

Deadly floodwaters inundated streets across Mexico’s arid Baja California on Sunday as Tropical Storm Hilary moved ashore carrying torrential rain into Southern California, and concerns mounted that flash floods could strike in places as far north as Idaho that rarely get such heavy rain.Forecasters said Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, bringing the potential for flash floods, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, high winds and power outages.Hilary made landfall along the Mexican coast in a sparsely populated area about 150 miles (250 kilometers) south of Ensenada, on a path to hit mudslide-prone Tijuana Sunday evening, threatening the improvised homes that cling to hillsides just south of the U.S. border.A mailbox stands on a flooded residential street in Palmdale, Calif., as a tropical storm moves into the area, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)At least 9 million people were under flash-flood warnings as heavy rain fell across nor...

Robber at UC Berkeley threatens mountain biker with knife: police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:36 GMT

(KRON) -- Authorities are investigating a robbery Sunday afternoon at the Botanical Gardens on UC Berkeley's campus, according to the University of California Police Department, Berkeley (UCPD). A mountain biker on the singletrack trail, east of the Botanical Gardens, reported a man held out a small knife and tried to take the victim's bike.The victim was able to escape without any injuries, UCPD said. The suspect, however, remains at large. The suspect is described to be a 30-35-year-old white man wearing black fleece hiking pants and a gray hiking shirt with two backpacks on. He is 5-foot-10 with a buzz cut, police said. Over 50 SoCal-bound flights canceled as tropical storm Hilary impacts Bay Area airports UCPD says if anyone has information about this attempted robbery, contact the department at 510-642-6760 or the East Bay Regional Park District Police at 510-881-1833.