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Congress could ban DC’s speed, red light cameras; District leaders punch back

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

Some in Congress want to stop D.C. from using speed and red light cameras with a new bill. But District leaders say the legislation that’s advancing in the Republican-led House would result in more people dying on area roads.While the U.S. Constitution gives Congress authority over D.C.’s laws and budget, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Attorney General Brian Schwalb said current budget restrictions, or riders, put lives at risk.The $25 billion fiscal 2024 spending bill for financial services and general government, which advanced Thursday, includes restricting the District’s use of automated traffic enforcement. It would also prohibit D.C. from enforcing its ban on “right turn on red” at many intersections.In a letter to House appropriations leaders, Bowser, Mendelson and Schwalb said the current bill “would interfere in District efforts to reduce traffic fatalities.” D.C. leaders said the provisions “would je...

Selma Bacha injured for France in 1-0 loss to Australia in Women’s World Cup warm-up game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — France’s preparations for the Women’s World Cup received another injury blow Friday when defender Selma Bacha left the field in tears on a stretcher in the final minutes of the team’s warm-up game against Australia.Bacha fell awkwardly on her left ankle after making a covering interception and had her head in her hands as she was carried off in the 1-0 win for Australia before a sellout crowd of 50,629.Forwards Delphine Cascarino and Marie-Antoinette Katoto were recently ruled out of the World Cup because of injuries.France coach Herve Renard said he hopes Bacha’s injury “won’t be too serious.”“It’s the worst news of the evening,” Renard said. “Let’s remain patient while we wait for the doctor’s diagnosis and further tests.“The doctor will get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible. We’re always worried, but we have to be patient, wait.”Substitute forward Mary Fowler scored in the 66th minute to give Austral...

How to get a free lottery ticket for Powerball and Mega Millions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — This weekend, $1.5 billion is up for grabs between the dueling Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots, and the Colorado Lottery is giving away free lotto tickets to both drawings.The Powerball jackpot has continued to climb since April and now sits at a whopping $875 million, the third-largest in game history. The Mega Millions jackpot has also been steadily growing and is now at $650 million. Together, the dueling jackpots equal more than $1.5 billion if someone was lucky enough to win both.So, in honor of the historic jackpots, the Colorado Lottery is celebrating by giving away a free lotto ticket to both drawings. That's right, a free ticket for the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings that are coming up this Friday and Saturday respectively. What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won? The Colorado Lottery will be at the King Soopers located at 1155 9th Ave. in Capitol Hill from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday.Tickets will be given to the first 100 people, ...

Residents react after bear roams through Homestead neighborhood as authorities work to capture animal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

A bear was spotted in a suburban neighborhood in Homestead and it was caught on a resident’s Ring doorbell. The incident occurred around 10 p.m., Thursday.The video, obtained by 7News, captured a bear wandering around a home at Isles of Oasis, a Homestead neighborhood located off 147th Avenue and Pacific Drive. Police officers responded to the call and advised locals to avoid the bear if they encounter it. This incident even prevented some people from leaving a nearby hospital as it was seen nearby later in the night.On Friday morning, residents reacted to the video. “Oh, my God! Is that a bear?” shouted Meracita Johnson, a woman who lives in the area. “He’s out in this community? Oh, my God and I’m out for my walk. Are you serious? “Johnson was unsure if she should continue her walk after seeing the video. Another woman who was on her morning walk said she was going to head straight home after she got news of the bear in the area. Although ...

Pair of manatees released back into Southwest Florida waters after successful rehabilitation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

DEMERE KEY, Fla. (WSVN) — Two manatees, Padilla and Corozone, have been released back into the crystal-clear waters of Southwest Florida after a period of intensive care and rehabilitation.The gentle giants, who fell ill due to the harmful effects of red tide, were found stranded along the coast of Lee County in May. Prompt action from the local sheriff’s office ensured their timely rescue, with the manatees transported to SeaWorld for immediate medical attention.Red tide, a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by the excessive growth of algae, can produce toxins that have detrimental effects on marine life. Padilla and Corozone became victims of this environmental threat, experiencing severe illness and distress.Both manatees were rescued in early May and underwent extensive rehabilitation at the aquatic facility. Under the care of dedicated experts, they received specialized treatments to address their ailments and regain their strength.On Wednesday, the day finally arrived...

DeSantis campaign urges patience for breakout moment with eye toward first debate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

(CNN) — Facing a long summer of running from behind former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is for now resisting calls to dramatically change course in his presidential campaign, instead targeting the first debate in late August as his opportunity to alter the trajectory of the race.Multiple sources told CNN that the DeSantis campaign doesn’t anticipate national polls fluctuating much before then – leaving him largely in the same position he has been since entering the race seven weeks ago: a well-funded second-place contender who is far ahead of most of the field but trailing Trump considerably.Some Republicans invested in his candidacy fear DeSantis is wasting valuable time to gain traction against the unprecedented campaign of a former president still popular with the GOP base. DeSantis, though, is urging patience, insisting it’s still very early in the political calendar.DeSantis will convene top donors and fundraisers in South Florida next Friday for a retreat ...

Saudi Arabia’s MBS to visit UK — report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

LONDON — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — known as MBS — is set to visit the U.K. later this year, it was reported Friday.According to the Financial Times, the trip is set to take place around October or November and comes amid a wider Western push to re-establish ties with the nation following the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Bin Salman has been accused of coordinating the murder.Pressed on the reports of a visit Friday, Downing Street declined to confirm details of a foreign leader’s trip. But they repeated condemnation of Khashoggi’s killing. “We’ve been clear the murder was a terrible crime and the Saudis should ensure it never happens again,” the prime minister’s official spokesperson said. Khashoggi, who was also the editor-in-chief of the Al-Arab News Channel, was assassinated in 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Bin Salman has had meetings with a number of Western leaders recentl...

Putin says ‘Wagner does not exist’ after meeting Prigozhin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin has given his own account of a June 29 meeting with Wagner mutineer Yevgeny Prigozhin and his men in the Kremlin after the paramilitary group’s aborted mutiny, claiming he gave the fighters an opportunity to continue fighting in Ukraine. Speaking to a reporter from Russia’s state-controlled Kommersant newspaper on Thursday, Putin said 35 Wagner fighters accompanied Prigozhin to the three-hour meeting in the Kremlin last month. The Russian president said he offered Wagner troops several options, including continuing to operate under the command of someone he identified by the call sign “Sedoy,” meaning “Gray-haired,” whom they had served under for 16 months. “All of them could have gathered in one place and continued to serve,” Putin said, “and nothing would have changed for them. They would have been led by the same person who has been their real commander all this time.” “Many people nodded...

Biden admin believes hack gave China insights into US thinking ahead of Blinken’s crucial Beijing visit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

(CNN) — The Biden administration believes that a Chinese hacking operation which breached US government email systems, including the State Department, gave the Chinese government insights about US thinking heading into Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing in June, according to two US officials.The hack – which Microsoft said was launched in mid-May – was discovered by the State Department right around the time of Blinken’s visit to Beijing, officials said. But it was not immediately clear that China was behind it and it was not widely known about within the department, they said.The news that the hack allowed China to access information ahead of a crucial visit that US officials hoped would start a reset of relations after months of tensions underlines the complexities of modern diplomacy but it’s unlikely to shock US officials who are well aware that two major global powers spy on each other’s communications.On Friday, Blinken would not say h...

Crews rescue construction worker stuck on lift in Framingham

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 GMT

Crews in Framingham responded on Thursday to rescue a man after he ended up stuck in the bucket of a lift vehicle roughly 100 feet above the ground, officials said. The Framingham Fire Department, in a statement, said the incident happened on Bishop Street, involving a 29-year-old construction worker.“While adjusting his position, the bucket of his lift got stuck on the railing that was being removed from the old Dennison smoke stack,” fire officials said. Crews spent roughly three hours working on the rescue, navigating high voltage wires, among other things, according to the fire department. Ultimately, officials said crews were able to get the man back to the ground safely. “All crews did a phenomenal job working together in challenging extreme heat conditions,” the fire department said.Photos from the scene showed the rescue in progress, with crews using at least two ladder trucks in their efforts.