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California officials confirm 2 cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne illness rarely transmitted in US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Two people in Southern California have come down with dengue fever without traveling outside the United States, where the mosquito-borne illness is rare, health officials said.A Pasadena resident was confirmed to have dengue last month but is recovering, officials said. “This is the first confirmed case of dengue in California not associated with travel and is instead an extremely rare case of local transmission in the continental United States,” the Pasadena Public Health Department announced.The case remains under investigation, but it appears that someone became infected with the dengue virus, returned home and was bitten by a mosquito that passed it on to the local resident, according to Pasadena health officials.On Wednesday, Long Beach officials announced another domestically contracted dengue case and said that person has recovered.Both cities’ health departments said the risk of exposure to others was low. Dengue is caused by several related v...

Florida dentist charged in murder-for-hire case says he was a victim of extortion, not a killer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida dentist on trial in a murder-for-hire case involving his ex-brother-in-law claimed Thursday that he was a victim of extortion by the killers, but wasn’t actually involved in the plot to kill the prominent Florida State University professor.Charles Adelson, whose sister Wendi was in a bitter custody battle with professor Dan Markel when Markel was shot in his car outside his Tallahassee home in 2014, testified in his own defense. He said his ex-girlfriend told him an ex-boyfriend committed the crime and now wanted Adelson to pay more than $300,000 or he would be killed, too.“I’m not going to be part of paying for a murder. This is insane,” Adelson said he told his ex-girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua. “She’s like, ‘Look. If you don’t pay in 48 hours, they will kill you.’ I said, ‘Katy, I feel like I’m being extorted.”Previously, Dan and Wendi Markel had divorced and were granted shared custody of their two children. But We...

A county lawmaker in New York is accused of slashing a tire outside a bar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (AP) — A county lawmaker in New York is accused of slashing the tire of a truck parked outside a local bar.Niagara County Legislator William Collins Sr., a Republican, is charged in a warrant issued Monday with third-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison.Collins did not respond Thursday to phone calls and emails seeking comment. Collins is accused of slashing a tire on a pickup truck outside of Attitudes, a bar in Lockport, last Thursday. Police told the Niagara Gazette they have surveillance video showing Collins committing the crime. They said arrangements have been made for Collins to surrender next week.The owner of the damaged pickup truck told police he saw Collins inside the bar but does not know why he would have slashed his tire.Collins represents Lockport in the legislature’s 12th District and is up for reelection next week.The Associated Press

Director of new Godzilla film pursuing ‘Japanese spirituality’ of 1954 original

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Godzilla, the nightmarish radiation spewing monster born out of nuclear weapons, has stomped through many movies, including several Hollywood remakes.Takashi Yamazaki, the director behind the latest Godzilla movie, set for U.S. theatrical release later this year, was determined to bring out what he believes is the essentially Japanese spirituality that characterizes the 1954 original.In that classic, directed by Ishiro Honda, a man sweated inside a rubber suit and trampled over cityscape miniatures to tell the story of a prehistoric creature mistakenly brought to life by radiation from nuclear testing in the Pacific. The monster in “Godzilla Minus One” is all computer graphics.“I love the original Godzilla, and I felt I should stay true to that spirit, addressing the issues of war and nuclear weapons,” said Yamazaki, who also wrote the screenplay and oversaw the computerized special effects.“There is a concept in Japan called ‘tatarigami.’ There are good gods, and there...

Panama’s congress backtracks to preserve controversial Canadian mining contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

PANAMA CITY (AP) — An indefinite moratorium on new mining activities passed a second vote in Panama’s National Assembly Thursday. One article was removed, however, that would have revoked a controversial mining contract which had sparked nationwide protests over the past two weeks.The bill had already passed a second debate on Wednesday while it still included an article revoking the government’s contract with Minera Panama, a local subsidiary of Canadian mining company First Quantum.Lawmakers reversed that decision Thursday, sending the bill back to a second debate and stripping the article specifically related to the Minera Panama contract.Some lawyers welcomed the decision, warning that revoking the contract with a new bill could have left the government open to multi-million dollar legal liabilities. Experts said those could be avoided if the country’s Supreme Court rules the original contract was unconstitutional in any one of eight such cases brought against the de...

Wanted man identified in random assault on GO train near Agincourt Station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

Toronto police have identified a man wanted in the unprovoked assault of a passenger who was struck in the face with a heavy object while on board a GO Train near Agincourt Station.Officers were called to the scene just before 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 29, for an alleged assault between Milliken and Agincourt stations.It’s alleged the male suspect randomly struck a passenger in the face with a heavy object. Police said the suspect exited the train at Agincourt Station and proceeded southbound towards Sheppard Avenue.The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Paul Thomas of no fixed address. He’s wanted on multiple offences, including assault with a weapon and aggravated assault.Investigators are urging members of the public not to approach Thomas and, if seen, to call 9-1-1.

Rick Scott endorses Trump over DeSantis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

(The Hill) — Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Thursday endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, going against a previous promise that he would stay out of the race and turning against his state's governor, Ron DeSantis (R).“I am optimistic that we can return America to its rightful position of economic and military strength and the undisputed moral leader of the free world, but only with strong leadership in the White House,” Scott said in a Newsweek op-ed published Thursday.“That is why I support my friend President Donald J. Trump to be the 47th president of the United States and encourage every Republican to unite behind his efforts to win back the White House,” he continued.Scott, then the governor of Florida, endorsed Trump in the 2016 election, and Trump returned the favor for Scott’s 2018 Senate election bid.“It's time for the Republican Party to come together, behind one candidate, and declare with one voice that we are united in our efforts to...

Gophers men cruise to win over Macalester in exhibition game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

The Gophers men’s basketball team trailed Division III Macalester for nearly 10 first-half minutes of an exhibition game Thursday at Williams Arena.The lower-level opponent from St. Paul was making 3-pointers and grabbed four offensive rebounds on one early possession en route to 17-9 lead. But Minnesota fully broke through with a turnover forced by Braeden Carrington and a fast-break layup from Mike Mitchell Jr.Finally, Minnesota started looked like the bigger and and more-talented team. Their pace was key as they went on a 20-5 run, led 45-36 at the half and cruised to a 97-73 win.The Gophers’ season opener is 7 p.m. Monday against Bethune-Cookman at the Barn.New point guard Elijah Hawkins, a transfer from Howard, pushed the pace in transition and finished with nine assists. Fellow new guard Mike Mitchell Jr., a transfer from Pepperdine, also had nine assists.Josh Ola-Joseph led Minnesota with 21 points, while Dawson Garcia added 19. Hawkins, Mitchell and Parker Fox also reached d...

Woodbury winter coat drive expands to include 13 drop-off locations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

A donation drive for winter coats in Woodbury expands to a record 13 locations this year, according to the Woodbury Community Foundation.The coat drive, which is conducted in partnership with SoWashCo CARES and local businesses, is aimed at “providing warmth and comfort to local students in need during the colder months,” a news release said.The Woodbury coat drive includes locations such as the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, the Woodbury YMCA, and Woodbury High School.A full list of drop-off locations, as well as a PayPal donation link, can be found at the Woodbury Community Foundation’s website at woodburyfoundation.org. Donations are being accepted through Dec. 8.Other winter-weather clothing donation drives are also ongoing now in Stillwater through Valley Outreach (valleyoutreachmn.org) and in St. Paul through the St. Paul Public Schools’ (spps.org) Operation Warm.Related ArticlesNews | Best burgers: 8 crave-worthy burgers at neighborhood spots...

Alamosa man shot, killed in confrontation with deputy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:12:31 GMT

A 31-year-old Alamosa man was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy Tuesday after the man allegedly stole an SUV and confronted the deputy with a knife.Benjamin Arvizo was killed in a confrontation with a sheriff’s deputy at a home on County Road 107 northwest of Alamosa on Tuesday afternoon, according to a Thursday news release from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.The incident started when an Alamosa County sheriff’s deputy responded to reports of a stolen Honda CR-V at an IHOP on Main Street in Alamosa at 3:53 p.m. Tuesday, according to CBI.Emergency dispatchers notified the deputy that the stolen vehicle was found at a home on County Road 107 and a man, later identified as Arvizo, was making threats to residents with a knife. Arvizo did not have a connection to the home.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Former Clear Creek deputy accused in Christian Glass’ death pleads not guilty Crime and Public Safety | Denver police release body ca...