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NATO summit boosted by deal to advance Sweden’s bid to join alliance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — NATO’s summit will begin Tuesday with fresh momentum after Turkey withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance, a step toward the unity that Western leaders have been eager to demonstrate in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The decision by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a significant move toward Sweden’s membership and it will alleviate tension in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital.“This is a historic day,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said late Monday as he announced the agreement following days of intensive meetings. As part of the deal, Erdogan said he would ask Turkey’s parliament to approve Sweden joining NATO. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is expected to take a similar step. The outcome is a victory for U.S. President Joe Biden as well, who has touted NATO’s expansion as an example of how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has backfired on Moscow. Finland has already become the 3...

Growing widlfire in central Washington prompts evacuations and threatens homes and farms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

QUINCY, Wash. (AP) — Authorities in central Washington told some people to leave their homes immediately as a new, growing wildfire sparked west of Quincy on Monday afternoon. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office issued the evacuation notices for areas near the unincorporated community of Trinidad and the resort area of Crescent Bar.Washington’s Fire Marshal’s Office said in the evening said that state mobilization had been authorized for the the Baird Springs Fire, which had burned about 1.4 square miles (3.6 square kilometers) of terrain containing sage brush and crops. It was also threatening homes, orchards and a processing warehouse. The fire started at about 2:30 p.m., and the cause was under investigation.It was moving south, and State Route 28 was closed in the area because fire had burned right up to it, according to the sheriff’s office.An American Red Cross shelter was opening in Quincy. In southwest Washington, officials said, the Tunnel 5 Fire, which star...

Former NU football player speaks out after head coach Pat Fitzgerald's ousting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — Following Northwestern University head football coach Pat Fitzgerald's ouster, a former Northwestern player spoke out Monday on the toxic culture he experienced while in the program. "I had Cinco de Mayo shaved into my head," said Ramon Diaz Jr, a former offensive lineman at Northwestern from 2005-08. "Specific statements were said to me like, 'I know you grew up on dirt floors but here we try to keep things clean.'"Diaz Jr. first spoke Monday to The Daily Northwestern — the university's student-run newspaper — in which, an article published by the paper described different examples of racism experienced by three former football players at the university. He was the only player to go on record with his name, while the two other players asked to remain anonymous.Diaz Jr. said racism, like the statements he mentioned, were commonplace during his time in the program, and that removing only Fitzgerald will do little to solve the problems that he and others experienced."...

Check your tickets: Winning numbers drawn for $680.8M Powerball jackpot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - The Powerball jackpot has once again reached a record level, hitting an estimated $680.8 million ahead of Monday's drawing. If a ticket (or tickets) matches the numbers below, this will be the ninth-largest prize in the lottery game's history. The winning numbers drawn Monday were: 2, 24, 34, 53, 58, and red Powerball 13. The Power Play multiplier was 2X.Before the drawing, officials estimated the jackpot to be $675 million. It increased slightly during the day, reaching an estimated $680.8 million at the time of the drawing.The current jackpot has been growing since mid-April when someone in Ohio won the $252.6 million prize. Monday is the 35th consecutive drawing in this jackpot series. Real or fraud? How the winner of a large Powerball jackpot is confirmed Should there be a winner from Monday's drawing, the jackpot will rank as the ninth-largest in game history, coming in just behind a $687.8 million grand prize won in 2018. There were two winning tickets for that ...

Round Rock Express coach continuing diverse, meaningful baseball journey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — When Demetre Kokoris attended the University of South Carolina, he thought a career in the front office of baseball may be in the future. He worked as a student manager for the Gamecocks baseball team and hasn't looked back from the coaching route since."I started right away like 22, 23 years old as a grad assistant at Cal State Fullerton. Now I'm 39, turning 40 this year. That's not scary at all," Kokoris said with a smile.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersNow with the Round Rock Express as the bullpen coach, Kokoris is on his 17th stop of coaching and working in the sport he loves. From working in junior college baseball in Oregon to the Toronto Blue Jays organization, every stop has been valuable."Each stop along the way, there were opportunities to kind of master a different skillset," said Kokoris. "I think that's kind of what those levels...

'How did this happen?' Questions linger as to how Michael Burham escaped

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

WARREN, Pa. (WIVB) — It has been nearly five days since accused murderer and rapist Michael Burham escaped from the Warren County Jail. Although some evidence has been found, law enforcement leaders admitted on Monday they're no closer to knowing where he is.Pennsylvania State Police describe Burham as armed and dangerous days after he escaped from jail in Warren. A "self-taught survivalist", the search area in the manhunt has expanded significantly and other states are on alert. Authorities believe he is still in Warren. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "How did this happen? I heard that the Sheriff said that he was embarrassed. Well, he should be embarrassed," Bernie Tolbert, former special agent in charge with the FBI in Buffalo, told News 4.On Monday, the prison board in Warren held a meeting behind closed doors to figure out how Burham was able to get out. During his mandated recreational time, Burham escaped through th...

Police search for 2 teens who vandalized Webster Groves City Hall's fountain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. - Police are searching for two teenage girls who turned the city hall’s fountain into a bubble bath during last week's Fourth of July parade, causing property damage and costing taxpayers' money.A couple of hours before the city's annual Fourth of July parade, surveillance video showed two teenagers dropping laundry detergent into Webster Groves' city hall fountain."There were lots of bubbles,” said Dr. Marie Peoples, Webster Groves city manager. When will it be illegal to text and drive in Missouri? As the parade started, crowds noticed four inches of foam starting to fill up. Some thought it was fun, scooping it up and taking pictures, but city employees said this is no bubble bath."It requires some special types of chemicals to do the cleaning, and they have to drain the fountain," Peoples said. "So we have to shut it down, drain it, and when we're trying to do more sustainable things in the city, it's a waste of water."The question remains: is it just a har...

Neighbors worry ramshackle Pine Lawn home could collapse any minute

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

PINE LAWN, Mo. – A St. Louis County municipality is in fear; not from things like crime, flooding, or a chemical spill, but from falling bricks.FOX 2 is getting answers about a house that is truly falling apart at 6111 Reichman in Pine Lawn. It sits amid dozens of houses with well-kept flower beds and manicured yards tucked away off of Jennings Station Road.“Since the last time I saw it, the roof has caved all the way in,” said Alonzo Simmons, who grew up next door to the crumbling house. “Every month, it looks a little worse.”On Monday, Simmons was visiting his mother, Yolanda James, who’s lived in the home since 1973.“It’s taking down the prettiness of my yard,” she said. “It’s just an eyesore.” Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW James l...

St. Charles County residents concerned about tall tree subdivision proposal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - St. Charles County residents are upset about a new subdivision proposal, and they let their lawmakers know their concerns at a meeting Monday.The new proposal is for 452 homes on 298 acres of land. The proposed area for the development is along Highway DD between Schwede Road and Wild Turkey.A big concern neighbors have been the increase in traffic along the busy highway, the increase in students in schools, and the overall increase in people. When will it be illegal to text and drive in Missouri? “Quarter-acre home sites at minimum. That is the happy medium. None of our group has their heads in the sand that this isn’t going to develop," said Shawn Mann. "It will be developed. The question is, does the county follow the 2030 master plan as set out."The developer's attorney, Brad Goss, spoke before the council, saying the master plan is guidelines for the council and not something they must follow. He said the new changes meet the guidelines for the devel...

Accused killer’s case thrown out over one question at trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Darin Schmidt was convicted after three people testified that Schmidt confessed to them that he killed David Bewig Jr. But a follow-up question from the prosecutor at trial about that confession led an appeals court to throw out the case.That question drew no objection at trial: “Did you believe he was telling you the truth?”David Bewig fears a killer could soon walk free. His son, a music producer, was shot and killed in 2016 while sitting in his car on near Etzel and Belt in north St. Louis. David Bewig Jr. was 31.“He held his nephew one time, and he was gone!” Bewig said. Parson signs laws for new moms’ health care, ban on texting while driving Schmidt, now 37, was convicted in 2019 under former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. An appeals court affirmed that the, “…defendant’s extrajudicial statements that he shot and killed the victim were admissible because they were corroborated by independent proof…”But the appeals court opted to toss the conviction, addi...