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Sixth person dies from injuries suffered in Pennsylvania house explosion

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

PLUM, Pa. (AP) — The co-owner of a home that exploded in western Pennsylvania last weekend has died from injuries he suffered in the blast, which also killed his wife and four other people.Paul Oravitz, 56, who had severe burns over most of his body, died Wednesday in a Pittsburgh hospital, four days after the explosion in Plum. The town is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh.The cause of the blast — which destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others — remains under investigation, but officials have said Oravitz and his wife, Heather, were having issues with their hot water tank. The Allegheny County fire marshal’s office is leading the investigation, along with local law enforcement.The explosion occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Heather Oravitz, 51, who was Plum’s community development director, was killed in the blast along with Plum Borough Manager Michael Thomas, 57, and three others who lived in the neighborhood: Kevin Sebunia, ...

NDP and Green leaders cleared to review secret evidence on foreign meddling attempts

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

OTTAWA — Federal leaders for the New Democrats and Green Party have both received the security clearance they need in order to be briefed on specific allegations of foreign interference attempts in Canadian elections.Former special rapporteur David Johnston released an initial report on alleged meddling in May, along with a confidential annex of evidence that he said opposition party leaders who obtained relevant clearance could review.The report found the federal Liberals did not knowingly or negligently fail to act on foreign interference attempts, but serious reforms to the government’s handling of intelligence were needed.Green Leader Elizabeth May said in a press release that she was reviewing the documents in Ottawa and would provide an update to media on Friday. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s office said he has also received clearance and arrangements are currently being made for him to view the documents. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Québécois Leader...

Florida art museum sues former director over forged Basquiat paintings scheme

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A central Florida art museum which was raided last year by the FBI over an exhibit of what turned out to be forged Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings has sued its former executive director and others, claiming they were part of a scheme to profit from the eventual sale of the fake artwork.The Orlando Museum of Art filed the lawsuit Monday in state court against former CEO Aaron De Groft and others whom the museum says were involved in the scheme, seeking undisclosed damages for fraud, breach of contract and conspiracy.The 99-year-old museum, also referred to as OMA, was left with a tattered reputation that resulted in its being put on probation by the American Alliance of Museums, the lawsuit said.“OMA spent hundreds of thousands of dollars — and unwittingly staked its reputation — on exhibiting the now admittedly fake paintings,” the lawsuit said. “Consequently, cleaning up the aftermath created by the defendants has cost OMA even more.”Basquiat, who lived an...

A marijuana legalization question will be on Ohio’s fall ballot after lawmakers failed to act on it

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A proposal to legalize recreational adult use of marijuana in Ohio was cleared Wednesday to appear on statewide ballots this fall after the Republican-led state Legislature failed to act on it.The measure would allow adults 21 and over to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and to grow plants at home. A 10% tax would be imposed on purchases, to be spent on administrative costs, addiction treatment programs, municipalities with dispensaries and social equity and jobs programs.Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose determined that the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol had submitted 127,772 valid signatures, more than the 124,046 needed to put the question before voters on Nov. 7.In July, organizers had originally submitted fewer signatures than required, but were given 10 days to try again. During that grace period, they collected an additional 4,405 valid signatures. If the issue passes, Ohio would become the 24th state to legalize cannab...

The money raised by the ALS ice bucket challenge will give you chills 

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Maybe you thought it was silly — and certainly cold! But the amount of dollars that poured in from the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge will give you chills! And now we have a clear understanding of the critical impact all that funding has had for scientists — including some in Chicago.It was wildly popular on social media. The challenge, launched in 2014, took off on the web as celebrities and regular citizens stepped up — and under — an icy bucket of water.And it all paid off.Samantha Courter is with the ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter.“Seventeen million people participated in the ice bucket challenge. It generated $117 million for the ALS Association nationally. And worldwide it’s predicted to be $220 million,” she said.The money helped scientists identify 12 genes that play a critical role in ALS.Jake Mann, PhD is an ALS researcher with Northwestern Medicine.“It helped in a huge way,” he said.One of those genes, called NEK-1, is the focus of Dr Evangelos Kiskinis’ lab ...

Chris Tucker announces first tour since 2011, including Chicago stop

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chris Tucker will be hitting a Chicago stage to perform his stand-up comedy for the first time in over a decade this winter.Tucker will bring his "The Legend Tour 2023" to the Chicago Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 29. One drink, One stop: Bars, restaurants walking distance from Red Line stations The 30 year comedy veteran is widely-known for his acting roles in "Friday," "The Fifth Element," "Silver Linings Playbook," and the "Rush Hour" trilogy, but first hit the main stream as a stand-up comedian with his performances on the "Def Comedy Jam."The event will begin at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29.For ticket information, click here.

Illnois will provide burial for migrant toddler who died on bus

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois will provide for Thursday's funeral and burial for the migrant toddler who died last week on a bus headed to Chicago from Texas, officials said.Jismary Alejandra Barboza González, who would have turned 4 next week, died Aug. 10 while on a chartered bus, part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's program begun last year of sending migrants crossing into the state to Democratic-led cities across the country. Rachel Otwell, spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Human Services, confirmed the girl's name and said the Illinois Welcoming Center, a partially state-funded program, will cover burial costs for Jismary. The child's great aunt, Gisela Gonzalez, said the family set out for the United States in May from their home in Colombia, where Jismary was born.The funeral service for the girl is scheduled for Thursday at a church in Warsaw, Indiana.Welcoming centers offer comprehensive services for migrants. But Otwell said the family has not requested other hel...

Marcus Stroman's time out of the Cubs' rotation will be longer after injury update

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

CHICAGO — There was hope that Wednesday's game against the White Sox would be the return of Marcus Stroman to the Cubs' rotation. Instead, the club gave an update on the pitcher, and it wasn't the best of news. Just before the finale of the final City Series game at Wrigley Field, the Cubs announced that Stroman has a right rib cartilage fracture. Because of that, the team has no timeline as to when the 2023 National League All-Star will make his return to the rotation.This comes after Stroman was placed on the injured list on August 2 with right hip inflammation after what was the worst stretch of the season. On Tuesday, manager David Ross said that his return had been delayed by right rib discomfort that came up during a bullpen session Sunday in Toronto.In his second year with the Cubs, Stroman is 10-8 with a 3.35 ERA with 111 strikeouts compared to 50 walks. He had a strong first three months of the season, which helped him earn his second All-Star selection, but he struggled in...

California singer-songwriter behind Katy Perry song missing since June: friends

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

(KTLA) - Friends of an accomplished musician who has been missing for nearly two months are asking for the public to help find her. Camela Leierth-Segura, 48, was last seen in the Beverly Hills area on June 29, according to her missing persons page on the California Department of Justice website. Authorities have not otherwise released any details.Friends have also been posting on social media in an effort to get others to help in the search. Leierth-Segura is a singer and songwriter whose credits include Katy Perry's "Walking On Air."“We are extremely worried about her safety, and despite our best efforts, the local authorities have not been able to locate her,” Liz Montgomery posted on her Instagram account. "She means the world to us and time is of the essence." Vanna White misses ‘Wheel of Fortune’ for first time in 30 years Montgomery said Camela’s parents in Sweden are “pleading for your assistance.”Leierth-Segura's landlord told local reporters that the woman had rece...

Governor's Day at State Fair has Dems on display

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois State Fair is underway in Springfield.Wednesday Democratic politicians gathered at the fairgrounds for a day of rallies and speeches.Governor JB Prizker took center stage on “Governor’s Day” and sharply contrasted Democratic and Republican parties. He also sounded a note of triumph at the largest annual gathering of Illinois Democrats and bluntly explained why, in his view, Democrats dominate Illinois politics.“Here’s the game, everyone.  Republicans think that if they lie about something often enough, if they deny the truth long enough, maybe we will start to believe their lies,” he said. “The problem is this, here in Illinois, we have a low tolerance for bull****.”He touted his party’s legislative accomplishments made possible through Democratic supermajorities in both the state house and senate; expanding access to abortion, banning semi-automatic weapons and ending “book bans.” Those, he says, are the issues voters care about, not the cultur...