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Russia strikes Ukraine’s critical port facilities in Odesa after halting grain deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia unleashed intense drone and missile attacks overnight Wednesday, damaging critical port infrastructure in southern Ukraine, including grain and oil terminals, and wounding at least 12 people, officials said.The bombardment crippled significant parts of export facilities in Odesa and nearby Chornomorsk and destroyed 60,000 tons of grain, according to Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry.It came days after President Vladimir Putin pulled Russia out of its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a wartime deal that enabled Ukraine’s exports to reach many countries facing the threat of hunger. It also followed a vow by Putin to retaliate against Kyiv for an attack Monday on the crucial Kerch Bridge linking Russia with the Crimean Peninsula, which the Kremlin illegally annexed in 2014.The Agriculture Ministry, citing experts, estimated it would take a year to restore the damaged facilities. The destroyed grain was supposed to have been loaded onto a vessel ...

Broadcom’s $69 billion VMware purchase wins UK competition watchdog’s approval

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Computer chip and software maker Broadcom’s $69 billion plan to buy cloud technology company VMware cleared another hurdle Wednesday after Britain’s competition regulator gave the deal provisional clearance.The Competition and Markets Authority said its investigation found the deal “would not substantially reduce competition” in the supply of hardware components for computer servers in the U.K. The deal also would be unlikely to harm innovation, the regulator said. Thousands of British businesses and public bodies, including major banks, big retailers, telecom operators and government departments, rely on Broadcom gear and VMware software, the regulator said. Both companies are based in California. The CMA, which said it’s the biggest transaction it has ever investigated, will now seek feedback before issuing its final report Sept. 12. Broadcom is paying $61 billion in cash and stock for VMware and taking on $8 billion of its debt. The European Commission, ...

‘Too much foot-dragging’ over stadium lease deal with Baltimore Orioles, Maryland official says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A Maryland official on a powerful state board said Wednesday there’s “too much foot-dragging” between the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Baltimore Orioles to renew the team’s lease at Camden Yards, and he urged the parties to “get this damn thing done.”Treasurer Dereck Davis, who is one of three members of the Maryland Board of Public Works, expressed his concerns at the end of a board meeting. The treasurer pointed out that negotiations between the state and the team aren’t over something as involved as building a new stadium, and he questioned what’s taking so long. “If there’s something going on, we need to know,” Davis said. “There’s too much foot-dragging on this, and what I’ve learned in 30 years is the longer nothing’s been said, the longer it takes. I’m saying this for the explicit purpose so it gets out there, and folks have to start answering what’s taking so long.”The baseball team’s lease is set to expire at the end of th...

Woman killed, 2 critical — including suspect— after South Side shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman is dead following a South Side shooting and two others are critically injured, including the suspect who suffered a self-inflicted wound.The shooting happened just before 9 a.m. Wednesday in the 7600 block of South Michigan Avenue in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. Police said a 32-year-old and 53-year-old woman were inside a residence when the 32-year-old woman got into a verbal altercation with a 34-year-old man.According to police, the man pulled out a gun and fired shots in the 32-year-old's direction, striking both women multiple times in the abdomen.The man then sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said. Man dies from punching window of suburban bar after getting kicked out Both women were transported in critical condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where the 32-year-old was pronounced dead.The man was also transported to U of C and is in critical condition.No further information has been provided at this ...

'Fought for her life': Mother of missing Alabama woman says daughter was abducted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Carlee Russell's mother indicated that she has reason to believe her daughter was abducted during the two days she went missing last week, telling a correspondent on the "Today" show that Russell "fought for her life" during the ordeal.Russell, 25, had gone missing on July 13, after calling police to report a toddler on the side of the Alabama interstate. She then phoned a family member, telling them she planned to check on the child.But the call got disconnected, and police officers arrived minutes later to find only Russell's car, phone, purse and wig at the scene.Russell ultimately returned home "on foot" two nights later, and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment, police said. Timeline: Carlee Russell's disappearance, return Officials with the Hoover Police Department have not commented on Russell's whereabouts during her disappearance, citing an ongoing investigation. But her parents previously told Nexstar's WIAT they...

Tracking the Tropics: New hurricane model uses supercomputers to predict hurricanes faster than ever

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A revolutionary weather model that accurately predicted the rapid intensification of Hurricane Ian will assume the position as the National Hurricane Center's premier hurricane forecasting model.The NHC said its new "Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System," or HAFS for short, went operational on June 27 alongside older models for the 2023 hurricane season. The system is the first new major forecast model to use NOAA’s updated weather and climate supercomputers.BackgroundAn experimental version of HAFS which ran from 2019 to 2022 showed a 10-15% improvement in track predictions compared to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s existing hurricane models."HAFS provides more accurate, higher-resolution forecast information both over land and ocean," NOAA said.HAFS can zoom in with a resolution of 1.2 miles on areas of a hurricane that are key to improving wind intensity and rain forecasts, the NHC said.During the 2022 hurricane season, the NHC said H...

Did Buc-ee's purposely misspell 'Howdy' on Texas billboard?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

TEMPLE, Tex. (WFLA) – Usually, when drivers see a billboard indicating that a Buc-ee's is nearby, excitement fills the air, but for motorists in Texas, a certain Buc-ee's billboard drew many questions. While Texas is filled with many Buc-ee's signs and billboards, eagle-eyed driver Tab Patterson noticed something a little off with one of the billboards near Temple, Texas. World’s largest Buc-ee’s opens in Tennessee, but it won’t hold the title for long The word "howdy" was spelled "hodwy" on the billboard. Patterson shared a photo of the misspelling on a Buc-ee's fan Facebook page, saying, "I need an explanation."As of now, it's unclear if the misspelling was intentional or not, but some Facebook users entertained the idea that the error was on purpose. "Marketing genius, served the intended purpose – everyone is talking about it," one user wrote under the photo. With more than 40 locations spanning across the country, the popular travel centers are mostly located in Texas. Howev...

MnDOT releases survey, website for 10 ‘Rethinking I-94’ scenarios

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has released 10 general concept options for reconfiguring a 7.5-mile stretch of Interstate 94 between downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis.The scenarios — which range from basic maintenance of the existing interstate to filling in the deep trench of I-94 until it is at-grade — are available online at tinyurl.com/Options94.Each alternative lays out possibilities for public transit and transit stations alongside general roadway layouts. The area in question runs between Marion Street in St. Paul and Minnesota 55/Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis. A public survey is available at tinyurl.com/Survey94Options23.MnDOT will spend the next year in a scoping process intended to further narrow the 10 leading options. A more detailed analysis is currently slated to take place from 2024 to 2027. A public presentation on Monday drew critical reaction from elected officials and advocates for a multi-lane, at-grade boulevard with lower traff...

CPW presenting first annual Kingston Photo Festival

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Center for Photography at Woodstock is presenting the first annual Kingston Photo Festival. The event will run from July 21 through July 23. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The festival will feature numerous photo exhibitions, workshops, portrait studios, and film screenings. The event will also offer live music and a variety of food and beverage options. “We are thrilled to join the thriving arts community in Kingston and to welcome our partners and friends to our new home for a joyous summer block party,” said CPW Executive Director Brian Wallis. Albany home to unscripted productions during SAG-AFTRA & WGA strikes The event will kick off with an evening of photos and film curated by photographer Bill Daniel from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on July 21. Activities will run from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on July 22 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 23. The festival will be held at CPW’s future headq...

Queensbury arson suspect arrested twice in one day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:50:56 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Queensbury man is in custody following an investigation into a house fire on Monday night. Colby D. Geever, 52, was charged with Arson in the second degree, Reckless Endangerment in the second degree, two counts of Criminal Contempt in the second degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Resisting arrest, Obstructing Governmental Administration in the second degree, and Other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.  Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Troopers from the New York State Police responded to the house fire at around 9:45 p.m. on Monday. The fire was extinguished with minimal damage. Two adults and a child occupied the house but were uninjured.Police say the fire was determined suspicious. During investigations, Troopers learned that Geever contacted an individual residing at the location via phone and text on July 13. The individual had an active court-issued stay-away order of protectio...