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Railroads warned about car flaw that could cause derailments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — U.S. railroads were warned to take certain cars out of service Thursday after Norfolk Southern discovered loose wheels on a car involved in last weekend’s derailment in Ohio.It’s not clear that the loose wheels caused the derailment near Springfield last Saturday because the National Transportation Safety Board has just begun investigating that crash — the latest in a string of high-profile derailments that have been grabbing headlines. But the railroad said the loose wheels on the car could cause a derailment.Norfolk Southern said in a statement that after the railroad discovered “additional cases of unusual wheel movement,” it acted quickly to notify accident investigators and the rest of the industry. The Association of American Railroads trade group responded Thursday by issuing an advisory about the suspect cars.The trade group said the problem was linked to new wheel sets that were installed on specialized steel coil cars beginning in August. The...

Ford to cut 1,100 jobs in Spain after other European layoffs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Ford Motor Co. announced Friday that it will cut around 1,100 jobs at its plant in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia.The cuts are in addition to the 2,300 layoffs largely in Germany and the U.K. that the automaker announced last month as part of a “leaner, more competitive cost structure in Europe.”Ford Spain said in a statement that it notified unions on Friday of what it said was “a profound restructuring of its operations,” which comes even as Ford champions the Valencia plant as its preferred site to assemble “next-generation” electric vehicles on the continent.The plant is Ford’s only such facility in Spain and employed 5,400 people.Ford has said its strategy to offer an all-electric fleet in Europe by 2035 has not changed and that production of its first European-built electric car is due to start later this year.The cuts were “mainly due to the already announced discontinuing production of the S-Max and Galaxy models in April 2023,” Ford Spain said in an emai...

Boston nonprofit organizers charged with defrauding city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A couple who run a nonprofit aimed at reducing violence in Boston, already charged with using the organization as their own personal bank, now face allegations that they misused COVID-19 relief funds, federal prosecutors said.Monica Cannon-Grant, 42, who founded Violence in Boston Inc., and Clark Grant, 39, were charged on Thursday in a superseding indictment with misusing funds received from the city of Boston and lying about their income in order to receive assistance intended for residents struggling to pay their rent.The couple, who bought a house in Taunton, now face a total of 27 charges, including 17 counts of wire fraud, prosecutors said in a statement.Grant’s attorney said via email Friday that she had no comment. An email seeking comment was sent to Cannon-Grant’s attorney.According to the superseding indictment, Cannon-Grant and Grant, who ran Violence in Boston Inc., used some of the organization’s more than $50,000 in pandemic relief fund...

House votes to declassify info about origins of COVID-19

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted unanimously Friday to declassify U.S. intelligence information about the origins of COVID-19, a sweeping show of bipartisan support near the third anniversary of the start of the deadly pandemic.The 419-0 vote was final approval of the bill, sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.Debate was brief and to the point: Americans have questions about how the deadly virus started and what can be done to prevent future outbreaks. The order to declassify focused on intelligence related to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology, citing “potential links” between the research that was done there and the outbreak of COVID-19. U.S. intelligence agencies are divided over whether a lab leak or a spillover from animals is the likely source of the virus.Experts say the true origin of the coronavirus pandemic may not be known for many years — if ever.Lisa Mascaro, The Associated Press

Grossi set for second term at helm of UN nuclear watchdog

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

VIENNA (AP) — The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is set for another four-year term at the helm of the U.N. nuclear watchdog as it grapples with monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities and tries to shore up the safety of power plants in Ukraine.The IAEA said that its 35-nation board of governors on Friday reappointed Argentine diplomat Rafael Mariano Grossi by acclamation for a second term as the organization’s director-general, beginning in early December.The annual meeting of the IAEA’s 176 member countries, the general conference, will have to sign off formally on the reappointment when it meets in September.Grossi said in a statement that he was “deeply honored” by the board’s unanimous decision.“It comes at a time when we face many major challenges and I’m fully committed to continue to do everything in my power to implement the IAEA’s crucial mission in support of global peace and development,” he said. Grossi took charge of the Vienna...

DeSantis makes long-anticipated 1st Iowa trip ahead of 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is in Iowa on Friday to introduce himself to an expectant audience of Republicans, making a long-awaited visit ahead of a likely 2024 presidential bid.DeSantis’ planned appearances in Davenport and Des Moines mark his first trip to the leadoff voting state and come as anticipation over his expected White House campaign has been building. With the Iowa caucuses less than a year away, Republicans in the state are ready to take a harder look at DeSantis, a top-tier presidential prospect viewed as a rival to former President Donald Trump.“A lot of people are excited with DeSantis — people that I talk to. There has been so much talk. The expectations are really high for him,” said Emma Aquino-Nemecek, an eastern Iowa county Republican committee member who is curious about DeSantis but feels deep loyalty to Trump.DeSantis is scheduled to appear with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday morning in Davenport and that evening in Des Moines t...

Michigan State shooter’s note says he felt hated, rejected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

A man who fatally shot three students and wounded five others on the Michigan State University campus left a note describing himself as being “hated,” “a loner” and an “outcast.”Anthony McRae, 43, also wrote “I’m tired of being rejected,” in the note, which was dated the day before the Feb. 13 shooting and released Friday by police.“They made me who I’m am today a killer,” the note read. “I’m a person,” and “They hate me why? why? why? why?”McRae, who lived in nearby Lansing, had no apparent connection to the East Lansing school. The rampage began about 8 p.m. on Feb. 13 when shots were fired inside a classroom at Berkey Hall on the north end of campus. Police believe McRae then walked into the nearby student union building firing more shots.The campus was placed on an hourslong lockdown, which ended when McRae shot himself in an industrial area about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) from campus.The note was found in his pocket.“There’s a group of us, 20 of us and I’m the ...

Kenya jails 7 foreigners for life over drug trafficking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Six Pakistanis and one Iranian national who were found guilty of trafficking heroin via the Indian Ocean to Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa have been sentenced to life in prison.The foreigners have been in custody since 2014 when they were arrested and charged with trafficking heroin worth 1.3 billion Kenya shillings ($10 million).Each of the convicts will also be fined 3.9 billion Kenya shillings, the Mombasa court said Friday. They all have a right to appeal to the higher court.The seven were crew members of a ship Amin Darya, also known as Al Noor, and were arrested while on board while the ship was at sea. The ship was destroyed in an operation that was supervised by then President Uhuru Kenyatta, who reiterated the country’s strict stance against drug trafficking.During the trial, the foreigners accused police of tampering with evidence after the ship was destroyed before the case was concluded. The magistrate, however, said the court was satisfied with th...

CTA looking for bus operators, mechanics in Friday career fair

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority is looking for bus operators and mechanics during a career fair Friday.The career fair is being held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CTA's headquarters — located at 567 W. Lake St.Starting hourly-rates for a bus mechanic are $40.59 and the starting rate for a bus operator is $28.99. ‘She was only 25’: Woman trying to find family of Chicago artist from 1952 To register, click here.

Crib bumpers recalled for violating federal ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:26 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) – Baby crib bumpers sold online are being recalled because they violate a federal ban.The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall involves NO1 and NO2 baby crib bumpers sold on Aliexpress.com and Temu.com from November 2022 through January 2023. The NO1 crib bumpers are white and gray and have a cloud pattern. The NO2 crib bumpers are white.Photo//CPSCPhoto//CPSCThe recall was initiated because they violate the federal crib bumper ban. The ban was put in place because infants can suffocate if they roll or move on the crib bumper in a position that obstructs breathing. “The use of padded crib bumpers poses an unnecessary threat to the health and safety of infants everywhere, there is no reason the sale of these items should continue,” Sen. Rob Portman said in a press release.  Crib bumper ban: Products blamed in baby deaths can no longer be sold Anyone with the recalled crib bumpers should cut the tie strings and send Meiling Hou a...