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San Marcos couple returns after harrowing trip in Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Calif. -- A local couple who were on vacation in Israel and got stuck there after Hamas unleashed its attacks has made it home.Patty Kolb and her husband are back in San Marcos, arriving in San Diego Sunday night after a harrowing trip to Israel.“We have to use the experiences of the last eight days for a greater good and we believe that that's the purpose of why we were there,” Kolb said.They were there for about a week visiting friends and touring sites when everything changed with Hamas’ terror attacks.“Potentially at anytime, we could have been I guess bombed, at no time was I fearful,” Kolb said.But getting out was not easy.The couple’s flight home was canceled, rescheduled, then canceled again. Eventually, they found a Saturday flight from Tel Aviv to Athens. Man arrested after machete attack, SWAT standoff in Oceanside “We spent a lot of time in bomb shelters including about 15 minutes before we left our Airbnb to go to the airport and a half hour before we boar...

1 dead, 2 injured by gunshots near a pro-democracy protest in Guatemala

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — One person died and at least two more were injured by gunshots near a pro-democracy demonstration in Guatemala on Monday, local authorities said.Victor Gomez, spokesman for the volunteer firemen in Malacatan, near the border with Mexico, said it was not clear whether the victims were protesters themselves, or just caught nearby.The incident marked the beginning of a third week of demonstrations against Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who protesters accuse of attempting to undermine a popular vote for progressive President-elect Bernardo Arévalo.Videos from Malacatan circulating on social media painted a chaotic picture. Some appear to show civilians and police officers fleeing as bursts of gunfire are heard. In one recording, a vehicle and a police patrol are burning. It is not clear who fired the shots. In response to the incident, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said authorities were “carrying out corresponding investigations” and promised more de...

Trudeau says three Canadians could be among Hamas hostages; Tories say no ceasefire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on Hamas to immediately release hostages in Gaza, which he says may include at least three missing Canadians, while the Opposition Conservatives warned his Liberal government against calling for a ceasefire. Trudeau spoke in Parliament for the first time Monday since fighters stormed into Israel from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, killing hundreds of people and taking a reported 199 people hostage.“Five Canadians were murdered by Hamas terrorists. Three Canadians are reported missing and may be hostages,” he told MPs in the House of Commons. He continued in French, saying, “Canada asks Hamas to free all the hostages immediately.” Canada has listed Hamas as a terrorist entity since 2002. In his address to Parliament, Trudeau reiterated how militants with the group are not “freedom fighters” as some supporters and protesters have suggested in demonstrations staged in Canadain the wake of the ...

Prayer vigil and solidarity rally held for the victims in Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

WHEELING, Ill. — More than 100 people gathered Monday evening for a prayer vigil and solidarity rally for the victims in Israel.Rabbi Sholom Notik organized the event, which will begin with a prayer vigil for those held hostage, murdered, wounded and displaced during the Israel-Hamas war. MORE STORIES: Israel and Hamas conflict "Today, we want to make sure we can help in any way we can to Israel," Rhada Eydelmin, who attended the event, said.Notik, faith leaders and community members gave words of inspiration and hope."I like to say at the beginning of an event like this that it’s not about politics, it’s not about a demonstration, it’s about supporting each other, especially supporting the victims," Notik said. "Supporting really our brothers and sisters over in Isreal who are going through all of this. And about encouraging all of us that you can do better."At the local level, people will be thinking about the safe return of Evanston natives Judity Ra'anan and her 19-year-old d...

Milder, more seasonable weather arrives on the heels of the coolest daytime high in 5+ months Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

Next storm system to bring showery periods beginning Wednesday night continuing at times into Friday nightFOLLOWING A DRY TUESDAY, CHICAGO'S NEXT CHANCE FOR SHOWERS ARRIVES ON WEDNESDAYTEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION OUTLOOKSNEXT RAIN CHANCE ARRIVES WEDNESDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF APPROACHING COLD FRONTMORE SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAYForecast highs TuesdayForecast highs WednesdayMONDAY'S 55-DEGREE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS THE CHILLIEST DAYTIME HIGH OF AUTUMN 2023 TO DATEPlus, the coolest in 5.5 months since a 54-degree high on May 2ndSIZZLING HEAT ESTABLISHES A NEW RECORD IN PHOENIX MONDAY — WELL ABOVE THE NORMAL HIGH OF 89 DEGREESTEMPERATURES SOARED WELL ABOVE NORMAL MONDAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE WEST AND NORTHERN PLAINSMonday high temperaturesHow much above normal?CLICK TO ENLARGE

An 'illicit' affair helps police crack cold case murder of nurse killed 37 years ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

Warning: This story has graphic details that were released with the family's permission.TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Investigators in Florida said they have solved the 1986 cold case murder of a nurse after nearly 37 years, thanks to an "illicit" affair by a relative of the suspected killer. Wrong-way driver killed, Lake Wales couple hospitalized in Polk County crash On Oct. 27, 1986, the mother of Teresa Lee Scalf, Betty Scalf, found her daughter dead in her Lakeland home. The victim's family said her mother had to break into the residence with a credit card after the hospital told her Teresa didn't show up for work."I think she was killed around 3:30 in the afternoon, and by the time I got there at 8 or 9 o'clock at night, all the evidence had been washed away by the rain," Betty Scalf said. The Polks County Sheriff's Office said Teresa Scalf's throat had been slit and she had "defensive wounds" on her hands. Detective Matt Newbold said there was no sign o...

Williamson County announces Segment 1 of Samsung Highway open

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- On Monday, Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles announced Segment 1 of Samsung Highway opened on Monday, according to a news release from the county.According to the county, Segment 1 is a four-lane portion of the Samsung Highway project constructed to reduce curves on County Road 404 and increase safety. Once the roadway is complete, it will connect Farm-to-Market Road 3349 to Farm-to-Market Road 973, which is south of the Samsung plant, the release said.Segment 1 connects FM 972 to CR 404. Segment 2 will connect CR 404 to FM 3349 and is expected to be completed summer 2024, according to officials. Construction begins for Segment 2 of Samsung Highway in Williamson County “As East Williamson County grows this is an important connection to keep our communities safe and mobile and will serve at the foundation for the East Wilco Highway,” Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said in the release. “Parents should have d...

State of Minnesota says budget still running big surplus, 50% larger than projected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

Minnesota budget officials said Monday that the state’s budget surplus is on track to be almost 50% larger than projected earlier this year.Minnesota brought in more revenue from taxes and fees than forecast this spring and spent slightly less than expected as the 2022-23 biennium concluded. The result: a balance $820 million higher than the $1.6 billion prior projected surplus for the 2024-25 biennium, Minnesota Management and Budget reported in its end-of-fiscal-year analysis.The extra funds are set to be added to the state’s surplus for the next budget cycle, though the exact size of any surplus won’t be announced until early December.State officials earlier this year said their two-year projected budget 2022-23 surplus — estimated at $17.5 billion in February — was testimony to the fact that Minnesota had withstood the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and outpaced the U.S. economy overall.Related ArticlesPolitics | NTSB blames broken rail for fiery Marc...

NTSB blames broken rail for fiery March freight train derailment in western Minnesota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

RAYMOND, Minn. — A broken rail was responsible for the fiery derailment of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train and the night-time evacuation of about 800 Raymond residents on March 30 in near zero-degree weather, according to a recently released report by the National Transportation Safety Board.“As a result of the physical evidence, NTSB staff has determined that the in-service rail failure (broken rail) that caused this accident was related to a rail head surface condition,” the report said.The investigation and evidence “indicate that track-train dynamics worsened a rail head surface condition until a complete sectional break out of the rail head occurred” underneath the train, according to the report synopsis.The NTSB previously reported that a section of fractured track was sent to a BNSF laboratory in Topeka, Kan., on the day following the derailment and was being examined as part of the investigation into the derailment.The derailment was reported at 12:58 a.m....

Gov. Hochul to visit Israel amid Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:33:52 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will be traveling to Israel on Tuesday as the Israel-Hamas war rages on. New York State is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In a statement, she said, “During these difficult times, it’s more important than ever for New York to show up in support of Israel. Tomorrow I’ll be traveling to Israel for a solidarity mission where I plan to meet with diplomatic leaders and communities who have been devastated by the horrific Hamas attacks. New York will show the world that we stand with Israel – today, tomorrow and forever.” Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7. It is estimated that more than 1,300 people were killed, and around 200 people were taken hostage. Air strikes have since taken place in Israel and Gaza, and a ground invasion by the Israeli military is expected in the coming days.Pres. Joe ...