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Pope’s peace envoy arrives in Moscow after the short-lived Wagner rebellion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis’ peace envoy arrived in Moscow on Tuesday in hopes of helping find “a solution to the tragic current situation” of the war in Ukraine, weeks after making a preliminary visit to Kyiv, the Vatican said.The mission by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, a veteran of the Catholic Church’s peace initiatives, comes as the Kremlin is reeling from the weekend armed rebellion led by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Russia has since dropped charges against Prigozhin and others who took part in the brief mutiny.Details of Zuppi’s itinerary weren’t immediately clear. When he visited Kyiv earlier this month, he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In Moscow, one likely visit would be paid to the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, whose leader Patriarch Kirill has strongly supported the war.The Vatican has said Zuppi is hoping to find “paths of peace” in his shuttle missions.On the Moscow leg, Zuppi was accompanied by an official from the Vatican secr...

North Carolina GOP bars promotion of certain beliefs in state government, 1 of 5 veto overrides

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Republican-dominated legislature swept five bills into law Tuesday with veto overrides, placing new limits on wetlands protection rules and barring the promotion of certain beliefs in state government workplaces that some lawmakers likened to critical race theory.The measures, which also address consumer loans and local government finances, became law after a succession of House votes with margins large enough to overcome Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s formal vetoed objections earlier this month. The Senate already voted over the past week to override vetoes on each of these bills. The state constitution deems an override successful if at least three-fifths of the members in each chamber present and voting agree to enact the bill anyway despite the governor’s objections.The overrides exemplify the expanded political muscle of Republicans after electoral seat gains last fall and a House Democrat’s party switch in April gave ...

Parks Canada highlights “On The Road Again” project

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

Parks Canada is drawing attention to its On The Road Again conservation project, aiming to improve reptile and amphibian habitats in eastern and central Ontario. The conservation effort is focused on the areas in and around Georgian Bay Islands National Park, Bruce Peninsula National Park and Thousand Islands National Park (about 50 minutes east of Kingston) and is particularly focused on turtles and their nesting season throughout May, June and early July.Project Coordinator Katherine Welch says On The Road Again started officially in 2020 in response to the population decline of reptiles and amphibians due to dramatically altered landscapes.Through the project’s $1.8 million in funding, actions to be taken include installing new under-road animal passageways, that will help species safely cross roadways, supporting habitat restoration, and implementing large scale public engagement initiatives. Through this program Parks Canada has partnered with municipalities, local s...

Denver weather: First 90 degree day of the year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The warm and sunny conditions along with gusty southwest winds will give Denver weather another chance to reach it's first 90 degree day this season. June 27 several days of sunshine could make Tuesday the first day in the 90s.Winds and fire danger are the main concern Tuesday before the forecast calls for rain chances to increase later in the week which will cool the metro back down. Spring Creek Fire multiplies overnight burning 3,000 acres Weather Tuesday: first 90-degree dayMostly sunny skies across Denver and the Front Range Tuesday. It will be breezy to windy at times with a dry southwest wind up to 25 mph.Winds could reach 25 mph in Denver on June 27.The wind combined with abundant sunshine brought Denver its first 90-degree day of the year, reaching that temperature at 2:01 p.m. at Denver International Airport where official recordings are made.Denver’s last 90-degree day was Sept. 20, 2022, and we’re now more than two weeks past the average firs...

Music and a drone show at CU stadium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

DENVER( KDVR) -- Coloradans can see the rocket's red glare and enjoy the sparkling lights in the sky on the 4th of July without worrying about fire hazards.It's illegal to use fireworks that leave the ground in Colorado, so you won't be able to send bombs bursting in the air without proper certification. Spring Creek Fire multiplies overnight burning 3,000 acres That's why there will be a free drone show at the University of Colorado in Boulder this Independence Day.It will be Boulder's first-ever night sky drone show in place of fireworks. It will feature live music from local musicians as well as concessions and food trucks. Gates to Folsom Field open at 7 p.m. and at around 9:35 p.m. the drone show will begin. in the meantime, you will be entertained with performances from School of Rock and local bands The Custom Shop Band and Funkiphino.Stadium guidelines will apply for this event, meaning only clear bags will be allowed, no outside food or drinks and no pets other than servi...

Civil rights attorney pleads Biden to appoint Black woman to Southern District Court in Florida following Marcia Cooke’s death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

Following the death of Florida’s first Black female federal judge, a civil rights attorney is urging President Biden to nominate another Black woman to serve on the bench. The call for action is taking center stage in South Florida.According to reports, of the four open and soon-to-be vacant judge seats in South Florida, people are hoping the vacant seat will be filled by another Black woman. “Diversity in America is a fact,” attorney Ben Crump said.Members of the Black Bar Association in South Florida are pushing to continue the legacy of diversity on the Southern District Court in Florida.Only one Black woman has served as a federal judge in its 176-year history.The Honorable Marcia Cooke was confirmed by a 96-0 senate vote in 2004, nominated by former President George W. Bush.Earlier this year, Cooke passed away at 68-years old from cancer after an 18-year career on the bench.But her untimely death left a void and now, more than a half a dozen legal associations...

Illinois man extradicted to Broward County for selling fake Rolex watches at pawn shops across the U.S.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

An Illinois man was arrested and brought to South Florida, accused of pawning counterfeit Rolex watches at pawn shops across the country.Kyle Patrick Morris, 27, from Lyons, Illinois, is facing charges of grand theft and selling counterfeit goods, according to authorities.The arrest followed an extensive investigation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, which uncovered Morris’ nationwide operation.Investigators discovered that the counterfeit Rolex watches were remarkably authentic, making them nearly indistinguishable from genuine timepieces. The deception only became noticeable upon close examination of the watches.During the investigation, detectives found evidence that Morris had successfully pawned counterfeit watches twice in November 2022, receiving $5,000 for each piece at pawn shops in Broward County. Additionally, he possessed counterfeit certificates of authenticity, further misleading the unsuspecting pawnbrokers.“The suspect did not ask to pawn the watch,...

Miami-Dade court employee hospitalized after being attacked by 2 dogs in Miami

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

A Miami-Dade court employee is in the hospital after she was attack by two dogs.The incident happened at a home near Southwest Ninth Avenue and Second Street in Miami, Tuesday. According to police, the victim said she was bitten on the ear and her backside by two dogs.The owner’s son said it likely happened after his mother made a mistake.“We always leave that gate closed because the dogs get excited as people walk past,” the owner’s son said. “But she opened it, and went back out, and I don’t think she closed this, the gate, and then that’s when it happened.Animal services took the dogs away.

Sinkhole in Ocala cause problems for residents

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

OCALA, Fla. (WSVN) – A sinking situation in central Florida has gotten bigger. The massive hole is inching closer to homes and it has a neighborhood on edge. A man in Ocala watched in disbelief as a sinkhole grew in his neighbor’s backyard“It went from 2 feet to about 15 feet, and then it turned into that,” the man said. “It actually is kind of scary.”Recent heavy rain has caused a couple of problems. “Unfortunately, this one, it just caught everybody by surprise,” said James Carsey, a city employee. First, the ground opened up so close to a home that the woman living there was forced to evacuate. Then, it created a flood of trouble.Inches of rainwater covered the parking lot of a drive-in movie theater.“I haven’t seen it this bad in a long time,” said a resident. And with more severe weather in the forecast, homeowners lined up to get sandbags and wished that they did not have to drive.“You really got to be careful d...

NTSB: Short circuit in train door led to passenger’s death at Broadway MBTA station last year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:20 GMT

A short circuit in a train door was most likely to blame for a deadly incident involving a Red Line MBTA train at Broadway station last year, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a new report. The NTSB released its accident report on Tuesday, just over a year after Robinson Lalin died in the accident on April 10. Lalin, the NTSB said, had been trying to get off a Red Line train when the door closed on his upper body. The train then pulled away from the station with Lalin pinched between the doors. “As the train accelerated to depart the station, the passenger ran alongside the train with his upper body pinched between the doors,” the NTSB said. “The train did not stop, and the passenger collided with a wall at the end of the platform and was killed.”Lalin was 39-years-old. The NTSB listed the short circuit in the train door as the probable cause for Lalin’s death, saying the issue allowed the train to accelerate even though Lalin was stuck in the door...