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Lahaina residents deliver petition asking Hawaii governor to delay tourism reopening

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Residents from fire-stricken Lahaina on Tuesday delivered a petition asking Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to delay plans to reopen a portion of West Maui to tourism starting this weekend, saying the grieving community is not ready to welcome back visitors. The petition signed by 3,517 people from West Maui zip codes comes amid a fierce and anguished debate over when travelers should return to the region home to the historic town of Lahaina that was destroyed in the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. At least 98 people died in the Aug. 8 blaze and more than a dozen are missing. The first phase of the plan to reopen Maui to tourists begins Sunday, the two-month anniversary of the disaster.Though many residents say they are not ready, others say they need tourism so they can work in hotels and restaurants to earn a living.“We are not mentally nor emotionally ready to welcome and serve our visitors. Not yet,” restaurant bartender Pa‘ele Kiakona said at a news confe...

Male nanny convicted in California of sexually assaulting 16 young boys in his care

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A male nanny who worked for families across Southern California was convicted Tuesday of sexually assaulting 16 young boys in his care and showing another boy child pornography, prosecutors said. Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski was arrested in May 2019 after a couple told Laguna Beach police he touched their son inappropriately. More alleged victims were identified, and Zakrzewski was ultimately charged with 34 felonies, including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor. Zakrzewski’s victims ranged from 2 to 12 years old, investigators said. A jury convicted the 34-year-old on all counts, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. “These young boys were forced to endure unimaginable terror as a result of the ultimate betrayal by a babysitter,” said District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement.Zakrzewski, of Costa Mesa, had billed himself on his website as a “manny,” who not only watched over children but provided a fun “buddy” experience...

Multiple people shot on Morgan State University campus: Baltimore police

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

Multiple people were shot at Morgan State University in Baltimore on Tuesday, police said.The Baltimore Police Department said officers were on the scene for an “active shooter situation” on the campus of the historically Black university. The address given for the shooting appeared to match a residential building.“We’re asking everyone to shelter in place and avoid the area,” police said on X.Police spokesman Vernon Davis told the Baltimore Banner that at least four people were shot. Their conditions weren’t immediately known.Police spokesperson Amanda Krotki also said “multiple victims” were shot.City Council member Odette Ramos said on X that students and staff were ordered to shelter in place. The university reported an enrollment of more than 9,000 students as of late 2022 and said it is growing.BPD is confirming there are multiple victims involved. Please continue to shelter in place and avoid the area.— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) October...

CP NewsAlert: Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont loses seat, steps down

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

WINNIPEG — Dougald Lamont has announced he’s stepping down as Manitoba Liberal leader.Lamont lost his seat in St. Boniface to NDP candidate Robert Loiselle.The Canadian Press

Former US military pilot’s lawyer tells Sydney court that extradition hearing should be delayed

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — A lawyer for a former U.S. military pilot accused of illegally training Chinese aviators told a Sydney court on Wednesday that an extradition hearing scheduled for next month should be postponed due to delays in government agencies handing over crucial material.Boston-born Dan Duggan was arrested by Australian police a year ago near his home in Orange in New South Wales state and is fighting extradition to the United States.His lawyer, Dennis Miralis, told the Downing Center Local Court that the former U.S. Marine Corps flying instructor will apply to have the Nov. 23 extradition hearing delayed.A magistrate will hear submissions on that postponement application on Oct. 23.Outside court, Miralis told reporters that the delay was regrettable because Duggan has been psychologically impacted by being held in maximum-security prisons since his arrest.“However, at the same time, it’s absolutely essential that Dan’s right to a fair hearing is preserved and nothing is done to...

Speaker McCarthy ousted in historic House vote, as scramble begins for a Republican leader

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job Tuesday in an extraordinary showdown — a first in U.S. history, forced by a contingent of hard-right conservatives and throwing the House and its Republican leadership into chaos.It’s the end of the political line for McCarthy, who has said repeatedly that he never gives up, but found himself with almost no options remaining. Neither the right-flank Republicans who engineered his ouster nor the Democrats who piled on seem open to negotiating. McCarthy told lawmakers in the evening he would not run again for speaker, putting the gavel up for grabs. Next steps are highly uncertain with no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority. Action is halted in the House until next week, when Republicans try to elect a new speaker. “I may have lost this vote today, but as I walk out of this chamber I feel fortunate to have served,” McCarthy said at a press conference at the Capitol, alternating between upbeat a...

New Democrats take early lead in historic Manitoba election as Leader Kinew wins seat

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

WINNIPEG — The New Democrats were off to an early lead in several key constituencies Tuesday as a handful of polls began reporting results in Manitoba’s historic election and NDP Leader Wab Kinew won back his seat in the legislature. The NDP were ahead in many areas of Winnipeg, including key ridings that had been held by members of the Progressive Conservative cabinet. The provincial capital, where 32 of the 57 legislature seats are, is an important battleground for both parties.  Opinion polls suggested the New Democrats would have a lead in the important urban areas. Tory support dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, as hospitals struggled to deal with rising case numbers and dozens of intensive-care patients were flown to other provinces.If Heather Stefanson leads the incumbent Progressive Conservatives to a third consecutive majority, she would become the first woman to be elected premier in a Manitoba general election. Stefanson took over the top spot midterm in a party ...

Baltimore Police say multiple people have been shot on campus of Morgan State University

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Multiple people were shot at Morgan State University in Baltimore on Tuesday, police said.The Baltimore Police Department said officers were on the scene for an “active shooter situation” on the campus of the historically Black university. The address given for the shooting appeared to match a residential building.“We’re asking everyone to shelter in place and avoid the area,” police said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.Police spokesman Vernon Davis told the Baltimore Banner that at least four people were shot. Their conditions weren't immediately known.Police spokesperson Amanda Krotki also said “multiple victims” were shot.City Council member Odette Ramos said on X that students and staff were ordered to shelter in place. The university reported an enrollment of more than 9,000 students as of late 2022 and said it is growing. Stay WGN-TV as this story develops.

Meet the DJ Dentist making people smile

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

CHICAGO — A special dentist on the Southwest Side of Chicago has had a trailblazing career but also has an impressive musical side hustle. Genaro Romo has made a huge difference for Latino dentists in Chicago.  Imagine performing a root canal during the day, then getting people dancing at night. He’s a DJ dentist. Two skill sets with the same goal of helping people smile. Growing up in Little Village, Romo quickly realized the need for more Spanish speaking dentists on Chicago’s Southwest Side.“There were a lot of dentists there but not one Latino dentists,” he said.Romo knew he wanted to be a dentist since high school and credits early inspiration to the Boys and Girls Club which took his group to a career conference in Fort Worth, Texas his freshman year. “It just so happened that the speaker was a dentist … and that’s how it started,” he said.At the same time, The Boys and Girls Club sparked his other passion – where he learned to spin records as a D...

Skilling: 5th day for 80s on Wednesday in Chicagoland

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:35:39 GMT

WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY RUN OF LATE SEASON WARM WEATHER HERE IN CHICAGO. Chicagoans were treated to a 14TH CONSECUTIVE DAY OF ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS.It's not an exaggeration to refer to the current warm spell—particularly the last four days of it--- as "July in October"-------a meteorological "achievement" at a time of the year in which normal temps typically come in nearly 20-degrees cooler!  We've lost nearly 4 hours of daylight and the sun treks across the sky 30% lower than it did back on June 21st.  Sunlight that arrives at an angle and is shining down us four fewer hours than at it peak back on June 21st is weaker and delivers less energy.  So for nature to delivering us mid to upper 80-deg temps is an achievement.Hotter Chicago area high temps Tuesday included 91 at Roselawn, IN; 90 at Channahon; 89 at Hobart and Gary IN, Oswego, North Aurora, Warrenville: and 88 at  Tinley Park, Morris, and Valparaiso, IN.It appeared as the day got underway that record or near record early October...