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Floodwaters engulf more areas of southern Ukraine after dam breach as hundreds evacuated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — Floodwaters from a collapsed dam kept rising in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes in a major emergency operation that brought a dramatic new dimension to the war with Russia, now in its 16th month.Amid the disaster response, artillery shelling rang out as people scrambled to get out of the danger zone, climbing onto military trucks or rafts.A day after the dam’s collapse, it remained unclear what caused it. Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the dam wall, while Russia blamed Ukrainian shelling for the breach. Some experts said the collapse may have been an accident caused by wartime damage and neglect, although others said this was unlikely and argued that Russia might have had tactical military reasons to destroy the dam.The flood’s force was expected to slacken as the day wore on, officials said Wednesday, but water levels were expected to rise by another meter (about 3 feet) over the following 20 hours an...

Spain registers hottest spring temperatures on record

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spain registered its hottest spring on record this year, and its second driest ever, the state meteorological agency said Wednesday. Rubén Del Campo, spokesman for the Aemet weather agency, said the latest data showed a continuation of the extremely high temperatures the country suffered in 2022, which was the hottest year ever recorded in Spain.The spring heat was accompanied by a scarcity of rain that will exacerbate Spain’s long-term drought, despite some rainfall over the last month. Spain’s Ecological Transition Ministry reported Tuesday that the country’s reservoirs are at 47.4% of their capacity, consolidating a downward trend.Del Campo noted knock-on effects for the Mediterranean country’s ecosystem. “Surface water temperatures recorded in 2022 were the highest since at least 1940,” he told a press conference, warning that the phenomenon endangered marine life and its ability to reproduce.The situation inland was also made much more prec...

23-year-old man dead in overnight crash on Hwy. 404

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

A young man is dead following an overnight crash on Highway 404 in Toronto.Ontario Provincial Police says the single-vehicle collision happened around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in the southbound lanes of the 404 south of Steeles Avenue.Police say a Ford Mustang struck the centre barrier and rolled over.The 23-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the only occupant in the vehicle.The southbound 404 is closed at Steeles for the investigation. The highway is expected to reopen around 8 a.m.Highway 404 S/B south of Steeles closed for a police investigation. #TorontoOPP, #AuroraOPP #407OPP and #TSU on scene. Single Motor Vehicle collision, a male driver has been pronounced deceased. Call Sergeant Hill for further information at 7052389120.^mh pic.twitter.com/pBGFMMbsdW— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) June 7, 2023

Persistent inflation, higher interest rates will weigh on global economy, OECD predicts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The global economy must steer through a precarious recovery this year and next as inflation keeps dragging on household spending and higher interest rates weigh on growth, banks and markets. That was the takeaway Wednesday from the latest economic outlook by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The group, made up of 38 member countries, raised its growth forecast this year to 2.7% from an estimated 2.2% in November and foresaw only a tiny acceleration to 2.9% next year.The rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic and energy price spike tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is likely to be weak by past standards, with average growth of 3.4% recorded in the pre-pandemic years 2013-2019. The path ahead is fraught with risks, from escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine — with a dam collapse Tuesday that the sides blamed on each other — to debt troubles in developing countries and rapid interest rate hikes having unforeseen ...

Pope Francis hospitalized for intestinal surgery under general anesthesia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis went to the hospital Wednesday to undergo abdominal surgery to treat an intestinal blockage, two years after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed because of an inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine.The Vatican said Francis, 86, would be put under general anesthesia for the procedure Wednesday afternoon and would be hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli hospital for several days.Francis' white Fiat 500 car pulled out of the Vatican shortly after 11 a.m. with an escort, and arrived at the Gemelli some 20 minutes later.The pope is undergoing what the Vatican said was a “laparotomy and abdominal wall plastic surgery with prosthesis” to treat a “recurrent, painful and worsening” constriction of the intestine.A laparotomy is open abdominal surgery. It can help a surgeon both diagnose and treat issues. The statement said Francis was suffering from a blocked laparocele, which is a hernia that formed over a previous scar."The stay at the health...

Minneapolis accounts for $136 million of $160 million in MN police misconduct claims in 10 years, according to report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

When a police officer is sued for misconduct, it’s typically their employer — generally the city, county or state — who pays out legal damages or settlement funds to close the claim, as opposed to the officer or police department. That’s left between one-fourth and one-third of all government bodies in Minnesota on the hook for more than $160 million in largely taxpayer-funded payouts over a 10-year period, according to a recent report.The vast majority of those dollars originated in one city — Minneapolis — that alone paid out $136 million, or nearly 85% of the statewide total. St. Paul paid out $4.2 million in the same time period, almost half of which was attributed to a single incident involving St. Paul Police and a police canine.Those sums are from a first-of-its-kind report authored by David Schultz, a professor of political science at Hamline University in St. Paul. In an accompanying spreadsheet, the 17-page report tallies 495 incidents o...

Little Scandia celebrates big legislative success in trail extension and heritage center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

For a city with a population of fewer than 4,000 and an annual budget of just $2 million, Scandia is a lobbying powerhouse.The community in north Washington County recently got a major boost – $2 million – from the state bonding bill for its Water Tower Barn Arts & Heritage Center.In addition, the city will receive $2.68 million through the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources to build an extension of the Gateway Trail through Scandia.The efforts of city residents involved in the two projects have been extraordinary, said Mayor Christine Maefsky.“We have very committed people, very smart people, people who are willing to work hard,” she said. “We tapped into the strengths of the various members of the community that we’ve got.”Both efforts are textbook examples of how to lobby for projects at the Capitol.Water Tower Barn Arts & Heritage CenterAn architect's rendering of the future Water Tower Barn Arts and Heritage Center in Scandia. The Minnesota Legis...

SP: Davenport man burglarized home, hid inside

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

JEFFERSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Davenport man was arrested on Monday and is accused of burglarizing a home and violating an order of protection, according to New York State Police. Arthur Currie, 29, faces several charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Friday, May 5, around 10:53 p.m., troopers responded to a Jefferson home for reports of an order of protection violation. State troopers say an investigation found Currie was on the victim's property unwelcomed when the family returned home. Currie allegedly fled the area while the victims were contacting law enforcement.The next day, around 5:19 p.m., troopers responded to a Jefferson home for reports of a burglary. State troopers say an investigation found Currie entered the home while no one was there without permission and stole from it.When the victims returned home, they allegedly found Currie hiding inside. Once he was found, police say he fled before law enforceme...

Adulterated cider kills 16 in Russia, dozens sick

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

At least 16 people have died and dozens more have fallen ill after drinking adulterated cider in western Russia's Ulyanovsk region, local officials said on Monday (5 June).Local governor Alexei Russkikh said the product - labelled "Mister Cider" - had been sold on tap after being brought into the region in 30 litre kegs.According to local media, the cider contained lethal amounts of methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol and much more toxic than the ethanol found in regular alcoholic drinks.Authorities detained one person on suspicion of causing death through negligence and ordered the affected goods to be removed from sale.Russkikh said intensive care beds were being set up across the region, located on the river Volga, and that 19 people had been admitted to hospital."Doctors are fighting to save the lives of each of them," he said.Russia tightened controls on the production and sale of alcohol after 77 people died drinking cheap moonshine in Siberia in 2016, but t...

Ask Amy: I overheard their unkind comments about me at the funeral

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:26 GMT

Dear Amy: Can you please settle a question? When a loved one dies, who should pay for a luncheon after the service?When my father passed away, I was in a poor financial situation (and still am).After the service, all I wanted to do was go home and have time to myself.I overheard several people grumbling about no after-service meal being readied for the mourners.Why should the grieving party have to be sure that attendees eat afterward? The family is going through enough losing someone dear to them without trying to come up with money to feed the crowd.I feel that if attendees want a meal after the service, someone should gather others and organize something.Your thoughts?– Grieving DaughterDear Grieving: There is no one answer to this. Some families who have the means will cater a lunch. Other families will welcome mourners (many bearing casseroles), back to the home, where a friend or more distant family member will help to organize and serve.Others will meet at the corner pub to r...