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A fire at a wedding hall in northern Iraq kills at least 100 people and injures 150, authorities say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — A fire that raced through a hall hosting a Christian wedding in northern Iraq killed at least 100 people and injured 150 others, authorities said Wednesday, warning the death toll could rise higher.The fire happened in Iraq’s Nineveh province in its Hamdaniya area, authorities said. That’s a predominantly Christian area just outside of the city of Mosul, some 335 kilometers (205 miles) northwest of the capital, Baghdad. Television footage showed flames rushing over the wedding hall as the fire took hold. In the blaze’s aftermath, only charred metal and debris could be seen as people walked through the scene of the fire, the only light coming from television cameras and the lights of onlookers’ mobile phones. Survivors arrived at local hospitals, receiving oxygen and bandaged, as their families milled through hallways and outside as workers organized more oxygen cylinders. Health Ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr gave the casualty figure via t...

US suspends aid to Gabon after military takeover

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday suspended most non-humanitarian aid to Gabon after a military takeover in the country last month that was at least the second this year in an African nation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a “pause in certain foreign assistance programs” to Gabon. pending a review of the circumstances that led to the ouster of the country’s former leader President Ali Bongo Ondimba. Blinken said in a statement that the suspension would not affect U.S. government operations in the oil-rich central African nation. The statement did not elaborate on what U.S.-funded programs would be affected or how much money would be placed on hold. Gabon is the second country to have seen a military takeover following the overthrow of the government in Niger earlier this year. The U.S. also suspended some aid to Niger but has yet to formally determine if what happened was a coup.“This interim measure is consistent with steps taken by the Economic Com...

One critical after crash involving pick-up, semi trucks on Interstate 88 in Oak Brook

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

OAK BROOK, Ill. — Several people were injured, one critically, after a crash involving a semi-truck Tuesday on Interstate 88 in Oak Brook.The crash was reported around 2:40 p.m. near the 139.5-mile marker of I-88 eastbound. ‘They’re not afraid of anyone’: Bucktown residents voice concerns after man beaten, robbed in broad daylight According to the Oak Brook Fire Department, the driver of the pick-up truck was trapped inside of the truck, which was on fire. Several bystanders tried to rescue the driver.Firefighters arrived and pulled the driver from the truck.One person was taken to a hospital in critical condition and another person was taken to another hospital and is stable, the fire department said. Several bystanders were evaluated after being exposed to heat and smoke from the fire, but refused further treatment.Additional details haven't been released.

Two more cases of E.coli confirmed at McHenry County high school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

HUNTLEY, Ill. — Two more cases of E.coli have been linked to an outbreak at a far northwest suburban high school.According to the McHenry County Health Department, there have now been nine confirmed cases of E.coli tied to Huntley High School after the first round of cases were reported last week. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: E.coli outbreak confirmed at McHenry County high school MCDH officials said they are working with staff at the high school to analyze students and staff survey results to determine the source of the illness.The strain of E.coli detected at Huntley High School is known as STEC, or Shiga Toxin-producing E.Coli.STEC is a bacterial infection known to cause gastrointestinal illness in humans. This strain of E. coli bacteria grows and lives in the intestines of people and animals. Transmission of STEC can occur due to contact with contaminated food, contaminated water, people, and animals. Symptoms and characteristics of STEC include:Diarrhea (often bloody)FeverAbdominal cra...

Colin Kaepernick pens letter to New York Jets asking to be signed to practice squad

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

(KRON) -- Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wrote a letter to the New York Jets making his case that the team sign him to its practice squad. Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2017. The Jets lost their starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a torn Achilles tendon in the first game of the NFL season. Kaepernick's letter was posted on Instagram by rapper J. Cole on Tuesday. Kaepernick wrote the letter on Thursday of last week. Cole said that Kaepernick was initially reluctant to have the letter posted publicly, but Cole said he wanted it out there because "the people and all organizations should know the truth about how hard he works and how much he still wants to play." Since Rodgers went down, the Jets turned to backup Zach Wilson to be the team's starting quarterback. Kaepernick, who reportedly reached out to the Jets through his agent earlier this month, acknowledged Wilson in the letter and said that he is only asking to join the Jets' practice squa...

Culver's bringing back beloved cheese curd-topped burger

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis. (WFRV) — What was once an April Fool's Day joke has been a recurring favorite on one fast food chain's menu, and, thanks to popular demand, it will soon make a comeback. Wisconsin-based Culver's announced Tuesday that the CurderBurger is returning to locations nationwide soon. The CurderBurger is a Deluxe ButterBurger topped with golden-fried cheese, reminiscent of a large, flat, fried cheese curd. The sandwich began as an April Fool's joke before becoming a fan-favorite menu item when it first debuted for one day in October of 2021. Last supermoon of 2023: What to know about this week’s harvest moon In what Culver's officials say was an extended encore, the CurderBurger was brought back in 2022. Nearly 1 million CurderBurgers were sold across 26 states, according to Culver's.“The enthusiasm we’ve seen since the CurderBurger’s inception continues to amaze us. We can’t wait to bring it back for a third year, and we hope this only-at-Culver’s delight continues t...

Military funding in government shutdown crosshairs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- The Biden Administration and Democrats say a looming government shutdown will hurt military members and military readiness. But Republicans say it can all be avoided -- if Congress dedicates more money to the border.Rep. Joe Courtney, a Democrat from Connecticut, said a government shutdown will force military members to go without a paycheck."This is a disaster for the American people and for our standing in the world," Courtney said. "There is a hardship for people who are wearing the uniform, many of them go literally from paycheck to paycheck."Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the missed paychecks could hurt military readiness."What's not being shut down is rent, mortgages, childcare," Singh said. "Morale is a huge issue when you're talking about our service members not getting paid. I mean just imagine you being asked to come into work every single day, not getting paid and not knowing when that period will end."But the road to avoiding a...

"Our children deserve more" Austin ISD board approves TEA plan for state-appointed monitor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) --  After weeks of delaying a vote, Austin Independent School District board trustees voted on Tuesday 8-1 to approve a plan for the Texas Education Agency to bring in a state-appointed official to monitor and report back to the agency the way the district handles special education services. Trustee Kevin Foster was the only trustee who voted to reject the proposal. The decision means the district remains in control of its special education operations for now. But it also means the district must meet several deadlines and requirements, including changing its school board policy, to stave off a conservator who would have the power to make decisions on special education operations. In order to get a less severe form of intervention than originally recommended, the district also waived its right to appeal increased sanctions in the event it is found out of compliance. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about this and making a decision that will be...

Justin Thomas cares more about winning the Ryder Cup than whether he should be on the US team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — Justin Thomas is too occupied with helping the Americans end three decades of losing the Ryder Cup on European soil to worry about any criticism of him being part of that effort.U.S. captain Zach Johnson had no second thoughts about using one of his six wild-card selections on Thomas, in a slump so severe that he failed to reach the PGA Tour’s postseason for the first time in his career.Neither did the six automatic qualifiers or vice captains who had a voice in the selections. Thomas has been an emotional spark in his two Ryder Cup appearances, along with a 6-2-1 record in France and Wisconsin.As for anyone else, Thomas says he has a short memory when it comes to criticism.“I definitely haven’t kept the receipts,” he said Tuesday. “I don’t feel like there is any good that can come from that. When it comes to stuff online, everybody has got an opinion, and theirs is right and everybody else’s is wrong. ... The only thing that mattered to m...

Washington County approves contract for new Woodbury service center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:20 GMT

The Washington County Board on Tuesday approved a contract for $3 million for structural wood for a new county service center in Woodbury set to open in 2025.The $3,000,821 bid by Structure Craft Builders USA was the lowest of the four bids for wood received by the county. It will be used to build the new $30 million central service center near the corner of Woodlane Drive and Guider Drive, just east of Interstate 494.The new service center will replace the county’s building on Radio Drive in Woodbury. It will house the license and passport center, CareerForce center and elections polling center now located on Radio Drive. It also will offer services provided by Public Health, Community Services and Community Corrections.Minneapolis-based Alliiance will lead the design of the new facility; Kraus-Anderson Construction will provide construction management services.An architect’s rendering of the plaza of the future Washington County service center in Woodbury. Construction of th...