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Israel says it will reopen the main cargo crossing to Gaza on Sunday, a relief for Gazan producers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel will reopen the main commercial crossing to Gaza after Israeli authorities closed it earlier this week, saying they had found explosives headed out of the embattled territory. The closure was a severe economic blow to producers across the coastal strip.The Kerem Shalom crossing was closed on Monday after authorities said explosives were found hidden in a clothing shipment bound for the occupied West Bank — one of the main markets for Gaza’s tiny export sector — and feared they were intended for militants in the territory.After an investigation and “necessary adjustments,” the crossing was safe to reopen, Israel said, without elaborating further on the explosives found. Palestinian fishermen, businessmen and rights advocates said the closure marked a form of collective punishment against Gaza’s 2 million people, including tens of thousands of laborers who heavily depend on exports to Israel and the West Bank to stay afloat. Nearly all the goods that ente...

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts at the open, on track for a losing week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are drifting, keeping Wall Street on track to close out its first losing week in the last three. The S&P 500 was up 0.2% early Friday. The Dow was flat and the Nasdaq composite edged up 0.3%. Stocks have been under pressure this week because of worries that a too-warm economy will push the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates higher for longer. Those worries have pushed yields higher in the bond market, which hurts stock prices. Traders have called off some bets for the Fed to cut rates next year, after reports showed the U.S. economy remains resilient.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.Wall Street inched lower before the market open Friday, threatening to cap a holiday-shortened week with its fourth straight loss.Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones industrials each ticked down about 0.2% before the bell.With earnings season mostly winding down and few major government economic reports, stocks have wobbled this wee...

UK police call in bomb squad to check ‘suspicious vehicle’ near Channel Tunnel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British Army bomb-disposal experts were examining a vehicle that was stopped by police near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel on Friday, authorities said.The Kent Police force said one man had been arrested. It said the incident was not linked to the hunt for Daniel Abed Khalife, who escaped from a London prison on Wednesday while awaiting trial on terrorism charges.“Explosives experts from the British Army have been called to the scene and a cordon has been put in place for the safety of the public. This is currently having an effect on traffic approaching the terminal,” police said.Le Shuttle, which operates trains that carry vehicles through the tunnel between England and France, said access to its terminal was suspended and services were likely to be severely disrupted.The Associated Press

Latest sighting of fugitive killer in Pennsylvania spurs closure of popular botanical garden

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — One of the country’s top botanical gardens has been closed indefinitely after reports that an escaped murderer on the run in southeast Pennsylvania may have once again been spotted on the property.When Longwood Gardens closed Thursday night, people who remained on the property were told to shelter in place as law officers searched part of the site for fugitive Danelo Souza Cavalcante. The 34-year-old Brazilian man escaped from the Chester County Prison on Aug. 31 by scaling a wall, climbing over razor wire and jumping from a roof.There was a possible sighting of Cavalcante on Thursday night that was being investigated, state police said, but further details about the sighting and who reported it were not disclosed. It came hours after another person reported seeing Cavalcante in another area of the vast botanical garden. On Monday night, a surveillance camera on a trail had captured him walking through its grounds.Cavalcante has so far eluded hundreds of law...

"Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones"

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

Dan Buettner spent the past two decades traveling to five longevity hot spots around the globe to figure out what makes some communities of people live on average about a decade longer than others while maintaining their good health."The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer: Lessons From the Healthiest Places on Earth""Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones"Streaming Now on Netflixdanbuettner.com@danbuettnerLove the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

NJ investigators solve 4-decade-old 'Baby Mary' cold case, charging mother: officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

MENDHAM TOWNSHIP, N.J. (WPIX) – Investigators have solved a nearly 40-year-old cold case involving the death of "Baby Mary," a newborn whose body was found in a wooded area in New Jersey in 1984, authorities said.The baby girl's body was found in Mendham Township on Christmas Eve in 1984. She was less than a day old when she was abandoned in the remote area, her umbilical cord still attached, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.The baby girl, whose identity was unknown, was baptized by the Rev. Michael Drury, of St. Joseph Church. Drury, the Mendham Township Police Department chaplain, named the baby "Mary."The identity of Baby Mary's parents remained a mystery for nearly four decades — until this year when the infant’s mother was identified and charged in the case, law enforcement officials announced Thursday."Using new technology, law enforcement networking in three states, and old-fashioned police work, investigators were recently able to identify Baby Mary's biolo...

LIVE: Combative questioning to resume for whistleblower in day 4 of Paxton trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The historic impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton is underway as senators weigh 16 articles of impeachment that accuse Paxton of abuse of office, bribery and corruption. A comprehensive guide to Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial KXAN’s Monica Madden is following the proceedings from the Senate Chamber and will bring updates live on X, formerly known as Twitter.Good morning from the TX Senate, where day 3 of Ken Paxton's impeachment trial is underway. Starting where we left off yesterday, w/ testimony from a far top OAG deputy, Ryan Bangert, who reported Paxton to the FBI. #txlege Watch live/read updates here: https://t.co/GuLY2GOcMG— Monica Madden (blue check) (@themonicamadden) September 7, 2023 Day three of the trial picked back up a little after 9 a.m. on Thursday, starting with prosecutor's second key witness — Ryan Bangert, a former deputy first assistant attorney general who also reported Paxton to the FBI. ...

Person of interest in deadly Buda shooting in custody

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A person of interest is in custody in connection to a deadly shooting that happened overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, according to the Hays County Sheriff's Office. HCSO said one person was pronounced dead after a man was found unconscious with gunshot wounds shortly after midnight Thursday.The incident occurred at a Buda gas station in the 16600 block of Interstate 35, according to HCSO. Hays County detectives identified the suspect vehicle as a dark-colored four-door Chevrolet pickup truck with damage to the front passenger side bumper. HCSO said the truck had chrome door handles and black rims with chrome center caps.HCSO searches for suspect vehicle in connection with fatal shooting (HCSO photos)According to officials, the convenience store’s surveillance cameras captured the incident.On Thursday night, a HCSO spokesperson said a shelter in place was initiated shortly after 8:30 p.m. in the area of Main Street and Campo Del Sol in Buda after ...

Johnson City is holding an 'Ugliest Lawn' contest — here's why

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

JOHNSON CITY, Texas (KXAN) – The City of Johnson City said it hopes a contest will challenge homeowners to save water while having fun with their lawns. The City is holding an Ugliest Lawn Contest from Aug. 18 to Sept. 15. Photos must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Sept. 15. Winners will be contacted by email on or before Sept. 22. The first prize is a $150 Visa gift card. The second prize is a $100 Visa gift card. The third prize is a $50 Visa gift card. The City said lawns must be mowed and maintained. Neighborhoods and cities often compete in "best lawn" competitions, so why is Johnson City doing the opposite? It has to do with water conservation. On its website, the city said, "Conservation measures implemented to protect this limited resource (water) are extremely important, and we hope, in this case, a little fun!"According to its website, the City will also accept unique water-wise initiatives, such as rock or vegetable gardens, in lieu of grass and other water-hungry plantsOnly J...

Witnesses face intense questioning in Paxton impeachment trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:43 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Day three of the impeachment trial saw two key whistleblowers take the stand, sharing fears and shedding tears as they recounted their experience under suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, who they reported to the FBI for bribery and corruption.The day opened with Rusty Hardin, the lead prosecutor for the House's impeachment team, examining witness Ryan Bangert. Bangert is a former deputy first assistant attorney general who reported Paxton to the FBI.Bangert's testimony provided a new eyewitness account of how whistleblowers believed Paxton was pressuring the office to improperly benefit Nate Paul, an Austin real estate investor and Paxton campaign donor. Bangert said Paxton was adamant the office hire outside counsel to interfere in Nate Paul's private legal troubles. BACKGROUND: Who is Nate Paul, and how is he involved with Paxton "The attorney general was insisting that we move forward with outside counsel," Bangert said. "It was clear to me that hiri...