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Thousands of bodies lie buried in rubble in Gaza. Families dig to retrieve them, often by hand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The wreckage goes on for block after devastated block. The smell is sickening. Every day, hundreds of people claw through tons of rubble with shovels and iron bars and their bare hands.They are looking for the bodies of their children. Their parents. Their neighbors. All of them killed in Israeli missile strikes. The corpses are there, somewhere in the endless acres of destruction.More than five weeks into Israel’s war against Hamas, some streets are now more like graveyards. Officials in Gaza say they don’t have the equipment, manpower or fuel to search properly for the living, let alone the dead.Hamas, the militant group behind the deadly Oct. 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel, has many of its bases within Gaza’s crowded neighborhoods. Israel is targeting those strongholds.But the victims are often everyday Palestinians, many of whom have yet to be found. Omar al-Darawi and his neighbors have spent weeks searching the ruins of a pai...

New drill bores deeper into tunnel rubble in India to create an escape pipe for 40 trapped workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Rescuers drilled deeper into the rubble of a collapsed road tunnel in northern India on Friday to fix wide pipes for 40 workers trapped underground for a sixth day to crawl to their freedom.Drilling with a new machine started on Thursday and has covered a stretch of 24 meters (78 feet) so far, Devendra Patwal, a disaster management official, said. It may require up to 60 meters (195 feet) to enable the trapped workers’ escape, Patwal told The Associated Press on Friday.Patwal said the rescuers hoped to complete the drilling by Friday night and create an escape tunnel of pipes welded together.Some of the workers felt fever and body aches Wednesday, but there has been no deterioration in their condition, he said. Nuts, roasted chickpeas, popcorn and medicine are being sent to them via a pipe every two hours.The construction workers have been trapped since Sunday, when a landslide caused a portion of the 4.5-kilometer (2.7-mile) tunnel they were building to ...

2 to hospital following house fire in Mississauga

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

Two people were taken to the hospital following a house fire in Mississauga on Thursday.First responders were called to the residence located in the Collett Road and Morning Star Drive area at around 10:15 p.m.Police said two occupants of the home were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.It’s unclear what caused the fire.There are road closures in place from Collett Road and Morning Star Drive, including eastbound on Airport Road.

38 injured, 23 sent to local hospitals after CTA Yellow Line crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

CHICAGO — Thirty-eight people were injured and at least 23 were taken to local hospitals after a CTA train crash on the North Side Thursday, the Chicago Fire Department said. According to police, a yellow line train was travelling south near the 7500 block of North Paulina Street when it collided with rail-mounted maintenance equipment in the Howard Rail Yard on the North Side. CFD battles massive warehouse fire on South Side CFD reported at least 23 people — including four children and seven CTA employees — were transported to area hospitals, while three others were in critical condition. Fifteen others refused EMS.According to CFD, six were taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital in good-to-stable condition, three were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center — with one in critical condition and two others in fair condition, and three were taken to St. Francis Hospital where they are in unknown condition.Firefighters said all known transports to Swedish Covenant, Advocate I...

Families of those kidnapped in Israel hold on to hope

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's been more than a month since Hamas attacked Israel and took hundreds of hostages into Gaza.While some have been released, the fight to have the rest brought home continues on."We care about our brothers and sisters and families, this is our mission," said Dori Roberts, who lives in Austin and lost his Aunt in the Hamas attacks.Roberts is now speaking out about the hostages and urging leaders to do more to bring them home. He has five family members who were kidnapped.On Thursday, Roberts and others who have had family members taken hostage spoke to the Austin community, telling their stories of loss and tragedy."My father Yitzhak was murdered," said 14-year-old Ella Shani, who was at home in Israel when the attacks started.Her uncle, Nir Shani's home was burned down during the attacks."This is what I put on my face (holds up cloth) in order to not inhale all the smoke," said Nir.Nir's top priority though is getting his son back; 16-year-old Amit was kidnapped an...

Austin ISD says 98 percent of students who needed a special education plan last year now have one

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

Editor's note: Austin ISD officials clarified data from their newsletter, stating it has completed 98 percent of individualized education plans from the 2022-23 school year, not all of them.AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Independent School District said on Thursday it met a major milestone in its agreement with the Texas Education Agency to fix the district’s special education system.The school district has been under the watch of a state-appointed monitor since September. The board of trustees voted 8-1 to accept the deal from TEA after state investigators found the district repeatedly failed to evaluate students suspected of needing special education services on time.  In a letter to parents, the district said that as of Oct. 31, it evaluated over 98 percent of students whose parents consented during the 2022-23 school year. The district also says over 98 percent of students who needed an individualized education plan, or IEP, last school year now have one. It's unclear how many stud...

TxDOT kicks off 'Drive Sober, No Regrets' holiday exhibit in southwest Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As a way to promote its 'Drive Sober, No Regrets' campaign, the Texas Department of Transportation hosted a public event at a Walmart in southwest Austin on Thursday.The public event included motor skills tests and a video to show Texans the real consequences of drunk driving."Drive sober, no regrets, that's our message if you're going to be getting behind the wheel, we know plans change and if that's the fact call a taxi or call a friend or just stay put," said Ruby Martinez, TxDOT Campaign Manager to KXAN.From Dec. 16 to Jan. 1, 2024, Texas drivers can expect more officers on the road looking for and arresting drunk drivers, according to TxDOT.

USMNT comes alive late, dumps Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Ricardo Pepi, Antonee Robinson and Gio Reyna scored late goals in a span of 7 minutes, 23 seconds, leading the United States over Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 on Thursday night in the opener of a two-leg series for a berth in next year's Copa America.Pepi entered in the 66th minute and put the U.S. ahead in the 82nd with an angled shot from a Robinson pass.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersRobinson doubled the lead in the 86th with a long-range left-foot shot that deflected off Alvin Jones and past goalkeeper Denzil Smith, and Reyna added his third goal in two matches in the 89th after a quick touch from Folarin Balogun.The second leg of the total-goals CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal series is Monday night in Trinidad, where the Americans were denied a berth in the 2018 World Cup with 2-1 loss in October 2017.The U.S. held a man advan...

Men’s basketball: Gophers crash hard in a 70-68 loss to Missouri

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

The Gophers men’s basketball team was acing its first real test of the young season on Thursday.Minnesota had built a 20-point lead over Missouri in the opening 30 minutes, but turnovers and stagnant offensive flow led the Gophers to failing the quiz in a 70-68 loss at Williams Arena.Up 68-67, Minnesota guard Mike Mitchell fouled Sean East II with nine seconds left. The Tigers’ best scorer made the basket and one free throw to decide the game as Cam Christie’s jumper and Mitchell’s put-back were off the mark.Fans at a Golden Dunkers boost event before the game were enthused by the complete roster this season and two blowout nonconference wins to start the season. The Barn were enthused by the Gophers fast start and and extended lead in the middle of the game, but some boos were issued at the endMissouri (3-1) completely took over in the final 11 minutes. Minnesota (2-1) didn’t make a basket in the final six minutes as the ball stopped moving on offense.“The way (Missouri...

Clayton residents react to shooting death and search for suspect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:28 GMT

CLAYTON, Mo. - Authorities have issued a warrant for a suspect wanted in connection with a man's shooting death Monday morning in Clayton. The Major Case Squad has identified Trennell J. Johnson, 18, as a suspect in the death of Joshua D. Harris, 41. Harris was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound outside his home along Wydown Boulevard.Though the suspect remains at large, residents and people who live and frequent the Clayton area said they were relieved Thursday night that a suspect had been identified. It’s a case that has shocked the Clayton community. Neighbors said they were grateful to hear investigators are one step closer to bringing the alleged gunman to justice. St. Louis police warn of surge in carjackings and break-ins Rob Rose lives close to where the shooting happened. Rose said he walks around the area regularly and was shocked to hear what happened. He commends law enforcement for their efforts this week.“I think it will bring some calm to the community,” Ros...