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Former New York City police commissioner Howard Safir dies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Howard Safir, the former New York City police commissioner whose four-year tenure in the late 1990s included sharp declines in the city’s murder tolls but also some of its most notorious episodes of police killings of Black men, has died.Safir’s son told The New York Times his father had died Monday at a hospital in Annapolis, Maryland, from a sepsis infection. He was 81.Current New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban issued a statement extending the department’s condolences and saying that Safir, who held the role from 1996 to 2000, “was a devoted, dynamic leader.”Safir was named to the NYPD’s top spot by then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who had appointed him as fire commissioner two years earlier. Safir succeeded William Bratton, who had instituted policing tactics that had seen success in bringing down the annual number of murders but who left after having a falling out with Giuliani.The murder count continued to fall under Safir, with u...

B.C. officials warn residents to take care when they return to fire zones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

VANCOUVER — As an out-of-control wildfire still burns near West Kelowna, B.C., officials in the region say evacuated residents should brace themselves for their return to neighbourhoods they may no longer recognize. Officials from the Regional District of Central Okanagan say crews are still busy putting out hot spots and repairing damaged infrastructure affected by the McDougall Creek wildfire.Lance Kayfish, the City of Kelowna’s risk manager, cautioned people about re-entering their communities once evacuation orders are lifted. Kayfish told an information session held online Tuesday that people need “to have a heightened level of caution and safety” when they explore their neighbourhood because it will not be exactly as they left it. He says it’s likely that wildlife including deer and bears will be in areas where there’s been an absence of human activity during the evacuation period. Some areas, he said, may still have active fire hot spots or ̶...

House passes bipartisan measures targeting Iran over death of Mahsa Amini, missile program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved measures Tuesday targeting Iran for its human rights record and placing restrictions on the country’s ability to import or export its expanding arsenal of weapons. The measures would impose a series of sanctions on Iran’s supreme leader, president and other individuals as Washington seeks to further punish the Islamic Republic ahead of the one-year anniversary of nationwide protests over a mandatory headscarf law. The resolutions will now go to the Senate, where it is unclear if the Democratic-controlled chamber will take them up. The first bill takes aim at Iran’s production and exports of missiles and drones by sanctioning individuals involved in the process, while the second imposes sanctions on high-ranking government officials for “human rights abuses and support for terrorism.” The third resolution specifically condemns the government’s persecution of the Baha’i minority.The near-unanimous passage...

Drew Barrymore dropped as National Book Awards host after her talk show resumes during strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The National Book Awards dropped Drew Barrymore as the host for this year’s ceremony on Tuesday, a day after her talk show taped its first episode since the Hollywood writers strike began.“The National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature, and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture,” the organization said in a statement. “In light of the announcement that ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms. Barrymore’s invitation to host the 74th National Book Awards Ceremony.”The resumption of the CBS talk show doesn’t inherently cause issues with the actors guild, which is also on strike, as daytime talk shows are governed by a different Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists contract that was renewed and ratified last year. But Barrymore’s show employs at least three writers who are members of the writer...

Common Pantry set to open first location in 56 years, hope to continue feeding community

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

CHICAGO -- For the first time in their history, Common Pantry now have a place that’s completely their own 56 years after doors opened for business.Most recently, Common Pantry had been operating out of the basement of Epiphany United Church of Christ which is located just a few blocks away in a 1,500 square foot space.In 2021, with the help of state grants, the pantry purchased the north Lincoln building increasing their square footage to 3,500.Now that renovations are complete, the new site features a large communal and dining area, a commercial kitchen ideal for their hot lunch program, and a grocery shopping area.This in top of additional services like job searches, government benefits, services for the homeless and government documentation.Common Pantry also gained an outdoor courtyard and a volunteer room all to help the pantry provide emergency food and social services to those in need on Chicago's north side."We opened doors in august and it was actually our highest month i...

Democratic delegates tour United Center ahead of 2024 DNC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Four busloads of Democratic delegates from across the United States stopped by the United Center for a sneak peek of the space where they plan to nominate President Joe Biden for re-election next August."We’re delighted," said Terry Savarise, Chief Operating Officer of the United Center. "We’re excited and we’re a little bit humbled by the selection to be the convention hall for the 2024 [Democratic National] convention."The United Center has experience on the national political stage – it last hosted the DNC for the nomination of President Bill Clinton for re-election in 1996, but organizers said 2024 will be their best convention yet. They’re already planning on an appearance from another former president, one who calls Chicago home. More from Jenna: Authorities begin to remove plane after crash in Elk Grove Village "[Barack] Obama exemplifies the best of all of us," said Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party. "We are excited about Barack Obama showin...

Chicagoland libraries targeted by bomb threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Police were called to several libraries in the Chicago area on Tuesday in regard to bomb threats. Police continue to investigate, but officers say none of the threats were substantiated.  Chicago fire truck crashes into home on South Side; 2 displaced Threats in AuroraPolice in Aurora say officers are investigating reports of bomb threats at three Aurora libraries on Tuesday afternoon. Aurora police first notified the public about the threats in a tweet shared around 3 p.m. In a follow-up post, officers asked the public to avoid areas near the Santori Public Library in the 100 block of South River Street, areas near the Eola branch library in the 500 block of South Eola Road, and areas near the West branch library in the 200 block of South Constitution Drive, while they evacuated and shut down roadways. Police say each location has since reopened to the public. Police say the evacuations were ordered at all of the impacted libraries as a precautionary measure, ...

'Pawn Stars' star arrested for alleged DUI in Las Vegas: police report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — One of the stars of the reality show "Pawn Stars" was arrested in Las Vegas last week on a charge of DUI, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department documents said.According to an arrest report obtained by Nexstar's KLAS, on Sept. 8 at around 2 a.m., an officer in the area of Main Street and Charleston Boulevard saw a white Ford pickup truck "veering" back and forth between the right lane and the bicycle lane. The officer began following the truck, activated their lights, and signaled for the driver to pull over. The driver of the pickup truck was "slow to stop" so the officer used a public address system to order the driver to stop, the report explained. Tennessee man pleads guilty to threatening Little Caesars worker with AK-47 Once the driver pulled over, the officer walked up to the pickup truck, where the driver already had his driver's license ready to hand over, police said. He was identified as Richard Corey Harrison, 40, who appears in the History Channel...

Who can get the new COVID vaccine?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Vaccine makers say their updated booster shots could be in pharmacies by the end of the week, and unlike early COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, this one is recommended for just about everyone right from the start. A panel of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Tuesday to recommend the updated booster shots made by Pfizer and Moderna for everyone 6 months and older. One expert on the 14-member panel voted against the majority, saying the new shots should initially be kept only for older people and those at risk of severe illness. However, that person was overruled 13 to 1. The Food and Drug Administration also approved the updated shots for adults and children as young as age 6 months.  CDC panel recommends new COVID booster: When can you get it? Even if you've never had a single shot, this vaccine is recommended for most people starting at age 5, the FDA said. Younger children might need additional doses depending on their history of COVID-1...

Water customers in Travis County have questions after $500 fine, service shut off

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:39:10 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Some water customers in and around Steiner Ranch paid $500 fines to restore their water service. They said the utility was cut with little notice and for unknown reasons.KXAN received several ReportIt tips about these water shutoffs Monday. One tip said as many as 60 people were in line at Travis County Water and Control Improvement District 17 to speak with representatives about their water service. How many citations has Austin Water issued since Stage 2 restrictions began? Holley Kenney lives in Steiner Ranch and had her service cut Monday. She visited WCID17 to find out why, and said she was told she had violated water restrictions and needed to pay $550 in fines to restore utilities.Kenney said this news confused her. She said her family was out of the country this summer, the same time these water violations would have taken place."They said there must be something wrong with my system. They figured it was my irrigation, and I explained my irrig...