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US sanctions Belarus’ election officials, president’s plane

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. imposed sanctions Friday on seven Belarusian elections officials, two state-owned automotive manufacturers and President Alexander Lukashenko’s aircraft. Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, intensified his repression after a wave of protests in 2020 following a presidential election that the West and Belarus’ opposition denounced as a sham. Lukashenko also has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has allowed him to station troops and weapons there to support his war in Ukraine. Those sanctioned Friday include a new slate of commissioners on Belarus’ Central Election Commission, which was originally sanctioned in December 2020. Lukashenko accused the opposition presidential candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, of plotting to overthrow the government. This month, a Belarusian court sentenced Tsikhanouskaya, now living in exile, to 15 years in prison. Lukashenko’s aircraft, a Boeing 737 that he uses for international ...

Fiery Maryland tanker crash injures driver, closes lanes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

PIKESVILLE, Md. (AP) — A fiery crash involving a tanker truck full of fuel briefly shut down the Interstate 795 expressway where it meets the Baltimore Beltway on Friday morning, injuring the driver and sending up a plume smoke that could be seen for miles, according to officials and news reports.The crash happened around 6 a.m., according to the Maryland Department of Transportation. News outlets posted photos and video from the scene showing flames along the roadway and dark smoke billowing into the sky.The driver was taken to University of Maryland Medical Center’s Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for treatment, Maryland State Police tweeted. No other injuries were reported. He was in serious condition, Baltimore County Government said in a statement.The crash initially shut down all lanes of the expressway, but southbound lanes opened shortly before 8 a.m. and the fire was extinguished by 9 a.m., officials said. The 8,500-gallon tanker truck was hauling heating oil and firefight...

German extremist jailed for driving into police officer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A German anti-government extremist was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for deliberately driving into a police officer during an attempted traffic check while intoxicated.The verdict delivered by the Stuttgart state court comes amid persistent concern over the activities of supporters of the Reich Citizens Movement, a loose far-right grouping whose backers deny the legitimacy of the present-day German constitution and government. The 62-year-old man, a German whose name the court didn’t give in line with local privacy rules, was convicted of attempted murder, bodily harm, resisting and attacking enforcement officers, leaving the scene of an accident without authorization and drunk driving. His driving license was withdrawn and his car confiscated. He was ordered to pay the injured police officer 30,000 euros ($32,600) in compensation.The court said the defendant became increasingly radicalized over recent years, had desc...

Brazil’s Bolsonaro turns in undeclared jewels to authorities

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — A representative of Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday handed a set of diamond jewelry he received during his presidency over to a state bank, as ordered by a government watchdog amid an investigation into the gifts.Federal police and prosecutors are investigating whether the goods brought into the country from Saudi Arabia were public gifts that Bolsonaro improperly tried to prevent from being incorporated into the presidency’s public collection, or private gifts that Bolsonaro tried sneak into Brazil without paying taxes. The Senate’s transparency commission also is investigating whether the sale of a refinery by Brazil’s state-controlled oil giant was related to the jewels. The state bank Caixa Economica Federal received the box of precious stones Friday at one of its branches in capital Brasilia, the bank’s press office told The Associated Press. A representative also turned in firearms Bolsonaro received as a gift from authorities in the ...

'The Dark Side of the Moon' show coming to Adler Planetarium

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

CHICAGO — Fans of Pink Floyd will have an extra reason to attend Adler Planetarium for the next year.In honor of the 50th anniversary of "The Dark Side of The Moon," Adler is hosting a new full-dome planetarium show of the same name. The show promises to focus on what Adler is best known for."It really is a space show," said Adler Sr. Director of Theaters & Visualization Mike Smail. "You will really see a lot of the same beautiful space as in our international productions."On Feb. 27, 1973, the album was debuted at the London Planetarium. "It promises to be immersive; an all-encompassing surround sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience," part of a statement from Pink Floyd said. Pink Floyd releasing ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ box set for 50th anniversary This isn't the first time Adler has been involved with music, but it has been a while."It was called Sonic Vision and Moby curated the soundtrack of modern rock and e...

White Sox name 2023 Opening Day starter

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

GLENDALE, Ariz. - For the first time since 2019, the White Sox will have a new starter for Opening Day, but it's hardly a surprise to anyone who has followed the club the last year.On Friday, manager Pedro Grifol officially named Dylan Cease their starting pitcher for their first game of the 2023 season against the Houston Astros on Thursday, March 30 at Minute Maid Park. He's coming off his best season in Major League Baseball in 2022 as he established himself as a front-of-the-rotation starter and was an American League Cy Young Award finalist. Cease will become the 63rd pitcher in White Sox history to get the start on Opening Day and does so after fellow pitcher Lucas Giolito had started the last three openers. Mark Buehrle holds the club record for most starts in the first game of the season with nine.In 2022, his fourth season at the MLB level with the White Sox, Cease was one of the best starters in the game as he went 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA with 227 strikeouts compared to 78 wa...

Queen + Adam Lambert bringing Rhapsody Tour to Chicago

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

CHICAGO — The Rhapsody Tour is coming back to North America after a four-year hiatus, and it includes a return to Chicago for Queen and Adam Lambert.The 2023 version of the tour kicks-off in Baltimore on Oct. 4, with its Chicago stop slated for Monday, Oct. 30 at the United Center. It ends about two weeks later on Nov. 11 in Los Angeles. See the full concert list below. Milwaukee’s Summerfest reveals 2023 lineup Fans will be treated to a 2.5 hour show with a "career-spanning set list," according to a press release from tour producer Live Nation. In addition to Lambert and original Queen guitarist Sir Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, long-serving Queen keyboard player and musical director Spike Edney, bass guitarist Neil Fairclough and percussionist Tyler Warren will fill-out the band.General public tickets for the Chicago show go on sale Friday, Mar. 31 at 10 a.m.QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT THE RHAPSODY TOUR 2023 DATES:  Wed Oct 04 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena Sun O...

Florida parents of transgender youths sue state over gender-affirming care bans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

(The Hill) -- Four Florida families with transgender children have filed a federal lawsuit challenging new rules set by the state’s medical boards that prevent minors from accessing gender-affirming health care.Florida’s Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine in February approved a set of rules that prohibit health care providers from administering gender-affirming health care to minor patients, conflicting with guidance set by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society and the recommendations of most major medical organizations.In a lawsuit filed late Thursday in the Northern District of Florida, the families argue that the new rules, which only apply to youth who have not begun treatment, violate the rights of parents to make decisions about the health and wellbeing of their children.“The transgender medical bans violate this fundamental right by preventing the parent plaintiffs from obtaining medically necessary care ...

Philadelphia may pay some pregnant women $1,000 per month

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

(NewsNation) — The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is reportedly raising money to give $1,000 monthly payments to some expectant mothers living in certain areas of the city.The health department plans to make this possible for approximately 250 pregnant Philadelphians through the Philly Joy Bank, with the goal of reducing racial disparities in birth outcomes.The payments are “no-strings-attached,” according to a news release.Of the top 10 most populated cities across the country, Philadelphia has the highest rate of infant mortality, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health says, and Black infants in the city are more than four times more likely to die before their first birthday than white infants. Bagels & drug testing: Moms file complaint against hospitals “Infant mortality in Philadelphia is a solvable crisis,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole. “We know that being able to better support pregnant people and new parents helps keep babies alive. As t...

Quick clearing and heating this afternoon

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Rain has moved through most of the area and will continue to exit our eastern counties by early afternoon. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALS Sunshine will continue to come out quickly from west to east. West winds will help to accelerate the warming today. Temperatures will jump into the middle and upper 80s as compressional heating dries out the air and allows highs to soar.Forecast highs Friday afternoonA bright and warm weekend is ahead for all of the area. Highs will be in the upper 70s to low 80s both days. Saturday will be sunny. Sunday will feature a mix of sun and clouds. A spotty storm or shower is possible Sunday afternoon east of I-35, but most of us stay dry.Weekend forecastLow rain chances will be in the forecast most of next week. Highs will average the middle 70s Monday to Wednesday before warming into the low to mid 80s Thursday.The Climate Prediction Center's updated second-week forecast (March 31st to April 6th) gives a glimmer of hope of getting th...