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Blinken heads to the Mideast again as fears of regional conflict surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to the Middle East this weekend for the fourth time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October as once-abated fears about a regional conflagration are surging with attacks and assassinations in the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq.The Biden administration had breathed a sigh of relief about the potential for a broader Mideast war in the immediate aftermath of Israel’s military response to the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, when it counseled Israeli officials not to mount pre-emptive strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.Two-and-a-half months later, though, the chances of a regional war have increased with Israel determined to strike Hamas operatives and leaders no matter where they are and Iranian proxies like Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthi rebels and pro-Iran militias stepping up attacks on U.S., Israeli and international interests in the Red Sea, Iraq and Syria.Blinken leaves late Thursday on his latest extended Midea...

President of Belarus gives himself immunity from prosecution and limits potential challengers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus signed a new law Thursday that gives him lifelong immunity from criminal prosecution and prevents opposition leaders living abroad from running in future presidential elections.The law theoretically applies to any former president and members of his or her family. In reality, it only is relevant to the 69-year-old Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for almost 30 years. The new measure appears aimed at further shoring up Lukashenko’s power and eliminating potential challengers in the country’s next presidential election, which is due to take place in 2025.The law significantly tightens requirements for presidential candidates and makes it impossible to elect opposition leaders who fled to neighboring countries in recent years. Only citizens of Belarus who have permanently resided in the country for at least 20 years and have never had a residence permit in another country are eligible to run.Bela...

Fire at home of Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill started by child playing with cigarette lighter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A fire at the $6.9 million home owned by Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter in a bedroom, a fire official said Thursday.“It was an accidental fire,” Davie Fire Marshal Robert Taylor told The Associated Press. Taylor did not provide the age of the child, or the amount of damage caused by the fire. He said the investigation is now closed.Hill was at Dolphins practice for the upcoming regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills when the fire broke out. He left practice when he got word about the blaze.The house is located in Southwest Ranches, which is about 30 miles northwest of Miami, and was purchased by Hill in May 2022 shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs traded him to the Dolphins.Miami television station WSVN showed a large amount of black smoke coming from the roof as firefighters doused the house with water. Firefighters appeared to be working on the highest parts of the structure. Many o...

Average long-term mortgage rates edge higher, snapping 9-week slide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate edged higher this week, ending a nine-week slide that gave prospective homebuyers some breathing room after home loan borrowing soared to the highest level in more than two decades.The average rate on a 30-year mortgage inched up to 6.62% from 6.61% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.48%.Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, kept easing this week, bringing the average rate to 5.89% from 5.93% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.73%, Freddie Mac said.This week’s slight increase in the average rate on a 30-year home loan follows a sharp pullback in mortgage rates since late October, when its climbed to 7.79%, the highest level since late 2000.The move mirrored a decline in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans. The yield, which in mid October surged to its highest level ...

Houthis launch sea drone to attack ships hours after US, allies issue ‘final warning’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An armed unmanned surface vessel launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen got within a “couple of miles” of U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea before detonating on Thursday, just hours after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a “final warning” to the Iran-backed militia group to cease the attacks or face potential military action. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Navy operations in the Middle East, said it was the first time the Houthis had used an unmanned surface vessel, or USV, since their harassment of commercial ships in the Red Sea began after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. They have, however, used them in years past. Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the USV’s are a key part of the Houthi maritime arsenal and were used during previous battles against the Saudi coalition forces that intervened in Yemen’s war. They have regularly been u...

Orland Park man facing hate crime charges after allegedly punching neighbor, making hateful comments on Palestinian origin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

ORLAND PARK Ill. -- An Orland Park man is charged with a hate crime after allegedly punching his neighbor and making hateful comments towards the couple's Palestinian origin in a garbage can dispute.Terrence P. Clyne, 68, is facing a felony charge of hate crime and a battery charge. According to the Village of Orland Park, police responded to a report of a battery in the 15400 block of Begonia Court around 10:35 a.m. Wednesday and found two battered individuals and a suspect. Imam killed outside New Jersey mosque, and the shooter remains at large, authorities say Investigators found that Clyne battered a man after he moved garbage cans from one area of a communal driveway to another. Clyne made hateful comments against the man's Palestinian origin. Clyne then allegedly punched the man in the face and engaged in a physical altercation.At the time, the man's wife attempted to verbally deescalate the situation when reports say Clyne began to make hateful comments against her Palestin...

Attorney: Catholic HS in Southwest suburbs failed to act on allegations of bullying, harassment; school faces $1M lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

NEW LENOX, Ill. — The attorney representing a former student and his father who have filed a million-dollar lawsuit against a Catholic high school in Chicago's Southwest suburbs says the school failed to act when his client reported incidents of bullying and sexual harassment.The news outlet Patch reported this week that the father of a former student and hockey player at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox is suing the school for more than $1 million, claiming his son was bullied and sexually harassed so severely by his former teammates that he attempted suicide.Steven Glink, attorney for the former student, told WGN his client and his client's father went as far as filing a police report. Still, they claim, nothing was done."My clients made over 50 reports of bullying, and from my perspective, the defendants did absolutely nothing," Glink claims.  DCFS still failing to find appropriate care for kids, leaving them locked-up, report shows Glink says the bullying went on f...

Iowa students describe chaos after shots fired at Perry High School: 'Leave, leave, leave'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

PERRY, IOWA (WHO) -- A Perry High School student said he heard a "couple of bangs" that he thought were coming from band practice on Thursday morning. Even after he was told it was a shooting, he assumed it was a prank – until he saw officers with guns drawn.Law enforcement confirmed that multiple people were shot at the high school in Perry, Iowa. During a news conference Thursday morning, Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said it wasn't clear at the time exactly how many people were shot or what the extent of their injuries were. The call came in as an active shooter at 7:37 a.m. Multiple shooting victims reported at Perry High School "I just heard a couple of bangs, not really gunshots," said sophomore Carlos Monzon. "They were not very loud. We saw a bunch of kids running and we asked what happened because we were kind of concerned. We thought it was just for band or something messing around.""One of my girlfriends' friends said it was a shooting and there was a shooter wit...

1 injured following fiery collision with 18-wheeler in north Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — First responders said one person was injured Thursday following a fiery collision involving an 18-wheeler in north Austin.The Austin Fire Department said it responded to a vehicle rescue and hazmat task force call at approximately 9:40 a.m. in the 11900 block of North Interstate 35 service road. The AFD report said a sedan drove under an 18-wheeler.Fire crews respond to fiery crash in north Austin (AFD photo)First responders arrive at fiery crash in north Austin (AFD photo) Fire crews respond to fiery crash in north Austin (AFD photo)Vehicle trapped under 18-wheeler after crash in north Austin (AFD photo)Vehicle trapped under 18-wheeler after crash in north Austin (ATCEMS photo)Vehicle trapped under 18-wheeler after crash in north Austin (ATCEMS photo)Austin-Travis County EMS said the situation was downgraded from a vehicle rescue since all occupants were out of the vehicles.ATCEMS said medics assessed the patients, and one adult was taken to the hospital with potent...

Texas accounts for almost half of the hottest zip codes for real estate in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nine of the top 20 hottest zip codes in 2023 are in Texas, according to real estate site Opendoor.The rankings are determined based on the number of homes that went into contract within 90 days of listing.Houston area 77433 and 77493 rank first and second nationwide among zip codes where people bought homes the fastest last year. RELATED: What were Opendoor's hottest zip codes in 2022? Five other Texas zip codes appear in the top 10: 75126, 76227 and 76179 in the DFW Metroplex, 78130 in New Braunfels, 78253 in San AntonioLeander's 78641 ranks 13th, while another Houston area zip code, 77449, ranks 20th."Top neighborhoods such as Leander reflect that homeowners prefer to escape the hustle and bustle of bigger cities for towns that offer most everything they need — including the right price," said Jackson Upcheshaw, brokerage lead for Opendoor. "In addition to a cost of living that is below the national average, Leander offers the convenient locations and turnkey hom...