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A Hong Kong language group shuts down after police allege one of its essays breached security laws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A group that promotes the Cantonese language shut down Monday after Hong Kong authorities said a fictional essay depicting a decline in liberties in the city on the group’s website violated the national security law, in the latest example of the city’s erosion of freedom of expression.Andrew Chan, chairperson of the Societas Linguistica Hongkongensis, said in a Facebook post that national security officers visited a home where some of his family members live without a search warrant last week when he was out of town. The officers asked him to remove the essay from his group’s website immediately, he said.Chan said he decided to halt the operation of his association due to the legal risks and a lack of resources.“I am so shocked and I still cannot believe it’s happened,” he said in an email to The Associated Press. He also said he was sad to see that even though he was running something “only related to arts and literature,” he was still “targeted by the ...

Biden is widely seen as too old for office, an AP-NORC poll finds. Trump has problems of his own

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans actually agree on something in this time of raw discord: Joe Biden is too old to be an effective president in a second term. Only a few years his junior, Donald Trump raises strikingly less concern about his age.But they have plenty of other problems with Trump, who at least for now far outdistances his rivals for the Republican nomination despite his multiple criminal indictments. Never mind his advanced years — if anything, some say, the 77-year-old ought to grow up.A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds much of the public oddly united in sizing up the one trait Biden cannot change.The president has taken to raising the age issue himself, with wisecracks, as if trying to relax his audiences about his 80 trips around the sun.Age discrimination may be banned in the workplace but the president’s employers — the people — aren’t shy about their bias. In the poll, fully 77% said Biden is too old to be ef...

Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground after a rare winning week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose broadly in morning trading on Wall Street Monday as markets shift their attention from the Federal Reserve to more corporate and economic reports.The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to keep upward momentum from its first winning week since July. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 244 points, or 0.7% to 34,589 as of 10:06 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq rose 0.6%.Wall Street is wrapping up its latest round of earnings reports. Best Buy and Costco will report their results this week.3M jumped 5.5% following reports that the company had agreed to a $5.5 billion settlement over faulty earplugs, a lower figure than expected. Boston Scientific rose 6.1% after giving investors an encouraging update on a study for a heart device.Shares of Hawaiian Electric jumped 41% as the utility pushed back against accusations it is responsible for causing the wildfire that devastated the community of Lahaina. The company said power to the lines in the area of the fire had been cut off hour...

Mother of beleaguered Spanish football federation chief starts hunger strike in church to defend him

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

MADRID (AP) — The mother of the Spanish soccer federation president has started a hunger strike in a church in southern Spain in defense of her son, who is under fire for kissing a player during the recent Women’s World Cup awards ceremony.Ángeles Béjar, mother of suspended federation president Luis Rubiales, told the state news agency EFE she would remain on hunger strike “night and day” until a solution is found to “the bloody and inhumane hounding” of her son.Speaking outside the church in the southern town of Motril, Rubiales’ cousin, Vanessa Ruiz, joined his mother in calling on the player, Jenni Hermoso, to “tell the truth.” She said the family was suffering greatly and she described Rubiales as “a beautiful person.”Rubiales came in for a storm of criticism following the kiss which was interpreted by many as a form of sexual abuse. The incident happened during the medal ceremony after the final last Sunday in Sydney, Australia. Earlier during the celebrations, Rubiales also gr...

Metra Rock Island train derails near LaSalle Street; service halted in both directions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

CHICAGO — Metra Rock Island trains have been halted in both directions due to a train derailment Monday morning.The incident involving Rock Island train No. 704 happened around 8:30 a.m. near Clark Street and 15th Street. Train No. 704 was scheduled to arrive at the LaSalle Street Station at 8:30 a.m., but will not operate past 35th Street due to the derailment. According to Metra, both inbound and outbound service has been stopped near LaSalle Street. . Extensive delays are anticipated. At least 6 carjackings, armed robberies within 2-hour span on Chicago’s North and West sides: police CTA will honor Metra tickets at 35th Street and for outbound passengers at the LaSalle Street Station.No further information has been provided. This is a developing story. Check back for details.For the latest update go to: metra.com

Lincolnshire junior high school evacuated after bomb threat: District

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. -- Daniel Wright Junior High School students and staff were evacuated after a receiving a computer-recorded message of a bomb threat, the school district said. The school district said a staff member first received the message on the school's attendance voicemail hotline around 7:30 a.m. Monday morning.District 103 immediately evacuated the school and the Lincolnshire Police Department is currently conducting a search of the building. South Elgin High School evacuated over call of bomb threat: District There was no threat to any other District 103 schools.There is currently no other information provided.WGN is actively following the situation and will update as more information is provided.

South Elgin High School evacuated over call of bomb threat: District

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

ELGIN, Ill. -- School district U-46 said South Elgin High School received a callof a bomb threat Monday morning.The school district said they received a call around 7:40 a.m. that was believed to be a swatting call with a bomb threat. The school district said in a Facebook post that students were moved outside. The South Elgin Police and Kane County Sherriff are investigating and that no other U-46 schools are involved. The school said students are safe. There is currently no other information at this time.WGN is actively following the incident and will update as more information is recovered.

'Like liquid gold': Central Texans turning to rainwater collection amid drought

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Even though there hasn't been a consistent amount of rain in Central Texas for the last few months, one local business said many people are turning to them for rainwater collection tanks. It is in such high demand, one farmer is on a months-long wait list to get one. 'It's like liquid gold.'While Central Texas is starting to see rain here and there, it hasn't been enough to get Kathleen Mooney's well up and running again. "My well went dry earlier this spring and I'm a farmer," Mooney said. "So I need water for my crops."Mooney is the owner of EIEIO Farm in Wimberley. She said she is now turning to rainwater harvesting. She's on a three to four month waitlist to get a tank installed. "I have friends out here that have rainwater collection systems. None of them have gone dry during this entire drought," Mooney said. "They marveled at how their skin feels silky soft after showering with the rainwater, that their hair is just exquisite. They have to use less...

Tropical Storm Idalia forecast to intensify, life-threatening storm surge 'likely' for parts of Florida

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to intensify into a hurricane on Monday, the National Hurricane Center said.Officials said Tropical Storm Idalia is moving at 8 mph and is located about 90 miles south of the western tip of Cuba. LIST: Evacuation zones announced ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia Meteorologists said Idalia's winds are near 65 mph, with higher gusts. The National Hurricane Center said Idalia is forecast to pass near or over western Cuba tonight. It is forecast to move over the extreme southeastern Gulf of Mexico by early Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center said Idalia is forecast to be a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the Gulf coast of Florida by early Wednesday. Tropical-storm-force winds will extend outward by 70 miles from the center of the storm.A hurricane watch has been issued for the areas south of Englewood to Indian Pass, including Tampa Bay.The NHC said Idalia could bring dangerous storm surge to the coast of Florida. "The c...

TGIF: Central Texas school district embraces four-and-a-half day school week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

(KXAN) -- "Thank God it's Friday" has some extra meaning for students and staff at Harmony Public Schools in Central Texas.While some Texas school districts have switched to a four-day-week, and most still have a traditional five-day-week, the charter school district is meeting the two in the middle, with early release on Fridays. 76 Texas school districts have moved to four-day weeks, affecting almost 90,000 students Assistant Superintendent Dr. Amy Chankin said the request for a change came from staff looking for more flexibility in their lives. "They really wanted the autonomy and the flexibility to be able to invest in themselves and their families at home," Chankin said. "Therefore, we moved our early-release Fridays."Prior to this year, the district let out early on Wednesdays. Chankin said at times that proved to be disruptive for some families unable to leave work early or without the flexibility to pick up their kids in the middle of the day. The new schedule is receivin...