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Danger signs in the Oakland hills as wildfire risks intensify, homeowners lose insurance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

OAKLAND — Admiring East Oakland from a lookout point at Joaquin Miller Park, Dale Risden feels right at home, having lived just a block away from an entrance to the park’s 500 acres of redwood-laden open space his whole life.But he easily recalls a day nearly 32 years ago when, instead of city streets, all anyone could see from that observation point was a blanket of black smoke emanating from the tragic 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm, which killed 25 people and consumed more than 3,000 homes.Three decades later, thousands still reside in the hills, and it’s a favorite local spot among hikers and cyclists. But for Risden, the trauma of the fire — and fear of history repeating itself — loom large, as it does in other areas of increasingly high fire risk as the consequences of climate change continue to intensify.Oakland Hills residents flee burning homes on Sunday, October 20, 1991. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group archives)Oakland resident faces a wall of flames with a gar...

Katie Ledecky passes Michael Phelps for most individual golds at world championships

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Katie Ledecky added to her legacy as the greatest female swimmer in history when she won the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday at the World Aquatics Championships, establishing two more notable records with the triumph.The victory by the 26-year-old Ledecky made her the first swimmer ever to win the same event six times at the world championships and also marked her 16th individual world title, breaking a tie with Michael Phelps for the most individual golds ever at the worlds.Ledecky, who had the 30 top times ever in the 800 entering the race, led all the way, dominating her competitors and winning in a time of 8 minutes, 8.87 seconds.The gold in the 800 was Ledecky’s second individual gold of these championships following her win in the 1,500 free on Tuesday. She also took silver in the 400 free here.Li Bingjie of China claimed the silver in 8:13.31, with Ariarne Titmus of Australia took the bronze in 8:13.59.Kaylee McKeown of Australia made some history of her...

In Ashland, a new house, an old watch and a mystery solved

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

ASHLAND, Va. (AP) — As work was getting underway at a new home site in Ashland, Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity construction manager Jeff Ell thought to himself he ought to go over the property with his metal detector.Ell, who has been with Habitat for two years, does not always use his metal detector on job sites, but the urge was strong on this one.“Just curiosity — buried treasure, Viking gold or something,” he said with a laugh. “You just never know what you’ll find.”That is for sure.On that day, Ell found a couple of run-of-the-mill coins and “some other junk,” and then, “Bing! Bing! Bing!” as he put it, “in the front of the house was this watch.”Buried a few inches in the soil was a small pendant watch, about the size of a quarter. No necklace was found, and the glass covering and the hands were long gone, but the engraved initials on the back were clear as day: “WWB TO JLW.”A mystery awaited unraveling — who were WWB and JLW, and what was the story of the watch?...

Arrestan al hijo de Gustavo Petro, presidente de Colombia, por presunto lavado de activos y enriquecimiento ilícito

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

(CNN Español) — Nicolás Fernando Petro Burgos, hijo del presidente Gustavo Petro, fue arrestado este sábado por presunto “lavado de activos y enriquecimiento ilícito”, informó la Fiscalía General de Colombia en un comunicado.También fue detenida su expareja. “Se hicieron efectivas las órdenes de captura proferidascontra Nicolás Fernando Petro Burgos, por los delitos de lavado de activos y enriquecimientoilícito y Daysuris del Carmen Vásquez Castro por los punibles de lavado de activos y violación dedatos personales por hechos ocurridos desde 2022 a la fecha”, dice el comunicado de la Fiscalía.Petro pide a la Fiscalía de Colombia que se investiguen denuncias de corrupción contra su hijo y su hermano“Los capturados serán puestos a disposición de un Juez Penal Municipal con Función de Controlde Garantías, a quien se le solicitará impartir legalidad a los procedimientos de allanamiento,captura e incautación de elementos materiales probatorios”, ...

Denver weather: Afternoon thunderstorms and heat through the weekend

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver’s weather will stay in a pattern of hot temperatures, morning sunshine, and afternoon thunderstorms through the weekend.Weather today: More afternoon storms, high heatToday will be very similar to just about every day this past week. Denver will start off with sunshine, temperatures climb into the 90s, then clouds will increase ahead of afternoon and evening thunderstorms. There is a chance for a few of these storms to become strong or severe - main concerns are hail, gusty winds and heavy downpours. Looking ahead: Increasing storm chanceTomorrow and Monday continue this pattern of morning sunshine, highs in the 90s, then afternoon storm chance. Better storm chance mvoes in by the middle of the week as monsoon moisture will move in and result in some heavy rainfall. Temperatures Wednesday through Friday will be cooler in the 80s.

Medical convoys from Nagorno-Karabakh suspended after Armenian detained by Azerbaijan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

The transfer of critically ill patients from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia has been halted, local Armenian leaders said, after a man traveling with the Red Cross to seek treatment was arrested by Azerbaijani forces on war crimes charges.Gurgen Nersisyan, the state minister of the breakaway region’s unrecognized government, announced on Saturday that Vagif Khachatryan was “taken from the checkpoint” installed by Baku on the border with Armenia and that his whereabouts are unknown. Speaking to POLITICO, one of his advisers, Artak Beglaryan, confirmed that all medical evacuations have been stopped indefinitely as a result.In a statement shared with state media, Azerbaijan’s prosecutor’s office confirmed Khachatryan had been detained, adding that he stands accused of committing “genocide.” Officials allege he was involved in the killing of 25 people in the village of Meshali during the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in 1991, which saw hundreds of thou...

BPD: Dorchester man charged with drug trafficking after ‘lengthy investigation’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

Boston police arrested and charged a Dorchester man Friday with drug trafficking after “a lengthy investigation,” officials announced.37-year-old Victor Pena was charged with trafficking fentanyl over 200 grams and cocaine 36 grams or more.Police said they found approximately one and a half kilos of fentanyl and 39 grams of cocaine when searching the residence on Wells Avenue.Pena is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.

Source: Patriots hosting ex-Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott on free-agent visit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

The Patriots are hosting ex-Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott on a free-agent visit Saturday, a source confirmed to the Herald.Elliott has been a free agent since Dallas released him in mid-March. Last season, Elliott rushed for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns, while averaging 3.8 yards per carry and starting 14 of 15 games. In New England, he could serve as the primary backup to star back Rhamondre Stevenson, especially in light of Ty Montgomery’s recent leg injury in training camp.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Bill Belichick touts rookie WR, Matt Judon explains red sleeves New England Patriots | Family affair at Patriots summer camp New England Patriots | Patriots training camp Day 3: Bill O’Brien’s offense opens up, but where are the weapons? New England Patriots | Christian Gonzalez proving to be exactly what Patriots needed early in training camp New England Patriots...

Heavy rainfall expected for Toronto and GTA on Saturday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

A special weather statement is in effect for Toronto and the GTA warning of heavy rainfall for most of the day. Environment Canada says anywhere between 30 to 50 millimetres of rain could fall across the region, including Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan and Durham regions due to heavy rain and thunderstorms on Saturday. “Drivers should watch out for ponding and pooling on the roads and flooding on certain ramps that are prone to flooding,” said CityNews 680 meteorologist Carl Lam. “If you see a road that is flooded, do not drive through it and turn around.”The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority echoed similar concerns when it comes to rivers and streams in the area. “All TRCA rivers within the GTA may experience higher than normal flows and water levels for the next few days,” the regional authority said in a statement. “The combination of slippery, unstable banks, and changing water levels could create hazardous conditions in and near...

US Secretary of State tells Australia that WikiLeaks founder is accused of ‘very serious’ crime

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday pushed back against Australian demands for an end to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s prosecution, saying the Australian citizen was accused of “very serious criminal conduct” in publishing a trove of classified documents more than a decade ago.Australia’s center-left Labor Party government has been arguing since winning the elections last year that the United States should end its pursuit of the 52-year-old, who has spent four years in a British prison fighting extradition to the United States.Assange’s freedom is widely seen as a test of Australia’s leverage with President Joe Biden’s administration.Blinken confirmed on Saturday that Assange had been discussed in annual talks with Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Brisbane, Australia.“I understand the concerns and views of Australians. I think it’s very important that our friends here understand our concerns about this matter,” Blinken told reporters.“Mr....