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Putin denounces sanctions on Russia during speech for South Africa economic summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin took multiple shots at the West on the opening day of an economic summit in South Africa, using a prerecorded speech that was aired on giant screens Tuesday to rail at what he called “illegitimate sanctions” on his country and threatening to cut off Ukraine’s grain exports permanently.Putin, the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant related to the war in Ukraine, did not travel to Johannesburg for the summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies. Instead, he plans to participate remotely in the three-day meeting of the bloc that encompasses Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. His 17-minute speech recorded in advance centered on the war in Ukraine and Russia’s relationship with the West even though South African officials had said East-West frictions should not dominate the first in-person BRICS summit since before the COVID-19 pandemic and hoped to guide the conversation away from the ...

Chief of Staff for Ontario Housing Minister resigns amid Greenbelt controversy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office says the chief of staff to Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, Steve Clark, has resigned.Ryan Amato’s resignation comes after a recent report from the auditor general found that developers who had access to Amato wound up with 92 per cent of the land that was removed from the protected Greenbelt.“The Premier’s Office has accepted Ryan Amato’s resignation as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, effective immediately,” a government spokesperson said.Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk found that the process of selecting the 15 specific sites to be removed from the Greenbelt for housing development was not transparent.She said in her report that all but one of the sites were suggested by Amato, who was given packages at an industry event by two key developers instead of civil servants.Ford has said no one received preferential treatment.RELATED: Ontario’s massive greenbelt scandal, exp...

US Coast Guard rescues man who was stranded for 3 days on an island in the Bahamas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — A 64-year-old man whose sailboat became disabled spent three days stranded on an island in the Bahamas before the U.S. Coast Guard spotted a flare he fired and rescued him, the Coast Guard said.The crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Miami aircraft dropped food, water and a radio to communicate with the man, who told them about his ordeal, the agency said in a news release. The Coast Guard cutter Paul Clark rescued the man Friday on Cay Sal. He is in good health, the release said.Aerial photos released Tuesday by the Coast Guard show that the man, whose name wasn’t released, had etched the letters “SOS” in the island’s sandy beach.“We’re proud to have saved this man’s life,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Dev Craig. “This case serves as a perfect example of why you must have the proper safety equipment on your vessel. Without seeing the flare, the case may not have had a successful outcome.”___This story was corrected to correct that the man was resc...

Student loan debt relief scam: Feds to refund over $9 million, do you qualify?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – More than $9 million in payments are going out to the thousands of people who lost money to a student loan debt relief scheme, federal officials announced Tuesday.Brandon Frere, the owner of Ameritech Financial, Financial Education Benefits Center and American Financial Benefits Center, was caught at San Francisco International Airport while trying to flee the country and was charged in December 2018. He was convicted in July 2020 and sentenced to 42 months in prison. SNAP changes coming Sept. 1 The Northern California resident admitted in court that he and his companies, which duped people into thinking they were working with the U.S. Department of Education, collected at least $25,000,000 from the debt relief scheme.Employees working for the companies conned people out of illegal up-front fees as high as $800, according to the FTC, and signed them up for $49-99 monthly fees that were supposedly going to pay off student debt, but were actually going straight to Frere'...

Biden administration announces next round of funding for high-speed internet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The Biden administration continues its push to invest in high-speed internet in rural areas. The ReConnect program received its fourth round of funding, with the goal to connect everyone in the country to high-speed internet by 2030."22 states and also the Marshall Islands and it's going to reach some of the most rural places throughout the country," USDA's Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small said.Small says the nearly $700 million investment will help kids learn, keep seniors safe, and grow small businesses."Sometimes that's through small rural electric cooperatives, sometimes that's through telecos and it's all working to reach the most rural parts of the country," Small said.Small says this investment is expanding the country's infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs and lowering costs."It's not just about having the technology, it's also about it being affordable," Small said.The grant program also ensures low-income Americans can afford access."...

Tropical Depression Harold racing across South Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Tropical Storm Harold made landfall on Padre Island, Texas at 10 a.m. Tuesday with winds of 50 mph. Harold has since been downgraded to a tropical depression as it weakens over land.Flooding rainfall amounts of up to 7 inches are possible along the South Texas coast inland toward the Rio Grande Valley. So far, the reporting station at Corpus Christi has measured more than three inches of rain.Tropical Storm Harold's projected rainfall RainfallGRAF Model Future RadarTD Harold sent welcome rain bands into Central Texas Tuesday evening, bringing parts of Austin our first measurable rainfall in a month -- and breaking Austin's 100-degree streak after 45 days of hot sunshine.The last measurable rain in Austin at Camp Mabry was back on July 22. On that day we picked up 0.01" which was just enough to end our previous dry stretch. The last time it rained more than a tenth of an inch was on June 22 -- two months ago.WindEast winds will pick up ...

Austin's record streak of consecutive 100° days finally ends after 45 days

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's record-shattering streak of triple-digit temperatures finally came to an end Aug. 22, after 45 days at or above 100°.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, only reached 99° Tuesday, making it the first day below 100° since July 7. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The 45-day streak far surpassed the previous record of 27 days, set in 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat in total.Weather records in Austin date back to the 1890s. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade Meanwhile, an 24-day streak is underway at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, with temperatures hitting 100° or above every day since July 29. That surpasses the previous record of 23 set in both 1951 and 1998. We're still waiting to hear from the National Weather Ser...

Tropical rain ends Austin's longest heat wave on record

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Following 45-consecutive days at or above 100 degrees, afternoon downpours from Tropical Storm Harold broke Austin's extended stretch of triple-digit heat.Afternoon highs at Camp Mabry rose to 99 degrees Tuesday before rain bands on the north side of the decaying tropical storm raced through our area. Some areas are enjoying their first rainfall in a month. Live interactive weather radar Those areas that do not see rainfall will still see breezy east winds from the storm to our south. Wind gusts will exceed 30 mph in some areas, enhancing wildfire danger.Gusty east winds lead to a fire/wildfire threat todayBelow is the latest on Tropical Storm Harold: Update: Tracking Tropical Storm Harold A heat dome moves back overhead Wednesday through the coming weekend, sending temperatures back north of 100 degrees each day. A slight chance of late-day rain is in the forecast, however, on Friday and early next week. Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING W...

Barton Springs Road 1-year safety pilot slated for late fall launch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin's Transportation and Public Works Department is on track to launch its yearlong Barton Springs Road safety pilot this fall, as city crews continue modifications to the roadway.Back in June, city officials proposed the one-year safety pilot as a means to help curtail serious injuries and fatalities along the roadway as a result of traffic crashes. It came just over a year after an April 2022 vehicle crash along the road resulted in 10 people seriously injured. PAST COVERAGE: Austin could limit Barton Springs Road vehicle traffic in 1-year safety pilot The pilot corridor runs along Barton Springs Road from Stratford Drive to South Lamar Boulevard. The plan calls for a reduction to one lane of through vehicle traffic. Other enhancements included widened bike lanes with physical separations from vehicular traffic; relocated bus stops at areas with safer pedestrian crossings; and maintained U-turns for local access and to improve the safety of left-t...

NY Attorney General's Office investigating DocGo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:04:40 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--Over the past few weeks, state and local leaders have been voicing their concerns about the DocGo. The New York Attorney General’s Office is now investigating the company— something Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara has called for after asylees first arrived in his district."We heard from the Attorney General’s Office yesterday that they were going to launch an investigation into DocGo into the situation at the Super 8 Motel in the Town of Rotterdam," said Santabarbara. "I’ve been calling for an investigation since that happened because of just the chaotic and unfair situation that unfolded there. We want to make sure situations like that don’t happen again."The investigation was first reported on by the New York Times. While the AG’s office says it is not handing out the letter, DocGo confirmed the AG is looking into the company saying,“Yesterday, we received a letter from the AG with a request for basic information to understand the scope of our services and h...