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Security is stepped up around Christmas celebrations in Germany and Austria over attack concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Sightseeing visits were barred at Germany’s landmark Cologne cathedral and Christmas Eve worshippers faced security checks to get into midnight Mass on Sunday as police responded to indications of a potential attack.However, a top security official urged people not to shy away from holiday celebrations out of fear. Churchgoers attended multiple services at the cathedral despite the ban on visits purely for sightseeing, a day after police descended on the cathedral and searched it with sniffer dogs. In Austria, police in Vienna also said they were stepping up security around churches and Christmas markets, apparently responding to the same intelligence about a potential threat. They did not give further information but the dpa news agency reported without citing a source that the threat was from an Islamic extremist group. Police in Cologne said they were taking precautions over Christmas even though the information they had was for an attack on New Ye...

With the Supreme Court on sideline for now, Trump’s lawyers press immunity claims before lower court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was acting within his role as president when he pressed claims about “alleged fraud and irregularity” in the 2020 election, his lawyers told a federal appeals court in arguing that he is immune from prosecution.The attorneys also asserted in a filing late Saturday night that the “historical fallout is tremendous” from the four-count indictment charging Trump with plotting to overturn the election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. No other former president has ever been indicted; Trump has been indicted four times, in both state and federal court, as he campaigns to reclaim the White House.“The indictment of President Trump threatens to launch cycles of recrimination and politically motivated prosecution that will plague our Nation for many decades to come and stands likely to shatter the very bedrock of our Republic — the confidence of American citizens in an independent judicial system,” the attorneys wrote in a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals...

A beautiful racket: In Newfoundland, the ugly stick is an instrument in high demand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — This year, Dave Rowe, owner of a decades-old music store in St. John’s, N.L., found himself in a peculiar yet pressing situation: he was out of ugly sticks, and the man who made them was retiring.The ugly stick is a Newfoundland percussion instrument, often made of a mop handle stuck in a rubber boot and festooned with rows of bottle caps punctured by protruding nails. They are particularly popular at O’Brien’s Music, which has been selling a variety of Newfoundland instruments since 1939, Rowe said.O’Brien’s takes its reputation and its ugly sticks seriously, and Rowe said he hunted for five months before finding another ugly stick maker whose product could pass muster.“It took some searching, like stopping at craft fairs, stuff like that,” the 42-year-old said in an interview. “When we didn’t have them there for a spell, we were turning down folks, (customers) were calling or emailing almost every day.&...

Furnace explosion at Chinese-owned nickel plant in Indonesia kills at least 13 and injures 46 others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

PALU, Indonesia (AP) — A smelting furnace exploded Sunday at a Chinese-owned nickel plant on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing at least 13 workers and injuring dozens of others, police and a company official said.It was the latest in a series of deadly incidents at nickel smelting plants in Indonesia that are part of China’s ambitious transnational development program known as the Belt and Road Initiative.Nickel is a key component in global battery production for electric vehicles.At least four Chinese and nine Indonesian workers died when the furnace exploded while they were repairing it, said Central Sulawesi police chief Agus Nugroho.The blast was so powerful it demolished the furnace and damaged parts of the side walls of the building, said Nugroho, adding that about 46 workers were injured, including 14 Chinese nationals, some in critical condition.Authorities are working to determine whether negligence by the company led to the deaths, Nugroho said.The accident ...

Several flights canceled at Chicago Midway International Airport likely due to fog

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

CHICAGO — Several flights departing from Chicago's Midway International Airport have been canceled on Christmas Eve morning likely due to the fog.There is a dense fog advisory in the area until 9 a.m. Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.As of 6:30 a.m., visibility at Midway was .5 miles. Visibility at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is 5 miles.Several Southwest Airlines and Frontier flights are canceled through 9 a.m.On Saturday evening, a ground stop was issued at Midway due to the fog.WGN-TV has reached out to Southwest for additional information and is awaiting a response.Passengers flying out of Chicago's airports should check their flight status with their airline.

Man shot after pulling knife during fight at Red Line station

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was shot after pulling a knife during an argument late Saturday night at a Red Line station, Chicago police said. The 40-year-old man was shot by another person around 10:45 p.m. in the 200 block of West Garfield Boulevard. Man charged in fatal shooting at Wheaton pub after argument over bar tab Chicago police said he was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition after being shot in the right shoulder.No one is in custody in connection with the incident.Area One detectives are investigating.

Oscars 2024: Early predictions for the actor and supporting actor races

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

If you’ve seen Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” you may well still be sifting through some complicated feelings about Leonardo DiCaprio’s character — and perhaps even his performance in the film.Know this: You’re not alone. In fact, DiCaprio himself still has trouble reconciling the actions of his character, Ernest Burkhart, a dimwitted WWI veteran who arrives in Oklahoma to work for his wealthy uncle, William Hale (Robert De Niro), a calculating rancher with an eye on laying claim to the oil-rich tribal lands owned by the Osage Nation. At Hale’s behest, Ernest marries Mollie (Lily Gladstone) and — spoiler alert — begins, again at the suggestion of his uncle — to help plot the murders of Mollie’s family and even Mollie herself, even as he continues to profess his love for his wife.“It was the most bizarre, twisted, love story I’d ever come across,” DiCaprio said at a recent screening of the film that was packed with academy and guild voters, along with, sure, people w...

Man of the missing St. Louis couple arrested in Wisconsin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS — New information has emerged regarding a missing couple from Saint Louis City. Authorities are actively searching for Marquisha Williams and Trent Ivy. This morning, it was discovered that Ivy had been arrested in Racine County, Wisconsin.Williams and Ivy have both been missing since Wednesday. While Williams' whereabouts remain unknown, her family has been worried about her and praying for her safe return. Ivy is currently facing three charges: the use of a dangerous weapon, resisting an officer, and fleeing from an officer in a van. St. Peters man catches state record fish from Missouri River As of this morning, Ivy is being held on a $10,000 bond. Williams, who was supposed to be at work at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, has not been seen since she dropped her kids off at daycare centers that morning.

Mid-60s highs expected; rain set to ring in Christmas day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Patchy, dense fog has developed, especially along the Mississippi River and eastward into Illinois. This fog and any drizzle will diminish by mid-morning. Ahead of our next system, today will be mild and breezy, with highs climbing into the mid 60s. Outside of maybe a few spot sprinkles in our western counties this afternoon, rain holds off until late tonight but will be widespread through Christmas morning. Overnight lows in the 50s. Widespread, steady rain continues through the morning of Christmas Day, gradually tapering off from west to east through the early afternoon hours. By the evening, we will be left with spot showers and maybe some drizzle. Rainfall amounts will be in the ½ to 1 inch range. Behind this system, temperatures will be back down to closer to normal, with highs in the 40s. 

Miles Wood is evolving in new home with Avalanche, but he can still be an agent of chaos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:31 GMT

Mackenzie Blackwood spent five seasons together with Miles Wood as teammates in New Jersey, and had a unique view of the reputation his friend garnered in their younger days with the Devils.The first question for Blackwood about Wood started with, “Well, you’re a goalie and Miles …”“Is a goalie killer?” Blackwood interrupted with a laugh. “He tries to keep that in the games, but you do have to keep your head on a swivel out there. I love Woody. Great guy, great teammate, works hard. He’s a pretty easy-going guy, pretty relatable I think. Just a good friend and a good human.”Another former teammate, Blake Coleman, compared Wood to Luis Mendoza, the ultra-fast skater with no brakes in the second and third movies in the Mighty Ducks trilogy.“When I think of Miles, I think of breakaways and running into goalies,” Coleman said.Wood is one of the new members of the  Avalanche this season, but he believes this version is a differe...