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Ukraine secures logistics hub near Bakhmut as Russia says it repelled attacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The territorial gains made this week by Ukrainian forces in the hotly contested eastern city of Bakhmut have secured an important logistics hub, Ukrainian military commanders said this week. Their appraisal came as Russia’s Defense Ministry said Kyiv had stepped up attacks north of the region, in a statement on Friday.The 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of territory retaken by Ukrainian forces south of Bakhmut earlier this week represent a significant gain for Kyiv and will protect an important supply chain, according to the commanders of Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, a special forces unit that led the attack.The battle for Bakhmut, once a salt-mining town, has been grinding on for eight months, making it the longest of the war so far. In a statement on Telegram on Friday, Hanna Maliar confirmed that Ukrainian forces gained ground around the city, reiterating statements from Ukrainian military commanders earlier this week. The head of Russia’s Wag...

McDonald’s found liable for hot Chicken McNugget that fell from Happy Meal and burned girl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — McDonald’s and a franchise holder are at fault after a hot Chicken McNugget from a Happy Meal fell on a little girl’s leg and caused second-degree burns, a jury in South Florida has found.A second jury will determine how much McDonald’s USA and its franchise owner, Upchurch Foods, will pay the child and her mother, the South Florida SunSentinel reported. Thursday’s decision was split, with jurors finding the franchise holder liable for negligence and failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food, and McDonald’s USA liable for failing to provide instructions for safe handling of the food. McDonald’s USA was not found to be negligent, and the jury dismissed the argument that the product was defective.“This was an unfortunate incident, but we respectfully disagree with the verdict,” McDonald’s USA said in a statement. “Our customers should continue to rely on McDonald’s to follow policies and procedures for serving Chicken McN...

Stock market today: US futures point higher in a mixed week of trading and more volatility for banks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

Wall Street pointed slightly higher early Friday in a mixed week of trading amid ongoing volatility for some regional banks and the potential for a U.S. recession.Futures for the benchmark S&P 500 rose 0.3% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked 0.4% higher. Investors have been on the lookout for the next possible downfall in the U.S. banking industry after three bank failures since March. PacWest Bancorp rose less than 2% before the bell Friday. A day earlier, shares of the California bank lose another 22.7% of their value after it disclosed a flight of deposits last week. PacWest’s tumble on Thursday dragged some, but not all, regional banks down with it.The banks that failed either had high exposure to tech companies that have been cutting back spending as the Fed raises its benchmark interest rates, or they invested heavily in bonds that are usually safe, but can lose value if interest rates rise. The Fed has now raised interest rates 10 times, hiking borrowing co...

Va. judge denies bid to hold single trial for all 10 charged in psychiatric patient’s death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

DINWIDDIE, Va. (AP) — Seven sheriff’s deputies and three employees of a psychiatric hospital in Virginia cannot all be tried together in the death of a man who was pinned to the floor while being admitted, a judge ruled, while leaving open the possibility of joint trials for some of the defendants.Dinwiddie Circuit Judge Joseph Teefey Jr. on Wednesday granted requests from two Central State Hospital employees to be tried separately from the other defendants. It remains unclear whether the remaining eight defendants will stand trial together. During a court hearing, the judge did not rule out trying some of them at the same time.Lawyers for the two hospital employees argued it would be unfair to require their clients to stand trial with some of the other defendants, including sheriff’s deputies who had a more active role in restraining Irvo Otieno, 28. All 10 defendants are charged with second-degree murder in Otieno’s death March 6.Rhonda Quagliana, an attorney for...

LOCALIZE IT: Student test score data fills in picture on learning loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:New data on student test scores from a dozen states has been incorporated into an analysis of learning setbacks tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.The data was released Thursday by researchers at Harvard and Stanford universities as an update to their Education Recovery Scorecard, which now examines learning loss in math and reading across school districts in a total of 41 states. The research offers the most comprehensive look so far at pandemic learning loss. The initial analysis on the effects of the pandemic was released in October, based on test scores released by “the nation’s report card” as well as results from state-run standardized tests. It became possible to include the additional 12 states after they released results from their own standardized tests.According to the analysis, the average public school student in grades 3-8 fell behind by half a year of learning in math and a quarter of a year in reading. In some districts, average students lost ...

Flooding reported at Rocky Mountain Arsenal, road closed nearby

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Flooding was reported at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Friday morning, adding to the road closures due to rain in the Denver area.Heavy rains continued Friday morning during a days-long storm that impacted drivers with flooded roads around the city. Road closures in Thornton due to flooding Water levels at First Creek were "extremely high and flowing fast" on the north side of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, according to officials at RMA.Wildlife Drive was closed due to flood waters flowing over the road and posing a danger to drivers in the area. Here's a look at photos of the flooding from RMA:Flooding was also impacting drivers near Thornton as multiple roads were closed in the area.The Pinpoint Weather Team said the rain is expected to continue throughout the morning on Friday.Stay alert with Pinpoint WeatherBookmark these tools to help you stay informed of the weather changes as new data comes in from the Pinpoint Weather team.Colorado...

At least 10 children transported to hospital from N. Lauderdale home, woman investigated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

A group of children living inside a home in North Lauderdale were rushed to the hospital as a precaution. It remains unknown what exactly happened at the home, but a dispatcher said something about neglect, and some neighbors were shocked, but others were not.Broward Sheriff’s Office’s Special Victim’s Unit and Child Protective Investigation Services are now investigating.The home is located along Southwest 66th Avenue and 15th Court.BSO deputies said they responded to the home Thursday morning as a possible domestic disturbance, shortly before 7 a.m.“Caller is advising her daughter hit her. She’s requesting rescue, her mouth is bleeding,” said a dispatcher over Broadcastify.They found 16 children at the house, and at least 10 were transported by North Lauderdale Fire Rescue to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood as a precaution.All appeared to be in good health.Other children remained at the home and were seen peeping through the ...

French PM sues publisher of biography for violating privacy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

PARIS — France’s Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is suing a French publisher over a book that makes references to her sexual orientation and family life.Borne’s lawyer is requesting that passages of the book “La Secrète,” written by the French journalist Bérengère Bonte, “making reference to her health and sexual orientation” should be removed from further editions of the book, according to the complaint filed by Borne and quoted by the AFP.Content “referring to Borne’s family life … [does] not figure in the scope of a legitimate freedom to inform the public,” the document reads. The French prime minister is also requesting €5,001 in damages and legal fees, her lawyer Emilie Sudre told the AFP.In a statement, the publishers Archipel defended the work of Bonte. “This book […] is the product of a year-long investigation, of dozens of interviews, including two long interviews with Elisabeth Borne, as well as with top members of her cabinet, her family and her close friends, ...

Man accused of taking $230K from charity, gambling much of it at casino

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A man has been indicted on charges of taking more than $230,000 from a New Hampshire charity and gambling much of it away at a casino.Kyle Fisher, 42, was indicted on four counts of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Jane Young said Thursday.Fisher formerly lived in Grantham and now lives in Holly Springs, North Carolina. He was the executive director of a charity identified as LISTEN Community Services in Lebanon, which provides food, heating, electricity and housing assistance.A phone number could not be found for Fisher and an attorney was not assigned to his case yet, according to court documents. He’s scheduled for a court appearance on May 24.The indictment alleges that between February 2021 and September 2022, Fisher wrote unauthorized checks to himself and transferred funds from the charity’s PayPal account to his own personal bank account. He’s accused of creating fake invoices and receipts and altering the charity’s accounting records.He gambled a l...

Daniel Penny surrenders to police to face manslaughter charge in chokehold death of Jordan Neely on NYC subway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:52 GMT

(CNN) — Daniel Penny, a US Marine veteran who held homeless street artist Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on a New York subway train earlier this month, has surrendered to police to face a second-degree manslaughter charge.Penny has “his head held up high” and is dealing with the situation “with the sort of integrity and honor that is characteristic of who he is” and “of his honorable service,” said his attorney Thomas Kenniff.An arraignment is expected Friday afternoon “and the process will unfold from there,” Kenniff said outside the police precinct where Penny surrendered.On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said, “We cannot provide any additional information until he has been arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court, which we expect to take place (Friday).”Penny’s attorneys said they are confident he will be “fully absolved of any wrongdoing.”...