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Investigators visit North Carolina amusement park after closing ride because of crack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — State investigators were on site Monday at a North Carolina amusement park after a crack was discovered on a support beam on one of their popular roller coasters.Tommy Petty, chief of the state Department of Labor’s Amusement Device Bureau, said investigators from his department “already came and went” from the Carowinds roller coaster Monday morning. He declined to share details about their findings.Carowinds’ Fury 325 was shut down Friday. Video of the ride showed the beam bending, the top of it visibly detached, as cars with passengers whirled by.The park’s website advertises the ride as the “tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America” that crosses into both North Carolina and South Carolina. It has been open to the public since 2015. The rest of the park remains open. Hannah Schoenbaum And Kimberlee Kruesi, The Associated Press

As 1,500 Disneyland collectibles go up for auction, that Dumbo car – or trash bin – can be yours

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Fans who agree Disneyland is indeed the happiest place on Earth will soon be able to take home more than a souvenir. A passionate collector has brought Disney magic to a sprawling 30,000-square-foot (2,800-square-meter) building in Burbank, California, where fans can hear birds chirping in the Enchanted Tiki Room section or giggle at the animated ghosts from the Haunted Mansion ride as they preview more than 1,500 items up for auction later this month. Joel Magee has been building his collection of more than 6,000 items — including costumes, rare posters, and life-size vehicles from rides like Dumbo and Peter Pan — for 30 years, and he’s finally ready to share some of it with the public. “I’m one of those guys — go big or go home. And if you don’t have the biggest, then it ain’t the best,” Magee told The Associated Press in a recent interview, as fans milled about the exhibit. Magee’s is the largest individually owned Disneyland/Disney Park collection in the w...

Kevin Spacey’s accuser describes the Oscar-winning actor as a ‘slippery, snaky’ predator to avoid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

LONDON (AP) — One of actor Kevin Spacey ‘s accusers described the Oscar-winner in court Monday as a “slippery, snaky” predator who good-looking, young men were warned to avoid. The man, who worked with the American actor when he came to the Old Vic Theatre in London in the early 2000s, said Spacey told him he could introduce him to Hollywood stars. But the man said that word around the playhouse was that he should be careful around Spacey.“It was well known he was up to no good,” the man said in a video of his police interview played for jurors in Spacey’s sexual assault trial. “He was almost right from the get-go grooming me.”He said Spacey made him uncomfortable querying him about his sexuality, then became “touchy feely” and graduated to aggressive groping when they were alone together.The man, who cannot be identified under British law, likened Spacey to the villain he plays in the 1995 thriller “Se7en” about a serial killer motivated by the seven deadly sins. “He’s ...

Slovakia central bank chief says he won’t step down despite bribery charges against him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — The head of Slovakia’s central bank, who is a member of the European Central Bank committee that decides monetary policy for 20 countries, said Monday he won’t step down despite bribery charges against him.Peter Kazimir is accused of paying a bribe of 48,000 euros ($52,000) to the head of the country’s tax office in connection with a tax audit of several private companies. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted. It wasn’t clear when a verdict might be issued.Kazimir said he considered the charges illegal and fabricated.“I will never resign,” he told reporters after the trial opened Monday in a court in the town of Pezinok near the capital, Bratislava. “And you know why? Because I haven’t done anything wrong.”Slovakia is one of 20 countries that use the euro currency and Kazimir is a member of the European Central Bank’s governing council, its main decision-making body.The case dates to when Kazimir served as finance minister in the l...

Von der Leyen urges moves to bring Ukraine, Moldova into EU to avoid Russian, Chinese influence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

MADRID (AP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday it was imperative for the European Union to address the issue of its enlargement as soon as possible to include countries such as Ukraine and Moldova to guarantee they do not fall under the influence of Russia or China.Speaking in Madrid, von der Leyen said the bloc must look forward four years and imagine what the union should be like.“Can we imagine the European Union will be without Ukraine, without Moldova, without the Western Balkans? And those parts of Europe are under the influence of Russia or China? Impossible,” she said. “So, the direction of travel is clear. And therefore, now we have to start to think about how are we making sure that Europe is whole, that those countries are part of the European Union.”Von der Leyen spoke alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez following a meeting of EU commissioners and the Spanish government to review Spain’s plans for its six-month presidency of the E...

Miss the supermoon? You won't have to wait long

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - If you missed the supermoon Monday morning, there will be a few more chances to catch another one before the end of 2023. A supermoon occurs during a full moon while the moon is at close range to Earth, making it seem even larger than other full moons to some. The most recent supermoon peaked at 7:39 a.m. ET Monday morning. The moon will still appear full Monday night, according to WFLA Meteorologist Amanda Holly.Holly points out that the next three full moons will also be super moons. There will also be four consecutive supermoons in 2024. Two of the remaining three supermoons will be in August, the second of which will be a blue moon -- the name given to a second full moon in one calendar month. The third will be in September.August 1, peaking at 2:31 p.m. ETAugust 30, peaking at 9:35 p.m. ETSeptember 26, peaking at 5:57 a.m. ET. The August 30th full moon will also be the closest to Earth of the full supermoons in 2023, according to EarthSky. Despite the pro...

Missing Houston man found 8 years after disappearing as a teen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

HOUSTON (KIAH) — A teenager who disappeared in 2015 has been found alive but injured. Rudy Farias IV was 17 years old when he vanished on March 6, 2015, while walking his two dogs near Tidwell Road in north Houston. The dogs were later found, but Rudy was not located. An electric billboard was put up in 2017 to help find him. Authorities said that Farias was diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.But on Sunday, Farias’ family and the Texas Center of the Missing said that Rudy, now 25, has been found safe and sound."Please continue to keep his family in your prayers as Rudy recovers in the hospital," the agency wrote. His family says he is in the hospital being treated for several injuries and is in "bad shape."According to family members who spoke to the local ABC affiliate, Farias IV was found unresponsive outside of a church. It's not yet clear what led to the teen's disappearance or where he has been for nearly a decade.

Texas 'death star' law will eliminate mandatory water breaks for construction workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

DALLAS (NewsNation) — A new state law in Texas will soon invalidate mandatory water breaks for construction workers. It’s part of a new bill that empowers the state to override local governments in certain circumstances.Critics of the bill have called it overreach, while supporters said it will make it easier to do business in the state.The new law called the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act has been signed by Gov. Greg Abbott and takes effect on Sept. 1. However, the triple-digit heat that has been plaguing the Lone Star State has prompted concerns about how dangerous the bill could potentially be for workers. How to handle extreme heat on the road The law would eliminate municipal codes in Dallas and throughout Texas that are stricter than the state law.Currently, some cities like Dallas mandate construction workers take a 10-minute break every four hours.With the new law, that would disappear.Opponents of the bill said this takes away the city or town’s right to protect its wor...

Person of interest identified in deadly north Austin shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN's previous coverage of the June 30, 2023 shooting.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A person of interest has been identified by the Austin Police Department after a deadly shooting in north Austin Friday night, according to an APD release.Officers went to 8800 Redfield Ln., which is near Payton Gin Road and U.S. Highway 183, around 11:15 p.m. Friday after reports of the shooting, the release said. APD investigating homicide in north Austin Police found Larry Jennings, 47, with gunshot wounds. Jennings died at the scene, APD said.Homicide investigators believe Jennings was shot by another man in the parking lot on Redfield Lane "in front of several people," the release stated.APD said this case is being investigated as the city's 34th homicide this year.Police are asking that you call (512) 974-TIPS with information. Tips can be sent anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling (512) 472-8477. There'...

Study: Austin metro is best US city for starting a career right now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:42 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Another graduating class has secured their degrees and are preparing to find jobs in an economy and market vastly different from pre-pandemic years.When it comes to the best American cities for young professionals to launch a career in 2023, neither San Francisco nor New York City cracked to the top five, according to a new study.A new study from Bankrate found that younger generations have different values in today's remote work-friendly environment."The coronavirus pandemic pushed flexible work to no longer be a transient response but an enduring feature of the working world," according to Alex Gailey, Bankrate analyst. "More than ever, young workers crave work-life balance, the flexibility to work remotely and higher pay – and these cities offer what young professionals are looking for." Fears of an ‘internet apocalypse’ are brewing: How likely will upcoming solar storms wreak havoc? An April survey from LinkedIn found that a whopping majority of Gen Z professionals...