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Human smuggler who rammed Coast Guard boat off California sentenced to 5 years in federal prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A boat captain who rammed a U.S. Coast Guard vessel off Southern California after smuggling a dozen people into the country was sentenced Wednesday to five years in federal prison. Jesus Jeovanny Alcaraz-Valdez was sentenced in San Diego for the December 2022 incident by a judge who called his actions “extremely reckless and extremely troubling,” the U.S. attorney’s office said in a statement.Alcarez piloted a panga boat — a small, fishing-style vessel often used by human smugglers — to illegally bring an estimated 12 people into the United States from Mexico, prosecutors said.The immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala paid up to $24,000 each for the trip, authorities said.The boat brought them before dawn near the coast off the San Diego seaside suburb of Coronado, where Alcarez told them to take off their life jackets and enter waist-deep surf even though some couldn’t swim, the U.S. attorney’s office said.Eight people were taken into custody...

Snow shovels in hand, volunteers help Vermont communities clear the mud from epic floods

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

ANDOVER, Vt. (AP) — Volunteers pulled out their snow shovels Wednesday to clear inches of mud after torrential rain and flooding inundated communities across Vermont, trapping people in homes, closing roadways and littering streets and businesses with debris.The water drained off most streets in the state capital of Montpelier, where the swollen Winooski River flooded basements and ground floors, destroying merchandise and furniture across the picturesque downtown. Other communities cleaned up as well from historic floods that were more destructive than Tropical Storm Irene in many places. Dozens of roads remained closed, and thousands of homes and businesses are damaged.But with people still being rescued, high water still blocking some roads and new flash flood warnings issued with more rain on the way, the crisis is far from over, according to state Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison. “Vermonters, keep your guard up, and do not take chances,” she said. Morrison said urb...

Northern lights might be visible this week, but most of the US won’t see them

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The northern lights could put on a show this week — though the audience will be much smaller than some early forecasts had suggested.The sky spectacle will be fairly typical: Stretches of Canada have a chance to spot the shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, while a few in the U.S. could see a faint reddish glow on the horizon. Here’s what to know about the updated predictions.WHO CAN SEE THE LIGHTS THIS WEEK?An early forecast by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, suggested that the northern lights could be visible much farther south than usual this week. But that forecast was based on long-term predictions about the solar activity responsible for the display. Forecasts using more current data from NOAA predict nothing special for the U.S. “For the same reasons that it’s hard to predict weather on Earth, it’s hard to predict weather in space,” said Northeastern Univ...

Solar storm on Thursday expected to make northern lights visible in limited US states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

A solar storm forecast for Thursday is expected to give skygazers in some states along the U.S.-Canada border a faint glimpse of the northern lights which — at their peak — produce a colorful sky show when solar wind hits the atmosphere. Northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, are most often seen in Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia, but an 11-year solar cycle that’s expected to peak in 2024 has the potential to make the lights visible in places farther to the south. Three months ago, the light displays were visible in Arizona, marking the third severe geomagnetic storm since the current solar cycle began in 2019.The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has forecast auroral activity on Thursday, based on long-term outlook.Auroral activity also has been forecast for Canada.Those in small slices of the contiguous U.S. — including parts of Wisconsin, Michigan and Montana — could also get a peek. But for them, the aurora will probably be a “faint glow on the ...

Suspect in Vegas Strip resort standoff a fugitive in Colorado kidnapping case, authorities say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A man accused of instigating a hostage standoff and throwing furniture out of a broken 21st-floor window at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip is a fugitive in a Colorado kidnapping case, authorities said Wednesday.A judge set bail at $750,000 for Matthew John Ermond Mannix, 35, of Golden, Colorado. But even if he posts bail, Mannix would remain jailed — at least until a Thursday morning hearing on the warrant from his home state.Prosecutor John Jones had asked Justice of the Peace Rebecca Saxe to set bail at $2 million. He cited “extreme violence” during the Tuesday standoff that lasted more than five hours, “excessive damage” to property, and danger posed to hotel guests who fled as items ranging from a coffee maker to a desk fell into the hotel swimming pool area.Jones told the judge that Mannix has criminal convictions for kidnapping in 2022 and property damage in 2012 in Colorado, and said multiple people have court orders of protection against him. The pros...

Man charged in unprovoked stabbing at TTC’s Sheppard West station

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

Toronto police arrested and charged a man in an unprovoked attack against another man at a TTC subway station in late May.Investigators said a 25-year-old man was approached by another man at the east entrance of Sheppard West subway station just after 6 a.m. on May 27.The victim felt he was being followed by the accused, and in an unprovoked assault, the victim was stabbed with an edged weapon.He suffered non-life-threatening injuries.Police said 27-year-old Worawut Choeipho of Toronto was arrested. He’s facing several charges, including possession of a weapon, assault with a weapon and two counts of breaching probation.The accused was expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

Tornado Watch issued for Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

CHICAGO — A Tornado Watch is in effect for the Chicago area as heavy rain and storms move through the region Wednesday.Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.A Tornado Watch has been issued for Cook, De Kalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, La Salle, McHenry and Will counties in Illinois until 10 p.m. In Northwest Indiana, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties are under a Tornado Watch until 10 p.m.A Tornado Watch is in effect for La Porte County, Indiana until 2 a.m. Thursday. A Flood Watch is in place until 7 p.m. for Cook County, DuPage County, Will County and some parts of Northwest Indiana. There is a slight risk of severe weather.Mostly cloudy conditions with heavy rain showers expected throughout the day. High temperature of 76 degrees and 73 degrees lakeside. Low of 66 degrees tonight. Severe weather leaves damage around Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana Thunderstorms will push eastward and waves of storms racing through Iowa will pro...

Severe weather leaves damage around Northern Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Tornado Watch for Cook, De Kalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, La Salle, McHenry and Will counties in Illinois until 10 p.m. In Northwest Indiana, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties are under a Tornado Watch until 10 p.m.A Tornado Watch is in effect for La Porte County, Indiana until 2 a.m. Thursday. Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.Severe weather rolled through Northern Illinois for a few hours Wednesday.According to the National Weather Service, Tornado Warnings were issued for most of Northern Illinois, including Cook County, and Northwest Indiana on Wednesday. Also, Tornado Watches and Flood Advisories were also issued Wednesday evening.Below are pictures submitted by viewers in Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana:Storm clouds pass over downtown Chicago and the Bronzeville neighborhood of the city heading East out over Lake Michigan as the National Weather Service continued to issue mul...

Tornado touches down near O'Hare Airport amid severe weather warnings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The National Weather Service says a tornado has touched down near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport following warnings of severe weather for the city.A confirmed tornado was on the ground around 7 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Chicago.Photo of severe weather at Terminal 2 of Chicago's O'Hare Airport. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Biess)Photo of severe weather at Terminal 2 of Chicago's O'Hare Airport. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Biess)Photo of severe weather at Terminal 2 of Chicago's O'Hare Airport. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Biess)“This tornado has been touching the ground intermittently so far and is moving east. There are additional circulations along the line south of O’Hare. Seek shelter if in the warned area," it said.The National Weather Service had issued two tornado warnings for portions of the city Wednesday evening. Tornado sirens sounded at least twice across Chicago, warning people to take cover.

High school baseball standout loses his hand after July 4 fireworks accident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:10 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) -- Jamie Groshong had plans to play his first college baseball season at Sacramento City College for the Panthers, but those dreams were dashed after a firework exploded in his hand. Groshong, 18, now has bandages wrapped around his right arm. He tells Nexstar's KTXL he's trying to stay positive. “I've been doing okay, mentally," he explained. "Looking forward it’s a little foggy.” The standout Bella Vista shortstop was lighting off fireworks with his friends on July 4 when one of them malfunctioned, exploding in his hand. The injury was so severe, Groshong had to have his hand amputated. Groshong spent his high school baseball career becoming a three-time all-conference, lefty-swinging baseball player for the Bella Vista Broncos.  Man, 75, killed by driver trying to get away from Secret Service in D.C.: police Even his mom says they were a baseball family from the start. But what happened on July 4 has changed what they thought would be possible. “M...