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Dominican Republic’s president stands resolute on his closing of all borders with Haiti

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The president of the Dominican Republic on Sunday defended his decision to close air, sea and land traffic with neighboring Haiti in their dispute over construction of a canal targeting a river that runs through both countries.President Luis Abinader said in a televised speech that the border closures begun Friday will remain in place until construction is halted on the canal, which seeks to use water from the Massacre River to alleviate a drought in Haiti’s Maribaroux plain.“We do not desire or seek confrontation, but we are confronting the uncontrollable people who keep Haiti insecure, and who, due to their private interests, now also conspire against the stability of their government and the security of our water resources,” Abinader said during his brief speech, referring to gang violence that has engulfed Haiti.Accusing Haiti of violating a 1929 treaty between both countries, he said that the Massacre River is a key resource fo...

Inaugural Kennedy Kids Foundation 5K, held in honor of teen Kennedy Bailey, raises mental health awareness

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

Runners laced up their sneakers and headed to Miami Shores to race in the name of mental health, as they paid tribute to a teenage girl who tragically lost her life. Participants from all walks gathered at Constitution Park on Sunday morning to celebrate Kennedy Bailey, who took her own life last year.“It means so much to so many people that I think – in our generation, we didn’t talk about mental health ,” said one participant. “Mental health wasn’t even a term that was ever used.”The event was spearheaded by Bailey’s best friend, Sienna Alvarez-Coia, in a heartwarming display of love and support.Organizers said the inaugural Kennedy Kids Foundation 5K race was a major success.“I think it really shows how strong our community is, and how much camaraderie you have to all come together, and I’m so glad,” said Alvarez-Coia. “It’s such an important cause, and just to educate people and let them know how amazi...

Chicago Cubs lineup shuffle: Why Ian Happ is hitting leadoff, and center field options

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

Ian Happ is not unfamiliar with hitting in the Chicago Cubs’ leadoff spot.In his seven big-league seasons, Happ has made 81 starts atop the Cubs’ lineup, his third-most common batting order position. He’s batted first in the last two games, his first time in the No. 1 spot since 2021.Manager David Ross likes the consistency in Happ’s at-bats and his ability to work counts. Happ is tied for 11th in the majors averaging 4.19 pitches per plate appearance.It gives the Cubs a different look as the offense tries to get out of its funk.“Right now you’re doing anything you can to help the team win,” Happ said. “Guys that hit leadoff consistently and do it every day, I think it’s one of the most impressive things in the game. You look at what Dexter (Fowler) did for years, like, it’s so impressive to be able to go out there every single day, take five or six at-bats and have a .380 on-base percentage. It’s unbelievable.”...

Band director arrested after refusing to end performance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An Alabama high school band director was shocked with a stun gun and arrested after Birmingham police said he wouldn’t tell his band to stop playing.Local news outlets report that Minor High School’s band director was arrested Thursday night after a football game between Minor and Jackson-Olin High School. He’s charged with disorderly conduct, harassment and resisting arrest.Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald, a department spokesperson, said police were trying to clear the stadium at Jackson-Olin after the game and asked both bands to stop playing so people wouldn’t linger.Police say the Jackson-Olin band stopped performing, but that the director disregarded officers and told his students to keep playing.Police officers accompanied by school security guards went to arrest him for disorderly conduct but he got into a scuffle with them, Fitzgerald said. He said the band director refused to place his hands behind his back and shoved a...

LA sheriff’s deputy dies after being shot in his patrol car

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

PALMDALE, Calif. — A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy died after he was shot in his patrol car Saturday evening by an unknown assailant, and an investigation is underway that the sheriff said will press all of the department’s resources into action.Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, died after being taken to a hospital, Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference.The preliminary investigation showed Clinkunbroomer was driving while on duty and fired upon around 6 p.m., Luna said.Clinkunbroomer was unconscious in the vehicle when he was found near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q in Palmdale by a person Luna identified as a “good Samaritan” who alerted personnel at the Palmdale station of the sheriff’s department.The deputy was taken to Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, where he was treated for a gunshot wound.“Despite the medical staff’s best efforts to save our deputy’s life, regrettably he s...

Zelenskyy to address UN, meet US senators

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

Top U.S. Senate leaders will host an all-members meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, according to a Senate leadership aide, as House Republicans are preparing to block a Biden administration request for $24 billion in emergency Ukraine war funds.Zelenskyy is expected to meet President Joe Biden at the White House the same day, traveling to Washington after attending the United Nations General Assembly. He’s expected to seek renewed commitments by U.S. leaders to help Ukraine’s fight to regain occupied land from Russia.Zelenskyy will address the UN General Assembly Tuesday and will attend a Security Council meeting Wednesday on Ukraine focusing on the principles of the U.N. Charter, which require every country to respect others’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. The meeting could create the unique spectacle of placing Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the same room.Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader in the Sena...

Devers makes Red Sox history with home run but can’t prevent Blue Jays sweep

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

How many times have the Red Sox lost to themselves more than their actual opponent?Add Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays to a list that feels endless.For the vast majority of this Red Sox season, pitching has been the problem. If only the starters were healthier, more effective at keeping runners off the bases and the ball in the yard, pitching deeper into games. How much better would this team be if their pitchers – who entered Sunday averaging an American League fifth-worst 4.85 runs allowed per game – were better partners to their lineup, whose 4.93 runs scored per game ranked fifth-best in their league?In terms of plating runs, the Red Sox offense ranks just below four postseason teams: the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, and Baltimore Orioles. The Blue Jays entered Sunday’s series finale just below AL-average (4.59) with 4.54 runs per game, and the most runners left on base of any team in their league (1,077).The company Boston’s pitching staff keeps pai...

Pilot walks away from WWI-era plane crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

A pilot walked away after a WWI-era historic plane crash-landed at the American Heritage Museum during an airshow event Sunday morning, Stow officials reported.Just after 11 a.m., the Stow Police and Fire departments received reports of a plane crash near Barton Road and the American Heritage Museum, according to a release.At the scene, first responders found a WWI-era Nieuport 28 at the end of the runway flipped upside down, officials said.The plane only had one occupant, the pilot, who removed himself before the officials arrived and did not report any injuries.The preliminary investigation determined the single engine plane’s front landing gear had failed during the attempted landing, officials reported, causing the plane to flip over on its roof.The American Heritage Museum, located in Hudson near Stow, features a range of military artifacts and demonstrations. The museum was in the midst of the World War I & Aviation weekend, which includes air show events, during the...

California campsite reservation bill heads to governor's desk

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) -- A bill that would make it easier for campers to reserve a campsite in California state parks is headed to the governor's desk to be signed into law after it passed through the legislature with unanimous support.AB 618, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), proposed amendments to state policies regarding campsite reservation that aim to free up more spaces by deterring late cancellations and no-shows with added penalties.The bill also directs the California State Parks department to implement a lottery system for a handful of the most coveted campsites, as well as provide a discount to park visitors under a certain income threshold through the "Golden Bear" pass. VIDEO: Dolphins swim through bioluminescent waters in Orange County "California's public parks and beaches are treasures that should be enjoyed by all Californians and demand for them has increased greatly," Bauer-Kahan said in a statement to FOX5SanDiego.com. "As a camper myself,...

$250K reward offered as detectives search for assailant who shot Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:38:56 GMT

PALMDALE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities asked for the public’s help and offered a $250,000 reward as investigators searched Sunday for the assailant who shot and killed a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy as he sat in his patrol car at an intersection. Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, 30, died at a hospital after being found unconscious in the vehicle while on duty around 6 p.m. Saturday in the city of Palmdale, Sheriff Robert Luna said. Luna said he believed the shooting was a “targeted attack.” But the motive, and whether Clinkunbroomer or the department in general was the target, was not yet known.“Without warning, he was murdered while serving our community,” an emotional Luna said at a Sunday news conference during which he urged any potential witnesses to contact detectives. “Please, I beg you. Somebody has information. Make things right.”The department released grainy surveillance video of a dark-colored sedan that pulled alongside the patrol car in the moments before th...