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Ring by ring, majestic banyan tree in heart of fire-scorched Lahaina chronicles 150 years of history

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

For generations, the banyan tree along Lahaina town’s historic Front Street served as a gathering place, its leafy branches unfurling majestically to give shade from the Hawaiian sun. By most accounts, the sprawling tree was the heart of the oceanside community — towering more than 60 feet (18 meters) and anchored by multiple trunks that span nearly an acre.Like the town itself, its very survival is now in question, its limbs scorched by a devastating fire that has wiped away generations of history.For 150 years, the colossal tree shaded community events, including art fairs. It shaded townsfolk and tourists alike from the Hawaiian sun, befitting for a place once called “Lele,” the Hawaiian word for “relentless sun.”Ring by ring, the tree has captured history.The tree was just an 8-foot (2-meter) sapling when it was planted in 1873, a gift shipped from India to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lahaina. It was planted a quarter century before ...

Lawyer says Iran moves 5 Iranian-American prisoners to house arrest; Tehran does not immediately acknowledge the move

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lawyer says Iran moves 5 Iranian-American prisoners to house arrest; Tehran does not immediately acknowledge the move.Source

US cyclist Chloe Dygert returns from career-threatening injury to regain world title

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

The plan was for Chloe Dygert to win the world championship in the time trial, then carry that momentum toward the Summer Olympics, where the American road cycling star would be the favorite to win the gold medal.That was three years, a career-threatening crash and immeasurable heartache ago.Perhaps Dygert’s plan will come to fruition this time.Despite dealing with an illness that might have kept her off the start line a day earlier, Dygert roared over the 36.2-kilometer course to Stirling Castle in a time of 46 minutes, 59.80 seconds Thursday. That was enough to hold off Australia’s Grace Brown, the silver medalist a year ago, by just 5.67 seconds and give Dygert the rainbow jersey she first won in 2019 in England.“This is really special,” said Dygert, who was leading the 2020 time trial in Italy before crashing into a barrier, sliding down an embankment and so severely injuring her left leg that it took multiple procedures and several months to get back on the bike.“It...

Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs to 6.96% this week, matching highest level this year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose this week to just under 7%, the latest setback for would-be homebuyers already facing affordability challenges due to a housing market limited by a shortage of homes for sale.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan rose to 6.96% from 6.90% last week. A year ago, the rate averaged 5.22%.It’s the third consecutive weekly increase for the average rate, which now matches its high for the year set on July 13. High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already unaffordable to many Americans.“There is no doubt continued high rates will prolong affordability challenges longer than expected, particularly with home prices on the rise again,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “However, upward pressure on rates is the product of a resilient economy with low unemployment and s...

AppLovin, Wynn Resorts rise; Tapestry, Plug Power fall, Thursday, 8/10/2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that are trading heavily or have substantial price changes on Thursday:Illumina Inc. (ILMN),up $1.05 to $185.54.The genetic testing tools company reported strong second-quarter earnings.AppLovin Corp. (APP), up $7.59 to $37.The mobile technology company gave investors a strong revenue forecast.Alarm.com Holdings Inc. (ALRM), up $8.67 to $57.89.The security service company raised its profit forecast for the year.Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN), up $3.87 to $105.42.The casino operator beat analysts’ second-quarter earnings and revenue forecasts.Tapestry Inc. (TPR), down $5.54 to $35.71.The owner of luxury handbag maker Coach is buying Capri Holdings, the owner of Versace and Jimmy Choo.Plug Power Inc. (PLUG), down $1.51 to $9.24.The alternative energy company reported a bigger loss than Wall Street expected.Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI), down 1 cent to $5.32.The underwear, T-shirt and sock maker cut its profit and revenue forecasts for the year.Yeti Holdings Inc. (YETI)...

Trial begins for man charged in killing of girl, 10, whose disappearance prompted monthslong search

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The trial of an Iowa man charged in the killing of a 10-year-old Davenport girl who was missing for nine months before her remains were found in a pond is set to begin Thursday. Henry Dinkins, 51, opted to be tried before an Iowa judge instead of a jury in the 2020 murder of Breasia Terrell, the Quad-City Times reported. Dinkins pleaded not guilty in 2021 to first-degree murder and kidnapping. Prosecutors say Dinkins took the girl from a Davenport apartment complex in July 2020, fatally shot her and hid her body in rural eastern Iowa. Breasia was the half sister of Dinkins’ son, and investigators have said both children were staying the night with him at the apartment where he was living with a girlfriend.The girl’s disappearance prompted a monthslong search that ended in March 2021 when two people fishing near DeWitt discovered her remains.Dinkins, a registered sex offender with a history of violent and reckless behavior, had been granted an early release fro...

New school bus routes a ‘disaster,’ Kentucky superintendent admits. Last kids got home at 10 pm

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s largest school system cancelled the second and third day of classes after a disastrous overhaul of the transportation system that left some children on buses until just before 10 p.m. on opening day.Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio called it a “transportation disaster” in a video posted on social media Thursday morning. Pollio apologized to the district’s 96,000 students along with their families, the bus drivers, and the school officials who had to stay with students for hours as they waited on buses to arrive Wednesday.He called the decision to close schools on Thursday and Friday the most difficult of his career but said it was necessary. District officials will spend the four days before Monday reviewing the routes and having drivers practice them, he said. The district that encompasses Louisville has 65,000 bus riders, according to its website. The disaster came after major changes to school bus routes and...

Colts will start rookie QB Anthony Richardson in preseason opener at Buffalo

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

WESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts will start rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson in Saturday’s preseason opener at Buffalo, coach Shane Steichen announced Thursday.Richardson, the fourth overall pick in April’s draft, has been working primarily with the starters over the past week and has shown glimpses of the raw talent that intrigued the team.Because Richardson only started one college season at Florida, it was unclear how quickly the Colts would push the 21-year-old into action.Richardson has been battling veteran Gardner Minshew for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart, but Steichen already knows what Minshew can do since both worked together in Philadelphia each of the past two seasons. Steichen said he wants to see what Richardson can do with the Colts’ starters on game day.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSource

Trump campaign, in shot at DeSantis effort, warns state GOPs against super PAC activities

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s campaign is seeking to blunt the efforts of a super PAC supporting rival Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign by sending a letter to all state Republican parties on Thursday arguing that they cannot work with a super PAC as if it is representing a candidate.David Warrington, an attorney for Trump’s 2024 campaign, contends in the letter that a super PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, should not be allowed to undertake traditional campaign activities that directly benefit a candidate or “act as de facto campaign arms.”While the letter does not specifically cite the well-funded Never Back Down organization, it’s aimed at the super PAC, which has been taking on an expansive role supplementing DeSantis’ campaign, such as helping voters fill out cards pledging to support him in Iowa’s caucuses and hosting the governor as a “special guest” on multi-city bus tours.The letter is the latest example of the efforts by Trump...

Texas sheriff says 3 hog hunters from Florida died in an underground tank after their dog fell in

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:47 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas sheriff said Thursday that three hog hunters from Florida died in an underground tank filled with sewer gas after one of them apparently tried rescuing their dog after it fell into the hole, followed by the other two jumping in to save them.The bodies of two men and a woman, as well as the dog, were pulled from the tank in a cornfield on the rural outskirts of Austin. Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook said the hole was a cistern with an opening roughly four feet (1.2 meters) wide and containing eight feet (2.4 meters) of water, as well as hydrogen sulfide gas.He said the chain of events started early Wednesday in the middle of the night with one of the men apparently getting into the cistern to rescue the dog, which he described as a bloodhound. Clothing and boots belonging to the other two hunters were found near the hole, suggesting they removed them before also jumping in, Cook said.He said authorities believe the hunters were overcome by hydrogen s...