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China announces ‘combat readiness patrols’ around Taiwan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese military announced exercises around Taiwan on Saturday in a new act of retaliation for a meeting between the U.S. House of Representatives speaker and the president of the self-ruled island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory.The People’s Liberation Army said the three-day “combat readiness patrols” were a warning to Taiwanese who want to make the island’s de facto independence permanent. It gave no indication whether they might include a repeat of previous exercises that included firing missiles into the sea, which disrupted shipping and airline flights.Speaker Kevin McCarthy held talks with President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday in California, adding to a series of foreign lawmakers who have met Tsai to show support in the face of Chinese intimidation. Beijing responded Friday by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against American groups and individuals associated with Tsai’s U.S. visit.Taiwan split with China after a civil war i...

No threat found after University of Oklahoma shots reported

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — A report of shots fired sent dozens of police cars to the University of Oklahoma Friday night and the campus was locked down for nearly two hours before authorities said no threat was found.At about 9:30 p.m., people were told to shelter in place and avoid the South Oval area of the sprawling campus in Norman. The university tweeted: “There is an active shooter at the Van Vleet Oval. Take immediate action now. Run. Hide. Fight!”However, the university later said only that police were investigating “possible shots fired.”Dozens of patrol cars from various agencies, including the Highway Patrol, converged on the campus along with ambulances and an armored vehicle.Officers with flashlights spread out as they searched the area.Shortly before 11 p.m., university police issued an all clear, tweeting: “After a thorough search, no threat was found. There is no threat to campus. Alert has been canceled.”No injuries were reported. Additional information was not immediatel...

Police: 6 people wounded in shooting on South Carolina beach

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (AP) — Gunfire erupted on a South Carolina beach during a “senior skip day” event involving numerous teenagers Friday, wounding six people, police in South Carolina said. The shooting took place around 5:20 p.m. on Isle of Palms, 94 miles (151 kilometers) south of Myrtle Beach.Hundreds of people including high schoolers taking an unofficial day off were on the beach at the time, and there were several altercations before shots were fired, Isle of Palms Police Chief Kevin Cornett said during a news conference. Six people suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. Some were taken to the hospital by ambulance, and others transported themselves. Five of the victims were teens, and another was in her mid-30s, Cornett said.Several people were detained on weapons charges, but police could not immediately say if the shooter was in custody or if any of the firearms recovered at the scene were used in the shooting, Cornett said.An investigation was ongoing.The Assoc...

Mexican artisans create ‘Judas’ figures for others to burn

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — After two months of hard work assembling and painting devil-like cardboard figures popularly known as “Judas,” Mexican artisan Marcela Villarreal is eager to watch her creations burn. Villarreal and dozens of fellow crafters created the figures ahead of the annual “Burning of Judas,” a celebration that takes place in Mexico every Holy Saturday, when people across the country gather in public plazas to light fireworks that will destroy these colorful figures made as symbolic embodiments of evil. This festivity — filled with satirical humor — is not associated with the Holy Week celebrations led by the Catholic Church in this mostly Catholic country. The practice is common in several Latin American nations and in some parts of Greece. Originally, the burning figures were effigies of Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, according to the Biblical account of the days leading up to Christ’s crucifixion. Nowadays, though, Mexican artisans shape their Jud...

Pedestrian in critical condition after being struck by vehicle

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Police are looking for a suspect involved in a hit-and-run Friday night.Around 8 p.m., a vehicle struck a pedestrian at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and Kienlen Avenue, according to Major Ron Martin with the North County Police Cooperative (NCPC).The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and is in critical condition.Martin claimed the vehicle is a black Ford Fiesta with a right rear spare tire. The vehicle has an expired 2021 temporary tag of 057QMG.Black Ford Fiesta with 2021 temporary tag that's involved in hit-and-run. Courtesy of North County Police Cooperative.Anyone with information or who notices the vehicle should contact NCPC at 314-428-6868.

Inmate death at Santa Clara County jail under investigation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

MILPITAS — Investigators are looking into the death of an inmate at a county jail housing unit this week, authorities said.According to a statement Friday evening by a Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, San Jose police booked a 65-year-old man into the county’s Main Jail on Tuesday after San Jose police arrested him on suspicion of multiple charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child.Shortly before 2:05 p.m. Thursday, deputies carrying out welfare checks at the county’s Elmwood jail found the man unresponsive inside a cell where he had been held alone.Deputies and other first responders began providing emergency life-saving measures before paramedics and Milpitas Fire Department firefighters arrived at 2:15 p.m. and took the man to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:52 p.m., the spokesman said. His identity was not disclosed, pending notification of next-of-kin.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Sunnyvale couple arres...

Warriors still pushing for playoff spot after 119-97 win in Sacramento

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Warriors remain in the hunt for a playoff spot after beating the Sacramento Kings 119-97 on Friday night. Klay Thompson scored 29 points and Stephen Curry added 25 and the Warriors picked up only their 10th road win of the season. Coach Steve Kerr said pre-game there was “no excuse” for the Warriors to let their guard down against the Kings, who were without several key players after securing a playoff spot more than a week ago. De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter were all sitting out, per coach Mike Brown’s decision. But the Warriors still struggled through sloppy play for most of the game. The Warriors pulled ahead 32-16 after the opening quarter, but careless turnovers by Golden State and hot-shooting by the home team opened the door for the Kings to climb back into the game. Golden State managed to lead by five heading into the break, though it could’ve been much worse if the Kings did a better job c...

Palo Alto man reported missing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

(KRON) -- The Palo Alto Police Department is searching for a missing man. Albert Wang, 81, was last seen at about 4:10 p.m. Friday on the 600 block of Sand Hill Road.Wang went missing when he walked away from his home. He was wearing a black jacket, black shoes and blue jeans. Anyone who sees Wang is asked to call PAPD at (650) 329-2413.

Juvenile injured after Sonoma County ATV rollover

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

(KRON) -- A juvenile was seriously injured after a rollover ATV crash in Sonoma County on Friday, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said. The crash happened in Cazadero, an unincorporated part of the county, at about 4 p.m.The sheriff's office said the girl was injured after her ATV rolled down an embankment. A sheriff helicopter assisted the Cazadero and Monte Rio fire departments with the rescue.Due to the severity of her injuries and the rural location of the incident, a helicopter transported the victim to a local hospital.

Pajaro flood victims can drink tap water

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:07:34 GMT

(KRON) -- For the first time since Pajaro was flooded and thousands were evacuated from their homes, residents can safely drink tap water again, health officials said. The Pajaro Water System and Monterey County Health Department lifted the "do not drink water notice" on Friday. State, county, and local water agencies determined that, after abatement of health hazards created by massive flooding and comprehensive water testing, tap water quality is back to normal.Floodwaters surround homes and vehicles in the community of Pajaro in Monterey County, Calif., on March 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)For weeks, flood victims could only drink bottled water. Other necessities, such as taking a shower, cooking with water, and washing laundry, were stressful for residents as they wondered if the water was safe of not. The agricultural community was swamped by a storm-triggered levee breach along the Pajaro River on March 11. Dozens of victims, including young children, were rescued by emerg...