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Crowds gather near state funeral home as China’s former Premier Li Keqiang is being put to rest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Hundreds of people gathered near a state funeral home Thursday as former Premier Li Keqiang was being put to rest.According to precedent, retired high-level officials usually lie in state briefly as top leaders pass the body and offer wreaths of white flowers, the traditional color of mourning. State media had said Li would be cremated Thursday but didn’t mention funeral plans.Flags were lowered to half-staff at government and party offices around the country and at Chinese embassies and consulates abroad. Police moved people away from a subway station near the Babaoshan cemetery where state funerals are held and many top leaders are buried. Li died last Friday of a heart attack at age 68.Li was China’s No. 2 leader and helped guide China’s economy for a decade before being dropped from the Communist Party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee in October 2022. He left office in March 2023, despite being two years below the informal retirement age of ...

Biden calls for humanitarian ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Joe Biden said he thought there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas war, after his campaign speech Wednesday evening was interrupted by a protester calling for a cease-fire. “I think we need a pause,” Biden said. The call was a subtle departure for Biden and top White House aides, who throughout the Mideast crisis have been steadfast in stating they will not dictate how the Israelis carry out their military operations in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.But the president has faced intensifying pressure from human rights groups, fellow world leaders and even liberal members of his own Democratic Party, who say that the Israeli bombardment of Gaza is collective punishment and that it is time for a cease-fire.In his comments, Biden was exerting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give Palestinians at least a brief reprieve from the relentless military operation that’s left thousands dead and mired the 141-square-m...

Ex-Rep. Trent Franks, who offered aide $5million to have his child, is running for Congress again

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Former Arizona Congressman Trent Franks, who resigned in 2017 after two female staffers said he offered them money in exchange for carrying his child, announced Wednesday he is running for his old congressional seat, according to multiple media reports.“I truly believe the 2024 election is vital to the survival of a free, prosperous, and strong America in the world,” he said in a statement cited by the Arizona Republic. “Thus, I have chosen to run for Congress again with the very deepest prayer in my heart being.”U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko, who represents Arizona’s conservative-leaning 8th Congressional District, announced in October she will not seek reelection.Several other GOP contenders have entered the race, including Blake Masters, who lost a Senate race to Democratic incumbent Mark Kelly in last year’s midterm election.In December 2017, a former Franks aide told The Associated Press the congressman repeatedly pressed her to carry his child, at one point...

Bob Knight, legendary college basketball coach, dead at 83

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Former Indiana Hoosiers Men's Basketball head coach Bob Knight died at the age of 83 Wednesday, according to the Knight Legacy.A press release from the family organization said Knight passed away in his Bloomington home surrounded by family."It is with heavy hearts that we share that Coach Bob Knight passed away at his home in Bloomington surrounded by his family.  We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers, and appreciate the continued respect for our privacy as Coach requested a private family gathering, which is being honored.  We will continue to celebrate his life and remember him, today and forever as a beloved Husband, Father, Coach, and Friend."Knight LegacyKnight was a three time national champion as head coach at Indiana, where he collected 662 of his 902 career wins. Knight currently stands sixth all-time in coaching wins across the history of DI college basketball, behind former protégé Mike Krzyzewski (1,202), Jim Boeheim (1,015), Bob...

Search underway for missing 5-year-old from Portage Park

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing 5-year-old boy who was last seen Saturday, Oct. 28.Kennier Petit was last seen by his mother on the 5300 block of West Dakin Street in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood around 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28. Missing 15-year-old girl last seen 2 weeks ago on Chicago’s Near West Side, police say Petit is described as 3-feet tall, weighing 40 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a grey and black stripped hat, a grey fluffy sweater, and blue pants.According to the Chicago Police Department, Kennier may be with his father, Josual Petit, who has also been reported missing.Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of both Kennier and Josual Petit are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-746-6554.

Dog food sold nationwide recalled due to possible salmonella risk

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

(WKBN) -- A Texas-based pet food company is recalling some of its dog food products sold nationwide because of possible salmonella contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Mid America Pet Food is recalling three lots of its Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula. The affected products were manufactured in the company's Mount Pleasant facility and distributed to various retailers across the country. Fruit puree pouches recalled after elevated lead levels found in North Carolina children: FDA The voluntary recall comes after a third party conducted a random sampling and found that three lots of the product tested positive for salmonella, according to the FDA. The affected products are listed below: Product DescriptionLot NumberBag SizeBest By DateVictor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula10000168905 pound bag6/12/2024100001689115 pound bag6/12/2024100001689240 pound bag6/12/2024Courtesy: F...

Will Del Valle get an H-E-B? Some say they need one

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A lack of grocery stores in Del Valle has pushed some people in the community to reach out for help.On Monday Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes sent a letter to H-E-B, asking them to build a store in Del Valle."We want to see H-E-B, set up shop and break ground on their property," Fuentes said.Fuentes said she has been talking with the company for a while, but the need for a store is evident with all the growth and lack of options."There are a few grocery store options, like the dollar general, like JD's Market. The challenge with that is they are smaller scale," Fuentes said.Mark Reinstein recently sent a letter to H-E-B as well, asking them to build a store.Reinstein said he has to make sure to plan accordingly when taking the 20 to 25-minute drive to Bastrop or Austin to visit the grocery store."Because it is so far away we want to keep a stocked pantry," said Reinstein.Del Valle is considered a food desert with the limited grocery stores in the area. Rei...

Man accused of driving shooter to southeast Austin homicide faces murder charge

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested and charged with murder following a shooting that killed a person in southeast Austin in late September.According to an arrest affidavit, 22-year-old Moses Wangobe Mohinga was charged with murder in connection with the Sept. 26 death of 40-year-old Keith Bedford.As of Wednesday, jail records showed Mohinga remained booked in the Travis County jail on a $750,000 bond. PAST COVERAGE: No arrest made in southeast Austin homicide, police identify victim On the day of the incident, first responders arrived in the 2300 block of Greenfield Parkway and found Bedford on the ground with “multiple apparent gunshot wounds,” according to the affidavit. He was pronounced dead at the scene, court records said.At the scene, Austin police said officers found multiple spent bullet casings on the ground near Bedford.According to the affidavit, police believe Mohinga picked up the suspected gunman, drove them to the scene of the murder, completed the murder of Bedfor...

Practicing free speech responsibly

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — With the increase in protests around the capital district, especially on college campuses, we spoke with some students who say when it comes to freedom of speech, there’s a fine line between expressing yourself freely and expressing hate. And students like Hamza Noor say this has been the main conversation with peers this week. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “I think it’s important that we have this conversation. But it’s also important to protect the voices that are marginalized,” Noor said. “Because if we don’t, then there’s a chance for us to be kind of complacent with a lot of the injustices going on.”Kyamesha Edwards is a freshman, and she believes that “it’s good because you get your word out, and it gets more things going.” But it’s also important not to spread any hate or violent messages.Significantly, things have been heightened recently because of the situation unfolding in the Middle East. C...

Proposed bill would give parents a say in AMBER Alert activation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:28:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State lawmakers have introduced a bill meant to make it easier for law enforcement to issue AMBER Alerts. The bill would allow parents or legal guardians of a missing child to request an early activation of an AMBER Alert if they think their child was abducted. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Law enforcement must meet specific criteria before an alert, including having a reason to believe the child was abducted and is in danger. The guidance for issuing AMBER Alerts has received new attention after a young girl was kidnapped from Moreau Lake State Park in September.Police did not issue an alert until the next day. Police have defended their response and said they were following the state's guidance. The child was found safe, and a suspect is currently being held in jail.