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Smoke cooled air and helped slow weekend wildfire spread in Alberta, officials say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

EDMONTON — Wildfire activity in Alberta wasn’t as bad over the holiday weekend as officials had feared when they saw the initial hot and dry weather forecasts because of smoke cover and limited rain in some areas.But it’s not all good news because while smoke cools the air, it limits the ability to fly firefighting aircraft and it harms the health of everyone having to breathe it.“It’s a mixed bag, certainly, with smoke,” Christie Tucker of Alberta Wildfire said during a news conference Sunday.“I couldn’t say one outweighs the other. We will take advantage of any opportunity we have, and if it’s providing an opportunity for more on-the-ground firefighting, then that’s what we’re able to do.”Officials reported Sunday that a wildfire that’s a part of the Eagle Lake complex of fires near Fox Creek, Alta., saw some precipitation overnight Saturday, allowing firefighters on the ground and heavy equipment operators th...

Austin FC 'growing and discovering' who they are after 1-0 win over Toronto FC

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — While captain and star midfielder Sebastian Driussi is out with an injury, Austin FC is playing well and is back above the playoff line after a 1-0 win Saturday over Toronto FC at Q2 Stadium. Gyasi Zardes scored his second goal of the season in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to steal victory from the jaws of a scoreless draw. It's the second consecutive win for Verde and Black after ending a winless streak of eight matches with a 2-1 victory over Seattle. Austin FC is now 2-1-2 in its past five matches across both MLS and U.S. Open Cup play in May alone, and they still have three more matches this month. Austin has MLS’ 5th-highest payroll; who makes the most? Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff said the team is trying to find its identity, and Saturday night's win went a long way in that quest."This has been coming," Wolff said. "They are growing and discovering who this 2023 version is. It's next-man-up, real character and grittiness ... knowing it's g...

Debt ceiling: Biden, McCarthy to meet Monday as negotiators ‘keep working’ to resolve standoff

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

By STEPHEN GROVES, ZEKE MILLER and JOSH BOAK (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House and House Republicans wrapped up another round of debt ceiling talks Sunday as Washington races to strike a budget compromise along with a deal to raise the nation’s borrowing limit and avert an economy-wrecking federal default. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy spoke by phone Sunday while the president was returning home on Air Force One after the Group of Seven summit in Japan. Upbeat, McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters at the Capitol that the call was “productive” and that the on-again, off-again negotiations between his staff and White House representatives are focused on spending cuts.Biden and McCarthy are set to meet for a pivotal meeting Monday at the White House.Negotiators for the Democratic president and Republican speaker met for 2 1/2 hours as talks appear to be narrowing on a 2024 budget year cap that would be key to resolving the ...

Consistent playing time, new outlook helps Kyle Farmer settle in as Twins’ third baseman

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Maybe it’s the consistent playing time helping him get into a rhythm at the plate. Maybe it’s all the time he had to reflect while he was on the injured list that helped give him new perspective.Whatever it is, third baseman Kyle Farmer has given the Twins everything they could have hoped for since he stepped into the role full-time. Farmer, who suffered a gruesome injury after being hit by a pitch on the face last month, came back on May 10, took over at third base for a slumping Jose Miranda, who was demoted to Triple-A. He’s hitting .381, .983 with OPS since that day, collecting 15 hits, including a pair of home runs, in his first 11 games back.“Kyle Farmer is a heck of a baseball player. I like it when the ball is hit at him, and I like it when he’s coming to the plate with a bat in his hands,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I like relying on him. He handles what comes with this job very, very well.”Farmer was hitting .226, bouncing around the infield befo...

Man fatally struck by light rail train in downtown Minneapolis after falling onto tracks during fight

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

A man was struck and killed by a light rail trail in downtown Minneapolis early Saturday after he fell off the platform during a fight with another man, police said.At about 1 a.m. Saturday, authorities received reports of a man who was trapped and injured at the Hennepin Avenue/Warehouse District train station near Fifth Street and First Avenue in downtown.Investigators said the man fell onto the tracks and into the path of an oncoming train during a physical altercation. He was struck by the train and pronounced dead at the scene.Forensic scientists from the police department processed the scene and collected evidence. Homicide detectives are investigating.The man’s identity and cause and nature of death will be released by the Hennepin County medical examiner’s office.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Shooting death on East Side early Saturday marks St. Paul’s 15th homicide of year Crime & Public Safety | Truck driver sen...

Pathfinder Church donates $40K to 3 local nonprofits

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

ELLISVILLE, Mo. – The historic Pathfinder Church is giving back directly to those in need here at home, divvying up $40,000 to be distributed among three local organizations.Each church member had a say in where their charitable donation should go. Three local organizations—Hilltop, the St. Louis Area Foodbank, and the Adult and Teen Challenge St. Louis—were named recipients of the Light of St. Louis Award.“There are a lot of great nonprofits here in St. Louis, but these are three that we have good relationships with, who we have seen their work and how it’s been a true part of our community, so we want to come alongside them, help with their mission as well,” said Annmarie Wallis, board member at Pathfinder.Regardless of the number of votes cast by church members, each of the three nonprofits will receive a minimum of $5,000 to help the most vulnerable.“Our region’s got some struggles, but there’s also so much good that’s happening through these organizations,” Pastor Dion Garrett,...

Annie Malone Parade rolls through Downtown St. Louis

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Spectacular weather Sunday for one of the oldest and largest parades in the city, as the annual Annie Malone May Day Parade filled the streets of downtown St Louis.A big crowd enjoyed the signs and sounds of Sunday's parade, an important tradition in the African American community.Bands from schools across St Louis marched in the parade, as families lined the parade route, beginning at Market and Compton. The second-largest African American parade in the nation is the biggest fundraiser for Annie Malone Children and Family Services.A tradition for FOX 2 is to have a large group of employees participate by riding in cars provided by the Gateway City Corvette Association.Annie Malone Children and Family Services helps nearly 500 children and parents each year through crisis management, therapeutic education, community-based programming and youth substance abuse prevention and treatment.

Kiszla: Michael Malone with Nuggets five wins away from first NBA championship: “I want to write history.”

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

LOS ANGELES — It’s the trophy a basketball nerd who grew up to be a billionaire wants the most. And it’s the job of Nuggets coach Michael Malone to turn the impossible dream of Stan Kroenke into reality, before the boss decides there’s a smarter way to spend his money.If that’s not pressure on a coach blessed with a generational talent named Nikola Jokic, what is?“I joke with Stan and Josh Kroenke. I see the Rams win the Super Bowl, the Avs win the Stanley Cup and the teams they own win championships. And I tell them: ‘Here with the Nuggets, we have to do our part,’ ” Malone told me late Saturday night, after 37 points by guard Jamal Murray led Denver to a 119-108 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers, pushing the Nuggets to within one victory of their first NBA Finals berth in franchise history.“I know one thing: Stan loves all of his teams. But he’s a basketball fan at heart. And I know Josh is a basketball fan at heart. So I know how much this means to them.”Prior to Game ...

Thieves steal $60,000 worth of equipment from work truck in Paramount

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

Surveillance video captured the moment thieves pulled up to a home in Paramount and stole a work truck with tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment from a family run plumbing business inside the vehicle. The heist happened in broad daylight. Within just a matter of minutes, the truck’s owner, Israel Galarza, estimates the thieves made off with nearly $60,000 of his tools, making it difficult for him to even do his job.  “We’ve worked so hard for every little tool and part in this truck,” he told KTLA.  The owner of Galarza Plumbing said he’d been completing a job on Marcelle Street when the incident happened. On Friday, his truck was found, but not only were his tools gone, the vehicle’s catalytic converter had been taken and the hood stripped from the car as well.  “For a two minute, one minute thing to completely...somebody to take your livelihood away. Just looking at what the results are, it just sucks. It really sucks,” Galarza said.  Along with the ...

Couple killed in Exposition Park hit-and-run crash; witnesses help apprehend driver

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:10:58 GMT

Two people died when a driver slammed into their car as they were leaving a drive-thru in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park neighborhood early Sunday morning. The driver ran from the scene but was arrested a short time later.The collision happened around 12:30 a.m. at 3998 S. Normandie Ave. near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and a half-mile from the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.The victims had just picked up food from the drive-thru of a Burger Factory when the driver of a white Jeep hit their white BMW traveling between 80 or 90 miles per hour, according to Los Angeles Police. The male suspect tried to run away from the crash scene, but witnesses helped ensure he didn’t get away.The collision happened around 12:30 a.m. at 3998 S. Normandie Ave. near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. May 21, 2023. (KTLA)“There were witnesses that gave chase, followed him, and tried to stay within eyesight of the suspect. Ultimately, this led to him being taken in...