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GOP hopefuls face mounting pressure to derail Trump in Iowa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

By Thomas Beaumont and Steve Peoples | Associated PressDES MOINES, Iowa — As the six-month sprint to the Iowa caucuses begins, the sprawling field of Republican presidential candidates is facing growing pressure to prove they can become serious challengers to former President Donald Trump.The urgency is particularly acute for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who entered the race in May with expectations that he would quickly become Trump’s top rival. For now, however, he has struggled to generate the enthusiasm that Trump commands from the GOP base, leaving it uncertain he will become the threat to the former president that he was once billed to be.“That’s what DeSantis wanted to be. It’s possible he may be that still,” said Gentry Collins, a seasoned Iowa and national Republican strategist who ran Mitt Romney’s 2008 caucus campaign. “But it sure doesn’t look like that to me — it’s become clear that there isn’t room for another a...

California AG expands state-sponsored travel ban to other states with discriminatory LGBTQ+ laws as legislators work to undo it

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Friday that California has expanded its list of states to which it will not sponsor travel over LGBTQ+ laws it deems discriminatory, even as his own state’s lawmakers work to undo the travel ban altogether.By law, California will restrict state-funded travel to Missouri, Nebraska, and Wyoming as a result of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation recently enacted in each of those states, Bonta said, adding them to the list of 23 other states to which state-funded or sponsored travel is banned. That puts more than half the country off limits for state travel.“These new laws enacted by Missouri, Nebraska, and Wyoming aren’t just discriminatory, they constitute a clear case of government overreach — and it’s an alarming trend we’re witnessing across the country,” Bonta said in a statement. “By preventing transgender individuals from participating in sports aligned with their gender identity, or by denying them access ...

Otter in Santa Cruz stymies pursuit as experts face wily, wary agile ocean master

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

A rogue sea otter menacing surfers in Santa Cruz is proving elusive as marine-wildlife experts seek to apprehend it before it bites more than someone’s surfboard.“Standard methods for capturing healthy wild sea otters have been unusable or ineffective so far,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday.Five-year-old Otter 841 has repeatedly approached surfers and kayakers in and around world-renowned surf spot Steamer Lane, the wildlife service said. The animal has been filmed stealing and riding on surfboards.“Sea otters are naturally wary of people, but this individual has been aggressively approaching people,” the wildlife service said.While notoriously fuzzy and cute, an aggressive sea otter poses a significant danger to humans.“I would never want to be bitten by any wild animal — but an otter would be close to the top of the list,” said Kevin Connor, spokesperson for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, whose marine mammal experts are w...

Man shot in West Oakland on Thursday night

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

OAKLAND — A 29-year-old man was shot multiple times Thursday night in West Oakland.He was in stable condition at a hospital recovering from at least two gunshot wounds, authorities said Friday.The shooting was reported about 11:20 p.m. outside at an apartment complex at 10th and Willow streets, police said..Authorities said the man did not live there.A motive for the shooting was under investigation. No suspect information was released.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Two more FCI Dublin correctional officers charged in burgeoning sexual abuse scandal Crime and Public Safety | Photos: Oakland police host CommUNITY Tour at DeFremery Park Crime and Public Safety | Oakland man jailed for seven months released after DA’s office concedes it can’t prove woman was killed Crime and Public Safety | Murder charge filed after police trace burning body in Oakland hills to Richmond shooting Crime and Publi...

Woman injured after freeway shooting in San Francisco

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- One person is injured after a shooting on I-280 Friday afternoon, California Highway Patrol confirmed to KRON4. The shooting happened around 1 p.m. in the southbound area of Highway 101 near the I-280 split and Alemany Boulevard exit.When officers arrived at the scene, they located a female victim who suffered an injury to her leg, authorities said. She was taken to SF General Hospital for a non-life-threatening injury. CHP did not release any suspect vehicle description at this time, and no arrest(s) have been made. A portion of the southbound lanes of Highway 101 was closed for about 20 minutes but has now since reopened.KRON On is streaming news live now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }This story will be updated.

Authorities say escaped homicide suspect may be getting desperate living in wilderness

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

YOUNGSVILLE, Pa (AP) — A homicide suspect who used bed sheets to escape from jail last week continues to evade capture, but authorities said Friday they believe he may be growing “desperate” as he tries to live with little support while apparently camping in the rough terrain of northwestern Pennsylvania woodlands.Lt. Col. George Bivens, the deputy commissioner of Operations for the Pennsylvania State Police, reiterated during a news conference that authorities believe Michael Burham, 34, remains in the area. Bivens showed a brief video, apparently taken by a home security camera, that showed a man walking on a residential street. Bivens said authorities believe the man was Burham but declined to provide specific details about the video, or say when or where it was taken,Authorities have said they believe someone is or may have been helping Burham evade capture, citing the discovery of “small stockpiles or campsites” in wooded areas in the general vicinity and that it was believed a...

‘Brazen act’: 5 people shot near Bladensburg Peace Cross while leaving funeral

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

Five people were shot near the Peace Cross Memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland, Friday afternoon while leaving a nearby funeral, according to the Bladensburg Police Department.Chief Tyrone Collington Sr. said all of the victims are alive. Sources tell WTOP news partner 7News three of the victims are in critical condition. The shooting happened just before 12:30 p.m., in the 4300 block of Bladensburg Road, near the intersection with Annapolis Road.Collington said the five people who were shot were leaving a funeral at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, when at least one person in another vehicle started shooting at their vehicle.“This is uncommon in this community,” Collington said. “This was an unnecessary, senseless act of violence.”No arrests have been made, and police do not know how many shooters may have been involved. During an afternoon news conference, Collington made a plea to anyone who was in the area when the shooting happened.“Anyone that was out here, t...

Harrison Frazar leads major Kaulig Companies Championship by 1 shot at midway point

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Harrison Frazar found Firestone a bit more difficult than he did in his opening round but still managed a solid result, shooting a 2-under 68 on Friday for a one-shot lead over Stewart Cink at the midway point of the Kaulig Companies Championship.The 51-year-old Frazar was at 7-under 133 in the fourth of five majors on the PGA Tour Champions. He had one PGA Tour victory in 409 career starts, the 2011 FedEx St. Jude Classic, and has yet to win on the over-50 tour.“As far as remembering how to win, no, it’s been a long time,” Frazar said. “Golf is a rhythm, golf is a balance. Just try to do everything the same and just try to do the best I can and see where they add up.”Frazar made three birdies in his first six holes and held on from there, making two bogeys and one more birdie on the par-4 13th.“A couple of short shots that landed pin-high and kind of bounced long, chipped in one of those. I just kind of hung in, just tried to keep fighting and tried to get the ba...

Capturan a dos sospechosos del asesinato de un empresario que era pieza clave de investigaciones en Ecuador

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

(CNN Español) — La Policía de Ecuador y la Fiscalía General del Estado informaron este viernes que en un operativo en Guayaquil las autoridades capturaron a dos personas, a quienes consideran autores materiales del asesinato de cuatro personas el 30 de marzo, incluyendo al empresario Rubén Cherres, que era buscado como pieza clave en investigaciones por narcotráfico y tráfico de cargos públicos en Ecuador.La Policía Nacional consignó que la captura de los dos sospechosos tuvo lugar luego de una investigación que duró tres meses.El comunicado policial señala que los detenidos son de nacionalidad ecuatoriana. Uno de ellos, identificado como José Z. de 39 años, tiene antecedentes por robo y tenencia y porte de armas; y el segundo detenido, identificado como Alex M. de 53 años, con antecedentes por extorsión, tenencia de armas y tráfico de tierras.CNN intenta conocer si los detenidos ya tienen una defensa o si la Defensoría Pública ejercerá su tutela.Durante una rueda de prensa es...

Scott Dixon ready to defend title at Honda Indy Toronto, his ‘home’ race where he has won 4 times

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:16:34 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — This just feels like home to Scott Dixon.The New Zealand native often jokes that as the only IndyCar race in a Commonwealth country, the Honda Indy Toronto is essentially his backyard.He has also won four times on the street course around Exhibition Place, including a dominant performance in 2022, and has the second-most victories in race history. He won both races here in 2013 and again in 2018.“I think you can never really rest on last year’s performances,” Dixon said. “The track changes over time, right? It’s city streets. What was there one year is definitely going to be different.”The track has changed since Dixon’s victory a year ago, with the surface between turns 8 and 11 redone for a less bumpy ride. That includes the pit lane — nestled between BMO Field and the Horse Palace — which has been expanded by two bays this year to accommodate 27 cars.Dixon said those small changes make street courses so much fun.“It looks a lot smoother and a lot more consistent, a...