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Exit polls in Slovakia’s election point to tight finish between pro-West and pro-Russia parties

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Voters in Slovakia cast ballots Saturday in early parliamentary elections, and two exit polls pointed to a tight finish between a liberal, pro-West newcomer and a populist former prime minister who campaigned on a pro-Russia and anti-American message.The polls by the Focus and Median SK agencies gave a slight edge to the Progressive Slovakia party, saying it could capture between 20% and 23.5% of the vote. Former Prime Minister Robert Fico and his leftist Smer, or Direction, party appeared headed to getting between 19% and 22%, the polls indicated.Official results were not expected until Sunday.The election was a test for the small eastern European country’s support for neighboring Ukraine in its war with Russia, and a win by Fico could strain a fragile unity in the European Union and NATO.Fico, 59, vowed to withdraw Slovakia’s military support for Ukraine in Russia’s war if his attempt to return to power succeeded.Michal Simecka, a 39-year-old memb...

Quebec seeks to join class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, distributors

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

QUEBEC — The Quebec government intends to table a bill in the coming days to enable it to join a class action lawsuit brought by British Columbia against more than 40 pharmaceutical companies accused of downplaying the harmful effects of opioids. A source familiar with the file confirmed the information to The Canadian Press.The British Columbia lawsuit dates to 2018 and alleges manufacturers both misrepresented the risk of addiction to opioids and failed to mention side effects and withdrawal symptoms. It also accuses distributors of allowing opioids to flood the market, contributing to the nationwide addiction crisis.The province passed a law — the “Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act” — empowering it to pursue class actions on behalf of the federal government and other provincial governments.Quebec, Yukon and Nunavut are the only province and territories without similar legislation, which also makes it possible for their governments to join class action ...

Government shutdown threat eases after House passes a temporary funding plan, sending it to Senate

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The threat of a federal government shutdown was suddenly easing Saturday after the House quickly approved a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open, once Speaker Kevin McCarthy dropped demands for steep spending cuts and relied on Democratic votes for passage. The rushed package would leave behind aid to Ukraine, a White House priority opposed by a growing number of GOP lawmakers, but increase federal disaster assistance by $16 billion, meeting President Joe Biden’s full request. The bill would fund government until Nov. 17.It goes next to the Senate, which was meeting late in the evening, hours to go before the midnight deadline to fund the government.“We’re going to do our job,” McCarthy said before the House vote. “We’re going to be adults in the room. And we’re going to keep government open.”It’s been a head-spinning turn of events in Congress after days of House chaos pushed the government to the brink of a disruptive federal shutdown.With no deal in plac...

Rays beat Blue Jays to delay post-season celebration

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

The playoff waiting game continued for the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon after they dropped a 7-5 decision to the Tampa Bay Rays.Taylor Walls hit a two-run single off Jordan Hicks in the 10th inning to silence the sellout crowd of 42,097 at Rogers Centre. Tampa Bay added another run on Junior Caminero’s infield single.Chris Devenski (6-4) gave up an RBI double to Bo Bichette in the bottom half of the inning before getting Kevin Kiermaier on a groundout to end it.The loss kept Toronto’s magic number at one and could make for a nervous regular-season finale on Sunday.The Blue Jays (89-72) are still a good bet to reach the post-season.Toronto can secure a spot later Saturday if the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners.The Blue Jays will get another win-and-you’re-in opportunity against the Rays in the regular-season finale and other results Sunday could also fall Toronto’s way.But the anxiety will only rise from here as Toronto looks to make its thi...

Truck crash near Teutopolis kills 5, seriously injures 5 and forces evacuation due to ammonia leak

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Five people were killed and five were seriously injured after a truck overturned in central Illinois, causing a toxic substance to leak from its cargo and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of area residents, authorities said Saturday. A semitruck carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia toppled about 9:25 p.m. Friday night in Teutopolis, spilling more than half its 7,500-gallon (28,390-liter) load, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said the five dead included three from the same family — one adult and two children under 12. The other two were adult motorists from out of state, Rhodes said. Additionally, five people were airlifted to hospitals, their conditions unknown.Names of the victims were not released, nor would authorities discuss causes of death. Emergency crews worked overnight Saturday trying to control the plume from the leak and struggled to get near the crash site. “We have a lot of brave fir...

No. 3 Longhorns offense fires on all cylinders in 40-14 win over No. 24 Kansas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you haven't heard of Jonathon Brooks now, that's your own fault.The bruising Texas running back ran roughshod over the No. 24 Kansas Jayhawks for 217 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns to help lead the No. 3 Longhorns to a 40-14 win Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.#Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian (@CoachSark) greets the student section🤟at DKR. ’Horns hoping for their first 5-0 start since the 2009 season. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/eyNtOJpUzy— Blake DeVine (@bladevine) September 30, 2023Brooks had runs of 67 and 54 yards, the latter going for a touchdown, to average 10.9 yards per carry. The 6-foot, 207-pounder set the tone in the second half when he ran straight up the middle nearly untouched early in the third quarter to give the Longhorns a 20-7 lead. Texas piled up 27 points in the second half and outgained Kansas 661-260.Texas rushed for 336 yards with freshman CJ Baxter getting tough yards between the tackles. He finished with 68 yards on 16 ...

Very warm to start October before rain chances rise

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A slim rain chance (10%) will continue for southern areas into the first couple hours of the evening, but mostly it's a dry rest of your Saturday as we wrap up September at midnight.Overnight will be partly cloudy and I anticipate more clouds for Sunday, but that won't stop it being warm. Highs should reach the low to mid 90s. A very limited, less than 10%, rain chance is in place for the late afternoon and evening hours of Sunday, but generally it's another dry day.Sunday's forecastShower chances tick up slightly on Monday, but more sunshine should allow for slightly hotter temperatures and, potentially, our final mid-90s for a while.Highs next few daysRain chances jump up to 30% on Tuesday as more clouds drop highs to the low 90s.We're on track for some of the wettest weather in months as a cold front brings scattered to widespread storms Wednesday and Thursday.Rain chances this weekAfter the front, highs should only be in the 80s as fall may finally make a late a...

Jaden McDaniels isn’t focused on extension negotiations, but it’s a clear priority for Timberwolves

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

Timberwolves fans are patiently awaiting news that one of the franchise’s young core pieces will be locked up for the long-term.After Anthony Edwards signed his max extension in July, the next logical step was for Minnesota to also extend Edwards’ wingman, two-way standout Jaden McDaniels.“Oh, Jaden is the most important person on the team, for sure, because he has the most potential,” Edwards said on media day. “So, yeah, I think the world knows we wouldn’t be Minnesota Timberwolves without Jaden McDaniels. So yeah, I’m looking forward to him having a phenomenal season.”The deadline to extend McDaniels is in October. If Minnesota can’t reach an agreement with the defensive stopper by then, McDaniels would then enter restricted free agency next summer – where the Timberwolves would have the right to match any offer any other team would extend to McDaniels.Minnesota doesn’t plan on it getting that far.“I think we want to be an organization that rewards our players. Super proud of Jad...

On Oct. 1, thousands of Minnesotans will be newly eligible for driver’s licenses

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

By Estelle Timar-Wilcox, MPR NewsStarting Sunday, all eligible Minnesotans — regardless of immigration status — can start getting their driver’s licenses.On Oct. 1, the state will start accepting applications without requiring proof of legal residency in the U.S. under the law passed earlier this year. An estimated 81,000 people are newly eligible for licenses, permits and state ID cards.In a news conference Thursday, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobsen said the state is ready for the rule change.“Too many people have been denied the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license due to documentation restrictions,” he said. “We fully expect this to be an immensely popular program. And it should be — it’s life-changing for very many people.”To prepare for the new applicants, DPS and several community organizations have been expanding resources for immigrants. DPS is offering informational documents, forms and the written driver’s test in various languages.Several or...

Yes, Deion Sanders lost CU’s 17th straight game to USC. But Buffs might have found run game, identity, in the process.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:12:15 GMT

BOULDER — Lincoln Riley got the Buffs right. And he knew it. Heck, he darn near admitted it.“They obviously RPO-ed some in the run game, you know, they did commit to it a lot more than they have in the  the previous game,” USC’s visored head coach said after CU piled up the program’s most rushing yards in two years on his unbeaten Trojans, who held on for a 48-41 victory at Folsom Field.“So obviously, (I’d) have to go back and look at the tape, but they put you in some of those positions where it’s either going to be one-on-one on the perimeter, if you get those extra hats to the run game. Or you’re going to give them potentially favorable numbers in the box.”The Trojans (5-0, 3-0 Pac-12) went with the latter. And the Buffs (3-2, 0-2), for maybe the first time all season, really made those favorable numbers count.Using a combination of bruising Anthony Hankerson (16 carries, 74 yards, one score) and shifty Dylan Edwards (12...