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Feds step in after deadly NYC e-bike fire 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

NEW YORK — After a series of fires involving faulty e-bike batteries including a recent blaze that claimed four lives, New York City officials announced Sunday that they are receiving a $25 million emergency grant from the federal government to fund scores of charging stations citywide.Mayor Eric Adams hopes the stations will provide a safer way for delivery workers, who rely on e-bikes to efficiently do their jobs, to recharge lithium batteries used to power their bicycles.“This means that residents will no longer need to charge the e-bikes in their apartments — what we find to be extremely dangerous, particularly when you charge them overnight,” Adams said at a news conference Sunday. He was flanked by the state’s two U.S. senators who helped secure the funding from the US. Department of Transportation.The announcement comes after a lithium ion battery caught fire and engulfed an e-bike shop in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The fire and thick smoke spread to apart...

London Series: Chicago Cubs settle for a split after Marcus Stroman leaves 7-5 loss early with a blister

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

Chicago Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman was hyped leading up to Sunday’s start on an international stage.Stroman had gotten a taste of it before, pitching in big games in the World Baseball Classic. He embraced the opportunity to bring the “Stro Show” to the London Series, in which the Cubs had an opportunity to secure a two-game sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals.“I think everybody here enjoyed it,” Stroman said. ”You know you’re not going to prepare as well as you normally do just because of the schedule, but put that out of mind and you just go out there, have fun and compete.”Stroman’s memorable experience was cut short by a blister on his index finger that forced him to depart in the fourth inning of the Cubs’ 7-5 loss.Stroman shook his right hand after multiple pitches in the fourth, including his final pitch that resulted in a go-ahead RBI single by Paul Goldschmidt. Head athletic trainer Nick Frangella and manag...

‘Spider-Man’ streaks past ‘The Flash’ 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

LOS ANGELES — “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” slung its webs back atop the box office ranks while “The Flash” saw a drop faster than the film’s speedy character.The Spidey animated sequel — starring Shameik Moore as the teenage webslinger Miles Morales — reclaimed the No. 1 spot in its fourth week in North American theaters, scoring $19.3 million. The latest number helped the Sony film reach $317.1 million domestically and an impressive $560.3 million worldwide.“Spider-Verse” beat out “Elemental,” which took second place for the second week in a row with an estimated $18.5 million. The film held on to the spot after experiencing Pixar’s worst three-day opening last week.No other film had such a dramatic drop than “The Flash” with $15.2 million for the big-budget offering. The second week output for the DC and Warner Bros superhero film, starring Ezra Miller, fell off by 72% after opening with a subpar $55 ...

Far-right parties make comeback in Greek election as conservatives sweep back to power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A little-known political party endorsed by a jailed former lawmaker won seats in Greece’s next parliament in an election Sunday, signaling a political comeback for the far right.The Spartans party was backed by Ilias Kasidiaris, who is currently serving 13 years in prison for membership in a criminal organization as a former leading member of Golden Dawn – a political party of neo-Nazi origins linked to multiple violent street attacks. Ahead of Sunday’s election, parliament had introduced tougher rules on election eligibility designed to block Kasidiaris from running as a candidate. A party he founded in prison was also disqualified and he switched his support to the Spartans.“We have defeated an arrogant enemy … this is a great triumph for Greece and our homeland,” Kasidiaris wrote in a tweet from prison in central Greece.The center-right New Democracy party won a landslide victory in Sunday’s election, handing conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis a s...

US Navy: Hefty salvage system won't be used in probe of fatal Titan submersible implosion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

(AP) - The U.S. Navy said Sunday that it won't be using a large piece of salvage equipment that it had deployed to the effort to retrieve the Titan submersible.The Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System had the capability of lifting an intact Titan back to the surface. The U.S. Coast Guard announced on Thursday that debris from the submersible had been found roughly 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the Titanic in North Atlantic waters.The Titan submersible imploded on its way to tour the Titanic wreckage, killing all five on board. Debris was located about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) underwater.The Navy would only use the ocean salvage system if there were pieces large enough to require the use of the specialized equipment.“Efforts are focused on helping map the debris field in preparation for recovery efforts and to support investigative actions. Efforts to mobilize equipment such as the Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System have been discontinued,” a Navy official told The Associated ...

Texas inmates 'being cooked alive' in heatwave with no air conditioning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — In Texas' state jails, the inmates are sentenced to just two years or less. But every summer, former inmate Maggie Luna remembers, the women inside worried their short sentences may take their life."All of these women that were suffering with me had not a lot of time, and they feared that they were getting death sentences," she said. "Several times I told my mom, 'I hope I make it out of here.'"Her jail is one of the 70% of units within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice that do not have full air conditioning. As much of Texas braces through record-setting triple-digit temperatures, current and former inmates are describing dangerous and disturbing conditions inside their cells."It is suffocating. It's terrifying just to feel like you're cooking. I remember asking my bunkie, 'do you think our brains are frying?'" Luna said. She was released in 2016 after serving two years in the Lucille Plane State Jail for drug possession. "Some days, we wouldn't have water...

Next chance of rain? July 4th weekend...

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Sunday morning Camp Mabry only dropped to 80°. That sets a new record "warm" low, the previous being 79° in 2009.Scattered clouds moving through Central Texas during the afternoon has helped to mitigate some of the heat today, but still widespread highs in the triple digits are expected this afternoon. These clouds produced some incredibly localized showers, but they've since dried out and no additional rain is expected. BLOG: June likely to end as top 5 warmest in Austin The Heat Advisory continues today and most of Monday (for now) for much of Central Texas including the Austin Metro. Maximum heat index readings this afternoon will likely rise to between 105° to 110° at many locations. Excessive Heat Warnings (Pink) and Heat Advisories (Orange)Mason and San Saba Counties, handled by the San Angelo National Weather Service office, are under an Excessive Heat Warning with the highest heat index readings up to 111°.Strong high pressure will move directly overhead o...

Texans rally behind GoFundMe for WWII veteran's new wheelchair

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a World War II veteran from Central Texas needed an electric wheelchair to more comfortably get around, dozens of Texans pitched in.Texans Carrie Baran and Chad Rudel coordinated to launch the fundraiser, benefitting 96-year-old veteran Jack Hugman, a Seaman 1st Class veteran with the U.S. Navy. Within a week's time, approximately $2,000 were raised. ‘That’s the way to go,’ Senate plan aims to give Texans $18B in property tax relief Baran met Hugman after helping organize a World War II Recognition Day on May 11 at the Texas Capitol. During that meeting, he mentioned to Baran the need for a new wheelchair.Baran and Rudel worked together to find a mobility company in Cedar Park that delivered one to Hugman at his home in San Marcos. On Memorial Day weekend, Mobility City delivered the wheelchair — drawing Hugman to near tears, Rudel said."He was almost crying about how thankful he was for total strangers doing that," Rudel said. Jack Hugman is a 96-year-old ve...

U.S. men’s soccer team returning to St. Paul in September

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

The U.S. men’s national soccer team is returning to St. Paul in September.The Pioneer Press confirmed Sunday the U.S. will come back to Allianz Field during the FIFA international window for a match on Sept. 12. The Univision broadcast of U.S. vs. Jamaica in the Gold Cup on Saturday, which first reported the news, said the opponent will be Oman.The last visit by the USMNT was controversial with a World Cup qualifier on Feb. 2, 2022 setting a national team record for its coldest game. The temperature was 3 degrees at kickoff, with a “feels-like” temperature of roughly minus-14.U.S. opponent, Honduras, complained about the U.S. staging a game in Minnesota in the dead of winter, claiming two players suffered from frostbite during the Americans’ 3-0 win. U.S. players also voiced their displeasure.U.S. coach Gregg Berhlater said it was scheduled because they were playing previous qualifiers in the Midwest and they wanted to minimize travel during a pivotal stretch. Plus, he pointed...

Ulster County man arrested for alleged menacing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:13:54 GMT

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Ulster County man was arrested for menacing with a firearm, according to police. Marc Stonehouse, 58, is facing multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On June 25 at 2:08 a.m., officers responded to 485 Band Camp Road in Saugerties for a report of a man being at a resident's door with a gun. Following an investigation, police determined that Stonehouse had pointed a 12-gauge-shotgun at two of his neighbors. Stonehouse was taken into custody at the scene without incident. He was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of second-degree menacing with a firearm. Man arrested in Saugerties for assault, weapon charges Stonehouse was arraigned in the Town of Saugerties Justice Court, where he was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to reappear in the town court on a later date.