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Israel Warns Palestinians on Facebook — but Bombings Decimated Gaza Internet Access

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

Amid a heavy retaliatory air and artillery assault by Israel against the Gaza Strip on October 10, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted a message on Facebook to residents of the al-Daraj neighborhood, urging them to leave their homes in advance of impending airstrikes.It’s not clear how most people in al-Daraj were supposed to see the warning: Intense fighting and electrical shortages have strangled Palestinian access to the internet, putting besieged civilians at even greater risk. Following Hamas’s grisly surprise attack across the Gaza border on October 7, the Israeli counterattack — a widespread and indiscriminate bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip — left the two million Palestinians who call the area home struggling to connect to the internet at a time when access to current information is crucial and potentially lifesaving.“Shutting down the internet in armed conflict is putting civilians at risk.”“Shutting down the internet in armed conflict is puttin...

If Sean McVay’s first child arrives on a Sunday this month, the Rams will have to play without him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — If Sean McVay’s first child arrives on a Sunday this month, the Los Angeles Rams will have to take the field without him.McVay and his wife, Veronika, are expecting “in the next couple of weeks,” the head coach confirmed Friday.When asked about the Rams’ contingency plans if the big day coincides with a game day, McVay smiled and said: “I won’t be at the game.”McVay didn’t delve into details on the Rams’ plans for his undetermined paternity absence, but defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is a two-time NFL head coach with extensive experience.The Rams (2-3) host Arizona (1-4) this Sunday, and they’re home again next week against Pittsburgh.The 37-year-old McVay has expressed his eagerness to be a father for several years, even citing his desire to spend time with his future children as a reason he might not stick with the Rams for long. After taking extended time to think about quitting in each of the past two offseasons, the youn...

AP PHOTOS: Hong Kong’s hottest summer fell hardest on most vulnerable

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Joe Wong sweats through his days as a cleaner in a Hong Kong housing complex, laboring in narrow, stuffy corridors that this summer and last were the worst he’s known. He finds what relief he can in a resting area where a fan offers a breeze and a refrigerator holds the cool water he drinks — 7 1/2 liters a day — to ward off heatstroke.“All my cleaner friends make fun about my resting place, they call it a palace,” Wong said. “I am very lucky.”As Earth sweltered to its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever recorded, Hong Kong shared in the misery. The city, already known for oppressive humidity, endured its own record-breaking summer for heat, including August’s monthly mean temperature of 29.7 degrees Celsius (85.4 Fahrenheit). Residents spent half the month under very hot weather warnings.In the weeks since fall officially began in late September, temperatures have been slowly dropping. But the sweltering summer won’t soon be forgotten, and for many residents th...

The 2020s are starting to feel like the 1990s for the Braves after another playoff flop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The 2020s are starting to feel like the 1990s for the Atlanta Braves.Another dazzling regular season.Another flop in the postseason.After tying a major league record with 307 homers, the slugging Braves went down meekly to the rival Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series for the second year in a row.Other than a stunning comeback in Game 2, when the Braves overcame a four-run deficit with a pair of two-run homers and a remarkable double play for a 5-4 victory, the Phillies dominated the best-of-five series.They handed the Braves their first shutout all season at Truist Park, 3-0 in the series opener. They blasted six homers in a 10-2 rout in Game 3. And they ended Atlanta’s season far sooner than anyone expected with three more homers for a 3-1 clincher in Game 4.After six months of dazzling play and an MLB-leading 104 wins, it was all over in the space of six days as the Braves and two other division winners, the 100-win Los Angeles Dodger...

Browns tight end David Njoku grateful as he recovers from burns suffered in harrowing home accident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — As the severe burns on David Njoku’s face and hands continue to heal, Cleveland’s tight end feels fortunate. He knows things could be so much worse.“I’m still breathing,” he said. “I still got my vision and everything, I mentally feel great.”Njoku spoke Friday for the first time since he sustained burns in an accident at home on Sept. 29, two days before the Browns played Baltimore. Despite his serious injuries and being in extreme pain, Njoku played and had a team-high six catches.The 27-year-old Njoku was reluctant to offer details about the incident.“It was a bonfire accident,” he said. “Trying to have a nice little chill Friday, ended up exploding when I lit it up. So yeah, it happens.”Njoku said his eyes were open when he was hit by the fireball.“So I saw everything and I really should have been blinded,” he said, sitting in front of his locker. “So luckily I’m not.”Njoku said everything happened so quickly, that it was almost impossible for him t...

Flight to Florida returns to Panama over a suspected bomb that turns out to be an adult diaper

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Airport security at Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport on Friday searched a Copa airline flight bound for Tampa, Florida, for a suspected bomb, only to find an adult diaper.The plane had returned to the Panama City airport earlier Friday following reports of a possible bomb. The Boeing 737-800 landed around 11 a.m. local time and moved to an isolated stretch of the tarmac, where 144 passengers were taken off the plane, Panama’s Civil Aeronautics Authority said on the social media platform X.An anti-explosives team inspected the aircraft.José Castro, the head of the airport’s security team, said a suspicious object in one of the plane’s bathrooms was found to be an adult diaper.“We had it on a secure runway where police special explosives canine units and special forces examined the object, and found it to be an adult diaper, ruling out any risk,” Castro said.Source

Map: Does Colorado drinking water contain ‘forever chemicals?'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — So-called “forever chemicals” have been found in 45% of the nation’s tap water, according to a government study, but is your Colorado water affected?If you’re wondering whether or not your tap water might contain synthetic chemicals known as PFAS, nonprofit Environmental Working Group created an interactive map using official records and data from public drinking water systems to show where forever chemicals were found to be above and below the advised maximum concentration level, 4 parts per trillion (PPT).EWG notes that while researchers used the highest quality data available, contamination levels are based on a single point in time and may not reflect changes to the water system or treatment efforts.(Copyright © Environmental Working Group)Search the map for your own address.The synthetic compounds known collectively as PFAS are contaminating drinking water to varying extents in large cities and small towns — and in private wells and pub...

Trash truck drivers come to Denver for international competition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Among many events and things to do this weekend, trash truck drivers, equipment operators and mechanics from all around the U.S. will compete in Denver.Trash and recycling truck drivers will maneuver through obstacle courses in a battle to prove who is the "best of the best" behind the wheel, according to a press release from the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Local filmmakers debut paranormal documentary on Friday the 13th It's called the 2023 SWANA International Road-E-O, hosted by the Denver DOTI in partnership with the Solid Waste Association of North America and the Rocky Mountain Chapter SWANA.Drivers competing this weekend qualified for the international driving competition having placed first or second in their own chapter's competition.It starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Denver CDL Training and Testing Facility, located at 7198 N. Scottsburg St. Breakfast burritos will be provided and an In-N-Out Burger truck will be there for lun...

Jefferson County school board closing 2 more schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- On Thursday night, the Jefferson County school board voted to close two of its smallest schools: Arvada K-8 and Coal Creek Canyon in Golden.The district estimates more than 500 students and 97 staff members will be impacted by the closures, which are planned to happen in the 2024-25 school year. Officials cited two decades of declining enrollment because of shifting demographics as the reason for the move. 12-year-old bias-motivated stabbing suspect had hit list, Nazi fascination Board President Stephanie Schooley issued the following statement on behalf of the Jeffco Board of Education:"In the spring of 2022, this Board tasked Superintendent Dorland with creating a comprehensive plan for consolidating schools following two consecutive years of emergency closures of elementary schools in the spring, with enrollment too low to sustain a program for the following school year. Two decades of declining enrollment and shifting demographics had caught up to Jeffco in wa...

13-year-old Hialeah boy arrested in alleged fatal stabbing of mother

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:28 GMT

A 13-year-old boy was taken into custody at an apartment complex in Hialeah in connection to the fatal stabbing of his mother, police said.According to Hialeah Police, officer’s responded to the juvenile’s 911 call confessing to the murder from inside Apartment 201 along the 200 block of West 79th Place, late Thursday night.“Right now, we’re all in disbelief,” said Hialeah Police Lt. Eddie RodriguezPolice said the teen called 911 at 11:31 p.m.“He called right away; he called after he did it and pretty much turned himself in over the phone, I guess you could say,” said Rodriguez. When officers arrived at the apartment, they instructed the teen to come out with his hands up. A neighbor’s cellphone was recording as he was immediately taken to the ground. As the teen was cuffed by one officer, the rest entered the unit.“Now that 13-year-old, has been taken into custody, he is facing some very serious charges,” Rodriguez said. A...