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Illinois teen taken hostage by Hamas returns home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. (WGN) — An Illinois teen who was taken hostage by Hamas during its raid on Israel earlier this month has returned home. Natalie Raanan, who was taken hostage during the Oct. 7 raid on Israel by Hamas, was released on Oct. 20, for humanitarian reasons after an agreement between the Palestinian militant group and the Qatari government. Mother, daughter from Evanston who were held hostage by Hamas have been released Yinam Cohen, the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest, said Natalie returned home Monday to Evanston, a suburb of Chicago.In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 18, after Natalie's recent high school graduation. (Raanan Family via AP)Evanston mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas seen with authorities following release.“I am relieved to see Natalie back home in Chicago. Her family members have been anxiously waiting for her return, and today I am sharin...

Almanac for October 31, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

'The Voice' season 24 battle rounds ramp up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

(WCMH) — NBC's “The Voice” returns Monday with an all-new episode featuring more contestants going head-to-head in the Battle rounds.The show has released a new clip featuring Team Legend's Elizabeth Evans of Arlington, Texas paired against teammate Kaylee Shimizu from Ewabeach, Hawaii. After singing a duet of Olivia Rodrigo's “Traitor,” both received praise from the coaches. Ohio’s Jackson Snelling’s return on ‘The Voice’ “Elizabeth and Kaylee, that was fantastic, unbelievable vocal range and power,” said Reba McEntire. “Elizabeth, when you opened your mouth and hit that big note, I was just in awe. And Kaylee your range is incredible. Y'all just really did complement each other, love the harmonies.”Niall Horan told the pair their performance was the best version of the song he had heard. He complimented Kaylee's control over her “runs” and the range of her voice. Horan told Elizabeth that her “identity as an artist” was rare in the competition and gave her an advantage over othe...

Timberwolves melt down in second half, fall 127-113 in Atlanta

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

The Timberwolves looked like a team that had figured it all out in the first half at Atlanta on Monday.After rolling over the short-handed Heat in the second half of their home opener Saturday, Minnesota took its momentum with it on the road, tallying 79 first-half points that, paired with some strong second-quarter defense, created a 19-point halftime advantage.The Wolves were well on their way to a 2-1 record on the strength of an impressive road victory.Then came the second half. The script flipped entirely, as Atlanta — which was playing on the second half of a back to back — ran Minnesota off the floor, outscoring the Wolves 67-34 over the final 24 minutes en route to a 127-113 victory.Minnesota couldn’t get stops and couldn’t generate enough easy looks to keep up with the Hawks’ scoring offense. By game’s end, Atlanta was mimicking the Showtime Lakers with a slew of fast-break opportunities resulting in lobs or highlight-reel dunks. It looke...

Push for a county animal shelter in Rensselaer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Since the pandemic, animal shelters have not only needed volunteers but also needed more space. But earlier this year, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society announced they could no longer accept any more stray animals. Animal activists like Valerie Lang Waldin said they understand the reasons behind the decision. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “Mohawk Hudson did this for safe reasons. You know, they’re not doing it to be cruel,” Waldin said. “But they can no longer be the only animal shelter in the Capital District.”But it's not just individual people who can't bring strays to the shelter. Local municipalities in Rensselaer County that also used Mohawk Hudson Humane Society to take lost animals had yet to learn that contracts would be terminated so soon. Out of the municipalities in the county, Troy is the only contract left with the shelter, at least for now, leaving others scrambling for a solut...

Activists call for ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Those in support of a ceasefire gathered in Troy Monday to protest the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The protest took place at Riverfront Park on Front Street.Those in attendance are calling for a ceasefire on both sides to put and end to civilian deaths. One woman who has lost family members in attacks in Gaza gave a speech at the protest. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "I would like everyone to please call their Congress and demand for ceasefire and end occupation," Shahenda Nassan said.Some of the groups that took part in the rally for peace included the Palestinian Rights Committee of Upper Hudson Peace action and Jewish Voice for Peace Albany.

AdventHealth Porter hospital in Denver closes after losing heat, hot water

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

AdventHealth Porter hospital in Denver is closed to new patients after the facility lost heat and hot water following a boiler system failure on Monday.The hospital at 2525 S. Downing St., is closed to new patients, system officials announced in a news release. All surgeries scheduled through Wednesday will be rescheduled and the emergency department is closed.The medical office buildings at 850 and 950 E. Harvard Ave., and the Porter Medical Plaza at 2535 S. Downing St., were not affected by the boiler outage and are still open.An emergency boiler is en route to the hospital and will be installed as soon as possible, according to a news release from AdventHealth.The hospital is also working to transport patients to other facilities and will send staff to other facilities to support patients as needed, according to the company.This is a developing story and may be updated.Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.

Keeler: Broncos need to stand pat at NFL trade deadline with Pat Surtain II, defense that made Patrick Mahomes look silly.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

Ship Jerry Jeudy to Siberia, for all I care. But if Sean Payton and his buddy George Paton lay so much as a pinkie on this defense, Broncos Country oughta riot.“The NFL is a business. That’s how the game goes,” Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II told myself and a circle of scribes Monday at the Ritz-Carlton downtown before a charitable competition for his new Patrick Surtain II Foundation.“But you’ve got to focus on just being where your feet are, not allowing the external noise to control or affect your mindset. Put one foot in front of the other every day and just sort of focus on the team’s success right now.”No single Broncos asset could jump-start a rebuild the way PS2 could, all by himself. He’s young, one of the best cornerbacks in the league and still on a rookie contract. Heck, Surtain might be the only player on the roster who guarantees at least one first-round draft pick in return by Halloween’s 2 p.m. trade d...

Denver City Council sends major rental assistance increase, two other budget amendments to mayor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

The Denver City Council on Monday approved an amendment that would pull $14.8 million out of the reserves set aside in Mayor Mike Johnston’s proposed 2024 budget to provide more rental assistance for Denverites facing evictions next year.The vote, 9-4, is a supermajority that could overrule Johnston should he choose to veto that amendment to his spending plan. Council members said they are open to more discussion with the administration about funding sources for a cause even dissenting members agree desperately needs more cash.It’s the latest phase in a struggle that has emerged between the new mayor and a council that was reshaped by spring elections. Johnston has focused much of his efforts on providing shelter for people living homeless on the city’s streets.“We heard loud and clear for the community that rental assistance is absolutely necessary as we are faced with the ever-growing rise in evictions (that) by low estimates could end us up with 20,000 peo...

Gun sales up among Jewish and Israeli communities, store owners say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

As the war between Israel and Hamas rages, local gun shop owners say concerns fueled by the bloody conflict have led to a surge in sales in Southern California, with many Jewish people arming themselves for the first time.  Jewish himself, Charles Jasper, Director of Aegis Private Security which also provides gun training, told KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw that his business has doubled since the war began.  “The idea that people can go door-to-door, terrorists can go door-to-door with impunity and not face hard resistance is something difficult to process, especially as an American,” he said.  In Studio City last week, the home of a Jewish family was broken into by man threatening to kill them while hurling anti-Semitic insults. The victim, who is nine months pregnant, told KTLA that the intruder first kicked in the door to their master bedroom. Her husband fought with him while she called 911. Officers arrived and found him armed with a kitchen knife, Key News reported. He...