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Catalytic converter theft claims fell in first half of year, first time in 3 years, State Farm says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The number of catalytic converter theft claims dropped in the first half of this year, the first time that’s happened since 2019, according to data from insurance company State Farm.Thefts of catalytic converters have become problematic nationwide in recent years. Once stolen, they are often melted down for their valuable metals.State Farm said that there were approximately 14,500 claims from Jan. 1 through June 30. That compares with more than 23,000 catalytic converter theft claims during the same period a year ago.State Farm attributes the decline to several factors, including media coverage of the issue, more legislative efforts and declining metal prices.The Associated Press

DC Murder suspect who escaped police custody recaptured after seven weeks on the run

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police have recaptured a murder suspect who escaped custody in September, forcing an hours-long shelter-in-place order at George Washington University.Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department announced that Christopher Haynes, 30, was arrested Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Service’s Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force in nearby Oxon Hill, Maryland. Haynes was originally arrested on Sept. 6 in connection with the Aug. 12 murder of 33-year-old Brent Hayward at a northeast D.C. gas station. But shortly after his arrest, Haynes complained of an ankle injury and was taken by officers to George Washington University Hospital.While he was being handcuffed to a hospital gurney, police said Haynes assaulted an officer and fled, leading to the shelter-in-place order on the university campus and an extended manhunt. MPD chief Pamela Smith later acknowledged that the officers had not properly secured Haynes, providing an opportunity for his escape.Police later r...

Tammy has redeveloped into a tropical storm over the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Tammy has redeveloped Friday into a tropical storm over the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said.The storm around midday was about 215 miles (350 kilometers) east of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving northwest at 3 mph (5 kph).Tropical Storm Tammy earlier this month formed in the Atlantic, became a hurricane and made landfall Oct. 21 on the Caribbean island of Barbuda. Minor damage was reported before Tammy continued over the Atlantic and became a strong extratropical cyclone.A gale warning was in effect for Bermuda, where high winds were forecast into Friday night before the storm moves away from Bermuda on Saturday.The Associated Press

Best Buy recalls nearly 1 million pressure cookers after reports of 17 burn injuries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Best Buy is recalling nearly 1 million pressure cookers and separate inner pots due to a defect that can cause hot foods to spew out, posing burn hazards.The recalled pressure cookers, sold under the brand Insignia, have incorrect volume markings on their inner pots — which can cause consumers to overfill them. As a result, hot food and liquids can be ejected from the device when it’s vented or opened, according to a Thursday notice published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.To date, Best Buy has received 31 incident reports of the cookers’ contents being expelled under pressure, including 17 reports of burn injuries — some of which were second-degree and severe burns.The 930,000 Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cookers and inner pots, sold separately as replacements, under recall were sold at Best Buy stores nationwide — as well as online on Best Buy’s website and Amazon — from October 2017 through June of this year.Consumers can iden...

Belarus leader asks Hungary’s Orban to visit and seeks a dialogue with EU amid country’s isolation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The authoritarian president of Belarus invited Hungary’s prime minister to visit his country, which has faced increasing isolation over the government’s relentless crackdown on dissent and support of ally Russia’s war with Ukraine. President Alexander Lukashenko extended the invitation to Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who arrived in Belarus earlier this week. Lukashenko expressed readiness “for a dialogue with European countries” and invited Orban over “to discuss serious matters.” Orban’s press chief, Bertalan Havasi, said the prime minister would consider the invitation once he returns from a European Union summit in Brussels.Belarus has come under a barrage of Western sanctions since 2020, when Lukashenko won his sixth term in an election the West and the opposition denounced as rigged. The vote sparked an unprecedented wave of mass protests, to which Lukashenko’s governmen...

Internet blackout in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes bomb emergency services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Palestinian telecom provider Paltel says internet service in Gaza Strip has been cut off by Israeli bombardment.Services were cut Friday evening, following a heavy round of Israeli airstrikes that lit up the night sky over the darkened territory.The Palestinian Red Crescent, the main emergency service in Gaza, said it was cut off from its operations room in the strip because of the internet blackout.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel expects to launch a long and difficult ground offensive into Gaza soon to destroy Hamas, the defense minister said Friday, describing a campaign that will require dismantling a vast network of tunnels used by the territory’s militant rulers.Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s comments pointed to a potentially grueling and open-ended new phase of the war, three weeks after Hamas’ attack into southern Israel sparked relentless bombardment in Ga...

Worker rescued from trench after scaffolding collapses at suburban construction site

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. —Emergency crews helped rescue a worker who was injured and trapped at a construction site Friday in Lake Forest.Lake Forest Fire Department said crews responded to the Onwentsia Country Club at 300 block of South Green Bay Road around 10 a.m. Friday.Upon arrival, emergency crew found a construction worker at the bottom of a basement foundation that was under construction. Fire officials said the worker was 15 feet below grade.According to fire officials, the worker was in the trench in the basement when surface scaffolding fell on him.Sixty pounds of steel fell 15 feet and the worker was struck in the back.The man was eventually freed and taken to the hospital. Fire officials said he was alert and responsive.Fire departments from the surrounding area including Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Lincolnshire, Highland Park, Libertyville, Northbrook, Wheeling, Newport, Buffalo Grove, and Grayslake assisted in the rescue.The country club is putting up a new pro shop. The shop wa...

Woman, 16-year-old boy killed in Matteson double shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

MATTESON, Ill. — Two people were killed late Thursday night in a shooting in south suburban Matteson. Officers responded to a shots fired call in the 4100 block of Lindenwood Drive just before 10:30 p.m. Arriving officers found a 20-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy with gunshot wounds to the head. The 16-year-old boy also suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. Both were rushed to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, where they were pronounced dead. According to police, the shooting victims did not reside in Matteson. The shooting incident appears to be isolated, officials added. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines There was no imminent danger to the public. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division of the Matteson Police Department at (708) 503-3130.

'It's truly a blessing:' A Pilsen running tradition continues to grow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A tradition is returning to Pilsen on Saturday, and the event's reach across the country is continuing to grow. Carrera de los Muertos 5K will be run for the 16th time in the neighborhood and sold out nearly two weeks before the event that starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. It features a record 6,000 participants, and perhaps more interesting, features runners coming from 25 states to take part in the event. Started in 2007, the 3.2 miles are part of the celebration of "Día de los Muertos" or "Day of the Dead" in the neighborhood."It's truly a blessing. We don't take it for granted," said race director Carlos Jaramillo of the record turnout. "Chicago has a very rich running scene and running community. There's so many great races out there and folks can choose from a variety of different ones and different distances as well."So to say that our race has the biggest field that it ever has, knowing full well that a lot of races have decreased in numbers or have remained kinda flat, i...

How veteran volunteers at a historic landmark help preserve WWI's enduring impact

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:25 GMT

KANSAS CITY (WDAF) – Kansas City is home to the country’s official National WWI Museum and Memorial, but there are many untold stories behind the people working at the popular attraction.The city is proud of the museum and has made it a focal point during the Royals World Series celebrations and Chiefs Super Bowl victory parades. Most recently, it was showcased during the 2023 NFL Draft, where more than 54 million people saw this landmark on TV.But the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City is more than just a beautiful landmark. It started as the “Liberty Memorial,” breaking ground in 1921 and officially opening its doors in 1926. The memorial was also founded by Kansas City residents, an aspect that is critical to its history.These days, the daily operations are mostly run by volunteers. Last year, more than 530 volunteers contributed more than 57,000 hours of their time. What’s even more amazing is that many of them have served our country, just like Army Veteran Paul Fr...