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Biden, McCarthy speak on debt crisis, one GOP negotiator says ‘thorny issues’ remain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy spoke directly Saturday evening as they raced to strike an agreement that would resolve the looming debt crisis ahead of a June 5 deadline and avert a catastrophic U.S. default.Biden also spoke earlier in the day with Democratic leaders in Congress to discuss the status of the talks, according to three people familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. But the two sides have not reached a deal yet.“Big, thorny issues remain,” one of the top negotiators, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., told reporters in the evening.Some of those outstanding issues he said “the president and speaker have to resolve at that level.”The Republican House speaker gathered top allies behind closed doors at the Capitol as negotiators pushed for a deal that would raise the nation’s borrowing limit and avoid a first-ever default on the federa...

American ‘stolen’ as a baby finds family in Chile

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

(CNN) — Scott Lieberman, an American who lives in San Francisco, always knew that he was adopted from Chile. What he did not know was that he had been stolen as an infant.“I lived 42 years of my life without knowing that I was stolen, not knowing what was happening down in Chile during the 70s and 80s and I just, I want people to know… There are families out there that can still be reunited,” Lieberman said.During the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet (1973-90), many babies were funneled to adoption agencies. Some of the children came from rich families, taken or given up to protect reputations. Other babies from poorer backgrounds were simply stolen – as it appears was the case with Lieberman.In the last decade, CNN has documented multiple cases of Chilean babies who were stolen at birth. Authorities in the country say priests, nuns, doctors, nurses and others conspired to carry out illegal adoptions, with the main motive being profit.Chilean officials say the number of...

Temperatures keep rising through Sunday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

After a fantastic start to the holiday weekend, with sunshine and temps in the 70s, even warmer weather is on the way on Sunday. High pressure slides just off the coast Sunday afternoon, leading to a stiff southwesterly breeze ushering in warm air. Temperatures will rise into the upper 80s away from the coastline, while conditions are expected to remain cooler along the coast, especially Cape Cod and the Islands. Overnight Sunday night a backdoor front pushes through the area, leading to much cooler weather on Memorial Day.

Lawyer apologizes for fake court citations from ChatGPT

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

New York (CNN) — The meteoric rise of ChatGPT is shaking up multiple industries – including law, as one attorney recently found out.Roberto Mata sued Avianca airlines for injuries he says he sustained from a serving cart while on the airline in 2019, claiming negligence by an employee. Steven Schwartz, an attorney with Levidow, Levidow & Oberman and licensed in New York for over three decades, handled Mata’s representation.But at least six of the submitted cases by Schwartz as research for a brief “appear to be bogus judicial decisions with bogus quotes and bogus internal citations,” said Judge Kevin Castel of the Southern District of New York in an order.The fake cases source? ChatGPT.“The court is presented with an unprecedented circumstance,” Castel wrote in a May 4 order.Among the purported cases: Varghese v. China South Airlines, Martinez v. Delta Airlines, Shaboon v. EgyptAir, Petersen v. Iran Air, Miller v. United Airlines, and Estate of Durden v. KLM Royal Dutc...

Biden, McCarthy agree to talk on debt crisis, one GOP negotiator says ‘thorny issues’ remain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed to speak Saturday evening as they race to strike an agreement that would resolve the looming debt crisis ahead of a June 5 deadline, or risk a catastrophic U.S. default.Biden spoke earlier in the day with Democratic leaders in Congress to discuss the status of the talks, according to three people familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. But the two sides have not reached a deal yet.“Big, thorny issues remain,” one of the top negotiators, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., told reporters in the evening.The Republican House speaker gathered top allies behind closed doors at the Capitol as negotiators pushed for a deal that would raise the nation’s borrowing limit and avoid a catastrophic default, while also making spending cuts that House Republicans are demanding.As he arrived at the Capit...

5 firefighters injured battling multi-alarm blaze in Manchester, NH

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

Five firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling a blaze in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday night, official said.Crews responding to a reported structure fire on Pearl Street around 10:45 p.m. were told by bystanders that numerous kids were still in the building on the upper floors, according to Manchester fire officials. During a search of the building crews uncovered five of the six cats that lived in the home and a large lizard and returned them to their owners.The 10 residents of the home made it out safely.The cause of the fire appears to be accidental but remains under investigation.

Division 5 track: Giuliana Ligor, North Reading run away with state title

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

NORWELL — Giuliana Ligor admitted she treated herself to an “active rest day” before Saturday’s finale of the Division 5 Track Championships. After defending her title in the 400 hurdles on Thursday, an easy day seemed to be the best course of action.The talented sophomore from North Reading proved to be more than ready for a strong race in the 400. Pumping her arms furiously, Ligor had a strong stretch run and surged across the finish line in a new personal best of 56.31 seconds after taking second last year. Breanna Braham of Dennis-Yarmouth was just over a second back in 57.33 to take the silver medal. Ligor finished the day by anchoring the Hornets to a win in the 4×100 relay in 49.40.With Ligor’s wins, along with gold medal performances from Ava McIntyre in the long jump (18-5-1/4), the Hornets never relinquished their team lead from Thursday, easily taking the crown with 125 points.Ligor is hoping for another big day at next weekend’s Meet of...

MTS chair calls to end union strike

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Chair Stephen Whitburn spoke out for an end to an ongoing workers' strike that's impacting bus routes.Whitburn made that announcement Friday, calling on Transdev, the company that is contracted by MTS, to take the necessary steps to immediately restore full service to MTS riders. "We are deeply concerned about the failure of one of our contractors Transdev to provide transit service to many of our MTS customers," Whitburn said. "Thousands of bus riders say the South Bay and East County are having difficulty getting to work or school or medical appointments or other destinations because of the disruptions in bus service. And many people with disabilities have been left without any transportation at all due to the lack of access para-transit service."The public transit service provider advised riders Saturday the following bus routes could be affected: Spike strip ends police pursuit in San Diego; suspect in custody Copley Pa...

Timeline of events leading to the impeachment of Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A timeline of events that have led to three-term Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, 60, being impeached Saturday. The vote by the GOP-controlled Texas House of Representatives also means Paxton is immediately suspended from office.2015Paxton takes office as attorney general after more than a decade in the Texas Legislature. He is indicted on felony securities charges by a grand jury in his hometown near Dallas, accused of duping investors in a tech startup. He pleads not guilty to two felony counts, but there has still been no trial. Paxton opens a legal defense fund and accepts $100,000 from an executive whose company was under investigation by his office for Medicaid fraud. An Arizona retiree donates $50,000 to the fund, and Paxton later hires the donor’s son for a high-ranking job that ends with his firing after the man showed child pornography in a meeting.2020Several of Paxton’s top aides tell the FBI about concerns that the attorney genera...

2 horses die from injuries at Churchill Downs, bringing total to 12 at home of Kentucky Derby

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:54:19 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Two horses have died the past two days following injuries at Churchill Downs, the 11th and 12th fatalities over the past month at the home of the Kentucky Derby.Filly Kimberley Dream was euthanized after sustaining a distal sesamodean ligament rupture to her front leg during Saturday’s first race. Lost in Limbo was euthanized following a similar injury just before the finish line in Friday’s seventh race.The track stated in a release that both injuries were “inoperable and unrecoverable.”As team members mourn the loss of the animals, the statement added, the track is working to determine cause and appropriate investments to minimize risk to the sport and its property.“We do not accept this as suitable or tolerable and share the frustrations of the public, and in some cases, the questions to which we do not yet have answers,” the statement added. “We have been rigorously working since the opening of the meet to understand what has led to this spike and have yet...