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NATO member Romania aims to open F-16 pilot training facility for allies, partners, and Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s top defense body said in a meeting Thursday that the country aims to open a regional training hub for F-16 fighter jet pilots from fellow NATO countries and other partners, including Ukraine.The office of President Klaus Iohannis, who chaired the Supreme Council of National Defense meeting in Bucharest, said in a statement that “Together with other allies and the company that designs this fighter plane, a regional hub will be created in Romania for the training of pilots.”“Romanian pilots who operate F-16 aircraft will be trained here, and the facility will later be opened to the participation of pilots from allied and NATO partner states, including Ukraine,” the statement read. Romania, which shares a long border with Ukraine and has been a NATO member since 2004 and a European Union member since 2007, bolstered defense spending in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The training facility will aim to position Romania as “a regional leader in...

New York City’s Rikers Island, facing possible federal takeover, found violating safety standards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Facing the looming prospect of a federal takeover, New York City’s troubled Rikers Island jail complex is failing to meet a court-ordered requirement to properly clean and maintain its facilities, according to a new report issued by a federal monitor. In a progress report released Thursday, the monitor described a decrepit jail complex where detainees are forced to live in damp, fetid quarters infested with mold, vermin and other “generally unsanitary” conditions. Despite some progress toward collaboration, the monitor — a court-created body known as the Office of Compliance Consultants — found thousands of open violations inside the jail, ranging from “chronic pooling” of water, clogged vents limiting air flow and the persistent smell of sewage. One detainee complained his cell was full of mice “because there’s no dust pan on unit to properly pick up the trash,”The report also faulted jail leaders for failing to maintain key infrastructure, including a sprinkl...

Denver weather: Severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Thursday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day as thunderstorms will move across the Front Range in the Denver weather forecast. Some storms could be strong to severe, bringing risks of hail and wind, lightning and heavy rain.A severe thunderstorm watch was issued across northeast Colorado, including the Denver metro area, until 10 p.m. The watch includes for Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Washington and Weld counties.Possible thunderstorm threats from Pinpoint WeatherWeather tonight: Showers could continue lateThe chance for showers and thunderstorms could linger until midnight along the Front Range and in metro Denver. The threat of severe storms will quickly diminish around sunset.Storms could stay strong on the far eastern and southeastern plains of Colorado and last into the early morning hours on Friday.Weather tomorrow: More storms possibleFriday will bring another round of late-day sho...

Police: Man kills teen, wounds another after they tried to break into his car

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Police say a man shot and killed a teen and wounded another after the boys tried to break into his car.It happened on Wednesday night, according to the Aurora Police Department.Orest Schur, 27, was arrested on counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting.According to police, residents in the 19400 block of East 59th Place heard a car alarm going off and saw two people dressed in all black trying to break into a Hyundai Elantra.The owner of the car, Schur, confronted the two, who then sped away in another suspected stolen vehicle.Schur got into the Elantra and followed the other vehicle until it crashed a short distance away, police said. During the incident, Schur fired several shots at the two, striking both.One of the teens was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died of his wounds. Police say he has not been positively identified yet, but they believe he's a teenage boy. Officer shoots at drivers targeting homeless encampment...

US senators seek expanded compensation for those exposed to nuclear fallout

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. senators from New Mexico and Idaho are making another push to expand the federal government’s compensation program for people exposed to radiation following uranium mining and nuclear testing carried out during the Cold War. Downwinders who live near the New Mexico site where the world’s first atomic bomb was tested in 1945 as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project in World War II also would be among those added to the list. No drought in Colorado for the first time in years The legislation would amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include eligible residents in areas affected by fallout in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and the territory of Guam.Democrat Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico and Republican Mike Crapo of Idaho announced Thursday that they were reintroducing the bill in the Senate after previous attempts to expand the program stalled.The measure also has been introduced in the U.S. House, with supporters saying th...

16 indicted on 116 felonies in one of biggest drug busts in West Metro

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The West Metro Drug Task Force said Thursday that they arrested 10 out of 16 suspects in "one of the largest busts in task force history."The investigation began as a distribution case involving methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills. Denver strip club’s operating license in jeopardy after prostitution sting Nine months later, police said they seized over 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 325,000 pills containing fentanyl, 3 kilograms of cocaine, 1 pound of heroin and 1.5 pounds of fentanyl powder. The West Metro Drug Task Force said Thursday that they arrested 10 out of 16 suspects in "one of the largest busts in task force history." Fentanyl from the bust is pictured. (West Metro Drug Task Force)Police said they seized over 400 pounds of methamphetamine in one of the biggest drug busts in the West Metro Drug Task Force history. (West Metro Drug Task Force)The West Metro Drug Task Force said Thursday that they arrested 10 out of 16 suspects in "one of th...

Man accused of stealing bras and panties identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

Update, 1 p.m.: The Lakewood police department says this suspect has been identified.DENVER (KDVR) -- Police in Lakewood are looking for a man accused of stealing around $4,881 in items, primarily women's bras and underwear, from various laundry rooms at an apartment complex.At least 26 thefts have occurred between August 2021 and May 2023, police said.Lakewood Police are searching for a man alleged to have stolen women's clothing from apartment laundry rooms. (Credit: Lakewood Police Department)The suspect allegedly took the items from laundry rooms on each floor of Lakeview Towers at Belmar Apartments, in the 600 block of South Reed Court.He is not a known resident of the complex, according to police. Caught on camera: Guests dodge out-of-control fireworks He is described as a possibly Middle Eastern or Hispanic man with short black hair, a black goatee and dark eyes. He is of average height and has a muscular build.The man was most recently seen in the building in June of this ...

Police return to scene of shooting at Fort Lauderdale apartment complex that injured 5 amid search for gunmen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

Police returned to an apartment complex in Fort Lauderdale one day after a shooting in the courtyard sent five people to the hospital, including four juveniles.Three people remained in Broward Health Medical Center on Thursday following the incident that took place in the area of Northwest 29th Avenue and 19th Street, Wednesday night.According to Fort Lauderdale Police, the shooting left five people injured. Four of those victims are minors.Frantic calls to 911 calls from several women captured the tense moments in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.“Kids were shot, ma’am. Send the ambulance, ma’am,” said one of the callers.Another callers told the dispatcher that her son was among the victims. “We have heard that my son got shot, he got shot on his neck,” she said. Another woman said that children were celebrating with fireworks, and suddenly shots were fired.“All the kids were outside popping fireworks, somebody walked up and went to ...

For 2nd day, MSD shooting victims’ families, survivors visit site to collect belongings left behind

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

For a second day, survivors and families of the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School went inside the building, where everything remains as it was that tragic day.The 1200 building is surrounded by a chain-link fence. It has not been changed, cleaned or used since the day of the massacre on Feb. 14, 2018. Families and those connected with the building began going inside the building since it reopened for the private visits on Wednesday.They decided to make the visit for several reasons — some to retrieve belongings, others to reflect and close this painful chapter as best as possible. It was their first time entering since the Valentine’s Day massacre, and possibly their last, because of a potential demolition in the upcoming months. Isabel Chequer was one of the students who returned to the building with her family to claim her belongings left in the classroom from that day. “I saw Helena, I noticed that she had passed away,” said Ch...

Mobile meth lab discovered at Florida Welcome Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:52 GMT

NASSAU COUNTY, FLA. (WSVN) – The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office provided assistance to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) after a mobile methamphetamine lab was discovered at the I-95 Welcome Center, Thursday afternoon.The incident prompted the activation of a hazmat team, resulting in the closure of traffic to the welcome center and the evacuation of its premises. The welcome center, situated along Interstate 95 South, serves as a gateway for travelers entering Florida from Georgia.https://twitter.com/NCSO_FL/status/1677018284451848193?s=20Authorities were alerted to the presence of the mobile meth lab, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement and emergency personnel. The hazardous materials team arrived on the scene to handle the volatile situation.As a precautionary measure, traffic to the welcome center was halted, and visitors and employees were evacuated to ensure their safety. The nature and extent of the meth lab, as well as any potential hazards asso...