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Syria says Israeli strikes in Damascus area kill 2 civilians

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Israel staged airstrikes on the southern suburbs of the Syrian capital of Damascus early Tuesday, killing two civilians and causing some material damage, Syrian state media reported.Damascus residents said strong explosions were heard in the capital and its southern suburbs as Syrian state television reported that the country’s air defenses were confronting “an Israeli aggression.” State TV, quoting an unnamed military official, said two civilians were killed in the strikes near Damascus and southern Syria, adding that some of the missiles were shot down by Syria air defenses before they reached their targets. It that the strikes also caused some material damage. Israel’s shadow war with Iran in Syria intensified over the past days with four strikes on the Damascus area and the central province of Homs killing two Iranian military advisers since last week. Hours after strikes on central Syria Sunday, the Israeli military said it shot down an “aircraft” that crossed fro...

FACT FOCUS: Manhattan DA’s record distorted amid Trump case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

Ahead of former President Donald Trump’s expected booking and arraignment in New York City on Tuesday, social media users are accusing Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, of having poor prosecutorial judgment in other cases.But some posts distort Bragg’s decisions, from falsely accusing him of ignoring a case his office is prosecuting to misleadingly suggesting he should investigate a case outside his jurisdiction.Here’s a closer look at the facts.CLAIM: News footage about the unprovoked and deadly shooting of a man on the New York City subway in May 2022 provides an example of the “real crime in Manhattan” that Bragg should be prosecuting.THE FACTS: The Manhattan DA’s office is prosecuting the suspect in this case, according to records and communications from Bragg’s office.Bragg announced in June 2022 that a grand jury had indicted the suspect, Andrew Abdullah, on murder and weapon possession charges after he allegedly killed 48-year-old Daniel Enriquez aboard a Manhatta...

California AG: 54 ghost guns seized in unique state program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California law enforcement took away 54 so-called ghost guns last year from people who can’t legally own firearms, a 38% jump in the number of the hard-to-trace weapons seized since 2021 under a unique state program, officials said Monday.The ghost guns, which are privately made firearms without a serial number, were part of nearly 1,500 guns taken statewide last year through an only-in-California program called the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, known as APPS. The California registry cross-matches databases to find people who legally purchased weapons but are now banned from ownership because they have been convicted of felonies or a violent misdemeanor, or have a history of domestic violence or mental illness. State and local authorities then can move to seize the weapons under the program, which began in 2006.Generally, firearms manufactured by licensed companies are required to have serial numbers that allow officials to trace the gun back to the manufac...

Lawsuit seeks records of toxic exposures at Uzbek air base

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Veterans’ advocacy groups sued the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday seeking records of toxic conditions at an air base in Uzbekistan blamed for causing cancer and other illnesses among American troops who served there in support of the war in Afghanistan.The lawsuit filed in federal court in Connecticut accuses military officials of withholding information about hazardous materials — including uranium, chemical weapons and asbestos — that were on the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, known as K2, during U.S. operations there from 2001 to 2005.The contaminants included pools of “black goo” that caused military servicemembers to pass out, according to the lawsuit. At least around 15,800 troops served at the base, and personnel there became ill and died at higher-than-usual rates, the lawsuit says.The legal filing seeks information about the toxic substances and troop exposures so that sickened veterans can obtain accurate medical diagnoses and treatment and he...

Mets’ Carrasco gets violation before throwing his 1st pitch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — New York Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco got a pitch-clock violation before he attempted his first pitch of the game Monday.The Mets’ clock issues continued the rest of the afternoon as they ended up with more violations (four) than hits (three) in a 10-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Carrasco got two violations, while Omar Narváez and Mark Canha had one each at the plate.Mets manager Buck Showalter said after the game the clock seemed to have a different pace than it did in their season-opening series at Miami. Showalter said the Mets didn’t adapt well to the change and said he’d be looking at video of each violation to see what went wrong.“Everybody’s going through an adjustment period,” Showalter said. “It’s umpires. It’s clock operators. It’s us. It’s the teams we’re playing. You’d better figure it out because it’s not going away.”Showalter wasn’t casting any blame Monday. When he was asked about the umpiring, Showalter noted that home plate umpir...

US auto sales up 7.5% in 1Q; interest rates hit 15-year high

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. new-vehicle sales rose 7.5% in the first quarter as supplies improved and sky-high prices eased a bit while the global shortage of computer chips started to wane.But the average auto-loan rate hit 7% during the quarter, leaving open the question of whether automakers will offer reduced rates to keep buyers interested through the rest of the year.Automakers sold 3.59 million vehicles during the first three months of the year, compared with 3.34 million a year earlier. Results from companies were mixed. Some thrived with better chip supplies, while others continued to struggle. General Motors’ sales jumped 17.6% over a weak first quarter last year as Buick brand deliveries doubled. The company said it picked up 1.5 points of market share. GM’s dealer inventory rose 50% in the quarter to more than 412,000 as production increased.Nissan sales leaped 17.3%, and Honda, which struggled to get chips last year, posted an 11.7% increase.Affiliated South Korean ...

Svitolina loses at Charleston Open in 1st match as a mom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Elina Svitolina played a WTA match for the first time as a mother on Monday, losing to Yulia Putintseva 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4 at the Charleston Open.Svitolina has been ranked as high as No. 3 and is currently No. 1,081, because she was off the professional tennis tour for a little more than a year. She and her husband, fellow player Gael Monfils, became parents in October, when their daughter, Skaï, was born.The first-round match in the main stadium of a tournament played on green clay lasted 2 hours, 46 minutes on a cloudy, breezy day and was filled with momentum swings.Putintseva led 5-4 in the opening set and was a point from taking it. But Svitolina held steady and forced a tiebreaker. Putintseva grabbed a 3-1 edge there, before Svitolina reeled off the next six points to claim the set, shaking a clenched fist and yelling, “Let’s go!”After Putintseva dominated the second set, the third was even at 4-all before she pulled...

Concerned parents demand safety dialogue with Denver Public Schools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Parents and students at Denver’s East High School say they have fears and concerns as classes are set to resume in just a couple of days.A group of parents has now formed to demand the school board and district be more transparent about their safety plan. This new effort is taking place after two administrators were shot there just before spring break. 2 gun bills await the governor’s signature The new organization is called the "Parents - Safety Advocacy Group," which says it wants more transparency from the district. They want to know what the district will do to keep their kids safe.East High parent: 'We've been told nothing'Shortly after the shooting at Denver East almost two weeks ago, Denver Public Schools said it would place armed school resource officers on campus to help protect students.“In the 10 days since the most recent shooting. We’ve been told nothing from the DPS board. Nothing about safety improvements at our school except for the return of school...

2 gun bills await the governor's signature

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — State senators approved amendments to two gun violence prevention measures at the Capitol on Monday, sending the legislation to the governor's desk for final approval.Senators approved changes that statehouse representatives made to bills expanding who can file for an extreme risk protection order under the state's red flag law and increasing the minimum purchasing age to buy any firearm in the state to 21. 2 street racers sentenced in death of 21-year-old and her dog Both of these measures will now head to Gov. Jared Polis for his consideration to be signed into law. Senators also went over amendments to a third gun proposal. This bill looks to make it easier for gun violence victims to sue gun manufacturers. Senate sponsors rejected changes representatives made to that measure and asked for a conference committee meeting to explore compromises on that bill before sending it to the governor.

'She was killing the demons in her life': Sanity the focus in Stauch murder trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KDVR) — Opening statements were heard Monday in the trial of a woman accused of killing her 11-year-old stepson at their Colorado home and disposing of his body in Florida.Letecia Stauch, now 39, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the killing of her stepson, Gannon. She faces multiple counts, including first-degree murder, child abuse and tampering with evidence.Stauch appeared in court on Monday wearing a white shirt with floral designs. Her hair covered her face. Gannon Stauch's mother overcome with emotionThe prosecution opened by presenting a picture of 11-year-old Gannon Stauch. The photo and the first words of the prosecution’s case immediately sent Gannon’s biological mother, Landen, running out of the courtroom, overcome with emotion. Colorado is poised to raise the gun-buying age to 21, expand the red flag law Both the prosecution and defense brought the details of Gannon’s death: how he was stabbed 18 times and then shot three t...