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Biden will mark the anniversary of a gun safety law signed after the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just a year ago, President Joe Biden signed the first significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in nearly three decades.It was a good start, Biden has said, but it didn’t go far enough.On Friday, the Democratic president will speak at a summit in Connecticut highlighting how the sweeping law has been implemented so far. He’ll also use it as a moment to push for universal background checks and the banning of so-called “assault weapons.” Those are part of a 2024 political platform that was unthinkable to Democrats as recently as Barack Obama’s term. The gathering is being led by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and major gun safety groups hoping to build on recent progress.“We actually had it wrong for a long time. We left an opportunity on the table for decades,” Murphy said of the push for gun safety legislation.Even before the Sandy Hook massacre in Murphy’s state in 2012 spurred him to action, there was a mythology around Democratic el...

German police appeal for witness footage of attack in which Americans were thrown into Alpine gorge

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Police in southern Germany are appealing for further pictures and videos taken by witnesses of an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which an American man allegedly pushed two women down a steep slope, killing one of them. A suspect was arrested following the attack.German news agency dpa quoted police Friday saying that they have so far only received about a dozen submissions on a specially created website, but assume much more footage was taken by tourists present at the site at the time on Wednesday.“We are looking for photographs which, by chance, show two young women and a man (approx. 30 years old) who were staying east of the Marienbruecke,” Kempten police said on their website. “These persons may have been walking together or separately.”The Marienbruecke, or Mary’s Bridge, is a popular vantage point for photos of Neuschwanstein, the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century. According to the initial police invest...

Bill Gates meets Chinese president Xi Jinping on China visit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping just days after a visit to Beijing by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The state broadcaster CCTV showed Xi saying he was happy to see Gates, who he called an “old friend,” after three years without meeting during the pandemic. “I believe that the foundation of Sino-U.S. relations lies in the people,” Xi said to Gates. “Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.”Gates told Xi he was “very honored” to meet with Xi. The visits by leading foreign business people have coincided with efforts by the ruling Communist Party to revive investor interest in China’s slowing economy. Apple CEO Tim Cook visited China in March. Tensions between the U.S. and China have festered in recent years, but recently the two sides have held talks on trade and other issues. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expecte...

Dead body found in Savoy believed to be stabbing suspect

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

SAVOY, Mass. (NEWS10) -- According to the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office, a dead body found Thursday morning in Savoy is believed to be domestic stabbing suspect Jeffrey Cote. Police were searching for Cote for over a week. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the District Attorney's Office, Massachusetts State Police and K9 units continued their search of Cote's property in Savoy, trying to find him. A second search was deemed necessary after an unsuccessful weeklong investigation into his whereabouts. Roughly two hours into their search Thursday morning, a member of the Mass. State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) found a dead body believed to be Cote, per the District Attorney's Office. Home builder accused of grand larceny, scheme to defraud Preliminary investigations suggest no evidence of foul play surrounding the death, however, the investigation is ongoing. The District Attorne...

UAlbany Football takes part in community clean up

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The UAlbany Football team took part in some late spring cleaning in downtown Albany Thursday afternoon in conjunction with Hood's House of Hoops. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! A large portion of the team, including members of the coaching staff, helped clean first and second street in addition to other surrounding areas as a part of a community clean-up event. Giving back is something the players and coaches believe is a necessity in the capital region."I think it's awesome to give back to your community no matter where you are and what you're doing," said Ozzie Hutchinson. "I think as football players, we have a platform that we stand on, and I think it's awesome that people in the community get to see us out here and look to us as a positive outlet."For associate head coach Jared Ambrose, giving back is something he holds close to his heart."Think it's a necessity. I feel blessed every day that ...

Finland's right-wing parties strike deal to form government

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

Finland's conservative National Coalition (NCP), winner of April's parliamentary election, has reached agreement to form a majority government with the eurosceptic, anti-immigration Finns Party and two smaller groups, its leader said on Thursday (15 June)."All issues have been resolved and the papers are ready," said NCP leader Petteri Orpo, a fiscal conservative set to become Finland's next prime minister, referring to the government programme.By getting the NCP, the nationalist Finns, minority-language Swedish People's Party and the Christian Democrats to agree on a common platform, Orpo shifts Finnish politics to the right and sends left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin into opposition.During 11-week talks over how to govern Finland during the coming four years the Finns and the Swedish People's Party had struggled to agree on immigration, climate policy and public finances, but reached a compromise in the end.Orpo's government is expected to curb the fiscal deficit by cutting une...

Temecula’s Old Town Music Festival is Your Perfect Weekend Excursion

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

Looking for something to do this weekend around the LA area? I have the most perfect event for you, it’s called the Old Town Music Festival in Temecula  and let me tell you it’s a blast! I had the honor to attend last year and the energy of just being there was something else.Here’s a little bit on what you can expect. It’s at The Temecula Stampede that has been a pillar in Old Town Temecula since 1995 and has sincegained a reputation as the West Coast’s largest country music venue including weekly line dancing lessons, dance floor, mechanical bull riding, full bar, a spacious patio, and concert events. Ken and Brandie Newman, founders and owners of Newman Hospitality Group purchased the legendary Temecula Stampede in 2020. They launched the popular Old Town Music Festival in 2021. Ken & Brandie’s love of entertainment and hospitality created an eagerness to bring additional business to the Temecula Valley. This led them to turn the Old Town Music Festival into an annual event w...

Ask Amy: I realized too late I was on speaker phone

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

Dear Amy: More and more people seem to use their speaker phone when they’re on personal calls.This makes it very difficult to have any comfortably “private” conversations, because very often you don’t know the phone is on speaker until someone in the room replies to something you thought you were discussing privately!I’ve asked and re-asked that they let me know when my calls are being broadcast.The answer I get most often is: “We have no secrets here” or, “When we get to talking about private things, I turn it off.”That’s fine for them, but it doesn’t help me.All too often, I have to think back on our conversation to assure myself that nothing untoward was discussed before realizing I was likely sharing my private thoughts with brothers, sisters, mates, the dog or cat.Please, what more can I do to stop this great invasion of my personal privacy?– Angry and FrustratedDear Angry: Some people reflexively use their speaker bec...

Harriette Cole: It hurt my feelings when he treated me like a buddy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: A guy that I used to date — and remained good friends with — recently told me about his plans to propose to his girlfriend. He was asking for advice.We have remained friends after our breakup, but I never expected him to seek my input on such an intimate matter. To be honest, it hurt my feelings more than I thought it would. I understand that he values my opinion and trusts me, but I cannot help feeling a bit upset.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I feel terrible that I hurt their feelings on social media Advice | Harriette Cole: I wonder if they think I’m trying to poach their men Advice | Harriette Cole: Three of my friends are dead, and I’m freaking out Advice | Harriette Cole: Anytime I complain, she implies I’m a coward Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m afraid her fashion choice is dangerous I do not want to let my discomfort be too obvious by p...

A Conversation With Joe Manchin’s Former Right Hand, Scott Sears

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:02:25 GMT

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says he’s leaving his options open when asked about a presidential run. No Labels, a centrist political organization, is looking to run a split ticket between one Republican and one Democrat. Manchin is considered the likeliest candidate and has dropped increasing hints that he is considering it. This week on Deconstructed, Daniel Boguslaw, politics reporter at The Intercept, interviews Manchin’s former political operative and right-hand man, Scott Sears, about the senator’s career and political ambitions. Sears helped Manchin secure political wins across the state before switching parties and throwing it all in for Donald Trump.Transcript coming soon. The post A Conversation With Joe Manchin’s Former Right Hand, Scott Sears appeared first on The Intercept.