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Firefighters battling to contain Southern California wildfire though many homes remain threatened

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

AGUANGA, Calif. (AP) — More than 1,200 firefighters are attacking a big Southern California wildfire, and fire officials said Wednesday they’ve made inroads in containing the flames though many homes remain threatened.The size of the Highland Fire remained unchanged at just under 4 square miles (10 square kilometers) after minimal overnight activity but containment grew to 15%, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.One firefighter was reported injured as crews tackled the fire, aided by air tankers and helicopters.Gusty, dry Santa Ana winds were blowing Monday when the fire erupted near rural Aguanga in Riverside County about 53 miles (85 kilometers) north of San Diego. Evacuation orders were issued for 4,000 residents as flames spread rapidly in the brush-covered hill country.As of Wednesday morning, Cal Fire tallied seven structures destroyed, six damaged and 2,356 threatened. At least two of those were homes destroyed by the flames, r...

Player’s death from a skate cut to the neck in England leads to more NHL talks on cut protection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The death of American hockey player Adam Johnson from a skate blade to the neck in a game in England is leading to further discussions about cut-resistant protection in the NHL and other leagues.Commissioner Gary Bettman and Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh touched based Sunday in the immediate aftermath of the death to set up further talks between the league and union. For several years the two sides have been studying skate cut injuries and how to reduce and avoid them, and now the topic has taken on greater urgency at various levels of the sport.“We’re going to explore everything,” Walsh said Wednesday. “We have to continue to have conversations on this as we move forward here. It’s a change for the players, but it’s also about protecting them, so I think we will have those conversations as we move forward here.”Johnson, a 29-year-old from Minnesota, died at a hospital after being cut in the neck by the skate...

Federal Reserve leaves its key rate unchanged but keeps open possibility of a future hike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

FILE - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at a meeting of the Economic Club of New York, Oct. 19, 2023, in New York. The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates alone when its latest meeting ends Wednesday. But economists will be listening closely to what Chair Jerome Powell says about the possible future path for rates.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, file)(AP/Seth Wenig) FILE - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at a meeting of the Economic Club of New York, Oct. 19, 2023, in New York. The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates alone when its latest meeting ends Wednesday. But economists will be listening closely to what Chair Jerome Powell says about the possible future path for rates.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, file)(AP/Seth Wenig...

Former Memphis officer charged in Tyre Nichols death to change plea in federal court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A former Memphis police officer is changing his not guilty plea on federal charges that he violated Tyre Nichols ‘ civil rights by fatally beating him after a traffic stop in January.A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for Thursday for Desmond Mills Jr., according to court documents and his lawyer.Mills and four other former Memphis Police Department officers have been charged in federal court with using excessive force and conspiring to lie after they were caught on camera punching, kicking and hitting Nichols with a police baton on Jan. 7. Nichols died three days later in a hospital. The five former officers also have pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in state court.Mills’ lawyer, Blake Ballin, said he could not discuss details of the plea agreement, including which charges it pertains to. Ballin said Mills was changing his plea “to take responsibility for his actions.” Mills also plans to enter a plea agreement in state court, bu...

Colorado State Patrol warns of increasing vehicle fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you're in the market for a used vehicle, the Colorado State Patrol wants you to beware of any possible scams.The patrol and certified VIN inspectors are seeing a rise in vehicle fraud cases. These cases range from false titles and tampered-with odometers to the sale of stolen vehicles. Often, these vehicles will be an "unbelievable" deal compared to similar cars. See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31 The Colorado State Patrol reminded buyers that signs a car sale is a scam include:The vehicle is listed for a much lower price than comparable vehiclesA private seller lists the vehicle and asks for cash only. This is especially true if the seller is appealing to emotions (i.e., "only selling to pay my bills," or "I need to make rent").The seller's account on Facebook marketplace, eBay, Craigslist and other person-to-person sale sites has little to no content or is nearly blank, which could indicate the seller is trying to leave little trace of them...

Denver weather: A mild and dry start to November across Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — While it was a cloudy first day of November in Denver weather, temperatures were still able to reach seasonal levels in the upper 50s to low 60s. According to Pinpoint Weather, Colorado’s Most Accurate Forecast, the outlook for the next week looks to be above normal and mainly dry across Denver and the Front Range.Denver averages for the month of NovemberWeather Wednesday night: Slowly clearing and coldClouds will stick around across Denver through Wednesday evening before slowly clearing overnight. The wind will be light and generally from a southwesterly direction. Temperatures will be cold again with below-freezing readings across the state. The coldest lows will be recorded in the teens mainly in the mountain valleys.Overnight lows by Thursday morning across ColoaradoWeather Thursday: Sunny skies and milderWe will have more sunshine on Thursday across Colorado and metro Denver. The wind will be from a warm westerly direction. There may be some high clou...

Judge indicates she may delay Trump trial on charges he hid classified documents at Mar-a-Lago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge in Florida indicated Wednesday that she may delay the start of the classified documents trial of Donald Trump, pointing to the other criminal cases the former president is facing as well as the mounds of evidence his attorneys need to review.Trump’s trial on charges that he hid classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and obstructed government efforts to get them back is currently scheduled for May 20, 2024.But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon appeared ready to side with Trump’s attorneys in their request to postpone the trial, saying she “has a hard time seeing how realistically this (current schedule) would work” even as prosecutors pushed her to keep the scheduled start date.The classified documents case filed by special counsel Jack Smith’s team is one of four Trump is facing that could go to trial next year. Another federal case, also brought by Smith and charging him with scheming to overturn the results of...

Lake Como bursts its banks as violent storm pounds Northern Italy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

Rome and Milan, Italy (CNN) — A storm that brought heavy rain and violent winds to Northern Italy overnight and early Tuesday sent rapid floods through central Milan and caused Lake Como to breach its banks.Several waterside bars were flooded at the lake — a popular tourist attraction — while civil protection authorities were forced to pump out water from areas nearby and erect mobile barriers.The Seveso, a river that runs through the municipalities of Como, Monza e Brianza and Milan, also broke its banks, according to Italy’s civil protection agency.Parts of Milan became inaccessible, while social media posts showed water gushing down stairs into underground train stations and pedestrians falling down or clinging to poles during strong gusts of wind.The city’s safety councilor, Marco Granelli, said the winds felled trees, tore down scaffolding and ripped off roof tiles. Electricity was cut in several parts of the city as a precaution while authorities worked to clean up downed...

Flight school: Pilot who crashed in Everglades expected to make full recovery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

A pilot is on the mend after his airplane went down in the Florida Everglades.The victim’s Cessna Skyhawk crashed in the swamp of Southwest Broward during the overnight hours of Tuesday morning.Authorities responded to the scene of the crash in the area of Mack’s Fish Camp, located at 18599 Krome Avenue, just after 10 a.m.The pilot was spotted clinging to a wing and suffering from a leg injury.Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews hoisted him from the partially submerged aircraft.The pilot’s flight school said he’s doing better and should make a full recovery.

Florida Panthers bracing to be without Sam Bennett again after another lower-body injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:56 GMT

The Florida Panthers started the season without Sam Bennett, and they are bracing to be without him once again.How long this absence will be is still unclear.Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters after the team practiced in Detroit on Wednesday that the reigning Eastern Conference champions aren’t sure on the prognosis for Bennett, Florida’s fourth-leading scorer in last season’s playoffs. Bennett missed the first seven games of this season with a lower-body injury, returned for about 8 minutes of ice time in Monday’s 3-2 loss at Boston, and got hurt again after Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm fell on him in front of the net.Bennett needed to be helped off the ice, unable to put any weight on his left leg.“He’s not day-to-day. He’s going to be a little longer,” Maurice said. “We don’t think it’s as significant as the first one. Have to see how he feels. What happens in the first three days will tell us how long it’s going to be.”Florida plays at Detroi...