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What would ECOWAS’ threat to use force to restore democracy in Niger look like?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The stance of West Africa’s regional bloc known as ECOWAS in the military takeover in Niger is clear: “We will stand with our people in our commitment to the rule of law,” its chairman, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, said at the body’s meeting this week.The 15-nation bloc summoned its defense chiefs to discuss its threat to “take all measures necessary (that) may include the use of force” if ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within one week. ECOWAS is resolved to use military force after economic and travel sanctions used against the coup plotters failed, according to a Western diplomat in Niamey who did not want to be identified for security reasons.How the bloc would carry out its threat remains unclear given its lack of coordination in providing security regionally and formally with the U.S. State Department in Niger, said Aneliese Bernard, director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors. “There’s not enough actual trust among EC...

Alaska child fatally shot by other child moments after playing with toy guns, troopers say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Moments after two children were playing with toy guns, one of the children picked up a real rifle in a western Alaska home and fatally shot the other child, authorities said.Alaska State Troopers were notified by both tribal and local police Sunday of the child’s death in Mountain Village, the statewide law enforcement agency said.Troopers responded and found “two children were playing with Nerf guns when one of them picked up a rifle and shot the other one,” the troopers said in an online statement.Village health aides declared the child dead, and the body will be sent to Anchorage for an autopsy.The child got the rifle inside the home where the shooting occurred, and an adult was inside the home at the time, troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel told the Anchorage Daily News.No criminal charges have been filed, and McDaniel said the investigation is ongoing. The Anchorage newspaper reported it’s rare for a gun owner in Alaska to be prosecuted when someone ...

Report says 3 died of blunt force injuries, asphyxiation in Iowa building collapse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Three men killed in a downtown Davenport apartment building collapse more than two months ago died of blunt-force injuries and asphyxiation, Iowa’s health agency said. The finding released Monday by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services declared the deaths of 42-year-old Branden Colvin Sr., 51-year-old Ryan Hitchcock and 60-year-old Daniel Prien as accidental. All had suffered multiple crush injuries and “mechanical asphyxiation,” a term used to indicate that an object or body position prevented a person from breathing. The partial collapse of the century-old, six-story brick building near Davenport’s riverside also injured several people and displaced dozens of people. An investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the deadly collapse.Questions remain about why residents were allowed to stay in the building, despite many warnings that the building was unstable. Those warnings were issued by structural engineers, masons, city inspecto...

Woman dies after road rage incident on DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman has died after being shot in an apparent road rage incident Sunday.The medical examiner has identified her as 37-year-old Nancy Padilla of Chicago.The shooting happened just after 8 p.m. Sunday in the 2299 block of South DuSable Lake Shore Drive. According to police, Padilla and a 26-year-old man were driving northbound on Lake Shore Drive, when a Nissan sedan cut them off.The victims beeped their horn and the sedan pulled up alongside their vehicle and an occupant inside fired shots, police said.Padilla was struck in the neck and was transported to Northwestern Hospital in critical condition. According to the medical examiner, she died Monday. Teen girls shot, 1 fatally, during gathering on South Side The man sustained a graze wound to the back and refused medical attention, police said.No one is in custody. Area Three detectives are investigating.

Indiana providing funds for teacher firearms training

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana school districts now have the ability to request state funding for teacher handgun training if they so choose, and districts that opt-in could then allow certified teachers to carry on school grounds. However, not every district is on board with the idea.HB 1177, which passed last legislative session, stipulates districts would need to approve allowing staff to carry in the first place before any teacher could carry in the classroom. Teachers would also need to pass the MMPI-2, a standard psychological evaluation and 42.5 hours of firearms training with a qualified instructor.”This is a fill-in-the-gap," Derrick Turner, who owns Bare Arms, LLC, and Forged Kinetics, said. "It’s appropriate training." PAST: Indiana bill could fund handgun training for teachers Turner currently runs a gun shop and a gun range. A large multipurpose room he's currently renovating could soon start preparing teachers for what to do in the event of a school shooting. "They can get e...

There will be a first at Super Bowl LVIII thanks to Nickelodeon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

NEW YORK — No matter what goes down on the field in Las Vegas on February 11, 2024, there will be a major first for the biggest game in professional football.That has to do with a unique broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII.For the first time, there will be an alternate telecast of the NFL championship with Nickelodeon getting the opportunity to present a more kid-focused broadcast as the traditional presentation of the game airs on CBS. It will be angled more toward the younger fans of the sports with a blending of sports and pop culture into the broadcast.It also features some of the unique characters from Nickelodeon shows along with the network's famous slime, which had appeared in on-screen animations during previous broadcasts. "We're thrilled to partner with CBS Sports and Nickelodeon to present the first alternate telecast of the Super Bowl," said NFL media executive vice president Hans Schroeder said in a statement on the NFL's website. "Our previous telecasts on Nickelodeon have ...

Great Wolf Lodge holds $84 one-day flash sale for end of year stays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

GURNEE, Ill. — Great Wolf Lodge, where the indoor waterpark air is always 84 degrees, is celebrating 8/4 with an $84 flash sale.All 22 locations across the U.S., plus the one in Canada, will offer the deal for one day only. However, it can be used to book stays through Dec. 23, 2023. ‘Very loud’ NASA research flyover lifts off; flight path released Here are the details:Use the promo code 84DEGREES when booking on Aug. 4The rate will be available for select Sunday-Thursday night stays 8/4/23 through 12/23/23There are a limited number of rooms which will qualifyThe $84 price does not include taxes and resort feesFull details of the deal will be listed on the "deals" page for the specific lodge in which customers are interested. Here's the link to the lodge closest to Chicago, located in Gurnee: https://www.greatwolf.com/illinois/deals

16-year-old Chick-Fil-A worker sent home over 'unnatural' hair color

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

HARRISBURG, N.C. (WJZY) -- Sixteen-year-old Autumn Williams is still trying to understand how the blonde hair color in her braids was deemed unnatural at her Chick-Fil-A job.She says she felt singled out and embarrassed.She'd only been working at a Chick-Fil-A in Harrisburg, North Carolina, for three months before she was pulled aside for an apparent uniform violation. What she was told caught her caught off guard. Henrietta Lacks family settles suit over use of cells taken without consent "She was like, 'Hey, one of our supervisors came by and said they noticed blonde in your hair, and he asked that you leave and come back when it's taken out since it's an unnatural color to you,'" Williams said.This is the color Williams says she had at the time:(Courtesy of Autumn Williams)"I don't know what blonde is in my hair because my braids were brown, and there wasn't blonde in them, (even though) my natural hair color is blonde," Williams said. "And the guy, when I had orientation, he n...

Taco Bell sued over its Crunchwrap, Mexican Pizza advertisements

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

(WTRF) – A man in New York has filed a class-action lawsuit against Taco Bell, alleging that the company misrepresented the amount of beef, beans and other ingredients in advertisements for its Crunchwrap Supreme and Mexican Pizza items.Frank Siragusa filed the lawsuit on behalf of any customers in New York who purchased the Crunchwrap Supreme, the Grande Crunchwrap, the Vegan Crunchwrap, the Mexican Pizza, or the Veggie Mexican Pizza, claiming false advertising and deceptive photography."Taco Bell’s advertisements for the Overstated Menu Items are unfair and financially damaging to consumers as they are receiving a product that is materially lower in value than what is being promised," the lawsuit alleges.The documents submitted by Siragusa also included comparisons of Taco Bell advertisements against actual products received by the customer. "Taco Bell's actions are especially concerning now that inflation, food, and meat prices are very high and many consumers, especially lo...

Parents of missing Eagan man establish nonprofit to honor him, support families coping with loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:40 GMT

The parents of a 23-year-old missing from Eagan since October announced they have established a nonprofit organization — Bryce’s Blessings — to honor him and support bereaved families coping with the loss of a child.Bryce Borca’s last known location was Fort Snelling State Park at the end of Yankee Doodle Road in Eagan. He was trying to walk home after a night out with friends.Bryce Borca (Courtesy of the family via Eagan Police Department)“These last 9 months have been devastating to us and our family and friends,” Troy and Carina Borca said Tuesday in a statement. “Through our faith and our will to fight on, we continue to live each day in a way that would make Bryce proud. To this end, so many of our family and friends have asked what they can do to support us. Those questions have led us down a different path than we anticipated 9 long months ago.”Bryce’s Blessings is a 501(c)(3) organization with “a mission to provide lasting impact and financial support to be...