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Russia OKs alternative civil service for mobilized believer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A court in Russia has affirmed the right of a man mobilized to fight in Ukraine to instead do alternative civil service on grounds of his religious beliefs, setting a precedent that could empower more reluctant draftees to try and get out of military service.Resistance against the mobilization in Russia last year has been quite common, even though the authorities said they were able to call up some 300,000 men, as was planned. Tens of thousands of men fled the country, and some of those who stayed avoided enlistment officials and ignored the summons. Others contested enlistment in courts, including by claiming their right for alternative civil service.The Leningrad Regional Court upheld a ruling of a lower court on Thursday that deemed the drafting of Pavel Mushumansky unlawful and affirmed his right for alternative civil service, Mushumansky’s lawyer Alexander Peredruk reported.Peredruk told The Associated Press in a phone interview that it is the firs...

$20K reward for information on East Colfax homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Metro Denver Crime Stoppers has just increased the reward for information on a 2020 homicide in the East Colfax neighborhood.Officers with the Denver Police Department are looking for any information related to a homicide that took place on Sept. 10, 2020. The reward is now up to $20,000. Driver, passenger shot while turning onto Colfax Avenue According to DPD, the shooting happened at 3:55 a.m. in the 1700 block of North Quebec Street and North Quince Street in the East Colfax neighborhood. When police arrived to the scene they located Zackary Smith who had been shot and killed. Police are looking for information on a 2020 homicide case that killed the above victim, Zackary Smith. (Metro Denver Crime Stoppers)Nearly three years later, police are asking anyone who has information regarding this homicide to call the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for the cash reward of up to $20,000.

Finally, Denver has its 1st measurable snow of March

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — It only took two weeks, but Denver International Airport finally recorded its first amount of measurable snow for the month of March. While Thursday's snowstorm didn't end with any major totals, according to the National Weather Service it dropped 1.5 inches of snow at DIA marking it the first measurable snow of the month.While Thursday's snowstorm didn't end with any major totals, some areas saw measurable snow. Normally, March is Denver's snowiest month with an average of 11.5 inches of accumulation. But this year, March has had a drier start than usual putting the city way behind track for monthly snowfall. Cool, wet end of March possible in Colorado However, Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Travis Michels said we are still above our seasonal total of snowfall to date. DIA was above average for snowfall through February, and even with a drier-than-normal March, the city is still exceeding its normal snowfall. As of Thursday, DIA has seen 43.1 inches of snow, and o...

Boar rescued from 'hogging the roadway'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- Colorado State Patrol and Larimer County Sheriff's deputies respond to a variety of situations, but one particular call was quite different.Troopers and deputies rescued a 350-pound boar that got out of its pen and ended up roaming about. They were able to keep the animal calm until a brand inspector showed up to help get it back to the owner. It not only made for a fun, happy-ending story, but it also gave the Sheriff's Office a chance to be punny. Stray pig with overgrown hooves finds forever home "If one thing's for certain, it's that this job is never boaring... Deputies recently responded to the report of a loose animal hogging the roadway. It's unclear where this little piggie was going (initially said he had gone to the market, then he said he was going home, but we suspect he may have escaped from the pen)," the Larimer County Sheriff's Office posted on its Facebook page. But the boar wasn't the only pig in the news. Nexstar's KXRM in Color...

U.S. Army parachute team member dies in training accident at Homestead Air Reserve Base

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

HOMESTEAD, Florida (AP) — A member of the U.S. Army Parachute Team has died after sustaining injuries during a training jump at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Homestead, Florida.Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ty Kettenhofen died Monday, the Army said in a news release. He joined the Golden Knights parachute team in 2020 and had over 1,000 jumps with the Army.“The U.S. Army Parachute Team is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own,” said Lt. Col. Andy Moffit, Golden Knights Parachute Team commander. He noted that Kettenhofen is being remembered “for his sense of humor, joy of life and accomplishments as a senior non-commissioned officer and demonstration parachutist.”The accident remains under investigation. The Army said no additional details are available.“Our hearts and faith are with his family and friends as we grieve and heal with them. Ty will be honored and remembered as a Golden Knight, Soldier, and friend.”The Golden Knights are made up of several expert teams, inc...

FDOT implements wrong-way detection tech on Miami-Dade off-ramps to reduce crashes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

Officials want drivers to steer clear of changes that are coming to various highway ramps in South Florida. The Florida Department of Transportation said that there are 95 exit ramps across Miami-Dade County that pose a risk for wrong-way crashes. In response, the agency wants to keep everyone safe.As a part of phase one, FDOT has already retrofitted 11 of the off-ramps with the new technology. The agency still has 84 more off-ramps to go. “The most wrong-way crashes, vehicles are hit head-on, resulting in 81%of wrong-way driving fatalities,” said FDOT Major Roger Reyes. “Head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous and deadly crashes.”Now, FDOT is making an effort to reduce the number of wrong-way crashes in Miami-Dade County. Drivers will see improvements along various ramps as a part of the agency’s Wrong-way Initiative Program. Part of that program includes wrong-way detection systems, some of which are already in place at intersections like In...

Miami brings balance, unselfishness into NCAA Tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — The voters deciding the Atlantic Coast Conference’s player of the year say Isaiah Wong is Miami’s best player.He might be. Then again, so might Jordan Miller. Or Norchad Omier. Or Nijel Pack. It almost varies by game.Such is the strength of Miami heading into the NCAA Tournament.The ACC’s regular-season co-champions are one of only two teams that made the field of 68 to have four players averaging at least 13 points per game (Xavier is the other). It’s the sort of production keeps defenses guessing and a good argument for suggesting the Hurricanes have a shot at making another deep tournament run.“One of the best teams in the country,” Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes said. “They’re elite on offense. I don’t think they get enough credit by the way they defend. Their guards are really fast. They can really move their feet. They’re physical. They’re handsy. … They have an outstanding team.”Not only are they deep and balanced — Wong, Miller, Om...

Deal! NHS unions strike pay pact with ministers after months of UK strikes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

LONDON — Trade unions representing health workers in England landed on a pay deal with the government after a wave of strikes that piled pressure on the country’s health service.Citing the soaring cost of living and long-running wage stagnation, members of key health unions have been pushing for above-inflation pay increases, and taken part in a series of strikes in recent months to hammer the point home. In a breakthrough statement Thursday, the government said it had “completed negotiations and reached a final offer” with the NHS Staff Council, which represents health service employers and a host of unions. “This includes additional pay for 2022/23 and a pay settlement for 2023/24,” the statement said.“Both sides believe it represents a fair and reasonable settlement that acknowledges the dedication of NHS staff, while acknowledging the wider economic pressures currently facing the U.K.” Strikes will be paused while unions consul...

Das Auto debate — Activist Bill Browder on Russia’s political prisoners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Google Play EN_Google_Podcasts_Badge Created with Sketch. Stitcher .st0{fill:#EB8A23;} .st1{fill:#FAC617;} .st2{fill:#612368;} .st3{fill:#3792C4;} .st4{fill:#C33727;} We debate Germany’s last-minute effort to derail EU plans to end the sale of combustion engines by 2035. And our special guest is author and activist Bill Browder, discussing how the EU can take a stronger stance on punishing human rights...

ECB keeps eye firmly on inflation amid banking crisis fears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

FRANKFURT — The European Central Bank moved to raise interest rates by a half percentage point to 3 percent Thursday, sticking to its previous guidance even as fears of a new financial crisis roiled markets in recent days.Policymakers opted to prioritize a continued fight against stubbornly high inflation over financial stability concerns, noting that “inflation is projected to remain too high for too long.”After the collapse of two U.S. banks and turmoil at Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse, worries about a potential banking crisis spooked markets and raised doubts over whether the ECB would keep to its previously signaled rate path. The decision to stick to the well-flagged rate hike may, though, expose ECB President Christine Lagarde to criticism that she is repeating mistakes made by one of her predecessors, Jean-Claude Trichet, who raised rates into the 2011 sovereign debt crisis arguing that anchoring inflation expectations is the best way to boost confidence in the single cur...