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Suspicious letter prompts Kansas to evacuate secretary of state’s building

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas secretary of state’s office received a letter Tuesday containing what Secretary Scott Schwab called “a suspicious substance.” Officials evacuated the building for the rest of the day.Schwab’s office serves as the state’s top elections authority, and the incident occurred less than a week after election offices in at least five states states received threatening mail. Some of that mail contained the potentially dangerous opioid fentanyl.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, taking the lead in the case, did not provide further details about the letter received Tuesday, and Schwab did not say what the suspicious substance was. “With recent events, we take such things as a suspicious substance very serious,” Schwab said in a text to The Associated Press. “Our team is trained if they see something, say something.”The KBI is working with the Kansas Highway Patrol, the state fire marshal’s office and the state Department of Health ...

Israeli defense officials agree to allow fuel into Gaza for humanitarian purposes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli defense officials say they have agreed to allow fuel shipments into the Gaza Strip for humanitarian operations.It is the first time that Israel has allowed fuel into the besieged territory since the Hamas militant group’s bloody cross-border invasion on Oct. 7.Israel declared war and barred fuel shipments after the attack, saying Hamas would divert supplies for military use. But the fuel shortages have crippled operations at Gaza hospitals, which run on generators, and hindered the U.N. from delivering humanitarian services.COGAT, the Israeli defense body responsible for Palestinian affairs announced early Wednesday that it would allow U.N. trucks to refill at the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border later Wednesday. It said the decision was in response to a request from the U.S.UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, warned late Tuesday that its fuel-storage facility in Gaza had run dry and that it would soon be forced to halt operat...

By razor-thin margin, Bob Anderson defeats Loudoun Co. Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

Bob Anderson defeated incumbent Buta Biberaj in her reelection bid for Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney, according to results certified by the Virginia county’s office of elections Tuesday — one week after Election Day.Anderson, who held the post more than 20 years ago, edged out Biberaj by 300 votes, or 0.22% of the vote. Biberaj has not yet conceded the race, the results of which are close enough for her to request a recount under Virginia law. She has not said whether she will request a recount.The final tally saw Anderson with 68,068 votes and Biberaj with 67,768.Biberaj has faced criticism — including within her own party — over her management of the office and her prosecution of the father of a high school rape victim. That father was eventually pardoned by Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.Biberaj was sworn in as Loudoun County’s first elected female Commonwealth’s attorney in 2020. She touted a drop in violent crime in the county during her year...

Baltimore’s Brandon Hyde, Miami’s Skip Schumaker win Manager of the Year honors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

Brandon Hyde was voted American League Manager of the Year on Tuesday night after guiding the Baltimore Orioles to an AL-best 101 victories just two years after a 110-loss season.Miami’s Skip Schumaker won the National League award in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.Hyde led Baltimore out of a difficult rebuild in which the Orioles improved to 83-79 in 2022, when Hyde finished second in voting to Cleveland’s Terry Francona. Baltimore was more than ready to take the next step this season thanks to a sparkling core of young talent. Infielder Gunnar Henderson was a unanimous AL Rookie of the Year of Monday night.Hyde earned 27 of 30 first-place votes, with Bruce Bochy of Texas receiving the other three. Two-time winner Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay finished third.Schumaker led Miami to an 84-78 record — including 33-14 in one-run games — in his first season at the helm. The Marlins lost to Philadelphia in the Wild Card Series.The voting by the BBW...

Israel says it will allow fuel shipments into the Gaza Strip for humanitarian operations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel says it will allow fuel shipments into the Gaza Strip for humanitarian operations.Source

UC Davis earns 68-53 win against North Dakota State

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Elijah Pepper scored 24 points as UC Davis beat North Dakota State 68-53 on Tuesday night.Pepper also contributed seven rebounds for the Aggies (3-1). Ty Johnson scored eight points while shooting 3 of 6 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line, and added six rebounds. Leo DeBruhl shot 2 of 4 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line to finish with eight points.Boden Skunberg led the Bison (2-2) in scoring, finishing with 12 points and eight rebounds. Damari Wheeler-Thomas added nine points for North Dakota State. Jacari White also had eight points.UC Davis’ next game is Sunday against Sacramento State at home. North Dakota State visits Montana on Thursday.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

‘March for Israel’ brings big crowds, traffic restrictions to National Mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

Israeli and American flags in hand, thousands of demonstrators gathered on the National Mall Tuesday to put forward a unified voice against Hamas during a “March for Israel.”The march comes more than a month after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Hamas terrorist organization.The Jewish Federations of North America and Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations put the event together.The rally was scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The demonstration’s National Park Service permit, which is based upon information provided by the organizers, said up to 60,000 people were anticipated at the event.According to organizers, the event was “an opportunity to come together in solidarity with the people of Israel, to demonstrate our commitment to America’s most important ally in the Middle East, to condemn the rising trend of antisemitic violence and harassment, and to demand that every hostage be immediately and safely released.” Some 240 hostag...

Notable Labs: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

MODI`IN , Israel (AP) — MODI`IN, Israel (AP) — Notable Labs, Ltd. (NTBL) on Tuesday reported a loss of $1.1 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Modi`In, Israel-based company said it had a loss of 48 cents._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NTBL at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NTBLSource

AL Managers of the Year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

Selected by the Baseball Writer’s Association of America:2023 — Brandon Hyde, Baltimore2022 — Terry Francona, Cleveland2021 — Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay2020 — Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay2019 — Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota2018 — Bob Melvin, Oakland2017 — Paul Molitor, Minnesota2016 — Terry Francona, Cleveland2015 — Jeff Banister, Texas2014 — Buck Showalter, Baltimore2013 — Terry Francona, Cleveland2012 — Bob Melvin, Oakland2011 — Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay2010 — Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota2009 — Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles2008 — Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay2007 — Eric Wedge, Cleveland2006 — Jim Leyland, Detroit2005 — Ozzie Guillen, Chicago2004 — Buck Showalter, Texas2003 — Tony Pena, Kansas City2002 — Mike Scioscia, Anaheim2001 — Lou Piniella, Seattle2000 — Jerry Manuel, Chicago1999 — Jimy Williams, Boston1998 — Joe Torre, New York1997 — Davey Johnson, Baltimore1996 — Johnny Oates, Texas, and Joe Torre, New York1995 — Lou Piniella, Seattle1994 — Buck Showalter, New York1993 — Gene Lamont, Chicago1992 — Ton...

Iceland evacuates town and raises aviation alert as concerns rise that a volcano may erupt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:32 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Residents of a fishing town in southwestern Iceland left their homes Saturday after increasing concern about a potential volcanic eruption caused civil defense authorities to declare a state of emergency in the region.Police decided to evacuate Grindavik after recent seismic activity in the area moved south toward the town and monitoring indicated that a corridor of magma, or semi-molten rock, now extends under the community, Iceland’s Meteorological Office said. The town of 3,400 is on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of the capital, Reykjavik.“At this stage, it is not possible to determine exactly whether and where magma might reach the surface,” the Meteorological Office said.Authorities also raised their aviation alert to orange, indicating an increased risk of a volcanic eruption. Volcanic eruptions pose a serious hazard to aviation because they can spew highly abrasive ash high into the atmosphere, where it can cause jet engines t...