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What’s behind the tentative US-Iran agreement involving prisoners and frozen funds

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran reached a tentative agreement this week that will eventually see five detained Americans in Iran and an unknown number Iranians imprisoned in the U.S. released from custody after billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets are transferred from banks in South Korea to Qatar.The complex deal — which came together after months of indirect negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials — was announced on Thursday when Iran moved four of the five Americans from prison to house arrest. The fifth American had already been under house arrest.Details of the money transfer, the timing of its completion and the ultimate release of both the American and Iranian prisoners remain unclear. However, U.S. and Iranian officials say they believe the agreement could be complete by mid- to late-September.A look at what is known about the deal. WHAT’S IN IT?Under the tentative agreement, the U.S. has given its blessing to South Korea to conv...

Concrete actions must accompany diverse cabinet: Canada Research Chair

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

OTTAWA — An academic expert on inclusive politics says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s move last month to introduce more diversity into his cabinet won’t have much effect unless it goes beyond surface-level representation.Trudeau added seven new faces to his governing team in July including the first Filipina Canadian woman MP and the first Sri Lankan Tamil to serve in cabinet.He said the new cabinet reflects Canada’s diversity and brings new voices, skills and experiences to the table.Many saw the changes as part of an effort by the Liberals to shore up support in tight ridings and among specific ethnic communities.But the Canada Research Chair on gender, race and inclusive politics at Carleton University in Ottawa says a seat at the table is only one part of true representation.Erin Tolley says diversity must also be reflected in policy, or it will do little to move the needle for racialized communities come election time, both for the electorate and the minister...

Child murderer run out of towns in 1990s faces new charges in 2 Texas killings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas man who was convicted of killing an 8-year-old girl in the 1980s and then run out of several towns following his early release from prison has been indicted on two new murder charges, including one that could carry the death penalty, prosecutors announced Friday. Raul Meza Jr., 62, was arrested on murder charges earlier this year in the deaths of his roommate in May and a woman in 2019. Austin police said at the time they were also looking at as many as 10 cold cases going back to 1996 that could be connected Meza, though they have not announced any findings.The indictments handed up by a Travis County grand jury on Thursday include one count of capital murder in the death of Gloria Lofton, 65, who was found in her home. The grand jury also indicted Meza on one count of murder in the death of Jesse Fraga, 80. Meza’s attorney, Russell Hunt Jr., did not immediately return a phone message Friday. Since May, Meza has remained in jail on a $1 million bo...

Kentucky school district rushes to fix bus route snarl that canceled classes and outraged parents

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A total overhaul of bus routes for Louisville’s school district turned into a logistical meltdown on the first day of classes because the new plan created too steep a learning curve for the system, district officials said Friday, forcing administrators to cancel two days of classes and leaving parents and state legislators fuming.It took just one disastrous day for Jefferson County Public Schools leaders to completely reexamine the transportation plan for Kentucky’s largest district, which serves 96,000 students. Some kids arrived home hours late on Wednesday, and classes were canceled Thursday and Friday.“We are reviewing what happened Wednesday to determine where the issues were created, why they happened and how to prevent them from happening again,” district spokesperson Mark Hebert said Friday.The district deployed a new bus routing system designed by AlphaRoute, a Boston-based consulting company that uses computer algorithms to map out course...

Kittens thriving after spending 5 days in shipping container from Georgia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

ORLAND PARK, Ill. — Two kittens survived a harrowing five-day journey inside a shipping container from Georgia to the suburbs and are now thriving.Last month, One Goal Animal Foundation received a surprising call from a trucking company.After making some calls around the area, One Goal found out a truck driver discovered a black kitten inside of a shipping container at Sam's Club in Oswego. The container was sent by train and then picked up in the south suburbs by the truck driver.Because the shipment had a live animal inside, Sam's Club refused it and that's when One Goal was brought in. Another kitten was discovered at the trucking company. Niles introduces feral cat program for rat control "There were crackers," executive director Beata Zabrinas said. "We are guessing they ate the crackers to stay alive."While there were crackers in the container, the kittens, who are approximately four months old, survived the five-day trip without water."These kittens were completely feral, I...

'A walking miracle': 15-year-old girl survives lightning strike during NC storms

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

LANDIS, N.C. (WJZY) -- A 15-year-old lifeguard is counting her blessings after being struck by lightning in the middle of this week's severe storms in North Carolina.  Brynnlee Steger, of Kannapolis, said the Landis Pool had already closed to the public due to Monday's storms and her mom had just arrived to pick her up when the two of them and her lifeguard manager decided to bring in the umbrellas to prevent them from flying away.  “I had bent down to unscrew the bolts underneath the table, and I went to go pick it up, and I heard thunder, so I jumped and turned around,” said Brynnlee. “By the time I turned around, I felt it, like, it hit me, and I felt like my arm had literally got cut off.”  Employee dies in Rowan County workplace accident, officials say The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado tore through that area of Rowan County on Monday afternoon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the odds of being struck by lightning ar...

Will SoxFest return in 2024?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

CHICAGO — The answer to a question for one baseball team in town led to the asking of another to the club on the south side.After the Cubs announced the dates for their 2024 fan convention, many White Sox fans were wondering if one for their team could return. So is SoxFest going to happen in 2024? Well, there isn't an answer yet. "No official plans for SoxFest to announce at the moment, but we are working on plans to celebrate fans this winter," was the answer from the White Sox to WGN this week. White Sox get headlines for the wrong reasons this week Fans of the White Sox have been asking this question after the team decided not to host a fan convention this past winter. It followed a disappointing 2022 season where the club finished 81-81 and out of the American League playoffs.The White Sox said the decision was made "due to several factors" in October 2022. Fortunes have only gotten worse for the White Sox in 2023 as the team has spent the majority of the season under .500 un...

Austin moving to Stage 2 drought restrictions next week; Watering times shortened by 3 hours

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin will move to Stage 2 of its Drought Contingency Plan next week, as water levels on Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan continue to drop.A press release from the city said the combined storage level in the lakes is projected to drop below 900,000 acre-feet within the next few days.Interim City Manager Jesus Garza ordered the move to Stage 2 effective Tuesday, Aug. 15."For many years, Austin has leaned into water conservation in normal weather as well as drought," said Shay Ralls Roalson, director of Austin Water. "As our current drought continues, we know that the entire Austin community will respond to the need to conserve our most precious resource. We’re all in this together, and there is no substitute for water." LIST: What are the current water restrictions in your city? Here are the changes to watering restrictions under Stage 2:Automatic irrigation and hose-end watering are restricted to once per week, based on address.Automatic irrigation can on...

Son kills mother in murder/suicide in Georgetown, sheriff's office says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Two people are dead after a murder/suicide in Georgetown on Thursday, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office said on Twitter.At approximately 5 p.m., WCSO responded to a home in the 500 block of Vaughn Street in Georgetown after a 911 caller said two people were shot, according to a news release from WCSO.Officials arrived on the scene and found one man and one woman dead, the release said.According to the investigation, WCSO said it was an isolated murder/suicide incident. On Friday, it identified those who died as 73-year-old Sylvia Rodriguez and her son, 52-year-old Albert Rodriguez. WCSO said it believed Albert was the shooter. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? There was no danger to the public, and the incident remained under investigation Friday, WCSO said.

Local officials weigh in on Albany Airport investment

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:29 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Thursday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $60M investment in the Albany International Airport. The state grant will allow for the expansion of the main terminal and fund new improvements to the airport, including play areas for children, sensory-friendly areas, increased passenger seating, and concessions. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Local officials weighed in on how the renovations will impact the airport. Senator Chuck Schumer noted that many current issues will be resolved, including long wait times in the security line. “Ask anyone who has flown out of Albany International Airport during peak hours, and they will tell you the line for security can often back up into the pedestrian walkway and even all the way to the parking garage," said Senator Schumer. "While the airport is vibrant and growing, it was built long before modern TSA security screening, and for years has been in desperate ne...