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Armed men in Central African Republic fatally shoot 13 and wound 2 in northern village

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Armed men killed 13 people and wounded two in a northern village in the mineral-rich but impoverished Central African Republic, local officials said Wednesday.Ousmane Youssef, a tribal chief in the village of Diki near the country’s border with Chad, said a group of armed men entered the community Tuesday and called a meeting with local residents and leaders, before shooting them point-blank.No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but in March, the U.N. condemned an attack on another northern town by a rebel group called the Coalition of Patriots for Change.“We don’t know the real motives of the rebels who perpetrated this act of rare intensity. This is the moment when the government must help us put an end to the rebels who are undermining security in the area,” said Babikir Hallasan, deputy mayor of the nearest major town.The Central African Republic has faced intercommunal fighting since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels sei...

Kateryna Baindl advances to set up quarterfinal against Jaqueline Cristian at the Prague Open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — Eighth-seeded Kateryna Baindl of Ukraine reached the quarterfinals of the Prague Open on Wednesday after Germany’s Jule Niemeier retired when trailing 5-0 in the first set of their second-round match.Baindl will face next Jaqueline Cristian of Romania, who eliminated Emiliana Arango of Colombia 6-4, 6-3. Cristian knocked out top-seeded Marie Bouzková in the first round of the hard-court tournament in the Czech capital.In first-round play Wednesday, Ankita Raina of India eliminated Czech veteran Barbora Strýcová 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.The remaining scheduled matches had to be suspended or postponed until Thursday because of rain.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

911 call centers struggle with staffing shortages, mental health, burnout

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

Close up of woman's hand using smartphone in the dark, against illuminated city light bokeh(Getty Images/d3sign) Close up of woman's hand using smartphone in the dark, against illuminated city light bokeh(Getty Images/d3sign) This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.In medical emergencies, house fires, or other dangerous situations, most Americans understand to call 911 for immediate help from a call specialist. The dispatcher will talk someone through a tough situation and may coordinate first responders to head toward the emergency.But according to a new report and a former 911 specialist, employees who...

Former Iowa kicker charged in gambling sting allegedly won a bet on the 2021 Iowa-Iowa St game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

A former walk-on kicker at the University of Iowa was charged Wednesday in connection with wagering on Hawkeyes sports events — one day after Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers was accused of committing the same offense at his school.Aaron Blom, who was on the Iowa roster from 2020-22, used a DraftKings Sportsbook account set up under his mother’s name and made about 170 mobile or online sports wagers before he turned 21, the legal gambling age in the state, according to the criminal complaint filed in Johnson County, Iowa.The wagers totaled over $4,400, with about eight placed on Iowa sporting events. One of the bets included the 2021 Iowa-Iowa State football game, according to the complaint.Blom is also accused in the complaint of tampering with records related to an Iowa Criminal Division investigation into sports gambling.The bet Blom placed on the rivalry game was an over-under wager, which requires the bettor to choose whether the teams will combine for more or less t...

Virginia Tech does away with legacy and early decision admissions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

Virginia Tech will no longer consider legacy status in its admissions process or accept early decision applicants, the university announced last week.The changes, which will take effect during the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year, come on the heels of the Supreme Court’s strike-down of affirmative action in June, prohibiting schools from looking at an applicant’s race when considering their admission.“Every year, we examine our admissions and enrollment practices to ensure that we continue to strive for a best practice and innovative approach to providing access to a Virginia Tech education to all qualified applicants,” said Luisa Havens-Gerardo, vice provost for enrollment management, in a news release. “The discontinuation of the early decision plan and the use of legacy as a factor in admissions will allow us to improve the admissions process to benefit all students.”Juan Espinoza, associate vice provost for enrollment management, said in the news release that univers...

Pope arriving in Portugal demands bishops listen to clergy abuse victims, denounces how ‘scandal’ has marred the church

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Pope arriving in Portugal demands bishops listen to clergy abuse victims, denounces how ‘scandal’ has marred the church.Source

Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton is set to play for the first time in nearly 2 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Mekhi Becton last stepped onto a football field to play in a game nearly two years ago.It seems more like a lifetime to the New York Jets offensive tackle.Moments of pain, worry, anger and doubt have marked the past 688 days. But so have hope and an improved outlook, especially during the hundreds of hours of rehab since Becton’s right knee went out during the 2021 season opener in Carolina.Now, the 24-year-old Becton is ready for his big comeback. It’ll finally come Thursday night in the Jets’ preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. “Yeah, it’s definitely significant,” Becton said. “I’m treating this as if it’s a regular game, for sure. I don’t even care if it’s preseason or whenever.”In 2020, Becton was the big attraction for the Jets — and not just because it was hard to miss him at 6-foot-7 and 370-plus pounds. The 11th overall pick in the draft that year was a pancaking left tackle who l...

1 killed in daytime shooting near Federal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver police are investigating a deadly shooting in the Westwood neighborhood. Just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Denver Police Department tweeted about a shooting in the area of Federal Boulevard and Ohio Avenue. Multi-vehicle crash shuts down eastbound I-70 in Jefferson County Police found one victim who was pronounced dead. The case is now being investigated as a homicide. DPD said one suspect is in custody.The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner will identity the victim at a later date.

Mayor Johnston gives update on homelessness state of emergency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Wednesday morning, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston gave an update on the ongoing efforts to tackle homelessness in the city.Shortly after 10:15 a.m., Johnston spoke at the Denver City and County Building. The mayor’s goal is to help 1,000 people find shelter or housing by the end of 2023.Johnston said his administration conducted its first sweep of a homeless encampment this week. He said the encampment was rat-infested, and health and safety necessitated the move.FOX31 was at the news conference and will update this story with more information.Tuesday, a series of town halls kicked off giving neighbors a chance to weigh in on the issue. Town halls will continue through next Thursday. Denver’s mayor plans to house 1,000 homeless. Will it work? Johnston issued an emergency declaration on July 28 and initiated a partnership with 78 neighborhoods. The new mayor has said addressing homelessness would be a top priority for his administration.The emergency declaration means D...

Woman kidnapped, kept in cinderblock cell in Oregon home: FBI

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:09 GMT

Editor's Note: Details in this story may be disturbing to some readers.PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The FBI held a press conference Wednesday morning while investigators look for potential victims of a violent sex offender who they say kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman and kept her in a makeshift cinderblock cell in his Klamath Falls home.A photo shared by the FBI shows a cinderblock cell found in the garage of Negasi Zuberi's house. (FBI)The FBI announced that 29-year-old Negasi Zuberi — also known as Sakima, Justin Hyche and Justin Kouassi — is in federal custody for the interstate kidnapping after a woman escaped from his home. The FBI is looking for additional potential victims as Zuberi has ties to 10 states. ‘Terrified to find out’: Tillamook Police Chief takes leave during evidence investigation On Saturday, July 15, 2023, Zuberi traveled from his Klamath Falls, Oregon, home to Seattle, where he solicited a prostitute then posed as an undercover police officer, according ...