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Jacinda Ardern given a top New Zealand honor for her service during shooting, pandemic

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday received one of New Zealand’s highest honors for her service leading the country through a mass shooting and pandemic.Ardern was made a Dame Grand Companion, the second-highest honor in New Zealand, as part of King Charles III’s Birthday Honors. It means people will now call her Dame Jacinda. Royal honorees are typically chosen twice a year in New Zealand by the prime minister and signed off by Charles, the British king who is also recognized as New Zealand’s king. Ardern was just 37 when she became prime minister in 2017, and was seen as a global icon of the left.She shocked New Zealanders in January when she said she was stepping down as leader after more than five years because she no longer had “enough in the tank” to do it justice.She was facing mounting political pressures at home, including for her handling of COVID-19, which was initially widely lauded but later criticized by thos...

Unresponsive small plane over Washington causes military jet to scramble, later crashes in Virginia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A wayward and unresponsive business plane that flew over the nation’s capital Sunday afternoon caused the military to scramble a fighter jet before the plane crashed in Virginia, officials said. The fighter jet caused a loud sonic boom that was heard across the capital region.The Federal Aviation Administration says the Cessna Citation took off from Elizabethtown, Tennessee, on Sunday and was headed for Long Island’s MacArthur Airport. Inexplicably, the plane turned around over New York’s Long Island and flew a straight path down over D.C. before it crashed over mountainous terrain near Montebello, Virginia, around 3:30 p.m.It was not immediately clear why the plane was nonresponsive, why it crashed or how many people were on board.A U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press that the military jet had scrambled to respond to the small plane, which later crashed. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the military operation and spo...

Wildfire tally tops 150 as thousands more evacuate northwestern Quebec

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

MONTREAL — Wildfires in northwestern Quebec prompted thousands to evacuate the area over the weekend, as the number of blazes pushed past 150 and firefighters and the military poured into parts of the province to fight the encroaching flames — even as that threat eased slightly Sunday on the North Shore.Some 5,500 residents of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, which borders Ontario, have been relocated, Public Security Minister François Bonnardel said at a news conference in Montreal.Another 4,500 people in the North Shore community of Sept-Îles and its outskirts were also forced from their homes due to a pair of wildfires burning north of the city, but no further evacuations are planned at the moment, Bonnardel said.Rain is expected in the area in the coming days — though not as much as initially forecasted — and the wind direction there and in Abitibi are favourable, he added.Nonetheless, the state of emergency in Sept-Îles, which sits about 890 kilometres northeast of Montreal, h...

Arson investigation underway after fire burns Los Angeles church for second time in 2 years

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An arson investigation was under way Sunday after fire damaged a nearly 100-year-old Los Angeles church for the second time in less than two years, authorities. Flames broke out shorty before 7 p.m. Saturday in the sanctuary of St. John’s United Methodist Church and spread into a balcony, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement.More than 30 firefighters took about 20 minutes to extinguish the blaze at the two-story church in the Watts neighborhood, the statement said. No injuries were reported. The blaze occurred as St. John’s was undergoing renovations from another fire that caused major damage in February 2022, the Los Angeles Times reported. After the earlier fire, worshippers moved services to the parking lot, where they were still being held as of this weekend, the Times said.The church, built in the Spanish Colonial style with a red-tile roof and beige exterior, is celebrating 97 years of ministry in the Watts community south of downtown LA, acco...

15 dead, 8 missing after heavy rains unleash floods in Haiti

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — At least 15 people have died and another eight are missing after heavy rains unleased widespread flooding and several landslides across Haiti over the weekend, authorities said Sunday.Nearly 13,400 people were forced to evacuate as water consumed hundreds of homes around the country, turning some streets into raging rivers of brown water, according to Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency.More than 7,400 families reported damage, with officials still assessing the impact of the rains that deluged Haiti on Saturday.The rains also caused significant damage to crops in Haiti’s central region at a time when starvation is deepening.Prime Minister Ariel Henry said he was working with local and international organizations to respond to the needs of those affected by the floods.The Associated Press

Benzema scores in final game with Madrid; Vinícius back in team after racial abuse

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Karim Benzema converted his penalty kick and received a standing ovation from fans before being substituted at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, bringing an end to his memorable career with Real Madrid on Sunday.Benzema was replaced after scoring the 72nd-minute equalizer in Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao in his final game with the Spanish powerhouse after 14 seasons. Madrid had announced earlier Sunday that the French striker would not return next season.The last round of the Spanish league also saw Vinícius Júnior’s return to action for the first time since he was racially abused in a league match against Valencia two weeks ago, as well as Valladolid’s relegation.Vinícius hadn’t played in the last two Madrid games following the latest incident of racist insults targeted at him in Valencia on May 21, prompting a widespread reaction from Spanish authorities and the soccer world. The club had said he was sidelined with a minor knee problem.The Brazil...

Second annual Hazel McCallion Walk for Health another large success

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

The second annual Hazel McCallion Walk for Health in Mississauga appeared to be another large success.Roughly 2,100 people turned out for the fundraiser on Sunday morning with the walk starting at Port Credit Memorial Park before, following the nearby Waterfront Trail.“We will face more demand than any other hospital in the province over the next 20 years,” says Caroline Riseboro, CEO of the Trillium Health Partners Foundation.Money raised at the event will support Trillium Health Partners in their effort to build the new Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital. When completed, it will be Canada’s largest hospital, with construction expected to begin in Mississauga in 2025.The idea for the walk had come from former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion, commonly known as ‘Hurricane Hazel’ in the city. McCallion had served as the city’s mayor for 36 years. She died earlier this year at 101.“She came to us, she wanted an event … where we could engage the entire community,” adds Riseboro, ...

Fathers embrace their inner "Swiftie Dad" on Day 3 of Taylor Swift in Chicago

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

CHICAGO — The final day of Taylor Swift's three-day stop in Chicago for her Eras tour is here, and some dads were just as excited as their daughters to see the pop star perform.Keith Bullock, aka 'Swiftie Dad.'"The girls grew up listening to the music and so did we," said Keith Bullock, flanked by his two daughters while wearing a 'Swiftie Dad' t-shirt outside of Soldier Field. "We're here to celebrate that and Taylor Swift music often brings us together anytime a new album comes out." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Businesses, fans excited for Taylor Swift in Chicago this weekend Steven Pasquantonio, another father among the T-Swiftie army at Soldier Field Sunday, was wearing a t-shirt custom-made by his daughters, and said they aren't the only ones who enjoy Taylor Swift's music.Steven Pasquantonio, proud father, and Taylor Swift supporter."I enjoy it! I've been listening to her for years with them," Pasquantonio said. "They're teenagers now and they started listening ten years ago when the...

Mayor Brandon Johnson, political leaders help kickoff Pride Month in West Town

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

CHICAGO — Hundreds of people, including local and state political leaders, gathered for Chicago's annual Pride Month kickoff brunch in West Town Sunday."As we kick off pride month, this is not just simply a celebration, this is about the liberation of humanity that love gets to be the conquering force," Mayor Brandon Johnson said. Here are the history-making LGBTQ officials in the Biden administration Johnson and other City officials spoke on the importance of celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community at the event, while also recognizing the challenges in the fight for equality."Pride is a celebration of those living and thriving as their true authentic selves," said Juliana Stratton, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. "There are legislators across our nation who are working to dim the light, the joyful light of our gay, bi and trans siblings … that they bring to our communities in the form of dangerous and extremely harmful legislation."A part of the brunch Sunday was highlighting leaders...

Westlake clinches 1st state berth since 2009 with come-from-behind win over SA Johnson

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In dramatic fashion June 2, the Westlake Chaparrals baseball team earned a spot in the state tournament.The Chaps forced extra innings against San Antonio Johnson and scored a pair in the eighth to complete a come-from-behind 3-1 win at Northeast ISD Stadium to sweep the series and win the Region IV championship.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersWestlake will take on Pearland at 7 p.m. Friday in the Class 6A semifinals at Dell Diamond. Cypress Woods and Flower Mound face off at 4 p.m. Friday in the other semifinal game.After taking the lead with two runs in the top of the eighth inning, the Chaps turned a double play with an outfield assist in the bottom half to end the game. Westlake right fielder Braeden Babb chased down a fly ball in foul ground for the second out, and then he fired a one-hopper to catcher Ben Longoria who applied the tag on Johnson's ...