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South American’s presidents gather in Brazil for first regional summit in 9 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — South America’s leaders will gather in Brazil’s capital on Tuesday as part of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s attempt to reinvigorate regional integration efforts that have previously floundered amid the continent’s political swings and polarization.Analysts say Lula senses an opportunity for integration because of the political affinities of the region’s current governments and appears to want to test leaders’ willingness to cooperate through a revived Union of South American Nations, or Unasur.First established 15 years ago in Brazil’s capital during the second presidential term of Lula, a former trade unionist, the regional bloc sought to integrate the 12 South American nations culturally, socially, politically and economically. Unasur’s promotor was late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, who saw it as means to counteract U.S. influence in the region and the group had a reputation among some as having a lefti...

Sudan army, rival force under pressure to extend truce after mediators show impatience with breaches

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s warring sides were under pressure Monday to extend a shaky cease-fire in their battle for control of the country, after two key international mediators signaled impatience with persistent truce violations.In a joint statement Sunday, the United States and Saudi Arabia called out Sudan’s military and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, for specific breaches of a week-long truce that is to expire Monday evening rather than issue another general appeal to respect agreements.Sudan descended into chaos after fighting erupted in mid-April between the military, led by Gen. Abdel- Fattah Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. The fighting has killed at least 866 civilians and wounded thousands more, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate, which tracks civilian casualties. The toll could be much higher, the medical group said.The conflict has turned the capital, Khartoum, and other urban areas into battlefields, forcing near...

‘Red Velvet,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland’ lead Dora Mavor Moore Awards nominations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

TORONTO — “Red Velvet,” a play about the first Black actor to star on a London stage, has garnered a leading six nominations in the general theatre division at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards.The Crow’s Theatre show nabbed nods in categories including best play and best director for Cherissa Richards.The dramatization of the real-life story of Ira Aldridge, a Black man who starred in “Othello” in 1833, also garnered recognition for Allan Louis, who is nominated for best leading performance, and Amelia Sargisson, who’s in the running for best performance in a featured role.Also vying for best production are “Uncle Vanya,” another Crow’s Theatre production; Soulpepper’s “‘da Kink In My Hair” and “our place,” a co-production from A Cahoots Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille.Top musical contenders include “Alice In Wonderland,” from Bad Hats Theatre presented by Soulpepper, which is up for ...

Woman killed in hit-and-run on West Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman was killed in a hit-and-run on the city's West Side.The deadly incident happened around 11 p.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of South Independence. Police said the woman was crossing the street in the crosswalk when she was struck by the driver of a gray colored SUV.According to police, the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to stop after hitting the woman. Two 2-years-olds among 47 shot across Chicago over holiday weekend She was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.The Major Accidents Unit is investigating.

Debt ceiling deal: What's in, what's out of the bill to avert US default

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The details of the deal between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy were released Sunday in the form of a 99-page bill that would suspend the nation's debt limit through 2025 to avoid a federal default while limiting government spending.The Democratic president and Republican speaker are trying to win over lawmakers to the plan in time to avert a default that would shake the global economy. But Congress will be scrutinizing and debating the legislation, which also includes provisions to fund medical care for veterans, change work requirements for some recipients of government aid and streamline environmental reviews for energy projects.McCarthy said the House will vote on the legislation Wednesday, giving the Senate time to consider it before June 5, the date when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the United States could default on its debt obligations if lawmakers did not act in time.Some hardline conservatives have expressed early concerns tha...

Kenwood and the Thunderbirds soar, even if lofty goals weren't met

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

CHICAGO — Kenwood Academy's baseball season may not have ended how they wanted it to, but that didn't stop them from having a historic year, thanks in part to the contributions of a trio of brothers.Kevin Jr., K'Vion and Kevari Thunderbird were among the headliners of a deep, talented — and albeit, young — Kenwood Bronco's squad that went 28-5 in route to a Chicago Public League baseball championship. Unfortunately for Kenwood though, their season came to an end in a similar manner to the way it did a year prior; a loss in their IHSA Regional Final."I'm gonna be honest, because I'm always honest," said Kenwood Head Coach Romey Bracey after their 5-2 defeat against Reavis High School Saturday. "That City championship took a piece out of us because we did something for the history of the program." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Thunderbird brothers help Kenwood win first Chicago Public League baseball title Kenwood Academy, established in 1966, won their first ever Chicago Public League Title l...

How White House and GOP leaders are working to sell the budget deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

(The Hill) – After President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) signed off on a final budget agreement and a raise of the debt ceiling, the two sides moved onto a difficult task: selling the legislation to their respective parties to get it passed through Congress.Conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats have been quick to voice concerns with certain aspects of the deal, with each side expressing worry that their leadership gained too little or conceded too much in negotiations.White House officials and McCarthy’s team spent much of Sunday working to spin the deal as a victory for their own side and assure members that it was the other party that ultimately caved on certain priorities.“Right now the Democrats are very upset,” McCarthy said on “Fox News Sunday,” asserting that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffires (D-N.Y.) told him “there’s not one thing in the bill for Democrats.”In remarks Sunday evening, Biden said the final agreement “protects key pri...

San Antonio Police issue Silver Alert for missing man with cognitive impairment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The San Antonio Police Department said it was searching for a missing 72-year-old man diagnosed with a cognitive impairment.SAPD said Ricardo Soria is a 5’5” Hispanic man that weighs 118 lbs. Police described Soria as having gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen at 8:30 p.m. Sunday in the 8300 block of Wurzabach Road in San Antonio wearing a red long-sleeve sweater and blue pajama pants.Law enforcement officials said they believed Soria’s disappearance posed a credible threat to his own health and safety.Anyone with information regarding this missing senior citizen was asked to contact the San Antonio Police Department at 210-207-7660.

Rising number of suicides cited as one reason for decline in life expectancy for Minnesotans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

For the past two decades, suicide deaths have been rising each year in Minnesota, echoing a nationwide pattern, said the Minnesota Department of Health.There were 808 suicides in 2021 and 835 in 2022, the department said in a news release.Death by suicide has been cited as one reason why overall life expectancy rates may be declining in Minnesota, particularly among men. From 2011 to 2021, suicide or intentional self-harm was the eighth leading cause of death in the state.“Suicide is a significant public health issue that involves the tragic loss of human life,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham. “It is important for us to take a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention that supports connectedness, belonging and protections from lethal means.”Minnesota’s suicide prevention efforts are based on the evidence that suicides are preventable, mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible.A report by the Minnesota Department of Health show...

Troy police investigating shooting near Ridge Drive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:29 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- One person is in the hospital following a shooting in a wooded area near Ridge Drive in Troy. Police are on the scene and have it secured. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Troy Police say the shooting appears to be a targeted incident at this time. There is no indication of continued threat to the surrounding community. Police are using drone and K9 units to investigate.At this time, the suspect has not been identified and is not in custody. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting to call detectives at (518) 270-4421.