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Members of Philadelphia ‘high-end theft crew’ arrested in Fairfax County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

Police said that they have caught members of a “high-end theft crew” who took items from a department store in Virginia without paying and then scattered when confronted by police — with one person found hiding in a dumpster.It happened on July 13, when a loss prevention team alerted police that the group left the Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in a gold Chevrolet Impala with Pennsylvania tags.Fairfax County officers assigned to the Tysons Urban Team learned that the vehicle had gone into Virginia and was nearby. They found the car heading to the Saks Fifth Avenue in McLean.Members of the group entered the store, where police said they chose several expensive handbags and other luxury merchandise. The group then made its way toward the exit without paying, police said in a news release.Two people ran when approached by the store’s loss prevention team; while police, who were already in the area, took one person into custody.After a brief search, police...

Yankees’ Harrison Bader leaves with bruised ribs after being hit by pitch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — New York Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader left during the sixth inning Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels because of bruised ribs after being hit by Jose Soriano’s pitch.Bader went to first base, but was replaced in center field by Isiah Kiner-Falefa when the Yankees took the field in the bottom of the sixth.Manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees’ 7-3 loss that it remained to be determined if Bader would miss any time. He said initial tests conducted during the game came up negative, but that an X-ray and additional scans would be conducted when the team returned to New York.The Yankees are off Thursday before opening a three-game series against Kansas City on Friday.Bader was 0 for 2 after hitting safely in eight of his last 12 games.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Union in Canadian province of British Columbia rescinds port strike notice after Trudeau meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with top officials Wednesday after the longshore union renewed a 72-hour strike notice. The noticed was later rescinded by the union which had earlier blocked shipments in and out of ports in Canada’s west coast region of British Columbia for nearly two weeks.The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada said late Wednesday in a brief note to its locals that strike notice set for July 22 at 9 a.m. “has now been removed.” With the 72-hour notice lifted, the union can’t resume strike action unless it files another notice, according to the Canada Industrial Relations Board decision issued against the union on Wednesday.The previous shut down British Columbia ports for 13 days at the start of the month, stalling cargo worth billions.About 7,400 workers at more than 30 British Columbia port terminals and other sites began striking on July 1 and originally returned to work last Thursday after a tentative deal wa...

Angels complete sweep of Yankees with 7-3 win, finishing New York’s 1-5 trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels both came into their three-game series looking for momentum after dropping two of three after the All-Star break.After Wednesday’s 7-3 victory, the Angels have found a spark while the Yankees are reeling and searching for answers.Taylor Ward and Luis Rengifo hit two-run homers and Chase Silseth struck out a career-high 10 in his first big league outing in seven weeks as the Angels completed a series sweep.The Halos swept a three-game series from the Yankees for the first time since 2009 and have won four of five to get back over .500 at 49-48.“Really good effort these three days. That’s a team that’s in front of us and when everybody knows that,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “So enjoy your day off tomorrow. We gotta come out and play with the same intensity and everything this weekend against the Pirates.”Giancarlo Stanton and Franchy Cordero had solo shots for the Yankees, who have lost fo...

Community reflects, remembers 11th anniversary of Aurora Theater Shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — It has now been more than a decade since the Aurora theater shooting that killed 12 and hurt at least 70 others. Community, loved ones and friends are coming together to reflect and remember the 11th anniversary of the shooting.Within the 7/20 Memorial Garden, between blossoming flowers, there are signs with pictures and stories honoring all 12 of those lives that were lost 11 years ago when a gunman opened fire at a midnight movie. The youngest victim was 6 years old.“We just wanted to make sure that we haven't forgotten them,” Todd Ponton said. Ponton is taking an extra step to honor those impacted on this 11-year anniversary. Colorado firefighters travel to Ukraine to teach trauma treatment techniques “I'm putting up 70 origami cranes, and this year we're going to finally have the names of the wounded on there,” Ponton said. “The right wing is clipped symbolizing wounded, and the beak is painted gold to show a steadfast forward in heal...

Allies’ ‘main effort’ for Ukraine shifting from donating weapons to fixing them

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

The West’s focus on building Ukraine’s war machine has shifted significantly to repairing and sustaining those weapons, a recognition that the war will grind on for months and years to come, the Pentagon’s top acquisition official said.Even before Ukraine launched its counteroffensive this summer, allies were becoming increasingly worried that efforts to keep donated equipment up and running were falling behind battlefield needs.Now, with the fight to dislodge tens of thousands of well-entrenched Russian troops chewing through armored vehicles and artillery pieces, the need to get that equipment fixed and back in the fight is more urgent than at any point in the war.“We’re setting up repair facilities in Europe, we’re translating [training and repair] manuals, we have to do much more together so there’s going to be more of a focus on that” by partner nations, the Pentagon’s acquisition and sustainment chief, William LaPlante, said in an interview.Keeping billions of dollars worth of...

Russia escalates military tensions in Black Sea after blowing up grain deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

Moscow is ramping up its threats to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and the ships that dock there, heightening the risk of conflict in the key trade route and sending global wheat prices sharply upward.Russia’s defense ministry warned in a statement Wednesday that “all vessels sailing in the waters of the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports will be regarded as potential carriers of military cargo.” The statement added that “the countries of such vessels will be considered to be involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kiev regime.”The U.S. also has information that indicates Russia has placed more sea mines around Ukrainian ports and could attack commercial ships in the region, according to White House National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge.“We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks,” Hodge said in a statement.The moves seemed to be a response to Ukrainian Presiden...

Tornado damages Pfizer plant in North Carolina as scorching heat, floods sock other parts of US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

By BEN FINLEY and HANNAH SCHOENBAUM (Associated Press)RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A tornado heavily damaged a major Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina on Wednesday, while torrential rain flooded communities in Kentucky and an area from California to South Florida endured more scorching heat. Pfizer confirmed that the large manufacturing complex was damaged by a twister that touched down shortly after midday near Rocky Mount, but said in an email that it had no reports of serious injuries. A later company statement said all employees were safely evacuated and accounted for. Parts of roofs were ripped open atop its massive buildings. The Pfizer plant stores large quantities of medicine that were tossed about, said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone, adding, “I’ve got reports of 50,000 pallets of medicine that are strewn across the facility and damaged through the rain and the wind.”The plant produces anesthesia and other drugs as well as nearly 25 percent of a...

How extreme heat affects your mental health

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

A heat wave is affecting parts of the U.S., including much of the Southwest, through the Southeast and parts of Europe. When temperatures soar, the heat can take a toll more than just physically. Our well-being can suffer as well.“A study of over 2 million people found an increased visit rate or incidence of people going to the emergency department with psychiatric and mental health-related concerns during periods of high heat,” says Dr. Robert Bright, a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist.“It showed a higher level of visits for substance abuse, anxiety, mood disorders, and even people with schizophrenia had an increased incidence of distress or issues with their illness, bringing them to the emergency department.”Heat and emotionsA common side effect of extreme heat is irritability, which can arise from physical discomfort and disrupted sleep patterns. The fatigue from sweating, working in the heat and the lack of quality sleep can leave people feeling stressed and on ...

Editorial: Bill would ban stock trading in Congress – and White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:22 GMT

Hard-working taxpayers who toil while Capitol Hill elites rake in cash from stock trading may be getting some relief.A bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate Wednesday would ban stock trading and individual stock ownership by members of Congress and their families.And it added executive branch officials to the list.Members of Congress have rightly come under fire for stock trading while in office. They were, after all, elected to serve, not to profit.Last year, an Business Insider investigation found scores of members of Congress violated a requirement to disclose stock trades within 45 days of the transaction. Worse, when the website sought comment from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (whose husband is a major stock trader), she dismissed the idea of requiring lawmakers to put their holdings in blind trusts while serving.She didn’t do herself any favors with that response.As RollCall reported, Wednesday’s measure, led by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, (D-N.Y.), and Josh Hawley,...