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A fiery explosion in Dominican Republic kills 3 and injures dozens of others

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A powerful explosion rocked a bustling market area in a town near the capital of the Dominican Republic on Monday, killing at least three people and injuring more than 30 others, authorities said.The explosion occurred at a bakery in the town of San Cristobal, which lies just west of Santo Domingo. Officials said in a statement that the fire then spread to a hardware store located next door and a nearby furniture store. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the explosion.Charred cars and debris from several collapsed buildings lined the streets as thick black smoke rose from the town’s center and prompted several businesses to evacuate while crowds gathered to film the incident.The explosion occurred in an area known as “Old Marketplace,” where throngs of people shop daily for goods ranging from fruits to clothes. The victims were a four-month-old baby who died from a head injury and two adults whose bodies were 90% burned, according ...

Records tumble as heat wave spreads from B.C.’s south coast to Interior, hitting 40 C

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

VANCOUVER — During British Columbia’s heat dome in 2021, Nasrin Moshiri had to resort to putting the children in her daycare in the bathtub to stay cool. This week, she’s taking them to the beach. “I take the children to Stanley Park or go to the water, that’s how we stay cool,” said Moshiri, whose eyes were glued to four children nearby at Vancouver’s English Bay beach. Moshiri said she spent her weekend with her friends picnicking under the shade at Vancouver’s Spanish Banks Beach. Temperature records have been tumbling across B.C. since the arrival of a heat wave that began on the south coast on Sunday, with temperatures in some parts pushing beyond 40 C, but officials are not expecting a repeat of the deadly heat dome.Nevertheless, health authorities and local and provincial governments are urging caution before temperatures are expected to ease Friday.The sweltering heat has now prompted warnings or special weather statements across sou...

How – and when – is best to donate to those affected by the Maui wildfires?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The destruction and suffering caused by the Maui wildfires in Hawaii prompted many to immediately look for ways to help.However, experts say immediate donations may not be the most useful following a natural disaster like the Maui wildfires. They suggest standing by a week or two until needs are assessed and support lines have been established. But they know that some people will not be able to wait.Here’s what you need to know about getting your donations to the people you are trying to help.There are so many solicitations to help the people of Hawaii. What groups should get priority right now?Experts recommend donating to nonprofits based on Hawaii that have provided rapid response services in the past.Hawai’i Community Foundation has raised more than $17 million as of Friday for its Maui Strong Fund, which is “providing financial resources that can be deployed quickly.” Though the foundation says its support will evolve, initially, it will focus on providing food,...

AP African American Studies course won’t count toward graduation credit in Arkansas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas education officials on Monday said an Advanced Placement course on African American studies won’t count toward a student’s graduation credit, prompting criticism from Black lawmakers who said the move sends the wrong message. The Arkansas Department of Education didn’t bar schools from offering the course, as Florida did earlier this year when it told the College Board it violated state law. The department said the class, which is offered at a handful of schools in Arkansas, could still count toward students’ grade point averages. But the Education Department said the class couldn’t be part of the state’s advanced placement course offerings since it’s still a pilot program and hasn’t been vetted by the state yet. The department cited a state law enacted this year that places restrictions on how race is taught in school but did not say the course violates those prohibitions.“The department encourages th...

Suncor earns $1.88 billion in Q2; takes restructuring charge related to layoffs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

CALGARY — Suncor Energy Inc. says it earned $1.88 billion in the second quarter of 2023, down from approximately $4 billion in the same period last year when oil prices were higher.The Calgary-based energy giant says it took a $275-million restructuring charge in the quarter related to its previously announced plans to cut 1,500 jobs by the end of the year.As a result of this restructuring charge, Suncor says its adjusted funds from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2023, amounted to $2.7 billion or $2.03 per share, compared to $5.3 billion or $3.80 per share in the prior year’s quarter.Suncor’s total upstream production increased year-over-year due to fewer planned maintenance activities, to 741,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the second quarter of 2023 from 720,200 in the second quarter of 2022.Refinery crude throughput was 394,400 barrels per day and refinery utilization was 85 per cent in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 389,300 barrels p...

The EPA is investigating how California manages its water following complaints from tribes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration has agreed to investigate how California manages its water after some Native American tribes and environmental groups complained the state’s policies are “rooted in white supremacy.”The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week it would investigate the California State Water Resources Control Board. The board, whose members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate, sets rules for how to use much of the state’s water, including 211,000 miles (339,572 kilometers) of rivers and streams.Federal law requires the board to review those rules every three years. But the board hasn’t kept up with that timeline for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento San Joaquin Delta Estuary. The estuary is one of the largest in the country and is home to threatened species of fish. It also irrigates California’s powerful agriculture industry while providing drinking water to 25 mill...

President Obama urges people to 'malama' and help Maui victims

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (KHON) -- As the search, recovery and assistance efforts on Maui continue, former President Barack Obama is urging Americans to help take care of the communities devastated by fires last week. "Aloha everybody," President Obama said in a message shared with Nexstar's KHON. "Like so many people around the world, Michelle and I have been absolutely heartbroken by the devastating images coming out of Maui and Lahaina over the last week. As someone who grew up in Hawaii, someone who has taken my family to enjoy the incredible beauty of that island and the hospitality of the people of Lahaina, we now find ourselves mourning the lives that are lost. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families that have lost so much."The death toll stood at 96 Monday, and was expected to grow as cadaver dogs and search crews continue to sift through the rubble. Maui Fires: How to find missing, how to help "The thing about it is though, thoughts and prayers in a moment like this are no...

Texas woman receives maximum sentence for role in Vanessa Guillén's murder

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (KWKT) – A woman involved in the murder of then-Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillén received a 30-year prison sentence Monday for her involvement in the murder. Judge Alan D. Albright announced Cecily Ann Aguilar's sentence after going into a short recess following Guillén's family testimony during the sentencing hearing about their deep grief following her death.Earlier Monday, Texas Ranger Justin Duck testified regarding the role Aguilar played in Guillén's disappearance. After Guillén was reported missing, Duck said he had several conversations with Aguilar because her boyfriend, Aaron Robinson, was the last person to see Guillén.It wasn’t until the authorities discovered human remains by the Leon River that Aguilar confessed. Aguilar admitted to helping Aaron Robinson dismember and bury the body of Vanessa Guillén. PREVIOUS STORY: Sentencing of Cecily Aguilar reset to August 14 Aguilar is the last surviving person charged in connection with the death of ...

FBI: Utah man allegedly pointed .357 at agents during raid over threats to Biden

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

PROVO, Utah (KTVX) -- A Provo man killed last week in an FBI raid over threats to President Joe Biden allegedly pointed a .357 at agents during that raid, according to a press release from the bureau Monday.On the morning of Aug. 9, Craig Deleeuw Robertson was shot and killed during an FBI raid after allegedly making numerous online threats against President Biden and a number of other high-profile targets, such as Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden landed in Salt Lake City later on the afternoon of Aug. 9 and stayed through most of the day Aug. 10. Robertson had allegedly posted threats online several times and was being investigated by the FBI in the weeks leading up to Biden's visit. “Complete and total shock.” Neighbors speak about the Provo man killed by the FBI One of his posts stated: "The time is right for a presidential assassination or two. First Joe then Kamala!!" Before President Biden's visit to Utah, FBI agents were investigating Robertson in connection with his thr...

Fighting fires from the skies: Inside the Texas air tankers saving land and lives

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:00 GMT

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — As Elic Kirby ducks into the cockpit of his "Super Scooper," he doesn't know where the flames may fly him next. His bags stay packed in the hollow, hybrid floating aircraft, ready to follow the latest sign of smoke anywhere from College Station to Canada."Most people don't love flying into smoke and fires and all that," he said. "I like doing stuff that's challenging. Not that it's, you know, a particularly hard job." MAP: More than 2,800 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year A common observer may disagree with that humble assessment. What Kirby describes as a normal day at the office entails flying low through turbulent smoke screens, skimming lake surfaces at 100 miles per hour to scoop up 1,600 gallons of water in just ten seconds, then dousing flames from above and returning for more — often up to one hundred times a day."It's fun. I hate to say that, you know, you're fighting fires, you're trying to protect people, property, whatever ...