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Survivors of Maui's wildfires return home to ruins as death toll rises to 67

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Blackened hulks of burned-out cars, the pavement streaked with melted and then rehardened chrome. Block after block of flattened homes and businesses. Incinerated telephone poles, and elevator shafts rising from ashy lots where apartment buildings once stood. A truck bed full of glass bottles, warped into surreal shapes by the furious heat. Anthony Garcia assessed the devastation as he stood under historic Lahaina’s iconic banyan tree, now charred, and swept twisted branches into neat piles next to another heap filled with dead animals — cats, roosters and other birds killed by the smoke and flames. Somehow it made sense in a world turned upside-down. “If I don’t do something, I’ll go nuts,” said Garcia, who lost everything he owned. “I’m losing my faith in God.”That was the scene residents found when they were allowed back home to take stock of their shattered homes and lives Friday as the toll rose to 67 confirmed dead in this week's wildfires, which tore th...

Broomfield burglars allegedly same crew as Cherry Hills Village

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Broomfield police are warning residents to secure belongings and make sure their doors are locked after a series of burglaries have been reported this week. The trespasses and burglaries occurred in the area of Spruce Meadows near 152nd Avenue and Zuni Street, police said. The suspects are believed to be the same four-person crew that allegedly attempted break-ins and stole two cars from Cherry Hills Village last week. 4 armed suspects attempt break-ins, steal cars in Cherry Hills Village The Broomfield Police Department said in a statement that at least one of the suspects was seen carrying a handgun.Investigators believe suspects involved in a series of Broomfield burglaries are the same suspects in Cherry Hills Village burglaries. (Photo credit: Broomfield Police Department)Suspect caught on surveillance in Broomfield burglaries (Photo credit: Broomfield Police Department)Alleged suspects in Broomfield and Cherry Hills Village burglaries (Photo credit: Broomfi...

Messi scores again, Inter Miami tops Charlotte 4-0 to make Leagues Cup semifinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi’s goalscoring streak lives on, as does Inter Miami’s winning streak.Messi scored in the 86th minute, his eighth goal in five matches with his new club, and Inter Miami rolled past Charlotte 4-0 in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal game on Friday night.Messi has scored in all five of his appearances with Miami. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner who led Argentina to the World Cup crown last year has yet to lose a match with Miami, walking off winners in all five matchups so far in the Leagues Cup, a 47-team event composed of clubs from MLS and Mexico’s top league that now is whittled down to the final four.Next up for Messi and his new club: A semifinal game on Tuesday against either Mexican club Queretaro or Philadelphia Union.Charlotte almost found a way to keep him off the scoresheet. Almost.Josef Martinez and Robert Thomas also had goals for Inter Miami, an own goal set up by some serious Messi pressure late in the second half resulted in another...

Training the trainers: Nonprofit shows Miami-Dade Animal Services staff how to help make shelter dogs ready for ‘fur-ever’ homes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

Animal trainers in Miami-Dade County are learning some new lessons so they can better help the dogs at their animal shelter, thanks to a nonprofit.The staff at Miami-Dade Animal Services in Medley learned that sometimes it’s the trainers who need to learn a new trick.That’s why on Friday, these workers received a lesson in how to better take care of animals — many of whom have had a “ruff” life.The lesson came from the nonprofit Dogs Playing for Life.“They’re a national organization that goes around the country, just giving best practices to all the shelters,” said Flora Beal, a spokesperson for MDAS. “They help us to identify the best way to work with each individual dog.”“Dogs are naturally sociable creatures, so we want to give dogs the chance to, instead of living in social isolation in a shelter, to actually be able to get out and be dogs.” said Aaron Caldwell with Dogs Playing for LifeMDAS’ shelter c...

Sweeten up your weekend at the Lemon Festival in Chula Vista

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!The 26th annual Lemon Festival is coming back to downtown Chula Vista this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.Attendees will be able to enjoy lemon-infused activities on Third Avenue like zesty photo opportunities, a lemon cookoff competition, a kids zone for the Lil' Lemons, food options, arts and crafts vendors and a wine and beer garden. This weekend’s Perseid meteor shower will peak at this time in San Diego Chula Vista, in the 1890s and early 1900s, was known as the "Lemon Capital of the World" after it was found that the local environment was perfect for growing lemons because of the cool temperatures and lack of extreme heat, according to Peter Watry with the South Bay Historical Society.If you are not taking a car to the festival, public transportation will be available for the event. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is offering service on the UC San Diego Blue Line to the E Street Station, where you the...

Survivors of Maui’s wildfires return home to blackened ruins as death toll rises to 67

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Blackened hulks of burned-out cars, the pavement streaked with melted and then rehardened chrome. Block after block of flattened homes and businesses. Incinerated telephone poles, and elevator shafts rising from ashy lots where apartment buildings once stood. A truck bed full of glass bottles, warped into surreal shapes by the furious heat. Anthony Garcia assessed the devastation as he stood under historic Lahaina’s iconic banyan tree, now charred, and swept twisted branches into neat piles next to another heap filled with dead animals — cats, roosters and other birds killed by the smoke and flames. Somehow it made sense in a world turned upside-down. “If I don’t do something, I’ll go nuts,” said Garcia, who lost everything he owned. “I’m losing my faith in God.”That was the scene residents found when they were allowed back home to take stock of their shattered homes and lives Friday as the toll rose to 67 confirmed dead in this week’s wildfires, which t...

Blue Jays’ bats stay quiet, Berrios struggles early in loss to Cubs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

The schedule gets a bit funky for the Toronto Blue Jays after a weekend set with the Chicago Cubs, three off-days in the span of eight days offering both a needed respite from the August grind and some challenges in running a six-man rotation.Hence, the option of Alek Manoah to triple-A Buffalo on Friday afternoon, a move that in one fell swoop ended the burden of a seven-man bullpen, too many rest days between outings for the starters and created an opportunity to optimize for an Aug. 22-24 series in Baltimore.Sounds good until you consider the downside, which in this case is Manoah enduring a second demotion in a jarring season of struggle for the right-hander – only this time, there’s no obvious path back to the majors like there was when he was first sent down in early June.“We’ll see. You never really know,” manager John Schneider, speaking before a 6-2 loss to the Cubs, said of how Manoah can reclaim his roster spot. “A lot of it’ll be how t...

Mayor Johnson fires Dr. Allison Arwady as Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

CHICAGO -- Mayor Brandon Johnson fired Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady on Friday.Mayor Johnson's office confirmed the termination of Dr. Arwady to WGN-TV on Friday.Dr. Arwady was with the Department Of Public Health since 2015, where she initially served as Chief Medical Officer before being confirmed as Commissioner in January 2020. Illinois Supreme Court upholds state’s ban on semiautomatic weapons Dr. Allison Arwady released the following statement Friday night:"Over a decade of working in public health in Chicago--including four years as the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health--my top priority has always been protecting the health of all Chicagoans.It has been the best chapter of my life (so far!) leading the CDPH team, especially through the COVID pandemic, when public health was needed more than ever. Public health must always be driven by science and medicine, and never politics.It is critical that this work receives t...

Paul Lisnek on Illinois assault weapons ban, Hunter Biden, and Donald Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Evening News to discuss several big stories from the week.The topics include the Illinois Supreme Court's decision to uphold the state’s ban on semiautomatic weapons, and the latest on Hunter Biden and former President Donald Trump.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesTune in Sunday mornings for WGN-TV Political Report.

Will Airbnb refund a Maui booking after wildfires?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:22 GMT

(KRON/NEXSTAR) — Airbnb will be granting full refunds to guests with accommodations booked in Maui who request them, a representative for the short-term rental provider confirmed. The Airbnb extenuating circumstances policy is currently in effect for areas of Hawaii, including the entire island of Maui, the representative said.This policy allows guests with eligible stays to cancel and get a full refund. Hosts in the impacted areas can also cancel without fees or other consequences. Maui wildfire disaster: How can I donate to help? The company's extenuating circumstances policy is in effect for all of Maui and parts of the Big Island that are also being impacted by wildfires. Hosts and guests with eligible stays in the impacted areas can get information directly through their Airbnb account.The company is closely monitoring the situation and will provide more information soon, a representative told KRON4.The island of Maui is currently reeling from devastating wildfires that all-b...