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Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a fierce Ron DeSantis critic, qualifies for GOP presidential debate

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said Friday that he has qualified for next week’s Republican presidential debate, becoming the ninth White House hopeful to meet the fundraising and polling thresholds required to participate in the opening face-off of the 2024 campaign.Suarez, 45 and the only Hispanic in the field, will be perhaps the least-known Republican on the stage Wednesday in Milwaukee. But with an audience expected of more than 10 million viewers, he said the debate will give him equal footing to contrast his personality against his higher-profile opponents. He argued that he is uniquely positioned to help the Republican Party reach out to Hispanic and younger voters in particular.“Oftentimes, it’s not policy because we agree, by and large about policy, right? It’s personality, dynamism. It’s the ability to connect,” he told The Associated Press in an interview confirming his debate attendance.So far, nine candidates say they have met the debate qualifi...

British nurse found guilty of murdering seven babies, making her UK’s most prolific child serial killer

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

(CNN) — A British nurse has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the hospital where she worked, making her the country’s worst baby serial killer in recent times.Lucy Letby, 33, harmed babies in her care by injecting air into their blood and stomachs, overfeeding them with milk, physically assaulting them and poisoning them with insulin, Manchester Crown Court in northern England heard.She secretly attacked 13 babies on the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester hospital between 2015 and 2016, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement.Her intention was to kill the babies while duping her colleagues into believing there was a natural cause of death, prosecutors argued.Doctors at the hospital began to notice a steep rise in the number of babies who were dying or unexpectedly collapsing, the court heard.But concerns raised by consultants over the increased mortality rate of patients under Letby’s care were init...

The ex-wife of a Florida man killed in an ‘ambush’ shooting has been indicted for murder, prosecutors say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

(CNN) — The ex-wife of a Florida man who was shot and killed in an “ambush” while his toddler was sitting in a car seat nearby has been indicted on a count of first-degree murder in his death, prosecutors said.Shanna Gardner-Fernandez also was indicted by a grand jury Thursday on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder and child abuse related to the killing of her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan, Fourth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced during a news conference Thursday.Gardner-Fernandez was arrested and taken into custody by ATF Washington Field Division agents in West Richland, Washington, on Thursday, Nelson said. She will be extradited to Duval County, Florida, to face the charges, the prosecutor added.The indictment hasn’t been released, but Nelson noted details on the evidence would be provided “during the discovery process.”CNN was unable to determine whether Gardner-Fernandez has secured legal represen...

Flash flood warnings, severe thunderstorm warning in effect for parts of Mass. as powerful storms move through

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

Tornado warnings have expired but flash flood warnings and a severe thunderstorm warning remain in effect for parts of Massachusetts as of around 10:30 a.m. Friday morning as powerful storms continue to move through parts of southern New England. Multiple flash flood warnings were in place encompassing much of Eastern Massachusetts as of 10:30 a.m., scheduled to remain in effect until after 12 p.m. in some places. There was also a severe thunderstorm warning in effect for part of Essex County set to stay in effect until 11:30 a.m.Warnings of flooding follow prior tornado warnings for parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts that continued until around 10 a.m. The NWS issued the region’s first tornado warning of the day around 8:30 a.m. Meteorologists later noted radar indications of possible tornado debris lofted into the air near Scituate, Rhode Island around 8:40 a.m. as the tornado-warned storm moved through the area.Many communities in Massachusetts spent Fr...

Why Patriots’ coaching braintrust is optimistic after ‘really beneficial’ week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

There’s an air of positivity around the Patriots more than three weeks deep into training camp.The team is still stationed in Green Bay after two days of joint practices with the Packers and preceding their second preseason game of the summer. Wednesday’s practice had some up-and-down moments. At best, it felt like a draw between the Packers and Patriots.But something clicked in the time following Wednesday’s practice and before Thursday’s session. The Patriots came out energized and looking like a new team. The sideline was bringing energy. Mac Jones was hitting deep passes. Young defensive backs were forcing incompletions. Trash talk was flowing.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Where is Patriots CB Jonathan Jones? Assistant coach answers Friday New England Patriots | Patriots-Packers joint practices Day 2: Mac Jones shines, Ezekiel Elliott ramps up, defense fights New England Patriots | Patriots safety Jabril...

Where is Patriots CB Jonathan Jones? Assistant coach answers Friday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones has not practiced for two weeks.Or, for that matter, even been spotted near a football field.Jones was last seen at an in-stadium practice on Aug. 4, when he wore street clothes and walked the sideline. Prior to that night, he had been a staple of the Patriots’ top defense during team periods in training camp. Jones again projects to start this season, after logging 16 starts, 69 tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles last year.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots-Packers joint practices Day 2: Mac Jones shines, Ezekiel Elliott ramps up, defense fights New England Patriots | Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers made his presence known in chippy joint practice with Packers New England Patriots | Jahlani Tavai urges fans to support Hawaii after Patriots lend help New England Patriots | Patriots encouraged by early returns on Ezekiel Elliott signing New England P...

West Kelowna evacuations triple, as City of Kelowna declares wildfire emergency

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

WEST KELOWNA, B.C. — A state of emergency has been declared in the City of Kelowna, B.C., and thousands more West Kelowna residents have been ordered to leave their homes in the face of a fast-burning wildfire.The “very active and unpredictable” McDougall Creek wildfire has now destroyed structures and put more than 2,400 West Kelowna properties under evacuation order, up from about 800 Thursday afternoon, after a frightening night that saw hills surrounding the Okanagan community ablaze.Spot fires sparked on the east side of Lake Okanagan prompted the declaration of a state of emergency for the City of Kelowna around midnight.A local state of emergency was already in place in West Kelowna because of the fire that’s threatening suburbs, schools and businesses in the city. Fire crews are bracing for what the operations director with the BC Wildfire Service predicts will be the most challenging days of the provincial wildfire season.A further 4,800 West Kelowna prope...

Russia arrests the leader of a prominent election watchdog

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Moscow judge has formally arrested and detained one of the leaders of a prominent independent election monitoring group on suspicion of being involved with an “undesirable” organization, his lawyer said Friday.The case against Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of Russia’s leading election watchdog Golos, is the latest in the monthslong crackdown on Kremlin critics and rights activists that the government ratcheted up after sending troops into Ukraine.Melkonyants’ was charged and detained Thursday in Moscow and appeared in the city’s Basmanny District Court on Friday where a judge arrested him, his lawyer told The Associated Press. Russian media report he has been detained until Oct. 17. He faces up to six years in prison if convicted.Golos has not been labeled “undesirable” — a label that under a 2015 law makes involvement with such organizations a criminal offense. But it was once a member of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations, a group...

Vina Morales replaces Lea Salonga in Broadway’s ‘Here Lies Love’ to spotlight Filipino stars

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

As Tony Award winner Lea Salonga prepares to depart the first ever all-Filipino Broadway cast this week, her role will become a revolving door to showcase other well-known talent from the Philippines.Actor and singer Vina Morales, also beloved in the Philippines, will take over as Aurora Aquino in “Here Lies Love” for a month-long engagement starting Sept. 22, the production exclusively told The Associated Press on Friday. Producers say they are committed to highlighting the country’s “abundance of talent,” allowing guest performers a Broadway debut.“To be able to perform on Broadway is a dream come true for any artist,” Morales said in a statement. “I am grateful to ‘Coach Lea’ Salonga for guiding me along the way.”Salonga, who has been with the show since previews in June, called her friend Morales “a wonderful addition to our cast.” Her final show will be the matinee Saturday. Another cast member will fill in until Morales’ arrival.“Here Lies Love” chronicles th...

Video shows drivers breaking no vehicle access rules at High Park

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:39 GMT

It’s been almost two weeks since the City of Toronto implemented phase one of the High Park Movement Strategy, but pictures and videos posted to social media appear to show a lot of drivers breaking the rules.City council approved the strategy in May, resulting in a new main vehicle entrance, reduced parking, and new bike lanes installed inside the park.Among the changes in effect since August 5 include the West Road and parts of Colborne Lodge Drive, south of Grenadier Café, being car-free at all times, and the primary vehicle entrance at Parkside Drive and High Park Boulevard being open Monday to Friday but closed on weekends and holidays.Visitor vehicles are not permitted to enter through Bloor Street West.One “X” user, formerly known as Twitter, posted a video showing a line of cars parked in bike lanes and said he witnessed drivers moving fences to get into areas where they’re not allowed.“High Park is better with less cars, but some people move th...