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US-backed Kurdish fighters report the capture of a senior Islamic State group financier in Syria

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — U.S.-backed Syrian fighters detained a senior official with the Islamic State group who was in charge of financing and arming sleeper cells, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Friday.Despite the group’s defeat in Syria in March 2019, IS sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in Syria and in neighboring Iraq. The extremists once controlled wide areas and declared a caliphate in the two countries.The Syrian Democratic Forces said its militia members, with the support of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group and the Counter Terrorism Group in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, apprehended senior IS financier Abdul-Ghafour Taber al-Diab, also known as Abu Amir. He was detained Thursday in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, which was once seen as the capital of the extremists, according to the SDF.“He was responsible for financing the ISIS terrorist cells and their terrorist acts in the region, supplying them with weapons,” the militia said in ...

TMU men’s soccer team to play amid investigation into alleged ‘concerning behaviour’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

Toronto Metropolitan University says its men’s soccer team will play its home opener this weekend despite an ongoing investigation into what the school describes as “serious and concerning behaviour.”TMU had suspended its men’s squad earlier this week after it received a report about the unspecified conduct, adding the team would be held off the field until “further notice.”The team has already forfeited two road games, but TMU said in a Friday statement that Saturday’s match in Toronto against Nipissing would go ahead as scheduled.“Ensuring the safety and well-being of our community members is a priority for TMU, and the university is conducting a thorough and independent investigation into these allegations,” Friday’s statement read. “At this time, based on the investigation to date, the university has determined that the home opener … can proceed.“The university continues to assess and address the situa...

Vigil planned for Massachusetts teen who died after taking part in One Chip Challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — The family of a teenager who died after eating an extremely spicy tortilla chip as part of a social media challenge will gather to remember the promising basketball player at a vigil Friday while they await word from Massachusetts authorities about what caused his death.Harris Wolobah died on Sept. 1 and an autopsy is pending. But the 14-year-old’s family blamed the One Chip Challenge, which requires participants to eat the spicy chip and see how long they can go without consuming other food and water.Since his death, Texas-based manufacturer Paqui has asked retailers to stop selling the individually wrapped chips, a step 7-Eleven has already taken.The One Chip Challenge chip sells for about $10 and comes wrapped in a sealed foil pouch that is enclosed in a coffin-shaped cardboard box. The package warns the chip is made for the “vengeful pleasure of intense heat and pain,” is intended for adults and should be kept out of reach of children.Paqui, a...

Kroger and Albertsons sell hundreds of stores in a bid to clear merger of the 2 largest US groceries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

Kroger and Albertsons will sell more than 400 stores and other assets for about $1.9 billion, seeking to clear a path for a merger with antitrust regulators reviewing a deal that would unify two of the nation's largest grocery chains.The 413 stores, along with QFC, Mariano’s and Carrs brand names, are being sold to to C&S Wholesale Grocers. Kroger will also divest the Debi Lilly Design, Primo Taglio, Open Nature, ReadyMeals and Waterfront Bistro private label brands. In addition, C&S will get eight distribution centers and two offices.All fuel centers and pharmacies associated with the divested stores will remain with the stores and continue to operate.Bloomberg reports the sale includes 14 Illinois stores that are Kroger owned.Kroger and Albertsons agreed to merge in October. Kroger, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, bid $20 billion for Albertsons. Kroger would also assume $4.7 billion of Albertsons’ debt. The deal is targeted to close early next year.The grocery chains say they m...

Lee dips to Category 4, remains 'powerful' hurricane

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Lee charged through warm Atlantic waters on Friday and threatened to unleash heavy swells across the northeast Caribbean. It became the season's first Category 5 storm before weakening slightly.Currently a Category 4 hurricane, it is not expected to make landfall, but meteorologists warned it would generate dangerous waves of up to 15 feet (5 meters) across the northern coast of Puerto Rico and other nearby islands. While Lee is on a path that would take it a couple hundred miles (kilometers) northeast of the Caribbean, tropical storm conditions are not forecast for the region. These are the strongest hurricane winds ever recorded in the Atlantic basin “Although the hurricane is incredibly powerful, its wind field is not particularly large,” the National Hurricane Center said.The hurricane was located about 565 miles (910 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands. It had winds of up to 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour) and w...

Semi driver arrested after school bus crash in Northwest Indiana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

JASPER COUNTY, Ind. — A semi-truck driver was arrested late Thursday night following a crash involving a school bus on I-65 in Northwest Indiana.Authorities were dispatched to northbound lanes of the interstate near mile marker 222 at around 11:15 p.m. on the report of a crash.Indiana State Police discovered a school bus, which sustained significant damage, in the right ditch. Police said the driver was pinned inside but alert. He was eventually extricated and transported to a local hospital with potential life-threatening injuries.No other people were inside the bus.Police said Good Samaritans at the scene stopped to render aid to both drivers. However, at some point, the driver of the semi, Aregay Tesfay Gebremariam, 57, of Atlanta, allegedly drove away. Pete Davidson, John Mulaney coming to Northwest Indiana His truck was spotted parked at a Love's Truck Stop located on State Road 10 in Jasper County.Gebremariam was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involvi...

Pete Davidson, John Mulaney coming to Northwest Indiana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

GARY, Ind. — Comedians and former members of Saturday Night Live Pete Davidson and John Mulaney are coming to Northwest Indiana next month.The show is taking place at Hard Rock Northern Indiana, located in the 5400 block of West 29th Avenue in Gary, on Friday Oct. 6.Tickets go on sale Friday and anyone going must be 21 or older. Blackhawks will retire No. 7 for Chris Chelios — and Pearl Jam helped deliver the news Mulaney was a long-time writer for Saturday Night Live and Davidson was on the show from 2014-2022.

Several cars broken into on South Side: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

CHICAGO -- Several cars were broken into in the city's Kenwood neighborhood Thursday morning, police said.Chicago police said an individual forced entry into parked vehicles by breaking windows and rummaging through. The incidents occurred near: 4800 to 4900 block of South Dorchester Avenye 4400 block of South Lake Park Avenue 4900 block of South Blackstome Avenue 4800 blocks of South Lake Park AvenuePolice urges the public to be aware of their surroundings, report suspicious activity and alert your neighbors.There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

Florida flags fly half-staff in honor of Jimmy Buffett

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) - Flags are flying half-staff in Florida to honor the late musician and entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett. On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be flown half-staff after singer died Sept. 1 from a rare form of skin cancer. He was 76 years old. FILE - In this June 30, 2010, file photo, Jimmy Buffett performs at his sister's restaurant in Gulf Shores, Ala. Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock with the escapist Caribbean-flavored song “Margaritaville” and turned that celebration of loafing into an empire of restaurants, resorts and frozen concoctions, has died, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)Born and raised on the Gulf coast, Buffett carved out a niche in popular music with hits like "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise," combining elements of the country, rock and folk genres, with a tropical twist. He created an empire of restaurants, hotels, merchandise, timeshares and even cannabis products under the Margaritaville brand...

Former Bear makes an impact in NFL's 2023 opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:29 GMT

KANSAS CITY — A former member of the Bears had his moment in the spotlight in the first NFL game of the 2023 season. David Montgomery did so by doing what he did best for the first four years of his professional career in Chicago.The now Lions running back came up big for his team on what would end up being the game-winning drive against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium Thursday night.Montgomery converted a 3rd-and-1 around midfield to keep the Detroit march alive then scored the eventual game-winning touchdown from eight yards out a few minutes later. The Lions' defense made it stick in a surprising 21-20 win over the reigning Super Bowl champions to get out to a 1-0 start on the season. Signing a three-year, $18 million deal with Detroit in the offseason, Montgomery finished with 74 yards on 21 carries in his first game for the Lions. This comes after he played his first four seasons with the Bears, who selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In 60 games over four ye...