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Swiss upper house seeks to ban display of racist, extremist symbols that incite hatred and violence

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland’s upper house of parliament took steps Wednesday toward banning the use of racist symbols that excuse violent or extremist behavior, including speech, gestures and the display of flags that stir hatred, as well as the public wearing of symbols reminiscent of Nazi tyranny in Europe.The Council of States voted 23-16, with three abstentions, on a proposal that aims to criminalize displays of such symbols and gestures in the public space. Lawmakers said they still need to flesh out just how far the legislation would go.The measure now moves on to the lower house, the National Council.Such a measure, if passed, would put Switzerland on track to join several of its European neighbors that have similar bans against incitement to hatred.While the legislative effort has been in the works for months, it comes as much of Europe has seen a rise in antisemitism, following Israel’s muscular military response in Gaza after Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 assault.“There’s no pl...

After 12 years, two children and ‘Barbie,’ Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach quietly marry

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach are officially married, their representative told The Associated Press Wednesday.The two filmmakers have been together for 12 years, have two children and collaborated on many films, including “Barbie,” which they co-wrote and Gerwig directed. They met on Baumbach’s “Greenberg” and went on to work together on films like “Mistress America” and “Frances Ha,” which they co-wrote, Baumbach directed and Gerwig acted in.Baumbach was previously married to and shares a child with Jennifer Jason Leigh.Gerwig and Baumbach wrote “Barbie” during the pandemic, not knowing if it would ever actually get made. In a “60 Minutes” interview from earlier this year Baumbach said that Gerwig signed them up to write it without telling him and he even tried to get out of it. His attempts, he laughed, were unsuccessful because “Greta was persistent and Greta saw something,” he said.The film became a cultural phenomenon and the highest grosser of the year, with over $1.4 billio...

2 men found dead in submerged SUV after a police chase

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

GREENCASTLE, Pa. (AP) — A sport utility vehicle being pursued by police in Pennsylvania crashed into a body of water, and two men were found dead inside, authorities said.State police in Franklin County said troopers were dispatched to an Antrim Township avenue on a report of two men unlawfully entering vehicles. Troopers later spotted the suspect vehicle on another road and tried to stop it, but the SUV failed to stop and a pursuit began.Police said the vehicle traveled off the roadway and through a number of farm fields and properties, and while traveling through one field it went over a steep embankment. Trooper Megan Frazer said the vehicle landed upside down in a body of water in an irrigated cornfield. Fire rescue and emergency responders were called, and the two men were later found dead inside the vehicle. Their names weren’t immediately released.The Associated Press

Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action won’t be done until 2081: report

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

A new report from the Yellowhead Institute says Canada won’t complete all 94 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action until 2081.The institute found that no calls to action were completed over the course of 2023.Only 13 of the 94 recommendations from the commission, which documented the history and effects of the residential schools system, have been completed since 2015.Yellowhead says the era of reconciliation has become largely stagnant in Canada, and this progress report will be its last.The group says it’s unclear how best to compel the Canada’s federal government to complete the calls to action, saying Ottawa has proven to be an unwilling partner.The report released today says there are five main challenges to reconciliation: paternalism, structural anti-Indigenous discrimination, reconciliation as exploitation or performance, insufficient resources and the economic interests and apathy of non-Indigenous peopleThis report by The Cana...

Nearly 3.5M travelers expected at Chicago airports this holiday season

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

CHICAGO — The holiday traveling season is in full swing with close to 3.5 million people expected to pass through Chicago's two airports between Wednesday and January 2.Wednesday is the busiest day at O'Hare International Airport. Both airlines and the federal government hope this year goes a lot smoother than last year.The Department of Transportation is keeping a close eye on airlines after Southwest had a systemwide meltdown last year. Close to one million people were left stranded with luggage piling up at airports across the country.Earlier this week, Southwest Airlines was fined $140 million, an amount meant to send a message that there is a difference between an act of God, like a snowstorm, and an airline just not being ready."We can't make guarantees on behalf of the airline industry for how Christmas and New Year's will go, but I will say there's been a lot of improvement," said Sec. Pete Buttigieg, Transportation Department. New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular returnin...

1 in 10 million bison found in Oklahoma — why's it so rare?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

QUAPAW, Okla. (KSNF) — A rare "genetically pure" white bison, whose odds of existing are around 1 in 10 million, was identified in northeast Oklahoma. As the largest land mammal in North America, approximately 30 million bison once roamed the plains states. However, bison suffered greatly during the westward expansion of the 1800s and nearly went extinct. At one point, less than 1,000 remained in the wild.Thanks to conservation efforts, the number of North American bison is now estimated to be upwards of 600,000 and growing.Those same conservation efforts have also led to the discovery of a rare type of bison — one that the Quapaw Tribe of northeast Oklahoma says they're extremely lucky to have in their care.(Photo: KSNF)Mitch Albright, the Director of Agriculture for the Quapaw Nation, is responsible for looking after 175 head of bison located on tribal land. Albright noticed one of the bulls in his care looked different from the rest.His name is Frosty — a name that suits him well...

WATCH: Marine surprises son during school assembly

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A third-grader at a Wallingford, Connecticut, elementary school got an early Christmas surprise on Tuesday when his father returned home from Marine training.Marcel Black thought his early morning assembly at Mary Fritz Elementary School was about upcoming events. Principal Eric Carbone said he was going to show a video from Marcel's dad during the assembly, but it seemed to malfunction.That's because the Marine, who is stationed in California for training, was actually there in person. "Once I got a closer look, I realized that was my dad, so I ran up to him and hugged him," Marcel said.Black will head back to California in January. For now, he's soaking up the time with his family."I hadn't seen him in a long time," Pfc. Clayton Black said. "He's my motivation to push through my training.""I really want to catch up on some father-son things we haven't done in a while," Marcel Black said.

Lance Armstrong's storage unit burglarized, over $100K in bikes stolen

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) – Two Austin men are accused of stealing more than $100,000 of high-end bicycles and parts from the storage unit of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, according to arrest affidavits.Police allege Shaun Thompson, 36, and Ethan Harms, 33, burglarized Armstrong’s ExtraSpace Storage Unit sometime between Dec. 10 and 12 and took four Trek road racing bikes with clear markings identifying Armstrong as the owner. A silver and black Cannondale Super Six Evo racing bike and a Ventum GS-1 gravel racing bike were also taken, police said.Both men have been charged with theft of property between $30,000 and $150,000 – a third-degree felony, according to court records.Harms and Thompson are suspects in other storage units and apartment burglaries, according to the arrest affidavit. Police said they reviewed the storage unit’s surveillance footage and recognized the suspects from...

New road opens in east San Marcos, providing an alternative route to I-35

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Christmas came early for some Hays County drivers as a new route opened Wednesday in east San Marcos.The new FM 110 road, part of the East San Marcos Loop, begins slightly east of Interstate 35 and Yarrington Road and ends at SH 80. It has one lane in both directions,10-foot shoulders and a bridge over SH 21.FM 110, part of the East San Marcos Loop, begins slightly east of Interstate 35 and north of San Marcos at Yarrington Road and ends at SH 80 (Courtesy: Hays County Government X Account). The roadway was constructed to provide drivers with an alternative to the frequently congested I-35 and costs just over $39 million. The Texas Department of Transportation, Hays County and the City of San Marcos funded the project. Stakeholders broke ground in March 2022, and it's the final of three projects that complete the East San Marcos Loop.“There were many who doubted this project would ever be built,” Hays County Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe told KXAN at the ...

Pedestrian killed on Coon Rapids Boulevard identified

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:50:07 GMT

Authorities have identified a pedestrian fatally struck last week in Coon Rapids.According to the Anoka County sheriff’s office, rescuers were summoned to Coon Rapids Boulevard Northwest and 111th Avenue Northwest shortly after 8 p.m. Dec. 13, on a report of a motor vehicle-pedestrian collision.Investigators say Mary Katherine Kessler, 53, was crossing Coon Rapids Boulevard when she was struck by a westbound vehicle. Kessler then was struck again by a second westbound vehicle.Kessler, of Coon Rapids, was later declared dead at an area hospital.The men who were driving the vehicles were not injured and are cooperating with investigators, the sheriff’s office said.The incident remains under investigation by the Anoka County sheriff’s office, Coon Rapids police, Minnesota State Patrol and Anoka County medical examiners.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Proctor School District, family of former football player settle lawsuit over 2021 hazing incident Crim...