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Heart of Hawaii’s historic Lahaina, burned in wildfire, reopens to residents and business owners

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The heart of Lahaina, the historic town on the Hawaiian island of Maui that burned in a deadly wildfire that killed at least 100 people, reopened Monday to residents and business owners holding day passes. The renewed access marks an important emotional milestone for victims of the Aug. 8 fire, but much work remains to be done to safely clear properties of burned debris and rebuild.The reopened areas include Banyan Tree Park, home to a 150-year-old tree that burned in the fire but that is now sprouting new leaves, Lahaina’s public library, an elementary school and popular restaurants. An oceanfront section of Front Street, where the fire ripped through a traffic jam of cars trying to escape town, reopened Friday. Authorities are continuing to recommend that people entering scorched lots wear protective gear to shield them from hazards.On Sunday, the state Department of Health released test results confirming the ash and dust left by the fire is toxic and...

Canada Post says issue that prevented it from accepting some parcels is fixed

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

Canada Post says a problem that meant it couldn’t accept some parcels with only two weeks to go before Christmas has now been fixed.The federal Crown corporation posted on Facebook Monday evening that a “technical issue” was preventing post offices from accepting parcels for delivery within Canada.The post said it had identified the issue and was urgently working to restore full post office service for customers.About two hours after the notice was posted, spokeswoman Lisa Liu said in an email that the issue was resolved and all postal services are available.No details were provided about the nature of the technical issue, and Liu did not answer questions about what caused the problem.Liu said Canada Post thanks customers for their patience as they worked quickly to address the issue.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2023.The Canadian Press

NBA star Ja Morant describes punching teen during a pickup basketball game last year

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — NBA star Ja Morant testified in court Monday that a teenager hit him in the face with a one-handed basketball pass at close range during a pickup game last year and that the Memphis Grizzlies guard punched the teen once in the face.Morant said on the stand that the teen bumped him in the chest, balled his fists and got into a fighting stance. The lawsuit was filed by Joshua Holloway, who was 17 when the brief fight erupted at a basketball game on a court located at the Memphis-area home of the NBA All-Star’s parents on July 26, 2022.Holloway, now 18, accuses Morant and his close friend Davonte Pack of assault, reckless endangerment, abuse or neglect, and infliction of emotional distress. Morant, 24, has said that he and Pack each punched Holloway once, and that Pack’s blow sent Holloway to the ground. Morant claims he was acting in self-defense after Holloway threw the ball at him and hit him in the chin during a check-ball situation. A “check” is a...

Palestinians hope a vote in the UN General Assembly will show wide support for a Gaza cease-fire

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Palestinians are hoping that a vote Tuesday in the U.N. General Assembly on a nonbinding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire will demonstrate widespread global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month.After the United States vetoed a resolution in the Security Council on Friday demanding a humanitarian cease-fire, Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency session of the 193-member General Assembly on Tuesday afternoon to vote on a resolution making the same demand.Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding. But as U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Monday, the assembly’s messages “are also very important” and reflect world opinion.Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, told The Associated Press on Sunday that the defeated resolution in the Security Council was cosponsored by 103 countries, and he is hoping for more cosponsors an...

Private intelligence firms say ship was attacked off Yemen as Houthi rebel threats grow

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A ship off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea has been attacked, private intelligence firms said Tuesday. The attack on the vessel comes as threats have increased from Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the area over the Israel-Hamas war raging in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though rebel military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said an important announcement would be coming from them soon. The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. Dryad Global identified the vessel attacked as the Strinda, a Norwegian-owned-and-operated ship that had broadcast it had armed guards aboard as it went through the strait. The ship’s managers did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Tuesday. The vessel, an oil-and-chemical carrier, was comi...

Gage Park jewelry store robbery captured on surveillance video

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

CHICAGO — The owner of a Gage Park jewelry store said she is worried about the future of her business after it was targeted by four thieves who robbed the store at gunpoint in the middle of the day last week. Witnesses told Chicago police that they saw four men enter the store in the 2600 block of West 51st Street around 2 p.m. on Thursday armed with guns. Missing Carpentersville teen’s car pulled from pond in Vernon Hills Police say the men smashed the store's glass display cabinets and stole items from inside before fleeing the scene on foot. Chicago police did not provide a description of the men involved in the robbery but say an investigation is underway. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call CPD Area One detectives at 312-747-8380.Tips for police can also be filed at CPDtip.com. Tips can be left anonymously.

Bus companies could be fined for dropping migrants off in Rosemont

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Village of Rosemont can now fine companies and even arrest drivers who drop migrants off in the Northwest suburb moving forward.According to the Journal & Topics Media Group, Rosemont trustees approved an ordinance on Monday that would allow the village to fine, arrest, and impound buses for companies dropping off migrants on local streets and other public places without notice.In the report, Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens called the practices "inhumane" as the migrants are being dropped off in unfamiliar places without prearranged assistance. Here’s a list of new Illinois laws going into effect in 2024 Mayor Stephens said seven buses with around 50 migrants where unloaded in front of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and a Metra parking lot last week.The ordinance would fine bus companies $750 for each violation.The village has identified 20 bus companies that are believed to have transported migrants from Texas to the Chicagoland. Rosemont official...

Wild video shows bear sprint past skiers at California ski resort

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (KTLA) -- A handful of skiers and snowboarders had a close call with nature when a black bear darted across a ski run at a California ski resort on Sunday.Tao Feng nearly collided with the bear at the Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe. He captured the moment on video and posted it on TikTok. Photos: Bighorn sheep gets stuck on roof of home in Colorado Feng was skiing down the Ridge Run trail around 11 a.m. Sunday when the bear came charging out of the woods and across the slope in between skiers and snowboards."Didn't realize it was a bear until it was too close," Feng said.Video captured by Tao Feng shows the bear darting across the ski slope at Heavenly on Dec. 10, 2023. (TikTok: @tao7570)Video captured by Tao Feng shows the bear darting across the ski slope at Heavenly on Dec. 10, 2023. (TikTok: @tao7570)Video captured by Tao Feng shows the bear darting across the ski slope at Heavenly on Dec. 10, 2023. (TikTok: @tao7570)Thankfully, no one co...

Home prices predicted to fall in multiple US cities: What about Chicago?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — After two years of surging home prices and mortgage rates, some relief could be coming to the real estate market in 2024, according to a new report.Across the U.S., Realtor.com predicts home prices will fall 1.7% next year, though larger drops are anticipated in 21 of the country’s largest metro areas the real estate firm analyzed in its forecast.Austin, Texas, could see the steepest decline, with a 12.2% drop expected. Three other cities in the Lone Star State could see falling home prices, including San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. Others expected to see prices drop include Denver, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and St. Louis. But what about Chicago? How much you need to make to be ‘middle class’ in Chicago Unfortunately, buyers in and around the Windy City may not be as lucky. Instead, Realtor.com is forecasting an increase in home prices by 1.1%. While that is a jump, it's much less than those predicted for Detroit (10.9%); Rochester, New York (10.4%); Des Moi...

Ramsey County debuts pilot program offering residents free naloxone

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:04:50 GMT

Ramsey County Public Health on Monday announced the launch of a pilot program offering two free doses of the drug naloxone to residents.Naloxone, which is more commonly known by its trade name Narcan, is designed to reverse the deadly effects of an opioid overdose.Residents can fill out a form on the county’s website to receive a kit containing two doses of naloxone nasal spray, sanitary breathing barriers, gloves and instructions on how to use them, according to a county news release. The kits, which are funded by Minnesota’s settlements with opioid companies, will be mailed to residents’ homes.“If you, your family or friends or someone you know could benefit from having naloxone on hand, please order a kit today,” Public Health Director Sara Hollie said in the news release.The county has a limited supply of the kits, so Hollie asked that residents order the kits only if they believe they are likely to encounter an overdose.“We want to make sure individuals and communit...