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A sweet slice of history: Florida Keys celebrate 200th birthday with giant Key lime pie

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

BIG PINE KEY, Fla. (AP) — Partying never gets old in the Florida Keys — especially for a milestone birthday like No. 200.The Florida Keys celebrated its bicentennial Monday along the Gulf of Mexico with a Key lime pie more than 13 feet (4 meters) in diameter — which organizers intend to certify as a world record. The festivities marked the anniversary of the Florida Territorial Legislature’s establishment of Monroe County on July 3, 1823 and celebrated its history. The county contains all of the Keys and a portion of Everglades National Park.During the Civil War, Key West remained in Union hands as a base for a naval blockade of Confederate shipping. In the early 1900s, Standard Oil millionaire Henry Flagler spearheaded the construction of the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad that became widely known as the eighth wonder of the world.And for nearly six months of his 1945-1953 presidency, Harry Truman governed the U.S. from his Key West “Little White House” that is now Florida’s only p...

EU climate chief is concerned over the expansion of the coal industry in China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — The European Union’s climate chief on Monday expressed concern over the expansion of China’s coal industry, with the building of new coal-fired plants. At a conference in Beijing, Frans Timmermans said that while China is forging ahead with plans to expand its use of renewable resources such as wind and solar energy, the country has also been constructing an ever-growing number of coal-fired plants in the past few years. “And that seems to be in a contradiction and it is in contradiction,” said Timmermans. “But at the same time, I do understand the anxiety caused by potential blackouts.”China is the world’s biggest and fastest-growing producer of renewable energy. It aims to turn one-third of its total power supply renewable by 2025.As more cities are experiencing sweltering temperatures this summer, the country may face power shortages and challenges to electricity grids, similar to what happened last year. At the same time, water shortages have led to reductions in ...

Man critical after being stabbed near Montrose Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is in critical condition after he was stabbed near Montrose Beach Monday evening, according to the Chicago Police Department.Police said a 29-year-old man was on a walkway in the 4600 block of West Lawrence Wilson Drive around 7:13 p.m. when he got into a physical altercation with an unknown offender. The 29-year-old man was stabbed in the upper chest and taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition. 1 fatally shot, 1 injured after Brighton Park shooting Police have no one in custody as Area Three detectives continue to investigate.If you or someone you know has information that can help police make an arrest and conviction in the investigation of this incident, anonymous tips can be filed online with CPD at cpdtip.com.

1 fatally shot, 1 injured after Brighton Park shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

CHICAGO — One male is dead and another person is in the hospital after a shooting in the Brighton Park neighborhood early Monday evening.According to the Chicago Police Department, a male victim of unknown age was on the sidewalk in the 4700 block of South Western Avenue around 4:55 p.m. when a vehicle pulled up, and a person inside the vehicle opened fire on him.The male victim, who was shot in the shoulder and buttocks, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.According to the Chicago Fire Department, a second victim was taken from the scene with a cut injury to St. Anthony Hospital in good condition. Mayor Brandon Johnson tours damages after heavy rains flood Chicago Police have no one in custody as Area One detectives continue to investigate.If you or someone you know has information that can help police make an arrest and conviction in the investigation of this incident, anonymous tips can be filed online with CPD at cpdtip.com.No other information...

Springfield residents go days without power after 'widespread, devastating' derecho winds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The fierce derecho that tore through Springfield late last week snapped massive utility poles and trees, causing widespread power outages that are expected to leave many homes in the dark for several more days, officials said Monday.The severe weather phenomenon often described as an inland hurricane kicked up straight-line winds of 70 mph (110 kph) or more, driving rain horizontally when the ferocious storm erupted Friday in the Midwest.The destruction was so extensive that municipal utility crews surveying neighborhoods over the weekend often found damage so severe that they made plans to return later to make repairs. Nearly 9 inches of rain reported: Skilling details Sunday’s record breaking deluge “It seems like it should be an easy fix, but it isn’t. So we want our citizens to know that we hear you; it’s hard, we know you’re without power," Mayor Misty Buscher said. “We’re doing our best to restore your power as quickly as possible...

APD SWAT team responds to call in south Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police are responding to a SWAT situation in south Austin.Police were initially called to the 4800 block of S. Congress Ave., between Stassney Lane and Ben White Boulevard, around 5:40 p.m.The SWAT team was called in almost an hour later, according to an APD watch commander.Police have not said why they were initially called. Further details were not immediately available, but a media briefing is expected around 9:30 p.m.KXAN has a crew on scene and will update this story as more information becomes available.

How did APD response times change while DPS was deployed in Austin?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As patrols by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in Austin resume, we're getting a look at how police response times changed during the first deployment.The city has created a "dedicated webpage about the partnership," Mayor Kirk Watson said. The page says the partnership, which first started in March, are "the result of staffing challenges currently faced by the Austin Police Department." How does DPS traffic stop data differ from APD’s? In addition to reducing violent crime, fatal crashes and injury crashes in Austin, reducing APD response times was named as one of the "core goals" of the partnership. Watson said the data shows response times were reduced."The partnership has been vital to addressing our public safety needs — especially as the Austin Police Department continues to face a significant staffing challenge," Watson said in a statement Monday. "The initial DPS deployment helped reduce violent crime, lower response times, and give our officers a...

Schenectady Police spreads awareness after four overdoses reported

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Four fatal overdoses were reported in Schenectady in just the last three days. Now Lieutenant Ryan Macherone from Schenectady Police Department wants to help spread awareness to the community, especially during the holiday.“We’re always concerned with this type of situation. We knew that there was an overdose on Saturday. Yesterday we heard of another two, one later in the evening,” he said. “And then today, as we were processing that and trying to get the information ready to go out to the public, another one came in this morning.” Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police are now asking anyone who may be dealing with addiction or if they know someone who is to make sure to reach out for help. “It’s extremely concerning… It’s extremely sad,” Lieutenant Macherone said. “In the capacity that I work on a daily basis with these individuals that are living with substance abuse disorders… We’r...

Babysitter arrested in toddler's death in Beaumont

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

Police in Riverside County have arrested a woman in connection with a toddler's death earlier this year.Officers from the Beaumont Police Department arrested Heather Greenman, 37, of Riverside, in connection to the death of a 15-month-old who suffered serious injuries while in Greenman's care.Greenman was the child's babysitter, authorities said.The child suffered a serious head injury while being watched by Greenman at a home in Beaumont. The unidentified child suffered swelling of the head and bleeding on the brain and ended up dying from the injuries.Greeman allegedly told investigators that the child fell while running. Witnesses were interviewed and warrants were served which led to authorities identifying another child who apparently suffered serious injuries while in Greenman's care. That child, a two-year-old, was not hospitalized and their injuries were not reported, police said.Greenman was arrested last Thursday and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. ...

Man found shot to death early Sunday in North San Jose

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

SAN JOSE – A man was shot to death over the weekend in North San Jose, police said Monday.Officers were called to the 400 block of Queens Lane, near Old Bayshore Highway, around 4:05 a.m. Sunday for a report of a person shot, San Jose police Officer Steve Aponte said in a news release. They arrived to find a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound.He died there, police said. The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office will release his identity once it is confirmed and his next of kin is notified.Aponte said the motive and circumstances surrounding the homicide are under investigation. Police did not announce any arrests Monday.The death marked the city’s second homicide since Friday and the 19th overall of 2023. At this time last year, San Jose police had also investigated 19 homicides in the city.Anyone with information related to the case can contact SJPD Homicide Unit detectives at [email protected], [email protected] or 408-277-5283. Tips can also be left wi...