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Post-tropical cyclone Lee makes landfall in Nova Scotia, spares Massachusetts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

Massachusetts was spared the worst of Lee Saturday as the National Hurricane Center downgraded the storm to a post-tropical cyclone early in the day and Gov. Maura Healey lifted a state of emergency declared just before its arrival.Lee made landfall later in Nova Scotia with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour, according to a 5 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. Strong winds, coastal flooding, and heavy rains  occurred in portions of Maine and Atlantic Canada, according to the center.But Boston and much of Massachusetts appeared to be in the relative clear as the post-tropical cyclone moved further north, National Weather Service Meteorologist Rob Megnia said. Boston experienced sub-tropical storm force winds, with an early morning gust recorded at Logan Airport reaching 38 mph.“It’s still pretty windy and breezy but it’s really nothing more than a kind of a poor New England weather type of day today,” Megnia said. “We’ll start to see the nort...

Volume up: San Diego musicians collaborate to revive songs of the 'mystic saints of India'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO --Described as a sublime meeting of East and West, a sacred "love story" is being told within the walls of Big Fish Recording Studio in Encinitas.Though produced in the same studio where multi-platinum albums by iconic artists like Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World were created, a different kind of masterpiece is being collaborated by a group of San Diego musicians. Inspired by the sounds of her childhood, Vineetha Menon, a North County business owner and creator, pointed to her time in Kerala, India while drawing in a breath of creativity. She explained that "compositions from the mystic saints of India" are being retold through an album that's in the making.According to Vineetha, most of the recreated songs on the album are not available in the public domain. Many come from her memory -- an evocation of her mother's singing. "Exquisite melodies and poetic lyrics" she hopes to revive. "Something within me spoke to say it was my responsibility, my duty to preserve this music,"...

Oceanside police dog 'Jenko' retires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- The Oceanside Police Department announced the retirement of a K-9 who's served the city for over half a decade.Jenko, a 7-year-old dual-purpose Belgian Malinois police dog, will retire following his last shift Saturday. Volume up: San Diego musicians collaborate to revive the mystic saints of India The K-9 was certified in patrol work and narcotics detection during his final three years of service, said OPD. He's also served as a K-9 attachment to the SWAT Team, responding to serve in high-risk operations.In his career, Jenko has had had a number of successes, including the following:-- Finds leading to over fifty narcotics and evidence seizures, including $25,000 in currency, five recovered firearms, and over 100 kilograms of narcotics, along with other evidence and drug paraphernalia.-- Assisted in the location or surrender of over 200 suspects and has had 15 direct apprehensions of dangerous felony suspects. -- Jenko has competed in many K-9 competitions a...

Body pulled from Lake Ontario in Burlington, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

One person is dead after a possible drowning at a beach in Burlington on Saturday afternoon.Halton police tell CityNews the body of a male was recovered from Lake Ontario at Burlington Beach near Lakeshore Road and Eastport Drive.Emergency crews were searching for a male who reportedly disappeared in the water. Police confirm the victim was pronounced dead at the scene after crews recovered a body from the lake.No other information has been made available.This is a developing story. More to come.

Brazilian leader Lula rekindles ties with Cuba at G77 summit in Havana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with his Cuban counterpart Saturday in Havana, signaling a revitalization of ties between the two countries in the first trip by a Brazilian president to the Caribbean nation in nine years.Lula was in Havana for the s ummit of the Group of 77 emerging economies plus China. The group, founded in the 1960s, is meeting in Cuba just days ahead of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.Addressing the summit Saturday, Lula lamented the U.S.-led embargo of Cuba. The island “is the victim of an illegal economic embargo. Brazil is against any unilateral coercive measure,” he said.“We reject the inclusion of Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism,” he added. Lula was referencing the U.S.’s list of countries it considers to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. Countries on the list are subject to sanctions.Cuba and Brazil share strong historical and demographic ties. Brazilian soap ...

California lawsuit says oil giants for deceived public on climate, seeks funds for storm damage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The state of California filed a lawsuit against some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, claiming they deceived the public about the risks of fossil fuels now faulted for climate change-related storms and wildfires that caused billions of dollars in damage, officials said Saturday.The civil lawsuit filed in state Superior Court in San Francisco also seeks creation of a fund — financed by the companies — to pay for recovery efforts following devastating storms and fires. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement the companies named in the lawsuit — Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and BP — should be held accountable.“For more than 50 years, Big Oil has been lying to us — covering up the fact that they’ve long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for our planet,” Newsom said. “California taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for billions of dollars in damages — wildfires wiping out entire communities, toxic smoke clog...

Trudeau calls for better progressive messaging at summit in Montreal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

MONTREAL — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says progressive politicians need to do a better job bridging their lofty aspirations with people’s day-to-day struggles in order to counter the right wing.He made the comments today while participating in a panel at the Progress Action Summit in Montreal. Other panel participants included Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.Trudeau said progressives need to make the case that their ideals, such as an inclusive economy and fighting climate change, can also provide solutions to issues facing everyday households.Trudeau said those on the right wing of the political spectrum are able to attract followers by amplifying their anxieties and use disagreements about identity issues to undermine progressive messaging.He says leaders must make people feel that progressive policies work and restore optimism in the future.Støre agreed, warning the ...

Atlantic storm Lee makes landfall in Nova Scotia, Canada with winds of 70 miles per hour

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — Storm Lee made landfall late Saturday afternoon in Nova Scotia, Canada, at near-hurricane strength, but not before it brought high winds, rough surf and torrential rains to a large swath of New England and Maritime Canada, toppling trees, swamping coastlines and cutting power to tens of thousands.With sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph), the center of the post-tropical cyclone came ashore about 135 miles (215 kilometers) west of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. That’s about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Eastport, Maine, U.S. weather officials saidThe storm was expected to weaken as it moves into New Brunswick and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, forecasters said.In the United States, a tropical storm warning was in effect for a 230-mile (370-kilometer) stretch from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to the eastern end of Maine. That included Bar Harbor, the touristy gateway to Acadia National Park, where a whale ...

Caught in a lie, CEO of embattled firm caring for NYC migrants resigns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The chief executive officer of a firm hired by New York City to house and care for hundreds of migrants abruptly resigned Friday after he admitted to lying about his educational record and as DocGo has come under scrutiny for its $432 million no-bid contract with the city.Anthony Capone’s resignation came after the Albany Times Union reported earlier in the day that Capone had lied about having a graduate degree in artificial intelligence from Clarkson University. The university told the paper that Capone had never attended the university.Capone later admitted to the paper he had never earned a graduate degree from any institution of learning.“I take full responsibility and am making immediate corrections to all official bios, profiles and any other materials where this incorrect information appears,” he had said in a statement. The company confirmed Capone’s resignation Friday in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which said the c...

Trump says competency tests 'would be a good thing' as age concerns cast shadow on 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:19:50 GMT

(The Hill) — Former President Trump suggested in an upcoming interview that he is "all for" competency tests, as concerns grow over age ahead of the 2024 presidential election. When asked by "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker what Trump makes of the age issue and if there should be a cap — the former president said "No.""But there should be a competency... I'm all for the test," he continued, adding that he has already taken a test and "I aced it. I get everything right." Ken Paxton acquitted in Texas impeachment trial "Im all for testing. I frankly think testing would be a good thing," he told Welker in a "Meet the Press" interview set to air on Sunday. "A lot of people say it’s not constitutional to do it. But I would be for testing, to test to make sure everyone’s just fine. But a lot of people say that can’t happen because of Constitution."The age of a president has become a growing concern for Americans as Trump, 77 — who is leading for the Republican nomination for th...