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Niger will face sanctions as democracy falls apart, adding to woes for its 27 million people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

By SAM MEDNICK (Associated Press)NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — West African nations have announced travel and economic sanctions against Niger and have threatened to use force if the leaders of a coup don’t reinstate the democratically elected president within one week.The sanctions announced after the regional bloc known as ECOWAS convened to respond to last week’s military takeover add to a growing list of penalties against the country, one of the least developed in the world, according to the latest U.N. Human Development Index. Niger relies heavily on foreign aid: analysts fear sanctions could further impoverish its 25 million people.“In the event the authority’s demands are not met within one week, (the bloc will) take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force,” the ECOWAS bloc said in a statement after its meeting on Sunday. One of its demands is the immediate release and reinstatement of Nigerian Preside...

1st US nuclear reactor built in decades enters commercial operation in Georgia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

By JEFF AMY (Associated Press)ATLANTA (AP) — A new reactor at a nuclear power plant in Georgia has entered commercial operation, becoming the first new American reactor built from scratch in decades.Georgia Power Co. announced Monday that Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle, southeast of Augusta, has completed testing and is now sending power to the grid reliably.At its full output of 1,100 megawatts of electricity, Unit 3 can power 500,000 homes and businesses. Utilities in Georgia, Florida and Alabama are receiving the electricity.Nuclear power now makes up about 25% of the generation of Georgia Power, the largest unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co.A fourth reactor is also nearing completion at the site, where two earlier reactors have been generating electricity for decades. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday said radioactive fuel could be loaded into Unit 4, a step expected to take place before the end of September. Unit 4 is scheduled to enter commercial operation by March.The third...

Police search for driver who intentionally hit 6 migrant workers. Injuries aren’t life-threatening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

LINCOLNTON, N.C. (AP) — Six migrant workers who were intentionally hit by an SUV in a Walmart parking lot in North Carolina have been released from the hospital, police said on Monday. The workers were rammed by a vehicle outside a Walmart in Lincolnton on Sunday in what appears to have been an intentional assault, but Maj. Brian Greene, interim chief of the Lincolnton Police Department, said the driver’s motives are still under investigation. The victims were treated at a local hospital for their injuries, and all were released late Sunday, Greene told The Associated Press.Police are asking the public for help identifying the driver and the vehicle, described as an older model black sport utility vehicle with a luggage rack.The migrant workers had arrived at the Walmart parking lot late Sunday morning from Knob Creek Orchard in Lawndale, where they tend to the farmland. Greene said the workers make the same trip once a week and use a shaded lawn at the bottom of the parking l...

Churchill Downs to improve track maintenance, veterinary resources for fall meet after horse deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Churchill Downs will implement safety measures for its September meet including new track surface maintenance equipment and additional monitoring and equine care following 12 horse deaths before and after the Kentucky Derby that spurred suspension of its spring meet.Racing is scheduled to resume Sept. 14 and run through Oct. 1 at the historic track, which paused racing operations on June 7 to conduct an internal safety review following the spate of horse deaths from racing or training injuries. Seven died in the days leading up to the 149th Derby on May 6, including two in races preceding the premier event.The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority recommended suspending the remainder of the meet, which moved to Ellis Park in western Kentucky. Training continued at Churchill Downs during the investigation, and a release on Monday stated that while industry experts found no issues with the racing surfaces, the track invested in new maintenance equipment. It...

Nathalie Stutzmann become second woman to conduct at Bayreuth, 2 years after gender barrier broken

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

BAYREUTH, Germany (AP) — Two years after the debut of the Bayreuth Festival’s first female conductor, Nathalie Stutzmann became the second to lead a Richard Wagner opera in the Festpielhaus’ famous covered pit.The 58-year-old former contralto, fresh off her first season as Atlanta Symphony Orchestra music director, drew a luminous performance of “Tannhäuser” on Friday night in a revival of the Tobias Kratzer 2019 production — the one featuring the title character in a clown suit and a murder in a Burger King parking lot.“It’s good news to be second,” Stutzmann said. “It proves that things are moving.”Launched by Richard Wagner in 1876 and currently run by great-granddaughter Katharina Wagner, the festival broke its conductor gender barrier when Oksana Lyniv led a new staging of “Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman)” in 2021. The 45-year-old returned this summer to preside over the Dmitri Tcherniakov production for the third straight year.“They are very highly ac...

8-year-old survives cougar attack in Washington state national park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) — An 8-year-old child survived a cougar attack with minor injuries while camping in Olympic National Park in Washington state over the weekend.“The cougar casually abandoned its attack after being yelled and screamed at by the child’s mother,” the National Park Service said in a statement. After being assessed by park personnel, the child, who was not identified, went to a hospital for further evaluation.Rangers shut down the campsite and surrounding areas following the Saturday attack. Park law enforcement and cougar specialists began looking for the animal on Sunday at Lake Angeles. If located, the cougar will be euthanized and officials hope a necropsy will provide clues as to why it attacked.Cougars are rarely seen and attacks on humans are extremely rare, park officials said. The lethal removal of the cougar is in line with the park’s protocol for wildlife observations, interactions and attacks.The entirety of the 1,562-square-mile (4,045-square-kilomet...

Winds play key role as wildfire continues to threaten Osoyoos, B.C.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

Winds will likely be a major factor in the battle to save the southern British Columbia town of Osoyoos from a raging wildfire, but the latest forecast offers some hope.Environment Canada is calling for northwest winds through the day before gusts of 20 kilometres per hour ease late in the day.The BC Wildfire Service says that will help push the nearly nine-square-kilometre Eagle Bluff wildfire away from Osoyoos, less than two days after flames sparked in Washington state raced across the Canada/U.S. border on Saturday evening.The wildfire service says although the blaze remains out of control, it did not grow overnight as crews kept a close watch on its east flank, closest to Osoyoos.About 700 properties in the area west of Osoyoos remain on evacuation order, while 2,000 more, including the entire town of Osoyoos, are on evacuation alert.The wildfire service is reporting more than 350 active blazes around B.C., with just under 200 classified as out of control and 14 ranked as fires...

Canadian small businesses push for CEBA repayment extension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

Small businesses from coast to coast to coast are pushing the federal government to extend the deadline to repay pandemic loans, claiming a quarter of a million companies are at risk of closure.According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), businesses need another year or two to pay back the financial assistance, including the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which provided interest-free loans of up to $60,000.A portion of the CEBA loans — $20,000 — is forgivable by the federal government if the money is repaid by Dec. 31, 2023. If not, the full amount is due with five per cent interest tacked on.“Just all of a sudden, they’re paying a lot more back in loan or their debt amount has increased, and they’ll have to pay interest charges, of course, on the full amount,” said Christina Santini, director of National Affairs at the CFIB.Related articles: Struggling B.C. restaurants face COVID-19 debt repayment deadlineCanadi...

Nearly 40 teens charged after reckless gathering in South Loop: CPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago police reported 37 teens were charged after a reckless gathering ensued in the city's South Loop Sunday night. Police reported 30 teens between the ages of 12 to 17 were charged with a misdemeanor of reckless conduct. Officers responded to a large gathering near the 100 block of West Roosevelt Road near the intersection of Canal Street and Roosevelt Road around 8:00 p.m. Sunday night.Courtesy of ChitownCrimechasers-CCCPolice said many teens and 18 to 20-year-olds were placed into custody after disregarding commands by police to disperse. 2 shot — 1 critically — in road rage incident on DuSable Lake Shore Drive Several teens were charged with misdemeanors of criminal trespassing to obstructing identification and failing to obey police. A 15-year-old boy was charged with a felony of unlawful use of a weapon and another teen, 17, faces felony charges for unlawful use of weapon with a machine gun.Courtesy of ChitownCrimechasers-CCCWGN is actively following the inci...

Man arrested for DUI with 5-year-old inside in Lisle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:57 GMT

LISLE, Ill. — A man was arrested for a DUI Sunday his 5-year-old son was inside the vehicle.Just after 1:15 a.m., a Lisle officer stopped a vehicle in the 4400 of Route 53.Thaddeus Thompson, 38, of Chicago, was taken into custody after allegedly showing signs of impairment. Officers observed his 5-year-old son in the vehicle.During a search, 100 grams of marijuana and a container of open alcohol were discovered. Police said Thompson's license plate was revoked for a prior DUI.He was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, aggravated driving while a license revoked, diving under the influence with BAC over .08, and disobeying a traffic control device.The child was turned over to another family member and was not injured.