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The Israeli public finds itself in grief and shock, but many pledge allegiance to war effort

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Normal life in Israel stopped when Hamas attacked on Oct. 7. Now, the country is fiercely focused on three goals: mourning the dead, fighting the Gaza-based militants and rescuing scores of hostages. Schools across the country are closed. Major streets are nearly empty of traffic. Many shops and businesses are shuttered, with workers called up for reserve duty. The attack, in which more than 1,400 Israelis lost their lives in a single day, left Israel unmoored, shattering faith about the state’s commitment to its citizens’ defense and the superiority of the country’s army. High-tech fortifications crumbled within minutes in the face of a force Israelis previously viewed as a ragtag band of terrorists. For the first time since the 1948 war over Israel’s creation, enemies seized Israeli territory — and they dragged at least 199 civilian hostages into Gaza. With terrified citizens in the south barricading themselves in their homes, the military took hours to respond. F...

Fort Lauderdale woman arrested after high-speed chase in Florida Keys, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

A 42-year-old Fort Lauderdale woman was arrested on Monday after allegedly leading Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds exceeding 100 mph.Carolyn Marie Frawley was charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement as she fled from authorities, MCSO said.Authorities said the incident began when the Sheriff’s Office spotted a southbound Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by Frawley, near 37th Street on U.S. 1 in Marathon at around 1:36 a.m. Frawley’s vehicle initially stopped near Mile Marker 47, but then accelerated at a rapid pace, reaching a top speed of 112 mph.Authorities managed to spike the vehicle’s tires near Mile Marker 32, successfully bringing the chase to a halt. Frawley, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was taken into custody without further incident.

1 in 200 million chance: Family naturally conceives triplets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (KTBS) — It was a one in 200 million chance, triplets conceived naturally. The lucky parents are bringing their newborns home tonight.“I think I’ve seen one, maybe two other sets in my career,” said Brett Whitton with the Willis-Knighton Health System.The birth of Claire Elizabeth, Ella Katherine and Lily Caroline is a one in one million to one in 200 million chance. The identical triplets were conceived naturally. Their parents are Haley and Matthew Cordaro from Shreveport. They found out they were having triplets at the seven week ultrasound.“Our initial reaction, we were just, ‘Wow, this is crazy. Are you sure?’ You know, and just didn’t, we’re just in disbelief at first,” said Haley Cordaro, the mother of the triplets.The triplets are the first set of multiples born to either side of the family.“Definitely just wanted one more and then found out we were having three in addition to our three-year-old already. So four girls,” said Cord...

Woman accused of abandoning dog at Pittsburgh International Airport held for court on all charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A woman accused of abandoning her dog at the Pittsburgh International Airport while she boarded a flight to a resort in Mexico appeared in front of a judge on Monday.Allison Lyn Gaiser of Kittanning was held for court on all charges. She’s facing a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty, along with summary violations of animal cruelty, animal neglect and abandoning a dog within the state. She waived her preliminary hearing, according to court documents.Allegheny County police said they were called to help around 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 4 after a dog was found unattended in a stroller near the entrance to the airport’s short-term parking lot.Police said the dog did not have a collar, but officers were able to find a microchip. Police said they weren’t able to make contact with the owner, later identified as Gaiser, but learned she boarded a flight to a resort destination.According to investigators, airline officials told Gaiser the dog needed to be ...

State House Bills Address ‘Glaring Omission’ Preventing Spouses From Being Paid Caregivers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

People could be paid to act as caregivers to spouses with disabilities under proposals promoted at a legislative hearing Monday to address the state’s shortage of personal care attendants.A slew of family members — including children, grandparents, nieces and nephews, and ex-spouses — can already be reimbursed for providing home-based care and services to their loved ones through a MassHealth program, Sen. Jo Comerford told the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.Comerford said her bill (S 67), plus an accompanying proposal from Reps. Adam Scanlon and Norman Orrall (H 216), seeks to tackle a “glaring omission” for spouses by broadening the definition of a family member who’s eligible to be reimbursed.“There are people on the waiting list, as you know, who can’t get the home care they need. Allowing qualified spouses to serve as family members who provide the care will actually expand the pool of car...

FDA takes ‘momentous’ step toward banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

(CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration took a “momentous” step Monday toward banning menthol in cigarettes and banning flavored cigars, proposing a rule that public health experts say could save hundreds of thousands of lives.The FDA has been talking about banning menthol and flavored cigars for years and has said the issue is one of its top priorities. In April, it announced it would move ahead with proposed product standard restrictions because such a move had “the potential to significantly reduce disease and death” and reduce “youth experimentation and addiction” as well as increase the number of smokers who quit.The agency has sent the rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final review, the last regulatory step before the rule becomes final.“It’s a big, vital and critical step on the way to banning these products,” said Erika Sward, assistant vice president of national advocacy with the American Lung A...

Cool Day, but Warm October

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

Well… at least we had a nice weekend for once because the rain wasn’t too far away. It moved right back in to kick off the work week with scattered showers through the day, but especially this afternoon. It wasn’t just the showers today, we had a lot of clouds and cool temperatures that really made it feel like fall outside. Temperatures struggled to even make it to 60°.I don’t think tomorrow is a great day, but it’ll be better than today. Temperatures will still be cool and a hair below average but we’ll add one or two degrees on top of where we finished today. Most of the showers should exit tomorrow but a spot shower will likely linger behind with the best chance being on the coast or the closer to the coast you are versus inland where the showers were more focused today.Also notice that sunset time tomorrow! Tonight is our last sunset in the 6pm hour until next March… tis the season.These cool days certainly are a reminder of what’...

IDF soldier stopping in Mass. to drop family off shares images, describes scenes from Israel as war with Hamas continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

A soldier fighting for the Israeli Defense Forces is in Boston this week, dropping off family members who were able to escape the violence overseas before returning to the fight himself.Major Omri, who requested his last name be omitted to protect his family, sat down with 7NEWS while he was in the area.“[My family] saw me go upstairs and organize my uniform and my gear and they ask if I’m going ‘to play in the arm’ – exact words,” he said. “I told them ‘No – I’m going to fight for our freedom.'”Speaking with the news station, he discussed what he had seen in southern Israel after a series of surprise attacks by Hamas fighters on Oct. 7 left hundreds of civilians and soldiers dead and led to all-out war.The IDF soldier described how Hamas fighters video-recorded the violence and used social media to taunt Israelis.“Sometimes, they even took the phones of the deceased and killed soldiers, and posted on their beha...

Soccer match between Belgium and Sweden abandoned after deadly shooting in Brussels

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

By Samuel Petrequin and Raf Casert, Associated PressBRUSSELS (AP) — A soccer match between host Belgium and Sweden was abandoned at halftime Monday after two Swedes were killed in a shooting in central Brussels before kickoff.Fans remained inside the King Baudouin stadium after the European Championship qualifier was stopped and chanted “All together, All together!”The match was being played around 3 miles (5 kilometers) away from the shooting. The teams were tied 1-1 at halftime.Belgium’s crisis center raised the level of threat in Brussels and its region to the maximum and asked citizens to avoid unnecessary travel.The Swedish FA said in a message to Swedish supporters on site that the Belgian police wanted supporters to stay in the arena for security reasons.“Keep calm and take care of each other,” the FA said. “Our thoughts go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels.”It was not immediately clear if the shooting was linked to terrorism, or to the Israel-Hamas war.A...

Lake Forest mansion once owned by Chicago Bulls head coach Bill Cartwright listed for $2.4M

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:53 GMT

A six-bedroom, 7,100-square-foot mansion in Lake Forest that onetime Chicago Bulls star center — and later, head coach — Bill Cartwright once owned has been listed for $2.35 million.Cartwright owned the Georgian-style home from 1998, when he paid $823,000 for it, until selling it in 2008 for $1.97 million. Cartwright played for the Bulls from 1988 until 1994, including being part of the team’s first “three-peat” set of titles, and then was an assistant coach from 1996 until 2001. He served as the Bulls’ head coach from 2001 until 2003.The home’s current owners, ACCO Brands executive chair Boris Elisman and his wife, Karen Hymes, bought the mansion from Cartwright in 2008. Now, they have placed the home for sale through real estate agents’ private listing agent network. Built in 1988, the home has three full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, a two-story foyer, new hardwood floors, high ceilings and a newer DaVinci roof.The mansion&...