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Fire destroys main post office in Philippine capital, a nearly 100-year-old neoclassical landmark

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A massive fire tore through Manila’s historic post office building overnight, slightly injuring one person and razing the nearly 100-year-old landmark in the Philippine capital, police and postal officials said Monday.The fire started before midnight in the basement of the neoclassical, five-story building and was brought under control Monday morning more than seven hours after it began, firefighters said.An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the fire and what was damaged, officials said.The Manila Central Post Office was one of the capital’s busiest office buildings but was closed when the fire started. The building was the country’s main mail-sorting and distribution hub and was the central office for the Philippine Postal Corporation. Postal service in the Philippines began during the Spanish colonial period with horse-riding mail couriers. The building, now recognized as a national landmark, was built in 1926 with high columns in the ...

Couple killed at Texas mall shooting along with 3-year-old son had ‘perfect synergy’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Kyu Cho had a generous spirit and joyous belly laugh that delighted his friends. His wife, Cindy Cho, was quieter, described by those who knew her as sweet and kind. Together, the parents of two young sons complemented each other perfectly, strong in their faith and devoted to family and friends.“That’s what I keep hearing in my head when I think of them: Just Kyu laughing so deeply and Cindy just kind of shaking her head and laughing along,” said their friend, Phyllis Myung. “Every interaction I ever had with them, we were always laughing so hard.”Cindy and Kyu grew up in Texas. They met while pursuing their careers as young adults in Boston — her as a dentist, him as an attorney. Wanting to be near their families, they decided it was time to return to Texas when they started a family of their own. The couple and their sons — 6-year-old William and 3-year-old James — were not far from their Dallas home when a gunman opened fire at an outdoor mall as they s...

While many love the dry conditions, sunny skies and warm temps, it's not all good news, especially for farmers and gardeners...

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

We closed out a completely dry weekend and a very dry weekOver the last 7 days, O'Hare on received 0.03" of rainfall.  It continues to be a very dry month.  May is now 2.69" drier than average and the 7-Day outlook is rain free.  The most rainfall O'Hare has measured any day this month is just 0.16", nearly 2 weeks ago (5/8).  If the forecast is accurate and we stay dry through next Sunday, the month will be 3.67" drier than average.  Nearly another inch deficit in one week.  By May 28, meteorological spring (March - May) would be 4.05" drier than average.  For the year, O'Hare would have measured 1.58" below average precipitation.  The new Drought Monitor numbers won't come out until Thursday, but the area of the region that's already Abnormally Dry is likely to grow.  Anyone wanting to keep their lawn looking lush might want to water as well.  Keep in mind when to run the sprinklers and when you shouldn't do it tomorrow as afternoon temps climb to near 80.  There are a few reasons...

Joe Mazzulla takes blame for Celtics’ horrid Game 3 loss, admits defensive identity has been lost

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

MIAMI — The Heat fans leaving Kaseya Center were still loud, cheering and clearly audible when Joe Mazzulla took the podium, which was located just steps away from the court, a curtain separating him from the carnage that just took place.The Celtics coach was still trying to process what just happened, a humiliating and inexcusable 128-102 loss to the Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals that suddenly left his team one loss from elimination. It was the darkest night of the season, one once filled with so much promise but now in real jeopardy of crashing to a devastating end. It seems inevitable now, really.But with the lights on him, Mazzulla had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. The first-year coach put it all on himself.“I just didn’t have them ready to play,” Mazzulla said.Mazzulla was thrust into a very difficult spot in September when he suddenly took charge of a championship-ready team for the suspended Ime Udoka. He handled circumstances admirably through the r...

'Bar Ella' to succeed 'Bub's at the Beach' in Pacific Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- After serving up drinks for 25 years, it's officially the end of an era for the long-time Pacific Beach staple, Bub's at the Beach.A new business is set to replace the beloved sports dive bar, which permanently closed in mid-April. Soon, the beachside spot will become a more elevated joint called Bar Ella.Tavern at the Beach's General Manager Krista Barrella is the soon to be owner of Bar Ella, named as a play on her last name. Backed by The Verant Group, whose footprint is well-known in Pacific Beach with bars like Sandbar and Mavericks, she's looking to transform Bub's to fit a new vision for the neighborhood spot -- something a little more up-scale and vibrant.The logo for Bar Ella, the new bar replacing Bub's at the Beach in Pacific Beach. (Courtesy of Bar Ella)Remodeling and rebranding is already underway: "It's a super open floor plan right now," she said, "trying to create a separation between what will be the dining area versus the bar area."The renovated space ...

One rescued from beached sailboat in Oceanside

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- One person was rescued from a sailboat Sunday night after it veered past the mouth of Oceanside Harbor and became stuck in shallow waters, according to fire officials.Oceanside Fire crews were alerted to the beached boat at 9:18 p.m. According to Battalion Chief Jon Regner, the sailboat was attempting to enter the Oceanside Harbor at the North Jetty, near 1540 North Harbor Dr. Woman, 70, in fatal El Cajon crash near Olde 80 Highway identified One occupant was found aboard the vessel by crews. Two rescue swimmers took the occupant off the boat, however, no injuries were reported in the incident.The person aboard lived on the boat and has been displaced by the incident, according to Regner. The person has not been identified by authorities.As of 10 p.m., first responders from Oceanside Fire were still on the scene, waiting for a third-party service to remove the sailboat from the shore.Authorities did not provide any information about the extent of the damage to...

These California campsites among best in the Pacific US: The Dyrt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Summer is almost here, meaning it's time to explore the great outdoors, and there is no better place to do that in in California.With the most parkland in the country, there are plenty of opportunities for adventurers to experience the Golden State's natural wonders -- from coastal bluffs and desert badlands to mountain peaks and lush forests.For many outdoor enthusiasts, camping at one of the over 15,000 sites across the state's 280 parks is one of the best ways to do just that.Anyone looking to sleep under the stars this summer can start with one of these California campsites, ranked by the camping website, The Dyrt, among the top spots to camp in the Pacific region of the U.S. 5 ‘glamping’ sites for wary campers near San Diego Alabama Hills Recreation AreaLocation: Lone Pine, CAAlabama Hills Recreation Area, located at the base of the Sierra Nevada, is known for its stunning geological formations that rise from the desert floor. From a maze of canyons to towering r...

Activists rally at Friendship Park to stop border wall construction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Dozens of people, musicians and folk dancers gathered in San Ysidro Sunday morning near the path to Friendship Park to protest the construction of a 30-foot border wall through the park.Those present at the demonstration said that the wall through the park would destroy the connection between the U.S. and Mexico it provides -- from brief encounters between visitors to the international community the space has facilitated."(Friendship Park is) where people on both sides of the border are able to share community together," said Andrea Lorera, a U.S. resident and Mexican native who traveled from Los Angeles for Sunday's rally. Severe injuries from falls skyrocket since taller border wall installed Friendship Park is a historic binational park that spans about a half-acre along the southern border near San Diego. Inaugurated as a California State Park in 1971 by First Lady Pat Nixon, Friendship Park served as a meeting point between the two nations for decades.The park wa...

3 Palestinians killed in Israeli raid in occupied West Bank; US slams latest settlement expansion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli army raid in a West Bank refugee camp early on Monday, Palestinian health officials said, while the Biden administration sharply condemned Israel’s latest act of settlement expansion.According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the three men were killed during a raid in Balata, a refugee camp near the city of Nablus. Six people were wounded, including one who was in critical condition, the ministry said.The army later confirmed soldiers had raided Balata; it said troops came under fire and killed three Palestinians. Israel has stepped up raids in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks and said Monday’s operations netted weapons and an explosives manufacturing operation in a home, which it detonated.Meanwhile, the Biden administration issued a sharply worded statement on Sunday criticizing Israel for moving to reestablish settlers at the formerly evacuated outpost of Homesh in northern West Bank.In March,...

Singapore’s prime minister tests positive for COVID-19

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:25:24 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday he tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time after returning home from work trips in Africa and Asia. Due to his age, the 71-year-old said he was prescribed the Paxlovid antiviral medication.“I tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time this morning,” Lee said on Facebook, where he posted a photo of a positive antigen rapid test. “I am generally feeling ok, but my doctors have advised me to self-isolate until I am asymptomatic.”Lee was on an official visit to South Africa from May 14 to 16, and Kenya from May 17 to 19. He also attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia from May 10 to 11.Lee said his last COVID-19 vaccine booster was in November. He urged Singaporeans to keep their vaccinations up to date to reduce the risk of severe illness. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was reported by local media as saying recently in Parliament that fewer seniors were keeping u...