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5 hostages of Hamas are free, offering some hope to families of more than 200 still captive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

Five hostages of Hamas are free, offering some hope to the families of more than 200 others snatched in southern Israel during the militants’ deadly rampage on Oct. 7. But the families of those still in captivity have questions, such as why progress has been so slow, why some and not others are being released and whether Israel’s punishing bombardment of the Gaza Strip puts their loved ones in danger. Israel on Monday announced its first hostage rescue — that of army Pvt. Ori Megidish. Hamas had earlier released Americans Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter, Natalie, 18. Also let go were Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, along with Nurit Cooper, 79. Their husbands remain in captivity. Hamas has said it would let the others go in return for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which has dismissed the offer. Here are stories of some of the more than 200 still held in captivity.BIBAS FAMILYLARNACA, Cyprus — Ofri Bibas couldn’t bring herself to tell her brother, Yarden, she lov...

Deputies killed a Maine man outside a police station. Police say he was armed with a rifle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

RUMFORD, Maine (AP) — Law enforcement officers in Maine killed a man late Monday after he allegedly confronted officers outside a police station with a rifle.Sean Dyment, 23, of Canton, Maine was shot by deputies from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office as they talked with a resident outside the Rumford police station about a vehicle that the person said had been following them, according to a statement posted on the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office Facebook pages. As they talked with the person making the complaint, a vehicle matching the person’s description drove up to the station. Dyment then confronted officers with a rifle and was shot, the statement said. Dyment was transported to Rumford Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Sheriff’s Office did not say whether Dyment was the driver of the vehicle.The two deputies involved in the shooting, Joshua Aylward and Deputy Matthew Steinort, were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Attorney General’...

Deloitte pays $1.59 million to CPA Ontario for breaching code of conduct

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

TORONTO — CPA Ontario says Toronto-based Deloitte LLP has paid $1.59 million in fines and costs for breaching the regulatory body’s code of professional conduct. In a press release Tuesday, CPA Ontario says a number of Deloitte auditors backdated audit working paper signoffs between November 2016 and May 2018.They did so by changing the date and time settings on their computer clocks to manually override controls in Deloitte’s audit software.The organization says that during the year-and-a-half-long period, more than 930 audit working papers were backdated in at least 39 audit engagements. CPA Ontario says Deloitte admitted to failing to have the necessary policies and procedures in place to ensure standards of practice were being followed. It says it has taken into account remediation efforts by Deloitte, including improvements to quality control, internal discipline and mandatory training. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2023.The Canadian Press

Music Review: Chinese boy band WayV prove their mettle with second album ‘On My Youth’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

SM Entertainment’s Chinese boy band WayV have come out with guns blazing on their sophomore album, “On My Youth.” It’s no small feat for the six-piece group to stand out, particularly because they are the the fourth sub-unit (a smaller group made up from members of a larger one) from the K-pop mega boyband NCT.But WayV manage to forge their own style and path in the dizzying world of K-pop divisions and subdivisions. They are in spirit, musically and aesthetically, the new generation’s EXO-M — SM Entertainment’s previous Chinese subgroup of their super act EXO — loaded with similar charisma.WayV, whose name is an acronym for We Are Your Vision, expertly mix hip-hop, pop and electronica on their new 10-track album in a style uniquely their own. From the neo-soulful “No One But You” and the bright pop “Be Alright,” this album is a journey that always seems to revert back to a sense of hopefulness, uplifting the listener even when detouring with a weird trap stanza. (...

Employee dies after being hit by fuel truck at Austin airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A person working at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport died after being hit and injured by a fuel truck Tuesday morning, according to airport officials. An AUS spokesperson said it's not clear which company the person was employed by, and it's not clear who owns the fuel truck. Mayor in talks to possibly rename AUS after former president Austin Fire Department units and the Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the incident. AFD said the person was hit by the truck near a service road that goes by the tarmac, and AUS added it was between gates 33 and 34. CPR was performed on the employee. ATCEMS said the person was pronounced dead on the scene at 10:02 a.m.An AUS spokesperson said no airport operations are being impacted, and flights are coming and going as normal. AUS issued the below statement following the incident: This morning, the City of Austin Department of Aviation requested emergency service personnel to respond to an incident involving an injure...

Gov. Abbott says 'agreement' reached with House leaders on school choice plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday he reached an "agreement" with Texas House leaders that could advance his stalled school choice plan, as time runs short to approve it before the third special legislative session ends in exactly one week. Abbott said he would now include additional public school funding as well as teacher pay raises in the special session agenda after working with House Speaker Dade Phelan. He said their deal would also raise the proposed amount of money that families could receive through an education savings account program he'd like to establish in state. He said participating students could receive approximately $10,400 per year, which is higher than the numbers previously proposed by both the House and Senate. Time running short to approve Texas school voucher plan Abbott issued the below statement on his decision to expand the session: “Working with Speaker Phelan and his House leadership team, the Speaker and I reached an agreement on sc...

Report: Vikings trading for quarterback Josh Dobbs in move with Cardinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

After canvassing the market over the past 48 hours, the Vikings are trading for journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs in a move with the Arizona Cardinals.NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport broke the news on Tuesday afternoon with a couple of hours before the trade deadline.This move was necessary after franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles tendon on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field while leading the Vikings to a win over the Green Bay Packers.It’s still unclear if Dobbs would be able to start this week for the Vikings. The other option would be rookie quarterback Jaren Hall.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | Dane Mizutani: If this is the end, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins deserved better Minnesota Vikings | Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to miss the rest of season with torn Achilles tendon Minnesota Vikings | Vikings could be turning to rookie quarterback Jaren Hall for foreseeable future Minnesota Vikings...

Longtime Twins broadcaster Dick Bremer stepping away from booth, into special assistant role

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

For four decades, Dick Bremer’s distinctive voice has been the soundtrack of Twins games, bringing generations of baseball fans in Minnesota closer to their favorite team. It was a dream job for Bremer, a lifelong baseball fan born in St. Paul and raised in small-town Minnesota.Bremer’s illustrious run as the Twins’ television play-by-play announcer has come to an end after 40 seasons, the team announced Tuesday, with the 67-year-old shifting to a special assistant role within the front office that will have him representing the team at community and fan events.“A final left-hand toast to Twins fans everywhere,” Bremer wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account, accompanied by a picture of him holding out a beer while in a fishing boat on the water. “Thanks for an incredible 40-year run! It was MY pleasure.”Bremer, who was raised in Dumont, Minn., began calling Twins games in 1983, holding that job for three seasons. After one year away, he returned as the Twins’ play-by-play announc...

Jace Frederick: Why Timberwolves often flip the switch from good to bad

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch noted numerous times last season that his team’s margin for error was not large. And that has proving to be the case again early this season.The margin between Minnesota looking like a championship-caliber team — as it did in the first half of Monday’s loss to Atlanta — and it looking like a total train wreck — as it did in the second half — is razor thin.It doesn’t feel like that should be the case for a team as talented as the Timberwolves. Last year they were without Karl-Anthony Towns for much of the season; now, he’s healthy. Rudy Gobert is healthy. Anthony Edwards is healthy. Jaden McDaniels was back from his calf injury on Monday, and played relatively well. Mike Conley was an all-star just two years ago.On paper, there is too much talent to fail. And that’s the way it looks intermittently on the court  in various games, as it did in the second half of Saturday’s home win over Miami, and for the first 24 minut...

Where to smash (and compost) pumpkins in the Capital Region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:56:31 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Once Halloween is over, you may be wondering what to do with your old jack-o-lanterns. Rather than throw them in the garbage, some places around the Capital Region host events where you can compost your old pumpkins and gourds while having fun doing it. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Pumpkin Smashes allow for people to bash their pumpkins as a send-off to the compost pile. Here's where and when you can find these events around the Capital Region.Clifton ParkClifton Park is hosting four different pumpkin smashing events at four different times. The events are:November 4: Bowman Orchards in Rexford from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.November 5: Amity Reformed Church in Rexford from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.November 5: St. Edward's Church in Clifton Park from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.November 11: Bowman Orchards in Rexford from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trick-or-treating hours for Halloween in the Capital Region BethlehemBethlehem is ho...