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Testimonies shed light on conditions for Hamas hostages

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

By Rob Picheta, Joseph Ataman and Amir Tal | CNNFor more than six weeks, the conditions in which the Israeli hostages captured by Hamas were being held in Gaza were virtually unknown to the outside world.But testimony from some of the hostages released by the militant group in recent days is now beginning to emerge, giving a glimpse into their lives in captivity following Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7.Those who have spoken of their experiences described living off limited supplies, as bombs rained overhead. Some knew throughout their time as hostages that family members or friends had died on the day of Hamas’ assault, while others were left without clues as to their safety.Adva Adar, whose 85-year-old grandmother Yafa was among those released in the first exchange of hostages for Palestinian detainees, said her family “were asked to let (Yafa) share whatever she feels comfortable sharing, and not to ask a lot of questions so she wouldn’t feel obligated (to answer) or ...

NBA MVP Joel Embiid gets sixth career triple-double to help 76ers rout Lakers 138-94

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 30 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists to help the Philadelphia 76ers rout LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 138-94 on Monday night.The reigning NBA MVP, Embiid notched his sixth career triple-double with 2 minutes left in the third quarter. It was Embiid’s first of the season and his seventh career game with 10-plus assists. Embiid’s anticipated showdown with James never really materialized. James scored 18 points in 29 minutes but nothing he did could make a dent in the 76ers’ lead. He has now played more minutes than any player in NBA history, with playoff time included.Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points for the 76ers. Anthony Davis had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers.Embiid sat out the entire fourth quarter and the 76ers still outscored the Lakers 40-14.The 76ers opened the game 3-point happy and hit 13, a season high for a half, on 26 shots that let them stretch the lead to 25.Maxey hit four. The Lakers, though, lef...

Steven Crowl’s double-double helps Wisconsin cruise past Western Illinois 71-49

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Steven Crowl scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Wisconsin cruised to a 71-49 victory over Western Illinois on Monday night. AJ Storr and Chucky Hepburn also scored 13 points apiece and Tyler Wahl added 12 for Wisconsin (5-2), which won its fourth straight game. The Badgers entered having won the Fort Myers Tip-Off Beach Division, beating then-No. 24 Virginia in the opener and SMU in the title game on Nov. 22. The Badgers shot 53% (25 of 47) from the floor and 81% (13 of 16) from the free-throw line against Western Illinois (2-5).James Dent Jr. scored 17 points on 4-of-12 shooting and made two of the Leathernecks’ four 3-pointers. Drew Cisse had 11 rebounds to go with eight points. Wisconsin opened on a 19-9 run and led 35-19 at the break. Storr led with 11 points and Wahl chipped in seven. The Leathernecks pulled to 42-34 with 13 minutes to play but didn’t get closer. The Badgers face fourth-ranked Marquette at home on Saturday. Western Illi...

Donovan Clingan scores 29 to lead No. 4 UConn over UNH 84-64 for a 24th straight nonconference win

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Donovan Clingan scored a career-high 29 points and No. 4 UConn beat New Hampshire 84-64 on Monday night to set a record with its 24th consecutive victory over a nonconference opponent by double digits.The 7-foot-2 sophomore hit 12 of his 13 shots from the floor for the Huskies (7-0), who broke a record held by North Carolina, which had 23 consecutive double-digit wins over nonconference opponents in 2008 and 2009.The Huskies will take their streak into Lawrence, Kansas on Friday to face the fifth-ranked Jayhawks.Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton each scored 17 points and Newtown also pulled down 10 rebounds for Connecticut, which outscored New Hampshire 52-8 in the paint.Jaxson Baker had 15 of his 20 points in the first half for New Hampshire (4-3). Ahmad Robinson and Clarence Daniels each added 19 points.Spencer, a Rutgers transfer, hit two early 3-pointers to reach 200 for his career, and UConn used a 16-0 run to take a 24-8 lead midway through the first half.Bak...

K-State QB Will Howard, Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke among those entering transfer portal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

Kansas State quarterback Will Howard and Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke were two of the biggest names who announced their intentions to enter college football’s transfer portal Monday.In a social media post, Howard thanked Kansas State coach Chris Klieman, his teammates and the Wildcats’ fanbase before concluding: “I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my life and in the possibilities that lie ahead.”Van Dyke also made his announcement on social media. “I have created lifelong friendships and memories, which I will always cherish. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunities and experiences that have shaped me during my time here,” he wrote.Howard led the Wildcats to the Big 12 title last season and another bowl game this season. Kansas State running back Treshaun Ward also announced his plans to enter the portal Monday.Most teams wrapped up regular seasons this past weekend, leading some to declare their intent to transfer. Howard, Ward and Van Dyke are among t...

Montgomery Co. high school student to serve as county council member — for a day

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

Folashade Epebinu normally has very full days.The teenager is not only a Seneca Valley High School senior, but she’s also dual-enrolled at Montgomery College, taking classes in general engineering.Now, she’s adding another item to her agenda: she’s serving as a Montgomery County Council member — for a day.Epebinu won the annual contest with her video submission on an issue she cares about: affordable child care.In her video submission, she walked the halls of Seneca Valley High School and talked about a comment she overheard from a classmate who would have to miss classes to stay home and take care of their younger siblings.“This wasn’t the first time that they had to leave class or even miss a school day to go watch their younger siblings for their parents,” Epebinu said in the video. “Even I had to leave school on occasion to help my family to watch my younger siblings to offset the price of day care.”She said it’s an issue tha...

Deposit not returned over application format

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

A woman in South Florida paid a deposit and submitted the documents to rent an apartment. But the manager said she didn’t send the, in the proper format and she won’t get her money back. It’s why she called Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.Talk about loving to work. Deborah has a full time job.Deborah Knight: “And I work a 40 hour a week job.”She also has a second job, running her online clothing store.Deborah Knight: “I like dealing with people.”And when the weekend rolls around, she has a third job; cooking and cateringDeborah Knight: “I have a construction site, I have a nursing home, and I sell them food on weekends.”Obviously, she doesn’t have much spare time, especially for an apartment complex that has some of her money.Deborah Knight: “A two bedroom became available at the end of September.”Deborah was looking for a new rental so she filled out the application, paid the $300 fee and sent in bank statem...

Book the new presidential suite with private cabana at Intercontinental Hotel Miami

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

Time to start living the suite life, at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Miami.We all know the building and maybe you have already experienced its jaw-dropping view of the bay.But how about its new poolside cabanas?Deco’s Alex Miranda has more.The Intercontinental says they’re brand new cabanas are the hottest spots north of Havana.Anyway, I had the dreadful task of investigating their new poolside offerings and renovated auites. You heard me.The Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Miami…Rep: “We call ourselves an iconic hotel. A lot of people from Miami call us the ‘Inter Miami.'”Has just been renovated for its 40th anniversary, with…Rep: “More than $40 million just on the guest rooms alone.”Yeah… Alone, which means there’s more. Alex Miranda: “I’ll have the oceanview terrace cabana, please. All day. And some ice cream. Plus cookies. And a cake.”Where there once was a restaurant, now sit seven, priva...

Mother accused of accidentally striking son with car after trying to break up fight at school in Miami taken into custody

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

A mother was driven to extremes after, police said, she accidentally struck her son while trying to hit another juvenile after a fight broke out a South Florida school. And the danger didn’t end there.According to City of Miami Police, the woman’s 12-year-old son came home from school and told her that he lost his bookbag. The mother sent her son back to the school, Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary, located at 514 NW 77th St., to go look for it. While at the school, police said, the 12-year-old got into a fight with another juvenile. He then called his mom to let her know what happened. The mother arrived at the school and attempted to strike the other juvenile with her vehicle to break up the fight, but ended up hitting her own son. He was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital with a laceration to his leg.The other juvenile was not injured. The second juvenile’s mother was also at the school, picked him up and drove him home. Police said that instead of driving...

Hulu releases ‘Faraway Downs’ series, extension of Baz Luhrmann’s 2008 film ‘Australia’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

What’s old is new again for Baz Luhrmann.In an era of reboots and re-launches, the director is trying something different with one of his biggest films.Just like Thanksgiving leftovers, Baz Luhrmann is making a new dish from his 2008 movie “Australia.”Baz Luhrmann: “I mean, we shot two and a half million feet of footage.”And that footage is now the new Hulu series “Faraway Downs.”Nicole Kidman (As “Lady Sarah Ashley”): “My husband was killed in a faraway land, this place is so barren I can’t understand what he would have seen out here, there she is faraway downs.”It all came together when someone got sick on the set of “Elvis.”Baz Luhrmann: “Tom Hanks gets COVID, quite famously. And we get shut down, and I’m like, well, what am I gonna do?”Nicole Kidman (As “Lady Sarah Ashley”): “Get off my property.”Uh-oh…Nicole Kidman means business as she tries to pr...