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Mexican volunteer searchers find 27 hacked-up bodies in northern border city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Searchers have found 27 corpses in clandestine graves in the Mexican border city of Reynosa, across from McAllen, Texas, and many of them were hacked to pieces, volunteer searchers said Wednesday. Some of the corpses were buried so recently that bits of skin with tattoos remained, and that has allowed relatives to identify four of the bodies, searchers said. But many were hacked into a half-dozen pieces.Edith González, leader of the search group “For the Love of the Disappeared,” said clandestine burial site was located relatively close to the center of Reynosa. The spot is only about 4 miles (7 kms) from the border. González said some of the 16 burial pits contained two or three bodies, and that the clandestine burial site may have been used by gangs as recently as a month or two ago. Some were covered by only 1 1/2 feet (a half meter) of earth.The prosecutor’s office in the border state of Tamaulipas confirmed the find.Drug and kidnapping gangs use such sites to...

Bosnian Serb lawmakers pass law recriminalizing libel which critics say threatens free speech

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — The Bosnian Serb parliament on Thursday passed a law recriminalizing libel which critics say will restrict freedom of expression and silence critical media.Lawmakers approved the law by a 47-16 vote. The assembly in the Serb-run part of Bosnia has 83 lawmakers but not all attended the session.The law was championed by pro-Russian Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, who has faced U.S. and British sanctions for his separatist policies. It amends the existing criminal law to reintroduce fines of up to 60,000 euros ($64,000) for libel, which is far beyond what most people in the impoverished Balkan nation can pay.A previous law did not consider libel a criminal offense.Journalist organizations in Republika Srpska, the Serb mini-state, and international rights groups demanded that the new law be revoked, but Dodik has ignored their protests. “With today’s approval of the amendments to the Criminal Law, the authorities in Republika Srpska entere...

Man in custody after shots fired at ambulance: CPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

CHICAGO -- A man is in custody after shots were fired at a CFD ambulance in Logan Square Wednesday night.According to police, a 34-year-old man exited his vehicle near the 2600 block of North Hamlin Avenue around 9:34 p.m. yelling at a CFD ambulance to move out of the way. 77-year-old woman found dead in her Burbank home; death ruled homicide Police said the man removed a handgun and fired several shots into the rear door of the ambulance before returning to a white sedan and speeding away. Police in the area curbed a vehicle matching the description and placed a man into custody. A handgun was also recovered from the car.No one was hurt and police are investigating the incident.

Martial arts fans honor Bruce Lee 50 years after his death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Fans of late martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who broke negative stereotypes around Asian men in films, gathered in Hong Kong this week to commemorate their idol’s death half a century ago, remembering his legacy and his life philosophy on persistence.Lee, who was born in San Francisco but raised in the Asian financial hub, was famous for his martial arts talent and his fight against racist portrayals of Asians on big and small screens in the 1960s and 70s. He died at the height of his fame due to an allergic reaction to painkillers when he was 32.The 50th anniversary of Lee's death on Thursday drew fans to exhibitions in Hong Kong on his life and career. They also laid flowers at his statue at the Avenue of Stars, a tourist attraction modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the Kowloon shore of Victoria Harbor.Fans gather in front of the statue of martial artist Bruce Lee to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death in Hong Kong, Thursday, July 20, 202...

Tesla recalling nearly 16,000 Model S and Model X vehicles over seat belt issue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

Tesla is recalling nearly 16,000 of its 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles because some front-row seat belts may not have been reconnected properly after being repaired.Tesla said in its safety recall report that in the vehicles, a first-row seat belt was disconnected from its pretensioner anchor as part of a necessary step to perform a repair. But the seat belt may not have been reconnected to its pretensioner anchor properly after the repair was made.The company said that if the seat belt isn't reconnected properly, it may not perform as it's supposed to in a collision, which may increase the risk of injury. Tesla owners sue over battery software update impact U.S. highway safety regulators opened an investigation into possible Tesla seat belt issues in March.As of June 19, Tesla has identified 12 warranty claims related to the issue, but the company is not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths that may be related to the seat belt issue.Notification letters will be mailed...

'Americana-themed' amusement park the size of Disney's Magic Kingdom is coming to Oklahoma

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

VINITA, Okla. (KSN/KODE) — A $2-billion "Americana-themed" theme park roughly the size of Disney World's Magic Kingdom is scheduled to open in Oklahoma in 2026, developers announced this week.The American Heartland Theme Park will be located along Route 66 near Vinita, in northeast Oklahoma.An artist's rendering shows the entrance to American Heartland Theme Park, scheduled to open in 2026. (American Heartland Theme Park)"Our whole objective is to bring family entertainment and value to the world," said Larry Willhite, the CEO of development firm Mansion Entertainment Group. The best amusement parks in the U.S. for 2023: report The 125-acre park will offer rides and attractions across "six distinctly American lands" to be known as Great Plains, Bayou Bay, Big Timber Falls, Stony Point Harbor, Liberty Village and Electropolis. The park will also offer "restaurant-quality food" throughout, according to a press release.In addition to the theme park, developers also plan to build what...

APD: Officer shot, killed man in south Austin after he reportedly chased woman through apartment complex

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is investigating after a man was shot and killed by an officer in south Austin Thursday morning. APD Chief Joseph Chacon said during a briefing the department responded to a 911 call at an apartment complex in the 3600 block of Menchaca Road shortly before 5 a.m. That area is near the intersection of South Lamar Boulevard. The caller reported that a woman was knocking on their door asking for help. Chacon said three officers arrived on the scene within five minutes and spoke with the woman, who said she was being chased by a man through the complex and feared for her life. Chacon said the man approached police minutes later and it appeared he had a knife in his hand. Officers told the man to drop the knife then drew their guns and started trying to de-escalate the situation, Chacon said. According to Chacon, the man yelled at police to shoot and kill him. Officers stunned the man to try to stop him but he kept approaching, Chacon said. O...

New street in southeast Austin paves way for affordable housing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A $2.7 million project in southeast Austin is complete.The Meadow Lake Boulevard extension connects what previously were two dead-end streets — Misty Slope Lane and Quicksilver Boulevard — into a quarter-mile stretch.The new road is located near Pleasant Valley Road and William Cannon Drive.It was constructed to create a safer shorter route for cars, pedestrians and bicyclists.Eric Bailey is the assistant director for the City of Austin's Capital Delivery Services. He said the biggest benefit will come to kids commuting to school this fall.“The highlight for us is the improved mobility for school kids to get from point A to point B,” Bailey said. Previously they had to go along Pleasant Valley Road, which is a very busy street, to get to school in the area.”The project added sidewalks on both sides of the street, protected bike lanes and plenty of parking.It also incorporates stormwater management strategies to address environmental concerns. This includes a biofiltr...

Winning Powerball tickets sold in the Capital Region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Three winning Powerball tickets have been sold in the Capital Region for the July 19 drawing. Although they didn't hit the jackpot, the tickets were second and third prize winners. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The second-prize Powerball ticket was sold at Cumberland Farms at 1159 Troy Schenectady Road in Latham. That ticket is worth $1 million.The third-prize tickets were sold at Stewart's Shops at 1560 Central Avenue in Albany and Pilot Travel Center at 1128 Duanesburg Road in Schenectady. Both tickets are worth $50,000 each. Single ticket in California wins $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot The New York Lottery contributed $3.6 billion in fiscal year 2021-22 to help support education in the state. New Yorkers struggling with a gambling problem, or who know someone who is, can visit NYProblemGamblingHelp.org, call the HOPEline at 1-877-846-7369 or text HOPENY (467369) for help.

Two Walmart employees robbed at gunpoint in Ferguson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:42 GMT

FERGUSON, Mo. - A group robbed two Walmart employees at gunpoint Wednesday evening in the parking lot of a Ferguson store. The robbery happened around 6 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the store on West Florissant Road. Missouri & Illinois players win $1M in record Powerball jackpot Investigators say a group of suspects, consisting of two adults and two juveniles, approached the employees, showed a gun and retrieved several personal items. Ferguson police arrived to the store and quickly stopped the suspects, all four who were taking into custody in the parking lot. Officers recovered three handguns from the suspects, and the employees got their belongings back. The Ferguson Police Department is handling the investigation.