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George Santos says ex-fundraiser caught using a fake name tried a new tactic: spelling it backwards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — When the invitation to lunch at the Empire State Building first arrived last summer, some of George Santos’ campaign staffers were wary.The sender described himself as a deep-pocketed donor, eager to max out his contribution to the Republican congressional candidate. He signed the email Reyem Nad, an unfamiliar name in fundraising circles.Within minutes, Santos says he discovered the truth: The message was from Sam Miele, a former fundraiser who had been fired from the campaign months earlier after he was caught soliciting donations under the alias Dan Meyer, then the chief of staff to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who at the time was the Republican minority leader.Santos said he interpreted the lunch invitation as an attempt by Miele to get a face-to-face meeting — one he could not get if he used his own name — where he could ask to rejoin the campaign.“We realized, ’Oh … Reyem Nad is Dan Meyer spelled backwards,” Santos told The Associated Press on Friday, us...

FEMA has paid out more than $5.6 million to Maui survivors, a figure expected to grow significantly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it has approved more than $5.6 million in assistance to nearly 2,000 households in Maui so far as the federal government tries to help survivors of the devastating wildfires.The White House and FEMA approved a one-time payment of $700 per household for needs like clothing, food, or transportation. The agency will also pay to put survivors up in hotels and motels and says it has paid out $1.6 million in rental assistance as of Friday.The amounts are expected to grow significantly. Estimates are that thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed in the fire, which consumed much of historic community of Lahaina. In the wake of the Northern California wildfire in 2018, which decimated the city of Paradise, FEMA paid out $238 million in assistance.FEMA said Wednesday that it will open a disaster recovery center in Maui in order to better and more quickly facilitate the distribution of aid.Survivors need to register wi...

‘I share your concerns’: Councillor addresses chemical runoff in Mimico, Humber creeks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

A Toronto city councillor has addressed the chemical runoff affecting two creeks in Etobicoke, saying the heavy rain experienced in the last 24 hours has temporarily breached containment while sharing the concern of residents.A six-alarm fire at an Etobicoke industrial building one week ago led to chemical spillage in Mimico Creek and Humber Creek. While crews were able to tend to the significant fire at Brenntag Canada, a chemical distribution company, runoff has impacted the local waterways and resulted in the deaths and subsequent rescues of various animals and birds, including ducks and beavers.City councillor Amber Morley of Etobicoke-Lakeshore shared an update on Friday, noting that GFL — the contracted cleanup crew — is re-establishing the containment, and the Ministry of the Environment and the Spills Action Centre are aware and responding. This is due to heavy rain that hit Toronto and the GTA overnight on Thursday into Friday.“GFL and Toronto Water contin...

A look at wildfires and evacuations in N.W.T. and B.C.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Some 20,000 people from Yellowknife and thousands more from other communities in the Northwest Territories have been ordered to leave due to nearby wildfires. Meanwhile, a significant number of homes have gone up in flames as a wildfire burns in West Kelowna in British Columbia’s interior. Here’s a look at the fires by the numbers. YellowknifeSize of the wildfire that is about 15 kilometres from Yellowknife: 1,669 square kilometres.Population of Yellowknife: 20,000Residents ordered to evacuate: all of Yellowknife and thousands in other N.W.T. communities.Number of wildfires burning in the N. W. T: 236.West Kelowna Size of the fire that has spread around West Kelowna: 68 square kilometresPopulation of West Kelowna: 38,000Number of West Kelowna properties ordered to evacuate: 2,462. Number of West Kelowna properties on evacuation alert: 4,801.Properties damaged: a “significant” number.Number of wildfires burning in B.C.: 377. This report by The Ca...

WATCH LIVE | US, Japan and South Korea leaders discuss summit to bolster security over objections of Beijing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

CAMP DAVID, Md. (AP) — President Joe Biden opened a historic summit with Japan and South Korea at Camp David on Friday focused on strengthening security and economic ties at a time of increasing concerns about North Korea’s persistent nuclear threats and China’s provocations in the Pacific."Our countries are stronger and the world will be safer as we stand together. And I know this is a belief that all three share,” Biden declared at the start of the meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the presidential retreat in Maryland. Addressing his fellow leaders at what he called the first standalone summit of the three nations, the American president said, "I want to thank you both for your political courage that brought you here.”Yoon said as the three appeared before reporters that “today will be remembered as a historic day, where we established a firm institutional basis and commitments to the trilateral partnership.”And Kishida ...

CDC, WHO tracking new COVID-19 variant; highly mutated strain found in US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The World Health Organization added a new lineage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to its Variants Under Monitoring (VUM) category on Thursday, citing a large number of mutations that “warrants attention.”The lineage, named BA.2.86, has already been identified in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Other cases have been identified in Denmark and Israel.“More data are needed to understand this #COVID19 variant and the extent of its spread, but the number of mutations warrants attention,” WHO wrote in a message posted to X on Thursday. “WHO will update countries and the public as we learn more.” Would it work better to get our COVID vaccines through the nose? The escalation of BA.2.86 to a VUM also happened relatively quick for a lineage with only three sequences available. The first case was identified on July 24, and WHO had classified it as a VUM less than a month later on Aug. 17.It’s unclear if the variant’s 36 mutations will help it ...

Record heat ahead of possible tropical showers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect again today with near-record high temperatures well over 100° areawide. Excessive Heat Warning in effect 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. FridayThis comes after an extreme high temperature of 110° Thursday at Camp Mabry -- a tie for Austin's third-hottest day ever observed -- and 109° at Austin-Bergstrom Intl. Airport, a tie for their fourth-hottest day on record.While temperatures may be a couple of degrees cooler today, it'll still be excessively hot.Friday afternoon forecast highsThis weekend shows little improvement with mostly sunny skies and a high of 107º on both Saturday and Sunday that would tie and break records respectively.Weekend forecastTropical system may impact Texas next weekA disturbance moving into the Gulf early next week is expected to spin westward across record-hot ocean water in relatively favorable conditions for development. The National Hurricane Center has maintained odds of tropical depression formation at 40%.Wat...

Austin's 42-day streak of consecutive 100° days is the longest in recorded history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is currently experiencing the longest stretch of triple-digit heat in recorded history.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has reached 100° or hotter every day since July 8.That means temperatures have reached the century mark for 42 days in a row. With records dating back to the 1890s, that's the longest stretch of triple-digit temperatures ever recorded in Austin. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The previous record of 27 days was set between July 17 and Aug. 12, 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade Meanwhile, an 21-day streak is underway at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, with temperatures hitting 100° or above every day since July 29. That ranks as the third-longest of all time.An ...

Zilker Eagle train restoration back on track after 10-month delay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Plans to restore the Zilker Eagle miniature train are back on track after nearly a year of delays. Last October, the Austin Parks Foundation had to delay the restoration after safety testing revealed braking issues. Zilker Eagle train opening delayed due to ‘braking problems’ APF posted on social media Friday that the plans were officially back on track, and a thread from a Zilker Eagle account said testing should tentatively occur in the late fall with the train opening to the public shortly after. The Zilker Eagle posts said a local group of engineers partnered with the project, and the train coaches were recently transported to an off-site facility to be retrofitted with airbrakes to ensure they're safe for passengers. They'll also receive new electrical wiring for lights and a PA system, according to the posts. Later this month, the Zilker Eagle will make some track adjustments before entering the testing phase later in the fall, the posts said. Zilker Eagle ...

NOAA releases fall weather predictions for Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:47 GMT

TEXAS (NEXSTAR) – Sick of the summer heat? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has got some bad news for you.The agency released its 90-day forecast Thursday, predicting the broad weather conditions we expect to see around the country between September and November. For the vast majority of the country, it’s looking like a hot summer will transition into a warm fall. Thursday was the third-hottest day ever recorded in Austin Texas is no exception. The western part of the state especially has increased chances of feeling some additional heat. The Northeast and Southwest have the highest chances of seeing above-average temperatures this fall, according to NOAA.No states are expecting a colder-than-average fall season, but a swath of the Midwest and Plains states have equal chances of warm or cool weather.For some states, those hot temperatures are expected to be paired with clear skies – or at least few rain clouds. Only the Southeast and Alaska are expecting ab...