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US sanctions South Sudanese officials over conflict-related rapes of hundreds of women and girls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a South Sudanese military officer and governor accused in connection with the rapes of hundreds of women and girls. They are the first U.S. sanctions issued with a dedicated focus on conflict-related sexual violence, the Treasury Department said. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated James Nando, a major general in the South Sudanese army, who is accused of overseeing forces that raped hundreds of women and girls between 2018 and 2021. Treasury said Nando was aware of the abuses and did not prevent or punish fighters responsible for sexual violence when it happened under his watch.Alfred Futuyo, governor of Western Equatoria, is also named in the sanctions documents. Affiliated with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army, an opposition group, Futuyo is accused of carrying out numerous attacks in his state that resulted in abductions and gang rapes of hundreds of civilians.Among other things, the sanctio...

Watermelon snow turns Utah mountains red

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

CACHE COUNTY, Utah (KTVX) — Summer will officially be here this week, and many Utah mountain peaks are still holding onto some snow. If you’re lucky enough to get out there before it’s gone, you may see a natural phenomenon called watermelon snow. In Cache County, watermelon snow has turned the mountains into different shades of pink, red and orange. “I thought that was pretty cool,” Wallace Salle told ABC4. The young boy and his family were visiting Tony Grove Lake all the way from Minnesota. They were amused and confused by the bright pink splotches of snow that surrounded the lake. Wallace added: “At first, I was like, ‘Is someone painting it or something?’”  Scott Hotaling, an assistant professor at Utah State University’s Department of Watershed Sciences, has been studying watermelon snow, and the algae that cause it, for a few years.  “It’s actually a green algal bloom that’s occurring on the snow’s surface,” he said.“The snow algae produce a pigment that b...

Aid vessel for Titanic-bound submersible search leaves Buffalo airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) – Three C-17 military aircraft were set to take off from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Tuesday, with one carrying a submersible capable of diving 6,000 meters in an effort to find a vessel that went missing Sunday morning near the site of the Titanic sinking.The submersible coming from Western New York to help in the search was made by Pelagic Research Services, a company with offices in East Aurora. They've collaborated with entities like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, among others. What we know about the missing Titanic-bound submersible Titan, the missing submersible, lost contact with its support vessel about an hour and 45 minutes after submerging into the northern Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Five people were onboard. The people on board include British businessman and world-record holding adventurer Hamish Harding; Titanic ...

A quiet, though hot, last day of spring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Another unwanted record was set this morning when the low at Camp Mabry dropped to 80°. That set a new record warm low, breaking the previous record of 79° set in 1998.The Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect all day today. It will continue until 9 Wednesday evening. This afternoon's heat index reading are again expected to top 110° up to 120°. More excessive heat today and WednesdayYesterday, Camp Mabry had the highest heat index reading at 116° which, unofficially, ties a record set in August, 2016. Tuesday afternoon's forecast maximum heat index readingsToday will be a relatively quiet day, outside of the heat. There are no late-afternoon/early-evening thunderstorms for the Hill Country. Our Future Clouds and Radar does show a little rain this evening for Mason and Gillespie Counties between 6 and 8:30.Tomorrow's forecast could get active for much of the area with an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms starting in the Hill Country between 5 and 6 t...

6 removed from home after fire in north Austin; Firefighter suffers heat exhaustion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Six people were displaced after a fire broke out where they live in north Austin on Tuesday morning. The Austin Fire Department said on Twitter it responded to the fire around 10 a.m. in the 11200 block of Blossom Bell Drive, where the six people lived together. According to Austin-Travis County EMS, one person was taken to St. David's North for smoke inhalation, one person was taken to Seton Northwest for heat-related illness, and a firefighter was taken to St. David's North for heat-related illness.

Woman accused in 2018 murder-for-hire plot expected to appear in court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A woman connected with a 2018 murder-for-hire plot is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. Jaclyn Edison, who was 19 at the time, is accused of conspiring with her husband, Nicolas Shaughnessy, who hired two men – Arieon Smith and Johnny Leon – to kill Nicolas’ father, Ted Shaughnessy, owner of Gallerie Jewelers in Austin. Smith, Nicolas and Leon all pleaded guilty to the murder as part of a plea agreement in 2021 and were sentenced to 35 years in prison.Edison, the former daughter-in-law of Ted, was the final defendant indicted in the case. KXAN Digital Reporter Sam Stark is in the courtroom and will have live updates below:Tweets by SamCStark Background Ted Shaughnessy was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds on March 2, 2018, after an intruder entered the home. His son, Nicolas, was the sole beneficiary of $2 million if one of his parents were to die, according to a search warrant.According to 2018 police documents, Nicolas, who at the time was liv...

How does this month compare to the hottest Junes on record in Austin?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — We don't have to tell you it's hot in Austin, Texas, right now.Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for most of the state, Austin may break the unofficial heat index record of 116°, and Texans have been asked to conserve energy due to high demand.It wouldn't be surprising if this was the hottest June on record in Austin, right?! Actually, it doesn't even rank in the top 10.The average temperature at Camp Mabry so far this month — with highs and lows factored in — is 84.3°. That ties with 1971 as the 13th-hottest June 1-19 in recorded history. Austin just broke an all-time heat record for the month of June So far, Austin is running a 1.8° fever compared to normal. The three hottest Junes, 2008, 2011 and 2022, all ended the month more than 4° above average.Here's a look at the high temperatures in Austin in each of those years. For context, the record high for the month is 109°, set on June 26, 2012.The high so far this month has been 106°, tying the June high from ...

Understanding ERCOT's emergency alert levels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- If you live in Texas, over 100° heat is a normal experience for you in the spring and summer, and you're probably used to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) sending alerts to Texans about energy conservation during extreme heat and peak demand times. ERCOT asks Texas to conserve energy Tuesday with extreme heat likely ERCOT has several different Energy Emergency Alert levels, or EEAs. After Normal Grid Conditions, the levels are Conservation Alert level, then EEA 1, 2, and 3.Here's what the alert levels mean: Conservation Alert: This is a voluntary request to reduce electrical use, ERCOT said. While ERCOT said it is not in emergency operations, it asks the public and “all government agencies to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.”Energy Emergency Level 1: Conservation is considered to be critical. We reach this stage when operating reserves drop below 2,300 MW and are not expected to recover within 30 minutes.Emerg...

‘A very attractive hazard’: Melatonin, THC, CBD gummies are far from harmless

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

Gummies, those sugary bears, worms or button-sized candies, seem harmless — but they are far from it.Florida’s Poison Control Centers are fielding an escalation of calls from people who have become seriously ill from overdoses of melatonin, THC and CBD gummies. Emergency department visits in Florida are rising, too. Reactions include nausea, vomiting, extreme lethargy, tremors, confusion and even trouble breathing.The increase in gummy overdoses is triggered by availability, new habits formed during the pandemic and inconsistent dosage issues.Gummies are easy to get and increasingly popular. In Florida, melatonin gummies are sold in grocery stores, drugstores and vitamin shops, while CBD gummies are available in convenience stores and smoke shops and THC products are sold in dispensaries (with a doctor’s recommendation).However, the supplement industry, which includes melatonin, is not strictly regulated, so the dosage on the label may not be consistent with what’s in the bottle or ...

Body found in Afton State Park ID’ed as missing Inver Grove Heights man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

The body of a missing Inver Grove Heights man was found in Afton State Park on Saturday night, authorities said Tuesday.Andrew Dropik, 31, was last seen May 16 at a gas station in Inver Grove Heights. His body was found in a ravine in a remote area of Afton State Park, just north of Afton Alps, said Laura Perkins, a spokeswoman for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.Andrew Dropik (Courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office)Authorities and volunteer searchers had been looking for Dropik in the 1,600-acre park since May 20 after family members found his gray Honda Accord parked near the park’s north entrance; Dropik often hiked in the park, Perkins said.The cause of death is under investigation, but a preliminary investigation does not indicate any sign of foul play, Perkins said.Family members and law enforcement officials believe Dropik may have been undergoing a mental health crisis, and a handgun was reported missing from his house, she said.Dropik was foun...