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Stock market today: Asian shares gain, led by China after Beijing eases required bank reserves

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares advanced Friday, with solid gains for Chinese markets after the central bank eased the reserve requirements for banks to encourage more lending and prop up the slowing economy.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng surged 1.3% to 18,280.11 and the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.4%, at 3,138.94. Late Thursday, the People’s Bank of China said it would cut the reserve requirement for banks by 0.25 percentage points as of Friday, “In order to consolidate the foundation for economic recovery and maintain reasonable and sufficient liquidity.”Further boosting sentiment, the government reported Friday that China’s industrial output rose 4.5% in August from a year earlier, up from 3.7% in July. That is seen as a sign the economy may be breaking out of its post-pandemic malaise.Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 1.0% to 33,511.91. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 jumped 1.7% to 7,311.30. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.6% to 2,588.38.SoftBank Group Corp., whi...

Imagine making shadowy data brokers erase your personal info. Californians may soon live the dream

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — You may not know it, but thousands of often shadowy companies routinely traffic in personal data you probably never agreed to share — everything from your real-time location information to private financial details. Even if you could identify these data brokers, there isn’t much you can do about their activities, including in California, which has some of the strongest digital privacy laws in the U.S.That’s on the verge of changing. Both houses of the California state Legislature have passed the Delete Act, which would establish a “one stop shop” where individuals could order hundreds of data brokers registered in the state to delete their personal data — and to cease acquiring and selling it in the future — with a single request.The Delete Act isn’t law yet. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom still has to decide whether to sign the measure, which potentially could extend well beyond state lines given California’s history of setting similar tre...

Rangers complete four-game sweep of Blue Jays as Toronto’s playoff hopes fade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

Corey Seager had a home run and a two-run double as the Texas Rangers beat the Blue Jays 9-2 on Thursday, further dimming Toronto’s post-season hopes.The loss dropped the Blue Jays to a game and a half back of the idle Seattle Mariners in the race for the third and final American League wild-card berth.Jonah Heim had a solo shot as Texas (82-64) completed a four-game sweep at Rogers Centre and won its sixth straight game. Marcus Semien added an RBI double, Nathaniel Lowe singled in two runs, and Josh Smith had a sacrifice fly.The Rangers started the series outside of a wild-card spot but moved up to the second spot behind the Tampa Bay Rays thanks to the sweep.Nathan Eovaldi allowed two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out three. Eovaldi was on a limited pitch count, so he exited the game after 3 1/3 innings with Cody Bradford (4-1), Jose Leclerc, Will Smith and Jonathan Hernandez coming on in relief.Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s two-run homer was all the offence th...

CPD: Man found shot in hallway of Loop apartment building

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- Police discovered a man shot multiple times lying in the middle of an apartment hallway in Chicago's Loop neighborhood Thursday night.According to the Chicago Police Department, officers responded to the 10 block of East Monroe Street in the Chicago Loop just after 7:30 p.m. on Thursday on reports of a person shot. Search continues in Hinsdale for armed robbery suspect Upon arrival, officers discovered an unidentified man, around 30-years-old, in the hallway with multiple gunshot wounds. The man was transported to Northwestern Hospital in critical condition.Further investigations showed the victim was in a verbal altercation with another man who produced a firearm and shot the victim.Following a search of the area, the 45-year-old suspect was located and taken into custody.The investigation is ongoing.No further information has been provided at this time.Stay with WGN-TV as this story develops.

Former Congressman Luis Gutierrez discusses his new priority

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Five years after his retirement, former Congressman Luis Gutierrez is making a comeback.For three decades he was a powerful voice in the fight for immigration reform.  Chicago Teachers Union President admits sending son to private school Gutierrez retired in 2018 and moved to Puerto Rico. He’s now back in Chicago as he battles macular degeneration which is severely impacting his vision.  "Look, my vision is enough that I see you," Gutierrez said. "I can play with my two-year-old grandson. Science is advancing but there is no cure for macular degeneration and I have advanced so I just got my second set of shots.”Gutierrez has been able to keep up with local and national politics. What is CPD’s response time? Experts can’t say with certainty He said he wants to re-engage with the political world and will be joining the non-profit organization CASA on a mission to register voters. He’s headed to Puerto Rico first and will later travel the U.S.  "...

911 lines out of service in Hays County due to cut line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Due to a line cut in the area, the Hays County Sheriff's Office said the majority of their 911 service is out, the agency confirmed to KXAN.On Thursday afternoon, HCSO sent a notification to the community in Hays County saying 911 lines were out of service.HCSO is re-routing calls to other agencies in the area. If you don't get anyone on the line, you can call HCSO at (512) 393-7896.

Concert review: At 78, Eric Clapton has slowed down, but still thrills on the six-string

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

Eric Clapton was a member of at a half dozen bands, but it turns out what he really wanted to do was join the Band. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was so enamored with the Band’s 1968 debut “Music from Big Pink,” its revolutionary take on Americana music was one of the reasons he left his wildly successful power trio Cream. But for whatever reason, he never got around to asking guitarist Robbie Robertson if there was a place for him in the group.That deep respect — coupled with Robertson’s death in August — explains why Clapton opened his concert Thursday night at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center with not one, but two songs from the Band: “The Shape I’m In” and “It Makes No Difference.”The show marked the 78-year-old Clapton’s first in the metro since 2009, when he shared the stage with Steve Winwood. His body has understandably slowed down, but his fingers remain as strong and fluid as ever judging by his sharp, trademark guitar work. There&#...

High school football: Mahtomedi survives Hastings thanks to late defensive stops

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

Fortunately for Mahtomedi, its defense dominated much of Thursday.It’s not like the offense was stagnant; it just couldn’t consistently hang on to the ball or consistently convert in key situations.Cole Saenger had a late 52-yard score, and the Zephyrs got a couple of fourth-quarter red zone stops to escape Hastings with a 13-7 win.“Players were able to step up big and get the win,” said Saenger, who finished with 182 of Mahtomedi’s 319 rushing yards.But it was too close for comfort.Down by two scores, Lukas Foss connected with Matt Foss for a 22-yard pass with 2:07 remaining to get Hastings on the scoreboard, but Mahtomedi’s Max Strecker grabbed an onside kick, Charlie Brandt had a couple runs for first downs and the Zephyrs improved to 2-1.Again, thanks to the defense, which made two prior final-quarter defensive stops deep in its own end.With about 7 minutes to go, Alex LaValle wrapped up Lukas Foss on fourth down to maintain a seven-point lead.Given another opportunity for...

Vikings fumble away chances in 34-28 loss to Eagles in primetime

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings fumbles the ball over the pylon for a touchback as he is tackled by Terrell Edmunds #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 14, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Minnesota Vikings guard Ezra Cleveland (72) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP ...

Drunk driver sentenced in tow truck driver's death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:52 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -The man convicted of driving drunk on the Northway, then hitting and killing a tow truck driver, was sentenced in Saratoga County. Judge James Murphy III gave Justin Rodriguez a maximum of twenty-two and a half years of prison.Alex Bleickhardt was helping a motorist in need while working his job at TowAway LLC on the night of September 15, 2022. Rodriguez entered the Northway after drinking heavily at a local Applebee's and eventually collided with Bleickhart. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Bleickhardt's mother took the stand to read aloud statements of her own along with other family members' to express their feelings of sorrow and wanting to change the past. "I’m holding my own grief and that of all my loved ones. What could have been different? I’m the one who pushed him to get his CDL after he was twenty-one because in high school he really wanted to get it."Regardless of their regrets, the fam...