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Explosive materials in New Jersey home caused blast that killed 2 men, 2 children, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

BUENA, N.J. (AP) — A house fire and explosion in New Jersey that killed two men and two young children earlier this month was caused by explosive materials found in the residence, authorities announced Tuesday.The report issued by the Franklin Township police department also said gas utilities have been ruled out as being “an attributable factor” for the Aug. 3 fire in Buena. It said hundreds of pounds of chemicals and other materials found on the property are consistent with the production of commercial-grade fireworks, but it did not say if that was being done at the home.The explosion likely originated in the rear left corner of the first floor of the two-story home, investigators said. But they could not determine which chemicals ignited because of the heavy fire damage, the collapse of the structure and the excavation of the property during the search for victims.Among the materials found inside a vehicle on the property were 74 pounds of potassium nitrate, 15 pounds of aluminu...

A man who set a fire at an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic sentenced to 10 years in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — A man who set a fire at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Illinois was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison.Tyler Massengill has admitted using a homemade explosive to set a fire at the Peoria clinic in January, a few days after Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law with additional legal protections for abortion procedures. No one was inside the clinic when the fire happened.“I feel for the people who have lost their jobs. I’m not trying to play like I am victim at this. I was sincerely hurt,” Massengill, 32, said in court, apparently a reference to his belief that a former girlfriend had an abortion a few years ago.Prosecutors, however, said the woman told the FBI that wasn’t true.U.S. District Judge James Shadid said people who typically visit the clinic for a variety of services have had to look elsewhere because of extensive damage to the building, WMBD-TV reported.“And to add to your accomplishments, there’s the striking of fear, stress an...

Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya’s capital trap civilians, authorities say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya’s capital left residents trapped in their homes on Tuesday, unable to escape the violence, authorities said. The fighting appears to be the most intense to shake Tripoli this year. There were at least four dead but it was not immediately clear if they were militiamen or civilians, an official said. The clashes erupted late on Monday between militiamen from the 444 brigade and the Special Deterrence Force, according to local media reports. Tensions flared after Mahmoud Hamza, a senior commander of the 444 brigade, was allegedly detained by the rival group at an airport in Tripoli earlier in the day, the reports said. Throughout the fighting Tuesday, the Health Ministry urged the warring sides to allow ambulance and emergency teams to enter the affected areas, primarily in the south of the city, and for blood to be sent to nearby hospitals. Abdel Rahman Kaplan, a spokesmen from a medical group affiliated with Libya̵...

MPP Michael Mantha violated NDP anti-harassment policy, investigator finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

Ontario’s New Democratic Party (NDP) says Michael Mantha, one of its former parliament members, violated the provincial party’s anti-harassment policy after an independent investigator substantiated a series of serious allegations.Mantha, who won four straight elections in Algoma-Manitoulin, was removed from the NDP caucus in April 2023, stemming from claims of workplace misconduct. The nature of the allegations has not been publicly shared.As a result of the claims made against Mantha, the NDP launched an independent third-party investigation “to create a safer workplace environment.” The investigator determined that the assertions were serious and violated its policies.“The investigator based these findings on interviews with multiple witnesses, including those identified by MPP Mantha, as well as other documentary evidence, including video,” the NDP wrote in a statement on Tuesday.“The Caucus also understands that although MPP Mantha init...

'I am a murderer:' Glenview son stabbed father to death over marijuana use before work, court doc reveals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

GLENVIEW, Ill. — A Glenview man stabbed his father to death after a dispute over using marijuana before work, a court document revealed Tuesday afternoon.According to a bond proffer from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, 20-year-old Isaac Thurston and his father, 50-year-old Perron Thurston, were arguing inside their home over whether Isaac should go to work after smoking marijuana Monday morning.The proffer said that Isaac's father was upset over the choice to do so, and later called the coffee shop where his son worked to tell them he could not work today. At that point, the argument spilled over into the kitchen, and during the argument, Isaac picked up a knife from a block on the counter and stabbed his father in the left side of his torso.After being stabbed, Perron called out to his wife, saying, "Isaac just stabbed me."Isaac's mother got out of bed and ran into the kitchen, where she called 911 after seeing that her husband had been stabbed. The married couple's seco...

Federal disaster declaration made for Cook County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — President Biden has declared a major disaster exists in Cook County due to recent severe storms and subsequent flooding.The declaration was made Tuesday specifically for those impacted by the weather events from June 29 to July 2. It will make Federal funding available to affected individuals in Cook County. Chicago publicist named in indictment against former President Trump According to the release from the White House, assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Funding will also be available for hazard mitigation measures.Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assi...

NBA unveils the schedule for its in-season tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The first basket of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament likely will be made in Indianapolis.The league unveiled the 60-game schedule for group play of the new event on Tuesday — with the first game set to be Cleveland visiting Indiana on Nov. 3, the opener of what is scheduled to be seven games on that first night of matchups.Each team will play four games in the group stage, with the winners of the six groups and two wild-card teams moving on to the single-elimination quarterfinals.At stake: about $18 million in prize money. The tournament payouts for players on standard contracts will be $500,000 apiece for those on the winning team, $200,000 apiece for those on the runner-up, $100,000 apiece for those on the teams that lose semifinal games and $50,000 for those on the teams that lose in the quarterfinals.GROUPSTeams were assigned last month to a five-team group. They’ll play one game against each other as part of the tournament.West Group A — Memphi...

Chick-fil-A adding 2 new items to fall menu

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

(WHNT) — Chick-fil-A is planning to introduce two new "fall flavors" at the end of the month.On Tuesday, the chicken chain announced plans to debut a Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich and a brand-new milkshake offering at participating restaurants across the country on Aug. 28.The former, described as a "twist" on the original Chick-fil-A sandwich, features a breaded chicken filet topped with pimento cheese, pickled jalapeno peppers and a drizzle of honey. Wendy’s adding new breakfast item to menu The sandwich was previously tested in North and South Carolina back in 2020 before being selected for the national menu, according to Chick-fil-A.Chick-fil-A is planning a nationwide rollout of its Honey Pepper Pimento Cheese Sandwich on Aug. 28. (Courtesy: Chick-fil-A)This season's newest milkshake — the Caramel Crumble Milkshake — will also be available for purchase this month. Said to be inspired by "the flavors that caramelize at the bottom of a blondie pan," the shake consists ...

Biden touts Inflation Reduction Act success 1 year after passage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – President Joe Biden was in Wisconsin on Tuesday to discuss the economic impact of his policies one year after the Inflation Reduction Act was passed.In Milwaukee, Biden pointed to falling inflation as a sign the American economy is strong.“It's just about 3% now and predicted to go lower than that. We're near the lowest point in two years,” Biden said.The president says his policies and legislative victories led businesses to make huge investments that are bringing back jobs and higher wages in industries like manufacturing.“The pay for low-wage workers has grown at the fastest pace in two decades. Wages are growing faster than inflation. Folks, that's Bidenomics,” Biden said.Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra says the Inflation Reduction Act is also helping American's bottom lines in many ways like capping the price of insulin for seniors on Medicare.“That is going to have a major impact on your pocketbook. At the same time, we know there are ...

White House seeks $40 billion, including for Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:20:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A tense funding debate could be on the horizon after President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve a $40 billion package, more than half of which will go to Ukraine."I urge Congress to pass this supplemental funding right away," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday.Ukrainian forces are struggling to regain territory captured by Russia. Blinken said the $24 billion in the package — $13 billion for defense aid and $8 billion for humanitarian aid — would help "ensure the Russia's invasion remains a strategic failure."The White House is also asking for billions to replenish the nation's disaster relief fund to improve border enforcement.On Monday, the White House said it remains confident the package can pass despite a growing number of Republicans pushing back on aid to Ukraine."We're continuing to engage with members of Congress," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "This has been done in a bipartisan way and we believe that this will continue in ...