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Experts say a wall that collapsed and killed 9 in the Dominican Republic capital was poorly built

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A concrete wall along an avenue in the Dominican Republic’s capital that collapsed over the weekend and killed nine people during heavy rains was poorly designed, experts said Monday.The government of the Caribbean country has come under scrutiny, with experts saying they had warned more than 20 years ago about the wall’s failures and lack of effort to fix them.“It has weaknesses in the design,” civil engineer Cristian Rojas told The Associated Press. “No anchors were placed, and that is why the wall collapsed.”Rojas, former president of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors, said the force of the water in a flooded adjacent avenue, combined with the type of wall that was built, led to the collapse.Dominican geologist Osiris de Léon recalled that the first warnings about the wall were made more than two decades ago. He posted a story from December 1999 on X, formerly known as Twitter, in which El Siglo newspaper q...

Germany pledges to invest 4 billion euros in green energy projects in Africa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The German government pledged Monday to invest 4 billion euros ($4.37 billion) in African green energy projects until 2030, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying that countries in Africa should benefit more from their wealth of raw materials. Scholz discussed the pledge at a news conference on the G20 Compact with Africa summit taking place in Berlin. He did not mention any specific projects but said the materials used in green energy should be processed in the African nations they come from. “This creates jobs and prosperity in these countries,” Scholz said. “And the German industry gets reliable suppliers.”Compact with Africa is based on an initiative launched by Germany during its chairmanship of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations. It aims to improve the economic conditions in the participating countries in order to make them more attractive for foreign private investment.Scholz said Germany should become a long-term and reliable partner to countries i...

Marlo Thomas celebrates Thanks and Giving’s 20th year and $1 billion raised for St. Jude hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — When families thank Marlo Thomas for the medical treatment they received at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she kindly corrects them.“I say, ‘Well, you know, I’m not a scientist, I’m a wheelbarrow,’” the actress, producer and activist says with a smile that has been famous since her days starring in “That Girl.” “I take the wheelbarrow, put the money in it and bring it to the scientists.”And Thomas, who serves as St. Jude’s National Outreach Director, is a really good wheelbarrow.This year, St. Jude’s Thanks and Giving campaign celebrates its 20th anniversary and passing the fundraising milestone of $1 billion to support the hospital’s efforts to provide free medical care to children with cancer. The drive, which kicked off earlier this month and runs through the holiday season, also raises awareness for the work of the Memphis-based hospital, which was founded by her father, the late “Make Room for Daddy” star Danny Thomas, who pledged that families would nev...

Police testimony resumes in criminal trial of ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

OTTAWA — The criminal trial of two “Freedom Convoy” organizers resumed today after a two-week break with testimony from an Ottawa Police Service liaison officer.Const. Nicole Bach, the primary police contact for organizer Chris Barber during the three-week demonstration that gridlocked downtown Ottawa early last year, is set to be cross-examined today.Bach’s testimony was paused in October as defence lawyers argued for access to redacted police communications, including emails, police logs and transcripts of chats during the convoy.The judge in the trial decided that some of the information should be admitted as evidence in the trial.Bach testified earlier that Barber told her things were getting “out of control” in the early days of the protest, and that he conveyed protesters would only leave Ottawa if the prime minister were to recognize them and lift all pandemic-related mandates.Barber and Tamara Lich face multiple charges, including mischief, coun...

72-year-old man fatally shot in Logan Square ID'd, latest victim of Chicago gun violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

CHICAGO — A 72-year-old man fatally shot in the city's Logan Square neighborhood was among those killed in gun violence in Chicago over the weekend.The man was identified as 72-year-old Cesar A. PatinoThe shooting happened around 9:55 p.m. Sunday in the 3900 block of West Fullerton. Police said the man was walking when he was struck by gunfire.He was shot in the chest and transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The man's identity has not yet been released.According to police, further investigation revealed the offender may have been traveling in a white SUV at the time of the shooting.No one is in custody. Area Five Detectives are investigating. Two 14-year-old boys found shot to death in alley on South Side The 72-year-old man is among the latest victims of weekend gun violence in Chicago.On Saturday, two 14-year-old boys were found shot to death in an alley on the South Side. The boys were found in an alley in the 800 block of East 89th Pl...

CTA Yellow Line service remains suspended following train crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

CHICAGO — Service on the CTA's Yellow Line is still suspended Monday following Thursday's derailment that injured 38 people.According to police, a yellow line train was travelling south near the 7500 block of North Paulina Street when it collided with rail-mounted maintenance equipment in the Howard Rail Yard on the North Side.The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said a preliminary investigation revealed that a design flaw in the CTA's braking algorithm was likely to blame for the crash.The train failed to properly account for the actual distance needed to come to a stop. NTSB: Preliminary investigation reveals design flaw likely to blame for CTA Yellow Line crash Two lawsuits have already been filed.

Man accused of beating Joliet nursing home resident to death with walker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. — Charges have been filed against a 71-year-old Joliet nursing home resident accused of killing a man on Friday, police say.According to Joliet Police, William Paschall has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a person 60 years of age or older after he allegedly beat a 61-year-old man to death while in the laundry room of the nursing home where they were both residents. NTSB: Preliminary investigation reveals design flaw likely to blame for CTA Yellow Line crash Police say officers were called to Salem Village Nursing and Rehabilitation in the 1300 block of Rowell Avenue on Friday after reports of a battery that took place on the facility's sixth floor. When police arrived on the scene, they found the victim unresponsive in the laundry room.Officers say a preliminary investigation later revealed that Paschall had allegedly attacked the victim in the laundry room after he became angry about how the victim was using the washing machine. Police...

Richest 1 percent generate as much carbon emissions as poorest two-thirds: research

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

(The Hill) -- The richest 1 percent of the world's population generates as much carbon emissions as the world’s poorest two-thirds, new research shows.“The richest 1 percent of the world’s population produced as much carbon pollution in 2019 than the five billion people who made up the poorest two-thirds of humanity,” the new report by Oxfam said.In 2019, the carbon emissions of the richest 1 percent made up 16 percent of the world’s total CO2 emissions, they found. The report found that the emissions from the 1 percent will cause an estimated 1.3 million heat-related deaths between 2020 and 2030.“The super-rich are plundering and polluting the planet to the point of destruction, leaving humanity choking on extreme heat, floods and drought,” Oxfam International interim Executive Director Amitabh Behar said in a statement.The report said that climate breakdown and inequality are locked in a vicious cycle, ultimately placing an undue burden on people in poverty.“Climate change is alre...

Target testing change at self-checkout that some shoppers might not like

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Target is reportedly planning to restrict some of its self-checkout areas to shoppers purchasing 10 items or less.The change will only affect a small number of stores during a test phase, according to a Target representative who spoke with CNN. A spokesperson for the chain was not immediately available to confirm whether the idea would be implemented at additional stores in the near future.The decision to limit some of Target’s self-checkout shoppers to 10 items was made in order to heighten the customer experience and specifically reduce wait times, Target told the outlet. But, according to company COO John Mulligan, shoppers are increasingly preferring full-service checkout, too.“Since our goal is for Target to be the easiest place for our guests to shop, our teams have been focused on the front-of-store experience with the goal of providing consistently great service through the in-store checkout experience, along with drive-up and in-store pickup,” said Mulligan, als...

20M at risk of severe storms, possible tornadoes ahead of Thanksgiving

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:13 GMT

(The Hill) -- More than 20 million people face a threat of severe thunderstorms, and some areas are bracing for tornadoes ahead of what could be the busiest holiday travel week ever.According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center, there are expected to be some strong tornadoes and “damaging thunderstorm winds” and large hail in parts of east Texas and Louisiana.Experts said the storm will move then into the Delta region and parts of Mississippi and Alabama. The storm is expected to move northeast and spread rain in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia by Tuesday morning, with snow farther north.Parts of eastern Texas, northern Louisiana and central Mississippi have been issued between a level 3 and 5 storm risk level. Some areas could see tornado speeds of 111 mph or more. This Thanksgiving could be the busiest travel season ever Residents who live in Shreveport, Monroe and Bossier City, La., and Jackson and Hattiesburg, Miss....