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US Defense Secretary Austin says Washington won’t stand for ‘coercion and bullying’ from China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

SINGAPORE (AP) — American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin vowed Saturday that Washington would not stand for any “coercion and bullying” of its allies and partners by China, while assuring Beijing that the United States remains committed to maintaining the status quo on Taiwan and would prefer dialogue over conflict.Speaking at the so-called Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual forum bringing together top defense officials, diplomats and leaders, Austin lobbied for support for Washington’s vision of a “free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific within a world of rules and rights” as the best course to counter increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region.The U.S. has been expanding its own activities around the Indo-Pacific to counter sweeping territorial claims from China, including regularly sailing through and flying over the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea. “We are committed to ensuring that every country can fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” h...

Man pulled from backyard pool in Oakville without vital signs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

Halton police say a man was pulled from a backyard pool in Oakville without vital signs on Friday afternoon.Officers were called to the residence on Samford Place, near Third Line and Bridge Road, around 3:45 p.m.A man was discovered in the pool without vital signs and rushed to a local hospital.No other information was provided.Recently, there have been several fatal incidents of people drowning in backyard pools. On Wednesday, a woman died after drowning in a backyard pool in Brampton.Officers in Peel Region were called to the home around 3:10 p.m. on Wednesday near Williams Parkway and North Park Drive.Last weekend, on May 28, Halton police were called to an address on Warwick Avenue in Oakville at around 7:00 p.m., responding to reports of a drowning.A three-year-old boy was discovered without vital signs and later pronounced dead.Two weeks ago, on May 23, a three-year-old girl died after drowning in a backyard pool in Ajax, Ont. Officers were called to the home around 5:15 p.m....

Hawaii allows more concealed carry after Supreme Court ruling, but tightly limits where guns allowed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Friday signed legislation that will allow more people to carry concealed firearms but at the same time prohibit people from taking guns to a wide range of places, including beaches, hospitals, stadiums, bars that serve alcohol and movie theaters. Private businesses allowing guns will have to post a sign to that effect. The legal overhaul comes in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from last year that expanded gun rights by saying Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. New York and New Jersey adopted similar laws last year that quickly met legalchallenges that are making their way through federal courts. Green, who is a physician by training and has been an emergency room doctor in Hawaii for decades, said gun violence is a public health crisis and action needs to be taken to address it.“On many occasions in my training back on the mainland, I was one of the physicians that took care of individuals who were ...

2 children uninjured after Englewood shooting hospitalizes man, woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

CHICAGO -- Two people have been taken to a hospital after being shot Friday evening in Englewood while two children were in the car.According to the Chicago Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting on the 600 block of West 71st Street in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood just after 6 p.m. on Friday. SWAT responds to man on rooftop of Humboldt Park building Investigators said two victims, a man and woman, were traveling in a vehicle when an unknown vehicle pulled up alongside. Two people have been taken to a hospital after being shot Friday evening in Englewood while two children were in the car.The 27-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the back and was transported to the University of Chicago Hospital in good condition.The 32-year-old woman sustained a gunshot wound to the right leg and was transported to the University of Chicago Hospital in good condition.Two children, that were also in the vehicle, were uninjured in the incident and were both transpo...

Bee Keepers extra busy during swarm season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Bees are causing quite the buzz across Central Texas."We probably get 50 to 100 calls a day," said Keith Huddle, owner of Keith's Bee Service.March to June is peak swarming season in Texas. This happens when honeybee hives are overcrowded."They split and send off half of the hive to start new hives," said Huddle.Huddle said he's found bees all over the place -- in buildings, utility boxes and trees. Once they have a home to protect they can get very aggressive."Once they have been in there for a few months, and they have resources to defend, they will defend, and that is when they become a danger," Huddle said. What should I do if I’m caught in a bee swarm attack? Brian Alexander lives in Leander. He said bees have moved into a utility box outside his home and now it's becoming a problem."Got stung, didn't really think much about it at first then turned around and could see them swarming," Alexander said.Brian Alexander said he's called everyone trying to get the b...

Abbott appointee resigns as chair of power grid regulator

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- Peter Lake, chair of the Public Utility Commission — which regulates the state’s power grid — resigned Friday, according to a statement from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office.Lake was appointed by Abbott in April 2021 following the devastating near-statewide power outages that killed hundreds of people during Winter Storm Uri that February. In that time, he spearheaded a plan to help the state’s grid withstand weather disasters.But state lawmakers soured on the agency-led proposal, which was approved by the commission in January, at the start of this year’s legislative session. Several lawmakers argued that it didn’t go far enough to ensure new fossil fuel-fired power plants would be built.Lake had advocated for more of a technology-neutral approach than some lawmakers.The agency’s plan, which Lake had a heavy hand in crafting, would create a new economic tool called performance credits. The credits would direct funds to companies that operate on-demand power s...

Three-vehicle crash closes Northway at Exit 19 southbound

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

WARREN COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Multiple people were injured after a three-car crash on the Northway Friday night. The crash took place around 8:19 p.m. between Exits 19 and 18 southbound. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police said the crash included a rollover with entrapment and a vehicle fire. Three people were reportedly injured with one taken out of the scene on a med flight.Three lanes of the Northway southbound are closed. Drivers are being redirected off of Exit 19.

Who the drought is affecting the most in Missouri

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- More than half of the state is in a drought, and the concern state agencies have, is that it's only June. Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order this week declaring a drought alert for 60 counties. This order activates the Drought Assessment Committee, overseen by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The committee is made up of federal and state agencies. The group will design a plan to help communities and the agricultural industry if this dry spell continues. "When we see these kinds of drought conditions in the late spring, it really causes concern about what we might see yet in the year," Director of DNR Dru Buntin said. "Typically, this time of year is the wetter time of year."This executive order comes after a good portion of the state also experienced a drought last fall and into winter. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of central Missouri are in an extreme drought, others in the state are seeing a severe and moderate drought.  W...

Start your engines! Fans getting excited for NASCAR's Enjoy Illinois 300

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

MADISON, Ill. - St. Louis is the place to be this 'hot' weekend as NASCAR rolls into town. The second annual Enjoy Illinois 300 sold out Sunday at the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.The events began Friday morning for fans without a ticket. FOX 2's Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFox flew over the NASCAR Haulers Touch-a-Truck event and parade, where fans could see the haulers up close.From the drivers in the community to beat the heat on the track. Fans have already are starting to enjoy the festivities here at the raceway. Fans say the heat is on.“Our fans can expect it to be bigger and better than last year. It was a sellout crowd," said Scott Blair, executive vice president and general manager. "We just announced it's sold out again this weekend. Our musical lineup and extra stuff stepped up a notch."The St. Louis area has a solid base of fans who love NASCAR. Both young and old."I hope for Kyle Bush to win the race. I'm a big fan. I have been a fan for a couple...

Playful 'puppy' whale entertains boat tour near Dana Point

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:06:41 GMT

A friendly whale gave a group of whale watchers the show of a lifetime.Passengers aboard AllsWell, a rigid hull inflatable boat operated by Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari, got up close and personal with a curious and friendly minke whale.Video shared by the tour company Friday showed the whale coming up within feet of the boat, peeking its head out and giving the passengers a show in a type of encounter known as "whale mugging."Whale mugging happens when a whale shows intense interest in a boat, gets close to it and then behaves inquisitively.During encounters like this, whale watching tours will switch the boat into neutral to avoid spooking the whale. The engines were left on to help the minke whale hear the boat and know its location, since that specific species of whale doesn't have echolocation ability. Dog meets friendly whale on whale watching excursion in Monterey Gisele Anderson, Co-President of Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari, said this...