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Emotions run high as Poland prepares to hold a high-stakes national election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland is holding an election Sunday that many view as its most important one since the 1989 vote that toppled communism. At stake are the health of the nation’s democracy, its legal stance on LGBTQ+ rights and abortion, and the foreign alliances of a country on NATO’s eastern flank that has been a crucial ally to Ukraine.Political experts say the election will not be fully fair after eight years of governing by a conservative nationalist party that has eroded checks and balances to gain more control over state institutions, including the courts, public media and the electoral process itself.Opponents of the ruling Law and Justice party fear it could be their last chance to preserve the constitutional system won at great cost through the struggle of many Poles, from former President Lech Walesa to the millions who supported his Solidarity movement.The election “will decide the future of Poland as a country of liberal democracy, a system that has bee...

Sen. Joe Manchin considers independent 2024 run, warns party system could be nation’s ‘downfall’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has benefited from waiting to reveal where he stands as the swing vote in a chamber closely divided between Democrats and Republicans.He’s taken the same approach when it comes to the next phase of his political career: The moderate Democrat has teased possible retirement, a run for reelection to the Senate or even a presidential campaign in 2024 — possibly as an independent candidate. During a multi-day trip to West Virginia’s capital this week, the 76-year-old expressed growing frustration with the polarized U.S. two-party system.“I’m having a hard time — I really am,” he said while touring a Charleston metal stamping plant. “The two-party system, unless it changes, will be the downfall of our country.”Manchin’s visit included the metal plant, which began being revitalized during his governorship, and an Amtrak station renovated with infrastructure funds he helped secure. He told reporters he was “getting...

Venezuelan migrants who are applying for temporary legal status in the US say it offers some relief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — After receiving death threats for openly opposing Venezuela’s socialist government, Víctor Macedo and his wife fled, staying for a time in Spain before coming to the U.S. For nearly two years, they have lived in Florida with the support of family and friends as they tried to build a better life for their two children.They are among several hundred thousand Venezuelans living in the U.S. whose lives could change now that President Joe Biden’s administration is offering them temporary legal status making it easier for them to get authorization to work in the U.S.“We have 18 months of peace of mind, without the fear of being deported. That is the greatest benefit, and the greatest fear,” said Macedo, 38, who dreams of opening a bakery like the one his father had in Venezuela. “We can now begin to earn income as God intended. We no longer depend on the relatives we have here.”To qualify for Temporary Protected Status, Venezuelans must have arrived in the U.S. by July ...

‘Ring of fire’ solar eclipse will cut across the Americas, stretching from Oregon to Brazil

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A rare “ring of fire” eclipse of the sun cuts across the Americas on Saturday, stretching from Oregon to Brazil.For the small towns and cities along its narrow path, there was a mix of excitement, worries about the weather and concerns they’d be overwhelmed by visitors flocking to see the celestial event, also called an annular solar eclipse. Unlike a total solar eclipse, the moon doesn’t completely cover the sun during a ring of fire eclipse. When the moon lines up between Earth and the sun, it leaves a bright, blazing border.Saturday’s path: Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas in the U.S., with a sliver of California, Arizona and Colorado. Next: Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. Much of the rest of the Western Hemisphere gets a partial eclipse. Viewing all depends on clear skies — part of the U.S. path could see clouds. NASA and other groups planned to livestream it. With a chance of...

Hunter Biden investigations lead to ethical concerns about President Joe Biden, AP-NORC poll shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ethical concerns are casting a shadow over President Joe Biden as he seeks reelection amid ongoing investigations into his son Hunter Biden and a presidential impeachment inquiry, with a new poll showing that 35% of U.S. adults believe the president himself has done something illegal.An additional 33% say they think the president behaved unethically, but not illegally. And 30% say Biden did nothing wrong, according to the poll. The results of the survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reflect both a vast political divide and skepticism about the morality of government leaders. House Republicans have launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden, seeking to tie the president to the foreign business dealings of his 53-year-old son. Hunter Biden is facing a separate criminal indictment by a special counsel after a plea deal in a tax and gun case fell apart. Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden for years, since his father was vi...

Texas high school football scores for Friday, Oct. 13

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several pivotal district showdowns went down in Central Texas Friday night.The Westlake Chaparrals were tested by a feisty Dripping Springs team Friday evening but were able to hold on for a 27 – 14 win at Chaparral Stadium.In 5A, Georgetown defeated East View in a battle of crosstown rivals.Here's a look at the scores across Texas for Friday, Oct. 13.Scores from around the KXAN viewing areaLeander Rouse 49, Killeen Chaparral 36New Braunfels Canyon 47, Kyle Lehman 0Round Rock Stony Point 7, Cedar Park Vista Ridge 0Round Rock Westwood 17, Round Rock McNeil 14Georgetown 31, Georgetown East View 13SA Veterans Memorial 48, Bastrop 8Wimberley 72, Manor New Tech 0Scores from around Texas compiled by the Associated PressCLASS 6AAbilene 38, Lubbock Cooper 35Allen 31, McKinney 7Arlington Martin 82, Arlington Hou 20Byron Nelson 67, Keller 3Cibolo Steele 45, San Marcos 6Coppell 35, Plano East 7De Soto 64, Mansfield Lake Ridge 3Denton Guyer 56, Denton Braswell 28Edinburg North 4...

‘The Sandlot’ actor Marty York’s mother murdered in Northern California, suspect apprehended 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

The mother of Marty York – known for his role as Alan “Yeah-Yeah” McClennan in ‘The Sandlot’ – was murdered in her Northern California home, the actor confirmed on social media. According to initial reports from TMZ, York’s mother Deanna Esmaeel was found dead inside her Crescent City home on Thursday.  Esmaeel was a Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office deputy, the department said, and a warrant was issued for Daniel James Walter, a man who was “seeing” York’s mother, according to the actor. “This is the hardest post I’ll ever have to write but I found out from the Sheriff’s Department last night that my mother was murdered by a man she was seeing,” York said in an Instagram post on Friday. “The emotions I have are horrible right now...between rage, vengeance [and] crying.”A manhunt began for Walter – who legally changed his name to Edward Patrick Davies in July – after he was last seen in Crescent City on Thursday morning.  Authorities search for inmate who escap...

'Ring of fire' solar eclipse will cut across the Americas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A rare “ring of fire” eclipse of the sun cuts across the Americas on Saturday, stretching from Oregon to Brazil.For the small towns and cities along its narrow path, there was a mix of excitement, worries about the weather and concerns they'd be overwhelmed by visitors flocking to see the celestial event, also called an annular solar eclipse. Unlike a total solar eclipse, the moon doesn’t completely cover the sun during a ring of fire eclipse. When the moon lines up between Earth and the sun, it leaves a bright, blazing border.Saturday’s path: Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas in the U.S., with a sliver of California, Arizona and Colorado. Next: Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. Much of the rest of the Western Hemisphere gets a partial eclipse. Viewing all depends on clear skies — part of the U.S. path could see clouds. NASA and other groups planned to livestream it. With a chance of rain ...

Jonathan Kuminga and bench lead Warriors to win against Lakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

LOS ANGELES — The Warriors put together a veteran-laden roster in the offseason at a slight expense: They lack size.It’s a familiar shortcoming Golden State typically overcomes with pace and high IQ, but it becomes an issue against seven-footer Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers on both ends of the floor, especially with Draymond Green out due to injury.All that length mucked up the Warriors’ ball movement and Golden State’s road woes from last year seeped into their performance on Friday. But the Warriors won out a battle between the two teams’ bench squads in a tight 129-125 win on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Trayce Jackson-Davis’ block in the final seconds of the game, initially called a foul then overturned, helped secure the win.Jonathan Kuminga looks to be gaining confidence on the offensive end. He led the team again in points with 26 and didn’t hesitate to take the open 3-pointers — he went 3-for-5 from beyond the a...

Viral TikTok shows Vallejo police officer punching a woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:49:54 GMT

(KRON) -- A TikTok video showing a Vallejo police officer punching a woman is beginning to go viral. The 50-second video, which has over half a million views, shows the end of a police chase after a burglary of a Vallejo business.A business near Gateway Plaza Shopping Center was burglarized on Friday, the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) told KRON4. That prompted a pursuit in which the suspect was driving recklessly and crashed into a truck in the area of Auto Mall Pkwy and Admiral Callaghan Lane.The woman resisted arrest and tried to escape from police, authorities said. Around the 10-second mark of the video (watch above), the officer is seen pulling the woman out of her car and slamming her against the truck. Shortly after, the officer is seen punching the woman at least once. Tesla catches fire on SF street, presumed to have been caused by homeless person: officials Both the woman and the officer were injured in the incident. Police said the suspect was injured from the car cr...