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The candidates are going after one another at the leadoff 2024 GOP debate. Follow live updates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Follow along for live updates on the first 2024 Republican presidential debate. The field’s early front-runner, Donald Trump, skipped the event and conducted an interview with Tucker Carlson instead.What to know— Trump won’t be at the GOP’s first presidential debate. But his presence will be felt — Who’s in, who’s out, who’s boycotting: The 8 candidates appearing on stage — Want to tune in for the debate? Here’s how to watch — Trump’s decision to back out tests Fox News’ ability to pivot again — The GOP presidential debate puts the spotlight on swing-state WisconsinDeSantis borrows Trump’s famous lineIt was Donald Trump’s famous line on “The Apprentice,” but at the debate, “You’re fired!” was taken over by one of his top GOP challengers.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that “a major reason” for America’s current struggles is “because how this federal government handled COVID-19 by locking down this economy.”DeSantis, who has talked often on the campaign tr...

PeaceHealth to shutter only hospital in Eugene, Oregon; nurse’s union calls it ‘disastrous’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — PeaceHealth announced this week it is closing the only hospital in Eugene, Oregon, and moving services 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to its Springfield location. PeaceHealth said Tuesday the hospital serving the city of about 178,000 people is underutilized, the Register-Guard reported. The PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District in Eugene, which first opened in 1936, employs hundreds of nurses, health care professionals and staff.PeaceHealth officials said patient volume has been declining, causing the hospital to lose an average of $2 million per month. The facility has about 95 patient visits daily, with about 15.5 patients per month admitted as inpatients and 7.5 patients per month admitted for observation, according to hospital officials.“As the needs of the Lane County community evolve, PeaceHealth services and sites of care also need to evolve to ensure compassionate, high-quality care now and in the future,” Alicia Beymer, chief administrat...

UN Security Council — minus China and Russia — condemns Myanmar military’s killing of civilians

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Members of the U.N. Security Council – minus China and Russia – condemned the “unrelenting violence” and killing of civilians in Myanmar and again urged its military rulers to stop attacks, release ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and respect human rights.Thirteen of the 15 council members on Wednesday backed a joint statement that said there had been “insufficient progress” on implementing the first-ever Security Council resolution on Myanmar that was adopted last December. In that 12-0 vote, China and Russia, which have ties to the military that seized power from Suu Kyi’s elected civilian government in February 2021, abstained along with India whose two-year term on the council has ended.Britain’s deputy U.N. ambassador James Kariuki read the statement, flanked by diplomats from the other countries, after the council was briefed at a closed meeting by U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths on his recent visit to Myanmar and by Assistant Secretary-General Kha...

Indigo store in Toronto will offer alcohol in new concept

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

Indigo is prepared to try something new at one of its Toronto locations in a concept that will allow customers to consume alcohol as they browse for books.A new 16,000-square-foot Indigo store will open this fall in Toronto’s The Well development, stretching down the western side of Spadina Avenue from Wellington to Front.This Indigo location will allow customers to drink beer, wine or coffee while shopping. Additionally, snacks will be offered for customers to enjoy.Indigo CEO Peter Ruis said the move will be a radically different experience for shoppers.“We know our customers love the current Indigo stores, but we also know the world is changing, and people are craving more meaningful experiences that get them closer to their passions,” Ruis said in a statement on Wednesday.“We are thrilled to offer our customers an elevated experience that is much more than a shop. This will be a destination and social meeting place, celebrating the best of what Indigo doe...

The Fukushima nuclear plant’s wastewater will be discharged to the sea. Here’s what you need to know

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese officials plan to start discharging treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, a contentious step more than 12 years after a massive earthquake and tsunami set off a battle against ever-increasing amounts of radioactive water at the plant.The government and plant operator say the release is an unavoidable part of its decommissioning and will be safely carried out, but the plan faces opposition in and outside Japan. Here is a look at the controversy. WHY IS THERE SO MUCH WASTEWATER?The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami destroyed the plant’s cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt. Highly contaminated cooling water applied to the damaged reactors has leaked continuously to building basements and mixed with groundwater.The plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), has taken steps to limit the amount of groundwater and rainwater entering the reactor area, and...

Bears legend Steve McMichael named 1 of 4 committee finalists for 2024 Hall of Fame class

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

CANTON, Ohio — Steve "Mongo" McMichael is one step closer to the Hall of Fame.On Tuesday, McMichael was selected as one of four finalists for the hall's Seniors Committee.Two other former players who were selected were former Denver Bronco Randy Gradishar and Art Powell, primarily remembered for his days as an Oakland Raider.Coach Buddy Parker was also selected as a finalist in a separate category.The three finalists from the Seniors Committee now move on to the main vote for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024. That will be in front of the main 50-person committee that will meet Super Bowl week, with each candidate needing 80 percent approval to get in.Last year, all three finalists from the Seniors Committee were inducted as part of the Class of 2023. The members of this year's class will be announced at the NFL Honors show on Super Bowl week.McMichael was among the first group of 24 players that were picked by the Seniors Committee for consideration for the Class of 2024 ...

Which 2 flag pins did Asa Hutchinson wear during GOP debate?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Almost every candidate who took the stage Wednesday night at the GOP primary debate wore a flag pin on their lapel – but one candidate went a step further, and wore two. Asa Hutchinson, former governor of Arkansas, had the flag of the United States and the flag of Israel as a lapel pin. Former Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson arrives to take part in the first Republican Presidential primary debate at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 23, 2023. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) Hutchinson, who is Baptist, according to Jewish news outlet Forward, has been a vocal supporter of Israel. He visited the country four times while he was governor, Forward reports.In a 2021 interview with Jewish Insider, Hutchinson praised Israel as an ally in "a very dangerous part of the world and it is a friendship that helps keep America safe." Mug shots released in Trump Georgia election case The former two-term governor was the final candidate to meet the RNC’s q...

19-year-old pleads guilty to two Feb. murders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Abraham Kulor, now 19 years old, pleaded guilty to two murders this week, according to the Travis County District Attorney's Office.The incidents happened in February, about two weeks apart, on the 5800 block of Techni Center Drive in east Austin and on Sixth Street downtown, according to the District Attorney's Office. Kulor was 18 at the time.“Marijuana was located inside the victim’s vehicle,” APD said during a news conference about the Feb. 8 Techni Center Drive incident. “Social media messages discovered on the victim’s phone indicated that he was at the location to sell marijuana to the suspect who used the screen name of Lil AK. The messages outline the detail of the sale.”The victim in this case, according to the District Attorney's Office, was Carlos Calleja, 23. APD said several violent crimes detectives were familiar with the subject who also went by the name of Lil AK on social media. APD identified the person as Kulor.The Sixth Street homicide occurred ...

Twin Cities hit 98 degrees, breaking second straight record. But relief is on the way.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

The Twin Cities flirted with the 100-degree mark again Wednesday, breaking a second straight daily high temperature record.According to the National Weather Service, the temperature at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport hit 98 degrees Wednesday, matching Tuesday’s record-setting high.The Wednesday reading at 2:30 p.m. broke the old Aug. 23 record of 97 degrees, set in 1948.Wednesday’s high temperature was 19 degrees above the average of 80.Heat indices were again well over 100 degrees as extreme humidity created oppressive conditions over much of the nation’s midsection.An excessive heat warning remained in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday for all of southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. But as the heat wave subsides, an excessive heat advisory will be in effect from 10 p.m. Wednesday until 7 p.m. Thursday, which is the first day of the Minnesota State Fair.An advisory means heat index values up to about 100 degrees are expected. By comparison, Tuesday’s heat index in the ...

Overnight lane closures on I-94 on Thursday as part of Gold Line construction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

Starting at 10 p.m. Thursday, some lanes on westbound Interstate 94 will be shut down as part of the construction of the Metro Gold Line bus rapid transit route between Woodbury and downtown St. Paul.Access to the Interstate 694 and Interstate 494 onramps from westbound I-94 will be affected overnight. Motorists will be rerouted to Century Avenue to eastbound I-94 to access I-694 and I-494 during the night. Lanes will open early Aug. 25.In addition, expect the following new closures beginning Thursday:Southbound Wacouta Street will be closed at Fourth Street in downtown St. Paul.Lane closures on I-94 at the new Bielenberg Bridge in Woodbury.For more information on the Gold Line construction, go to Metro Transit’s website.