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Apollo 13 hero Ken Mattingly, who helped crew return safely home, dies at age 87

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

Ken Mattingly, an astronaut who is best remembered for his efforts on the ground that helped bring the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft safely back to Earth, has died, NASA announced. He was 87.“We lost one of our country’s heroes on Oct. 31,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a Thursday statement.Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II “was key to the success of our Apollo Program, and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history,” Nelson said.NASA didn’t mention where or how Mattingly died. However, The New York Times reported that Mattingly died in Arlington, Virginia.A former Navy pilot, Mattingly joined NASA in 1966. He helped with development of the spacesuit and backpack for the Apollo moon missions, NASA said.However, his own first spaceflight only came in 1972 when he orbited the moon as pilot of the Apollo 16 command module, while two other crew members landed on the moon’s surface.On the trip back to Earth, Mattingly spacewalked to collec...

Technicality keeps North County high school football team out of playoffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- The Orange Glen High School Patriots football team are stunned with the revelation their championship season has been forfeited because of a technicality. While at a team dinner celebrating their first league championship in 28 years, they got the sudden news. “The coach showed up and got a call and told us and the room got silent. We took a minute to process it and then it just really hurt,” said Todd Riddle, a defensive tackle for the team. Water polo player fighting to keep hand after crash Their banners were taken down from the school auditorium. One students' grades dropped below eligibility, and players and parents say the athletic director cleared the player anyway. “It sucks to be around people who you use to look up to as adults,” said Riddle. Now the seniors will never get to have a last game. Their title was also unceremoniously stripped along with their shot at a CIF championship. Now parents are calling on the district to fire the athletics direc...

Israeli rescuers release aftermath video of Hamas attack on music festival, adding chilling details

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli security officer could be seen drawing a pistol, his hand shaking violently. Hours earlier that day, Oct. 7, these desolate fields in southern Israel had teemed with thousands of young people dancing to electronic music under the night sky and camping out in tents or mobile homes. Now, it was silent. The officer peered quickly into one of the trailers. “Who’s inside?” he called out in Hebrew, his voice pained. It was empty. He moved onto the rest of the festival grounds, searching for signs of life following the Hamas rampage through the outdoor concert. “It’s the police!” he yelled again and again, his voice rising in panic. “Are there any wounded?”Silence. The officer moved to the outdoor bar. Hovering over the Coca‐Cola coolers and beer-tap levers, he shouted louder, “Wounded?” His camera tilted down. There were more than a dozen bodies — some encrusted with dirt, others riddled with bullets. They were strewn around the bar and piled on top...

Demonstrations in support of Gaza planned in at least two dozen Canadian cities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

OTTAWA — Demonstrations are set to take place in more than two dozen Canadian cities today, with participants expected to voice  support for residents of the Gaza Strip and the deteriorating humanitarian situation they face since the latest war between Israel and Hamas broke out last month.Many of the rallies follow a national call for demonstrations by the Palestinian Youth Movement, which is calling for  a ceasefire in the conflict.The organization is also calling for humanitarian aid to be allowed to flow into the territory and an end to Canada’s support for Israel’s military action against Hamas, which the federal government has designated as a terrorist organization since 2002.The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza reports more than 9,440 Palestinians have died in the war with Israel, which was triggered by the group’s incursion into that country on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,400 people and saw more than 200 taken back into Gaza as hostages.Israel immediate...

Estonia will allow Taiwan to establish a nondiplomatic representative office in a policy revision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Estonia will allow Taiwan to open a nondiplomatic representative office of Taipei in the Baltic country to boost economic and cultural ties with the self-governing island but pledged to stick with the “One China” policy in political relations.The government of Estonia, a member of the European Union and NATO, revised its approach to Taiwan at a Cabinet meeting on Nov. 2 while discussing the country’s China policy, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told local media outlets on Friday.China claims Taiwan, an island about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off its east coast, as its territory. Beijing considers Taiwan as a rebel province to be brought under its control by force if necessary.“Just like many other countries of the European Union, Estonia is also ready to accept the establishment of a nondiplomatic economic or cultural representation of Taipei in order to promote the respective relations,” Tsahkna said in remarks first published by Estonia’s foreign ministry on Nov. ...

Craig Robinson joins WGN Weekend Morning News

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

Craig Robinson from 'The Office' joins WGN Weekend Morning News to share more on his show in Chicago.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Weekend Break: 51st Street + Modernism Show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

Join WGN Weekend Morning News at the 51st Antiques + Modernism showLove the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

The busiest days to fly during the winter holidays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

(NerdWallet) - Most weeks of the year, Friday is the busiest day for air travel, and Tuesday is the least busy day. During the holidays, though, that doesn’t necessarily hold true.In most years, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day at U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which tracks the number of passengers screened daily. The two days after Christmas also see heavy travel. And since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, that might mean an abnormally busy Tuesday and Wednesday of that week.To avoid crowds and save money, consider skipping the busy days and book your flights on one of the slower ones. Here’s a breakdown of the best and worst days to fly during the winter holidays, and how you can strategize to avoid crowds and save money.The busiest days to fly around ThanksgivingThe Sunday after Thanksgiving is brutal for airport crowds. Last year, about 83% more people flew on the Sunday after Thanksgiving than on Thanksgiving...

Brandywine, more sue State of Texas for backing out of leases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.AUSTIN (ABJ) — Brandywine Realty Trust has filed a lawsuit against a major former tenant: the State of Texas. And it's not the only landlord to do so.Philadelphia-based Brandywine’s (NYSE: BDN) lawsuit, filed Oct. 27 in Travis County, alleged the Texas Health and Human Services Commission broke a contract with the real estate developer earlier this year by prematurely terminating a lease at Brandywine’s growing Uptown ATX development that promises to expand the bounds of Austin's second downtown beyond The Domain.HHSC backed out of the lease due to a provision that allows state entities to do so “due to the non-availability of money,” but the lawsuit goes on to allege that the agency did indeed have funds specifically available to pay rent.Read the full story online at the Austin Business Journal.

Albany man pleads guilty to prohibited firearm possession

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:43 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man has pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to the United States Attorney's Office. Charles Williams, 34, now faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of post-release supervision. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On November 18, 2021, U.S. Marshals tracked Williams to a hotel to arrest him for a kidnapping incident. Upon searching his room, the Marshals located a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, which Williams is prohibited from possessing due to a previous felony conviction for first-degree assault.Williams was convicted by a jury of second-degree kidnapping earlier this year, and he additionally pled guilty to a second-degree assault in Rensselaer County back in October. His sentencing for the firearm possession is scheduled for March 4, 2024.