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Norfolk Southern brings apology, aid to Ohio derailment hearing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

By STEPHEN GROVES and JOSH FUNK (Associated Press)WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern’s CEO apologized before Congress on Thursday and pledged millions of dollars to help East Palestine, Ohio, recover from last month’s fiery, hazardous materials train derailment. But he stopped short of fully endorsing a Senate bill to toughen safety regulations.CEO Alan Shaw said his railroad supports the goal of improving rail safety, but he also defended the railroad’s record.He did back proposals to tighten standards for tank cars that the railroads don’t own, expand hazardous materials training for first responders and establish standards for the trackside detectors railroads use to spot problems.“I’m terribly sorry for the impact this derailment has had on the folks of that community,” Shaw said. “We’re going to be there for as long as it takes to help East Palestine thrive and recover.”He pointed to a $20 million commitment so far to help the community recover. Norfolk Southern’s final financial re...

Gun used in Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting 'destroyed by the state,' defense lawyer reveals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Alec Baldwin's attorney told a judge on Thursday that the state destroyed the gun used in the deadly "Rust" movie-set shooting. The announcment was made during a status hearing in the case against "Rust" actor-producer Alec Baldwin and the film's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. During the hearing, an attorney for Baldwin, Alex Spiro, said he received an email from the state that the defense would be receiving discovery today. Spiro also brought up the fact that the firearm at the center of this case has been destroyed by the state. "That's obviously an issue, and we're going to have to see that firearm – or what's left of it," Spiro said. Local man who originally was offered armorer job on ‘Rust’ speaks out The prosecution did not dispute whether the gun was destroyed or if it was in pieces. Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” in October 2021. The actor was rehearsing a scene in front of a camera when a gun he was handling f...

Toronto Blue Jays fans 5th-least annoying in Major League Baseball, poll shows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

Toronto Blue Jays fans have earned themselves a good reputation around Major League Baseball.A recent survey of fans voted Blue Jays supporters the fifth least annoying and 11th best-behaved in all of MLB. That made them better-liked than their divisional rivals in Boston and New York.Fans of the New York Yankees have the distinction of being the most annoying and the worst behaved. Red Sox fans were second most annoying and third worst behaved, according to the poll.The survey of 999 American fans was commissioned by Crestline and conducted over two days in December. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 76 years old, and 26 per cent were female, and 74 per cent were male.Getting in fights at games with the other fan base, poor sportsmanship, and bandwagon jumping are some of the most annoying fan behaviours, according to the survey.Houston Astros shortstop Jose Altuve was named baseball’s most annoying player and, despite retiring on Oct. 3, Chicago White Sox manager Tony La ...

Letter claims cartel handed over men who killed Americans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — A letter claiming to be from the Mexican drug cartel blamed for abducting four Americans and killing two of them condemned the violence and said the gang turned over to authorities its own members who were responsible.In a letter obtained by The Associated Press through a Tamaulipas state law enforcement source, the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel apologized to the residents of Matamoros where the Americans were kidnapped, the Mexican woman who died in the cartel shootout, and the four Americans and their families.“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline,” the letter reads, adding that those individuals had gone against the cartel’s rules, which include “respecting the life and well-being of the innocent.”Drug cartels have been known to issue communiques to intimidate rivals and authorities, but also at times like thes...

Canada Soccer releases details of proposed labour deal with national teams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

Canada Soccer released part of its proposed collecting bargaining agreement with the men’s and women’s national teams on Thursday, saying it’s time to get a deal done.The move was essentially a pre-emptive strike, coming hours before captain Christine Sinclair and three other members of the Canadian women’s team aired their grievances before a parliamentary committee.Canada Soccer says its proposed labour deal would pay both teams the same match fee, with the squads sharing equally in competition prize money. And it says the Olympic champion women’s team would become the second-highest-paid women’s national squad among FIFA’s 211 member associations, presumably behind the top-ranked U.S.The governing body says the deal in front of the players “demonstrates Canada Soccer’s commitment to its core principle that if you are a Canada Soccer national team player — regardless of your gender — you will be paid the same for the work you do competing and re...

Shooting at Jehoavah’s Witness hall in Hamburg causes deaths

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Shots were fired inside a building used by Jehovah’s Witnesses in the northern German city of Hamburg on Thursday evening, and an unspecified number of people were killed or wounded, police said.The shooting took place in the Gross Borstel district, a few kilometers (miles) north of the downtown area of Germany’s second-biggest city.Police said on Twitter that “several people were seriously wounded, some of them fatally,” but didn’t give a precise figure.German news agency dpa reported seeing rescue services taking people out of a building used by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Police said they were alerted to the shooting about 9:15 p.m. and were on the scene quickly. They said that after officers arrived, they heard a shot from an upper floor.The police statement said there was no immediate indication that a shooter was on the run and tehat it appeared likely that the perpetrator or perpetrators were either in the building or among the dead.Police...

Biden rolls out budget plan, challenges GOP to follow suit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As political gridlock puts the government at risk of defaulting, President Joe Biden on Thursday made an opening bid with a budget plan that would cut deficits by $2.9 trillion over the next decade — a proposal that Republicans already intend to reject.It’s part of a broader attempt by the president to call out House Republicans who are demanding severe cuts to spending in return for lifting the government’s legal borrowing limit. But the GOP has no counteroffer so far, other than a flat “no” to a Biden blueprint with tax increases on the wealthy that could form the policy backbone of Biden’s yet-to-be-declared campaign for reelection in 2024.Striding around a stage at a union training center in Philadelphia, Biden seemed to be in full campaign mode as he spoke about his plan for the government’s finances and how his values contrasted with Republican priorities.“I just laid out the bulk of my budget,” Biden said. “Republicans in Congress s...

‘The best is yet to come’: 93-year-old writes song about life lessons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

Herb Williams is a naturally gifted musician who has played the piano for most of his life with no formal training. Last year, he finally wrote and recorded his very first song at the age of 93.“When I was four years old, my mom popped me on the bench and said ‘keep hitting the keys. I’ll know where you are,'” says Herb of his musical beginnings.While his sister received lessons, Williams explains that he was able to play by ear without needing sheet music or any other instruction.Given his natural talent, Williams was an obvious choice for a program called ‘Lyrics and Legacies’ at Amica Senior Lifestyles, where he is a resident.“It was developed in partnership with Roy Thompson Hall and Massey Hall as a way to help connect our seniors with premium musical experiences that provided deep connections while we were in COVID restrictions,” explains Ashley Sumler, director of quality of life at Amica.The program pairs residents with profess...

Security guard hospitalized after Wacker Drive bank robbery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

CHICAGO — A security guard has been hospitalized after being shot during an attempted bank robbery in downtown Chicago Thursday.According to police, law enforcement responded to an armed robbery at the Fifth Third Bank on South Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago just before 3 p.m. Thursday evening.WGN-TV crews were able to confirm that a suspect shot out a window during the armed robbery before fleeing the scene. Pedestrians told WGN-TV crews that cash could be seen flying around outside the bank.A 59-year-old bank security guard confronted the suspect when they pulled out a gun and began shooting.The security guard produced his service weapon and fired back at the suspect. The 59-year-old was shot in the shoulder before the suspect fled the scene eastbound on Madison Ave.The security guard was transported to Northwestern Hospital in good condition.No further information has been made available at this time.Stay with WGN-TV as this story develops.

Biden's budget proposal earmarks $350 million for CTA Red Line extension

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:30 GMT

CHICAGO — President Joe Biden’s budget proposal, aimed to cut deficits by nearly $3 trillion over the next decade, includes big plans for Chicago transit. Biden's budget earmarks $350 million for the CTA Red Line expansion. The proposal is part of a recommendation by the Biden-Harris administration to advance 18 major transit projects across 11 states, including Illinois. SEE ALSO | Biden to seek more than $2.8B from Congress for cancer fightThe proposal will see the CTA Red Line Extension project add 5.6 miles of rail to Chicago’s Far South Side, reducing commute times, improving mobility and accessibility for transit-dependent residents, and promoting economic development, the United States Department of Transportation announced in a release on Thursday. The project would extend the Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street and include four additional stops: a new terminal at 130th Street and three other stops at 103rd, 111th, and Michigan Avenue. Parking facilities and mult...