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International pressure mounts on coup leaders in Niger while hundreds rally in support of junta

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — International pressure mounted Thursday against leaders of the coup in Niger as the American secretary of state said the United States “stands very much” in support of West African leaders who have threatened to use force to restore the nation’s democracy, and Senegal offered troops to help.As hundreds of anti-French protesters rallied in the Nigerien capital in support of the ruling junta, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered general support for the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, though he did not specifically refer to its threat of military action. Blinken told reporters in New York that the U.S. believes the bloc’s efforts to reinstate toppled President Mohamed Bazoum are “important, strong and have our support.”Senegal’s foreign affairs minister said her country would participate in a military intervention if ECOWAS decides to act. “Senegalese soldiers have to go … these coups d’état must be stopped,” Aissata Tall Sall said....

The pride of Peru, Illinois: The Pistol Shrimp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

PERU, Ill. — If you’ve never seen a “fish out of water,” you just may want to visit Peru, Illinois, where -- on any given afternoon this summer -- you may see four of them.“It’s definitely a big culture change for sure,” said Tobey Jackson, 19, one of four college baseball players who are native Hawaiians, living in Peru to play for the city’s Prospect League team, the Pistol Shrimp. “I didn’t know Peru, Illinois existed,” Xander Sielken, another one of the players, said.Before a game this week, the four went to Baker Lake, to fish. “There’s not much that’s similar to home,” said Cody Kashimoto https://smcgaels.com/sports/baseball/roster/cody-kashimoto/4199, who had caught a blue gill. “The fish are different, too.”Kashimoto, 20, is a student at St. Mary’s College of California. “I want to make it professionally,” he said. “I want to play baseball in the MLB. Especially coming from Hawaii, we look up top guys like Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Kolten Wong. we want to be in their spots pla...

CPD issues community alert after multiple armed robberies on North Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department have issued a community alert after six armed robberies on the city's North Side early Thursday morning.According to the Chicago Police Department, a group of suspects drove up to victims who were walking on foot, exited the vehicle, armed with handguns, and demanded the victim's property.The following locations are where the armed robberies took place:1900 block of North California Avenue at 1:15 a.m.2600 block of North Fullerton Avenue at 1:20 a.m.2000 block of North Milwaukee Avenue at 1:30 a.m.5400 block of West Gale Street at 1:55 a.m.2400 block of North Central Avenue at 2:11 a.m.3400 block of North Knox Avenue at 2:40 a.m.The suspects involved have been described as a group of Black men, between 15 and 25-years-old, 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-10, weighing 140 to 160 pounds, wearing black face masks, dark clothing, and armed with handguns.Anyone with information regarding these incidents are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at ...

Water restrictions ramp up as drought continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin has now seen 27 straight days at 100 degrees or higher, and it looks like those high temperatures will continue.What does that mean for people living in Central Texas?It could mean tougher water restrictions as some places have already added more restrictions."Has it ever been like this hot in Austin before?" asked Henry Pugh as he walked through his grandfather's yard.Gary Pugh is under Travis County Water Control and Improvement District 17, where they are under stage 2 restrictions."We have a lot of dead grass in the yard," said Pugh. "We've got a courtyard area that lost a lot of plants."Pugh can water two times a week, but some areas are cracking down even harder."Mid-June, we moved to stage 2, which limits the amount of time watering," said Jennifer Riechers with the West Travis County Public Utility Agency. "Then July 20, we had to move to stage 3 watering restrictions which is one day per week watering."Reichers says growth in areas like Dripping Sprin...

Train derails in Texas after crash with semi, one person dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

LUBBOCK, Texas -- A train derailment was reported at a railroad crossing near US 84 between Amherst and Sudan after a crash on Monday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. One person was killed.The incident was reported around 10:45 a.m. as a crash between a semi and a train. DPS provided an update and said the driver, who was identified as Brent Michael Spahich, 25, of Borger, passed away while being taken to the hospital.(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)(Nexstar/Staff)Some of the train cars were carrying a "possible hazardous material," according to DPS. Officials said five cars derailed. A Hazmat response was underway, DPS said.Westbound traffic on the Clovis highway was shut down. Eastbound remained open.

Art, music bring awareness to mental health, suicide prevention

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

WACO, Texas (FOX 44) - Creative artists in Central Texas came together to support one another and raise awareness towards mental health and suicide prevention. The Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network collaborated with the Music + Art = Positive Digital Magazine so more people could hear about mental health and how to combat suicidal thoughts."Tell somebody, it doesn't hurt. It hurts a lot less when we speak out and let someone know," says Verlyn Johson Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network spokesperson. The event was Waco's first-ever 8-way art conference, with music, theatre, dance, poetry, culinary arts, cinema, graphical arts and illustrative arts. "What inspired me to do this was just seeing that everybody stays in their lane for the most part. Nothing wrong with that. But nothing spectacular happens that way. You get some people who aren't normally in the same circle together that's going to draw people together will make a lot of noise and to be a bigger pop," says eve...

Christian Jones' leadership noticed on and off the field, nominated for Wuerffel Award

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Christian Jones has been a pillar on the Texas Longhorns offensive line for the past three seasons, starting in 35 games while playing in 48. Since he decided to use his extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted players due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sixth-year 321-pounder out of Cypress Woods has seen quite a bit during his time on the 40 Acres."I've been here longer than some of the bricks in the building," Jones said. "But this locker room is very special. It's a brotherly bond. People are staying late and getting extra reps in voluntarily. Nobody is telling them to do that.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersIt has been a theme early in fall camp that chemistry is going to take the Longhorns where they want to go this season, and with all five starting offensive linemen returning from last season, that position could perhaps shine the brightest in t...

North Dakota lawmakers eye Minnesota free tuition program that threatens enrollment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota lawmakers and higher education leaders are beginning to chart a path for how to respond to neighboring Minnesota’s upcoming program that will offer income-based free tuition to thousands of students.Higher education leaders on Wednesday detailed the situation to an interim legislative panel. A state senator also presented a bill draft proposing a North Dakota program similar to Minnesota’s North Star Promise.North Star Promise takes effect in fall 2024. It will cover undergraduate tuition and fees at the state’s public post-secondary schools for Minnesota residents whose family income is under $80,000, after they have used other sources of financial aid.North Dakota higher education leaders are worried about losing Minnesota students. About 1,400 of them at five eastern North Dakota schools could be eligible for North Star Promise. Minnesotans make up nearly half the student body at North Dakota State University in Fargo, the No. 1 out...

Sonny Gray picks up first win since April in 5-3 victory over Cardinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS — Sonny Gray went all of May without picking up a win. All of June too. July as well.It’s hard to believe, given Gray is in the midst of an All-Star season and has been relatively consistent throughout the year. But that long drought, Gray said after his last start, was something he was “definitely aware of.”That drought exists no longer. Gray picked up his first win since April 30 on Thursday in the Twins’ 5-3 victory over the Cardinals in the series finale at Busch Stadium.Gray threw seven efficient innings, needing just 77 pitches to get through his outing. He struck out eight and walked none in his start, for his second straight outing. The starter gave up a run in the second inning and a solo home run to Alec Burleson in the sixth, but otherwise was highly effective in his first seven-inning start since April.Gray, whose long streak without a win is in large part due to a lack of run support, was staked to a four-run lead in the second inning thanks to a pair of two-r...

Vikings host night practice in Eagan with thousands of fans in attendance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:42:42 GMT

The official time of the sunset in Eagan on Thursday was 8:36 p.m.The lights at TCO Performance Center were on long before that.It’s become an annual tradition for the Vikings. They host a night practice in front of fans at some point in training camp. They are actually doing a couple of them this year.“Something we’re really excited about,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “My first exposure to it last year, I was shocked by not only the turn out, the energy and the environment that we can create for a training camp practice.”It was a similar vibe on Thursday night, with fans braving the 90-degree temperatures, lining up at the gates a couple of hours before the practice even started.Though the spectacle was designed to get the fans in the spirit, the Vikings made sure to get some good work in under the lights.“I told our guys we do it as much for them as we do our fans,” O’Connell said. “We’ll do some diffe...