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Putin speeds up a citizenship path for foreigners who enlist in the Russian military

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree that speeds up a path to Russian citizenship for foreigners who enlist in the country’s military amid the 22-month-old war in Ukraine.The move comes as Moscow is trying to replenish its troops in Ukraine by various methods, including the recruitment of migrants. Russia is a magnet for hundreds of thousands of people from poorer Central Asian countries, and many of them seek citizenship each year.Putin first allowed fast-track citizenship for foreigners who sign contracts with the Russian army in September 2022, shortly after announcing a partial mobilization to draft 300,000 reservists for Ukraine.Those immigrants who signed a contract for at least a year and take part in active hostilities for at least six months were allowed to apply for citizenship without demonstrating sufficient knowledge of Russian or the fact that they’d lived in the country for five straight years under a residency permi...

Avian flu feared in Canadian polar bears after disease kills bear in Alaska

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

Scientists fear Canadian polar bears may be threatened by the spread of avian flu after officials confirmed the disease killed a bear in Alaska.University of Alberta polar bear expert Andrew Derocher says there’s a high likelihood the deadly wildlife disease already exists in animals on the Canadian side. Alaskan officials confirmed avian flu after a necropsy on the bear, found on the coast about 500 kilometres from the Canadian border. But Derocher says those procedures are hardly ever performed on dead bears found in Canada. Polar bears can range hundreds of kilometres and the dead bear was part of a population shared by the two countries. Derocher says it’s not clear yet what effect the disease could have on bear populations.But he says it’s one more stressor on a species that’s already under pressure from climate change. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 4, 2024.The Canadian Press

Toronto man arrested for yelling threats against gay community at downtown apartment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

A Toronto man is facing charges after allegedly making hate-motivated threats at a downtown apartment building.Toronto police were called to a residence in the Carlton and Jarvis streets area around 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 28.Investigators allege a man went to the building and started yelling threats towards the gay community. One of the residents became fearful of their safety and called police.Police arrested 29-year-old Trevor Dawkins, of Toronto, and charged him with uttering threats and two counts of failure to comply with a release order.The suspect appeared in a Toronto courtroom on Wednesday.Anyone with additional information is being asked to call police.

Second person pronounced dead from Jan. 1 South Side shooting in city's 1st homicide of 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

CHICAGO — The city's first homicide of 2024 is now a double-homicide.A woman shot in the early-morning hours of Jan. 1 in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on Chicago's South Side was pronounced dead around 9 p.m. Wednesday by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. The woman, 50, had sustained a gunshot wound to the head.She joins a 53-year-old man who was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene as victims of the double-homicide. Chicago crime stats 2023: Murders, shootings down but crime still stubbornly high A 48-year-old woman was also shot in the incident and taken to the hospital in fair condition, Chicago police said at the time.Police said the shooting occurred around 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 1 near 70th St. and S. Wabash Ave. Three people were inside a home when gunfire came through the window, according to police.

Exploding toilet at a Dunkin' store in Florida left a customer filthy and injured, lawsuit claims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A customer has filed a negligence lawsuit against Dunkin', claiming he was injured by an exploding toilet at one of the coffee chain's locations in central Florida.Paul Kerouac is seeking more than $100,000 in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state court in Orlando, claiming he suffered “severe and long term injuries” following the explosion of a toilet in the men's room of a Dunkin' location in Winter Park, Florida, a year ago. U-Haul: Illinois among top states for outbound movers in 2023 After the explosion left Kerouac covered in human feces, urine and debris, he walked out of the men’s room seeking help from workers and the store’s manager, according to the lawsuit. An employee told him that they were aware of the “problem with the toilet” since there had been previous incidents, the lawsuit says, without diving into further details about the explosion.When contacted Thursday by email for more details on Kerouac’s injuries, his attorney, Scott Spradley, said ...

Viral videos show Target shoppers storming display of limited-edition Stanley cups

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Just in case anyone believed otherwise, those insulated cups that went viral on TikTok around a year ago are continuing to fly off shelves.Stanley cups, or "Quenchers," as they're officially known, have become popular within the past few years thanks to social media. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, from a 14-ounce to a 64-ounce bottle. In honor of Valentine's Day next month, the brand also released new limited-edition cups at Target locations nationwide, as well as a special "Stanley x Starbucks" variety for just under $50.Naturally, the release of the cups created quite a frenzy among fans. Starbucks allowing customers to use reusable cups for drive-thru, mobile orders In videos shared to social media, Target shoppers can be seen pouncing on the displays, with one even claiming that a "brawl" broke out.Upon the release of the "Stanley x Starbucks" cup, some Target shoppers were even lining up outside the store the night before."Stanley definitely ...

Officials celebrate completion of County Road 258 extension project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Officials celebrated the completion of a traffic project in Williamson County Thursday morning.Williamson County and Liberty Hill Independent School District officials held a ribbon-cutting to mark the completion of the County Road 258 extension. The project constructed a new two-lane roadway from US Highway 183 to Sunset Ridge Drive and included a connection at Questa Trail, according to the county.Officials celebrate completion of County Road 258 extension project (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Officials celebrate completion of County Road 258 extension project (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Officials celebrate completion of County Road 258 extension project (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Officials celebrate completion of County Road 258 extension project (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Officials celebrate completion of County Road 258 extension project (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Officials celebrate completion of County Road 258 extension project (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) O...

Ted Cruz visiting Round Rock to discuss CHIPS Act

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) will be in Round Rock on Thursday to discuss the CHIPS Act.CHIPS stands for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors.The act permits the reform process by “removing burdensome hurdles to achieving environmental reviews and permits in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA),” Cruz’s office said in a statement.Cruz’s office said the amendment, which passed the Senate in July, would provide regulatory certainty and accelerate the construction of semiconductor manufacturing plants.The event will take place at the Texas A&M Health Science Center in Round Rock.

How Texas universities are making changes to comply with new anti-DEI law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When students at the University of Texas at Austin return to classes on Jan. 16, they may notice a name change at one of the campus offices. The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement is dropping the word "diversity" to now become the Division of Campus and Community Engagement. This is one of the ways university leaders are working to comply with Senate Bill 17, which was one of 30 new state laws that took effect on Jan. 1. New Texas DEI law closes campus LGBTQ+ centers. Here’s the student impact The law requires public universities in Texas to no longer have offices dedicated to DEI, which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, or employees focused specifically on that purpose. Higher education workers and job applicants also can no longer sign any statements dedicated to upholding DEI or attend trainings that reference "race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation," according to the law. Supporters argued last year during the regul...

Governor announces plan to combat childbirth mortality crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:57 GMT

ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) -- Governor Kathy Hochul announced another proposal for her 2024 State of the State Address on Thursday, January 4, to be held on Tuesday, January 9. The governor announced a six-point plan to combat maternal and infant mortality in New York State. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Recent CDC statistics revealed that the state has seen an increase in infant mortality for the first time in over two decades. “Make no mistake: we are facing a maternal and infant mortality crisis,” Governor Hochul said in a statement. “As New York’s first mom governor, this is personal to me. We are committed to tackling this crisis head-on with policies that lift up parents and children throughout the State of New York.” One of the proposals in the Governor's six-point plan is to make New York the first state in the nation to establish statewide coverage for prenatal care. To do this, the governor propose...