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AP PHOTOS: Moon, asteroids and new rockets topped the world’s space news in 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The moon, asteroids and brand new rockets topped the world’s space news in 2023. Elon Musk’s monster rocket made it to space on the second test flight before exploding again. India landed successfully on the moon, outdoing Russia, which crashed. And NASA brought back its first samples of an asteroid. These are just a few of 2023’s cosmic hits and misses. And there’s more to come in 2024.MOON MANIAThe moon was the hottest ticket in town, with landing attempts in 2023 by Russia, India and a private Japanese company. Only India prevailed, becoming the fourth country to do so. Two U.S. companies, China and the Japanese Space Agency are targeting touchdowns, some as early as January. NASA kicked off 2023 by introducing the four astronauts who are slated to fly around the moon in late 2024 — three from the U.S. and a Canadian. Another crew will actually land, but the timing is uncertain.ROCKET DEBUTSThe biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, SpaceX’s Star...

Palestinians expect a high vote in UN General Assembly demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Palestinians are expecting a high vote Tuesday for a U.N. General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza to demonstrate widespread global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month.After the United States vetoed a resolution in the Security Council on Friday demanding a humanitarian cease-fire, Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency session of the 193-member General Assembly to vote on a resolution making the same demand.Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding. But the assembly’s messages “are also very important” and reflect world opinion, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Monday.The General Assembly vote is expected to reflect the growing isolation of the United States as it refuses to join demands for a cease-fire. More than the United Nations or any other international organization, the United States is seen as the only entity capa...

Man charged with murder in stabbing of Nebraska priest who yelled ‘help me’ when deputy arrived

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prosecutors charged a man with first-degree murder Tuesday in the fatal stabbing of a Catholic priest, who authorities say was attacked during a break-in at the church rectory and called out “help me” before he died.Prosecutors also charged Kierre L. Williams, 43, Tuesday with burglary and two weapons charges in the case that rocked the small town of Fort Calhoun where the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell preached at St. John the Baptist Catholic church.An affidavit filed along with the charges details what deputies found when they arrived at the home minutes after Gutsgell called to report the break-in just after 5 a.m. Sunday.But the documents did not detail any motive for the attack except to say the killing was premeditated and done deliberately during a burglary. There is no mention of any connection between Williams and the 65-year-old priest.The affidavit said that after Gutgsell called 911 to report that a Black man was standing in his kitchen with a knife, ...

Emergency crews battle house fire in Schaumburg

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Emergency crews are working to extinguish a fire that broke out in Schaumburg on Tuesday afternoon. SkyCam9 was over the scene around 2:30 p.m. when white smoke could be seen billowing from what appeared to be a home or garage in the 1000 block of Irving Park Road. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Currently, it is unclear what started the fire or if anyone was injured.This is a developing story, stay with WGN News for the latest updates. 

Pandemic sparks Skokie man's mission back to art by educating about his heritage

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — A Skokie man realized he's a talented artist during the pandemic and strives to educate about his native homeland of Africa through his charcoal drawings.As his first solo exhibition is underway, John Wangendo reflected to WGN News about the realization he could do this while uniquely educating on the cultures of Africa.Wangendo ended up in the Chicago area 25 years ago from Kenya.He was enjoying his life and has a career, but the boredom of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown unearthed a hidden talent — art and drawing."I'm an independent contractor so my workload really went down. I was just sitting in the house doing nothing — I don't think this would have happened if the lockdown didn't come," Wangendo said. "I knew in the back of my mind I liked drawing, but it was something I didn't think about."Wangendo's daughter pushed him back to art after she saw a couple of sketches he did "here or there."The last time Wangendo took it seriously was when he was 10. Startin...

Senate hearing brings Coast Guard Academy harassment cover-up to forefront

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee held a hearing about the alleged cover-up of whistleblower reports of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy.Caitlin E. Mauro attended the US Coast Guard Academy for one semester as a teenager before leaving. She told the subcommittee, “I was assaulted. I was groped in a room with 30 of my peers. And they watched and they laughed.”Four women spoke in front of the subcommittee about their personal experiences dealing with abuse, retaliation, and in some cases, alleged crimes against them.“My experiences are not isolated events,” Retired Lieutenant Melissa McCafferty, US Coast Guard, said.“We are always told that you just have to say no,” First Class Cadet Kyra Grace Holmstrup, an active service member, said as she recounted her own experience. “But no to him was an invitation to try again.”“The Academy, and the Coast Guard at large, is fraught with cronyism, power addicts and abusers.” Mauro asserted. ...

Zelensky visits White House to make last-ditch plea

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House on Tuesday afternoon to make a last-ditch plea for additional aid for his country. President Joe Biden and Zelensky held a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office where the two leaders emphasized Ukraine’s urgent need for funding.“Congress needs to pass the supplemental funding to Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess, before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possible give him,” President Biden said.President Biden announced he signed a $200 million drawdown through the Department of Defense for Ukraine during the bilateral meeting.President Biden is asking Congress to approve $61 billion in additional funding for Ukraine. Republican lawmakers are pushing for stricter border policies in exchange for sending more aid to Ukraine.On Tuesday morning, Zelensky met with lawmakers in both the House and Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called his meeting with...

Despite inflation, these 12 things are actually getting cheaper

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Inflation once again dropped a bit last month – though you may not notice it in the grocery store aisles or on restaurant menus. The latest data on consumer inflation showed that prices in some areas — services such as rents, restaurants and auto insurance — continued to rise uncomfortably fast. But in other areas, prices have actually dropped substantially since last year. A detailed breakdown of prices from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows one of the biggest year-over-year price drops is fuel. Fuel oil is about 25% cheaper now than it was last year, and gas prices at the pump are about 10% down. Utility gas service, piped into homes and apartments is also about 10% cheaper. Are we in a ‘silent depression’? TikTokers claim 2023 economy is worse than Great Depression Another commodity that's seen a big price drop: eggs. The grocery staple was expensive all through 2022 because of a devastating nationwide bird flu outbreak, but prices have now dropped 22% sin...

'The Big Bang Theory' actress reveals lung cancer diagnosis: 'It was a surprise'

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Kate Micucci, well-known for her roles on "The Big Bang Theory" and "Raising Hope," among other shows and movies, says she has been diagnosed with lung cancer. In a video posted to TikTok over the weekend, the 43-year-old New Jersey native revealed her diagnosis. Micucci, wearing a hospital gown, said she underwent lung cancer surgery on Friday. "They caught it really early," Micucci said in the video, which she referred to as a 'SickTok.' "It’s pretty weird because I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life. So, you know, it was a surprise, but also, I guess it happens."Not counting skin cancer, lung cancer is the second most common cancer among both men and women, according to the American Cancer Society.Kate Micucci attends the "Clerks III" premiere on August 24, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Lionsgate)“And so, the greatest news is they caught it early, they got it out, I’m all good," Micucci continued. "But it’s been a little bit of a...

Special counsel planning to use Trump White House cellphone data in election interference case

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:11:35 GMT

(The Hill) – Special counsel Jack Smith plans to call witnesses who have analyzed data extracted from former President Trump’s cellphone, including one who can weigh in on his Twitter habits and another who has analyzed the movement of the Jan. 6, 2021, crowd following Trump’s speech that day.The Monday filing is the first indication of how Smith plans to use a massive tranche of information gathered from Trump’s account on Twitter, the social media network now known as X, following a secret court battle to secure access to the account.Prosecutors in the election interference case also extracted data from Trump’s White House cell phone, and that of an aide, described in the filing only as “Individual 1.”The expert, who is unnamed in the court filing, reviewed how Trump and the aide used their phone throughout the post-election period, and has “specifically identified the periods of time during which the defendant’s phone was unlocked and the Twitter application was open on Jan. 6.” ...