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Polish democracy champion Lech Walesa turns 80 and comments on his country’s upcoming election

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Former Polish President Lech Walesa said as turned 80 on Friday that he is supporting opposition leader Donald Tusk’s effort to oust Poland’s conservative government in the country’s parliamentary election next month.Walesa, whose Solidarity movement toppled communist rule in Poland in 1989, said the situation under the nationalist government of the Law and Justice party is “worse than bad, and the only way of rescue is in removing them from power.”The government, which came to power in 2015. has clashed with the European Union over upholding the rule of law and democratic values, and its policies on social issues have exposed sharp divisions domestically. Walesa personally knows both Tusk, 66, a former Polish prime minister who leads the opposition Civic Coalition, and Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, 74, served as head of Walesa’s presidential office in 1990-91 and was fired from the job. Walesa served as Poland’s presi...

Powerball jackpot nears $1 billion after long drought of winners

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Another Powerball drawing Saturday night, another chance at a jackpot that is inching toward $1 billion.The estimated $925 million prize is the world’s ninth-largest lottery jackpot, behind earlier Powerball and Mega Millions prizes that all topped $1 billion.The prize has grown so large because there have been 30 consecutive drawings without a big winner, dating to July 19. That streak without a jackpot winner is due to the game’s long odds, 1 in 292.2 million, that are designed to make winning rare so grand prizes can grow large.The $925 million prize is for a sole winner who chooses an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years. Winners almost always take the cash option, which for Saturday’s drawing would be an estimated $432.4 million.Federal taxes will eat into those winnings, and some states also tax big lottery prizes.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.The Associate...

Storm floods New York City area, pouring into subways and swamping streets in rush-hour mess

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A potent rush-hour rainstorm swamped the New York metropolitan area on Friday, shutting down swaths of the city’s subway system, flooding streets and highways, and cutting off access to at least one terminal at LaGuardia Airport. Up to 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain fell in some areas overnight, and as much as 7 inches (18 centimeters) more was expected throughout the day, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.“This is a dangerous, life-threatening storm,” Hochul said in an interview with TV station NY1. “Count on this for the next 20 hours.” Photos and video posted on social media showed water pouring into subway stations and basements, and reaching the top of cars’ wheels in parts of Brooklyn and elsewhere.The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs subway and commuter rail lines, urged residents of the nation’s most populous city to stay home if they could. Virtually every subway line was at least partly suspended, rerouted or ...

Air Canada pilots picket at Toronto’s Pearson airport as talks continue

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

Air Canada pilots are set to demonstrate at Toronto’s Pearson airport Friday, calling for better wages and working conditions as talks with the country’s biggest carrier continue.Representing more than 5,000 Air Canada aviators, the Air Line Pilots Association kick-started the bargaining process in June, one day after fellow union members at WestJet ratified a new collective agreement.Both the union and employer say the so-called informational picket at Terminal 1, which comes the same day their own nine-year deal expires, will not affect Air Canada’s flight schedule.No strike is imminent, the pilots association said.Charlene Hudy, who heads its Air Canada contingent, said the agreement has grown “stale,” with some co-workers leaving for better pay in the United States.“We’re striving for this world class contract that Air Canada pilots do deserve,” she said, calling the wage gap across the border “unacceptable.”“Ther...

Inflation drops to a two-year low in Europe. It offers hope, but higher oil prices loom

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation that has plagued Europeans declined sharply in September to the lowest level in two years, strengthening hopes that consumers will get relief from costlier groceries, vacations and haircuts — and that the European Central Bank won’t have to further restrict the economy by raising interest rates from already-record highs.The annual rate was 4.3% this month, a drop from 5.2% in August, and the lowest since October 2021, the European Union’s statistics agency, Eurostat, said Friday. But recently higher oil prices are casting a shadow over prospects for quickly beating inflation down to the central bank’s target of 2%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, fell more than analysts expected — to 4.5% from 5.3%. The ECB closely watches this figure to assess how inflation is coming down.The fall in core inflation “reinforces our view that the ECB has finished raising interest rates,” said Jack Allen-Reynolds, deputy chief eurozone ...

3 dead after being found unresponsive in Edgewater building: CFD

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

CHICAGO -- A death investigation is underway after three people were found unresponsive in an Edgewater building Friday morning, CFD said.Police found the three adult victims unresponsive in the 5800 block of North Broadway Avenue around 6:30 a.m. 14-year-old boy shot in South Shore One person was pronounced dead on the scene and the two others were transported to Weiss Hospital in critical condition. The victims succumbed to their injuries.WGN is actively investigating the incident and will update as more information is recovered.

UAW strike expands to Ford plant in Chicago

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The United Auto Workers union says its two-week strike against Detroit automakers will spread to 7,000 more workers at a Ford plant in Chicago and a General Motors assembly factory near Lansing, Michigan.Union President Shawn Fain told workers on a video appearance Friday that negotiations haven’t broken down but Ford and GM have refused to make meaningful progress. Jeep maker Stellantis was spared from the third round of strikes.Last Friday, nearly 200 workers between the Stellantis facility in Naperville and General Motor’s facility in Bolingbrook walked off the job — union workers saying they are fighting for the “American Dream.” UAW strike expands to GM, Stellantis plants in suburbs THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers strikes against Detroit’s three automakers that spread to dozens of parts distribution centers one week ago could deepen Friday.The union has vowed to hit automakers harder if it ...

Oxford High School shooter will get life in prison, no parole, for killing 4 students

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A teenager who killed four students at Michigan’s Oxford High School will be sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole, a judge said Friday.Judge Kwamé Rowe announced the decision over video conference, weeks after hearing from experts who clashed over Ethan Crumbley’s mental health and witnesses who described the tragic day in 2021 in sharp detail.Crumbley heard the decision with his lawyers while sitting in a room in the county jail.The 17-year-old will be formally sentenced in Oakland County court on Dec. 8, a day when survivors and families can tell the judge about how the shooting affected their lives.First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence for adults in Michigan. But the shooter was 15 at the time, and the judge had the option of choosing a shorter term that would mean an eventual opportunity for freedom.“Even if the defendant changes, and he finds some peace and some meaning in his life beyond torturing and killing, does not me...

WATCH LIVE | Committee on immigrant and refugee rights

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

A press conference is being held with the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee rights to address the migrant crisis.

17-year-old, 18-year-old shot during attempted robbery in Belmont Cragin

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:39:19 GMT

CHICAGO — A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were shot Thursday night during an attempted robbery in Belmont Cragin.It happened just after 11:05 p.m. in the 2200 block of North Parkside, according to police.CPD said a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man were in the backyard of a building when an unknown male attempted to rob them at gunpoint. A struggled ensued and shots were fired.The 18-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the right leg and the 17-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the right arm. Both were transported in fair condition. 14-year-old boy shot in South Shore No one is in custody.