Netanyahu: Israel ‘committed as ever’ to war after soldiers mistakenly killed 3 hostages

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

Netanyahu: Israel ‘committed as ever’ to war after soldiers mistakenly killed 3 hostages Three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly shot by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip had been waving a white flag and were shirtless when they were killed, military officials said Saturday, in Israel’s first such acknowledgement of harming any hostages in its war against Hamas.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationwide address that the killings “broke my heart, broke the entire nation’s heart,” but he indicated no change in Israel’s intensive military campaign. “We are as committed as ever to continue until the end, until we dismantle Hamas, until we return all our hostages,” he said.Anger over the mistaken killings is likely to increase pressure on the Israeli government to renew Qatar-mediated negotiations with Hamas over swapping more of the remaining captives, which Israel says number 129, for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, reiterated that there will be no further hostage releases until the war ends and Israel accepts th...

National Grid worker Roderick Jackson remembered at funeral as someone who everyone loved

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

National Grid worker Roderick Jackson remembered at funeral as someone who everyone loved No matter what popped up in his life, Roderick “Kito” Jackson stood ready to help his mother and siblings through whatever challenges they faced.Ten days after his tragic death, his family says they are firm believers that he’s still supporting them.“I am so proud to be your brother,” Manuel Asprilla-Hassan said through tears in his eulogy to Kito. “I am so proud of the man who you were and are. Because even in death, you still find ways to support this family, and I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.”Hundreds of community members turned out to St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Cambridge on Saturday to bid their final farewell to Jackson, a 36-year-old National Grid utility worker who died on the job the afternoon of Dec. 6 when a man allegedly drove into and struck him at a construction detail in Waltham.Manuel recounted his brother teaching him how to sing to girls, as Kito would play The Temptations’ wildly popular ‘My Girl’ “over and over.” Whenever Kito talked to girls he alw...

Ottawa youth facing terrorism charges in alleged plot against Jewish people: RCMP

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

Ottawa youth facing terrorism charges in alleged plot against Jewish people: RCMP OTTAWA — RCMP say an Ottawa youth has been arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences that allegedly targeted Jewish people.The Mounties say the young person arrested Friday was charged with facilitating terrorist activity by communicating instructional material related to an explosive substance.The youth is further charged with knowingly instructing a person to carry out terrorist activity against “Jewish persons.”Police say no further information about the suspect can be released due to their age.RCMP have arrested five young people on terrorism-related offences since June 2023.In a news release, the national police force says they are seeing a concerning trend of violent extremism and terrorist use of the internet, including among young people, and are asking adults in authority positions to watch for early warning signs of radicalization.Those include dehumanization of others, extreme anti-government attitudes and clear statements of intention to carry out ...

Israeli airstrike killed a USAID contractor in Gaza, his colleagues say

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

Israeli airstrike killed a USAID contractor in Gaza, his colleagues say WASHINGTON (AP) — An Israeli airstrike killed a U.S. Agency for International Development contractor in Gaza last month, his colleagues said in a statement Saturday. The U.S. development agency noted the death and urged greater protection for humanitarian workers in the fighting there.Hani Jnena, 33, was killed Nov. 5 along with his wife, their 2-year-old and 4-year-old daughters, and her family, the U.S.-based humanitarian group Global Communities said. An internet-technology worker, Jnena had fled his neighborhood in Gaza City with his family to escape the airstrikes, only to be killed while sheltering with his in-laws, the group said. His employer was an on-the-ground partner for USAID, the U.S. agency said.The Washington Post first reported the death.In a final message to a colleague, Hani had written, “my daughters are terrified, and I am trying to keep them calm, but this bombing is terrifying,” Global Communities said.It was a rare report of the killing of someone with U.S.-g...

Man accused of shooting victim 5 times after argument in Tinley Park charged

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

Man accused of shooting victim 5 times after argument in Tinley Park charged TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Charges have been filed against a man accused of critically injuring another man in a shooting outside of a gym in Tinley Park.According to Tinley Park police, 26-year-old Michael Gomire, a South Chicago resident, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly opened fire on a man following an argument that broke out on Thursday night. Authorities offer new details after body found in trunk of burning vehicle on South Side Police say the shooting happened just after 8 p.m. in the parking lot of L.A. Fitness in the 18000 block of Convention Center Drive in Tinley Park.Officers say an argument broke out over a basketball game in the gym between Gomire and the victim. The argument eventually spilled into the parking lot of the business.Following the argument, police say Gomire allegedly walked to his car and retrieved a gun. Police say he then walked back to the victim and shot him five times. Renowned Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt dies a...

27th annual 'Christmas in the Wards' gives to families in need

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

27th annual 'Christmas in the Wards' gives to families in need CHICAGO — 'Christmas in the Wards' returned for its 27th year, where gifts were distributed to families and children in need from nearly 40 of Chicago's 50 wards at McCormick Place Saturday.From bikes and scooters to TVs and computers, presents were stacked up high, with WGN as a proud partner. Businessman Larry Huggins made it a Christmas tradition that started in Englewood in 1996."I came up in a single parent family and my mother always made sure to go to the department store to see Santa Claus and the things we wanted were always under that Christmas tree," Huggins said. "To see families be able to do that, it's a personal commitment I made to how I was raised and how I grew up so that's why I do it."This year, more than 1,200 kids were given a special gift. More from Sean: Aurora PD holds ‘Shop With A Cop’ for local kids in the community Robin Lance shared how her own daughter was overwhelmed with joy. "I'm looking at the children's faces, they're so excited. My child, she's ...

What is ketamine?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

What is ketamine? (WGHP) — On Friday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced that actor Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine.Perry's unexpected death brought ketamine to the forefront of discussion. Which brings up the question, what is ketamine?Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Quaker Oats recalls granola products due to salmonella risk The DEA says that ketamine can distort a person's eyesight and hearing. It also can make a person feel disconnected and not in control and is thus called a “dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen."Ketamine can make a person "feel detached from their pain and environment," according to the DEA. Ketamine induces a sense of sedation, relief from pain, immobility and amnesia.The DEA says that ketamine is abused due to its "dissociative sensations and hallucinogenic effects."Ketamine is an approved medical product as a short-acting us...

Police: 1 shot at Barton Creek Square Mall

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

Police: 1 shot at Barton Creek Square Mall AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person was shot at Barton Creek Square Mall on Saturday afternoon, according to the Austin Police Department. The shooting happened near the AMC theater and Cheesecake Factory. APD said officers responded to a shots fired call at 4:43 p.m. The victim's injuries are unknown.APD could not confirm if a suspect was in custody. Police said this was not an active shooter situation and there was no threat to the public. Police said this is "an isolated incident," and an investigation is ongoing. A mall employee told KXAN there was an altercation between two people outside the mall. They said one person shot the other person. This is a developing story and will be updated.

With national audience, Texas-Nebraska set to make NCAA volleyball history in 2023 title game

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

With national audience, Texas-Nebraska set to make NCAA volleyball history in 2023 title game AUSTIN (KXAN) — When the Texas Longhorns meet the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Sunday for the NCAA volleyball championship, more eyes than ever before will be on them.For the first time, the match will be broadcast on network television at 2 p.m. CT on ABC, exposing the game to a potential record-breaking audience across the country. It has been a banner year for women's volleyball as far as match attendance and television viewership go, and both Texas coach Jerritt Elliott and Nebraska coach John Cook know this is a pivotal moment. SEMIFINALS: Texas rolls past Wisconsin 3-1, advances to 2nd consecutive NCAA volleyball championship match "It's a special moment to be able to have a Texas-Nebraska game on ABC on national television to really blow it out of the park," Elliott said. "This is probably the biggest moment we've ever had. It's a moment that -- for ABC to see where the sport is growing to pick it up on football Sunday is pretty special."Cook said ABC airing sports on a national...

Jace Frederick: Best on best is a rarity in today’s NBA

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:51:41 GMT

Jace Frederick: Best on best is a rarity in today’s NBA This was supposed to be the meatgrinder portion of the Timberwolves’ schedule. Ahead of last week’s contest in New Orleans, Minnesota’s next 16 games were all against teams with records above .500.These would be the tests that would show exactly where Minnesota — which sports the top record in the Western Conference — stacks up against the rest of the NBA’s top-tier teams. And it came at a perfect time. Anthony Edwards would only miss the New Orleans game. After that, the Wolves would be back to a full deck.Best on best for the next month. Here we go. Let’s have some fun.If only it worked that way in the NBA, or pro sports in general.New Orleans had a healthy roster, but its win over Minnesota felt like it should come with an asterisk with Edwards out — much like how Minnesota’s two previous wins over the Pelicans came with Zion Williamson sidelined.Then came Thursday in Dallas, where the Mavericks were down four rotational playe...