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Growing gang violence is devastating Haitians, with major crime at a new high, UN envoy says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Growing gang violence in Haiti is devastating the lives of its people, with major crimes rising to a new high, the U.N. special envoy for the conflict-wracked Caribbean nations said Monday.Maria Isabel Salvador told the U.N. Security Council that every day sees gangs engaging in killings, sexual violence including collective rapes and mutilation, and kidnapping. She pointed to last week’s incident in which gang members dressed as police officers kidnapped the secretary general of the High Transitional Council, which is responsible for ensuring that long-delayed elections are held.Salvador said the security crisis is even more complex because vigilante groups that have taken to fighting the gangs are still active. Between April 24 and Sept. 30, she said, the U.N. political mission “registered the lynching of at least 395 alleged gang members across all 10 departments of Haiti by the so called `Bwa Kale’ vigilante movement.”Catherine Russell, head of the U....

Diamondbacks force Game 7 in NLCS by powering past Phillies 5-1

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tommy Pham and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit back-to-back homers and Merrill Kelly struck out eight to help the Arizona Diamondbacks force Game 7 of the National League Championship Series with a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.The winner of Tuesday night’s game advances to the World Series against Houston or Texas, who played Game 7 of the American League Championship later Monday night.“I’m expecting some fun. It’s going to be fun,” Kelly said. “Game 7, obviously, they talk about it, it’s the best words in sports. I think the fact that we’re here, I don’t think anybody thought we were going to take them to Game 6. I don’t think anybody thought we were even going to make it to Game 1.“I don’t think anybody thought we were going to make it past Milwaukee, to be honest with you.”The Diamondbacks came ready in Game 6 to back up the bold pre-game words from manager Torey Lovullo and tamed Phillies bats and the hostile home crowd.“Getting...

Next ‘Mission: Impossible’ delayed a year as actors strike drags on

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The eighth installment of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise has been postponed a year, signaling a new wave of release schedule juggling for Hollywood studios as the actors strike surpasses three months of work stoppage. Paramount Pictures on Monday shifted the release date of the next “Mission: Impossible” from June 28 to May 23, 2025. Production on the follow-up to Christopher McQuarrie’s “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” was paused in July while Tom Cruise and company embarked on an international promotion blitz for “Dead Reckoning.” (The sequel had been titled “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two” but is now simply listed currently as “Mission: Impossible.”)“Dead Reckoning” ultimately grossed $567.5 million worldwide, falling shy of 2018 installment “Fallout” ($791.7 million globally) and the heady highs of Cruise’s summer 2022 blockbuster “Top Gun: Maverick” ($1.5 billion). The 163-minute-long action thriller, drew som...

Alabama man gifted car after walking 2 hours to work every day

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

TRINITY, Ala. (WHNT) — A nonprofit in Alabama that gives to those in need has gifted a car to a man who's been walking to work for five years. Earnest Chandler has been walking 5.5 miles round-trip each day. It takes him two hours to get to work and two hours to return home. He said he had to give up his car to help his family."I live with my nephew and his family, and I help take care of them," Chandler said. "For the past couple of years, we haven't had a car because we had to sell it in order to stay afloat for the bills." Watch: Bear creeps up behind Virginia man as he tends his backyard The Jacob Bradley Dugger Foundation in Trinity, Alabama, decided to step in to help. The organization received a car donation and then donated that vehicle to Chandler and his family. Before Chandler could enjoy the new set of wheels, he had to get his driver's license. He said he wants his story to inspire others to pay it forward. "I hope that someday when someone sees this video they'll tak...

Corey Maggette previews the Bulls' 2023-2024 season on GN Sports

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

CHICAGO — A new season for the Chicago Bulls will feature a number of the same players with the hope for some different results over the next six months. The team's "big three" of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic are back while Lonzo Ball, still hobbled by a bad knee, will miss this season. Executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas once again chose to keep that core together with a few minor additions in hopes that continuity could lead to progress. It's up to Billy Donovan to see if he can find a way to get more out of the group over the course of 82 games in hopes of a return to the NBA Playoffs. If he shouldn't, then Karnisovas could have some big decisions to make around the trade deadline and perhaps have a new take on the team's core.Former NBA player Corey Maggette, who has been an analyst after his playing days for a few outlets, joined GN Sports on Monday night to give his thoughts on the Bulls as they get ready to start the new season. He also talked about ...

Texas moves to spend $1.5B on border wall expansion

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Lawmakers on the Texas House Appropriations Committee gave initial approval Monday to a $1.5 billion expenditure for border wall construction, expanding the governor's budget for Operation Lone Star. Texas has spent nearly $10 billion on border security efforts during Gov. Greg Abbott's tenure as the state moves to repel and detain migrants in tandem with the federal government. The governor's office argued Monday that additional border wall will help the Department of Public Safety free up resources and patrol the border with fewer troopers.The expansion targets the Rio Grande Valley region, though exact locations and specifications of the wall remain uncertain. Border enforcement personnel were weary to disclose exact details, citing concerns that drug cartels may abuse that information.Democrats expressed concern that the state should make this substantial investment without more information about the efficacy, locations, and vendors of the new wall sections.L...

Vikings safety Lewis Cine a healthy scratch for second straight game

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

For the second straight game, the Vikings made safety Lewis Cine a healthy scratch.Not a good sign for the 2022 first-round pick as he struggles to find a role on defense.This became a storyline last week after the Vikings decided to make Cine inactive for the road game against the Chicago Bears. Asked for clarification on the decision, head coach Kevin O’Connell chalked it up to the fact that Cine has been slowly recovering from a hamstring injury.“We feel good about him being at full capacity here and hope to get him going a little bit,” O’Connell said. “My anticipation is he’ll be up and ready to roll this week.”Instead, the 24-year-old Cine was a full participant in practice, only for the Vikings to make him in active for the home game against the San Francisco 49ers.It’s fair to wonder if this is the beginning of the end.This was supposed to be a breakout campaign for Cine after recovering from a compound fracture in his left leg that f...

Non-profit grocery store coming to Troy

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The city of Troy will soon have a new grocery store meant to fight food insecurity. The groundbreaking was held Monday for Bargain Grocery.The store is a non-profit that buys excess food and sells it at a low price with the goal of reducing food waste while increasing access to fresh and healthy foods in underserved communities. They also provide secret financial assistance to people who need it. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Food access, food affordability, and most importantly, to allow people that are less fortunate to be able to shop with dignity," Bargain Grocery founder Pastor Mike Servello said. "To buy what they want, when they want it, in their neighborhood."The store will be located on River Street in the city's north central neighborhood and is expected to open in May.

Sexual assault of woman by homeless man in Long Beach caught on camera

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

Surveillance cameras captured the moment a violent transient sexually assaulted a woman in broad daylight in downtown Long Beach.  The brazen attack occurred on Oct. 20 at 2:15 p.m. in front of Village Market in the 140 block of Linden Avenue, and many residents and local businesses are saying this area of Long Beach has grown increasingly dangerous.  The victim was walking innocently down the street when video shows the suspect, now identified by police as 30-year-old Miguel Avila, sitting on the sidewalk before getting up and following the woman. Avila approaches the woman from behind, exposes himself and sexually assaults her as she falls to the ground.  Miguel Avila, 30, is seen on surveillance cameras approaching a woman on the sidewalk in Long Beach from behind and assaulting her in broad daylight. Nearby, a Good Samaritan gets up and appears to intervene as the 30-year-old runs away.  “It was horrifying to see,” Long Beach resident Jason Greenleaf told KTL...

Passenger describes JetBlue mishap at New York's JFK Airport

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:45:14 GMT

A California woman is recounting the terrifying moment when a JetBlue flight suddenly tipped backward at New York’s JFK Airport on Sunday night.JetBlue Flight 662 had just landed from Barbados around 8:30 p.m. local time and passengers were in the process of disembarking. That’s when, according to Ulli Haslacher from Claremont, California, the plane suddenly became unstable.“We heard a noise and we felt falling,” Haslacher told KTLA on Monday. “I was standing at the time and fell back.”Video posted to Citizen App shows the JetBlue plane tilted backward at New York's JFK Airport. Oct. 22, 2023. (Citizen)Unsure of what was happening, Haslacher said she immediately feared for her safety and thought about her family.“I was thinking that I’m not going to see my grandchildren … I’m not going to see my kids again. It was very stressful.”The plane, which Haslacher believes still had around 80 people onboard, had shifted due to a weight imbalance. Video posted to Citizen App shows the front ...