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Who is the head of the Russian mercenary group bashing the military’s role in Ukraine?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

The head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner returned to a familiar theme this week — bashing the country’s military leadership for failures in the war in Ukraine. That ‘s something only a select few can do publicly without drawing retribution from the Kremlin.The comments by Yevgeny Prigozhin underscored his long-running feud with the Defense Ministry.This time, however, they came as Moscow could boast of a rare, badly needed victory in the 15-month war in Ukraine, when Prigozhin and his fighters raised a Russian flag in the eastern city of Bakhmut after a long and bloody battle.He turned that moment of triumph into an opportunity just days later to moan about Russian failures in Ukraine.A look at the 61-year-old Prigozhin and Wagner’s role in the war: WHAT DID PRIGOZHIN SAY?Using blunt and coarse language in an almost 80-minute video interview Tuesday to a pro-Kremlin political strategist, Prigozhin said that “somehow nothing is working out for us” in Ukr...

A June pause in rate hikes would be a close call for Fed officials, minutes of last meeting show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials were divided earlier this month on whether to pause their interest rate hikes at their upcoming meeting in June, according to the minutes of their May 2-3 meeting released Wednesday.“Several (policymakers) noted if the economy evolved along the lines of their current outlooks, then further policy firming after this meeting may not be necessary” — Fed parlance for a pause — the minutes said. At the same time, “some” officials said that the persistence of high inflation meant that “additional (rate hikes) would likely be warranted at future meetings.”Yet in the language used in the minutes, “several” is considered to be more than “some,” suggesting that those favoring a pause may have the upper hand. In addition, Chair Jerome Powell and the officials closest to him have signaled in speeches over the past week that they’re likely to support a pause in rate hikes at their next meeting in mid-June.The Fed raises its key rate to lift the c...

Officials give overview of re-entry plan for Hay River, N.W.T., as wildfire burns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

HAY RIVER, N.W.T. — Officials from the town of Hay River revealed their plan to eventually reopen the Northwest Territories community Tuesday night as a wildfire continues to burn on the nearby K’atl’odeeche First Nation reserve.Around 3,500 residents from the town and reserve were forced to leave their homes on May 14. Glenn Smith, Hay River’s senior administrative officer, said getting the fire under control is a key condition for allowing people to return. He said the fire will be active throughout the summer and weather will affect its severity and the risk it poses.“We know that everyone wants to come home. We know that this has been extremely stressful on so many levels and we are doing everything we can to get you back home as soon as it is safe,” Mayor Kandis Jameson said. “We had a safe evacuation and we are not going to risk bringing people back too soon.”Smith said re-entry will begin with the restoration of essential services. Th...

Police: Man who said he was headed to CIA arrested at nearby preschool with AK-47 rifle in car

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

McLEAN, Va. (AP) — A Florida man who police say had an AK-47 rifle in his car was arrested outside a northern Virginia preschool after he told officers he was headed to CIA headquarters, police said Wednesday.Fairfax County Police said the man was charged with possessing a firearm at a school, a felony, after his arrest on Tuesday.Police say officers were called to Dolley Madison Preschool in McLean, which is less than a mile (kilometer) from CIA headquarters, where they took the man into custody.According to the preschool, the man asked to use the bathroom around 11 a.m. Tuesday but was denied access to the building.The man was unarmed when police responded, but officers searched his vehicle and found the AK-47 as well as a handgun and extensive ammunition, police said.He was arraigned Wednesday at Fairfax County General District Court and is being held pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for July. Online court records do not list an attorney.The Associated Press

Real Madrid players wear Vinícius Júnior’s jersey before Spanish league game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Vinícius Júnior was not on the field but his Real Madrid teammates all came out wearing his No. 20 jersey in support of the Brazil forward ahead of the game against Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league on Wednesday.Vinícius came out briefly to salute the fans as Madrid players, including those not in the squad for the game, lined up with their backs to the stands showing Vinícius’ jersey. Vinícius watched the match alongside club president Florentino Pérez.In the 20th minute, fans applauded and chanted his name, many standing. The Brazilian stood up and saluted back from the VIP section.Outside the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, many fans arrived displaying messages condemning racism and praising Vinícius. Inside, a huge banner was displayed behind one of the goals with the words “We are all Vinicius. Enough.”As part of a new anti-racism campaign by the Spanish league, the Spanish soccer federation and the government, a banner with the words “racists out ...

Fueled by loss, Chicago nonprofit partners with law firm to combat youth bullying

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago nonprofit and area law firm are teaming up to help parents of bullying victims. A heartbreaking press conference was held Wednesday in the Loop, in which one family shared their ordeal regarding cyberbullying and how things said on social media led to the loss of an intelligent, confident and funny 15-year-old.  Illinois clergy sex abuse survivor speaks out after AG report: ‘I was scared to do anything’ "It takes a while for society to catch on to how determinantal something is. An example is tobacco and fentanyl. Social media belongs in that category," said Rob Bronstein, who, alongside his wife, Rose, spoke about their son Nate, who died by suicide in January last year. The grieving parents say classmates and other students at the Latin School of Chicago viciously bullied their son. Nate BronsteinNate BronsteinNate BronsteinNate BronsteinNate BronsteinOne of those messages sent via Snapchat reportedly read, "Go kill yourself." Bronstein told WGN News that he ...

Circle K offering 40 cents off fuel. Here's when and for how long

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) – Circle K is celebrating the unofficial holiday of "Fuel Day" by offering customers 40 cents off per gallon — if you time it right.The 40-cent discount is only available between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday at Circle K-branded locations. The discount will apply at over 5,000 Circle K and Holiday Stationstore locations across the U.S., the company says. What’s the cheapest day of the week to buy gas? Here’s when to fill up In addition to the 40-cent discount, most Circle K locations will also be handing out a limited number of fuel discount cards. Those will be redeemable for 10 cents off, per gallon, outside of the 3-hour window on Thursday.“After an overwhelming response from customers, we are thrilled to bring back Circle K Fuel Day in a bigger way,” said Louise Warner Sr., vice president of global fuels for Circle K. “With summer right around the corner, we want to thank our customers for their loyalty by providing them an opportunity to fuel their adventu...

Rapper Fetty Wap sentenced to 6 years in prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (WPIX) – Rapper Fetty Wap was sentenced to six years in prison Wednesday for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, officials said.The rapper, whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy to distribute and possess a controlled substance. Maxwell, along with his co-defendants, possessed and distributed more than 220 pounds of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine between June 2019 and June 2020. Rapper Fetty Wap jailed after alleged FaceTime death threat The offenders obtained the drugs from the West Coast and transported them either through the mail or by drivers with hidden compartments to Suffolk County, New York, prosecutors said. The drugs were then given to dealers, who sold them on Long Island and in New Jersey, according to court filings.The rapper was recognized as a kilogram-level redistributor for the trafficking organization, according to prosecutors. Maxwell has had other brushes with the law, including a 201...

Dairy Queen discontinues fan-favorite item: 'Why does DQ hate us?'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

(WJW) – Fans of Dairy Queen's cherry-dipped cones are in for a heartbreaker. The item — which has appeared on DQ's menu on-and-off over the last several years, according to Taste of Home — is officially being discontinued, the company said.News of the cherry-dipped cone's discontinuation was first shared via the TikTok account of a Dairy Queen location in Michigan.“Unfortunately, today I have some bad news, and I feel like a lot of people will be upset about this. I don't know when or if it's returning, but Dairy Queen is discontinuing their cherry cone dip," the narrator of the video says. "It's already sold out in our warehouse, so once we deplete the inventory in the store, we'll be sold out until further notice."Nexstar's WJW reached out to the company for the scoop. The most popular college majors aren’t the highest-paying – these degrees are, study finds “At this time, the Cherry Dipped Cone at Dairy Queen is being discontinued,” DQ confirmed in a statement that alluded to t...

More rain for the Hill Country

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Overnight showers and thunderstorms dropped between .50" and 1.00" at several reporting stations from the Hill Country across I-35 into our eastern counties.That was followed by another complex of showers and thunderstorms passing to the southeast this morning that will continue to spread over some of our eastern counties this afternoon.A few reporting stations around Burnet, Lampasas, Mason, and San Saba have measured more than an inch of rain since midnight. This is precisely where the rain is needed. BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin Additional rain with thunderstorms are likely in some of the area during the afternoon. While lightning is the main threat, there will be a marginal risk (category 1 of 5) in parts of the western Hill Country.Marginal risk from hail and strong windsThe update for the overnight hours finds another complex of rain and thunderstorms passing from northwest to southeast in the Hill Country. There may be a few isola...