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Sister grieves for American killed in Mexico kidnapping

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

LAKE CITY, S.C. (AP) — Prepping for his first trip out of the country, 28-year-old Zindell Brown of Lake City, South Carolina, had something more than nerves. Perhaps it was a premonition about the trip he and several friends were taking to Mexico.“He said, ‘Something, it just doesn’t feel right,’” his older sister Zalandria Brown told The Associated Press over the phone. “(That was) the last thing we talked about.”Hopping into protection mode for the man so close to her that she called him her “hip bone,” Brown urged her brother to not take the trip planned earlier this month. As someone known to help others, however, Brown wasn’t surprised her sibling shook off the feeling and offered to drive with his group of childhood friends on a road trip to Mexico, where one was scheduled for cosmetic surgery and another planned to celebrate his 34th birthday. The inside of a rented white van would be the last place Brown would see her baby brother alive. Sometime during the nearly 22-...

Can the chaos from Silicon Valley Bank’s fall be contained?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Can Washington come to the rescue of the depositors of failed Silicon Valley Bank? Is it even politically possible?That was one of the growing questions in Washington Sunday as policymakers tried to figure out whether the U.S. government — and its taxpayers — should bail out a failed bank that largely served Silicon Valley, with all its wealth and power.Prominent Silicon Valley personalities and executives have been hitting the giant red “panic” button, saying that if Washington does not come to the rescue of Silicon Valley bank’s depositors, more bank runs are likely this week.“Either deposits in the U.S. are safe or they’re not. If not, look out below,” David Sacks of Craft Ventures, who is closely tied to billionaires Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, wrote on Twitter on Sunday.Silicon Valley Bank failed on Friday, as fearful depositors withdrew billions of dollars from the bank in a matter of hours, forcing U.S. banking regulators to urgently close the bank in the...

Italy estimates 680K migrants might cross sea from Libya

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

ROME (AP) — Intelligence reports indicate nearly 700,000 migrants are in Libya awaiting an opportunity to set out by sea toward Italy, a lawmaker from Premier Giorgia Meloni’s far-right party said Sunday, but a U.N. migration official called the number not credible. Tommaso Foti, the lower parliamentary house whip for the Brothers of Italy Party, told television channel Tgcom24 the Italian secret services estimated that 685,000 migrants in Libya, many of them in detention camps, were eager to sail across the central Mediterranean Sea in smugglers’ boats.Meloni is hoping a European Union meeting later this month yields concrete solidarity from fellow leaders of EU nations in managing the large numbers of migrants and asylum-seekers who come to countries on the Mediterranean’s rim, including Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Spain as well as Italy.“Europe can’t look the other way,″ Foti said.While the intelligence services assessment sparked alarming headlines in Italy, a spokesperson f...

‘Scream VI’ tops box office with franchise-best $44.5M

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscar weekend belonged to “Scream VI” in theaters, as the horror sequel notched a franchise-best $44.5 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group co-production sailed past expectations, easily surpassing the previous series high of $32 million that “Scream 2” opened with in 1997. The film’s robust debut, coming as Hollywood prepared to gather for the 95th Academy Awards, was yet another reminder of how horror has come to be one of the industry’s few sure things at the box office. After lying dormant for more than a decade, the “Scream” franchise, previously directed by Wes Craven and released by Dimension Films, has found a ripe revival with a young cast led by “Wednesday” star Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have brought back the 27-year-old series’ meta slasher storylines and serial killer Ghostface, and it̵...

Over 130 cited for allegedly buying alcohol in California 'Shoulder Tap' operation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

(KTLA) – Over 130 people were cited in California on Saturday on suspicion of purchasing alcohol for minors.A “Shoulder Tap” operation took place statewide involving 44 local law enforcement agencies in partnership with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).During the operation, a minor under the supervision of law enforcement stands outside of a liquor or convenience store and asks customers to buy them alcohol.The minor will indicate they are underage and cannot purchase alcohol.“If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage person, they can be arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor,” authorities said.Suspect arrested in Manhattan Beach for allegedly buying alcohol for a minor during a statewide undercover operation. (California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control)Suspect arrested in Culver City for allegedly buying alcohol for a minor during a statewide undercover operation. (California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Contro...

Giant seaweed blob twice the width of the US takes aim at Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- Marine scientists are tracking a 5,000-mile-wide seaweed bloom that is so large, it can be seen from space. These sargassum blooms are nothing new, but scientists say this one could be the largest in history. At last check, it was heading toward Florida's Gulf coast. The thick mat of algae drifts between the Atlantic coast of Africa and the Gulf of Mexico, providing habitat for marine life and absorbing carbon dioxide, but it can also wreak havoc when when it gets closer to shore. It blocks light from reaching coral and negatively impacts air and water quality as it decomposes. ‘It’s a big loss’: Red tide cancels popular Indian Rocks BeachFest Florida's Gulf coast is already grappling with an algae bloom amid the busy spring break tourism season. Red tide has caused dead fish to wash ashore in droves, while the risk of respiratory irritation for humans has canceled events and driven beachgoers away. With a blanket of sargassum approaching, spanning twice the ...

PHOTOS: San Antonio Zoo asks for help naming two sloth pups

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The San Antonio Zoo requested help with the naming of its newest — and maybe slowest — residents, a male and female Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth pups.The zoo said the Zoo Crew provided three male and female name options, and with a donation of $5 per vote, you can help the zoo make a selection.“Vote as often as you would like, knowing that each donation helps these two ‘slow much!’” the zoo said.Image of two-toed sloth pups (Courtesy: San Antonio Zoo) Image of male two-toed sloth pup (Courtesy: San Antonio Zoo)Image of female two-toed sloth pup (Courtesy: San Antonio Zoo)Image of male two-toed sloth pup (Courtesy: San Antonio Zoo)Image of two-toed sloth pups (Courtesy: San Antonio Zoo) Image of female two-toed sloth pup (Courtesy: San Antonio Zoo)Image of male two-toed sloth pup (Courtesy: San Antonio Zoo)Image of female two-toed sloth pup (Courtesy: San Antonio Zoo)The name options are:Sol & LunaLento & DulceForest & RainAccording to the zoo, voting is open...

White Creek man who attempted to kill landlords convicted

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

WHITE CREEK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A White Creek man has been convicted of three counts of second-degree attempted murder after he shot at his landlords following his eviction on July 7, 2022, according to the Washington County District Attorney. Matthew Parant will be sentenced on April 21. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police said their initial investigation determined that Parant got into an argument with the property owner, and after discovering police had been called, got a rifle from his home. Police said they were trying to talk to the property owner when Parant threatened to kill them, and then began to shoot.The State Police Crisis Negotiations Unit was called in after Parant allegedly barricaded himself in the home with his girlfriend. Police said that at around 4:25 a.m., he tried to leave by driving away in a van. Victim hospitalized after Cumberland Farms stabbing Along with attempted murder, Parant was con...

At least 8 dead, more missing after smuggling boat capsizes off San Diego coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

At least eight people were killed when two suspected smuggling boats approached a San Diego beach and one capsized, and crews are searching Sunday for an estimated seven additional victims, authorities said.A woman on one of the panga-style boats called 911 late Saturday to report that the other vessel had overturned in waves off Blacks Beach, according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Richard Brahm.“The woman who called stated that the boat that overturned had 15 people on it, but that was just an estimate,” Brahm said.Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews pulled eight bodies from the water, but thick fog hampered the search for additional victims. A Coast Guard cutter combed the area early Sunday, and officials hoped to get helicopters in the air when weather improves, Brahm said.Daniel Eddy, San Diego Fire-Rescue’s deputy chief of operations, said there was a long debris field on Black’s Beach. Black’s Beach is jointly owned by the city of San Diego and the state. The stre...

More than 130 cited for allegedly buying alcohol for minors in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

More than 130 people were cited in California on Saturday for allegedly purchasing alcohol for minors.A “Shoulder Tap” operation took place statewide involving 44 local law enforcement agencies in partnership with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).During the operation, a minor under the supervision of law enforcement stands outside of a liquor or convenience store and asks customers to buy them alcohol.The minor will indicate they are underage and cannot purchase alcohol.“If an adult agrees to purchase alcohol for the underage person, they can be arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor,” authorities said.Suspect arrested in Manhattan Beach for allegedly buying alcohol for a minor during a statewide undercover operation. (California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control)Suspect arrested in Culver City for allegedly buying alcohol for a minor during a statewide undercover operation. (California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control)Susp...