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Serbian border troops on high alert after ethnic clashes inside Kosovo

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Serbian troops on the border with Kosovo were put on high alert Friday following clashes inside Kosovo between police and ethnic Serbs that injured more than a dozen people.Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo, who are a majority in that part of the country, had tried to block recently-elected ethnic Albanian officials from entering municipal buildings earlier Friday. Last month’s snap election was largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs and only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected in the mayoral posts and assemblies.Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices. Several cars were set ablaze. Kosovo Serb hospital officials said about 10 protesters were injured. Police said five officers were injured as protesters hurled stun grenades and other objects. A police car was burned.In response to the clashes, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he put the army on the “highest state of...

Stock market today: Tech leads more gains on Wall Street

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks powered solid gains for Wall Street on Friday after another chipmaker reported strong demand related to artificial intelligence.The upbeat finish to the week for major indexes comes amid lingering anxiety over persistently high inflation, the risk of a U.S. debt default and broadly weak corporate earnings.The S&P 500 rose, 54.17 points, or 1.3% to close at 4,205.45. It notched a small gain for the week and is in the green as May nears its close.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 328.69 points, or 1%, to 33,093.34.The tech-heavy Nasdaq notched the biggest gains, rising 277.59 points, or 2.2%, to 12,975.69. The index rose 2.2% for the week as artificial intelligence became a big focus for investors.Marvell Technology surged a record-setting 32.4% after the chipmaker said it expects AI revenue in fiscal 2024 to at least double from the prior year. That follows Thursday’s report from fellow chipmaker Nvidia, which gave a big forecast for upcoming...

S&P/TSX composite rises almost 150 points Friday, U.S. markets also gain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index gained almost 150 points Friday amid broad-based strength, while U.S. markets also rose as tech continued to outperform. Markets closed the day in the green as negotiators at the debt ceiling talks appeared to be closer to a deal before the U.S. government runs out of cash. The talks have been adding uncertainty to the market as a deadline looms, since the nation could go into a potentially catastrophic default if a deal isn’t reached. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 146.23 points at 19,920.31.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 328.69 points at 33,093.34. The S&P 500 index was up 54.17 points at 4,205.45, while the Nasdaq composite was up 277.59 points at 12,975.69.“Right now the market is looking for any excuse to go up,” said Pierre-Benoît Gauthier, assistant vice-president of investment strategy at IG Wealth Management.However, even though markets ended the week on a positive note, new data came out Friday tha...

Louisiana lawmakers pressed to resurrect bill banning gender-affirming care for minors

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A longtime Republican lawmaker, in rural Louisiana, is facing national backlash following his tie-breaking vote to kill a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in the state.State Sen. Fred Mills told The Associated Press Friday that he stands by his decision. But state Attorney General Jeff Landry — who is a GOP gubernatorial candidate — and the Republican Party of Louisiana are pressing lawmakers to resurrect the bill and pass it. Mills’ decisive vote Wednesday poises Louisiana to be one of the few southeastern states that hasn’t enacted a ban or restrictions on gender-affirming care. Proposals are pending in North Carolina and South Carolina’s legislatures, and federal judges have temporarily blocked bans in Arkansas and Alabama.“While the topic of transgender rights is immensely complicated and socially polarizing, the bill before me was not,” Mills, a pharmacist, said in a written statement Friday. Mills is also the chai...

New York City mayor signs ban on weight and height discrimination

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed legislation Friday that will ban discrimination based on body size by adding weight and height to the list of protected categories such as race, sex and religion.“We all deserve the same access to employment, housing and public accommodation, regardless of our appearance, and it shouldn’t matter how tall you are or how much you weigh,” said the mayor, who joined other elected officials as well as fat-acceptance advocates at a City Hall bill-signing ceremony.Adams, a Democrat who published a book about reversing his diabetes through a plant-based diet, said the ordinance “will help level the playing field for all New Yorkers, create more inclusive workplaces and living environments, and protect against discrimination.”Exemptions under the ordinance, which the city council passed this month, include cases in which an individual’s height or weight could prevent them from performing essential functions of a job.Some business leaders expr...

Most unique ice cream treats for your Chicago summer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

CHICAGO — There is no shortage of ice cream options throughout the City of Chicago, so how does one choose where to indulge? One way to narrow it down is seeking out some of the more unique cream-based creations.WGN has compiled a dozen such shops through the collective effort of readers' suggestions, digital team experiences and old fashioned research. We've organized them into four categories of uniqueness: presentation, combination, ingredients, and flavor(s).Use the following to choose your experience du jour, or perhaps plan a full-out ice cream crawl. Top 5 Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago area — according to Chicagoans Unique PresentationEli's ArkThis Wicker Park gelato shop first opened summer 2018 and is known for crafting cones of cuteness. Eli's Ark's cool critters can help you beat the heat and are a hit with kids and adults alike.Address: 1843 W. North Ave., ChicagoHours (change throughout the year): Tue-Fri 3-8 p.m. | Sat 1-9 p.m. | Sun 1-8 p.m.Website: Eli's Ark C...

Liam Hendriks gets closer & closer to a White Sox return

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

DETROIT — He's finished his rehab stint in Triple-A, rejoined the White Sox, and has thrown a few sessions. Now all that's left for Liam Hendriks to do to get officially activated onto the team's active roster, doing so after beating cancer this winter and early spring. When that's going to happen, however, is still a little bit up in the air, just as it was when he first joined the club in Chicago last week. Hendriks throws during White Sox batting practice at Guaranteed Rate Field As they continue a four-game series with the Tigers in Detroit, which included a 7-2 loss to the open on Thursday, the closer continued to get closer to a return to the White Sox bullpen. Hendriks threw another batting practice session at Comerica Park on Friday afternoon, with Chicago Sun Times writer Daryl Van Schowen capturing the session on video. It's one of a few that he's had since joining the big league club after his stint in Charlotte.This could open the door for Hendriks to get activated wh...

This is the sport most commonly linked to lightning deaths

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

(KDVR) — Did you know lightning is considered the most dangerous type of weather in several states? And some activities are more closely associated with lightning deaths. An analysis of 2006-19 data by the National Lightning Safety Council and the National Weather Service found the activities most associated with lightning deaths in the U.S. Passenger opens airplane door mid-flight; 12 slightly hurt Fishing takes the top spot with 40 deaths nationwide. Beach activities and camping take the second and third spots.Activities with the most lightning deaths:Fishing: 40Beach: 25Camping: 21Farming/ranching: 20Motorcycle/ATV: 19Boating: 18Social gathering: 16Walk to/from home: 16Roofing: 15Construction: 13Soccer: 12Yardwork: 12When breaking down the victims by gender, 79% were male, while only 21% were female.Lightning can strike from up to 10 miles away. Anytime you can hear thunder, it's a sign that lightning is close enough to strike.The safest places to be when storms with lightning ...

Casa Bonita: New photos give a look inside ahead of reopening

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Casa Bonita, known to some as the "Disneyland of Mexican Restaurants" and to others for its role in the TV series "South Park," is set to reopen in May.And while the official reopening date has yet to be announced, Casa Bonita released new photos from inside the restaurant on Friday.Here is a look at the photo gallery:Casa Bonita's Lagoon, seen after renovations for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's Black Bart's Cave, seen after renovations for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Construction work at the Dia de los Muertos Bar at Casa Bonita for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Construction work at the Mayahuel Bar at Casa Bonita for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Lighting work at the Bridge at Casa Bonita for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita's Lagoon, seen after renovations for 2023's reopening. (Photo: Casa Bonita)Casa Bonita, which first opened around 1974, hasn’t been open since the spring of 2020 – first due to CO...

Supreme Court: EPA can no longer regulate some wetlands

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A new decision from the Supreme Court could have major implications for the country's waterways.On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency can no longer regulate pollution in certain wetlands.Environmentalists across the country are up in arms.Jim Murphy, director of legal advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation, said the decision will impact millions of Americans."Wetlands are very, very important in protecting people's drinking water," Murphy said. "They're the kidneys of our water system. They're the sponges of our water system. There's no better natural system to protect you from flooding."Even conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh acknowledged this while joining the three liberal justices in dissent.But the 5-4 decision said only wetlands with a surface connection to a larger body of water are subject to the Clean Water Act."Great day for rural America, a great day for agriculture," said Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kan.Mann ...