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Defense Secretary Austin has been hospitalized since Jan. 1, but Pentagon kept the news quiet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

By LOLITA C. BALDOR (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Monday, due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Friday. It was the department’s first acknowledgement that Austin had been admitted — five days earlier — to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.Ryder said Friday that it’s not clear when Austin will be released from the hospital, but said the secretary is “recovering well,” adding that he expected “to resume his full duties” Friday.The Pentagon’s failure to disclose Austin’s hospitalization is counter to normal practice with other senior U.S. and Cabinet officials, including the president. The Pentagon Press Association, which represents media members who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest to Ryder and Chris Meagher, the assistant defens...

Death toll reaches 100 as survivors are found in homes smashed by western Japan earthquakes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

WAJIMA, Japan (AP) — The death toll from a major earthquake in western Japan reached 100 Saturday, as rescue workers fought aftershocks to carefully pull people from the rubble.Deaths had reached 98 earlier in the day, but two more deaths were reported in Anamizu, while officials in Ishikawa prefecture, the hardest-hit region, held their daily meeting to discuss strategy and damages.Some survivors who had clung to life for days were freed from collapsed homes. A man was pulled out 72 hours after a series of powerful quakes started rattling Japan’s western coast.The number of missing was lowered to 211 as of Saturday, after it shot up two days ago. An older man was found alive Wednesday in a collapsed home in Suzu, one of the hardest-hit cities in Ishikawa Prefecture. His daughter called out, “Dad, dad,” as a flock of firefighters got him out on a stretcher, praising him for holding on for so long after Monday’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake.Others were forced to wait while rescuers searc...

Alaska Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Oregon after window and chunk of fuselage blow out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Oregon on Friday after a window and chunk of its fuselage blew out in mid-air, media reports said.A passenger sent KATU-TV a photo showing what appears to be an exit row missing a door and window. It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured. Alaska Airlines did not immediately return an email from The Associated Press message seeking information.The flight left Portland for Ontario, California, at 4:52 p.m. but returned just before 5:30 p.m.KPTV-TV reports photos sent in by a passenger showed a large section of the airplane’s fuselage was missing. The FAA did not immediately respond to an email request for information.The Boeing 737-9 MAX rolled off the assembly line and received its certification just two months ago, according to online FAA records.The Associated Press

UN agency says it is handling code of conduct violations by staffer for anti-Israel posts internally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. agency promoting equality for women said Friday that violations of the U.N. Code of Conduct requiring impartiality by a mid-level manager, who reportedly supported pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli posts on social media, are being dealt with internally.Last month, the Geneva-based advocacy group UN Watch, which often criticizes anti-Israel actions at the United Nations, reported that Sarah Douglas, the deputy chief of UN Women’s peace and security office, had endorsed 153 posts on social media since Hamas ’ Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel that exposed her partisan views about the war in Gaza.UN Watch’s Executive Director Hillel Neuer posted on X, formerly Twitter, some examples including posts that accused Israel of “genocide” and celebrated shutting down bridges and highways for pro-Palestinian campaigns and rallies.After UN Watch publicized the posts, Neuer said Douglas deleted her social media accounts, but he said the group has screenshots of her ...

Agencies release plans for moving hotel-dwelling Maui fire survivors into long-term housing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it plans to move thousands of hotel-dwelling survivors of wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui into long-term housing over the next month. The agency expects households living under long-term leases directly funded by FEMA to rise to 1,500 over the next month from 100 currently, TJ Dargan, federal coordinating officer for the Maui fires, said at a news conference. The increase would house a large portion of the 2,400 households who are still living in hotels months after wildfires scorched historic Lahaina on Aug. 8. Many are stuck in hotels because they have been unable to find rentals in Maui’s exceptionally tight housing market. FEMA, the state, county and non-profit organizations have urged owners of Maui’s 27,000 short-term rental properties to make their units, which normally house tourists, available to wildfire survivors. The agency is working with three property managers on Maui and the mayor̵...

Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard departs after big hit by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard departed Friday night's game against New Jersey after he was leveled by Devils defenseman Brendan Smith in the first period.Bedard was selected by Chicago with the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft. The 18-year-old center has 15 goals and 18 assists in 38 games.Bedard was hit by Smith after he carried the puck into the Blackhawks' offensive zone. Bedard then skated to the bench holding his face as Nick Foligno, Brett Seney and several teammates ignited a skirmish behind the Devils net. Coby White scores 22 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Hornets 104-91 Bedard went straight to the Chicago locker room and did not return.After the All-Star departed, there was a series of skirmishes between the teams.Blackhawks defenseman Jarred Tinordi had words with Smith as the teams were skating off the ice after the first.Foligno and Smith had a prolonged bout early in the second period. Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vl...

Paul Lisnek on Biden's 1st campaign speech of the election year, SCOTUS decision on Idaho's abortion ban & more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Evening News to discuss several big stories from the week.The topics include the latest on the Supreme Court's decision on Idaho's abortion ban, Biden's first campaign speech of the election year, the ongoing migrant crisis and more.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesTune in on Sundays for WGN-TV Political Report with Paul Lisnek.

Coby White scores 22 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Hornets 104-91

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Coby White had 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and the Chicago Bulls welcomed back Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic with a 104-91 victory over Miles Bridges and the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.DeMar DeRozan added 17 points for Chicago, which had lost three of four. Andre Drummond grabbed 10 rebounds in his sixth consecutive game with double-digit boards.LaVine scored 15 points while playing almost 30 minutes in his first game since Nov. 28. Vucevic had 11 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes while also playing as a reserve. WATCH: Adam Sandler plays pickup game before No. 10 Arizona faces Colorado LaVine was sidelined for 17 games because of inflammation in his right foot. Vucevic missed the past five games with a strained left adductor.While LaVine and Vucevic returned, Alex Caruso was a late scratch for Chicago because of a sore neck.Bridges scored 28 points for the Hornets, who closed out a 1-5 road trip. Terry Rozier had 15 points on 5-for-17 shoo...

Jarrell salon raises money to pay lunch debts for local students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

JARRELL, Texas (KXAN) — Heaven & Hair Salon used its grand opening on New Year's Eve to raise money toward paying off lunch debt for students in Jarrell Independent School District.Jarrell ISD posted on social media Thursday to thank the salon for its $2,480 donation. The district writing in part "Wow! This donation is a fantastic way to start the new year."Salon owner Amanda Christopher said she was inspired to put the fundraiser together after hearing a story about a student receiving a sandwich instead of a typical school lunch because of outstanding debt."It just hurt my heart to think that a baby would be going without, and other peers knowing that they just don't have the money for their lunch that day. I just wouldn't ever want a kid to feel that way," Christopher said.Christopher said the caring efforts goes way beyond the doors of her shop. She said other businesses, churches and community members also participated in the event as well."Our church next door, they came o...

Duluth’s Essentia Health, Wisconsin’s Marshfield Clinic break off merger talks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:21:04 GMT

DULUTH, Minn. — A potential merger between two large health care systems has been called off.In a joint news release Friday, Duluth-based Essentia Health and Marshfield, Wis.-based Marshfield Clinic Health System said they were ending merger talks. The two had signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2022 as they mulled a potential merger and then entered a merger agreement in July 2023.In a separate statement, Essentia said Marshfield’s financial situation “was the primary factor in our decision to end discussions.”“To be clear, Essentia’s finances are strong, and it is imperative we maintain that stability so we can continue investing in and enhancing care for our patients,” Essentia said.“Essentia Health and MCHS have engaged in meaningful discussion over the last two years about how our organizations could combine our unique strengths. We have decided that a combination at this time is not the right path forward for our respective organ...