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Why insurance claims go up during Halloween

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

From the candy to the costumes, Halloween is a fun-filled time for all — including for thieves.Experts say theft- and vandalism-related insurance claims are often higher during this time of year. In fact, they say vandalism claims are as high as 72%.When “you’re out with the children, neighborhood hopping, trick-or-treating, that’s the perfect time for someone to take advantage of that opportunity,” said insurance agent Joshua Harders of Harders and Bradford Insurance Agency in Silver Spring, Maryland.He told WTOP potential fire hazards in the home are another reason for the increase in insurance claims.“You know, like lighting a candle and forgetting to put it out,” Harders said. “Or with decorations, we’re seeing a lot of people overloading powers strips, daisy-chaining extension cords and that can produce excess heat.”According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 800 residential fires are reported every Hallowe...

Matan al secretario de Seguridad y a 10 policías municipales de Coyuca de Benítez, Guerrero

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

(CNN Español) –– El secretario de Seguridad de Coyuca de Benítez, Guerrero, Alfredo Alonso López, y 10 policías del municipio murieron en un ataque armado este lunes, informó en una transmisión vía Facebook el vicefiscal de Investigación del estado, Gabriel Alejandro Hernández Martínez.Hernández Martínez indicó que la Fiscalía de Guerrero ya tiene dos líneas de investigación sobre el ataque, las cuales no reveló. También agregó que funcionarios de la institución ya fueron a la zona para continuar con las indagatorias.CNN contactó a la presidencia municipal de Coyuca de Benítez para tener más información sobre el hecho, pero no ha recibido respuesta.Coyuca de Benítez es un municipio de la región de la Costa Grande de Guerrero ―en el sur de México―, un estado con altos niveles de violencia. Entre enero y septiembre de este año, en el estado se registraron 1.280 homicidios dolosos, lo que lo ubica como el séptimo con más crímenes de ese tipo entre las 32 entidades del país, según el re...

Ex-lawmaker Maria Corina Machado dominates opposition’s presidential primary in Venezuela

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

Opposition presidential hopeful Maria Corina Machado, center, speaks to her supporters after winning the opposition primary election, at her campaign headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. Machado will run against President Nicolás Maduro in the 2024 presidential elections. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)(AP/Ariana Cubillos) Opposition presidential hopeful Maria Corina Machado, center, speaks to her supporters after winning the opposition primary election, at her campaign headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. Machado will run against President Nicolás Maduro in the 2024 presidential elections. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)(AP/Ariana Cubillos) CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former lawmak...

Husband accused of shooting wife near Strasburg

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A husband was taken into custody Monday afternoon after allegedly shooting his wife near Strasburg.The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office first posted about the shooting just before 3:45 p.m. and said it was in the 54600 block of East County Road 46. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox At the time, the sheriff's office said the incident was "active and still unfolding" and asked the public to stay away from the area. Just a couple of minutes before 5 p.m., the sheriff's office said the suspect had been taken into custody and there was no further threat.The sheriff's office later said the shooting was a domestic dispute between a husband and wife."The suspect allegedly assaulted his wife then shot her but she survived," the sheriff's office posted.The wife was transported to a local hospital. The suspect was arrested and could be charged with attempted murder, according to the sheriff's office.

Search continues for man wanted in connection with wife’s death after car found in Ashburnham 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

Police have located a car previously sought in connection with a homicide in Gardner over the weekend.SKY7-HD was over the area Monday evening near Camp Collier on the Gardner/Ashburnham line as police cars, K9 teams, an ambulance and a state police helicopter responded to the area. Nearby access roads were blocked off as of around 6:30 p.m. all as authorities continued their search for the husband of a 30-year-old woman found dead in Gardner on Sunday.According to court documents, Breanne Pennington, 30, was found Sunday morning after police were called to the Cherry Street home she shared with her husband, Aaron.Police have since been trying to find Aaron Pennington, 33, to question him in connection with his wife’s death.As their search continued, police previously shared information on a car Aaron is believed to have driven away from the house before Breanne was found. The car seen in Ashburnham on Monday matched the description and license plate number shared by police.Whi...

Officials say at least 7 dead in massive vehicle crashes in south Louisiana due to ‘superfog’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — At least seven people were killed Monday morning after a “superfog” of smoke from south Louisiana marsh fires and dense fog caused multiple massive car crashes involving a total of 158 vehicles, authorities said.Twenty-five people were injured and the number of fatalities may increase as first responders work into the night clearing the scenes and searching for victims, Louisiana State Police said in a statement Monday evening.Videos of apocalyptic type scenes from the aftermath of the wrecks showed a long stretch of mangled and scorched cars on Interstate 55 near New Orleans. Vehicles were crushed, rammed under one another and some engulfed by flames. Many people initially stood on the side of the road or on the roof of their vehicle looking in disbelief at the disaster, while others cried out for help.Piles of disformed cars, heaped on top of one another as firefighters trudged through the debris, remained on the interstate as the sun set. Hours after the crashe...

Boston Common lined with reminders of those still kidnapped by Hamas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

In a solemn reminder of the lives still in peril, the Boston Common was lined Monday night with the fliers of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas terrorists Oct. 7.Boston, MA – October 23, 2023:Examples of the display on the common showing victims of the assault on Israel. (Chris Christo/Boston Herald)Boston, MA – October 23, 2023:Examples of the display on the common showing victims of the assault on Israel. (Chris Christo/Boston Herald)Boston, MA – October 23, 2023: People take in the display on the common showing victims of the assault on Israel. (Chris Christo/Boston Herald)

Democratic governor spars with Republican challenger over pandemic policies in Kentucky debate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear defended his sweeping COVID-19 pandemic restrictions as he faced an onslaught of criticism from Republican challenger Daniel Cameron in a high-stakes debate Monday night, coming about two weeks before Kentucky’s closely watched gubernatorial election.In an hourlong debate from Lexington shown on Kentucky Educational Television, the bitter rivals sparred over the economy, education policies, abortion and transgender issues. They were pressed to drill down on many of their policy positions during the latest in a series of faceoffs before the Nov. 7 election.Some of their sharpest exchanges came when Beshear was asked to critique his policies during the height of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, while Cameron was pressed on what he would have done differently. The virus has killed more than 19,000 Kentuckians since early 2020.The pandemic dominated the first half of the governor’s term, and his restrictions on businesses and gatherings have come un...

Republican Tim Scott shifts presidential campaign staff from New Hampshire to go ‘all in on Iowa’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott’s presidential campaign announced Monday that the Republican was shifting staff and money from New Hampshire to Iowa in an effort to boost his standing in the leadoff caucus state with less than three months until the first votes of the 2024 election are cast. Scott planned to open a new state headquarters in suburban Des Moines and double his Iowa staff with the moves, though campaign aides did not say how many people would be moving from New Hampshire. “Tim Scott is all in on Iowa,” Scott’s campaign manager Jennifer DeCasper said in an emailed statement. Scott is routinely named by likely caucus participants as being among a handful of candidates under consideration. However, late-summer polls showed him receiving support in the single digits, far behind the Iowa front-runner, former President Donald Trump.Scott’s campaign team had said they had hoped the senator’s upbeat style and comfort quoting scripture while di...

2-year-old hospitalized after being shot in the hand on South Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:26 GMT

CHICAGO — A two-year-old girl was hospitalized on Monday evening after she was shot in the hand on the city's South Side.According to Chicago police, the shooting happened just after 7:40 p.m. in the 7900 block of South Phillips Avenue.Police say the two-year-old girl was inside an apartment in the area when she sustained the gunshot wound to her right hand. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Officers say the girl was then taken to the hospital in good condition.Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting, but police say a gun was recovered from the scene and a person of interest is being questioned.This is a developing story, stay with WGN News for the latest updates.