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Ideological rifts among U.S. bishops are in the spotlight ahead of momentous Vatican meeting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Early next month, the Vatican will open an unprecedented gathering of Catholic clergy and laypeople from around the world. The synod is intended to be a collegial, collaborative event, though the agenda includes divisive issues such as the role of women in the church and the inclusion of LGBTQ Catholics.If there’s Exhibit A for how elusive consensus might be, it’s the United States’ participation. In effect, there are two high-level U.S. delegations widely viewed as ideological rivals — six clerics appointed by Pope Francis who support his aspirations for a more inclusive, welcoming church; five clerics chosen by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops who reflect a more conservative outlook and more skepticism of Francis’ priorities.Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of religious studies at Manhattan College in New York, worries that the synod, which starts Oct. 4, might widen rifts among U.S. Catholics rather than narrow them.“The polarization of the country has i...

Some UK police put down guns after an officer is charged with murder in the shooting of a Black man

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

LONDON (AP) — London’s police force said Sunday that some officers are refusing to conduct armed patrols after a colleague was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black man.A Metropolitan Police marksman was charged Wednesday over the September 2022 death of Chris Kaba, 24. Kaba was killed after officers in an unmarked vehicle pursued and stopped the car he was driving. He was struck by a single bullet fired through the windshield as he sat in the Audi car.The case renewed allegations of institutional racism within the London police department. Kaba’s family welcomed the murder charge against the officer, who has not been publicly named. He was granted conditional bail and is expected to stand trial next year.Only about one in 10 of London’s police officers carry firearms, and the ones that do undergo special training.The Metropolitan Police force said Sunday that “a number of officers have taken the decision to step back from armed duties while they consider the...

Both parties want to win South Florida. Here’s one Cuban activist’s view of the political fight

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — When Félix Llerena arrived in Miami in 2017, he quickly got involved in the city’s politically active community of Cuban exiles. He was soon drawn to President Donald Trump for his aggressive approach toward Cuba’s communist government and his stated affinity for Cuban American culture. Today, Llerena is ready to apply for citizenship and vote for the first time. He’s more skeptical of the former Republican president. And his mother was able to come to the United States earlier this year under an immigration program created by Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration that’s admitted tens of thousands of Cubans and other people from countries with expatriate communities in South Florida.Both parties’ efforts affect Llerena’s life and fulfill different priorities he has. While he’s leaning toward a Republican candidate next year, he says he tries to avoid sticking to one side. “I do not worship politicians,” he said. ...

Government should pay compensation for secretive Cold War-era testing, St. Louis victims say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ben Phillips’ childhood memories include basketball games with friends, and neighbors gathering in the summer shade at their St. Louis housing complex. He also remembers watching men in hazmat suits scurry on the roofs of high-rise buildings as a dense material poured into the air.“I remember the mist,” Phillips, now 73, said. “I remember what we thought was smoke rising out of the chimneys. Then there were machines on top of the buildings that were spewing this mist.”As Congress considers payments to victims of Cold War-era nuclear contamination in the St. Louis region, people who were targeted for secret government testing from that same time period believe they’re due compensation, too.In the 1950s and 1960s, the Army used blowers on top of buildings and in the backs of station wagons to spray a potential carcinogen into the air surrounding a St. Louis housing project where most residents were Black. The government contends the zinc cadmium sulfide sprayed to sim...

Jully Black and Tonya Williams among those set to be honoured at the Legacy Awards

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

TORONTO — The Legacy Awards return for a second annual bash tonight with TV host and singer Keshia Chanté leading a celebration of Black Canadian talent.R&B singer Jully Black, filmmaker Director X, actress Tonya Williams and pop artist Lu Kala are among the honourees in fields including arts, entertainment and sports. Black will receive the Icon Award, acknowledging her global influence,and Julien Christian Lutz, professionally known as Director X, is gettingthe Trailblazer Award for his influential contributions to music videos and visual esthetics.Soap star-turned-activist Williams, best known for her past role on “The Young and the Restless,” will receive the Visionary Award for her philanthropic work.Meanwhile, Congolese-Canadian singer Lu Kala will be honoured with the Emerging Artist Award and Hamilton-native WNBA star Kia Nurse is getting the Legacy Athlete Award.The evening will also feature live performances honouring late pianist and composer Oscar Peterson and hip ho...

Chicago police investigate 8 armed robberies overnight

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are investigating at least eight armed robberies that happened Saturday night and Sunday morning.At least six of the armed robberies happened on the city's Northwest Side and two of the robberies involved delivery drivers.Around 8 p.m. Saturday, a 25-year-old man was out delivering food in the 1700 block of North Maplewood Avenue when three or four men in a dark-colored sedan took his phone and wallet at gunpoint. The man was struck in the face with a handgun but refused treatment.About 15 minutes later, another delivery driver was robbed just a few blocks away in the 1700 block of North Rockwell Street. A 24-year-old man was robbed of his phone at gunpoint. He told police six men in a blue SUV and a silver sedan robbed him.At 10:30 p.m. Saturday, a man and woman in their early 20s were robbed of a cell phone and purse in the 3000 block of North Tripp in Avondale.Around 11:40 p.m., a man and woman were robbed of their phones and a wallet at gunpoint near the...

Sunday forecast: Cloudy and chance for late-day showers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

Sunday: Increasing clouds & chance of a few late-day showers. ESE 5-10 mph. Air quality is in the Moderate categoryHigh 74, cooler lakesideSunday night: Mostly cloudy & chance of showers. SE 5-10 mphLow 62 Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Monday: Mostly cloudy & chance of showers. ESE 5-15 mphHigh 73Extended outlook calls for more clouds on Tuesday with temps in the lower 70s with some showers likely. On/off showers and iso. t'storms on Wednesday that could extend into early Thursday. We'll see more sunshine and temps back to almost 80 by the end of the week. 

First the heat, then the rain and storms

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The 79th triple-digit high at Camp Mabry happened Saturday with a high of 101°. It set a daily record for September 23. The former record was 100° set in 2000 and tied in 2019.The area will be in similar numbers Sunday afternoon as highs reach a range of 98° to 102°. The forecast high of 101° at Camp Mabry would set a daily record for September 24th, currently 99° last set in 2011.A Heat Advisory is in effect from 1 to 7 p.m. from I-35 eastward for heat index values exceeding 105°.Showers and thunderstorms will be increasing in the northwest Hill Country after 3 to 4 p.m. They become more numerous during the evening with an added strong to severe thunderstorm risk. The showers and thunderstorms will continue during the overnight hours. The Storm Prediction Center has much of Central Texas under a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms with the main threats from sizeable hail and strong, potentially damaging wind gusts of 50 to 60+ mph.Another round of showers and thun...

LCRA looks at new water supplies for future demand in Central Texas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Lower Colorado River Authority is planning ahead as Central Texas continues to grow.The Lower Colorado River Authority, or LCRA, said it's aiming to add water supply to meet future demand. Its priority goal is adding 60,000 acre-feet of water by 2040 to the Highland Lakes, Austin and Bastrop areas. One acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons of water. RELATED: LCRA enters Stage 2 drought response In late 2024, the LCRA will begin using the Arbuckle Reservoir to increase the total firm water supply to 590,000 acre-feet per year.Other options to increase water availability include water supply storage in the mid-basin, groundwater, return flows from Williamson County, direct potable reuse, pipelines, aquifer storage and aquifer recovery, according to an LCRA release. INVESTIGATION: Climate change not part of LCRA water plan “The ‘easy’ water supplies have already been developed. The new solutions are going to be more expensive and more innovative," LCRA executive d...

'Principle over politics': Prosecutors in Paxton impeachment trial debrief after historic loss

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:37:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just over a week after losing a historic impeachment trial, prosecutor Dick DeGuerin said his team, as well as others, were naïve to think principle would win over politics. These remarks came during the Texas Tribune Festival. DeGuerin spoke on a panel alongside his colleagues who served as prosecutors in Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial. Prosecutors revealed they thought they would win the case until the first vote was read. Paxton would go on to be acquitted on all charges within the more than 15 articles of impeachment. The team also reflected on seemingly shocking moments, such as Paxton's alleged mistress not testifying. Prosecutors said they were a part of making this call to protect the case. There was also a response to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's speech after Paxton was acquitted. Patrick condemned the Texas House and said the impeachment and trial never should have happened in the first place.Prosecutors, seeking a conviction, called Patrick'...