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‘Devastation’: Section of I-95 burns and collapses in Philadelphia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

PHILADELPHIA — An elevated section of Interstate 95 collapsed early Sunday in Philadelphia after a tanker truck carrying flammable cargo caught fire, closing a heavily traveled segment of the East Coast’s main north-south highway indefinitely, authorities said.Transportation officials warned of extensive delays and street closures and urged drivers to avoid the area in the city’s northeast corner. Officials said the tanker contained a petroleum product that may have been hundreds of gallons of gasoline. The fire took about an hour to get under control.The northbound lanes of I-95 were gone and the southbound lanes were “compromised” by heat from the fire, said Derek Bowmer, battalion chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department. Runoff from the fire or perhaps broken gas lines caused explosions underground, he added.Some kind of crash happened on a ramp underneath northbound I-95 around 6:15 a.m., said state Transportation Department spokesman Brad Rudolph, and ...

What they’re saying: Barr, DeSantis, Hutchison react to details in Trump indictment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

Republicans, including those affiliated with former President Donald Trump and others challenging him for the GOP nomination, voiced a variety of reactions to the details in his unsealed indictment.Former Trump AG  Bill BarrDuring an appearance on Fox News Sunday, the former Attorney General said the government was not conducting a “witch hunt” in charging the former president.“If even half of it is true, then he is toast. It’s a very detailed indictment and it’s very, very damning. This idea of presenting Trump as the victim here, victim of a witch hunt, is ridiculous,” he said. “He is not a victim here. He was totally wrong that he had the right to have those documents. Those documents are among the most sensitive secrets that the country has.”Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisA former military lawyer, the Sunshine State’s governor called the charges politically motivated, defending his political rival without naming him.“I think there needs to be one standard of justice in thi...

Gunnar Henderson hits 462-foot home run, longest ever to Eutaw Street, as Orioles sweep Royals with 11-3 win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

Gunnar Henderson has a patient approach at the plate, wisely watching for the right pitch to drive.On Sunday, fans who have been similarly patient with the Orioles’ 21-year-old blooming star were rewarded, as Henderson capped one of his best performances in the major leagues with a 462-foot missile onto Eutaw Street.Henderson, a rookie, hit just .189 through March and April but has batted over .300 for the past month. His hot streak continued Sunday, as he totaled a career-high seven bases, none louder than the three-run blast he pulled well beyond right field. It was the farthest and hardest hit (113.8 mph) ball by an Oriole this season.As he connected on the pitch in the seventh inning, he watched it hurry out of the ballpark. He knew it was gone.“That was probably one of the furthest balls I’ve hit, especially here. I felt like that was a good one to look at,” he said.The homer was the farthest ever hit onto Eutaw Street in the 31-year history of Camden Ya...

The show goes on: Tony Awards pre-show telecast kicks off Broadway’s biggest night despite strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — An nervy Tony Awards kicked off Sunday with a pre-show heavy on unpredictability after the Hollywood writers’ strike left Broadway’s biggest night without a script.Entropy has been inserted into what is usually an upbeat, safe and chummy night. The strike by the Writers Guild of America has left Broadway’s biggest night to reply on spontaneity in a new venue far from the theater district. “Tonight is unscripted, darlings,” host Ariana DeBose warned those attending the show. She revealed to the crowd the only words that will be seen on the teleprompter: “Please wrap up.”A pre-show on Pluto TV beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern is being hosted by Julianne Hough and Skylar Astin. The duo will then throw to the three-hour main event led by Ariana DeBose on CBS and Paramount+ starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.A total of 26 Tony Awards will be handed out Sunday for a season that had 40 new productions — 15 musicals, 24 plays and one special engagement during the first post-pandemic f...

Threatened town now safe as Quebec makes progress on battling wildfires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

MONTREAL — The forest fire threatening the northwestern Quebec city of Normétal has been contained, the province’s forest fire service said Sunday, as the fire situation in the province continued to improve.Nicolas Vigneault, a spokesman for the forest fire service SOPFEU, said the arrival of firefighters from other provinces and from France — as well as soldiers and recently-trained volunteers over the past week — has allowed firefighters to fight the blazes more aggressively.“All this help coming from other provinces, other countries, is really welcomed and, for us, it makes a really big difference in the field because we can attack the fires more aggressively,” he said in an interview Sunday. He said there are now more than 1,200 firefighters battling Quebec’s woodland blazes, with around 100 more expected to arrive from the United States on Tuesday.Quebec premier François Legault said last Monday there were less than 500 firefighters on the ground in the ...

More companies setting ‘net-zero’ climate targets, but few have credible plans, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

BONN, Germany (AP) — A growing number of companies are pledging to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to ” net zero ” as part of global efforts to tackle climate change, but that goal is rarely supported by a credible plan, according to a report published Monday.The idea behind net zero is to stop adding planet-warming gas to the atmosphere, either by preventing the emissions in the first place or removing an equivalent amount through natural or technological means. Scientists say the world needs to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial times.The net-zero goal has gained traction in recent years. While 149 countries have such targets, up from 124 in late 2020, the number of publicly listed corporations aiming for net zero increased from 417 to 929, according to the Net Zero Stocktake report compiled by experts from four independent research organizations.“You can see cities ta...

California skate park named for Black motorist fatally beaten in police traffic stop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Officials dedicated a California skate park Sunday in honor of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who spent much of his youth in the state and was killed last January in what prosecutors said was a fatal beating by police in Tennessee during a traffic stop.An avid skateboarder, Nichols spent much time as a youth at the park on the outskirts of Sacramento. City officials and others held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated skate park now named for Nichols. Nichols moved to Memphis, Tennessee, shortly before the coronavirus pandemic and lived there with his mother and stepfather. He enjoyed photography — especially taking photos of landscapes and sunsets.“Photography helps me look at the world in a more creative way. It expresses me in ways I cannot write down for people,” Nichols wrote on his website showcasing his photos.On the night of Jan. 7, Memphis police pulled over Nichols on his way home from taking pictures of the sky. Just a few minutes from ho...

"I'm not Superman, I can't stop bullets:" 3 teens, woman in hospital after shooting near CTA Red Line Station

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

CHICAGO — Three teens and a woman are in the hospital after a shooting that happened near a CTA Red Line Station Sunday afternoon, according to the Chicago Fire Department.Fire officials said an EMS plan one was called around 2:40 p.m. where four people in total were taken to various hospitals from 15 West 95th Street, three with gunshot wounds and one other who fell and was injured during the commotion of the incident.The three victims who were shot were all teenagers, according to CFD.One victim, a 16-year-old male, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, while two other 19-year-old males were taken to Trinity Hospital in fair condition, fire officials said.One adult female, 44, was taken to Trinity Hospital in good condition after falling during the incident."Running, screaming," said Savion Lesser, a witness describing the incident. "One lady … hit the floor immediately. I'm not Superman, I can't stop bullets, I had to protect myself first." ...

American musician detained in Russia: state media

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

(The Hill) - An American musician has been detained in Russia in connection with accusations of drug trafficking, according to multiple reports.  TASS reported Saturday that a Moscow court ordered Michael Travis Leake to remain in custody on charges of “large-scale illegal production, sale or trafficking of narcotic drugs” until August 6. The Russian news agency reported that his friend, Valeria Grobanyuk, was also arrested in connection to this case and that each of them could face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.  The Associated Press reported that Leake was suspected of selling mephedrone, which has effects that are similar to MDMA and cocaine. The State Department said in a statement to multiple news outlets that it is aware of the reports of the U.S. citizen being detained in Russia.   Brittney Griner, teammates confronted by ‘provocateur’ at airport “The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad. We are aware o...

Bayport man charged in ‘unprovoked’ slaying of 19-year-old who graduated hours earlier

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

A Bayport man has been charged with murder in connection with a Brooklyn Park shooting last week in which a 19-year-old was killed hours after he graduated from high school.Daniel Martez Walker, 31, of Bayport was charged this week with one count of second degree murder with intent, not premeditated, and one count of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a violent crime.Although the victim was not identified by officials, a GoFundMe account identified the 19-year-old as Reese Crenshaw, who had “not left the house in months” so he could do the work necessary to graduate. As of Sunday night, more than $11,000 had been raised.The GoFundMe account said the Crenshaw had graduated from high school the night before after a “long road” where he was determined to do what it took to graduate.“He canceled plans with friends and missed family gatherings — all so he could graduate on time,” the page said.About 15 members of his family showed up a...