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Tourists received no safety warnings before New Zealand volcano eruption killed 22, prosecutor says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

WEL.LINGTON, New Zealand — Tourists received no health and safety warnings before they landed on New Zealand’s most active volcano ahead of a 2019 eruption that killed 22 people, a prosecutor said Tuesday.There were 47 people on White Island, the tip of an undersea volcano also known by its Indigenous Maori name Whakaari, when superheated steam erupted on Dec. 9. Most of the 25 people who survived were severely burned.The island’s owners, brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle, their company Whakaari Management Ltd. and tour operators I.D. Tours NZ Ltd. and Tauranga Tourism Services Ltd. went on trial Tuesday in Auckland District Court for allegedly failing to adequately protect tourists and staff.Prosecutor Kristy McDonald said in opening the prosecution case that the eruption at the popular tourist destination was not predictable but was foreseeable. The 20 tourists and two tour guides who died were given no warning of the risks, she said.“They were not given the opportunity to m...

Yemen’s rivals are not only clashing on the ground but battling economically for revenue from ports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Sporadic armed clashes between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and government forces are straining peace efforts, and the rivals are now also battling over revenue from ports, trade, banking and natural resources, the country’s U.N. envoy said Monday. Special Representative Hans Grundberg told the U.N. Security Council that the fight over economic wealth “has become inseparable from the political and military conflict.” While fighting has decreased markedly in Yemen since a truce in April 2022, he said, “continued sparks of violence alongside public threats to return to large-scale fighting increase fear and tensions.” Grundberg said Yemenis have enjoyed the longest period of relative calm since the civil war erupted in 2014, but “the situation on the ground remains fragile and challenging.” He pointed to clashes in five frontline areas, including Hodeida where Yemen’s main port is and the oil-rich eastern province of Marib which Iran-backed Houthi rebels at...

Colombian prosecutors accuse former presidential candidate of taking money from Odebrecht

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian prosecutors accused a former presidential candidate Monday of receiving at least $2.8 million from Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction giant that has admitted paying bribes across Latin America to secure infrastructure contracts.Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, a former finance minister who came close to winning the 2014 election, was charged with fraud, illicit enrichment and falsification of documents. Charged at a public hearing that lasted four hours, Zuluaga pleaded innocent.Prosecutors said Zuluaga met with Odebrecht executives prior to the 2014 presidential campaign and agreed to a scheme through which the construction company helped pay for the services of a political strategist, using accounts in Panama. Officials said Zuluaga did not report the Odebrecht contributions with Colombia’s National Electoral Council, as required by law, and instructed his son, who was then his campaign manager, to hide those funds.Zuluaga was a close ally of conservative A...

CPD: Chicago teen missing for two weeks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing teenager who was last seen on Saturday, June 24.Zaden Miller, 15, was last seen on the 4800 block of North Francisco Avenue in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood on Saturday, June 24. Missing Portage Park teen considered high-risk, police say Miller has been described as 5-foot-1, weighing 101 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.Anyone with information regarding Zaden Miller's whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at

Pair of carjackings happen within 2 hours of each other on same street in Lake View

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

CHICAGO — Two carjackings took place within two hours of one another on the same street in Lake View early Monday morning, according to the Chicago Police Department.The first carjacking took place around 2:20 a.m. in the 3200 block of North Ashland Avenue. Police said an 18-year-old male victim relayed that two unidentified male offenders got out of a black Jeep and approached him as he was entering his vehicle. One of the offenders pointed a gun at the victim and demanded his keys, to which the victim complied and and the offenders fled the scene in a black Honda Civic with the black Jeep following behind it. Sex offender charged with murder after 10-year-old Rockford girl found dead The second carjacking took place around 3:43 a.m. in the 4000 block of North Ashland Avenue.Police said in this incident a male and female victim said three unidentified male offenders exited a black sedan and approached them as they were parking their vehicle. One of the offenders then pointed a gu...

Rent prices declined in these 2 major US cities since last year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Soaring prices have dominated headlines over the past couple of years, but two large US cities have actually seen the average rent price fall from this time last year.According to Zillow's June Rental Market Report, average asking rents rose 4.1% from this time last year, but in Las Vegas and Austin, the typical rent dropped 1.8% to $1,804 and 0.8% to $1,941, respectively. It was a popular national monument, until it was robbed to extinction The greatest year-over-year increases were predominantly in the Northeast and Midwest, with the greatest jump on the West Coast happening in San Diego, where typical rents are now around $3,175 after a 5.3% increase.Here are the top 10 increases in rent from this time last year, according to Zillow:CityTypical RentYear-over-year IncreaseBoston, MA$3,0457.0%Hartford, CT$1,8276.9%Providence, RI$2,0216.9%Cincinnati, OH$1,5186.8%Chicago, IL$2,0506.3%Kansas City, MO$1,4346.2%Louisville, KY$1,3686.1%St. Louis, MO$1,3716.0%Buffalo, NY$1,3...

Woman killed in crash involving APD officer identified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The identity of a woman killed in a crash involving an Austin police officer was released Monday.APD said Maria Irene Casillas Reyes, 43, died at the scene of the crash June 30 in the 1300 block of N. U.S. Highway 183 northbound after a collision with an on-duty APD officer in a marked APD patrol car. The officer, identified as Alyssa Preuss, was injured in the crash and was taken to the hospital for treatment. She has since been released, APD said.APD released the identity of a person killed in a crash June 30 involving an APD officer. (KXAN photo/Andy Way)APD released the identity of a person killed in a crash June 30 involving an APD officer. (KXAN photo/Andy Way)APD released the identity of a person killed in a crash June 30 involving an APD officer. (KXAN photo/Andy Way)APD said its vehicular homicide unit is investigating the crash and its internal affairs is also doing an internal investigation to "determine whether any policy violations occurred."It's the ...

'Is it sustainable?' $12 billion to reduce school property tax rate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) --- After months of trying to reach a deal, leaders of the Texas Senate and House announced proposed legislation for property tax relief on Monday.The proposed legislation includes: Over $12 billion spent on reducing the school property tax rate for all homeowners and business properties.Every homeowner who homesteads their home (about 5.7 million homeowners) will get a $100,000 homestead exemption.Non-homesteaded properties, valued at $5 million and under, including residential and commercial properties, will receive a 20% circuit breaker on appraised values as a three-year pilot project.The legislation will also include savings on the franchise tax for small businesses and create newly elected positions on local appraisal boards. COVERAGE: $18 billion deal reached: Texans to get biggest property tax cut in state’s history School property tax reliefPart of that deal was to use billions of dollars to lower the school property tax rate. But what impact might that...

Mayor Kirk Watson discusses DPS partnership, accountability

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said he "inherited a badly depleted police force" when he took office in January. He called the DPS partnership in Austin a "practical, innovative way to help."The initiative originally launched at the end of March as a way to address APD's staffing shortage. It took a pause between mid-May and early July so troopers could focus on border efforts. IN DEPTH: How does DPS traffic stop data differ from APD’s? The Public Safety Commission voted Monday to recommend that council move to end the partnership unless certain conditions are met. The resolution calls for specific guidelines related to accountability, timelines and data sharing. Note, the commission only has the power to make recommendations to city council. Council members could decide not to take action. KXAN public safety reporter Brianna Hollis sat down with Mayor Watson one-on-one Monday to discuss the program. Behind the scenes of how the APD, DPS partnership started "We were se...

‘Keep going for the kids’: Family of mother of five who was murdered by ex-husband opens up a year later

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:06 GMT

Almost a year has passed since 31-year-old Carissa Odegaard was murdered while picking up her children at her ex-husband’s house in Warren to bring them to church.It’s been a year of adjustments for the children, who range in age from 4 to 10. They now live with Odegaard’s parents in Jamestown.“It won’t be the thing that defines their life. It will be a piece of it, and it will be a big piece of it, but it won’t define their childhood or their life,” said Odegaard’s sister, Anna Woinarowicz.Life still isn’t full of smiles. There are weekly therapy sessions, nightmares, and hard conversations.Odegaard’s last words were “Call the police,” as her oldest son ran into the street to stop a car for help.At 4 years old, Oscar Odegaard still talks about the day his mother held him in her arms while his father, Anders Odegaard, bashed Carissa Odegaard’s head into the floor and strangled her.He often says: “Mom...