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Christmas Eve worshippers to face security screening at Cologne cathedral as police cite attack risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Cologne police acting on indications of a possible attack searched Germany’s landmark cathedral with sniffer dogs Saturday and said worshippers attending Christmas Eve Mass would undergo security screening before being allowed in.In Austria, police in Vienna also said they were taking heightened security measures around churches and Christmas markets, deploying both uniformed and plainclothes officers. Neither police agency specified the threat, but the German news agency dpa said authorities were responding to signs of a possible attack by Islamic extremists, without citing a specific source. Michael Esser, head of the criminal investigation department of the Cologne police, said in a news release that the threat indications pointed to New Year’s Eve rather than Christmas, but added that “we are putting everything possible in motion for the security of cathedral visitors on Christmas Eve.” Cologne’s towering cathedral, whose twin spires are 157...

Inmate dies after he was found unresponsive at highly scrutinized West Virginia jail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

BEAVER, W.Va. (AP) — An inmate at a West Virginia jail scrutinized in lawsuits citing inmate deaths and alleging poor living conditions was pronounced dead Friday morning, officials said.Correctional officers at Southern Regional Jail found the 24-year-old man unresponsive in his cell and attempted life-saving measures, according to a Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation statement. He was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, WCHS reported.Authorities did not immediately provide further details or reveal the deceased inmate’s identity. The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Criminal Investigation Division and the West Virginia State Police have opened an investigation into the death.Several former correctional officers with Southern Regional Jail were indicted last month by a federal grand jury in connection with the 2022 death of an incarcerated man who was beaten while handcuffed and restrained in an interview room and later a jai...

1 dead, another injured in shooting at Florida shopping mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

A man died in a shooting Saturday at a shopping mall in central Florida in which the victim was apparently “targeted” for the attack, police said.Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken told reporters Saturday evening that the man was killed after he was shot multiple times in a common area at Paddock Mall in Ocala, located about 80 miles northwest of Orlando. A woman was shot in the leg, police said.The suspect fled the scene and left behind the firearm, Balken said.Police responded to the mall around 3:40 p.m. after calls of multiple shots being fire at the mall.“Officers immediately made entry into the mall (and) ultimately discovered that this was not what we would consider an active shooter,” Balken told reporters.Several other mall patrons also suffered injuries during the shooting, with one person having chest pain and another reporting a broken arm, police said.An email inquiry was sent to the mall’s owner, WPG. The mall has dozens of stores, including J...

Man critically injured in Gage Park shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was critically injured on Saturday afternoon in a shooting on the city's Southwest Side. According to Chicago police, the shooting happened just before 1 p.m. in the 2400 block of West 55th Street in Gage Park. CPD: Man wanted in connection with deadly West Side shooting Officers say the victim, a 28-year-old man, was standing on a sidewalk in the area when a vehicle pulled up and an individual inside opened fire. According to officers the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.Authorities were called to the scene after a man who was driving by spotted the victim lying in the street and reached out to police. 1 injured after car crashes into Maine Township home Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and authorities say no arrests have been made. Police say an investigation is now underway. Anyone with information that could help authorities in their investigation is asked to call ...

Where is Santa? Here's how to track him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

Nexstar will livestream the NORAD Santa Tracker in the video player above from 6 a.m. ET on Saturday until 1 a.m. ET on Sunday.(NEXSTAR) — The stockings have been hung by the chimney with care, which can only mean that St. Nicholas will soon arrive with his sleigh full of toys. Unlike Christmases of yore, we can track Santa and his reindeer as they come into town. As it has for over six decades, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) — a joint organization between the U.S. and Canada, is responsible for tracking everything flying in and around the two countries — will be tracking Santa this Christmas. The tradition began as an accident in 1955 but has remained a beloved mission ever since. NORAD doesn’t start tracking Santa until their radars let them know Santa has taken to the air on Christmas Eve, roughly around 4 a.m. ET. You can track Santa’s movements around the world on NORAD’s website. This winter’s El Niño could be one of...

Trail of Lights final night canceled Saturday due to rain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The final night of Trail of Lights was canceled Saturday because of rainy weather, according to organizers. People who bought tickets should monitor email for refund information, according to an Austin Trail of Lights Facebook post just before 4:30 p.m. Rainfall over Zilker Park area on Saturday (Austonian weather camera) KXAN First Warning Weather: Wet weekend weather ahead of breezy Christmas Day Earlier Saturday, organizers said the Zilker Tree and Polo Field parking area would be closed and unavailable for parking Saturday evening due to accumulated rains over the week.The parking area was previously closed on Thursday and Friday as well due to the recent rains.According to a statement, all Zilker Tree parking would automatically be refunded by Ticketbud within five to seven business days, and purchasers were asked to find an alternate form of arrival.

Wild coach John Hynes on when to fight: ‘Sometimes it’s (about) time and score’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

To fight, or not to fight. That is a question facing most, if not all, NHL hockey players at one time or another. Because it’s often not so clear cut.Marco Rossi, for instance, reduced the Wild’s cache of available forwards to 10 for a full 17 minutes on Thursday after picking a fight with Montreal’s Kaiden Guhle — who had just postered Kirill Kaprizov with a hard check into the boards — in the second period of Minnesota’s 4-3 overtime victory at Xcel Energy Center.It was a tough row to hoe for the Wild as they tried to hold off the hard-charging Canadiens, who tied early in the third period on a power play stemming from a double roughing minor on defenseman Zach Bogosian. On the other hand, Rossi’s actions went a long way with his teammates.“Just to show a guy’s willing to do that and stick up for your teammates, that’s how you build a great winning culture,” Bogosian said after the game.Head coach John Hynes, perhaps simply because Minnesota won the game, straddled the fence on Ro...

300 new Illinois laws take effect in 2024 - Here are five worth knowing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

ILLINOIS - The state of Illinois will ring in the new year with more than 300 new laws, ranging in scope from public safety to healthcare and many other sectors. FOX 2 reviewed the list of new laws and picked out five worth knowing for Illinoisans...Gun registrationIllinois gun owners who have certain assault weapons or attachments have until January 1 to register them with the state. It's a requirement as part of an assault weapons ban law that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed last winter, prohibiting the sale of many guns after Jan. 10. State leaders intend to use the registration database to keep track of the remaining legal assault weapons in the state. Anyone who doesn't follow that order could be charged with a misdemeanor as soon as New Year's Day. Mandatory paid leaveStarting next year, employers in Illinois have a legal obligation to provide paid leave to their employees. Gov. Pritzker signed an act last winter that requires 40 hours of paid leave a year for every worker in Illino...

Celebrity Banquet Center's Christmas toy drive brings joy to families in need 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Back in April, Jessica Palmer's family lost everything in a house fire. It all happened on her brother Allen Carter’s 19th birthday. "My bed, my room, everything went boom,” Carter said.  “All of everybody's beds and everybody's rooms were destroyed in the fire,” Palmer said. Allen has Down syndrome and eagerly looks forward to Christmas each year. “When he got to come here today and see how awesome this is and see Santa and experience this with our family and the amazing people that work here, it means a lot."  City officials saw bodycam footage after police SUV crashed into bar – Source Despite the challenges they faced this year, Jessica and her family feel grateful for the Moore’s who hosted this special Christmas brunch. "I'm the owner of Celebrity Dining and Celebrity Banquet Center,” Steve Moore said.  This is the fifth year that the Celebrity Banquet Center has hosted this toy drive and giveaway. Moore said his ultimate goal is t...

Air Force grounds out 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:25 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Emmanuel Michel rushed for a career-best 203 yards and two 1-yard touchdowns and Zac Larrier passed for one TD and ran for another score, leading Air Force to a 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday.Air Force (9-4) posted its fifth consecutive bowl win after losing its last four games of the season.James Madison (11-2) lost in regulation for the first time this season while playing in the program’s first bowl game. The Dukes, who are completing their transition to the FBS level from FCS after being a two-time national champion in the lower division, earned the bowl berth after there weren’t enough bowl-eligible teams to fill all the spots.Air Force’s triple-option running attack got the better of the top run defense in the FBS. The Falcons entered second in team rushing at 275.8 yards per game, and ground out 351 yards in the victory. JMU came in allowing 61.5 rushing yards, with a high of 146 yards....