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Fire chief: 2 missing after massive blaze at North Carolina construction site

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two construction workers were still unaccounted for late Thursday after a massive, fast-moving fire broke out at a North Carolina construction site earlier in the day, the city’s fire chief said.Fifteen workers, including a crane operator, were rescued by the more than 90 firefighters called to the five-alarm blaze in the South Park neighborhood of Charlotte just after 9 a.m., Fire Chief Reginald Johnson said at a news conference. The crane operator was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Johnson said. Two workers were unaccounted for according to the construction foreman, the chief said.The fire moved rapidly, and as crews worked to rescue all of the construction workers in the building, firefighters got trapped on two occasions and had to be rescued by fellow firefighters, Johnson said.“The men and women of this department put themselves in harm’s way and actually had to call for assistance themselves to get out...

Berlusconi’s back! Former Italian PM leaves hospital after long stay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was discharged from hospital Friday, after more than a month of treatment.The 86-year-old Forza Italia leader was rushed into intensive care on April 5 after suffering from severe breathlessness. Hospital doctors later confirmed that he was being treated for a type of chronic leukemia.“Good news. Come on Silvio. We are waiting for you on the field to fight many battles together,” wrote Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Twitter, announcing that her ally in Italy’s right-wing coalition government had been discharged from the hospital.In video footage, Berlusconi waved from the back seat of an Audi as he exited the hospital Berlusconi’s health had started showing signs of improvement in the last couple of weeks. On May 6, Berlusconi sent two video messages from the hospital to his party members and supporters saying he was ready to return to work.On Sunday, Meloni and Deputy Prime Minister M...

Column: Liam Hendriks’ return could be the only thing shellshocked Chicago White Sox fans have to look forward to

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

Liam Hendriks’ return to the mound for the Chicago White Sox has been a moment fans have been looking forward to since the news of his cancer was announced in January.No one knew whether it even would be possible for Hendriks to come back from non-Hodgkin lymphoma this season, so having him back in late May seems like a gift.It’s a tribute to Hendriks’ perseverance and work ethic, two traits that have defined his baseball journey and made him an elite closer.Hendriks was not available to speak with the media Thursday when he returned to White Sox Park to map out the next steps in his rehab, which includes a bullpen session or throwing live batting practice Friday.How Hendriks feels Saturday will determine whether he returns to the minors for more work, gets activated over the weekend or waits for the upcoming trip to Cleveland and Detroit.Manager Pedro Grifol said before Thursday’s game that the Sox haven’t discussed where to start him if he’s ind...

Ryan Weber’s heartbeat sets tone for Yankees’ ‘funky bunch’ bullpen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

TORONTO — After getting to know Ryan Weber over the last year and a half or so, Ron Marinaccio feels there’s one thing that stands out about the Yankees pitcher.It’s not the journeyman’s high-80s velocity. Nor is it the right-hander’s 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. And Weber’s career numbers aren’t exactly anything to write home about, either.But “it seems like his heartbeat never wavers at all,” Marinaccio said, “no matter what situation it is.”That appeared to be the case Thursday against the Blue Jays when Weber entered in the seventh after Nestor Cortes walked the inning’s leadoff hitter. Pitching with a 3-1 lead, the reliever known as “Webdog” gave up a single and a walk to load the bases with nobody out. It looked as if the Yankees were doomed.But then Weber’s luck changed, as he induced three straight fly balls for outs. Only one of them, a sac fly from pinch-hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr., re...

Chicago White Sox minor-league report: Injury news on Colson Montgomery and Noah Schultz — and what’s next for Oscar Colás

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

Colson Montgomery had a productive 2022 while playing for three teams in the Chicago White Sox system.A midback strain has delayed the top prospect’s start to 2023. The 2021 first-round pick continues to rehab, according to assistant general manager Chris Getz.“It has improved a good amount here in the last week or two,” Getz said Thursday afternoon. “And we are increasing his activities and look forward to getting him back.“He would have liked to be with an affiliate out of the gate, but this midback strain seems to be kind of in the rearview mirror and hope to get a good chunk of the season this year.”Three of the top four prospects in the Sox system are in various stages of coming back from injuries.Third baseman Bryan Ramos, the organization’s No. 3 prospect, is in extended spring training recovering from a groin-related injury.“He’s (been a designated hitter), played third base,” Getz said. “He’s got a coup...

5 wedding venues with an 'I do' view in San Diego

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- With wedding season in full swing, the planning is on for many couples looking to tie the knot and cement their promise of forever. Before couples decide on color schemes, flower arrangements and dessert options, the feat of selecting the perfect venue is at the top of most wedding-planning checklists. There's good news for those looking to get married in Southern California: San Diego County is isn't slacking when it comes to majestic landscapes perfect for saying "I do." 4 castles within driving distance of San Diego From coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean to green valleys tucked between mountain ranges, here are five wedding venues with a view in the region:The Condor's Nest RanchThis rustic wedding venue sits on a 15-acre property in Pala that beholds panoramic views that span all the way to the coast. Couples can share their vows beneath a 200-year-old ash tree as it sways in the wind to the expression of love. This venue is ideal for those who wish to...

In El Salvador, transgender community struggles for rights and survival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Fabricio Chicas knows exactly what will happen. As soon as he hands in his ID, the employee on the other side of the counter will look at him with suspicion, asking why he carries a document that identifies him as female.Whether it is a bank, a hospital or a human resources office, the 49-year-old Salvadoran provides the same answer: I am a transgender man who has not been able to change his name and gender on his ID.His fate is shared by many transgender people in El Salvador, a Central American country where the influence of Catholicism and evangelicalism is pervasive, abortion is banned, and the legalization of same-sex marriage seems unlikely for now.In 2022, the country’s Supreme Court determined that the inability of a person to change their name because of gender identity constitutes discriminatory treatment. A ruling ordered the National Assembly to enact a reform that facilitates that process, but the deadline expired three months ago, and t...

Gunman kills one, wounds another and then himself at General Motors subsidiary in Ohio, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

MORAINE, Ohio (AP) — Police say a man with a gun shot two people at an auto parts plant in Ohio, killing one and wounding another before wounding himself.Officers and firefighters responded just after 9 p.m. Thursday to a report of an active shooter at the General Motors subsidiary, Moraine Police Sgt. Andrew Parish said.Parish said the suspect “targeted” the two victims. One died at the scene and the other was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect also shot himself and was transported to a hospital for treatment, Parish said. There were other reported injuries that occurred while the workplace was being evacuated that didn’t involve gunfire, Parish said.The DMAX plant in Moraine provides diesel engines for pickup trucks, according to the General Motors website.The Associated Press

Stock market today: Wall Street points higher on hopes for US debt ceiling breakthrough

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

TOKYO — Wall Street pointed toward gains before the bell Friday, potentially setting up markets for their best week since March as optimism about a U.S. debt ceiling deal grew heading into the weekend.Futures for the Dow Jones industrials and S&P 500 each rose 0.2% in premarket trading.Hopes are high that the United States Congress would reach a deal to avoid defaulting on the nation’s debt.President Joe Biden, in Hiroshima for the Group of Seven summit of major industrialized nations, has said he’s confident about reaching a deal with Republicans to allow the U.S. government to increase its credit limit and borrow more. The U.S. government is scheduled to run out of cash to pay its bills as soon as June 1 unless a deal is made, and economists say a U.S. federal default could have catastrophic consequences across financial markets and the economy.Stocks have remained remarkably resilient since early April despite a long list of worries. A major reason for that is hope the ...

Prosecutor suggests any indictments in Trump election investigation would likely come in August

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:43 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta prosecutor investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and others broke the law while trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia seems to be suggesting that any grand jury indictments in the case would likely come in August.Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter Thursday sent a letter to county Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville indicating that she plans to have much of her staff work remotely for most days during the first three weeks of August and asking that judges not schedule trials and in-person hearings during part of that time. Copied in on the letter are 20 other county officials, including Sheriff Pat Labat, the court clerk and top leaders.“Thank you for your consideration and assistance in keeping the Fulton County Judicial Complex safe during this time,” Willis wrote in the letter, first reported by The New York Times.Willis last month wrote local law enforcement leaders advising them that she intended ...