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Life in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine is grim. People are fleeing through a dangerous corridor

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

SUMY, Ukraine (AP) — Whenever 52-year-old Anna is agitated, she senses the chilling touch of a gun barrel between her brows — a haunting reminder of an encounter with a group of Russian soldiers on her street about a year ago.On that day, amid tears and screams, the soldiers threatened to kill her and her husband, fired bullets on the ground between their feet and then dragged her brother-in-law to an unknown location, apparently furious that he couldn’t guide them to where they could find alcohol.Two weeks later, Anna’s husband, who himself had been hospitalized previously because of heart problems, found his brother’s body in the forest, not far from the village where they lived, in a Russian-occupied area of Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. Two weeks after that, he died. “His heart couldn’t bear it,” Anna said. Alone and afraid, Anna sank into a depression.“I don’t know how I coped with it,” she says, repeating the phrase over and over as tears run down her...

4 officers charged in Christian Glass death due in court on Tuesday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Four additional officers charged in connection with the death of Christian Glass are due in court Tuesday morning.Glass, 22, was shot and killed in his car in June 2022 after he called for help when his car broke down in Silver Plume. He told emergency dispatchers he had possible weapons in his car, including knives and a hammer, which his family said he had for an amateur geology trip. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The hour-long encounter was captured on multiple body-worn cameras.Glass was shot six times by a Clear Creek County deputy. According to the video, deputies busted a window of the vehicle, shot him with bean bags and used a Taser against him. Glass, showing some signs of paranoia and some incoherence, never left the vehicle.Glass can be seen using his hands to make a heart against the window before it is broken. Multiple officers are also captured surrounding Glass’ car.Duty to intervene ...

Waffle House server receives $1,000 tip from Broncos player

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

PARKER, Colo. (KDVR) — A Parker restaurant server got the surprise of the holiday season after receiving a $1,000 tip from one of the Denver Broncos players.Waffle House employee Samantha Ramirez told FOX31 she usually isn’t fazed by celebrities.“I don’t fangirl out about people," she said.When Broncos player Justin Simmons visited the restaurant in Parker with a group of friends, Ramirez was prepared.“I was like, there was so many of them. I’m like, all right. I was just ready to go to work," she said. How likely is it for the Denver Broncos to make the NFL playoffs? After the meal. Ramirez received a surprise.“Justin wanted to tip me, and I was like, y'all have done enough already, and he’s like, 'No, no, no. I want to take care of you,'" Ramirez said.The receipt showed Simmons had left her a $1,000 tip."You don’t have any idea how emotional — I mean, you don’t even know. We needed that, so thank you so much,” Ramirez told FOX31.After a big tip, Waffle House holds moneyThe mothe...

Will Levis rallies Titans for 2 late TDs, 28-27 win over Dolphins

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Rookie Will Levis threw for a career-high 327 yards and directed two touchdown drives in the final 4 1/2 minutes, and the Tennessee Titans rallied to stun Miami 28-27 on Monday night, knocking the Dolphins out of the top spot in the AFC.The Titans (5-8) held Tua Tagovailoa and Miami’s explosive offense in check for most of the game but still fell behind by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, thanks to critical mistakes that gave short fields to the Dolphins (9-4). Raheem Mostert ran for TDs of 3 yards and 5 yards to put Miami ahead 27-13.Levis, a second-round draft pick making his sixth career start, took over from there. He led a nine-play, 75-yard drive that took 1:54, capping it with a 3-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins and a 2-point conversion throw to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.The Titans got a stop and Levis quickly went to work, hitting Hopkins for 28 yards and Chigoziem Okonkwo for 16 yards to get into scoring position. Derrick Henry scored on a...

Melancon: IRS pushes Direct File despite problems

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

Some members of Congress recently voiced their disappointment with how the IRS will begin preparing and filing our tax returns — a process that accountants, private companies and taxpayers have typically serviced — under false pretenses. I, too, feel the urge to add my two cents.To advance its tax preparation pilot program, which it calls Direct File, the IRS used a study demonstrating more than 70% of the public approved the idea. However, according to a report from the Treasury’s inspector general, the strategic framing of this study may have been wholly dishonest. The IRS’ embracing and promoting of it may enable the agency to completely take over assessing the American people’s taxes. That is troubling for many reasons and potentially exacerbating racial wealth disparities is top among them.A recent Stanford University study found “that Black taxpayers are audited at three to five times the rate of non-Black taxpayers” despite race-blind audit selection. This is an issue that ev...

‘Concrete Utopia’ a tale of class & chaos

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

While South Korea’s “Concrete Utopia” solidly stands as an epic disaster film, it couldn’t be farther from Hollywood’s ‘70s cycle of escapist hits like “The Poseidon Adventure” and “The Towering Inferno.”“Concrete,” South Korea’s selection for the Best International Feature Academy Award, begins with a nasty earthquake that turns to rubble a city’s many, identical high-rise apartment towers – all except one.It’s winter, the survivors are cold, hungry, desperate – and no rescue teams, no ambulances appear.  The residents of the one surviving building, which is minus water or power, realize that as homeless survivors plea for shelter inside, they must make life or death decisions.They elect a leader (played by “Squid Game” star Lee Byung-hun) whose violent history is only gradually revealed – and who immediately secures control. Death and violence ensue.“I was always interested in Korean apartment buildings,” the director and co-writer Um Tae-hwa explained through an interpreter in a ...

Dear Abby: Friend in need now freeloading pain

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

Dear Abby: I let a friend who was going through a hard time stay on my couch when he would get too drunk to drive. Eleven years later, he’s still here. I told him from the beginning not to get hooked or fall in love with me, because I knew I would never feel the same.He has taken over my home with his collections but won’t sell anything. He also doesn’t pay any bills. I do not like his drinking. I am sober. He yells and screams for sex, but I don’t give in. I told him he needs to move on.I’m on disability and a fixed income. Legal eviction? Restraining order? He has threatened to walk away and leave me to deal with all his junk. Help! — Invaded in MissouriDear Invaded: You have been too kind for far too long. Before doing anything, talk with an attorney because of the length of time you have allowed this person to live with you (rent-free). If you can’t afford legal counsel, reach out to your local Legal Aid or Legal Services office.If the f...

Two Imperial County locations to hold free 'Dump Day' events

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Got unwanted items that need to go? The California Department of Transportation is holding free "Dump Day" events in El Centro and Brawley this weekend.Both locations, 1102 Montenegro Way at Caltrans El Centro Maintenance Yard and 200 South Palm Ave at Caltrans Brawley Maintenance Yard, will open Saturday from 8 a.m.- noon, or until capacity is reached at the site, traffic officials said in a news release Monday.On-site staff will accept non-hazardous, unwanted household items, according to Caltrans. Four mattresses and four tires separated from the rims will be taken per household.  52-foot whale washes up on Pacific Beach in San Diego Those attending are advised not to bring hazardous waste like batteries, paint, oils or flammables. Other undesired items include e-waste like televisions, computers, microwaves, stereo equipment and electronics, or construction debris like concrete, dirt, asphalt and asbestos.Motorists should properly secure and tarp all cargo loads a...

Malaysian leader appoints technocrat as his deputy finance minister in Cabinet shuffle

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appointed a technocrat as his deputy finance minister on Tuesday in a Cabinet shuffle aimed at strengthening his administration and winning public trust a year after taking power.The shuffle was widely expected and expanded the number of portfolios with the appointment of five new ministers. Anwar said the changes were needed to meet current demands and cope with global trends, including the growing impact of artificial intelligence.Anwar, who appointed himself as finance minister after taking office last year, revived the post of second finance minister and named the head of the country’s largest pension fund, Amir Hamzah Azizan, to the portfolio in a move that could ease criticism of the prime minister.While he still heads the Finance Ministry, Anwar said having a professional team will ensure “we are on right track and can focus on the economy.”Several key ministers swapped portfolios. Mohamad Hasan,...

Suicide bomber attacks police station in northwest Pakistan, killing 3 officers and wounding 16

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:33:52 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle at a police station’s main gate in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least three policemen and wounding 16 others, officials said. Some militants also opened fire and a shootout between them and security forces was still ongoing, police officer Kamal Khan said. Khan said the attack happened in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The province is a former stronghold of the militant Pakistani Taliban group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a rise in violence with several deadly attacks. In January, at least 101 people were killed when a suicide bomber targeted a mosque in Peshawar.No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, who have stepped up attacks on security forces since 2022. Authorities say the insurgents have become embolde...