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US has weighed a new envoy role for Middle East crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

The Biden administration has weighed a proposal to name a new top diplomat to focus on long-term Israeli-Palestinian relations, though for the moment it is sticking with a post focused on the immediate humanitarian crisis of the Israel-Hamas war, a U.S. official told POLITICO.If the conditions on the ground change and the current post is vacated, the administration may create a position with the broader mandate, the official said. Doing so soon could ease some of the day-to-day pressure off of President Joe Biden and his top aides during a presidential election year.The Biden administration has faced criticism for doing little to curtail Israel’s military operations, even though it speaks often about ending civilian harm, and ignoring the Israeli-Palestinian crisis for the majority of Biden’s time in office.Two other current U.S. officials and two former U.S. officials confirmed that discussions about an expanded envoy role have taken place within the administration, though each per...

The Middle East is on fire: What you need to know about the Red Sea crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

On October 7, Hamas fighters launched a bloody attack against Israel, using paragliders, speedboats and underground tunnels to carry out an offensive that killed almost 1,200 people and saw hundreds more taken back to the Gaza Strip as prisoners. Almost three months on, Israel’s massive military retaliation is reverberating around the region, with explosions in Lebanon and rebels from Yemen attacking shipping in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, Western countries are pumping military aid into Israel while deploying fleets to protect commercial shipping — risking confrontation with the Iranian navy.That’s in line with a grim prediction made last year by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, who said that Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza meant an “expansion of the scope of the war has become inevitable,” and that further escalation across the Middle East should be expected. What’s happening?The Israel Defense Forces are still fighting fierce battles for contro...

Your Tax Dollars at Work: 2023 top overtime earners [2,000+]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

For the 17th year, we roll out the Herald’s “Your Tax Dollars at Work” report. We start with every state worker who earned $50,000 and up in overtime — and it really goes up from there. Stay tuned for more searchable databases in the days to come. As always, all tips welcome to [email protected] search on this database, click the magnifying glass icon (at right) and enter names and more. Use the scroll bar at the bottom to move the data over to the right to sort by highest to lowest.

Lucas Giolito on veteran leadership and ‘very talented’ new teammate Vaughn Grissom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

Lucas Giolito won’t get to bond with the newly-traded Chris Sale about swapping White Sox for Red Sox, but he’s already gotten to know one of his new teammates.“I met him last offseason, and he’s a very talented kid,” Giolito said, when speaking to reporters over Zoom on Wednesday evening.He was talking about Vaughn Grissom, the infielder acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the shocking Sale trade on Dec. 30. The veteran starting pitcher and the barely-out-of-rookie-eligibility infielder are both represented by the same agency. Said agency put together a slew of workouts and events in Los Angeles, so Grissom flew out to partake.“(We) worked out together for a few days and I think we went to, like, a Lakers game or something like that,” Giolito recalled. “Looking forward to getting to know him better.”Grissom made his Major League debut at Fenway Park – and hit his first career home run over the Green Monster – when the Braves pai...

Two injured after crash in south Travis County, ATCEMS says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Two people were injured after they were pinned in their vehicle from a crash in south Travis County on Wednesday, Austin-Travis County EMS said on social media.Around 5:45 p.m., medics responded to the crash on Bee Creek Road and Pace Bend Road South. Travis County Starflight also responded to the crash. A total of five people were extricated from the vehicle.One person was transported by Starflight with serious injuries, and another was transported with non-life-threatening injuries to Dell. Furthermore, the other three people involved refused transport, medics said. Medics said to expect continued traffic closures as the crash remains under investigation.

Lake George businesses see increase in winter tourism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10)-After a couple of challenging winters, businesses in Lake George have some new attractions this season. Two of them are being described as weather-resistant and also not far apart. Previously the home of ice castles, which had a tough two years of trying to stay frozen, the Charles R. Wood Park is now Winter Realms: a mix of holiday lights and activities. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "We’ve only had to close two days because of rain. Whereas in the past, for an ice castle, if it was 40 degrees and rainy, it presented a far more difficult set of challenges," explained East Coast Operations Manager for Ice Castles and Winter Realms, Brad Buehlhorn.Just next door at Fort William Henry, Winter’s Dream offers another type of light show. On December 30, 2023, they sold the most tickets in a single day of 1,400 tickets. Winter’s Dream light show at Fort William Henry "We’ve sold over 15,000 tickets. We...

Belleville council, neighbors accused of discrimination after youth housing plan rejected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – A spirited debate took place Tuesday night over a plan to open what the city of Belleville deemed a ‘group home’ for young people in a residential neighborhood.The Belleville City Council rejected the plan in a 3-2 vote. Now, the organization behind the plan is accusing city leaders and neighbors of discrimination.The East St. Louis-based organization Teens Against Killing Everywhere (TAKE) recently partnered with Beyond Living, a non-profit organization specializing in shared housing, to buy the home around Belleville’s Highwood subdivision. TAKE CEO Vickie Kimmel said despite Tuesday night’s vote, they are moving forward with their plan.“The kids that are going to move here are not going to be pedophiles. They’re not criminals. They’re young people looking for a fresh start,” Kimmel said. “So, I don’t know why a politician would say no to that.” Missouri expecting two rounds of winter weather Kimmel said she was stunned the city council rejected their plan to ...

Arapahoe County Democrats select new legislator, days before lawmakers reconvene

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

Chad Clifford, a lobbyist and police officer, was selected by a Democratic vacancy committee Wednesday night to represent Greenwood Village and nearby Arapahoe County in the Colorado House this year, replacing a first-term legislator who resigned late last year.Clifford will replace Ruby Dickson, House District 37’s first-term legislator who resigned in early December, just over a year after her election to the state House. Clifford’s tenure begins immediately: The legislature reconvenes for its annual four-month session in seven days, and he will join a supermajority of House Democrats recently rocked by infighting and facing a hefty agenda. Clifford, who was selected by a 41-person vacancy committee, will serve out the rest of Dickson’s term before facing a full election in November, if not a primary in June.Two other candidates also vied to replace Dickson: Ashish Vaidya, an educator, and Kevin Biehl, a consultant who works for the Second Chance Center. The resu...

Massive sewage spill closes several L.A. County beaches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

A large sewage spill into the Los Angeles River has forced the closure of several L.A. County beaches on Wednesday.The spill occurred in San Gabriel where around 15,000 gallons of sewage spilled into Rubio Wash which leads to the L.A. River. A grease blockage in the city sewer main line caused the spill, according to Long Beach city officials.While the origin of the spill is 25 miles away, officials said the sewage will eventually arrive in Long Beach, contaminating over six miles of public beach areas.All swimming areas west of Belmont Shore are closed to the public at this time.“Water from the Los Angeles River connects to the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach, which means pollution anywhere upriver can affect the coastal waters and other waterways in the city,” officials explained. Long Beach residents can receive $25,000 toward their first home purchase The city’s health inspection team will monitor water quality along the affected beach sites. The swimming areas will remain cl...

Deputy fires on stolen vehicle suspects as they ram his patrol car

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:53 GMT

Two men accused of ramming a sheriff’s deputy vehicle with a stolen car and later leading deputies in a pursuit have been arrested, authorities announced.  The incident unfolded on Dec. 31 just after 1 p.m. when a deputy assigned to Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Lake Elsinore Station located the stolen vehicle in the area of Cervera and Prairie Road in Wildomar.  When the deputy attempted a traffic stop on the stolen vehicle, the suspects turned the car around and intentionally drove into the deputy’s driver’s side door, prompting the deputy to fire his weapon at the suspects, according to a RCSD news release.  The deputy’s vehicle was disabled and the two men, described male Hispanics, fled on foot northbound on Prairie Road and entered a silver Chevy Impala and drove away.  Silver Chevy Impala used by two stolen vehicle suspects to flee the scene after ramming a deputy vehicle and being fired at in Riverside County on Dec. 31, 2023. (RCSD)Later the same af...