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Houthis launch sea drone to attack ships hours after US, allies issue ‘final warning’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An armed unmanned surface vessel launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen got within a “couple of miles” of U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea before detonating on Thursday, just hours after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a “final warning” to the Iran-backed militia group to cease the attacks or face potential military action. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Navy operations in the Middle East, said it was the first time the Houthis had used an unmanned surface vessel, or USV, since their harassment of commercial ships in the Red Sea began after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. They have, however, used them in years past. Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the USV’s are a key part of the Houthi maritime arsenal and were used during previous battles against the Saudi coalition forces that intervened in Yemen’s war. They have regularly been u...

Orland Park man facing hate crime charges after allegedly punching neighbor, making hateful comments on Palestinian origin

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

ORLAND PARK Ill. -- An Orland Park man is charged with a hate crime after allegedly punching his neighbor and making hateful comments towards the couple's Palestinian origin in a garbage can dispute.Terrence P. Clyne, 68, is facing a felony charge of hate crime and a battery charge. According to the Village of Orland Park, police responded to a report of a battery in the 15400 block of Begonia Court around 10:35 a.m. Wednesday and found two battered individuals and a suspect. Imam killed outside New Jersey mosque, and the shooter remains at large, authorities say Investigators found that Clyne battered a man after he moved garbage cans from one area of a communal driveway to another. Clyne made hateful comments against the man's Palestinian origin. Clyne then allegedly punched the man in the face and engaged in a physical altercation.At the time, the man's wife attempted to verbally deescalate the situation when reports say Clyne began to make hateful comments against her Palestin...

Attorney: Catholic HS in Southwest suburbs failed to act on allegations of bullying, harassment; school faces $1M lawsuit

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

NEW LENOX, Ill. — The attorney representing a former student and his father who have filed a million-dollar lawsuit against a Catholic high school in Chicago's Southwest suburbs says the school failed to act when his client reported incidents of bullying and sexual harassment.The news outlet Patch reported this week that the father of a former student and hockey player at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox is suing the school for more than $1 million, claiming his son was bullied and sexually harassed so severely by his former teammates that he attempted suicide.Steven Glink, attorney for the former student, told WGN his client and his client's father went as far as filing a police report. Still, they claim, nothing was done."My clients made over 50 reports of bullying, and from my perspective, the defendants did absolutely nothing," Glink claims.  DCFS still failing to find appropriate care for kids, leaving them locked-up, report shows Glink says the bullying went on f...

Iowa students describe chaos after shots fired at Perry High School: 'Leave, leave, leave'

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

PERRY, IOWA (WHO) -- A Perry High School student said he heard a "couple of bangs" that he thought were coming from band practice on Thursday morning. Even after he was told it was a shooting, he assumed it was a prank – until he saw officers with guns drawn.Law enforcement confirmed that multiple people were shot at the high school in Perry, Iowa. During a news conference Thursday morning, Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said it wasn't clear at the time exactly how many people were shot or what the extent of their injuries were. The call came in as an active shooter at 7:37 a.m. Multiple shooting victims reported at Perry High School "I just heard a couple of bangs, not really gunshots," said sophomore Carlos Monzon. "They were not very loud. We saw a bunch of kids running and we asked what happened because we were kind of concerned. We thought it was just for band or something messing around.""One of my girlfriends' friends said it was a shooting and there was a shooter wit...

1 injured following fiery collision with 18-wheeler in north Austin

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — First responders said one person was injured Thursday following a fiery collision involving an 18-wheeler in north Austin.The Austin Fire Department said it responded to a vehicle rescue and hazmat task force call at approximately 9:40 a.m. in the 11900 block of North Interstate 35 service road. The AFD report said a sedan drove under an 18-wheeler.Fire crews respond to fiery crash in north Austin (AFD photo)First responders arrive at fiery crash in north Austin (AFD photo) Fire crews respond to fiery crash in north Austin (AFD photo)Vehicle trapped under 18-wheeler after crash in north Austin (AFD photo)Vehicle trapped under 18-wheeler after crash in north Austin (ATCEMS photo)Vehicle trapped under 18-wheeler after crash in north Austin (ATCEMS photo)Austin-Travis County EMS said the situation was downgraded from a vehicle rescue since all occupants were out of the vehicles.ATCEMS said medics assessed the patients, and one adult was taken to the hospital with potent...

Texas accounts for almost half of the hottest zip codes for real estate in 2023

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nine of the top 20 hottest zip codes in 2023 are in Texas, according to real estate site Opendoor.The rankings are determined based on the number of homes that went into contract within 90 days of listing.Houston area 77433 and 77493 rank first and second nationwide among zip codes where people bought homes the fastest last year. RELATED: What were Opendoor's hottest zip codes in 2022? Five other Texas zip codes appear in the top 10: 75126, 76227 and 76179 in the DFW Metroplex, 78130 in New Braunfels, 78253 in San AntonioLeander's 78641 ranks 13th, while another Houston area zip code, 77449, ranks 20th."Top neighborhoods such as Leander reflect that homeowners prefer to escape the hustle and bustle of bigger cities for towns that offer most everything they need — including the right price," said Jackson Upcheshaw, brokerage lead for Opendoor. "In addition to a cost of living that is below the national average, Leander offers the convenient locations and turnkey hom...

Video: White squirrel spotted in Cedar Park

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — "Watch something you'll never see again in your life." That's what Randy De Hoyos said Tuesday as he captured a white squirrel on camera off Parmer Lane in Cedar Park. We reached out to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to try and pinpoint why the squirrel was displaying such a stark color. TPWD told KXAN that the squirrel likely has albinism. “With the exception of its white coloration, the albino resembles normal members of its species in all respects. When it is natural for members of the species to be white, the true albino can be distinguished by its pink or red eyes," according to a TPWD webpage the department pointed us to.TPWD said true albinism is very rare to be seen in the wild as it makes it difficult for these animals to survive. In prey animals, like squirrels, their natural color provides camouflage from predators, but an albino squirrel will find itself "in direct contract most of the time." For University of Texas at Austin students,...

Crane Watch: Apartment construction booming in Austin even as rental rates fall

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- Multifamily housing development in the Austin area is on fire.Roughly 18,000 multifamily units were built during the first nine months of 2023, according to commercial real estate firm Partners. In the third quarter alone, production nearly doubled compared with the same period in 2022, from 3,996 to 7,508 units built. But that huge increase in supply has led to a decline in occupancy rates, which fell to roughly 89% in the third quarter from 92% in the year-ago period, Partners reported.The increase in supply in the Austin area mirrors national trends, with markets from coast-to-coast becoming less competitive because of a record amount of new apartments and rental units delivered. That trend is expected to continue into 2024 and could mean slower growth in rental rates or even cuts.And as of November, the Austin-Round Rock metro area ranked No. 2 in the nation for percentage declines in rental rates, with a year-over-year decrease of about ...

Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins elected board chair

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

Joe Atkins, who represents District 2 on the Dakota County Board of Commissioners, will serve as the board chair for 2024.Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins was elected board chair on Jan. 2, 2024. (Courtesy of Dakota County)Elected on Tuesday by his fellow commissioners, Atkins said his hope for the county’s work in the upcoming year is to reflect the Dakota language word Wódakota, which describes the Dakota way of life and symbolizes respect, courtesy, humility and compassion, according to a county news release.Atkins, who succeeded Commissioner Liz Workman, has served on the board since 2017. Commissioner Mike Slavik, who represents District 1, was elected vice chair.Priorities highlighted by Atkins for 2024 include social service improvements, the opening of the Kaposia Library in South St. Paul, transportation safety projects, improvements to the Lake Byllesby Dam and the board’s strategic policy issues of housing, economic development and county finances.The county will cel...

Oscar predictions: They can’t all be nominated for best picture, can they?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:24:57 GMT

The good news is that it’s been a great year for movies. The bad news is that, now, the battle for best picture will be bloodier than ever.With such a wide field of acclaimed contenders, plenty of worthy films will be dealt a bad hand when the Oscar nominations are announced Jan. 23. Even today’s self-imposed assignment to narrow the list to the 10 likeliest nominees proved a harrowing task; instead, I have hedged with an unlucky 13.Ahead of the Golden Globes on Sunday, and the bellwether industry nominations next week from the producers’ and actors’ guilds, here are the current contenders with the most viable shot at a best-picture nomination, ranked in descending order according to their certainty.‘Oppenheimer’: Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic has the feeling of an old-fashioned sweeper: It’s a highbrow film and a populist hit — exactly the sort of movie Oscar voters and general audiences should be able to agree upon. Still, this race isn’t sewn up. Recent best-picture winn...