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Kidnappers in Haiti release US nurse and her young daughter nearly 2 weeks after their abduction

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Kidnappers in Haiti released a U.S. nurse and her daughter Wednesday, nearly two weeks after they were snatched at gunpoint from the campus of a Christian-run school near Port-au-Prince, underscoring the severe security risks for visitors to a capital city largely controlled by gangs.The July 27 abduction of Alix Dorsainvil and her child happened the very day the U.S. State Department warned U.S. citizens to leave “as soon as possible” and ordered the departure of nonemergency U.S. government personnel from Haiti because of security concerns. The country remains under a U.S. “do not travel” advisory.In the days following the kidnapping, El Roi Haiti, the Christian group founded by Dorsainvil’s husband, asked people to pray and said it was working on their safe return. Hope waned among some. Gang warfare has increasingly plagued Haiti since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Gang members regularly kill, rape and hold residents for ransom. ...

Satellite images show historic Maui town engulfed by wildfire. Follow along for live updates

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

Follow along for live updates of wildfires that are racing across part of Maui in Hawaii, destroying sections of a historic town on the island and forcing some to flee to the relative safety of the ocean, where the Coast Guard rescued them. The fires forced evacuations in some areas, including the popular tourist spot of Lahaina Town. The National Weather Service says Hurricane Dora, which is passing south of the island chain at a safe distance, was partly to blame for strong winds driving the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters. SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW ACTIVE FLAMES THROUGHOUT HISTORIC TOWNOfficials have released very little information about the scope of damage caused by the wildfires, but satellite images from NASA appeared to show active flames throughout much of the historic town of Lahaina. Another Maui wildfire was burning near the town of Kihei. The satellite images seemed to support some videos and photos posted to social media sites that showed ...

This Illinois highway named most feared in the state

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

(WTVO) — A recent survey has unveiled which route Illinois drivers are most scared to take.The survey by Gunter Mitsubishi complied the results from 3,000 road trippers. They said that US Route 24 is the worst in Illinois, ranking number 19 out of 50 overall across the country.The road runs 255 miles from the Mississippi River to the Indiana border. People are scared to take the route since improvements and maintenance has fallen behind, according to the Belleville News-Democrat.The route eventually narrows from an undivided four-lane highway to a two-lane road, leaving cars being very close to each other while passing at high speeds.This stretch of the road saw 23 left turn crashes between 2010-2015, according to the Peoria Journal Star, resulting in 30 injuries.The 2024-2029 Rebuild Illinois Highway Improvement Program includes over $33 billion into different infrastructure improvements over the six years. This includes an 8.6-mile stretch of Route 24 just outside of Peoria that w...

Credit card skimmer found at Des Plaines grocery store

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — A credit card skimmer was discovered Saturday morning at a grocery store in Des Plaines.Just after 8:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to Shop & Save Market, located in the 500 block of Metropolitan Way, on the report of a suspicious incident.A manager of the store reported that he found a skimming device placed on one of the credit card machines at a cash register. Niles introduces feral cat program for rat control Police believe the device was installed at around 6:30 a.m. on Friday.No suspects are in custody.Skimmers typically attack the most vulnerable cards which require the swipe of a magnetic strip.Earlier this year, FICO released the following tips.What should consumers look out for?When consumers go to make a payment, they should take a close look at the part of the device where they insert their card. If anything about it seems loose or looks disconnected from the actual system, that should be a red flag. If something looks suspicious, you should ...

'Protect our carriers': Chicago postal workers call for end to violent attacks

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

CHICAGO — Postal workers in Chicago called for an end to violent attacks against them amid a rally Tuesday night. Already a week into August, a mail carrier was shot in Kilbourn Park. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) involved.In other recent incidents, postal workers were robbed in Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Berwyn. SEE ALSO | CPD: 24 armed robberies throughout Northwest Side since SaturdayOfficials with the National Association of Letter Carriers say postal workers have been targeted in more than 90 reported incidents this year. Rally-goers on Tuesday sought public support, in addition to added resources from law enforcement and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Demonstrators also seek harsher penalties for offenders. "Rain, sleet, or hail, but we don't do bullets," said Mack Julion with the National Association of Letter Carriers. "Somebody is going to have to figure it out. Someb...

Check your numbers! $1 million winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Austin

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tuesday's $1.58 billion Mega Millions prize might have been won in Florida, but an Austin resident just became a whole lot richer in the same drawing.A winning ticket, worth $1 million, was sold at Circle K at 8205 Brodie Lane in south Austin.According to the Texas Lottery Commission, the ticket matched all five white balls (13-19-20-32-33) but not the Mega Ball number (14).Another $1 million-winning ticket was sold in Socorro, near El Paso. In total, more than 575,000 Texans won at least $2 in Tuesday’s drawing. Here’s what’s more — and less — likely to happen than you winning the lottery The jackpot, won in Florida, was the largest Mega Millions prize in history, and the third-largest lottery win ever in the U.S.Two Powerball prizes have been bigger, including one worth more than $2 billion in November 2022.

Austin's 33-day streak of consecutive 100° days is the longest in recorded history

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is currently experiencing the longest stretch of triple-digit heat in recorded history.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has reached 100° or hotter every day since July 8.That means temperatures have reached the century mark for 33 days in a row. With records dating back to the 1890s, that's the longest stretch of triple-digit temperatures ever recorded in Austin. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The previous record of 27 days was set between July 17 and Aug. 12, 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade Meanwhile, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's streak of triple-digit days came to an end Thursday, July 27, with temperatures only reaching 99°. The airport had been above 100° every day since July 9. The 18-day streak ranks as the fourth-longest triple-digit streak since records began t...

Common wildfire terms and what they mean, per the Texas A&M Forest Service

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In the midst of wildfire season, you may come across a lot of terminology that can be confusing to interpret. Luckily, the Texas A&M Forest Service has a glossary of wildfire-fighting terms and their definitions. Below are some common terms KXAN comes across and uses in wildfire coverage, and what they mean. The full glossary of terms and definitions can be read in the document below. Wildland-Fire-Glossary-of-terms-TFSDownloadNote: The below terms and definitions were copied directly from Texas A&M Forest Service and were not created by KXAN. This is a compilation of common terms. Wildfire seasons are expanding for much of the country Brush FireFire burning in vegetation that is predominantly shrubs, brush and scrub growth.Contain a FireWhen a fire is contained, it is surrounded by a fuel break. This break can include natural barriers as well as line constructed manually or mechanically. The fire is not extinguished at this point.Control a FireWhen a fir...

Messi to play in Minnesota? A soccer fan’s dream closer to reality

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

When Lionel Messi jolted the soccer world by joining Inter Miami in July, the first chance to see the world’s best player live in Minnesota appeared to be during the 2024 MLS regular season — if the schedule broke Minnesota United’s way.Now it might happen Aug. 19 in St. Paul.The Loons and Miami have both advanced to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Leagues Cup competition, and if the clubs each win two more matches, Messi and Co. would travel to Allianz Field to play the Loons in the final of the new North American tournament.But the two clubs are not on a clear collision course. For starters, their winding paths begin on other sides of the bracket.First, MNUFC must beat favored Nashville on the road on Friday night. Then the Loons will have to face a North American titan — either Los Angeles FC or Monterrey — in a semifinal. Those two sides square off in a quarterfinal Friday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.Messi — who is tied with MNUFC winger Bongi Hlongwane as the tournamen...

Child shot in north St. Louis County, third in metro area this week

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:41:27 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - An investigation is underway after a child was shot Wednesday morning in north St. Louis County. This is the third investigation into a shooting involving a child this week in the St. Louis metropolitan area.The shooting happened around 9:40 a.m. Wednesday in the 10700 block of Spring Garden Drive in the Glasgow Village area. Check the radar -- Storms expected Wednesday The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports a 9-year-old was shot. The child was reportedly inside a home when someone outside fired several shots at the home, at least one that struck the child.Police say the child is currently being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a hospital.In two shootings near St. Louis City earlier this week, one in Berkeley, Missouri, and one in Belleville Illinois, one child had died from gunfire in both instances.This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.CORRECTION: A previous version of this story sta...