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Families of tens of thousands missing in Syria draw some hope from new UN push to find loved ones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

IDLIB, Syria (AP) — In her small apartment in opposition-held Idlib in northwest Syria, Umm Mohammed is depressed and lethargic. But when her phone rings or someone knocks on the door she becomes suddenly alert. Maybe, finally, her husband has come back.In 2013, Syrian soldiers broke into the couple’s home in Damascus as they were having breakfast, she said. She and her husband had previously taken part in anti-government protests.“They beat him up in front of my young daughter” and then took him away, said Umm Mohammed, or “mother of Mohammed,” the name of her oldest son. She did not want to give her own full name for fear the authorities would harm her husband if he is still alive.The only news she has received about him since that day came in 2015, when someone claimed to have seen him in the Syrian military intelligence’s 248 Branch prison — which former detainees and human rights groups have called a torture center.“When someone is martyred, they’re buried and you know they’re ...

Sriracha prices soar amid ongoing supply shortage linked to droughts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

(The Hill) - Bottles of Huy Fong Sriracha are going for as much as $70 on some sites amid a shortage of the popular hot sauce linked to ongoing droughts.A single 28-ounce bottle is being listed by one eBay seller for nearly $70, while a two-pack of 17-ounce bottles is going on Amazon for around $100 or more from some merchants. Other brands' iterations of the sauce on the sites are notably less expensive, but prices for Huy Fong's authentic version are being driven up by the an ongoing shortage of the chilis used to make the condiment. The company announced a "a shortage of chili pepper inventory" back in 2020, and said last year that weather conditions were affecting quality and sparking an even "more severe" shortage.The company is based in Irwindale, Calif., and reportedly supplied by chili pepper farms in California, New Mexico and Mexico, areas that have faced drought in recent years.CBS News reported Thursday that a Huy Fong spokesperson said the company has recently resumed ...

Man filmed carving his name on the Colosseum is a tourist living in Britain, Italian police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

ROME (AP) — Italian police on Thursday said they believe the man filmed while engraving his name and that of his apparent girlfriend last week on the ancient Roman Colosseum is a tourist who lives in Britain.The identification was made using photographic comparisons, Italian Carabinieri said in a press release. The statement did not provide the name of the suspect nor his whereabouts. When reached by phone, police said no further information could be given.Italian officials have vowed to find and punish the tourist who carved “Ivan+Haley 23” on the the wall of the Colosseum in Rome, a crime that has resulted in hefty fines in the past. Texas abortion ban led to almost 10,000 additional live births The vandal was filmed in the act by an American tourist, Ryan Lutz of Orange, California, who posted the video on social media after he said Colosseum guards failed to show interest in his footage.It was at least the fourth time this year that such graffiti was reported at the ...

Father of Parkland shooting victim knocks ex-school officer, attorney for 'celebrating' verdict

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

(The Hill) - Manuel Oliver knocked a former school resource officer and his attorney for "celebrating" after the officer was found not guilty on all charges related to his actions around the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Fla."These guys are celebrating today. He said he got his life back. They're going to the Vatican. They thanked the Lord. Apparently their Lord is a different Lord than Joaquin's Lord," Oliver, whose son Joaquin died in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, said on CNN. "He decided to give this guy his life back, which is not in any way, in any way, comparable of losing life," he added.Gunman Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people and injured 17 others during the shooting on Valentine’s Day in 2018 — and has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, serving 34 life terms for the victims. The tragedy prompted the survivor-founded gun control movement March for Our Lives.Scot Peterson, a former school resource officer on duty at the Parklan...

Bed Bath & Beyond name lives on! Overstock.com buys rights and assumes name

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bed & Bath & Beyond will live on, online at least, after Overstock.com acquired the bankrupt retail chain’s intellectual property assets for $21.5 million.The online retailer Overstock.com is dumping its name online and will become Bed & Bath & Beyond, which declared bankruptcy earlier this year. Overstock.com's CEO Jonathan Johnson told The Associated Press in a phone interview on Thursday that the company is considering changing its corporate name but won't make any decisions until after it digests the assets.The switcheroo to a very recognizable brand was cheered on Wall Street. Shares of Overstock.com Inc., based in Midvale, Utah, soared nearly 20% during afternoon trading Thursday. A major UPS strike is looming — here’s what that means for your packages The deal doesn’t include Bed Bath & Beyond stores, the last of which are expected to be shuttered Friday, or the Buybuy Baby chain.The name change will roll out in Canada next month and...

Authorities remind people of boating safety tips for holiday weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin police's Lake Patrol is expecting a busy weekend on Lake Austin as water levels are too low in neighboring Lake Travis. There are three public ramps in the 21-mile stretch of Lake Austin. Lake Patrol authorities said it is fully staffed and prepared for the holiday weekend, and they are reminding people to watch their speed and pay attention while on the lake. Lake Austin is more narrow than Lake Travis, and Corporal Ivan Ramos said people need to follow the rules of the road while on the water. "If you're going up, you got to stay on the right side. Same thing, you got to hang on the right side. It's not everyone drives everywhere whenever they want to on the lake," Ramos explained. Lake Patrol will also be conducting safety checks of boats and is looking for five things: Certificate of Number that is issued by Texas Parks and Wildlife upon registering your boatA life jacket for every person on the boat. Children under 13 need to have a life jacket on at all...

What you need to know for the Austin Symphony July 4th Concert

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin Tuesday laid out transportation and parking options for those planning to attend the H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert & Fireworks.The city said VIP festivities start at 5 p.m. and the free event begins at 8 p.m. on July 4 at Auditorium Shores and the Long Center. The concert begins at 8:30 p.m. followed by "mile-high" fireworks. Parking InformationThe city recommended people park north of Lady Bird Lake in the downtown area to avoid the congestion in and around South Lamar Boulevard, Barton Springs Road and Riverside Drive (all areas south of the park).The Bouldin Creek Neighborhood will have neighborhood parking restrictions in place for safety. Parking in prohibited areas (on green spaces and parkland, along rights of way and medians or blocking private drives and lots) or in “Not Permitted” areas may subject you to fines, ticketing and/or towing at your own expense, according to the city.Parking will be available in the following areas...

Hot and mainly dry 4th of July weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After an unseasonably hot and dry month of June, our temperatures look and feel a bit more normal heading into the start of July (and our rain chances don't look too shabby next week either!)Afternoon highs will climb to near 100° in Austin today - still hotter than average but not quite as miserable as the 105° we had to start the work week. Mainly sunny and dry skies will stretch areawide with south winds gradually increasing humidity levels through the day.A Heat Advisory has been reissued for Fayette County where humidity levels remain highest, allowing heat indices to reach up to 110°.Heat Advisory continues for Fayette County 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. FridayIN-DEPTH: With no rain in the forecast today, Camp Mabry will end the month of June with less than one-third of its normal rainfall. This will be Austin's driest June in 10 years.Holiday weekend forecastMostly to partly sunny skies will stretch over the area with afternoon highs climbing into the upper 90s daily. A ...

06/30/2023: Warmer with smoke-filled skies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

The latest Storm Tracker Forecast from Meteorologist Jill Szwed.Happy Friday! The smoke-filled air is mixing with areas of dense fog this morning. Be alert to low and changing visibility. The fog will lift by 8 AM or 9 AM, but the smoke stays behind.Air quality will be impacted again today. An Air Quality Alert remains in effect through midnight. The AQI will read "slightly unhealthy" for most of the day. Maybe opt for a walk instead of a run this morning. If you have underlying health conditions, limit your time outdoors.We're warming up today despite the widespread haze. Temperatures will push into the 80s across the board. It will also begin turning muggy by late day.When will the smoke leave? The answer - over the weekend. But it comes with storm chances. A slow-moving system approaches from the western Great Lakes. A warm front will bring more humidity, a few more clouds, and isolated showers in the Adirondacks overnight. The associated cold front will stretch out to our west, ...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Do You Let Dogs You Don't Know Lick Your Face and Mouth?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:49 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Lucy. Here's what she wrote: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. I am an animal lover. I have three dogs and two cats. I love all of them. My husband and I are lucky enough to have a big enough house to take care of all of them. But here's the thing. While I let my dogs lick my face and mouth, I do NOT want other dogs licking my face and mouth. I will happily pet other dogs, but I don't want them slobbering on me because I don't know them and what germs they have. I've always felt that way. My husband and some friends of mine don't understand that. They say if you're an animal lover than you love all animals. I do, but that doesn't mean I want them kissing my face. Do you think this is strange? I don't know why my husband and friends give me such a hard time about it, but I'm adamant about not wanting dogs I don't know to lick me. Do you think it's oka...