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‘We will ride it out together’: Identical twin meteorologists guide Guam through Typhoon Mawar

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — As Typhoon Mawar aimed its fury at Guam, residents facing terrifying winds and crashing waves from the strongest typhoon to hit the U.S. Pacific territory in decades had identical twin meteorologists to keep them informed — and to provide the outside world with a glimpse of the chaos unfolding on the remote island.The National Weather Service’s Guam office employs Landon Aydlett as its warning coordination meteorologist. His brother Brandon Aydlett is the science and operations officer. Together, the 41-year-olds tag-teamed Facebook Live broadcasts watched by thousands as Typhoon Mawar approached with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph), wreaking havoc as residents lost power, internet and water service. Their colorful descriptions of the Category 4 storm painted a picture as they both took turns describing trees snapped like toothpicks, thrashing winds, nearly 2 feet (0.6 meters) of torrential rain and “whiteout conditions” outside the office wh...

Mayoral candidates debate cuts to transit, city services, and Doug Ford in Scarborough

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

The six leading Toronto mayoral candidates outlined their visions for the future of transit, city services and taxes in a spirited 90 minute debate in Scarborough Wednesday evening, in a region of the city that is shaping up to be a key battleground in the upcoming election.The candidates – former NDP parliamentarian Olivia Chow, city councillor Josh Matlow, ex-police chief Mark Saunders, former deputy mayor Ana Bailao, councillor Brad Bradford and former Liberal MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood Mitzie Hunter – said, if elected, they would focus on revitalizing declining city services and infrastructure such as transit and neighbourhood centres in the diverse, populous region, which many called a microcosm for issues across Toronto. Chow, the perceived front-runner according to several recent polls, continued to face attacks from other candidates during the debate, particularly Bradford and Saunders who said her plan would significantly increase taxes for Toronto property o...

Indiana woman dies while trying to hike from Grand Canyon rim to river in a day

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — Officials say an Indiana woman died earlier this month while hiking inside Grand Canyon National Park.The National Park Service said Wednesday the 36-year-old from Westfield died May 14 while trying to hike to the Colorado River and back in a day. She was found unconscious on the Bright Angel Trail above the Three-Mile Resthouse. Her name was not included in a news release.The Coconino County Medical Examiner is assisting in an investigation of her death.Park Rangers say the incident is a reminder that visitors, especially those visiting the inner canyon, need to plan for the weather. They anticipate extremely hot days in the coming weeks.Some exposed areas of the trail can reach 120 degrees (48.8 degrees Celsius) during the summer. Hiking in the inner canyon between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is strongly discouraged during more sweltering temperatures. They also do not encourage hiking from the rim to the river and back in one day. Rangers also say ...

At Tennessee museum, fans remember Tina Turner’s talent, strength, influence

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Standing in a Tennessee museum, near exhibits of shimmering dresses worn by Tina Turner, Lisa Lyons wiped tears from her cheeks as she remembered the impact the singer and actress had on her life.Lyons recalled watching Turner’s performance in the film “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” as Auntie Entity, the tyrannical leader of a post-apocalyptic civilization. “She was fierce, and she was strong, and she was powerful, and that has stayed with me,” said Lyons, who, like Turner, is Black. “As a little girl of color who didn’t have that type of role model in real life, it has stuck with me all these years.” Turner, 83, died Tuesday, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, according to her manager. Her Grammy-winning singing career includes the hit songs “Nutbush City Limits,” “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” from “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” Her film credits also i...

The day after: Guam assesses damage after Typhoon Mawar hits US Pacific territory

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Guam residents and officials emerged from homes and shelters Thursday to survey the damage done to the U.S. Pacific territory after a long night of hunkering down as Typhoon Mawar’s howling winds shredded trees, flipped vehicles and knocked out utilities. The central and northern parts of the island received more than 2 feet of rain as the eyewall passed, and most of Guam received about a foot of rain during the storm, said Brandon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The island’s international airport flooded, and the swirling storm churned up a storm surge and waves that crashed through coastal reefs. “We are waking up to a rather disturbing scene out there across Guam. We’re looking out our door and what used to be a jungle looks like toothpicks — it looks like a scene from the movie ‘Twister,’ with trees just thrashed apart,” said Landon Aydlett, his twin brother and fellow NWS meteorologist. “Most of Guam is dealing ...

Microsoft: State-sponsored Chinese hackers could be laying groundwork for disruption

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — State-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises, Microsoft said Wednesday.The targets include sites in Guam, where the U.S. has a major military presence, the company said.Hostile activity in cyberspace — from espionage to the advanced positioning of malware for potential future attacks — has become a hallmark of modern geopolitical rivalry. Microsoft said in a blog post that the state-sponsored group of hackers, which it calls Volt Typhoon, has been active since mid-2021. It said organizations affected by the hacking — which seeks persistent access — are in the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, information technology and education sectors.Separately, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) ...

3 ex-officers in Mississippi indicted in death of Black man seen on video being tased repeatedly

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

JACKSON, Mississippi. (AP) — A Mississippi grand jury has indicted two former police officers on murder charges and another ex-officer on a manslaughter charge in the death of a Black man who was pinned to the ground and repeatedly tased during an arrest last December.Officials in Jackson, Mississippi’s capital, released body camera footage Wednesday that showed three officers — Avery Willis, Kenya McCarty and James Land — struggling to handcuff Keith Murriel as he was stunned numerous times over a 10-minute span.Authorities said the officers had tackled Murriel while arresting him for allegedly trespassing at a hotel shortly before midnight on Dec. 31, 2022. McCarty and Willis have been charged with second-degree murder, and Land with manslaughter, court records showed. All three were placed on administrative leave after the incident and McCarty was fired in February, then Willis and Land in April.McCarty and Willis are Black, and Land is white, according to Melissa Faith Pay...

Louis Vuitton takes Baroque and botanical cues from Italy’s Isola Bella for Cruise 2024 collection

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

STRESA, Italy (AP) — Incessant rain failed to put a damper on Nicolas Ghesquiere’s ambitions for his Louis Vuitton 2024 Cruise collection, unveiled Wednesday to an A-list crowd including Oprah Winfrey, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Connolly and Emma Stone.Originally envisioned against a golden sunset setting aglow magnificent fountain on the aptly named Isola Bella on northern Italy’s Lago Maggiore, the show was instead moved into the stately public rooms of the Borromeo Palace, construction of which was started in the 17th century and only completed 400 years later, after World War II. The sprawling palace near the Swiss border remains the summer residence of the Borromeo family.Destination cruise shows are among the fashion world’s most ambitious, winging the fashion crowd to some of the planet’s most scenic locations. The internet still buzzes over Ghesquire’s Cruise 2018 show in Kyoto and Cruise 2017 in Rio de Janiero.The Isola Bella show was no less enterprising, imagined amid the i...

Hay River, N.W.T., residents allowed to return Thursday as wildfire burns nearby

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

HAY RIVER, N.W.T. — Residents of the town of Hay River are to be allowed to return to the Northwest Territories community Thursday, even as a wildfire continues to burn on the nearby K’atl’odeeche First Nation reserve.About 3,500 residents from the town and reserve were forced to leave their homes on May 14. A post on the town’s Facebook page Wednesday said the evacuation order would be reduced to an evacuation alert, meaning residents are allowed to return but should  be prepared to leave again if conditions worsen. “Conditions are still not without risk, but the town recognizes the offsetting impact and risks to residents being away from their homes,” the post states. “The mayor and council appreciate residents’ sacrifices during this time. Countless people have relentlessly worked to ensure there has been no damage to your homes or properties and are excited for you to return.”Germaine Michel said she’s looking forward to returning ...

Joliet woman found guilty of threatening, intimidating elderly man out of over $1.6 million

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:50:09 GMT

CHICAGO -- A Joliet woman admitted in federal court that she used a series of threats and intimidation to exploit an elderly man out of more than $1.6 million.Lee Turner, also known as Ashley Turner, 40, was found guilty Wednesday of using a facility of interstate commerce to promote and carry on unlawful activity, according to the United States Attorney's Office. Millionaire planned to escape Florida jail, fly private jet to French ‘castle’ Turner admitted that from 2018 to 2021 she communicated numerous threat and fraudulent statements to the victim, who was in his seventies and had limited vision. Turner reportedly threatened to expose the victim’s purported criminal activity, even though she had no knowledge of any such activity committed by the victim.Turner took on false personas to convey false statements purportedly from others, including alleged gang members, individuals involved in organized crime, prosecutors, journalists, and corrupt law enforcement officers. 95-year...