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At least 17 civilians killed by extremist rebels in eastern Congo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — At least 17 people were killed by extremist rebels in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province, local authorities said. Civilians were killed by fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces — believed to be linked with the Islamic State group — in the Bambuba-kisiki area in Beni territory, said Sabiti Njiamoja, a deputy to the local governor, on Monday. “We buried 10 bodies on Sunday. The victims are civilians killed by ADF between Thursday and Friday in Kainana. Seven others were found on Monday,” he said. Conflict has been simmering for decades in eastern Congo, where more than 120 armed groups are fighting. Most are vying for land and control of mines with valuable minerals, while some groups are trying to protect their communities.Since last April, ADF attacks have killed at least 370 civilians and several hundred people have been abducted, including a significant number of children, according to the UN. The group also extended its area of operations to Gom...

Humanitarian group MSF calls for support for refugees in Kenya affected by cholera crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Hundreds of refugees in Kenya’s Dadaab camps have been affected by a cholera outbreak as the population in the facilities grows rapidly, a humanitarian charity said Tuesday.Doctors Without Borders, known by French acronym MSF, said that 2,786 refugees have been affected so far “and there is an imminent risk of outbreaks of other gastro-intestinal diseases.”The Dadaab camps host more than 300,000 people and with the biting drought in neighboring Somalia, the numbers are on the rise, consequently straining water and sanitation services.There are plans to open another camp in the complex to accommodate new arrivals and ease overcrowding.“All efforts to ease the overcrowding must include significant investment in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector to ensure a minimum standard of living for refugees in all the camps,” said Hassan Maiyaki, MSF country director in Kenya.MSF has urged stakeholders to respond urgently to the crisis in Dadaab and address sanitary c...

US, EU criticize Polish plans for law that could keep opposition from holding office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States and the European Union’s top justice official on Tuesday criticized Polish plans for a law that could keep political opponents from holding public office without full legal recourse, and the EU threatened to take measures if it became fully clear such a law would undermine democratic standards. Polish President Andrzej Duda said early this week he would sign a bill that critics view as a tool to remove from political life the opponents of the ruling party — mostly notably opposition leader Donald Tusk, the former EU Council president. Parliament last Friday already approved the bill, which was proposed by the ruling conservative Law and Justice party as the country heads toward a parliamentary election in the autumn.Experts say the law violates the Polish Constitution and the opposition has called on Duda to reject it.“The U.S. Government is concerned by the Polish government’s passage of new legislation that could be misused to interfere with...

Over 50 shot, 9 killed over holiday weekend in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

CHICAGO — Over 50 people were shot over the Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago. Nine of those have died from their injuries.Two 2-year-olds were among those who were wounded. Police said both of the toddlers shot themselves. One shot herself on the 1500 block of West Jonquil Terrace Sunday around 6 p.m. Two hours later, officers responded to a call of a 2-year-old boy who shot himself in the forearm in the 7900 block of South Hermitage. Chicago Ridge festival canceled over safety concerns The weekend violence began Friday evening with shots fired at North Avenue Beach. Chicago police are expected to release official number of shootings Tuesday.

Chicago Ridge festival canceled over safety concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. — Chicago Ridge's RidgeFest has been canceled due to safety concerns.Organizers announced over the weekend on social media that the village board canceled the annual festival due to safety concerns. A statement on Facebook reads in part, "...the Village Board made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s RidgeFest due to safety concerns. This was not an easy decision to make, but the safety of everyone is and always will be first priority of our town."The festival was scheduled for the end of July and Ted Nugent was the headliner. Related: Tinley Park police cancel carnival after flash mob involving 400 teens The announcement follows the cancelation of other Chicago area festivals. Last week, leaders from Most Holy Redeemer Church in Evergreen Park canceled their annual carnival in mid-June over safety concerns. And earlier in May, Tinley Park police canceled the final day of The Armed Forces Weekend Carnival due to safety concerns stemming from a crowd inc...

Sunny and hot, slight chance of showers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

Mostly sunny, hot for Tuesday. High of 88 expected. It will be cooler lakeside with a 10% chance for rain and storms. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Tuesday night set to be partly cloudy. Chance for rain and storms remains at 10%.Wednesday the heat continues. Partly cloudy, hot and high of 88. Cooler lakeside.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog Storm and rain chance will be 30%.

Reported pepper spray incident prompts police response at Six Flags Great America

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

GURNEE, Ill. -- Police in Gurnee are investigating an incident at Six Flags Great America Monday night.According to reports, several people visiting the theme park Monday told WGN there was some kind of fight and police were searching inside the park for someone who was reportedly hiding from authorities. 9 injured in shooting near beach in Hollywood, Florida; some taken to children’s hospital Witnesses reportedly also said that several people were pepper sprayed, a number of people had been transported to a local hospital, and several others have been taken into custody.Law enforcement from Gurnee, Round Lake, and North Chicago were seen responding to the area.A mother told WGN that she attempted to enter the Six Flags Great America parking lot to pick up her kids, but wasn't able to go by the entrance of the theme park, so her kids had to find her.WGN reached out to the Gurnee Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff's Office, but have yet to hear back.Stay with WGN as this...

Colleges squirm under anti-diversity, equity and inclusion pressure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

(The Hill) -- Colleges are attempting to find ways to save their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as Republican-led states advance efforts to shut down the programs. Multiple red states have introduced or passed legislation targeting certain aspects of DEI in universities, from mandatory diversity statements to entire offices, causing confusion and fear for faculty and staff. Texas lawmakers Sunday approved a final version of Republicans' sweeping anti-DEI measure, sending it to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who is expected to sign it, making Texas the second state to declare full-on war against the programs. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed similar legislation earlier this month.That move left Florida colleges scrambling.“I know that, for coursework and for some of the things, they're just changing the names of committees as opposed to, you know, doing away with them altogether,” said Allan Barsky, professor at Florida Atlantic University's Sandler Sch...

Americans owe $1 trillion in credit card debt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

(The Hill) -- America's credit card balance has passed $1 trillion, or it's about to, depending on whom you ask. The average interest rate on a new card is 24 percent, the highest figure since the Reaganomics era.  A typical American household now carries $10,000 in credit card debt, by one estimate, another record.  If that doesn’t sound like a lot of debt, try paying it off. At $250 per month, with 24 percent interest, you’ll be making payments until 2030, and you’ll spend a total of $20,318, twice what you owed. And that assumes you never use the card again. “It’s hard to build wealth when you’re paying 20 percent interest every month,” said Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate.com.  The nation’s credit card debt stands at $986 billion, according to the Federal Reserve. The figure has climbed by $250 billion in two years.  Some other estimates range higher. A WalletHub report put total card debt at $1.2 trillion at t...

Central Texas high school graduations get underway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:22:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – As the 2022-23 school year ends, high schools across Central Texas prepare to honor and celebrate their graduates. The following Austin ISD schools hold will ceremonies at Burger Activity Center: Crockett ECHS at 10 a.m. on Tuesday Eastside ECHS at 2 p.m. on Tuesday Austin HS at 7 p.m. on TuesdayNavarro ECHS at 10 a.m. on WednesdayMcCallum HS at 2 p.m. on WednesdayAkins ECHS at 7 p.m. on WednesdayTravis ECHS at 10 a.m. on ThursdayLASA at 2 p.m. on ThursdayAnderson HS at 7 p.m. on ThursdayNortheast ECHS at 2 p.m. on FridayBowie HS at 7 p.m. on FridayThe following Hays CISD schools hold ceremonies at Strahan Arena at Texas State University:Johnson HS at 2 p.m. on TuesdayLehman HS at 6 p.m. on TuesdayHays HS at 2 p.m. on WednesdayLive Oak Academy at 6 p.m. on WednesdayThe following Pflugerville ISD schools will hold ceremonies at the Pfield: Hendrickson HS at 8:30 a.m. on TuesdayPflugerville HS at 8:30 a.m. on WednesdayConnally HS at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday Weiss HS at 8:...