By CEDAR ATTANASIO – Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a sleeping woman to death inside a New York City subway train has been indicted on murder and arson charges, prosecutors announced Friday, as authorities continue working to identify the victim. Sebastian Zapeta is accused by prosecutors of lighting the
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By JOHN SEEWER and MARK KENNEDY The former Morrison Hotel, made famous by The Doors and their 1970 album of the same name, was significantly damaged by a fire that erupted in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. The four-story building, which has been vacant more than a decade, burned for nearly two hours before more
Continue ReadingBy AP NEW YORK (AP) — Sportscaster Greg Gumbel has died from cancer at age 78, according to a family statement released by CBS.
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By MELISSA GOLDIN NEW YORK (AP) — The last of the crystal triangles that make up this year’s Times Square New Year’s Eve ball were installed on Friday morning, marking the first time in 10 years that all 2,688 were replaced at once. Rapper Pitbull and inventor Joy Mangano were among those on hand to
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By MICHAEL CASEY – Associated Press The United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness this year, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country, federal officials said Friday. The U.S. Department of Housing and
Continue ReadingBy JARED BARTON – Columbus Telegram, Neb. (TNS) Christmas concerts are an age-old tradition, but for the singers in Columbus Area Vertical Voices, a Christmas performance means more than just singing. It’s one of their two fundraising events of the year and this year they raised $4,800 that was split between two area organizations making
Continue ReadingBy JARED BARTON – Columbus Telegram, Neb. (TNS) Fry reviewer Jared Barton is taking the week off. It turns out there is such a thing as too many fries. But fear not, Jared will be back next week with another installment of Fries on the Side for your enjoyment and edification. And remember, send any
Continue ReadingBy Christopher Braunschweig – Newton Daily News, Iowa (TNS) Dec. 27—Out of the 17 locations that could be used to house the City of Newton’s animal control facility, only about seven were considered “good” sites by the police chief. Of those seven potential areas, council members only really showed interest in two and instructed staff
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By AP ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state government agencies will have to conduct reviews and publish reports that detail how they’re using artificial intelligence software, under a new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul, a Democrat, signed the bill last week after it was passed by state lawmakers earlier this year. The
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By AUDREY McAVOY – Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the last remaining survivor of the USS Utah, has died. He was 105. Upton died Wednesday at a hospital in Los Gatos, California, after suffering a bout of pneumonia, said Kathleen
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By AP WHARTON, N.J. (AP) — Road crews were repairing a short stretch of Interstate 80 in northern New Jersey on Friday where a sinkhole forced the eastbound lanes to shut down, but it was still unknown when they will reopen. The highway’s guardrail still hung suspended in the air across the gaping 40-foot-wide (12-meter)
Continue ReadingBy Kellis Robinett – The Wichita Eagle (TNS) Dec. 27—Phoenix The loudest cheer of the night on Thursday at Chase Field didn’t come during Kansas State’s thrilling 44-41 win over Rutgers at the Rate Bowl. It came afterward as head football coach Chris Klieman wrapped up the victory ceremony by shouting a message to the
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By LEA SKENE – Associated Press Maryland is suing the company that produces the waterproof material Gore-Tex often used for raincoats and other outdoor gear, alleging its leaders kept using “forever chemicals” long after learning about serious health risks associated with them. The complaint, which was filed last week in federal court, focuses on a
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By KATE BRUMBACK and JEFF AMY – Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has ruled that the Georgia state Senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as part of a inquiry into whether she has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump but is giving Willis the chance to
Continue ReadingBy AP WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness this year, with more than 770,000 people counted as homeless.
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By LINLEY SANDERS, TOM MURPHY and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX – Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger, according to a new poll. In the survey from NORC at the
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By LAURA UNGAR and KIMBERLEE KRUESI – Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — States with restrictive abortion laws generally have more porous safety nets for mothers and young children, according to recent research and an analysis by The Associated Press. Tennessee is an example of how this plays out. Tennessee residents of childbearing age are
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By AP ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — One of the two owls rescued by a Minnesota woman in a story that went viral this week has died, but the other is still getting medical care. Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Duluth said in a Facebook post Thursday that the snowy owl rescued by Annabell Whelan
Continue ReadingBy AP NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors say a man has been indicted in the burning death of a woman inside a New York City subway train.
Continue ReadingBy Grace King – The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (TNS) Dec. 27—The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced. Prairie High School culinary teacher Frank Bowman delights in teaching his students the basics like the patience of making a grilled cheese sandwich or the ease of making mac and
Continue ReadingBy BRUCE R. MILLER – Sioux City Journal, Iowa (TNS) The Iowa Film Critics Association named “Anora” Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Director in its annual polling of the state’s film critics. “The Wild Robot” won two awards – Best Animated Feature and Best Song {“Kiss the Sky”) while “The Seed of the Sacred
Continue ReadingBy BRUCE R. MILLER – Sioux City Journal, Iowa (TNS) You know real estate agents are the bravest workers in the world when one of them goes to the castle of Count Orlok and doesn’t think twice. NOSFERATU Nicholas Hoult stars as Thomas Hutter in director Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu.” That’s Nicholas Hoult in “Nosferatu,” a
Continue ReadingBy Caitlin Yamada – Sioux City Journal, Iowa (TNS) SIOUX CITY — For chefs, two popular art forms to learn are fruit and vegetable carvings and ice sculptures. “Ice intrigued me more so than fruit and vegetable carving,” said Robert Dowd, executive chef at the Sioux City Convention Center. For more than 15 years, Dowd
Continue ReadingBy DOLLY A. BUTZ – Sioux City Journal, Iowa (TNS) SIOUX CITY — A Denver woman was arrested early Christmas Day on felony drug charges, after allegedly sideswiping a Sioux City Police patrol vehicle and striking a fire hydrant. Kayla J. Dreesen, 30, is charged with controlled substance violation and failure to affix a drug
Continue ReadingBy BRUCE R. MILLER – Sioux City Journal, Iowa (TNS) “Wicked” proved there’s still life in big-budget studio films. But the bulk of 2024’s best still came from independent studios, streaming services and foreign filmmakers. Does that say the business is expanding? Or has the capital of moviemaking shifted? Take a look at the list
Continue ReadingBy Nick Hytrek – Sioux City Journal, Iowa (TNS) SIOUX CITY — The City of Sioux City has reached a $7,500 settlement with a Nebraska woman whose nose was broken while tubing at Cone Park. Jennifer Peterson, of Elkhorn, Nebraska, had sued the city and Sioux City Parks & Recreation Foundation in August for negligence
Continue ReadingBy Daniel Zeilstra – The Kansas City Star (TNS) Friday’s TV / radio COLLEGE FOOTBALL The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Navy, at Fort Worth, Texas, 11 a.m., ESPN, KCTE (94.5 FM, 1510 AM) The Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt, at Birmingham, Ala., 2:30 p.m., ESPN The AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Texas Tech
Continue ReadingBy SARAH WATSON – Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa (TNS) Voters in parts of Scott, Clinton and Jackson counties will vote Jan. 28, 2025, in a special election for their state senator, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday. Former senator for District 35, Chris Cournoyer, was sworn in a week ago as the state’s new
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By AP DALLAS (AP) — Parts of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas were under severe weather watches early Friday as the National Weather Service predicted a storm system in the Gulf of Mexico could bring high winds, hail and possible tornadoes to the region. “Heavy showers and thunderstorms continue to race across Louisiana and the Gulf
Continue ReadingBy Kellis Robinett – The Wichita Eagle (TNS) Dec. 26—Phoenix The Kansas State football team ended its season with one of the most exciting bowl wins in school history. Avery Johnson and Dylan Edwards led the Wildcats to a thrilling 44-41 victory over Rutgers at the Rate Bowl on Thursday inside Chase Field. It was
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