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Backpacks filled with supplies raised in Little Lighthouse Foundation’s back-to-school drive

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

The nonprofit Little Lighthouse Foundation has raised money for its annual back-to-school drive to help thousands of children stock up on supplies in time for the start of the school year.Volunteers on Thursday prepared backpacks at a warehouse in Doral. They’re filled with essentials bought from donations that totaled $30,000.“It’s what they need. They have backpacks, school supplies; we have everything incorporated into that backpack,” said Jonathan Babicka with the Little Lighthouse Foundation. “They are well equipped. It’s a confidence booster, it’s getting them started on the right foot for their school year so they can have academic success.”The supplies will be distributed to 2,200 children on Friday at the Pérez Art Museum in Miami.

Not another American! Meet the new favorite for EU competition economist

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

In the two weeks since Fiona Scott Morton was bullied out of the EU’s chief competition economist nomination for being American, only one new candidate has come to light — and he’s a U.S. citizen.But you can put your pitchforks down. Florian Ederer is Austrian by birth, and has first-hand knowledge of sensitivities around citizenship. He only became American in May, after failing to meet nationality requirements for a chief economist role at the Federal Trade Commission last year. Emmanuel Macron was right: it’s not just the EU that has hang-ups about citizenship. Ederer was willing to go to some length to keep his options open. “Austria is very, very very restrictive in its dual nationality arrangements,” he told POLITICO. To keep his Austrian citizenship, he was subjected to “a rather onerous procedure, including a 70-page dossier that outlines my contributions to economics and competition policy, and why it is in the interest of the Republic of...

Stock market today: Asian stocks mixed after Wall St sinks for 3rd day following British rate hike

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street sank for a third day following a British interest rate hike.Shanghai and Hong Kong advanced. Tokyo retreated. Oil prices were mixed.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index fell 0.3% after the Bank of England on Thursday raised its main lending rate to a 15-year high and indicated it could stay high for a while. Investors were rattled a day earlier after Fitch Ratings cut its credit rating on U.S. government debt, despite analyst comments that the change made little difference.“Wall Street is watching a global bond market selloff get uglier as U.S. stocks waver,” said Edward Moya of Oanda in a report.The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.1% to 3,284.82 after China’s new central bank governor met with real estate developers and said they would be allowed to raise more money by selling bonds, further easing debt controls imposed in 2020 that sent the industry into a tailspin.The Hang Seng in Hong Kong g...

Taurasi becomes first player in WNBA history with 10,000 points

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Diana Taurasi received a pass and in an instant, the shot was off her fingertips. It was a 3-pointer that splashed through the net, just like it has so many other times during her career.Taurasi became the first WNBA player to score 10,000 points, hitting the mark with 8:23 remaining in the third quarter against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday night. After the shot, the crowd in Phoenix erupted in cheers and Taurasi’s teammates surrounded her in a circle, jumping up and down and celebrating.The 41-year-old guard started the night needing 18 points to make it to 10,000.“On behalf of the WNBA and basketball fans worldwide, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Diana on reaching the incredible milestone of 10,000 points as she continues to author new chapters is an illustrious WNBA career.” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.“Diana’s achievement stands as a testament to her skill, determination, and unwavering dedication to t...

Woman seriously injured in Scarborough hit-and-run

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

Police are searching for the driver of a vehicle that fled the scene of a hit-and-run in Scarborough. A woman in her 20s was taken to a trauma centre with serious but non-life threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle in the area of Brimley Road and Danforth Avenue around 10:15 p.m. Thursday. Police say the driver fled the scene of the accident but no immediate description was provided.

Environment Canada says tornado touched down near Ottawa Thursday evening

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

Environment Canada says a tornado touched down in the Ottawa area Thursday evening during a severe thunderstorm.It was confirmed near Metcalfe, Ont., a rural community about 30 kilometres southeast of Ottawa, just before 7 p.m. eastern time.#ONStorm #ottawa#Tornado check it out. Right in the center pic.twitter.com/KUC7dLWbfo— Ghazi H. Wadi (@GhaziOttawa) August 3, 2023Tornado Warning issued for a confirmed tornado located 9 kilometres northwest of Metcalfe, moving east at 50 km/h. Details ???? https://t.co/vErVG5QII4#ONStorm #ONwx pic.twitter.com/kqniC8YY5A— ECCC Weather Ontario (@ECCCWeatherON) August 3, 2023There were also a number of reports of hail throughout the national capital, along with strong winds and rain.Ottawa Fire Services says part of a roof was ripped off a home in Riverside South, a community south of Nepean.The fire service says everyone got out of the home safely and the home’s structural integrity was not damaged, but it’s not clear whet...

Off-duty deputy files lawsuit against H-E-B after 2022 stabbing in Austin

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A lawsuit filed Wednesday claimed H-E-B has refused to pay medical bills after the stabbing of an off-duty law enforcement official providing security at one of its grocery stores.The lawsuit said on Nov. 12, 2022, Luke Werner was “violently stabbed in the neck multiple times by a patron of the store," which was located at 2508 East Riverside Drive. RELATED: Austin police arrest man after Bastrop deputy stabbed at East Riverside H-E-B store According to lawsuit documents, H-E-B owed Werner a duty to use reasonable care in providing a safe workplace.“In this lawsuit, Mr. Werner was damaged by the many failures of H-E-B’s employees to prevent an act of violence like this from happening, or at least timely resolving the dangerous condition when it became aware of Jaime Canales’s outburst,” the lawsuit reads.The law firm representing Werner said despite Werner having been on the clock as an H-E-B employee, H-E-B refused to pay for his medical bills that he incurred bec...

UFCU holds basket drive for first-generation college students

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting college can be expensive, which is why the University Federal Credit Union said it hosted a college dorm basket drive Thursday.To relieve some of the financial stress that comes with starting college, UFCU employees put together baskets full of supplies students might need in the classroom.The baskets are expected to be given to first-generation college students associated with organizations such as Breakthrough Central Texas, Con Mi Madre and Communities in Schools."We've always been rooted into the higher education journey. So, what we want to do is rally our employees around,” Chris Turnley, UFCU executive VP of member experience, said. “Hundreds of employees have contributed hours or donations. They all come together, and they feel like they have part ownership into the student's journeys as they start that college education.”Each basket was valued at $300 or more.

Christian Jones' leadership noticed on and off the field, nominated for Wuerffel Trophy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Christian Jones has been a pillar on the Texas Longhorns offensive line for the past three seasons, starting in 35 games while playing in 48. Since he decided to use his extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted players due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sixth-year 321-pounder out of Cypress Woods has seen quite a bit during his time on the 40 Acres."I've been here longer than some of the bricks in the building," Jones said. "But this locker room is very special. It's a brotherly bond. People are staying late and getting extra reps in voluntarily. Nobody is telling them to do that.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersIt has been a theme early in fall camp that chemistry is going to take the Longhorns where they want to go this season, and with all five starting offensive linemen returning from last season, that position could perhaps shine the brightest in t...

Allies For Justice of Schenectady County host donation drive for asylum seekers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:45 GMT

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) - After hundreds of asylum seekers unexpectedly arrived in the middle of the night in Rotterdam, local leaders scrambled to answer concerns from some community members. Schenectady County officials respond to placement of NYC asylees But others immediately reached out to help the families that had traveled a long time over long distance.Allies For Justice, or AJF of Schenectady County is hosting their second donation drive to help support the asylum seekers who were recently shipped up to the Capital Region from New York City.  It's a brand-new group, created by Maria Pacheco not long after the asylees arrived.“I'm looking for people who think like me that we should be helping our new neighbors. And people are just here. Bringing whatever it is that we have needed they are bringing it and we are so grateful they're here with us,” said Maria Pacheco.And those allies turned up and turned out to the Rotterdam Community Center.“We have over 650 members right n...