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Survivors of Maui’s wildfires return home to blackened ruins as death toll rises to 67

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Blackened hulks of burned-out cars, the pavement streaked with melted and then rehardened chrome. Block after block of flattened homes and businesses. Incinerated telephone poles, and elevator shafts rising from ashy lots where apartment buildings once stood. A truck bed full of glass bottles, warped into surreal shapes by the furious heat. Anthony Garcia assessed the devastation as he stood under historic Lahaina’s iconic banyan tree, now charred, and swept twisted branches into neat piles next to another heap filled with dead animals — cats, roosters and other birds killed by the smoke and flames. Somehow it made sense in a world turned upside-down. “If I don’t do something, I’ll go nuts,” said Garcia, who lost everything he owned. “I’m losing my faith in God.”That was the scene residents found when they were allowed back home to take stock of their shattered homes and lives Friday as the toll rose to 67 confirmed dead in this week’s wildfires, which t...

Blue Jays’ bats stay quiet, Berrios struggles early in loss to Cubs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

The schedule gets a bit funky for the Toronto Blue Jays after a weekend set with the Chicago Cubs, three off-days in the span of eight days offering both a needed respite from the August grind and some challenges in running a six-man rotation.Hence, the option of Alek Manoah to triple-A Buffalo on Friday afternoon, a move that in one fell swoop ended the burden of a seven-man bullpen, too many rest days between outings for the starters and created an opportunity to optimize for an Aug. 22-24 series in Baltimore.Sounds good until you consider the downside, which in this case is Manoah enduring a second demotion in a jarring season of struggle for the right-hander – only this time, there’s no obvious path back to the majors like there was when he was first sent down in early June.“We’ll see. You never really know,” manager John Schneider, speaking before a 6-2 loss to the Cubs, said of how Manoah can reclaim his roster spot. “A lot of it’ll be how t...

Mayor Johnson fires Dr. Allison Arwady as Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

CHICAGO -- Mayor Brandon Johnson fired Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady on Friday.Mayor Johnson's office confirmed the termination of Dr. Arwady to WGN-TV on Friday.Dr. Arwady was with the Department Of Public Health since 2015, where she initially served as Chief Medical Officer before being confirmed as Commissioner in January 2020. Illinois Supreme Court upholds state’s ban on semiautomatic weapons Dr. Allison Arwady released the following statement Friday night:"Over a decade of working in public health in Chicago--including four years as the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health--my top priority has always been protecting the health of all Chicagoans.It has been the best chapter of my life (so far!) leading the CDPH team, especially through the COVID pandemic, when public health was needed more than ever. Public health must always be driven by science and medicine, and never politics.It is critical that this work receives t...

Paul Lisnek on Illinois assault weapons ban, Hunter Biden, and Donald Trump

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Evening News to discuss several big stories from the week.The topics include the Illinois Supreme Court's decision to uphold the state’s ban on semiautomatic weapons, and the latest on Hunter Biden and former President Donald Trump.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesTune in Sunday mornings for WGN-TV Political Report.

Will Airbnb refund a Maui booking after wildfires?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

(KRON/NEXSTAR) — Airbnb will be granting full refunds to guests with accommodations booked in Maui who request them, a representative for the short-term rental provider confirmed. The Airbnb extenuating circumstances policy is currently in effect for areas of Hawaii, including the entire island of Maui, the representative said.This policy allows guests with eligible stays to cancel and get a full refund. Hosts in the impacted areas can also cancel without fees or other consequences. Maui wildfire disaster: How can I donate to help? The company's extenuating circumstances policy is in effect for all of Maui and parts of the Big Island that are also being impacted by wildfires. Hosts and guests with eligible stays in the impacted areas can get information directly through their Airbnb account.The company is closely monitoring the situation and will provide more information soon, a representative told KRON4.The island of Maui is currently reeling from devastating wildfires that all-b...

Cedar Park man raises money for those who lost their homes in the Parmer Lane fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) – Rob Solis almost lost his home to the Parmer Lane fire Tuesday. That night, he said his fiance called, telling him that their front lawn was on fire and embers were falling from the sky onto their roof.  “I rushed home,” Solis said. “I immediately grabbed water hoses and started putting out fires wherever I could,” he continued. Luckily, his home survived, but it got him thinking about those whose homes did not.   When he saw the flames, “you immediately go to the worst-case scenario – ‘I'm gonna lose everything that I have.’ And unfortunately, there were people in this scenario that did over at the Bexley [at Silverado] apartments,” he said. Solis started thinking of ways he could help those people. He fronts a band, Solis and The Unwritten, and he decided to turn a performance he had planned Wednesday night into a fundraiser. The fundraiser yielded nearly $1,000, and he went searching for families affected by ...

Lake Travis ISD adds new bus drivers, opens up routes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — School districts across Central Texas have struggled to fill bus driver positions over the last few years, but this year many are seeing more people signing up.In Lake Travis ISD, the district had to make major changes to bus operations with a shortage of drivers last year.Paula Miller is the director of transportation in the district, she said increasing pay has helped bring back a lot of drivers.“We have hired 15 new drivers this summer,” Miller said.Last year the shortage of drivers meant the district had to cut some routes. ‘Extreme struggle to find drivers’: Lake Travis ISD moves to week on week off bus schedule The district didn't offer students living within two miles of a campus transportation and for everyone else they had to offer rides every other week."We were able to go back to filling every single seat with the 15 drivers to keep us from having to do the rotations,” said Miller.One reason why more people have come back is an increase in pay, she said....

Loons go down to 10 men and get blown out 5-0 by Nashville in Leagues Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

Minnesota United provided two thrilling results to advance in the Leagues Cup knockout rounds in August.The third time was not charmed; it was cataclysmic.After the Loons went down to 10 men after a half hour Friday, MNUFC kept wilting and Nashville kept rolling, stacking goals in 5-0 blowout win in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal Friday at GEODIS Park in Tennessee.United was one win away from playing in the tournament’s semifinal, but remain a club that falls short in the game before the real big game.Instead of the buzz of playing one of North America’s top teams —  Los Angeles FC or Monterrey — in a semifinal Tuesday. They will have to fight a hangover and regroup for the return of MLS play on Aug. 20 at New York City.The game changed when D.J. Taylor was issued a red card in the 34th minute for a “professional foul last man,” when the referee deemed Taylor making contact on Jacob Shaffelburg.One definition is it’s a deliberate foul against an attacking player to prevent him fro...

Phillies beat up on Keuchel, Twins in 13-2 rout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

PHILADELPHIA — Bryson Stott and J.T. Realmuto hit back-to-back home runs and the Philadelphia Phillies scored six runs in the second inning without the ailing Bryce Harper to beat the Minnesota Twins 13-2 on Friday night.Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryson Stott, center, celebrates with J.T. Realmuto, left, after hitting a home run against Minnesota Twins pitcher Brent Headrick during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)Harper sat out a day after the two-time NL MVP was sidelined by mid-back spasms. There was some good news for the NL champion Phillies as they try to keep the top spot in the wild-card race: Harper is day to day and shouldn’t miss much time.He could afford to rest against the Twins.The Phillies roughed up Twins starter Dallas Keuchel (0-1) for six runs over just 1 2/3 innings, small-balling him out of the game in the second.Stott, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner, who has a hit in eight strai...

Judge: Saratoga Springs officials can speak about officer-involved shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:15 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A case brought by the Saratoga County District Attorney against two city officials for discussing an officer-involved shooting in November 2022 has been dismissed. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! A state supreme court judge ruled that DA Karen Heggen cannot stop Mayor Ron Kim and Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino from speaking about the shooting involving Vito Caselnova.The shooting involved the off-duty Vermont sheriff's deputy and Saratoga Springs police near Caroline Street. The judge also ruled that Heggen cannot try the case again.