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Whistleblower tells Congress the US is concealing ‘multi-decade’ program that captures UFOs

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects, a former Air Force intelligence officer testified Wednesday to Congress. The Pentagon has denied his claims.Retired Maj. David Grusch’s highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress’ latest foray into the world of UAPs — or “unidentified aerial phenomena,” which is the official term the U.S. government uses instead of UFOs. While the study of mysterious aircraft or objects often evokes talk of aliens and “little green men,” Democrats and Republicans in recent years have pushed for more research as a national security matter due to concerns that sightings observed by pilots may be tied to U.S. adversaries.Grusch said he was asked in 2019 by the head of a government task force on UAPs to identify all highly classified programs relating to the task force’s mission. At the time, Grusch was detailed to ...

African leaders condemn coup attempt against Niger’s president after his home is surrounded

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Governing bodies in Africa condemned what they characterized as a coup attempt Wednesday against Niger’s president, whose official Twitter account reported that elements of the presidential guard engaged in an “anti-Republican demonstration” and tried to obtain the support of other security forces. The tweet from the administration of President Mohamed Bazoum did not refer to a coup, and the part of that referred to the demonstration later was deleted. But it said the president and his family were doing well, and Niger’s army and national guard “are ready to attack” if those involved in the protest did not back down. However, the commissions of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States called the actions of the presidential guardsman an effort to unseat Bazoum, who was elected president two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960. The ECOWAS Commission, whi...

Store owner charged with murder in Black teen’s killing fights warrant over business records

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A lawyer for a store owner in South Carolina facing a murder charge after police said he chased and shot a Black 14-year-old who he had falsely accused of stealing water has asked a judge to stop a search warrant for his business records.Cyrus Carmack-Belton was fatally shot in the back on May 28, a killing that sent waves of anguish and grief through the African American community in Richland County, where nearly half the population is Black. A gun was found near Carmack-Belton’s body, but investigators have said there is no evidence that the teen ever directed the firearm at Rick Chow or his son, who together had pursued Carmack-Belton on a chase that stretched more than 500 feet (152 meters) past their family’s Xpress Mart Shell station in Columbia.A prosecutor on Monday said investigators need to search computers and other electronics from Chow and his family to find the store’s employee manual and other documents that could potentially re...

Missouri school board that voted to drop anti-racism resolution might consider a revised version

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The president of the Missouri school board that voted to revoke its anti-racism resolution now says the resolution could be kept, but revised.The Francis Howell School Board in 2020 adopted a resolution against racism at the height of the national reckoning that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Control of the board flipped over the past two years, with conservatives winning elections, and it voted 5-2 last week to let the resolution expire.But in a Facebook post Tuesday, board President Adam Bertrand said that although support for the 2020 resolution as written is unlikely, “there may be support of a rewrite or modification.” Bertrand said member Mark Ponder will seek input from other board members and the community, “to move towards a draft that he feels the majority of the current board feels the community could support.”Messages left Wednesday with Bertrand and Ponder were not immediately returned.Zebrina Looney, pres...

‘It’s a community service’: Home bike repair shop at risk of being shut down

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

It’s another day at work for Ryan Richter, who repairs bicycles for people who live near the Scarborough Co-op housing complex he calls home. The shop is small, occupying a portion of his backyard patio. His customer base is made up of people who say they cannot afford repairs at more traditional brick-and-mortar shops. “The people I serve come from homeless shelters, group homes. Many are disabled and on fixed incomes,” Richter said. One of those customers is Jay Alexander, who has a disability but is still able to ride a bicycle, which he calls his lifeline. “This is the only way I can afford to get around,” he said. Until he met Richter, he struggled to pay for repairs and maintenance. “I go to another shop it costs me $150. I go to this guy it’s $10 to $25, which is a significant drop.” But that savings and convenience may not last long. Richter has been notified by his complex that his business is a violation of its rules. Not to mention, it also violates Toronto’s zoning byla...

Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray out indefinitely, placed on long-term injured reserve

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced goaltender Matt Murray is out indefinitely and will be placed on long-term injured reserve ahead of the 2023-24 season.The Maple Leafs announced today that goaltender Matt Murray is out indefinitely and will be placed on Injured Reserve/Long Term Injury prior to the start of the season.— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) July 26, 2023The team traded for Murray ahead of last season and opened the year with the 29-year-old and Ilya Samsonov as a starting tandem. Samsonov eventually took over the majority of starts in net by mid-season and started for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs.Murray had an injury-prone debut season with the Leafs, only starting 24 games and finishing with a .903 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average.Joseph Woll started two games in place of an injured Samsonov in Toronto’s second-round playoff series loss to the Florida Panthers last season, with Murray settling in as the backup.The two-time Stanley Cup winning Murray sign...

Suburban man accused of arson in employer's lot for wanting explanation on firing

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — A suburban man was arrested after allegedly setting fires in his employer's parking lot in an attempt to get a further explanation on his termination.On Tuesday at around 11:50 p.m., Lake County Sheriff's deputies responded to a fire at an automotive business in the 25500 block of Route 173 in unincorporated Antioch. A 911 caller told authorities it appeared a person was intentionally starting fires in the parking lot.At the scene, deputies located Jonathan Tracy, 31, of Fox Grove, after he allegedly set fire to a motorcycle parked outside of the business.Police said Tracy appeared irate and was shouting that he wanted to speak to his former boss. It was determined Tracey was fired from the business earlier in the day. Police believe Tracy allegedly began setting fire to items in the parking lot in an attempt to lure his former boss outside. Video shows crop dusting plane nearly clipping semi-truck in Northwest Indiana Tracy told police he wanted a further expl...

Bears TE Cole Kmet is getting a contract extension, reports say

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — It looks like a native of the Chicago area is going to play for his hometown team for a few more years.Per numerous reports, the first from Adam Schefter and Field Yates of ESPN, tight end Cole Kmet and the Bears have reached an agreement on a four-year, $50 million contract extension.The team has yet to confirm the move. This comes as the Lake Barrington native and former St. Viator High School standout was approaching the final year of his rookie contract he signed in 2020, when the Bears selected him in the second round out of Notre Dame. This represents the first contract extension that has been given out by new general manager Ryan Poles. Check back with WGNTV.com for more on this story.

Tracking the Tropics: Atlantic bustling with activity as hurricane season ramps up

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Atlantic Ocean is bustling with activity as the 2023 hurricane season ramps up ahead of its most active time of year.On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center was monitoring three disturbances spread throughout the Atlantic basin: Invest 95L, and two areas of low pressure. By Wednesday morning, two of the three disturbances dissipated.Southeastern Caribbean SeaThe NHC had been keeping a close eye on Invest 95L since it was first spotted on July 19. The tropical wave that hung over the southeastern Caribbean Sea produced a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms.On Wednesday, the disturbance fizzled out.Southwestern AtlanticOn Tuesday, the NHC was also tracking an area of low pressure located a few hundred miles south-southwest of Bermuda.Forecasters said significant development of this system "appears unlikely" as it was forecast to move toward the southeastern U.S. coast over the next several days.Similar to Invest 95L, the disturbance fizzled ...

How athletes can be efficient before training begins

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:15 GMT

AUSTIN, TEXAS (KXAN) -- Summer workouts for high school and college student-athletes will begin in a few weeks. Football and soccer players, among others, will be outdoors in the heat of what has already been another sweltering summer with day after day of triple-digit heat.Dr. Lee Chilton of Ally Medical says one of the things the athletes have to do, and what coaches and other staff personnel have to monitor, is to make sure of proper hydration. Even the players who are in the best of shape should be drinking water or accepted sports drinks. Dr. Chilton says hydrating the body should begin as early as two days out from the strenuous workouts they face. His suggestion is an ounce of water for every pound-and-a-half of body weight. The example he used was 120 ounces for a player weighing 180 pounds.Hydrating with water will be enough if the practice is going to last an hour or less. But those workouts that last longer need more than water. The athlete needs to start replacing elect...