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New Year's celebrations around the world

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

CHICAGO — Around the world, people are ringing in the new year when the clock strikes midnight local time.One of the first to celebrate 2024 was Sydney, Australia, where more than a million people gathered to watch the fireworks launched from the harbor bridge and opera house.Also among the first to ring in the new year was New Zealand, where crowds in Auckland cheered on the lasers and more fireworks from Sky Tower. Navy Pier rings in new year with fireworks display In China, state TV broadcast a New Year's message from President Xi Jinping where he acknowledged wars and conflicts around the world and reaffirmed China's stance on reunification with Taiwan, while also calling for a peaceful year ahead.In Tokyo, it's not a ball drop but a traditional bell ringing which marks the passing of the old year. New Year’s Eve in Chicago: CPD layouts safety plan ahead of busy holiday weekend In Madrid, hundreds of dogs and their owners gathered for a four-legged friendly New Year's celebr...

Midwest shaping up to be at the center of the 2024 election season

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

CHICAGO — As 2023 draws to a close, the Midwest is shaping up to be at the center of the 2024 election season.First, Colorado kicked Donald Trump off the ballot, then Maine disqualified the former president for engaging in insurrection. Michigan's high court ruled that he could stay on the ballot, but Trump's legal woes, his ballot eligibility, and 91 criminal counts are sure to dominate headlines in 2024.Despite his troubles, polls showed that Trump is the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. The contest kicks off on Jan. 15 in Iowa. Plane carrying over 300 migrants from Texas lands in Rockford, en route to Chicago President Joe Biden is all but certain to secure his party's nomination. Biden wanted South Carolina to vote first for Democrats on Feb. 3, but New Hampshire defied him, setting a Jan 23 primary.Both parties officially nominate their candidates this summer in the Midwest.First, Republicans gather for their convention from July 15 through 18 in ...

'I was really scared': Neighbor witnessed Austin house fire involving family of 10

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department told KXAN it had a busy weekend responding to nearly a dozen structure fires, which AFD Battalion Chief Mark Bridges said is more than usual. PREVIOUS: AFD investigating series of ‘suspicious’ fires in SE Austin "Many of those are just due to normal accidental circumstances. Several of those are being investigated as suspicious," Bridges said. "So we're still working to investigate the cause of those are investigators are working hard to figure out what started those fires and who may have been responsible if anyone was." AFD: 10 people ‘narrowly escape’ east Austin house fire AFD said one of those accidental fires was at a home on Adina Street in east Austin. Family escaped from house fire on Dec. 31 in east Austin. (AFD photo)Family escaped from house fire on Dec. 31 in east Austin. (Photo: KXAN)Family escaped from house fire on Dec. 31 in east Austin. (Photo: KXAN)Family escaped from house fire on Dec. 31 in east Austin. (Photo: KXA...

2023 was Austin's hottest year on record

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The unofficial numbers are in and Austin looks set to claim 2023 as it's hottest year ever. Based on our preliminary calculations, 2023 will end up slightly hotter than 2017, our previous hottest year on record.Hottest years in AustinFinal numbers should be available early January to confirm the temperatures to the tenth degree.Of the 10 hottest years in Austin, nine of them have occurred since the year 2000 with the remaining year being 1999.Climate change, caused primarily by human activity, is the main cause for the recent warmth in Austin and worldwide.The highlights (or lowlights) of the heat in 2023Austin experienced the second highest number of triple digit days on record in 2023 with 80. 2011 holds the title for most number of triple digits with 90.Most triple digit days on record in AustinAustin experienced 45 consecutive days with triple digit highs, the most ever recorded.Record consecutive triple digit days in AustinIn 2023, Austin had its highest count o...

Broncos coach Sean Payton: Russell Wilson “fantastic” in handling demotion even as drama around contract conversations continues

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

Game day didn’t bring the Russell Wilson benching drama to a close — or even move it to the back burner.After a 16-9 win over the Chargers on Sunday, Broncos head coach Sean Payton brushed off more questions about the nature of conversations between Wilson’s representatives and the Denver front office in late October and early November.The club asked Wilson to move back a March 17 guarantee date on $37 million in 2025 salary, Wilson said on Friday. He said that the club threatened to bench him if he didn’t and that the NFL Players Association and league got involved in the proceedings over the course of Denver’s bye week.On Sunday morning, the Washington Post reported on a letter sent by an NFLPA lawyer to the Broncos dated Nov. 4 saying, in part, that if, “the Broncos follow through on the Club’s threat, the Club will violate, among other things, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Mr. Wilson’s Player Contract and New York law. And, we are particularly concerned that the Bro...

One injured in shooting outside Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

One person was injured in a shooting in the parking lot of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Sunday afternoon, according to the Denver Police Department.The shooting was reported at 2:45 p.m. in the 2000 block of North Colorado Boulevard, said department spokesperson Kurt Barnes.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | 2 pedestrians killed, 3 others injured in 5 Denver metro area crashes this weekend Crime and Public Safety | Denver man saved 2-year-old daughter from oncoming car, died days after crash Crime and Public Safety | Two killed, four wounded in three Denver shootings Crime and Public Safety | 29-year-old suspect wanted in south Denver fatal shooting Crime and Public Safety | Love ’em or hate ’em, Denver’s 45 new traffic circles change the way drivers navigate the city The person who was shot took themselves to a local hospital for treatment after the shooting, and t...

PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat LA Chargers 16-9 in NFL Week 17

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

The Denver Broncos hosted Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on New Year’s Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Denver won 16-9.Related ArticlesDenver Broncos | Broncos coach Sean Payton: Russell Wilson “fantastic” in handling demotion even as drama around contract conversations continues Denver Broncos | Broncos report card: A quality defensive outing propels Denver to home win over Chargers on New Year’s Eve Denver Broncos | Broncos four downs: Sean Payton might be best coach Broncos have had since Super Bowl. But he’s a lousy liar. Denver Broncos | Heroes and Zeros from Broncos’ win over Chargers: Lil’Jordan Humphrey goes in spin cycle Denver Broncos | WATCH: Jarrett Stidham finds Lil’Jordan Humphrey for electric 54-yard touchdown vs. Chargers

Man fighting for his life after violent hit-and-run in Los Angeles

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

A young man is fighting for his life while police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who struck the victim over the weekend in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles.  The incident occurred on Dec. 29 around 6 p.m. near the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Westmoreland Avenue, authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to KTLA.  Surveillance video shows the victim, 20-year-old James Ramirez, who works at a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Culver City, crossing the street to meet up with his friends after work when he appears to be struck by a dark colored vehicle.  The 20-year-old was transported to the hospital where he remains in serious condition.  James Ramirez, 20, remains hospitalized after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Pico-Union on Dec. 29, 2023. “Right now, he’s still on a ventilator and needs assistance breathing,” his mother, Jessica Ramirez told KTLA. “He’s still not completely alert. He had to have brain surgery yesterday m...

Sharks defenseman knocked out of game vs. Colorado Avalanche

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro was knocked out of Sunday’s game with the Colorado Avalanche in the first period after a hard open-ice collision with Nathan MacKinnon.Ferraro was carrying the puck inside the Sharks zone and cutting toward the middle of the ice where he was met by MacKinnon with a shoulder-to-shoulder hit. Although MacKinnon was the player who fell, Ferraro left the ice and appeared to be in serious discomfort as he headed toward the Sharks’ dressing room.A Sharks spokesman announced near the start of the second period that Ferraro had an upper-body injury and would not return. The severity of Ferraro’s injury was not immediately known.The Sharks trailed the Avalanche 1-0 at the start of the second period as they continued to play with five defensemen. Tomas Hertl, playing in his 700th career NHL game, scored on the power play at the 16:53 mark of the second period to tie the game 1-1.The goal was Hertl’s ninth in December and 13th of the season and it...

Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram each score 26 points, Pelicans top Lakers 129-109

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:12:12 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram each scored 26 points and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the road-weary Los Angeles Lakers 129-109 on Sunday night.Los Angeles was coming off a 108-106 loss at Minnesota on Saturday night, while New Orleans was off two days after beating Utah at home Thursday night.LeBron James scored 34 points and former Pelican Anthony Davis added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but they didn’t get enough help as the Lakers lost for the seventh time in nine games. CJ McCollum added 22 points for the Pelicans, who led by 19 points and responded to each comeback bid with the help of 50% 3-point shooting (17 of 34) as a team and crafty 6-foot guard Jose “Grand Theft” Alvarado’s four steals and and two blocks.The meeting was the first since the Lakers dismantled New Orleans 133-89 in the In-Season Tournament semifinal in Las Vegas on Dec. 7. And the Pelicans had the look of a team seeking redemption in front of a packed and festive New Year’s...