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Putin is downplaying skipping South Africa summit amid ICC warrant controversy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday appeared to downplay not attending an economic summit in Johannesburg next month amid a controversy over an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court, saying he doesn’t think his presence there is “more important than my presence here, in Russia.” Putin’s remarks come more than a week after South African authorities said he will not attend the Aug. 22-24 gathering, which brings together a bloc of developing economies known as BRICS, because of the warrant, even though he was initially invited. The Kremlin said the Russian president will take part in the summit via video link, but didn’t provide a reason for the decision and didn’t say whether Putin had ever intended to attend in person. Asked about his reasons for not going, Putin told Russian journalists Saturday that he’s “in contact with all colleagues,” referring to the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Afri...

CP NewsAlert: B.C. firefighter killed while battling Donnie Creek wildfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

Officials in British Columbia say a contracted firefighter has been killed while fighting the Donnie Creek wildfire in the northeastern part of the province. The death of the firefighter, who has not been identified, was confirmed in a statement from the office of B.C. Premier David Eby. The death marks the fourth involving a firefighter battling blazes during a historically busy season, and the second killed in the province this month.More coming.The Canadian Press

Robert Chambers, NYC’s ‘Preppy Killer,’ is released after 15 years in prison on drug charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Robert Chambers, better known to some as the “Preppy Killer,” was released after spending 15 years in prison for drug and assault charges, according to state records.Chambers spent a similar amount of time in prison after pleading guilty to strangling Jennifer Levin in New York City’s Central Park during the summer of 1986.Chambers entered the plea to killing 18-year-old Levin as part of a deal when a jury could not reach a decision after nine days of deliberations.He was released in 2003 for that crime but again ran afoul of the law soon after.He was again arrested in 2007 for selling drugs out of his apartment. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison but was released Tuesday — four years early — from the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York, according to online inmate records maintained by the New York Department of Corrections.Chambers, now 56, will remain under supervision for up to five years, records show.The Associated Press

Blinken tells Australia that WikiLeaks founder is accused of ‘very serious’ crime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday pushed back against Australian demands for an end to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s prosecution, saying the Australian citizen was accused of “very serious criminal conduct” in publishing a trove of classified documents more than a decade ago.Australia’s center-left Labor Party government has been arguing since winning the elections last year that the United States should end its pursuit of the 52-year-old, who has spent four years in a British prison fighting extradition to the United States.Assange’s freedom is widely seen as a test of Australia’s leverage with President Joe Biden’s administration.Blinken confirmed on Saturday that Assange had been discussed in annual talks with Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Brisbane, Australia.“I understand the concerns and views of Australians. I think it’s very important that our friends here understand our concerns about this matter,” Blinken told reporters.“Mr....

Carthage College senior among two dead after driver crashes into Kenosha business

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

KENOSHA, Wisc. — A Carthage College student is among one of two dead, and two others that were injured after a driver crashed into a store in Kenosha, Wisconsin.The crash happened around 3:25 a.m. at the Play it Again Sports store in the 4000 block of 75th Street.According to Carthage College and the Wisconsin Juniors Volleyball Club, Jenna Barrette — a rising senior at Carthage — is one of the two people who died in the crash.Barrette originally spent two years at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh before transferring to her hometown college to pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing.In a statement from Carthage College President John Swallow, he said Barrette competed for two years as a defensive specialist on the women's volleyball team from 2021 to 2022. Man unresponsive after being pulled from pond in Bensenville Five people were inside the truck when the driver partially crashed into the store, according to police.Two people were killed and two people were critically injured,...

Bears host 2nd annual Baby Bear Crawl race during training camp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

CHICAGO — Baby bears fans channeled their inner Lightning McQueen Saturday, as the Chicago Bears hosted their second annual Baby Bear Crawl race at Halas Hall.The contest featured fans and their babies decked out in Bears' gear, alongside Advocate Health Care and Bears staff members and their little ones at the Walter Payton Center during Chicago Bears training camp.Photos from the 2nd annual Baby Bear Crawl Race during Chicago Bears training camp.Photos from the 2nd annual Baby Bear Crawl Race during Chicago Bears training camp.Photos from the 2nd annual Baby Bear Crawl Race during Chicago Bears training camp.Photos from the 2nd annual Baby Bear Crawl Race during Chicago Bears training camp.Photos from the 2nd annual Baby Bear Crawl Race during Chicago Bears training camp.Photos from the 2nd annual Baby Bear Crawl Race during Chicago Bears training camp.Photos from the 2nd annual Baby Bear Crawl Race during Chicago Bears training camp.Photos from the 2nd annual Baby Bear Crawl Race...

Old Log Theatre’s ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ revival is all about the music

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

In the nostalgia-fueled business of jukebox musicals, few shows ask more of a cast than “Million Dollar Quartet.” Among the many biographies of hitmakers on American stages, this one requires the performers to be skilled musicians who can transmit the electricity and abandon of early rock ‘n’ roll.Seven years after first presenting Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott’s distillation of the story of Memphis’ Sun Records, Old Log Theatre is staging a revival that eclipses the first in energy and musicianship. A musical ostensibly about a jam session truly feels like one in this version, which is suffused with the joy of music-making.By late 1956, producer Sam Phillips and Sun had already launched Elvis Presley to stardom and labelmate Johnny Cash had hit the pop culture radar. On Dec. 4 of that year, those two stopped by Sun Studios for a visit as Carl Perkins was recording some potential follow-up hits to “Blue Suede Shoes,” complemented by Sun’s newest addition, the piano-pound...

Severe storms slam St. Louis area, heading toward Metro East

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect through at least 5 p.m. Saturday for parts of the St. Louis metro. The most intense parts of the storm are heading toward the east of St. Louis after strong winds and heavy rainfall in the Missouri side of the region. If you are in the path of a severe thunderstorm warning, seek shelter immediately. While thunderstorms and some rain chances are the main threats, there is also the potential for damaging winds up to 70 mph. There is also strong potential for downed trees and power lines. Drivers may notice some brief, localized flood risks as well. As severe storms roll through the area, much of area remains under a severe thunderstorm watch. That includes: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Madison, St. Clair, St. Charles, Jefferson, Boone, Franklin, St. Francois, Adams, Macoupin, Cole, Jersey, Randolph, Marion, Callaway, Lincoln, Monroe, Audrain, Pike, Greene, Warren, Pike, Gasconade, Crawford, Moniteau, Montgomery, Brown, Washin...

Widespread outages: 100K-plus without power in St. Louis area after storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Strong storms in the St. Louis area have led to widespread power outages. Ameren crews are working to restore power to tens of thousands of customers without power. Just before 5 p.m. Saturday, there are around 90,000 Ameren customers without service in Missouri and 15,000 in the state of Illinois. Severe storms from the west of the St. Louis region packed lightning, rain and winds up to 70 miles per hour. To check out Ameren's outage map or report a power outage, click here. Current customers without power in Missouri:St. Charles County – 16,000St. Louis County – 51,000St. Louis City – 7,400Jefferson County – 7,000Current customers without power in Illinois:Madison County - 8,400St. Clair County - 3,400

Man arrested for stalking, kidnapping ex-lover in Riverside County 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:44 GMT

A man who allegedly stalked and kidnapped his ex-lover was arrested in Riverside County on Saturday. According to a release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, deputies with the Moreno Valley Sheriff's Station received calls from the family of a victim stating that a female resident was taken against her will in the 13000 block of Elsworth Avenue in Moreno Valley. When deputies responded, they located the kidnapped female’s vehicle with her and the suspect, Johnny Melvin Monroe, inside. During the incident, Monroe went to the victim’s residence and forced her into her vehicle before driving away against her will, authorities said.  Riot breaks out at juvenile detention hall in Downey “The victim stated she previously was involved in a relation with Monroe but had made it clear she was no longer interested in him,” RCSD said in a statement. “The suspect had been previously arrested at the victim’s residence on multiple incidents but continued to seek out the victi...