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Iran says at least 20 people killed, 40 wounded in blasts at ceremony honoring slain general

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Explosions at an event honoring a prominent Iranian general slain in a U.S. airstrike in 2020 have killed at least 20 people and wounded 40 others, state-run media in Iran reported Wednesday.The state-run IRNA news agency quoted Dr. Mohammad Saberi, the head of Kerman emergency services, for the figure.The blasts struck an event marking the the fourth anniversary of the killing of Gen. Qassim Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force. who died in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. The explosions occurred near his grave site in Kerman, about 820 kilometers (510 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the blasts. Authorities said some people were injured while fleeing afterward.Soleimani was the architect of Iran’s regional military activities and is hailed as a national icon among supporters of Iran’s theocracy. His death has drawn large processions in the past. At his funeral in...

Why ‘bleisure’ travel gives short-term rentals like Airbnb a boost over hotels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

Remote and hybrid work has affected many industries, from commercial real estate to downtown restaurants. And it has impacted how many workers, unfettered by office attendance requirements, plan their travels.Some call it “ bleisure travel,” “laptop lugging,” “workations” or simply “blended travel.” The gist is the same: Remote and hybrid employees extend work trips to include leisure activities or work during their leisure trips.Whatever it’s called, it could upend the traditional divide between leisure and business travel.The travel lodging industry is already seeing the trend’s impact. Because bleisure travelers’ needs differ from those of traditional vacationers or work trippers, existing lodging options — particularly hotels — can fall short. This has created an opportunity and appears to be fueling a boom among short-term vacation rentals such as Airbnb.Quarterly demand growth for short-term rentals has outpaced that for hotels since the first quarter of 2022, when travel bega...

Landlord accused in murder of 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in court Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. — The man accused of fatally stabbing a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and injuring his mother in unincorporated Plainfield is expected in court Wednesday.Authorities allege Joseph Czuba, 71, targeted Wadea Al-Fayoume and his mother Hanaan Shahin, on Oct. 14 because of their Muslim faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas. Czuba pleaded not guilty in October to hate crime and murder charges. He was the family's landlord.Czuba is facing hate crime charges along with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder charges.Prosecutors said Czuba stabbed the boy more than two dozen times, killing him. He also attacked the boy's mother, critically injuring her. Investigation underway after 2 women killed in shooting in Cicero The murder happened at a home the family was renting from Czuba in Unincorporated Plainfield. Detectives said his wife told them Czuba has been listening to conservative talk radio and felt the mother and s...

Jimmy Kimmel lashes back at Aaron Rodgers over QB's comments regarding 'Epstein List'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

Jimmy Kimmel and Aaron Rodgers have apparently embarked on the latest public celebrity feud.Kimmel, the popular late-night talk-show host, called out Rodgers for comments the former Green Bay Packers star and current New York Jets quarterback made Tuesday during Rodgers' scheduled appearance on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show." Rodgers' comments were tied to the so-called "Epstein List," the high-profile list of associates of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Supposedly, that list will be released soon.Rodgers was being interviewed Tuesday on McAfee's show when the list was brought up. That's when Rodgers said, "There's a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, really hoping that it doesn't come out."Rodgers' comments appeared to be retaliation for the times that Kimmel has made fun of Rodgers for the latter's stances on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines. ‘Hooliganism’: Actor Ian Ziering addresses Hollywood mini-biker brawl Kimmel was not happy with Rodgers' accusations regarding the "Eps...

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in mid 30s with wintry mix, scattered snow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Temperatures in the mid-30s Wednesday with cloudy conditions and patchy freezing drizzle. 20% wintry mix/sct'd snow chance. Winds: WNW 5-10 G15. High: 34. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Cloudy tonight with decreasing some clouds, lake effect snow NW IN. Winds: N 5-10. Low: 24.Thursday Forecast: More sun, partly cloudy, N 0-5. High: 33.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Joel Embiid returns with seventh career triple-double in 76ers' rout of Chicago Bulls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid declined at first to wear a “ Big Energy ” chain before he reluctantly agreed to slip on the gaudy necklace and flexed his muscles for a quick photo at his locker.“The Process” was back — and so were the 76ers.Embiid had 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in his return from a sprained right ankle, Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points and Philadelphia beat the Chicago Bulls 110-97 on Tuesday night.“He was moving great. I think his conditioning was less than that,” coach Nick Nurse said. “But that's OK. I think that game was good for him to kind of recondition himself.”Embiid missed all four games on the 76ers’ holiday road trip, and they went 2-2. One of those games was in Chicago just three nights earlier, a 105-92 loss in which the Sixers never led in the second half.Embiid is the reigning NBA MVP for a reason. With the big man back, the Sixers turned this into an early blowout against a Bulls team that had played well recently without inj...

Minnesota picks new state flag: Here's what to know

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Love it, hate it or yawn at it, Minnesota is set to get a new state flag this spring that echoes its motto of being the North Star State, replacing an old flag that brought up painful memories of conquest and displacement for Native Americans.During the monthslong selection process, some publicly submitted designs gained cult followings on social media but didn't make the final cut. They included: a loon – the state bird – with lasers for eyes; a photo of someone’s dog; famous paintings of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln; and an image of a rather large mosquito.Instead, the flag design adopted in December includes a dark blue shape resembling Minnesota on the left, with a white, eight-pointed North Star on it. On the right is a light blue field that to those involved in the selection process symbolizes the abundant waters that help define the Land of 10,000 Lakes.The new state seal features a loon amid wild rice, to replace the image of a Native American rid...

Have COVID symptoms, but testing negative? You may want to check your tests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — With respiratory illness spiking across the country, there's a good chance you're sick to start the new year. Maybe you have the symptoms of COVID-19, prompting you to take a test or two that you received for free from the federal government in 2023. It's also possible you're testing negative. While there is a relatively obvious reason why your test is negative (more on that in a moment), there is another less obvious possibility you may be overlooking.You may recall hearing that some of the COVID tests shipped out by the government in October were already beyond their printed best-by date. Some of those tests had expiration dates for February 2023, a whole eight months before they arrived in mailboxes. The reason why you have that lingering cough However, the Food and Drug Administration said the tests were not actually expired, noting that it had extended the expiration dates for more than a dozen at-home COVID test kits. So the aforementioned kits that were origina...

Beneficial rains yesterday and more to come

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- More than an inch of rain fell Tuesday and Tuesday night from the interstate eastward, topped by 1.98" in Thorndale. Camp Mabry picked up 1.28" Tuesday afternoon and night. That's 48% of the normal rain for January (2.64"). Live weather radar Updated rainfall totals NEW: 2023 was Austin's hottest year on record Another cold afternoonToday will start with areas of fog and an overcast sky. There will be some minor clearing in the afternoon. Most high temperatures today will be in the lower 50s.The next upper-level low has advanced to the northern California coast near San Francisco. It will follow the path by the upper low that gave us the rain yesterday.We see the first rains late tomorrow afternoon with widely scattered rain in the Hill Country. The rain continues into the night, leaving before the sun comes up Friday.Round number 2 of rain will arrive Thursday nightThis will be followed by a dry weekend. with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s Saturday, warm...

Police identify driver killed in Dec. 9 crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police have identified the pickup truck driver killed in a crash on Dec. 9 on Interstate 35 in North Austin. According to APD, officers responded to the crash between the pickup and a trailer-truck at 5:51 a.m. on the northbound lanes of the interstate between Rundberg Lane and U.S. Highway 183. PREVIOUS: 1 dead following north Austin traffic incident, road closures expected Police said the pickup driver, Sara Jo Gamond, 44, died at the scene. The trailer truck driver stayed behind and is cooperating with police, APD said. Austin Police are investigating this crash as Austin's 84th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 85 deaths. APD said by comparison as of Dec. 9 2022, 104 fatal crashes resulted in 108 deaths. Police said anyone with any information should call APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. You can submit your tip anonymously online through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program or by calling 512-472-8477.