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In Ukraine, civilians train in survival skills to cope with dangers from Russia’s war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — In a cramped municipal building in a residential area of the Ukrainian capital, a group of people take turns training to shoot using a replica of a machine gun with the help of a weapons training simulator relying on virtual reality.The nearly 20 participants — all of them civilians and most of them women — have never held a weapon before.With Russia’s war on Ukraine now in its 17th month, the Kyiv City Administration has opened up training for civilians who want to learn survival skills, including how to shoot, provide first aid and recognize land mines. These and other skills could be used in a hostile environment provoked by missile strikes and other man-made disasters.In a dark room with tightly closed blinds, the unreal poof-poof sounds of the replica weapons are heard. People enthusiastically ask the instructors how to hold their weapons properly and ask to try one more time.“I am more than 45 years old. As soon as the opportunity arose, I decided that I n...

Georgia Democrat Mesha Mainor, at odds with her party, switches to Republicans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia state legislator from Atlanta switched to the Republican Party on Tuesday, after being at odds with Democrats for reasons including her support for school vouchers and disciplining prosecutors.Rep. Mesha Mainor becomes the only Black member of the GOP among Georgia’s 236 state lawmakers, and the first Black Republican woman to ever serve in the Georgia General Assembly. Mainor’s defection gives Republicans a 102-78 edge in the House.Mainor said legislative Democrats drove her out of the party for breaking party orthodoxy, claiming at a Tuesday news conference outside the Georgia Capitol that they had “relentlessly tried to sabotage every single thing that I have done for District 56” and “publicly slandered me in every way imaginable.”“I thought it was OK to not agree with those things as a Democrat. But they told me, ‘You know what, those are values we just don’t have,’” Mainor said, flanked by state Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon.But she...

‘I could die today’: Casino employee recalls armed heist in trial of Las Vegas police officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — At the trial of a Las Vegas police officer accused of a trio of casino heists, an employee said Tuesday that in her 40-year gaming career she had never been more afraid for her life than when she came face to face with the robber.“All I kept thinking in my head was: I could die today,” said Sherry McGrath, who was supervising the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino’s sportsbook the day that authorities said Caleb Rogers robbed while armed with a weapon issued by the police department.Prosecutors for the federal government are expected to paint Rogers, 35, as a gambling addict whose debts were snowballing when he allegedly stole nearly $165,000 from casinos off the Las Vegas Strip between November 2021 and February 2022.Since 2015, and at the time of the heists, Rogers was employed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as an active-duty patrol officer. A department spokesperson said last week that Rogers has been on unpaid leave “without police powers,” pendin...

Mexico says protest was organized by a drug gang and a cartel car bomb killed National Guard officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican security officials claimed Tuesday that a demonstration that blocked the main highway to the resort of Acapulco and led to the abduction of government officials was organized by a drug gang.They also said that a National Guard officer had been killed by a car bomb set by a cartel in an earlier attack elsewhere. The violence suggested that Mexico’s crime problem continues to be dire, despite President Andrés Manuel López Obrador exaggerating how much he has reduced the number of homicides since taking office in December 2018. Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez credited López Obrador on Tuesday for a 17.5% decline in the number of homicides. In fact, about 11% of the decline happened in the final months of his predecessor’s term. In the 4 1/2 years López Obrador has been in office, homicides have edged down by only about 7%, but remain at historically high levels.Rodríguez acknowledged that a demonstration Monday by hundreds of people in the...

Former soldier charged with plowing Humvee into a Georgia Army headquarters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) — A former soldier who left the Army a decade ago has been charged with stealing a military Humvee and crashing it into an office building at Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia.On Monday, the armored vehicle plowed through the glass front doors of the Army post’s headquarters building, which houses the offices of Fort Stewart’s commanding general and other top leaders. No one was injured.Treamon Dominic Lacy, 39, was charged in federal court in Georgia with theft of government property and destruction of government property. The former Army staff sergeant served from 2002 to 2013, Fort Stewart officials said in a statement. Lacy was a wheeled-vehicle mechanic who deployed twice to Iraq.Jordan Poe, an agent with the Army Criminal Investigation Division, said in a court affidavit that security camera video showed Lacy getting out of the Humvee immediately following the crash. Someone detained him at the scene until military police arrived, Poe said.Th...

Saints’ Alvin Kamara pleads no contest to a misdemeanor in the beating of a man at a Las Vegas club

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge stemming from a fight last year that left a man unconscious at a Las Vegas nightclub, his attorney said Tuesday.Kamara and three other men faced felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly punching, kicking and stomping on Darnell Greene Jr. of Houston outside an elevator at the club. The altercation came a day before the NFL’s 2022 Pro Bowl.Kamara played in the Pro Bowl and was arrested after the game.A felony battery charge carried up to a five-year sentence. Kamara instead pleaded no contest to breach of peace, and will serve community service and pay restitution to the victim.His attorneys, David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld and Drew Findling, issued a statement that read: “Alvin is pleased that this matter is behind him and looks forward to a successful NFL season.”Kamara faces a possible suspension by the NFL.“We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter w...

Joint Chiefs nominee wins over lawmakers but faces uncertain fate because of senator’s hold

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s pick to serve as America’s top military officer warned senators Tuesday of the difficulties posed by any potential conflict in Asia and described how he would use lessons learned from the Ukraine war to help the U.S. military prepare. But Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. may not be able to apply those lessons anytime soon, even after being well-received in a confirmation hearing to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Brown’s nomination is among more than 260 being stalled by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. He is blocking the confirmation of all senior military officers in protest over Defense Department policy that pays for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care. A history-making fighter pilot, Brown has a deep knowledge of China and a broad understanding of space, cyber and other technologies. His confirmation would mean that, for the first time, both the P...

Pritzker issues disaster proclamation for Illinois counties impacted by storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Several counties across Illinois will now have greater access to state resources and emergency personnel as they recover from severe weather. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for Coles, Cook, Edgar, Hancock, McDonough, Morgan, Sangamon, and Washington counties due to weather occurring on June 29 through July 4. The areas saw heavy rains, flash flooding, hail, and tornadoes.  ‘When he comes to vote I’m gonna look the other way:’ Cicero president ‘mad’ at governor over flooding response “Many Illinois communities suffered extensive damages due to last week’s torrential rain and severe weather,” Pritzker said. “To support those impacted across the state, I have signed a disaster proclamation to mobilize every available resource, accelerating the recovery process and providing relief for our residents. I want to thank (the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security) for their ongoing coordination....

Luis Robert Jr. won't play in MLB All-Star Game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

SEATTLE — As it turns out, a White Sox outfielder will not make his All-Star Game debut on Tuesday - and it has something to do with what happened on Monday.Luis Robert Jr. will not take part in the Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Field in Seattle as he deals with tightness in his right calf. According to the White Sox, this first came up during the first round of the Home Run Derby on Monday, when he defeated Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman 28-27. Despite the tightness, Robert compete in the semifinals, where he lost to the Rays' Randy Arozarena.He's currently listed as "day-to-day" and will be re-evaluated again before the White Sox start the second half of their season against the Braves in Atlanta on Friday.Since Robert was the only member of the team selected to the American League roster, the White Sox will not have a representative in tonight's All-Star Game. Tuesday figured to be one of the highlights of Robert's still young MLB career as he was rewarded with an All-Star selec...

MedWatch Daily Digest: The impact of chemotherapy on the gut — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:57 GMT

For Tuesday, July 11, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Chemo affects gut bacteria & weight gain Not only does the cancer treatment wreak havoc on the gut, it can lead to a lifetime of weight struggles. Researchers at the University of Alberta have found a link between chemotherapy-induced changes to gut bacteria and unhealthy post-treatment weight gain. Patients treated with chemotherapy lose muscle mass and gain abdominal fat.  In their study of breast cancer survivors, doctors discovered inflammation in the gut and altered bacteria, both of which correlate to weight gain and unhealthy body fat composition, even when healthy diets and exercise plans are in place.  Knowing the threat, experts say they can work to help survivors avoid obesity-related diseases and manage their weight. Obesity negatively affects leukemia treatment When leukemia patients start with added weight, their treatment is not as effec...