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UN agency for Palestinian refugees raises just $107 million of $300 million needed to help millions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Despite a dire warning from the U.N. chief that the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees “is on the verge of financial collapse,” donors at a pledging conference on Friday provided just $107 million in new funds — significantly less than the $300 million it needs to keep helping millions of people.Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the agency known as UNRWA, said he was grateful for the new pledges but they are below the funds needed to keep over 700 schools and 140 clinics open from September through December.“We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners, including host countries — the refugees’ top supporters — to raise the funds needed,” he said in a statement.At the beginning of the year, UNRWA appealed for $1.6 billion for its programs, operations and emergency response across Syria, Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and Jordan. That includes nearly $850 million for its core budget, which includes ...

Hoskin seeks second term as leader of powerful Cherokee Nation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) — Citizens of the Cherokee Nation — the largest Native American tribe in the U.S. — are set to decide whether Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. should lead the tribe for another four years as it enters a golden era after courts recognized its sprawling reservation and an operating budget of more than $3 billion. Hoskin, a 48-year-old attorney whose name is now intertwined with the fight for tribal sovereignty, is among four candidates seeking the tribe’s top position, similar to that of a state’s governor. The nonpartisan election for chief, deputy chief and eight positions on the tribe’s 17-member council are scheduled to be held Saturday, with many Cherokee citizens from across the country expected to submit absentee ballots.Challengers include David Cornsilk, a retired genealogist and educator; Wes Nofire, an ex-boxer and supporter of former President Donald Trump who serves on the tribal council; and Cara Cowen Watts, an engineer and former Chero...

Biden expected to sign budget deal to raise debt ceiling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is expected to sign legislation on Saturday to raise the debt ceiling, just two days before the U.S. Treasury warned that the country would struggle to pay its bills.The bipartisan measure, which was approved this week by the House and Senate, eliminates the potential for an unprecedented government default. “Passing this budget agreement was critical. The stakes could not have been higher,” Biden said from the Oval Office on Friday evening. “Nothing would have been more catastrophic,” he said, than defaulting on the country’s debt. The agreement was hashed out by Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, giving Republicans some of their demanded federal spending cuts but holding the line on major Democratic priorities. It raises the debt limit until 2025 — after the 2024 presidential election — and gives legislators budget targets for the next two years in hopes of assuring fiscal stability as the political season heats up.“No one got...

Tragedy that left 5 dead or missing puts spotlight on safety in Alaska charter fishing industry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Morgan Robidou posed next to the bright aluminum hull of his prized new vessel, a 30-foot (9-meter) fishing boat that he could use to take friends, family or tourists out after salmon or halibut in the bountiful waters of southeast Alaska.“Official boat owner,” he wrote when he posted the photo on social media last October, to congratulatory responses from friends.Seven months later, the boat he named Awakin — “like a boat waking someone” — was found partially submerged off an island west of Sitka in a tragedy that left Robidou and four customers dead or lost at sea and put a spotlight on the safety of the region’s vibrant charter fishing industry.“I can’t remember when we had any kind of fatality in our industry, so this is shocking for us,” said Richard Yamada, who sits on various industry boards, including the Alaska Charter Association and the Southeast Alaska Guides Organization. “We’re really curious to see what happened.”Robidou, 32, was working wi...

Buzzworthy: Honeybee health blooming at federal facilities across the country

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — While judges, lawyers and support staff at the federal courthouse in Concord, New Hampshire, keep the American justice system buzzing, thousands of humble honeybees on the building’s roof are playing their part in a more important task — feeding the world.The Warren B. Rudman courthouse is one of several federal facilities around the country participating in the General Services Administration’s Pollinator Initiative, a government program aimed at assessing and promoting the health of bees and other pollinators, which are critical to life on Earth.“Anybody who eats food, needs bees,” said Noah Wilson-Rich, co-founder, CEO and chief scientific officer of the Boston-based Best Bees company, which contracts with the government to take care of the honeybee hives at the New Hampshire courthouse and at some other federal buildings.Bees help pollinate the fruits and vegetables that sustain humans, he said. They pollinate hay and alfalfa, which feed cattle that pr...

NFL player and others gift teen's family a new car after he walks 6 miles to graduation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. - It was a six-mile walk that got Xavier Jones to his middle school graduation. His journey had gained the attention of a university, but that wasn’t the only way his hard work and dedication were noticed. At Cahokia High School in Illinois, Terron Armstead joined others to gift Jones and his family a car and a bike.“Just to see his family, to get a chance to get transportation, for him to be rewarded for something he did himself,” Armstead said.For the last 10 years, Armstead has been investing in the place he used to call home. He heard about the news of Jones’ journey and wanted to take action quickly; he wasn’t the only one. The Terron Armstead Foundation joined forces with Bommarito Automotive and others."It all happened pretty fast," said Emile Williams with Bommarito Automotive.Thousands of steps took Jones from West Florissant in north St. Louis all the way to Midtown. Impressed with his dedication, it landed him a full-ride scholarship to Harris-Stowe ...

East St. Louis Housing Authority director under scrunity after residents complaints of poor living conditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - An East St. Louis Housing Authority executive is under fire after residents complain about the conditions of a senior citizen building.Residents said the building has a wide range of problems that have not been fixed, and they point the finger at Housing Authority Executive Director Angela Russell-Perry."I am doing the best I can with the funding that I have. I’ve been here for 18 months," Russell-Perry said. "I am trying to rebrand this Housing Authority so that we can work in the best interest of the residents and that’s what my plan and my goal is, and I am doing that.”One tenant's apartment had a stove against the wall creating a fire hazard, a peeling bathroom wall, and infestations of bugs and mice in the kitchen."I’ve hired a new maintenance person, we are working on maintenance work orders in reference to that addressing that," Russell-Perry said. "Currently, I don’t have the housing to remove them into other housing. We are working in reference to tha...

Suspect wanted for knocking woman down in Santa Ana robbery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

Police are searching for a man wanted for allegedly robbing a woman before knocking her down in Santa Ana.The incident took place on May 11 on the 2000 block of South Grand Avenue around 1:36 p.m., according to Santa Ana Police.A female victim was walking on the sidewalk when the suspect approached her and grabbed her purse off her shoulder, police said. The maneuver knocked the woman to the ground.The suspect held onto the purse and fled the area shortly after, authorities said. He remains at large.Video and images of the suspect were released by the police department on Friday. Anyone who recognizes the man or has information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Greaver at [email protected] or call 714-245-8362.

A historic blast, but SF Giants offense mostly falls flat in latest loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO – Streamers were released, and a large banner was unfurled in the centerfield bleachers in the first inning after Lamonte Wade Jr. recorded the 100th splash hit by a San Francisco Giants player in the 23-year history of their ballpark at China Basin.But the most significant moment of the Giants’ game Friday against the Baltimore Orioles wouldn’t take place until the seventh inning.Logan Webb gave up a solo home run to Gunnar Henderson, who drove a changeup 410 feet over the right-center field wall for the go-ahead run as the Orioles earned a 3-2 win over the Giants before an announced crowd of 27,873 at Oracle Park.The Giants managed just six hits as they lost for the fourth time in five games and fell below .500 for the first time since May 24 when they were 24-25.Casey Schmitt doubled to left with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. But closer Félix Bautista struck out pinch hitter Michael Conforto to end the game, as the Giants went 2-for-8 with runners in s...

Brown scores 26, Sparks get 2nd win over Mercury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:13:20 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Lexie Brown scored 26 points, Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Phoenix Mercury 99-93 in overtime on Friday night.Brown drilled her third 3-pointer of the game with 1:03 left in overtime to extend Los Angeles’ lead to 95-91. Phoenix tried to get it to Diana Taurasi, but Jordin Canada intercepted the pass and raced the other way for a layup and a six-point lead with 42.1 left.Canada finished with 16 points and five assists for Los Angeles (2-2), which also beat Phoenix in a season opener. Layshia Clarendon added 11 points. The Sparks return home to host Seattle on Saturday.Brittney Griner had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix (1-3). Taurasi and Sophie Cunningham each added 19 points.Taurasi sank a baseline jumper for an 84-81 lead with 1:26 left, but Canada tied it at the other end on a 3-pointer. After both teams came up empty on offense, Griner was fouled with 21.2 left and she made two free throw...