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United Nations suspends pullout of African Union troops from Somalia as battles with militants rage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

NAIROBI,Kenya (AP) — The United Nations Security Council on Thursday suspended for a period of three months the pullout of African Union troop from Somalia, where fighting rages with al-Qaida’s affiliate in East Africa.The decision follows a request by the Horn of Africa nation for the forces to remain in the country to help in the fight against the al-Shabab extremists. Somalia’s request was supported by the African Union, all countries that contribute soldiers to the force and the council, which agreed to delay the pullout of the 19,000-strong AU force for 90 days.Last year in April, the council unanimously approved a new African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, to support the Somalis until their forces take full responsibility for the country’s security at the end of 2024.ATMIS replaced the African Union Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, which has been in the Horn of Africa nation for 15 years helping peacebuilding in Somalia.However, the new force was to b...

Two Montreal Jewish schools hit by gunshots overnight Wednesday, no injuries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

The Montreal police force (SPVM) is reporting two Jewish schools in Montreal were hit with gunshots overnight Wednesday.The SPVM says they received a 911 call at 8:20 a.m. regarding gunshot impacts found on the front door of a Jewish school located on Saint-Kevin Ave. in Côte-des-Neiges. Bullet casings were also located.Authorities believe the gunshots were fired overnight. No one was in the building at the time of the shooting and no one was injured.Shortly after at 8:50 a.m. a 911 call was made about gunshot impacts found on the front door of another Jewish school nearby on Chemin Deacon in Outremont.In this case police also believe the shots were fired overnight. No one was in the building at the time of the shooting and no one was injured.SPVM officers are on the scene at both schools as the investigation is ongoing.The incidents occurred at a time when the Montreal police is reporting a rise in hate crimes and incidents amid the Israel-Hamas war.The SPVM reports 73 hate crimes ...

Man accuses riverboat co-captain of assault during Alabama riverfront brawl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Black riverboat co-captain at the center of an Alabama riverfront brawl that drew national attention has been accused of misdemeanor assault in the melee by one of the white boaters charged in the fight.Court records show one of the white men accusing of assaulting the co-captain during the August brawl filed a complaint last month saying the co-captain hit him first during the chaotic melee. The co-captain faces a charge of misdemeanor assault, according to court records.“I was not trying to fight,” the man wrote in a statement. The complaint was filed Oct. 26 ahead of the man’s Nov. 16 trial on a misdemeanor assault charge of hitting and kicking the riverboat co-captain.The August riverfront melee in Montgomery drew national attention after bystanders filmed white boaters hitting a Black riverboat co-captain and others rushing to his defense. Video of the fight was shared widely online, sparking countless memes and parodies.Montgomery police said th...

Cleaning agent found in the bottled drink that sickened a man and triggered alarm in Croatia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Traces of a cleaning agent have been found in the fizzy drink that was served to a man in Croatia who was later hospitalized with a throat injury, triggering a nationwide alarm, police said Thursday.An analysis of the bottle and glass served to the man at a cafe last weekend in the northern port of Rijeka showed that the contents of both included a highly alkaline substance. But it remains unclear how it got there, and other similar drinks that were tested were problem-free, police said in a statement.The incident triggered alarm throughout Croatia, with dozens of people complaining of similar problems in recent days, but authorities have said no serious injuries have been detected. “Based on the established chemical composition, it can be concluded that it was some kind of a washing or degreasing agent,” police said.Police said other drinks, including 20 unopened bottles of the same drink that the man had, have been tested and found to have no problems. Polic...

Massachusetts is running out of shelter beds for families, including migrants from other states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts shelters are being pushed past their capacity, running out of beds for families, including migrants arriving from other states and residents weathering a housing crunch right before winter, said Democratic Gov. Maura Healey.Healey has said the state will start a waitlist when the number of families in emergency shelters reaches 7,500. Wednesday’s tally showed 7,488, but at least one immigrant aid organization — La Colaborativa in Chelsea, Massachusetts — said late Wednesday that it appeared the cap had taken effect as it tried to place a family in a shelter.“We were informed we hit the cap and due to the cap, families are being put on a waitlist,” said Cherlin Dubon, triage case specialist for the group.Healey has said she doesn’t want to see families out on the street but that the state has essentially reached its shelter capacity. The spike in demand is being driven in part by migrant families entering the state. Many of the migrants are arriving ...

Woman, 24, charged after armed carjacking in Beverly neighborhood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

CHICAGO — A 24-year-old woman has been charged in the armed carjacking of a woman outside her home on the city's South Side last week.Kayla Bell, 24, faces one misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing to a vehicle.Police said the incident happened on November 2 in the 9300 Block of South Pleasant Avenue in the Beverly neighborhood. The victim and her 12-year-old daughter were arriving home from a volleyball open gym when she was targeted by two thieves.Police say two offenders held the victim up at gunpoint and pushed her to the ground before demanding car keys then took the victim's belongings and fled the scene in the stolen car.According to police, Bell was placed into custody Wednesday and charged. Investigation underway after woman carjacked outside home on Far South Side No one else is in custody at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

17-year-old girl injured after shooting in Chicago Lawn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 17-year-old girl is injured after a shooting in Chicago Lawn early Thursday morning, police said.According to police, the girl told officers she was walking outside near the 2800 block of West 71st Street around 2:58 a.m. when a black BMW approached and shots were fired. Man injured after shooting outside strip club in South Loop The girl sustained a gunshot wound to the lower left back and was dropped off at Holy Cross Hospital in good condition. There were no other injuries reported and there is no one in custody at this time.

New ramp closures on Kennedy begin Monday: IDOT

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

CHICAGO — New ramp closures are coming to the inbound Kennedy Expressway as part of the ongoing bridge rehabilitation project.The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that inbound Kennedy Expressway from the Edens Expressway to Ohio Street, ramp closures are scheduled to take place beginning, weather permitting, Monday, Nov. 13. IDOT: New ramp closures on Kennedy Expressway to begin Tuesday Starting at 6 a.m. Monday, the following ramps will close:Inbound Kennedy to Division StreetNorth Avenue (Illinois 64) to inbound KennedyThe closures are anticipated to reopen in two weeks. Current ramp closures:Inbound Kennedy to Armitage Avenue, anticipated to reopen the week of Nov. 13Inbound Kennedy to North Avenue, anticipated to reopen the week of Nov. 20.    Armitage Avenue to inbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen the week of Nov. 20.For more information on the project, visit https://idot.illinois.gov/projects/Interstate-90-Kennedy-Bridge-Study.

WATCH: Biden goes to an Illinois auto plant saved by a labor deal as he promotes a worker-centered economy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

President Biden's remarks in Belvidere, IL will be livestreamed within this story beginning at approximately 12:30 p.m. CT.WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden went to Chicago on June 28 to give a landmark speech on “Bidenomics," only to learn in private during the trip about a soon-to-close auto factory, news that was a challenge to his vision for the country.The prospect of a shuttered Stellantis plant in the small city of Belvidere became an immediate priority for Biden. He ordered up an economic analysis and spoke to company officials about the plant, according to White House officials. The Democratic president wanted to show that his policies could deliver for workers, rather than repeat the decades of factory closures that had gutted parts of the Midwest and fed into a deep political divide.On Thursday, Biden will visit Belvidere to showcase that auto plant, which has reopened as part of the settlement of a targeted strike by the United Auto Workers union. House G...

Evanston seeks volunteers to help seniors, people with disabilities shovel snow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:58:32 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — Evanston is looking for volunteers for its snow shoveling program — which aims to help seniors and those with disabilities.Evanston residents who request assistance will be provided with a list of available volunteers in their area. Residents will be responsible for contacting volunteers from the provided list and for scheduling the services. Group accused of stealing, selling $2M worth of scrap intended for Northwest Indiana steel mill People willing to volunteer can fill out the Snow Shoveling Volunteer Intake Form or call/text 847-448-4311.