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Crabcakes, ribs, banana splits for S. Korea state dinner

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Crabcakes, beef short ribs and a newfangled banana split have made the cut for this week’s White House state dinner honoring South Korea’s seven decades of relations with the United States. First lady Jill Biden and her team previewed the food and decor on Monday.Some 200 guests are expected for the state dinner, which will be held in the East Room, the largest room in the executive mansion. Guests will move down the hallway to the State Dining Room for after-dinner entertainment by a trio of Broadway stars. Round and oblong tables will be decorated by towering 6-foot-tall arrangements of flower cherry blossom branches, along with pink orchids and peonies. Edward Lee, a Korean American celebrity chef who was invited by the first lady to help with the event, specializes in preparing American food with Korean influences. Jill Biden said his meals are “both familiar and surprising.” “I wanted to showcase the best of American cuisine merged with a touch of ...

Rapper Desiigner charged with indecent exposure on plane

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The rapper Desiigner was charged Monday with one federal count of indecent exposure on an aircraft, after authorities say he masturbated on a flight from Tokyo to Minneapolis. The misdemeanor filed against the rapper, whose real name is Sidney Royel Selby III, is punishable by no more than 90 days of imprisonment and a $500 fine. The charges came just days after he announced in a tweet Thursday that he was “ashamed” about what happened on the plane, that he was admitting himself to a facility to get help and was canceling all his shows. “Mental health,” he wrote, “is real guys.” No attorney is listed for him in online court records. The criminal complaint said a flight attendant first spotted Selby exposing himself about 60 to 90 minutes into the April 17 Delta flight. He covered himself, but five minutes later, two flight attendants spotted Selby masturbating. Again he was told “No” and covered himself, the complaint said. The lead flight attendant th...

Las Vegas-to-California bullet train gets bipartisan backing

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A bipartisan congressional group from Nevada and California asked the Biden administration Monday to fast-track federal funds for a private company to build a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area. All six of Nevada’s elected federal lawmakers and four House members from California sent the letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. They said they’re on board with a proposal from Brightline West to spend more than $10 billion to lay tracks along the Interstate 15 corridor.Traffic jams on the interstate often stretch for 15 miles (24 kilometers) near the Nevada-California line as motorists head home after weekend or holiday travel to Las Vegas. The Mojave Desert is largely open space, and the electric-powered trains could potentially cut the four-hour trip in half, carry 500 passengers at speeds of nearly 200 mph (322 kph).“This project is a major priority because it will make southern Nevada more accessible to millions of visit...

DA to decide on Georgia election probe charges in summer

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The prosecutor who is investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and his allies illegally meddled in the 2020 election in Georgia said Monday she expects to announce charging decisions in the case this summer and urged “heightened security.”Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis wrote in a letter to county Sheriff Pat Labat that she expects to announce the decisions in the term of court that runs from July 11 to Sept. 1. She said she was providing this information so Labat would have time to prepare for adequate security around the courthouse.“Open-source intelligence has indicated the announcement of decisions in this case may provoke a significant public reaction,” Willis wrote in the letter, adding that some may involve “acts of violence that will endanger the safety of our community.”As leaders, they need to be prepared, she wrote, adding that her team would be in touch to talk about arrangements.The letter was first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Con...

Florida condo building evacuated near deadly collapse

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

NORTH BAY VILLAGE, Fla. (AP) — Residents of a South Florida waterfront condominium that was deemed unsafe during a recent inspection have until Tuesday morning to evacuate.A building engineer conducting an inspection on April 14 for the Majestic Isle condominium’s required 60-year certification found sagging floors and termite damage, North Bay Village officials said. The village is located in Biscayne Bay, along a causeway that connects Miami and Miami Beach. It’s also just a few miles from the town of Surfside, where 98 people died in June 2021 when an 12-story oceanfront building collapsed.“North Bay Village and the community are stepping up to help displaced residents until they can come back home,” North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham said in a statement. “We are here for the affected residents for as long as they need us, to help see them through this difficult time.”A roof drain leak at Majestic Isle, which was built in 1960, caused a partial ceiling collapse earl...

UN chief and West berate Russia’s top diplomat over Ukraine

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief and representatives from Western nations berated Russia’s top diplomat as he chaired a U.N. meeting Monday, accusing Moscow of violating the U.N. Charter by attacking Ukraine and occupying part of its territory. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded by defending his country’s military action and accusing the U.S. and its allies of undercutting global diplomacy, the foundation of the United Nations, which was created to prevent a third world war.Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called cooperation among the U.N.’s 193 member nations the organization’s “beating heart” and “guiding vision,” and he warned the Security Council that global collaboration is under the greatest strain since the creation of the United Nations in 1945 on the ashes of World War II. Tensions between major powers are at a “historic high” and so are the risks of conflict “through misadventure or miscalculation,” he said, pointing first and foremost to the ...

German plane airlifts 58 Canadians out of Sudan as Canadian plane readies for more

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

OTTAWA — A German plane airlifted dozens of Canadians out of Sudan Monday and a Canadian C-17 transport plane in the region is on standby to help more escape the country as the conflict in the East African country escalates.Even as Global Affairs Canada offered little information on efforts to evacuate Canadian citizens from Sudan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided a limited update Monday.“I just heard earlier today that a German plane lifted off from Khartoum with one German citizen on it and 58 Canadian citizens,” he said Monday afternoon.“We have a C-17 in the region too, and we will be airlifting as well.”Trudeau was speaking at a photo-op with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Ottawa, sayingthe recent airlift is an example of great co-operation between Canada and Germany.Heavy gunfire and thundering explosions rocked Khartoum Monday in continued fighting between the country’s military and a rival paramilitary group called the Rapid S...

GM recalls 40,000 pickups over fire risk

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

(WJW) - General Motors is recalling 40,000 pickup trucks due to the risk of fire caused by an engine block heater cord.The recall affects certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the cord can snap and short circuit, potentially causing a fire. Recalled models include include 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD models with model years between 2019 and 2023, according to documents posted by NHTSA.GM says it is not aware of any injuries related to the issue. Don Lemon ‘stunned’ after ousting at CNN Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail and are advised to take their trucks to a dealer for a free repair.If you own one of the potentially affected models, GM recommends parking the truck outdoors and away from structures until the recall has been repaired. GM advises owners with potentially affected models to park outdoors and away from structures until the recall repair is done....

Threat of severe storms Tuesday, including isolated tornadoes

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Download our free KXAN Weather app now to stay weather-aware during at least two threats of severe storms heading our way this week. Saturday night storms bring tennis ball size hail to Hill Country Clouds/radar forecast Tuesday eveningThe first severe thunderstorm threat comes Tuesday afternoon and evening as a warm front backs into the area from the coast. While it is not completely certain that storms will be able to overcome a "cap" in the atmosphere, we do expect scattered strong to severe storms to develop between 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. mainly from Highway 281 eastward.Slight risk for severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon/eveningStorms may contain very large hail (larger than egg-size) and damaging wind gusts. Storms will also have a higher-than-normal tornado threat, especially those that set up along the warm front.Worst-case scenarios for Tuesday afternoon and nightAfter a break in the action late Tuesday night through much of the day Wednesday, a cold front an...

Fires were started 'intentionally' in Ft. Hood barracks laundry room, US Army says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:50 GMT

FORT HOOD, Texas (KXAN) -- Two persons of interest were identified after two separate fires were set in a barracks laundry room at Fort Hood early Saturday, the U.S. Army said in a news release.At approximately 1 a.m., the Fort Hood Fire Department responded to the scene in response to a fire alarm, the release said. The fire department was able to force entry into the barracks laundry room, where two separate fires were found in a washer and dryer, the release said. Firefighters were able to extinguish both fires, and minimal structural damage was reported.All occupants of the barracks safely evacuated, the release said.According to the release, officials believe the fires were started intentionally.During a walkthrough of the building later on, military police officers were informed building walls and windows were vandalized, and the paint "appeared to be fresh," the release said.The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident as a suspecte...