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At least 26 dead after tornado-spawning storms roll through Southeast. One town is ‘gone,’ resident says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

(CNN) — At least 26 people were killed and dozens injured after powerful storms and at least one tornado pummeled the Southeast on Friday night, ripping roofs off homes, nearly leveling some neighborhoods and knocking out power for thousands, officials said.The greater storm system is pushing east Saturday morning.President Joe Biden spoke with officials after the deadly tornadoes and said he is “praying for those who have lost loved ones in the devastating tornadoes in Mississippi and for those whose loved ones are missing.”Biden also pledged to “focus our federal support where it is needed most quickly,” in the statement.Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has issued a State of Emergency in all counties affected by the severe storms, according to a release.“I’m devastated by the destruction and loss of life that these storms have caused,” Reeves said. He promised that the state of Mississippi would do everything to send resources to th...

Dozens of dogs rescued from Dania Beach home recovering at Broward Animal Care, local shelters

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

Dozens of dogs are on the road to recovery this weekend after they were rescued from cruel conditions in a Dania Beach home.Some of the canines are being cared for at Broward County Animal Care in Fort Lauderdale, while other were taken to local shelters that will help them find loving homes.Emily Wood, the director of Broward Animal Care, gave 7News an update on Saturday.“We got 15 more dogs from the house that we got 48 dogs from the previous day,” she said. “They were pretty shy, a little bit shocked to find themselves in a new environment, but they’re all ready to go home with folks.Authorities said 62-year-old Raymond Ledbetter was arrested on animal cruelty charges. He is also accused of terrorizing his wife inside their home along the 200 block of Southwest Seventh Street.Ledbetter faces charges of false imprisonment and battery in the latter case.

Man killed in hit-and-run in downtown Miami; driver flees on foot

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

Police are searching for the driver of a Ford Mustang who, they said, struck and killed a man in downtown Miami and fled on foot.City of Miami Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the hit-and-run in the area of Southwest Second Avenue and Second Street, Saturday morning.First responders pronounced the victim dead at the scene.Cameras at the scene captured the victim covered with a yellow tarp and crime scene tape cordoning off part of the street as police investigated.Detectives said the dark gray Mustang involved in the crash was left behind, and the driver took off.If you have any information on this hit-and-run or the subject’s whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Russia’s diplomatic clash with Europe flares in Estonia

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

TALLINN — The front line in a shadowy intelligence war between Europe and Russia currently runs along sleepy Pikk Street in the medieval heart of Estonia’s capital Tallinn.Behind the mirrored windows of the quiet Russian embassy at No. 19, a raft of newly vacated desks — including that of the very ambassador — are testament to Estonia’s recent harder line.Estonia is calling out Russian agents’ hostile intelligence operations and influence campaigns, which have been bubbling up in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Last month, Estonia expelled 21 Russian embassy staffers, saying it would host only eight diplomatic officials on its territory — matching the size of Tallinn’s team in Moscow.The Kremlin responded by kicking Estonian Ambassador Margus Laidre out of Russia — the first ambassadorial expulsion from the country in the year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Tallinn then ended Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipayev’s tenure on Pikk Street.O...

Sunshine returns Sunday, but it’ll be windy

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

After a soggy Saturday, sunshine looks to return to the area on Sunday as a low pressure system exits the region. Temperatures will climb into the low to mid 50s for most as warmer air moves into the region behind the low.Windy conditions are also expected with gusts increasing to over 30mph by the afternoon. Peak wind gusts could reach 40mph on some of the higher terrain in northern Worcester County, with most places experiencing gusts to 35mph.

Red Sox Notebook: Garrett Whitlock to start Triple-A WooSox Opening Day

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

Garrett Whitlock will be the Opening Day starting pitcher, but in Triple-A Worcester.The WooSox open their season on Friday, March 31, a day off for the Red Sox after their own Opening Day at Fenway on Thursday.It will be a rehab start for Whitlock, who had season-ending hip surgery (right hip arthroscopy) last September. The Red Sox are being careful with his progression this spring, as they hope he can be a key member of the starting rotation moving forward. That’s also why they signed him to a four-year, $18.75 million extension last April, a year and six days to the one-year anniversary of his big-league debut.Thus far, the 26-year-old righty has been a diamond in the rough that is the Chaim Bloom era. Plucked from the Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft before the 2021 season, Whitlock debuted, and proceeded to have a criminally underrated rookie season. In 46 appearances, he posted a minuscule 1.96 ERA, finished 11 games, earned a pair of saves, and struck out 81 batters across ...

Trump invokes Jan. 6 at Waco rally ahead of possible charges

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

By JILL COLVIN and MICHELLE L. PRICE (Associated Press)WACO, Texas (AP) — A defiant and incendiary Donald Trump, facing a potential indictment, held the first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign Saturday in Waco, Texas, a city made famous by deadly resistance against law enforcement.In an extraordinary display, Trump opened his rally by playing a song, “Justice for All,” that features a choir of men imprisoned for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol singing the national anthem and a recording of Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Some footage from the insurrection was shown on screens.Trump, in his speech, defended the insurrectionists and railed against prosecutors, including those overseeing multiple investigations of the Republican former president. “You will be vindicated and proud,” Trump said “The thugs and criminals who are corrupting our justice system will be defeated, discredited and totally disgrac...

BU advances to the Frozen Four with a 2-1 win over Cornell

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Terrier Trinity of scoring, defense and goaltending elevated Boston University to a 2-1 victory over Cornell in the Manchester Regional final on Saturday night at SNHU Arena.BU advanced to the Division 1 NCAA Frozen Four for the 23rd time and will face the winner of the Fargo Regional matchup between No. 1 ranked Minnesota and St. Cloud on April 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The No. 5 ranked Terriers improved to 29-10-0 and are 6-0 in NCAA tournament games played in Manchester.BU goalie Drew Commesso made 13 saves to record his 25th win of the season. Commesso allowed just two goals in BU’s wins over Western Michigan (5-1) and Cornell to secure the Manchester Regional MVP award.“It feels great that we all put together that effort and it wasn’t just the last two nights, it was the last two weekends,” said Commesso. “We knew every game going forward is going to be a battle, it was going to be close and it was the little things that made the difference.“Blocki...

Tornadoes deadliest in Mississippi since 2011

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

With at least 25 people dead in Mississippi, tornadoes that ravaged parts of the Deep South overnight were the deadliest in the state in more than a decade, according to National Weather Service records.By comparison, 31 people died in Mississippi in April 2011 during tornadoes that tore through several states, mostly in the southeastern U.S., weather service meteorologist Chris Outler said Saturday. Alabama was hit hardest during that so-called “super outbreak” of hundreds of twisters that killed more than 320 people and caused an estimated $12 billion in damage.Just a month later, another deadly twister ripped through Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people. Outler, in Las Vegas, called 2011 “the headline year for tornadoes for the last 20 years or so.”The sheriff’s office in Morgan County, Alabama, reported one storm-related death on Saturday, bringing the overall total during overnight storms to at least 26. Records show that 12 people died in Mississippi during Easter ...

University of Toronto Mississauga co-hosts inaugural All-Nations Powwow

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:39:23 GMT

The University of Toronto Mississauga campus and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation partnered on Saturday to celebrate the inaugural All-Nations Powwow.  “The idea for the event came before the pandemic,” said Tee Duke, the director of Indigenous initiatives at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. “It doesn’t just take one person; it actually takes an entire community to really bring this to fruition and make this successful. We are a very small team here, a tiny office, but it really did take the entire UTM community to bring this entire event to success.”The festivities included traditional signing, detailed dancing to the pounding of the drums by dancers clothed in full regalia, and a Jingle Dress competition.“All of my grandparents and great-grandparents all went to Indian residential schools, so my family has a lot of generational trauma,” said Indigenous dancer Deanna Hupfield from the Ojibwe First Nation. “I’ve spent my life learning and reclaimi...