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Tornado survivors recount flying debris, destroyed buildings

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

WYNNE, Ark. (AP) — With tornadoes hitting the Midwest and the South this weekend, some survivors said they emerged from their homes to find buildings ripped apart, vehicles tossed around like toys, shattered glass and felled trees.J.W. Spencer, 88, had never experienced a tornado before, but when he and his wife saw on TV that a tornado was nearing their small town of Wynne, Arkansas, he opened a front window and rear door in his house to relieve air pressure. The couple scurried into the bathroom, where they got into the bathtub and covered themselves with quilts and blankets for protection.Fifteen minutes later, the storm unleashed its fury. Debris came whistling through the house. “We just rode it out,” Spencer said on Saturday. “We heard stuff falling, loud noises. And then it quit. It got quiet.”After it passed, the couple emerged to see their neighborhood devastated by the tornado. Many large trees were down. Houses were severely damaged. The high school’s roof was...

Job fair aims to recruit current, future healthcare workers

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

In a few years, Ontario will be short an estimated 33,000 nurses and personal support workers as the province deals with a shortage of all kinds of healthcare workers. Today, at Canada’s premier recruitment event for the sector, institutions from home and abroad were hoping to match eager job seekers and fill some openings that are much needed at this time. “We have a lot of job seekers that are here, perhaps they’re looking for new opportunities, some are looking for an adventure, they might be looking to go abroad for a couple of years,” said Erin Flynn, regional director of events at HealthSector Talent. “There are some new grads as well, so they’re coming from every aspect and every level of their career.” Dubbed the only event of its kind in Eastern Canada, the healthcare job fair came to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Saturday. Employers spoke about positions in all sectors, from medical and nursing to allied health and support. Hospitals across the GTA al...

Presidents of Taiwan, Guatemala visit Mayan pyramid

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and the Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei toured the archaeological site of Tikal on Saturday during a trip by Tsai that aims to shore up the self-governing island’s ties with its remaining allies in Central America.The Taiwanese leader will visit Guatemala and Belize, the island’s only two remaining allies in Central America, where Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama and Costa Rica have all switched their support to China. Honduras broke relations with Taipei a week ago.Under a blazing sun Saturday, Tsai and Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Búcaro, representing Giammattei — who suffers from multiple sclerosis – climbed one of the Mayans’ most important pyramids: Temple II, also called Temple of the Masks. With incense, a Mayan invocation ceremony, a Mayan ball game and an exchange of gifts, Tsai and Giammattei talked as they enjoyed the central square of Tikal archaeological park.The day before, in a joint m...

3 tornadoes touchdown in Northern Illinois, NWS confirms

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

CHICAGO — NWS Chicago has confirmed three tornadoes in Northern Illinois -- neither is one in Belvidere where the theatre roof and marquee collapsed.According to the NWS, one was reported west/southwest of Baileyville and one was reported near Caledonia.On Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service confirmed a third tornado, an EF-1, impacted Machesney Park. Possible tornadoes leave extensive damage in Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana 57 tornadoes and even more funnel clouds reported across 7 states in the Midwest and South. The National Weather Service said information about the path length and width and a map would be released in the coming days. 1 dead, 28 injured after roof collapses at Belvidere theater amid strong storms National Weather Service investigators will be looking into each one of these twisters in the next few days to track the speed and strength. Almost 300 reports of wind damage and wind gusts in the Chicago area reached more than 70 mph. 164 repor...

Store manager, valid FOID holder foils robbery, shoots would-be robber in Calumet Heights

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is in critical condition after getting shot while trying to rob an auto parts store in Calumet Heights.According to the Chicago Police Department, a 30-40-year-old man entered an auto parts store in the 9100 block of South Stony Island Avenue around 2:30 p.m., pulled out a gun, and demanded money from the cash register.Police said the store manager, who is a valid FOID holder, pulled out a gun and fired shots, hitting the 30-40-year-old man, who was then taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. Indiana police: Driver dead after car goes airborne after crash, another driver hits car No other information is available at this time as Area Two detectives continue to investigate.If you or someone you know has information that can aid detectives in their investigation, Area Two detectives can be reached at 312-747-8273, or anonymous tips can be filed online at cpdtip.com.

Timberwolves struggling to maintain offensive rhythm with star players

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

The Timberwolves’ offense picked an awful time to stall out Friday. In the second half of a game that could be a major determinant for Minnesota’s playoff positioning when the regular season wraps a week from Sunday, the team’s rhythm and movement came to a screeching halt and the production followed.Things went off the rails in the middle of the third frame, and the course was never corrected. When things got bad, the decision-making got worse. The offense, which has evolved in recent weeks and shown flashes of brilliance thanks to increased ball and player movement, stagnated and Minnesota returned to the isolation basketball and quick-shot chucking that has plagued this team in the past.“I think guys trying to fix it themselves. Trying to step up and take on the whole defense,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “They sell out in the gaps, sell out at the rim. Thought maybe the kick-outs, they weren’t going in so guys were trying to force the...

1 killed, 4 hurt in several St. Louis shootings since Friday

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

ST. LOUIS - One person has died, and at least four others are hurt in a series of shootings in St. Louis City since Friday. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports four shootings since Friday, including three that happened within the same hour. However, none of the shootings are related to the others. The first of these shootings happened around 12:20 p.m. on Friday. A 23-year-old man was shot in the 5000 block of Thrush Avenue in the Walnut Park East neighborhood. He suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and torso, and later died from his injuries at a hospital. Police have identified Jevon Patterson as the victim. Top Stories: Courts connect four St. Louis infant exposure deaths to one woman Within that same hour, police responded to a shooting in the 5500 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood. Police say a woman shot her brother in the face, though he was able to drive himself to a nearby hospital for treatment. The woman accused in...

Firefighters continue working on two separate wildfires in Jefferson and Park counties

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

Firefighters continued working on two wildfires Saturday, one in the metro area and the other in Park and Teller counties.Improved weather conditions, with diminished winds, helped firefighters in their efforts working on the Hogback fire in Jefferson County. The area of the 403 fire, which started Thursday about 8 miles south of Lake George, remained in a red flag warning for critical fire conditions on Saturday.Hogback fireSaturday afternoon the Hogback fire was 30% contained and the blaze has scorched 44 acres south of Interstate 70, west of C-470 and north of Alameda Avenue, according to the West Metro Fire Protection District.The wildfire broke out Friday afternoon on the west side of the hogback, near Matthew/Winters Park, part of Jefferson County Open Space, and the wind-blown fire raced up hill and over the ridge, coming down the east side of the hogback toward C-470.Firefighters from multiple metro area agencies helped to fight the fire Friday in strong winds and during a r...

Hwy-1 closed near Point Reyes due to emergency medical response

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) -- An emergency medical response caused a closure of Highway 1 near Bolinas on Saturday afternoon, according to the Point Reyes National Park Service. Three earthquakes hit near San Leandro Saturday morning Hwy-1 southbound is closed at Horseshoe Hill Road and the northbound side is closed at Stinson Beach as of 2 p.m., authorities said. The estimated time of reopening is unknown. This is a developing story. Please stick with KRON for updates.

Rose Zhang holds on to win Augusta Women’s Am in playoff

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:39:27 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rose Zhang never had an easy time Saturday until the final shot in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, a par putt from inches away on the second playoff hole that brought as much relief as satisfaction.Staked to a five-shot lead, Zhang stumbled her way to a 4-over 76 with suspect shots and one questionable decision. The final mistake belonged to Jenny Bae, a Georgia senior who lost her shot at winning with one bad swing.Bae, who rallied from a six-shot deficit with a 70, had a 20-foot birdie on the 18th in the playoff for the win and left it short. From the 10th fairway on the second extra hole, she pulled her approach left of the green and under a bush. With a restricted swing, she punched out through the green and into a bunker.Zhang was some 35 feet above the hole, long shadows across the line of her putt. It grazed the edge of the cup and settled inches away, which was all she needed.The 19-year-old sophomore was mobbed by her Stanford teammates, one ...