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Ecuador declares state of emergency after assassination of anti-corruption presidential candidate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

By GONZALO SOLANO and REGINA GARCIA-CANO (Associated Press)QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The gang-driven violence afflicting Ecuador over the last two years reached an unprecedented level when a presidential candidate known for speaking up against drug cartels and corruption was shot and killed at a political rally in the South American country’s capital.The assassination of Fernando Villavicencio in Quito happened Wednesday, less than two weeks before a special presidential election. He was not a frontrunner, but his killing, which President Guillermo Lasso suggested could be linked to organized crime, furthered a crisis that has already claimed thousands of lives and underscored the deep challenge that the country’s next leader will face.Lasso declared three days of national mourning and a state of emergency that involves additional military personnel deployed throughout the country. “Given the loss of a democrat and a fighter, the elections are not suspended; on t...

Denver weather: Mostly sunny with light breeze and possible late afternoon thunderstorms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

Mostly sunny blue skies with moderate heat and light breezes across metro Denver on Thursday may lead to afternoon thunderstorms bringing lightning and hail, according to the National Weather Service.High-elevation storms forming over the mountains and valleys west of Denver in the early afternoon will be isolated as they spread eastward across Colorado’s Front Range urban corridor, mostly after 5 p.m., weather service meteorologists said, estimating the likelihood of rain at 20%.  These storms, if they hit, may bring bursts of wind at speeds as fast as 50 miles per hour and small hail, forecasters said.In the mountains northwest of Denver, storms could cause flash flooding over the forest burn scars from the 2020 Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires northwest of the city.The high temperature in Denver on Thursday will be 90 degrees, decreasing to 62 degrees at night, forecasters said. On Friday, the high temperature is expected to be 90 degrees.Around Colorado, temperature...

How to help victims of Hawaii wildfires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

The fast-moving wildfires in Hawaii have killed at least 36 people and left hundreds of buildings, including homes, damaged.The devastation stretches across three islands, partially fueled by strong winds from Hurricane Dora.If you're looking to help those impacted, here are a few options:Hawaii Gov. Josh Green's office suggested donors give to the Hawaii Community Foundation and its Maui Strong Fund.The American Red Cross is also "providing shelter and comfort to those affected by the massive fires."The Salvation Army is providing food and support for those affected.The Maui Food Bank is accepting donations, as each dollar received can buy four meals for those in need. The Maui Mutual Aid Fund is accepting donations to help families, elderly residents, people with disabilities and those with limited or no insurance. Aloha United Way's Maui Relief Fund will help victims of the fire.Click here to donate to multiple nonprofits at once.

Suspects arrested in hit-and-run death of 20-year-old musician in South Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

Two suspects in last month's street-racing crash that killed a 20-year-old musician as she was leaving a show in the Historic South-Central neighborhood of South Los Angeles have been arrested, police confirmed Thursday. The crash took place on July 21 near the intersection of West 33rd Street and South Hill Street, where a group of people were leaving a rock show during intermission.Police investigate a deadly hit-and-run crash in South Los Angeles on July 21, 2023. (ANG News)A Jaguar and a Challenger were racing through the area when the driver of the Jaguar struck a pedestrian, killing her instantly, Los Angeles Police Department Detective DeHesa said. The pedestrian, identified by family members as Anna Michelle Solis, was leaving her gig and walking to her car with a guitar and an amp when she was hit crossing the street, DeHesa said. Family remembers 3 victims of deadly plane crash in San Bernardino County Lazaro Sandoval was also crossing the street and said he saw the driv...

Singer and Model Anna Aya Plots J-Pop Rise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

Singer and Model Anna Aya Plots J-Pop Rise: For at least a decade, K-Pop has seen impressive growth in the United States to the point that BTS and BLACKPINK are two of the biggest pop acts in this country, the latter headlining Coachella earlier this year. That has led to American pop fans exploring K-pop further (whether it’s a genre or simply pop music from a geographical location is open to debate). There is undeniably an audience here for pop music from Asia.Los Angeles-based model and singer Anna Aya hopes that the door is open, therefore, for a rise in the popularity of J-pop in the States. There are reports that the explosion of K-pop even led to a decline in the popularity of J-pop in Japan, but those sorts of trends tend to be cyclical. There’s really no reason why American K-pop fans wouldn’t be open to J-pop (or any other Asian pop music), should the right artist come around. It’s early days, but Anna might just be that artist.Half Japanese and half Armenian (her mom is J...

Mother who alleges baby was decapitated during delivery files lawsuit against Georgia hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

By Nick Valencia | CNNA mother who alleges her baby was decapitated during delivery at a Georgia hospital last month filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the hospital and others involved in the delivery, according to legal filings.The complaint filed in Georgia’s Clayton County alleges the Southern Regional Medical Center attempted to conceal the manner of death of the baby from the family including the mother, 20-year-old Jessica Ross, and her boyfriend, Treveon Isaiah Taylor Sr.Jessica Ross alleges her baby was decapitated during delivery at an Atlanta-area hospital.(Family of Treveon Isaiah Taylor Jr. via CNN) The medical center is in Riverdale, some 13 miles south of downtown Atlanta. The baby, who was named after his father, was delivered at full term, according to the family attorney.The county medical examiner’s office has not released the cause of the baby’s death. The office still is working to complete the baby’s autopsy, the office’s director, Brian Byers, told CNN.Acco...

7 terrific Bay Area things to do this weekend, Aug. 11-13

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

There’s an amazing array of things going on this weekend, from Outside Lands to Summer Fest and Cirque du Soleil. (Pssst, don’t forget to make time for ice cream!)As with everything these days, be sure to double check websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.1 SEE & HEAR: Outside Lands is backThe amazing three-day music festival takes over Golden Gate Park this weekend, with Megan Thee Stallion, Foo Fighters and a gazillion more exciting acts. There’s just too much to see and hear it all; what you need is an hour by hour guide on who to spend your time with.Vocalist Veronica Swift is one of the reasons to head to San Jose Jazz Summer Fest this weekend. (Rachel Murray/Getty Images archives) 2 SEE & HEAR: Sizzling Summer FestWe know, we know &#...

High school football 2023 preview: TCAL Stone Division

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

Tri-County Athletic League Stone Division(Predicted order of finish)No. 1 ST. MARY’S-BERKELEYCoach: John Trotman Jr. 2022 record: 11-1What to expect: The Stone Division appears to be well-balanced. Any one of four teams could finish first. So why not pick last year’s defending champ to win again? The Panthers won 11 in a row before losing to eventual CIF State 7-AA champion Pinole Valley in the North Coast Section playoffs. They return seniors Elijah Hines and Samadi Scott to head the running game. Both weigh in excess of 200 pounds. They’re also linebackers and combined for 119 tackles last season. Marley Filson returns at free safety, where he was first-team all-TCAL Stone in 2022. He’s also a talented WR, which will be helpful as the Panthers break in young sophomore Sutton Ralls and junior Anthony Commack at quarterback. St. Mary’s will have experience on the OL with juniors Avi Coty-Moran (6-5, 240) at tackle and Jason Rodriguez (5-10, 250) at guard. Both started all 12 games a...

These factors are making it hard to combat the deadly Maui wildfires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

By Ray Sanchez | CNNThe wildfires in Maui spread swiftly and turned deadly, stunning local officials who were quickly overwhelmed.“It’s very strange to hear about severe wildfires in Hawaii – a wet, tropical island – but strange events are becoming more common with climate change,” Jennifer Marlon, a research scientist and lecturer at the Yale School of the Environment, told CNN.Fueled by a combination of strong winds and dry conditions – and complicated by the island’s geography – the fires have killed at least 36 people.RELATED: Map: Maui wildfires burning in Lahaina and upcountry“For those of us who’ve been working on this problem, it just makes us feel sick,” said Clay Trauernicht, an assistant specialist who studies tropical fire at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.These are some factors making it difficult to combat the fires that have plunged a state known for its stunning natural beauty into an unprecedented crisis:Drought contributes to fire spreadSome fires are burning in...

Planning to visit Hawaii? Here’s what you need to know about the wildfires.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:20 GMT

Large wildfires burning across the islands of Maui and Hawaii, fueled by intense winds, turned scenic beach destinations into smoky, catastrophic scenes Wednesday. The fast-moving flames have scorched hundreds of acres, destroyed homes and businesses, and prompted a series of evacuation orders, road closures, and power and cellphone service outages. Dozens of people have died.The fires are most intense along the western coast of Maui, according to local news reports, with the historic town center of Lahaina severely damaged.Declaring a state of emergency in all counties, the Hawaiian state government has asked travelers to leave west Maui as soon as possible and is discouraging travel to the affected areas.Here’s what travelers need to know.Where are the fires?According to the local news outlet Hawaii News Now, at least three wildfires are burning on Maui, including one in Lahaina, a major tourist destination on Maui, and the upcountry section of the island. There are at least three...