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Florida’s ‘Fantasy Fest’ ends with increased emphasis on costumes and less on decadence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — The 10-day Fantasy Fest costuming and masking celebration ends late Sunday in Key West, after some 100 events with an increased emphasis on imaginative costuming and decreases in past years’ decadence.Tens of thousands of spectators thronged the subtropical island’s historic downtown Saturday night for Fantasy Fest’s highlight event, a parade featuring over 40 motorized floats and costumed marching groups.Illustrating the festival’s move toward a more PG-rated focus, its 2023 theme was “Uniforms and Unicorns … 200 Years of Sailing into Fantasy,” in salute to the Florida Keys’ bicentennial and that of the U.S. Navy’s presence in Key West.“The parade really demonstrated the festival’s direction away from decadent aspects and into good fun and off-the-charts creativity,” said Fantasy Fest director Nadene Grossman Orr. “It feels like Fantasy Fest has entered a new era of creative expression.”Parade standouts included a uniformed group with huge blue wings depicting...

Thousands of Ukrainians run to commemorate those killed in the war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Around 2,000 Ukrainians ran a one-kilometer race on Sunday in Kyiv, wearing bibs displaying the name of a person instead of a number.Each runner chose one person to whom they dedicated their run. Spouses, children, friends, siblings, neighbors, and colleagues ran for someone they knew who either was killed, taken captive or injured during Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The crowd cheered the runners, and many in the audience wept while waiting for participants at the finish line. Amid the lively backdrop of Ukrainian songs, joy and sorrow intermingled in the air as life carried on despite the war.The organizers of the run called it the “World’s Longest Marathon” — “because no race has lasted as long as Ukraine has been fighting for its freedom.”Around 13,000 people across the world registered for the event. Those competing remotely could run any distance they wanted and were encouraged to post about it on social media.The race was hosted by Nova Post, Ukraine’s...

Chicago police looking for hit-and-run driver who hit person in Chatham

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are asking for help finding the person who hit and seriously injured a person early Sunday morning in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood.Around 2:45 a.m., a driver hit a person in the 9100 block of South King Drive and left the area, according to the Chicago Police Department. 2 airlifted to hospital, woman charged with DUI after multi-vehicle crash on I-80 in NW Indiana The person who was hit suffered serious injuries, but CPD hasn't released their specific condition. The driver was driving a white SUV, possibly a Chevrolet, police said. CPD's Major Accident Investigation Unit is asking for anyone with information to call them at 312-745-4521.

6 firefighters hurt after North Carolina building collapse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

BURLINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) — Six firefighters were injured after a building collapsed while they were providing medical aid to someone suffering a medical emergency on the roof in Burlington, North Carolina. At around 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, Burlington firefighters, the Whitsett Fire Department, and Guilford County Emergency Services responded to an emergency medical call.The patient was having a medical emergency on the roof of an outbuilding that was under construction, authorities explained. American hockey player dies after ‘freak accident’ during game As firefighters were providing aid and attempting to lower the patient to the ground, the building collapsed. The patient and several firefighters all fell to the ground alongside the building debris, authorities said.Other emergency personnel at the scene immediately provided care to the patient and the several firefighters who were injured in the collapse.The Gibsonville Fire Department and additional Guilford County EMS resource...

Albany Police investigating Delaware Avenue shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department announced they are investigating a shooting that occurred on Saturday night. Police say the incident took place on Delaware Avenue. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On October 28 at 9:30 p.m., police responded to Albany Medical Center following reports of a walk-in gunshot victim. Upon arrival, officers located a 54-year-old man who was being treated for a gunshot wound to his ankle. Further investigation revealed that the shooting took place on Delaware Avenue in the area of Magnolia Terrace and Carroll Terrace. Police stated that the individuals are known to each other and the shooting is believed to be an isolated incident at this time. SCSO investigating fatal vehicle-pedestrian crash on Route 9 The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Albany Police Detective Division at (518)462-8039.

Colorado weather: Snow and ice on Colorado roads cause accidents, closures along interstates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

10:41 a.m.: Colorado 470’s westbound offramp to Broadway is closed due to an injury crash, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department. Both the sheriff’s department and state patrol are on the scene, and drivers are asked to avoid the area.Road Closure: the westbound offramp from C470 to Broadway is closed due to an injury crash. #DCSO deputies are on scene assisting @CSP_News. Please avoid the area for now. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/FDDAJ5AyMi— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) October 29, 202310:40 a.m.: According to CDOT, westbound US Highway 6  has reopened to traffic between Interstate 70 and Loveland Pass. Eastbound remains closed.#US6 westbound: Roadway reopened to traffic between I-70; Loveland Pass and Mile Point 222. https://t.co/wUZb8HQDuG— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) October 29, 202310:36 a.m.: Northbound Colorado 67 has reopened at Stone Ridge Drive following this morning’s accident, according to CDOT....

The Ukrainian, Igor Mazepa, accused of fraud, was fined for hunting boars from a helicopter in Croatia.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

Ukrainian businessman Igor Mazepa, accused of creating a fraudulentfinancial Forex pyramid PrivateFX, illegally flew and landed in one of thefields of the Šumbar farm in Croatia, with the intention of hunting wildboars, according to Croatian media. His helicopter was seized, andMazepa faces a large fine.Ukrainian media reports that Mazepa travelled to Europe to acquirehumanitarian aid and crossed the border using the Shlyakh system. Sincethe beginning of military actions in Ukraine, there has been a restriction onmen of conscription age leaving the country. Exceptions are made solelyfor delivering humanitarian aid. However, according to the publicationUkrainian News, Mazepa does not experience such restrictions and easilytravels at any convenient time using the "Shlyakh" system, which onceagain demonstrates the sharp level of corruption at all levels in Ukraine.Whether the boars killed in Croatia can be considered humanitarian cargofor Ukraine is unknown.Due to the illegal border cr...

2 children dead, 2 hospitalized after child abuse report in Lancaster

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the deaths of two children and the hospitalizations of two others in Lancaster.According to an LASD release, deputies were dispatched to the 1800 block of East Avenue J-2 shortly before midnight on Saturday after a call came in alleging children were being harmed at the location. “Upon arrival, deputies contacted a female adult and conducted a check of the location,” the LASD release said. “Deputies found four children under the age of ten suffering from lacerations to their bodies.” According to an LASD release, deputies were dispatched to the 1800 block of East Avenue J-2 in Lancaster shortly before midnight on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 after a call came in alleging children were being harmed at the location. (Luis Meza)The children were immediately transported to a local hospital where two of them were pronounced dead, authorities said. The other two children are said to be in stable condition with non-life...

Parts of Laguna Beach may have power shut off ahead of high winds, fire conditions 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

SoCal Edison has announced that preemptive power shutoffs may occur in parts of Laguna Beach as fire conditions begin to blanket the area. The potential shutoffs could start as early as Sunday, according to a release from the City of Laguna Beach. “The power shutoff is necessary to ensure public safety during the current fire weather conditions and high winds,” city officials said.  When will it feel like winter in California? NOAA updates holiday season forecast A map of the affected areas can be viewed below: The areas affected by the potential power shutoffs. (City of Laguna Beach)As of Sunday morning, incredibly high winds have already began to swirl around SoCal, according to the National Weather Service.The highest recorded local wind speeds as of 6 a.m. Sunday are:Magic Mountain Truck Trail: 83 miles per hourBoney Mountain: 70 miles per hourLAFD Camp Nine: 59 miles per hourEast Simi Valley: 57 miles per hourEscondido Canyon: 55 miles per hourMalibu Hills: 52 miles per hourW...

110 Freeway closed to car traffic for second time in history for ArroyoFest 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:32 GMT

The Arroyo Seco Freeway has only been closed to traffic once since it was opened in 1940, and that was in 2003. History is set to be made again on Sunday when the freeway closes to vehicular traffic for the first ArroyoFest in 20 years. The event is free and family-oriented and allows participants to experience seven miles of car-free roadways – including part of the historic 110 Freeway – up close. The different spans of the roadway will be broken up by how participants choose to get around; pedestrians are asked to use the southbound, west facing lanes, and those using wheeled devices are asked to use the northbound, east facing lanes to maximize safety. “Another way to think about it [is] the west side of the parkway will be transformed into a giant sidewalk with two-way foot traffic, and the east side of the parkway will become a two-way protected bike and rollway,” the event’s website said.  Fire weather warning issued for the weekend In addition to t...