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Fantasy Fest kicks off in Key West with 10 days of masquerades, parties and costume competitions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Key West’s Fantasy Fest began Friday, launching a 10-day schedule of masquerades, elaborate parties and costume competitions.The masking and costuming festival is themed “Uniforms & Unicorns: 200 Years Of Sailing Into Fantasy” to salute the Florida Keys’ 2023 bicentennial and that of the U.S. Navy’s presence in Key West.The Fantasy Fest schedule features nearly 100 events including Sunday’s Zombie Bike Ride, the Pet Masquerade for costumed pets and their people, the flamboyant Headdress Ball and the Masquerade March that draws several thousand costumed participants in historic Old Town.Events are to culminate next Saturday night, when some 60,000 spectators are expected to line Key West’s downtown streets for the Fantasy Fest Parade, a procession of large-scale motorized floats, costumed marching groups and island-style dancers in colorful feathered attire.The festival has been notoriously famous for its decadent motif, but during the past few years, festiv...

Police arrest 2 in connection with 2021 Lake Tahoe-area shooting that killed a man, wounded his wife

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Police arrested two people, including a former professional baseball player, Friday in Nevada in connection to a Lake Tahoe-area attack that left a man dead and his wife in critical condition.After a two-year investigation, Danny Serafini, 49, and Samantha Scott, 33, were arrested separately, hundreds of miles apart in Las Vegas and northwest of Reno. Authorities say they knew each other and the victims — Robert Gary Spohr and his wife, Wendy Wood.Spohr, 70, was killed and Wood survived the shooting at their home in an unincorporated community in California off the shore of Lake Tahoe, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said. The two will be extradited to California, officials said. “Today, justice was served,” Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said in a statement. “The apprehension of those responsible for the tragic events that unfolded in Homewood, North Lake Tahoe in 2021 stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our detectives, law enfor...

Brazil’s Lula vetoes core part of legislation threatening Indigenous rights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday vetoed the core aspects of a bill passed by Congress that threatened to undo protections of Indigenous peoples’ land rights.The bill proposed to enshrine a legal theory that argues the date Brazil’s Constitution was promulgated — Oct. 5, 1988 — should be the deadline for when Indigenous peoples already had to be physically occupying land or be legally fighting to reoccupy territory.That legal theory was rejected by Brazil’s Supreme Court in September. A week later, the Senate — dominated by conservative lawmakers backed by Brazil’s powerful agribusiness — approved the bill on a vote of 43 in favor and 21 against.Friday was the deadline for Lula to act if he wanted to block all or parts of the legislation.“Today I vetoed several articles (of the legislation) … in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision on the subject. Let’s talk and keep working so that we continue to have, as we do today, legal ...

What do I do with damaged money?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

(KHON2) — If you accidentally ripped a dollar bill, you may not be completely out of luck. But what do you do with the mutilated moolah?According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, commercial banks will exchange your damaged, or "unfit" currency, for another, after some checks are made. Do you have unclaimed money? Find out how to check "Unfit currency' is currency which is unfit for further circulation because of its physical condition such as torn, dirty, limp, worn or defaced," the department states on its website. The currency "may be exchanged at commercial banks."You could tape the green stuff back together but be warned that merchants may not accept the bandaged bills.If you have, what the government refers to as, "mutilated money" then you can send the cash off to the Treasury for exchange. $13,000 in hair stolen from Tennessee store "Mutilated currency' is currency which has been damaged to the extent that: one-half or less of the original note remains; or its co...

Heat-related calls increase at COTA due to high temperature, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As the U.S. Grand Prix kicked off Friday at the Circuit of the Americas, officials saw an increase in heat-related calls due to temperatures, according to a spokesperson with Austin Homeland Security Management.At least 51% of attendees are not familiar with the weather and not expecting it to be this warm.Friday afternoon brought Austin’s hottest temperatures on record so late in the year as highs reached 97°. Record-breaking heat Friday, but rain returns soon Coolers, free water stations, shade tents, medics, EMS and Ascension Seton were on site, and the spokesperson said there were also signs at COTA informing attendees of the resources available.Attendees are encouraged to stay hydrated and be aware of signs of heat stroke, the spokesperson said.

Twin Cities Marathon refund information released by organizers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

Everyone who signed up to run in the Twin Cities Marathon races earlier this month will receive a full refund and all who signed up to run the marathon or 10-mile race will receive “exclusive guaranteed access to their event in 2024 at prices equal to 2023.”Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon organizers canceled the Oct. 1 marathon and 10-mile race due to the hot and humid weather conditions, which they said would be dangerous for runners. The prediction was accurate with the mercury hitting 92, marking the hottest day ever recorded in October in the Twin Cities, according to the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service. The previous record was 90 degrees on Oct. 3, 1997, and Oct. 10, 1928.More than 20,000 people registered for the marathon and 10-mile race.After the cancellation announcement early Sunday, many runners still turned out to run the course on their own. Dozens of people came to the race course to cheer them on.“Through utilizing event cost saving...

Sentencing adjourned for man convicted of killing estranged wife

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

FONDA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The sentencing for a Gloversville man convicted in the death of his estranged wife has been adjourned due to a conflict of interest involving his attorney. Michael Darling killed his wife in 2019.He was originally scheduled to be sentenced on Friday. He accepted a plea deal in August and admitted to killing Kristine Darling in exchange for a 17-year prison sentence. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Prosecutors said he lied during the investigation and will now seek a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Family and friends of Kristine were at court on Friday for the hearing and said they were disappointed Michael wasn't sentenced, but they understand the legal process takes time."It's frustrating," Megan Rizzo, a friend of Kristine, said. "But I'd rather have all of our eggs in a basket and go in knowing that there is nothing more that he can pull to try to get out of this or lessen this."His sentencing...

St. Louis man gets $1.25M in landmark ruling over Bayer-Monsanto's 'Roundup'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A jury awarded $1.25 million to St. Louis man who suffered non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Bayer-Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. Twelve jurors in the Missouri 22nd Judicial Circuit Court unanimously found Bayer-Monsanto liable for John Durnell’s cancer, granting him damages. The trial resulted in the first verdict against Bayer-Monsanto outside of California, and the first loss for the chemical giant in St. Louis. Feds bust suspected drug ring in St. Louis area Since last year, there have been several trials involving Roundup in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Plaintiffs have argued that longtime exposure to Roundup - specifically the chemical glyphosate -gave them lymphoma and that Monsanto neglected to warn the public of its dangers. OnderLaw, a St. Louis-area law firm that represented Durnell, said he began using the weed killer in 1996 while maintaining his neighborhood grounds for the Soulard Restoration Project. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma...

Colorado high school football: How Post Preps Top 10 teams fared in Week 9

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

Class 5A1. Cherry Creek (8-0) vs. No. 3 Arapahoe, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: at No. 7 Grandview, 7 p.m. Oct. 27.2. Columbine (9-0) won vs. Lakewood, 48-0: Josh Snyder and Mark Snyder ran in two touchdowns apiece, the Rebels rolled up 236 rushing yards and the defense notched its second shutout of the season to remain unbeaten. Next week: vs. No. 8 Chatfield, 7 p.m. Oct. 27.3. Arapahoe (7-1) at No. 1 Cherry Creek, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: vs. Eaglecrest, 7 p.m. Oct. 26.4. Pine Creek (8-1) won vs. Douglas County, 33-27: Junior Jonathan Coar ran for 229 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries as the Eagles jumped out to a 33-6 lead, then held on from there. Douglas County QB Jordan Wilhelm threw for 219 yards and two TDs on 22-of-40 passing, but the Creek defense intercepted him three times. Next week: at Chaparral, 7 p.m. Oct. 27.5. Ralston Valley (6-2) at No. 8 Chatfield, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: at Arvada West, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26.6. Mountain Vista (8-1) won vs. Highlands Ranch, 48-8...

L.A. Councilmen motion to allow street vending on Hollywood Blvd 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

Los Angeles council members are taking action to create special street vending zones across Los Angeles. In 2018, the LA City Council established a set of no-vending zones, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, that prohibited street vending in those areas. Today, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez and Council President Paul Krekorian introduced a motion at the City Council meeting to eliminate the no-vending zone on Hollywood Boulevard that has been in place for five years. A first of its kind pilot project, street vendors, advocacy organizations and community members will work with the city to create a "special vending zone" on Hollywood Blvd if the motion passes. The Hollywood-based project would then expand to a citywide initiative to help improve street vending policies across L.A.  “As the son of street vendors, I’ve seen firsthand how street vendors are the ultimate entrepreneurs, contributing so much cultural vibrancy to Los Angeles,” said Councilmember Hugo Soto-Mar...