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Hot air balloon pilot with cocaine in his system made a mistake that caused fatal crash, NTSB finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A mistake made by a hot air balloon pilot who had drugs including cocaine in his system caused a crash in 2021 in New Mexico that killed all five people on board, investigators have determined.The National Transportation Safety Board said in its final report released this week that pilot Nicholas Meleski did not maintain enough clearance from power lines while trying to land. He hit the power lines and crashed into a busy intersection. The report said investigators found no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures.The amounts of cocaine and marijuana found in his system suggested “recent use” that would have likely had “impairing effects” that contributed to the crash on June 26, 2021, the report said.Meleski’s family told Albuquerque station KOB-TV in a statement that their hearts go out to the families of the passengers: Mary Martinez, her husband Martin, and their friends Susan and John Montoya.“We cannot express the depth of our grief ...

Cyclist seriously injured in North York crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

A man in his 20s has suffered serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle in North York. Police say a cyclist and an SUV collided at the intersection of Keele Stret and Wilson Avenue just before 5 p.m. Saturday. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene as paramedics transported the injured cyclist to a nearby trauma centre with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Heritage Minister says Meta news block endangers lives as Canadians flee wildfires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

Canada’s Heritage Minister redoubled her calls for Meta to end its ban on Canadian news content on Facebook and Instagram on Saturday as thousands of Canadians continued their rush to escape wildfires ravaging British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.In both a Friday social media post and a Saturday interview with The Canadian Press, Pascale St-Onge said the social media giant is recklessly putting people’s lives at risk by blocking Canadian news articles on its two massive platforms.“Facebook, Meta has decided to put their own interests above public safety,” she said Saturday. “As a company, they should be acting as good corporate citizens and reverse their ban so that we can make sure that people have access to the information that they need.”Meta blocked Canadian news on its social media sites earlier this month in response to federal legislation — Bill C-18 — which requires some tech giants to pay for news content shared or repurposed on...

US cancels visas of 100 more Nicaraguan officials for their role in ‘undermining democracy’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. State Department on Saturday imposed visa restrictions on 100 more Nicaraguan officials for their role in supporting the regime of President Daniel Ortega.Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote in his social media accounts that his office “has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on 100 Nicaraguan officials who restrict Nicaraguans’ human rights and undermine democracy.”“We call on the regime to unconditionally and immediately release Bishop Álvarez and all those unjustly detained,” Blinken wrote.Bishop Rolando Álvarez, an outspoken critic of the Nicaraguan government, was jailed by the Ortega regime for supposedly helping anti-government protesters. He was sentenced to 26 years in prison, after he refused to board a plane carrying exiles to the United States in February. Ortega jailed dozens of opposition figures in order to win a fourth consecutive term in 2021 elections that were broadly criticized as a farce. He has also outlawed dozens of nongove...

Record-setting temperatures forecast in Dallas as scorching heat wave continues to bake the US

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The summer of 2023 may be drawing to a close — but the extreme heat is not: More record-shattering temperatures — this time across Texas — are expected Saturday and Sunday as the U.S. continues to bake.Highs of 109 degrees Fahrenheit (42.8 degrees Celsius) forecast for Saturday and 110 F (43.3 C) on Sunday in Dallas would break the current record of 107 F (41.7 C) each day, both set in 2011, and would come after a high of 109 F (42.8 C) on Thursday broke a record of 107 F set in 1951, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Bradshaw.“There really is no relief in sight, there is some hint by the end of August, maybe Labor Day, high temperatures will begin to fall below 100,” Bradshaw said. “It’s possible to see 100-degree-plus temperatures through the first half of September, at least off and on.”The heat wave causing misery in Texas this weekend is just the latest to punish the U.S. this year. Scientists have long warned that climate change, driv...

Hurricane Hilary downgraded as Mexico and California brace for catastrophic impact

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

Hurricane Hilary has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm as it heads for Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.Meteorologists expect the storm to bring “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” to the peninsula and to the southwestern United States, where it was forecast to cross the border as a tropical storm on Sunday.The storm weakened from a Category 3 Major hurricane down to a Category 2 storm at midday Saturday and is expected to weaken further as it treks northward, officials said.Officials issued an evacuation advisory for the tourist destination of Santa Catalina Island, 23 miles (37 kilometers) off the Southern California coast, while authorities in Los Angeles scrambled to get the homeless off the streets and into shelters.“I don’t think any of us — I know me particularly — never thought I’d be standing here talking about a hurricane or a tropical storm,” said Janice Hahn, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Su...

Cody Bellinger hits 2 homers, Justin Steele pitches 6 strong innings as the Cubs beat the Royals 6-4

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger hit two home runs and Justin Steele pitched six strong innings as the Chicago Cubs downed the Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Saturday.The Cubs (63-59) went into the afternoon 3 1/2 games back from the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers after falling back in the division on Friday.Bellinger belted two opposite field home runs in the first three innings to give the Cubs an early 4-1 lead. His 20 homers in 2023 are his highest single-season total since he won MVP in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bellinger finished the day 2 for 3 with 4 RBI and 2 runs.Steele (14-3) won his fifth game in his last six decisions after allowing two runs on six hits. Adbert Alzolay converted his 16th save in 17 chances this season to close it out in the ninth. ‘You’ve gotta talk about Mongo:’ Ric Flair advocating for Steve McMichael’s election to Hall of Fame Kansas City (40-85) only scored two runs through the first six frames until Bobby Witt Jr. knocked in Drew Waters to...

Nissan recalls more than 236K cars due to steering wheel problem

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

(The Hill) — Nissan has issued a recall for nearly a quarter million vehicles this week due to steering wheel issues, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.About 236,000 Nissan Sentra sedans between the 2020 and 2022 model years have a weak tie rod in the steering wheel, which may bend or break, causing the vehicle to lose steering and crash, the recall report states. What’s the deal with the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis? Any Sentra drivers who feel that their steering is unstable or off-center are advised to contact their local dealer immediately. Tie rods will be replaced until strengthened replacement parts can be installed in the future, the automaker said.Nissan issued a previous recall in 2021 for the same issue for a smaller group of Sentra vehicles. Vehicles repaired in the previous recall do not need new parts. That recall impacted just under 140,000 vehicles.The company will contact all drivers by Oct. 5 and send another letter when a final replace...

Aerial performances on display over Lake Michigan for annual Chicago Air and Water Show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

CHICAGO — It was an unforgettable experience for spectators as military jets and planes soared over Lake Michigan on Saturday for day one of the 64th annual Chicago Air and Water Show.Many were looking up at the sky to catch a glimpse of the incredible aerial performances."It's really nice and very cool getting to see all these planes flying in the air and doing cool tricks," spectator Analeigh Rodriguez said. Chicago Air and Water Show 2023 kicks off over Lake Michigan More than 2 million people are expected along the lakefront throughout the weekend to see the stunning displays."It's a bit loud, but that's the best part about it," said spectator Kia Doggett.With the load roars of the engines, some had their own creative ways to cope with the noise."It's very loud. You just drink more and you're fine," Chevoughn Donohue said. Stratotanker helps Thunderbirds get ready for Chicago Air and Water Show This year's headliners include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army ...

Review: Brave New Workshop’s ‘Cheaper than Hamilton’ provides laughs but little new material

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:32:50 GMT

Among our blessed plethora of Twin Cities theater companies, Brave New Workshop is pretty much older than everybody, save for the Old Log and Theatre in the Round. One of America’s longest-running purveyors of sketch comedy, Brave New Workshop is calling its current revue its “65th anniversary show,” company founder Dudley Riggs having first started hosting performers at his coffeehouse in 1958.The new revue is called “Cheaper Than Hamilton,” despite really having nothing to do with our first treasury secretary. But it does employ some hip-hop, in this case a very funny rap-off between two local icons of billboard advertising. It also offers some comically timely takes on homophobic legislation and racial disparities.The cast of Brave New Workshop’s “Cheaper Than Hamilton,” a collection of comedic skits and songs with a theme that may or may not have anything to do with “Hamilton,” are, from left, Lauren Anderson, Denzel Belin, Erin Kennedy, Jon Pumper ...