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Jewish diaspora mourns attack on Israel, but carries on by celebrating holidays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Jewish diaspora awoke to horror Saturday in what was supposed to be among the most festive times on the Jewish holiday calendar.The attacks by the militant group Hamas came after the end of Sukkot, a weeklong celebration to commemorate the harvest season and the time Jews lived in the desert after being freed from slavery in Egypt. It also came as Jews in the United States were gearing up to celebrate the holiday of Simchat Torah, which marks the beginning of a new annual cycle of the reading of the scrolls and is celebrated in Israel a day earlier.At synagogues around the globe, the attacks brought a somber tone.Rabbi Felicia L. Sol opened the morning at B’nai Jeshurun in New York City by telling congregants of the devastating toll from an Hamas attack that came from the air, from the sea and from the land.At a time that was supposed to be filled with joy, so many were instead entering “the holiday knowing that we can’t possibly celebrate in the same way that we...

The Republican field is blaming Joe Biden for dealing with Iran after Hamas’ attack on Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Former President Donald Trump and other GOP contenders tried to lay blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades, citing a $6 billion transfer to Iran that administration officials insisted Saturday had yet to be spent.Hamas’ surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday marks a new foreign policy front in a presidential election that has already been unusually dominated by foreign affairs. Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has divided the Republican field, with some like Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis questioning the U.S.’s continued involvement, while others like former Vice President Mike Pence insist that supporting the Ukrainian military is vital to U.S. national security interests. On Saturday, the candidates appeared united, standing with Israel.“The Hamas terrorist invasion of Israeli territory and the murder of Israeli soldiers today and the brutal murder of ci...

6 people, including 3 police officers, injured in crash near police station in Grand Crossing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Fire officials say six people, including three police officers, were involved in a crash near the Third District Police Station in Grand Crossing.According to the Chicago Fire Department, the crash happened in the 7100 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue on Saturday afternoon Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Fire officials say three people and three police officers were injured in the crash. According to fire officials, the three people were taken to the hospital in fair condition and the three officers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Currently, it is unclear what led to the crash.This is a developing story, stay with WGN News for the latest updates.

Joliet PD: 2 teens in custody after Benz carjacking, chase that injured officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — Police say two teens are in custody in connection to an alleged carjacking of a Mercedes Benz and a police chase that left an officer injured on Friday.According to police, around 12:25 p.m. on Friday, officers spotted a Mercedes Benz in the 800 block of Ewing Street that they believed was involved in an aggravated carjacking that occurred earlier in the morning near 107th Street and La Grange Road in Cook County.While on the scene, officers arrested a 16-year-old boy who exited a home near the parked vehicle. Man dead, another critical after wrong-way crash on DuSable Lake Shore Drive While investigating, officers spotted a person, who was later identified as a 15-year-old boy, who appeared to be asleep in the driver's seat of the car. Police approached the Mercedes Benz and officers say that is when the teen in the driver's seat allegedly put the car in drive and attempted to flee the scene by driving around police vehicles in the area. Police allege that the...

Mizzou falls 49-39 to LSU in battle of ranked Tigers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Jayden Daniels shredded the Missouri defense with his arm and legs Saturday, rallying LSU from a big early deficit, and none of that should have been surprising given the way the quarterback has played this season.The fact that No. 23 LSU's defense made two crucial stands in the final minutes? That certainly raised some eyebrows.Yet after watching Daniels throw for 259 yards and three touchdowns, and run for 139 yards and a score, it was that same battered bunch that allowed more than 700 yards to Mississippi last week that stepped up to preserve the 49-39 victory over No. 21 Missouri.“We were battling,” said LSU coach Brian Kelly, whose team trailed 22-7 early. “All I know is when we got down, I just felt like the way the game was going, if we just got one more score, we could get back into it. I knew we were settling in defensively. Felt like we had a chance to get back in the game and win it. I didn't lose that confidence."Still, LSU was down 39-35 before Dan...

Israel is now ‘at war’ with Hamas: Southern California law enforcement agencies react by increasing patrols

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his country is now “at war” with the Hamas militant group following the group’s unprecedented missile attack that killed at least 100 Israelis on a major holiday. Netanyahu called for a mass mobilization of army reserves as dozens of Hamas fighters crossed the heavily fortified border in several locations on Saturday during the Shemini Atzeret holiday. Israeli health officials told the New York Times that as of 9:30 p.m. local time, more than 1,400 Israelis were wounded and at least 100 were reported dead; both figures are likely to rise.Health officials in Gaza also reported that nearly 200 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,600 wounded in gun battles or airstrikes. That figure is also set to rise as conflict continues.Back at home, several law enforcement agencies have confirmed that they will be increasing security and patrols in light of the attacks.A ball of fire and smoke rise from an explosion on a Pale...

Police investigating fatal hit-and-run in Long Beach 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

A man was killed after he was struck by a vehicle in Long Beach on Friday evening. Long Beach Police Department officers responded to the area of Orange Avenue and Banner Drive shortly before 7:10 p.m. on calls of a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, the LBPD said in a release. When officers arrived on scene, they located the victim, identified as Felix Castro, 51, of Long Beach, lying in the southbound lanes of Orange Avenue.  He was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. “The preliminary investigation revealed that [Castro] was crossing westbound across the southbound lanes of Orange Avenue – outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk – when he was struck by a vehicle,” LBPD said.  Armed man killed by police outside shopping center in San Fernando Valley According to police, the vehicle that struck Castro fled the scene and is believed to still be outstanding. No vehicle or suspect description was immediately available. Anyone who may h...

Gas prices falling rapidly across California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

A little relief at the pump has arrived. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded fell to $5.83 on Saturday, down from $6.08 a week ago, according to AAA.The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that wholesale gas prices are dropping nationwide, with percentage drops per gallon of 6.9 and 10.8 percent.Demand data was partially influenced by severe flooding and rain on the East Coast that deterred many drivers, according to Reuters.Despite the price drop, drivers in nearly every Southern California county are still paying more than their NorCal counterparts, data shows. The most expensive gas can be found in San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, where motorists are forking over an average $6.04, $6.03 and $6.01 per gallon, respectively. Other SoCal counties with prices higher than the state average include Ventura ($5.99 per gallon); Santa Barbara ($5.97 per gallon); Riverside and Orange counties ($5.87 per gallon). Meanwhile, Ke...

San Francisco police arrest suspects during blitz operations against retail theft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

By Bay City NewsSeveral people have been arrested since San Francisco police launched blitz operations against retail theft in the city, authorities said Friday.According to the San Francisco Police Department, the operations have recorded dozens of arrests in recent days and recovered thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise from the city’s most victimized retailers.“Our city will not tolerate criminals ransacking our businesses,” San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement. “Not only are these crimes devastating to our business community and local economy, too often we’ve seen these crimes escalate into violence. I want to thank our hard-working officers who are making sure our city is a safe place for businesses and shoppers.”Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Redwood City: Teenager arrested on suspicion of stabbing elderly man Crime and Public Safety | Update: Two men killed, another critically...

A seventh man accused in killing of an Ecuador presidential candidate is slain inside prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:32 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A seventh man accused in the August assassination of an Ecuadorian presidential candidate was killed inside a prison in Ecuador’s capital, authorities said Saturday, a day after six others allegedly linked to the crime were slain in a different lockup.The killing of the seven suspects happened a little more than a week before Ecuador holds a presidential runoff election and as officials struggle to explain how this was possible.The prison system said in a press release that the man killed was being held at a prison in Quito, Ecuador’s capital. It released no details of how it happened and identified him only “José M.,” without giving his nationality.Six Colombian men charged in the Aug. 9 assassination of Fernando Villavicencio were killed Friday inside a prison in Guayaquil.President Guillermo Lasso called an emergency meeting of his security Cabinet, which decided to move the remaining six suspects in the assassination t...