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DC area braces for destructive evening storms, hail and tornadoes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of federal employees were sent home early Monday as the Washington area faced a looming forecast for destructively strong storms, including tornadoes, hail and lightning.The Office of Personnel Management announced Monday that all non-emergency employees would have to depart before 3 p.m., when all federal offices would close. This rare step comes ahead of an impending storm that meteorologists have predicted could be unusually destructive. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the greater D.C. area, lasting until 9 p.m., as well as a flood warning extending through Tuesday morning. A special Weather Service statement warned, “There is a significant threat for damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes.”The White House pushed up by 90 minutes President Joe Biden’s departure on a four-day trip that’s taking him to Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Th...

Simon & Schuster purchased by private equity firm KKR for $1.62 billion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Simon & Schuster has been sold to the private equity firm KKR, months after a federal judge blocked its purchase by rival publisher Penguin Random House because of concerns that competition would shrink in the book market. The private equity giant will buy Simon & Schuster for $1.62 billion in cash, said Paramount Global, the parent company of the storied book publisher. Simon & Schuster, where authors include Stephen King, Colleen Hoover and Bob Woodward, is one of the so-called “Big Five” of New York publishing, with others including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins Publishing, Hachette Book Group and Macmillan. HarperCollins, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s NewsCorp, had reportedly been interested in buying Simon & Schuster. “All of the executives at Simon & Schuster who met with KKR came away from those conversations impressed with the depth of KKR’s interest in our business and their commitment to helping us grow, thrive and become an even...

Appeals court upholds Josh Duggar’s conviction for downloading child sex abuse images

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday upheld Josh Duggar’s conviction for downloading child sexual abuse images, rejecting the former reality television star’s argument that a judge should have suppressed statements he made to investigators during the search that found the images.A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the appeal by Duggar, whose large family was the focus of TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting.” Duggar was convicted in 2021 and is serving a 12 1/2-year prison sentence.Federal authorities investigated Duggar after Little Rock police detective found child sexual abuse material was being shared by a computer traced to Duggar. Investigators testified that images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, were downloaded in 2019 onto a computer at a car dealership Duggar owned.Duggar’s attorneys argued that statements he made to investigators during the search of the dealership should not have...

Ex-Raiders cornerback Arnette says he wants to play in the NFL again after plea in Vegas gun case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette emerged from a Nevada courtroom Monday saying he hopes to play this season in the NFL, maybe with the Dallas Cowboys, after he resolved a felony 2022 gun case by pleading guilty to two misdemeanors.“If I’m blessed enough to get another chance in the NFL, then I’m going to kill that,” Arnette told reporters after Clark County District Court Judge Ronald Israel sternly instructed him that as a result of his plea, he can’t have guns and can’t be around anyone who has a gun.“I’ve learned a lot. I’m remorseful about everything,” the 26-year-old Arnette, who lives in Boynton Beach, Florida, told reporters. “I appreciate and respect another opportunity. I’m a better man than I was.”The former first-round draft pick by the Raiders in 2020 said he had an airline flight booked to Dallas to talk with that team about a contract. The Kansas City Chiefs released him last year from a reserve contract he had signed...

Three arrested during clash near Festival Eritrea event at Toronto hotel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

Three arrests were made as a protest near a downtown Toronto hotel became aggressive in relation to a Festival Eritrea event.At approximately 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, protestors arrived the area of Loretto College, located on Rosemount Avenue, along with officers from several divisions, as the festival committee removed their tents from Earlscourt Park following a violent protest at the park on Saturday that sent nine people to hospital and stalled local traffic for hours.The protesters left without incident around 2:00 p.m., but the anti-government protesters then clashed with those attending Festival Eritrea at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel on Queen Street West.Hundreds of protesters swarmed the entrance to the hotel, attempting to block access to the event. A large police presence, including the mounted unit, kept the two sides apart. Several protesters were taken away by police.The protesters remained in the area from approximately 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., where the protest ...

Argentines ask patron saint of work for jobs with elections around the corner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentines lined up on a bitterly cold winter morning Monday in an annual pilgrimage to a Roman Catholic shrine for the patron saint of work, asking for jobs and prosperity as many struggle with one of the world’s highest inflation rates.Voters in the South American country are set to go to the polls Sunday in national primary elections that will determine party candidates for the October presidential race. But many of those in line at the shrine to St. Cayetano had little optimism things would change regardless of who comes out on top.Rubén Gómez said he hasn’t been able to find steady work since he lost his job at a slaughterhouse two years ago.“I was fine until the pandemic,” he said, adding that he now must do odd jobs to survive.With elections looming, Gómez complained that “whoever gets in, things will be worse.” As far as he is concerned, “they’re all the same.”Economy Minister Sergio Massa will be the presidential candidate of the left-of-cente...

PHOTOS: Day four of Lollapalooza 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

CHICAGO -- Lollapalooza 2023 wrapped the weekend up with a variety of performances that kept festival-goers dancing until the very end.Lollapalooza 2023 closed out the four day music festival with headliners Lana Del Rey, L’Impératrice, Louis The Child, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Lollapalooza 2023: Facts, features and fun Other acts include Lil Yachty, Afrojack, Joey Bada$$, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Ingrid Andress, Mt. Joy, among many others to perform on Sunday at Lollapalooza 2023.For more Lollapalooza 2023 coverage, click here.

Janelle Monáe to perform in Chicago this fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

CHICAGO -- Grammy nominated Janelle Monáe will be performing in the Windy City next month.Janelle Monáe is set to bring her "The Age of Pleasure Tour" to Chicago's Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom on Thursday, Sept. 14.The eight-time Grammy nominated singer and songwriter first jumped on the main stream with her 2010 single "Tightrope" from her debut album, "The ArchAndroid." Monáe earned her first Grammy nomination for 2008 for Best R&B Performance for "Many Moons" from her 2008 EP, "Metropolis, Suite I: The Chase." Q&A: Janelle Monae talks about freedom, how new album defines her and getting ready to tour again With over 3.4 million monthly Spotify listeners, Monáe's "Make Me Feel" single has over 140 million streams from her fourth studio album "Dirty Computer."The event starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14.For ticket information, click here.

Can a Mega Millions jackpot winner remain anonymous? Not in these states

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — A record-setting Mega Millions jackpot is up for grabs — it's an estimated $1.55 billion after no ticket matched the winning numbers Friday. If you're lucky enough to beat the immense odds and win, there are a few things experts recommend you do immediately. Among those is keeping your victory a secret for as long as possible. Depending on where you live (or more specifically, where you win the prize), you may be able to claim your prize anonymously. In many states, however, that isn't the case. According to Mega Millions, it all comes down to your state’s public disclosure laws. Some are required to publicly identify winners while others are not.For example, in California, where a winner has yet to come forward to claim a record $1.08 billion Powerball ticket sold in July, disclosure laws require the California Lottery to share the winner’s full name and where they bought the ticket. Mega Millions jackpot now estimated to be largest in game’s histo...

Can a Mega Millions jackpot winner remain anonymous in Illinois?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:22 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — A record-setting Mega Millions jackpot is up for grabs — it's an estimated $1.55 billion after no ticket matched the winning numbers Friday. If you're lucky enough to beat the immense odds and win, there are a few things experts recommend you do immediately. Among those is keeping your victory a secret for as long as possible. Depending on where you live (or more specifically, where you win the prize), you may be able to claim your prize anonymously. In many states, however, that isn't the case. According to Mega Millions, it all comes down to your state’s public disclosure laws. Some are required to publicly identify winners while others are not.For example, in California, where a winner has yet to come forward to claim a record $1.08 billion Powerball ticket sold in July, disclosure laws require the California Lottery to share the winner’s full name and where they bought the ticket. Mega Millions jackpot now estimated to be largest in game’s histo...