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German prosecutor says clues to McCann child disappearance possible at Portuguese dam site

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

ARADE DAM, Portugal (AP) — Police searching for clues regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the British child who went missing in 2007 in Portugal, were concentrating operations Wednesday in several areas around a dam, including one where media reports say a lead suspect in the case often stayed.The latest search for clues regarding the disappearance started Tuesday following a request by German authorities. Some 30 Portuguese, German and British police are taking part in the operation at the Arade dam, which is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the resort of Praia da Luz, where the 3-year-old girl was last seen 16 years ago.In Germany, Braunschweig prosecutor Christian Wolters told German public broadcaster NDR, “We have indications that we could find evidence there. I don’t want to say what that is exactly, and I also don’t want to say where these indications come from. “The only thing that I would clarify is that it doesn’t come from the suspect — so we don’t...

Trial for Senegal’s main opposition leader ends, verdict expected next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A highly-anticipated trial of Senegal’s main opposition leader ended Tuesday evening with a verdict expected next week, a court said Wednesday.Ousmane Sonko is being tried for rape and death threats and could face up to 10 years in prison. If convicted, Sonko would be barred from running in next year’s presidential elections.The 20-hour hearing included testimonies from Sonko’s accuser, a woman working at a massage parlor, and a dozen witnesses. Sonko did not attend, remaining home in the southern city of Ziguinchor where he is the mayor. He will be sentenced in absentia. Sonko said he was protesting against injustice. He recently received a 6-month suspended prison sentence in a defamation case and declared he would no longer respond to court summonses. His supporters have called for demonstrations against the trial, which they say aim to prevent him from running for office. Demonstrations have already turned violent in the leadup to the tria...

Anxious retirees, social service groups among those making default contingency plans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Phoenix retiree Saundra Cole has been watching the news about the debt limit negotiations in Washington with dismay — and limiting her air conditioning use to save money just in case her monthly Social Security check is delayed due to a default.For her, air conditioning is no small thing in a city where the average daily high hits 94 degrees in May. If the government can't make good on its obligations, she says, “I would be devastated.”“What I’m worried about is food banks and electricity here because you know, we’ve had deaths with seniors because of the heat,” says Cole.Politicians in Washington may be offering assurance that the government will figure out a way to avert default, but around the country, economic anxiety is rising and some people already are adjusting their routines. Health insurance for 600,000 Americans at stake in debt ceiling debate Government beneficiaries, social service groups that receive state and federal subsidies and million...

'Am I gay?'-related Google searches soar 1,300 percent in 19 years: analysis 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

(The Hill) - Google searches related to personal sexual orientation and gender identity have skyrocketed since 2004, according to new research.  The Cultural Currents Institute released an analysis that explored Google searches from 2004 to this month that included searches for questions such as "am I gay", "am I lesbian", "am I trans" and "how to come out", as well as searches for "nonbinary." The new analysis found that searches for these phrases jumped by more than 1,300 percent during that period.  The analysis suggested that states that lean more conservative are the “most closeted," with Utah leading the country in searches for “am I gay,” “am I lesbian” and “am I trans.” Iowa, Indiana, West Virginia and New Hampshire followed Utah in searches for “am I gay,” while Connecticut, Kentucky, Washington and Colorado followed it for searches for “am I lesbian.” “The regional differences highlighted below are significant, offering a geographical landscape of self-questionin...

Texas Game Wardens board Lake Travis party barge; worried it may tip over

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

LAKE TRAVIS, Texas (KXAN) — Justin Barnes with the Texas Game Wardens pulled up to a large rented boat on Lake Travis. Named Large Marge, Barnes worried about how many passengers were on the top deck. Too many people on top of the barge and it risked tipping over."You can see a lot of people up top. I just want to look at their stability letter and make sure it didn't mention maximum amount of number of passengers are allowed to have on top." KXAN Documentary: "The Wake: Secrets of Lake Travis" While Barnes boarded the boat to check the letter, his crew counted the number of people, college students from Texas A&M, were on top. "You can see they're just big barges. They're prone to capsizing," Barnes said.After checking the letter and doing a count, the Wardens decided the boat was in compliance. The students on board then took pictures with the Wardens, documenting the unexpected visit during their party. The Wardens then departed in good spirits. The party continued.Unique c...

Overnight storms clear, some return late day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After a rowdy night of loud storms and beneficial rain, we'll wait to see if storms have enough recovery time to redevelop later today. BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin We expect another hot and mainly dry day, but isolated to scattered storms may redevelop late afternoon into the evening. Not everyone will see these storms and pinpointing their exact location will be difficult, but it won't be a bad idea to keep the rain gear on standby and the KXAN Weather app on hand.Isolated to scattered storms possible late dayLow risk of severe storms in the Hill Country on WednesdayIn addition to these late day storms, we'll be watching for a few more storms to clip our area overnight into early Thursday morning, similar to what we've seen the past two nights.Isolated storms are possible Thursday and Friday afternoon, but no need to rearrange plans. Rain chances remain low for the first half of Memorial Day weekend.Flood Awareness WeekWhile this weeke...

Hutto singer places 5th on 'The Voice'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

(KXAN) -- A Central Texas man placed 5th on the 23rd season of NBC's "The Voice" Tuesday night. Hutto singer Savion Wright — whose stage name is NOIVAS — earned a 4-chair turn with his blind audition. He immediately blew the judges away with his rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," a song Wright said deeply resonated with him, specifically with the loss of his brother, Alfred. MORE: Central Texas singer earns 4-chair turn on ‘The Voice’ NOIVAS is part of Blake Shelton's team and was one of five finalists. He was joined in the finale Tuesday night by Team Blake's Grace West, D.Smooth with Team Kelly, Gina Miles of Team Niall and sister trio Sorelle on Team Chance, per NBC. Ultimately, Gina Miles was named champion. To Wright, though, he said before the finale that he was already a winner, he explained in a tweet Tuesday morning. "Thank you so much everyone for the love and support throughout this journey. The only reason I even did this show in the first place wa...

DPS memorial service honors 226 officers lost in line of duty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Department of Public Safety honored those lost in the line of duty throughout the department’s history at the 2023 Peace Officers Memorial Service Tuesday. The service was held at DPS Headquarters in Austin, with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick serving as guest speaker. “There are constant reminders that law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect their fellow Texans, and far too often, they make the ultimate sacrifice,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, according to a DPS press release. “It is a privilege to join the Texas Department of Public Safety, one of the finest police forces in the world, to honor the lives of their fallen Troopers.”Texas Department of Public Safety holds 2023 Peace Officers Memorial Service. (Photo: Texas Department of Public Safety Facebook)Texas Department of Public Safety holds 2023 Peace Officers Memorial Service. (Photo: Texas Department of Public Safety Facebook)Texas Department of Public Safety holds ...

1,400 Bluebonnet customers southeast of Austin without power

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Bluebonnet Electric said Wednesday morning 1,400 customers were without power southeast of Austin after storms moved through the area. According to the power company, the outage was weather-related and impacted customers living near US Highway 183 and State Highways 45 and 130 in southeast Travis County. Customers in far northern Caldwell and far western Bastrop Counties were also impacted by the outage, according to the map provided by Bluebonnet Electric's website.The company said the outage began at 3:15 a.m. and power should be restored by 6:15 a.m.

Trey Grayson: We need poll workers. And they need protection.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:25 GMT

Election officials used to toil in relative obscurity. Poll workers put in long, intense hours around voting time, filling low-paid bureaucratic roles that were poorly understood by the public they served.But since 2020, that world has turned upside down. Today, many election workers are the subject of harassment, threats and even acts of violence. Some have had to flee their homes or have been assaulted. One said it’s “like nothing I’ve ever seen.”The sudden vitriol stems from the Big Lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, which has metastasized in voting precincts nationwide. The result is as predictable as it is disturbing: All across the country, election workers are quitting in record numbers. In my own home state of Kentucky — hardly a battleground — about 20% of all county clerks opted to retire rather than run for reelection last year.Which raises an urgent question for 2024: Who is going to be left to work the elections?Consi...