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Biden signs debt ceiling deal into law, averting historic default

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

(CNN) — President Joe Biden signed into law Saturday a bill to suspend the nation’s debt limit through January 1, 2025, to avert a first-ever US default.“I just signed into law a bipartisan budget agreement that prevents a first-ever default while reducing the deficit, safeguarding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and fulfilling our scared obligation to our veterans,” Biden said in a tweet, which was accompanied by a short video of him signing the bill.“Now, we continue the work of building the strongest economy in the world,” the president added.Suspending the debt limit through early 2025 takes the threat of default off the table until after next year’s presidential election. In addition to addressing the debt limit, the law caps nondefense spending, expands work requirements for some food stamp recipients and claws back some Covid-19 relief funds, among other policy provisions.The bipartisan deal to address the debt limit was struck between t...

Car crashes into utility pole in Oakham

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

First responders were called to a crash in Oakham overnight on Saturday. Fire officials said crews were busy after a car smashed into a utility pole.https://twitter.com/OakhamFire/status/1665322023017390082?s=20Officials said no one was seriously injured in the crash.

DeSantis hits Trump from the right while the ex-president looks ahead to the general election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — In his first week on the campaign trail as a presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly hit his chief rival, Donald Trump, from the right.“This is a different guy than 2015, 2016,” DeSantis told a conservative radio host before slamming the bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation Trump championed as “basically a jailbreak bill” that allowed dangerous people out of prison.He also accused Trump of “turning the reins over” to Dr. Anthony Fauci during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Trump had “ endorsed and tried to ram” an “amnesty” bill through Congress and vowed that — unlike the former president — he would finish building the U.S.-Mexico border wall.In Iowa on Saturday, he hit back at Trump for saying he didn’t like the term “woke” because people have a hard time defining it. “Woke is an existential threat to our society,” DeSantis said. “To say it’s not a big deal, that just shows you don’t understand what a l...

Fire at refugee shelter in eastern Germany kills 1, injures 10

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A fire at a refugee shelter in eastern Germany killed one person and injured 10 others early Sunday, according to local police.Police in the German state of Thuringia said the fire broke out around 5 a.m. at a facility in the city of Apolda and that one body was recovered from the burned building. A 9-year-old child was reported missing, police said. They did not say if recovered body belonged to a child. The shelter, which housed 300 people, was evacuated and residents were taken to another refugee center in nearby Hermsdorf, a local government spokesperson told German news agency dpa. Police said 250 people were in the shelter at the time of the fire, and 10 were taken to a local hospital with injuries, police said. Information about their condition was not immediately available.An investigation to determine the cause of the fire was underway, dpa reported. The Associated Press

What to know as Prince Harry prepares for court fight with British tabloid publisher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry is going where other British royals haven’t for over a century: to a courtroom witness stand. The Duke of Sussex is set to testify in the first of his five pending legal cases largely centered around battles with British tabloids. Opening statements are scheduled Monday in his case. Harry said in court documents that the royal family had assiduously avoided the courts to prevent testifying about matters that might be embarrassing. His frustration and anger at the press, however, impelled him to buck convention by suing newspaper owners — allegedly against the wishes of his father, now King Charles III. If Harry testifies as scheduled Tuesday in his lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mirror, he’ll be the first member of the royal family to do so since the late 19th century, when Queen Victoria’s eldest son, Prince Albert Edward, testified twice in court. The man who would go on to become King Edward VII testified in the divorce pro...

19 people shot, 3 dead in overnight violence on the South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago police reported of 19 people being shot on the city's South Side in overnight violence. According to police, a 19-year-old man was shot in the chest near the 3800 block of West Ohio Street and was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Another victim was found a short distance away with a gunshot wound to the right arm and graze wound to the face and was transported to the hospital in good condition. Around 11:06 p.m. Saturday night police found a 40-year-old man with gunshot wounds to the neck and right shoulder in the 8300 block of South Ingleside Avenue. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead a short time after. Another 40-year-old man was found in a driver seat unresponsive with gunshot wounds to the neck in the 1900 block of South Fairfield Avenue. He is in critical condition. Shell casings were also discovered near the scene.Around 1:20 a.m. a 34-year-old man was found with multiple gunshot wounds ...

Sunday Forecast: Hazy sunshine, unhealthy air quality, low 80s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

Sunday: Hazy sunshine & not quite as hot. Air quality: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. NE 5-15 mph. High: 81, Low: 72 lakesideSunday Night: Mostly clear. NE 5-10 mph. Low: 62, upper 50s away from the lakeMonday: Increasing clouds & slight chance of late evening showers. NE 10-15 mphHigh: 82, Low: 73 by the lakeExtended outlook calls for a weak cold front to move through Monday into Tuesday that could deliver a brief spotty shower or two. Tuesday more cloud cover and highs a bit cooler into the low 70s, 60s by the lake. We'll get back into the upper 70s for Wed/Thu. Friday temps close to 80 and chance of late day showers with some continuing into Saturday. attached: ontario fire risk and active fires from Ontario Ministry of Nat'l Resources & Forestry and the AirNow Air Quality Map fr the U.S. Geological Services Attached: Ontario fire risk and active fires from Ontario Ministry of National Resources & Forestry and the AirNow Air Quality Map from the U.S. Ge...

Best Father’s Day gifts for fit dads

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. DetailsWHAT TO GET YOUR ACTIVE DAD FOR FATHER'S DAYIN THIS ARTICLE:Iron Flask Sports Water BottleBrooks Men's Ghost 14 Neutral Running ShoesGoxrunx Jump RopeFather's Day is coming up for all kinds of dads, but if yours is fit and active, he might appreciate a fitness-related gift. Whether he's the sort of dad who's always at the gym, runs marathons in his spare time or rides bowls at the skatepark, there's a Father's Day gift out there for him. Everyone needs inspiration from time to time, so here are some of the best Father's Day gifts for fit dads.WHAT TO THINK ABOUT WHEN BUYING A FATHER'S DAY GIFTYour dad's interests: You may have already decided that you want to buy your dad something fitness-related, but you'll have to narrow it down more than that. If your dad is into pumping iron at the gym, his ideal gift will probably differ from the type of active dad who loves hiking or cycling.Your budget:&nb...

More showers and thunderstorms today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Northwest Gillespie County, including Doss, will be under a Flash Flood Warning until 8 a.m. A few LCRA rain gauges in Blanco, Gillespie, and Mason Counties have measured between one and two inches over the last 24 hours.There were five reports of hail between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Hail the size of a hen egg was reported at Pontotoc (NE Mason Co.). The other reports came from Williamson and Travis Cos.Saturday night hailThere will be more showers and thunderstorms today with a good deal of moisture in the area. On average, around .50" to 1.00" could be measured. Keep your umbrella nearby todayThe Storm Prediction Center is looking at thunderstorms today to remain below severe limits. Meanwhile, additional rains pose a flood threat. The Weather Prediction Center has the entire area under a flash flood threat today and Monday.Low flood threat today and tomorrow BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin The forecast remains wet tomorrow and Tuesday when rain ...

SNAP applications processing faster, backlog and concerns over benefit cuts continues 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:37 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Tiesa Hollaway surveys the shelves. The food pantry at Hill Country Community Ministries has fresh fruits and vegetables, a variety of breads, milk and canned goods.Hollaway quickly walks through the small space — 900 square feet — smiling at a handful of volunteers who are preparing for a busy day."We are so grateful," Hollaway said. "Our shelves are full. I know that there are a lot of food pantries, whether it's ours or anyone all over Central Texas, that are struggling, a lot of the food pantries are struggling."Hill Country Community Ministries food pantry in Leander. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost)Hollaway is familiar with that struggle. Just last month she said she had to write a check for $10,000 to buy food just to keep up with the growing need. "We served over 91,000 people last year," she explained. "We're seeing a 49% increase in new families in May — just this month, we're not even done with May yet — a...