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Allies of Niger president overthrown by military are appealing to the US and others: Save his life

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — After nearly three weeks of appealing to the United States and other allies for help restoring Niger’s president to power, friends and supporters of the democratically elected leader are making a simpler plea: Save his life.President Mohamed Bazoum, leader of the last remaining Western-allied democracy across a vast stretch of Africa’s Sahara and Sahel, sits confined with his family in an unlit basement of his presidential compound, cut off from resupplies of food and from electricity and cooking gas by the junta that overthrew him, Niger’s ambassador to the United States told The Associated Press. “They are killing him,” said the ambassador, Mamadou Kiari Liman-Tinguiri, a close associate who maintains daily calls with the detained leader. The two have been colleagues for three decades, since the now 63-year-old president was a young philosophy instructor, a teacher’s union leader, and a democracy advocate noted for his eloquence.“The plan of the head of the...

Rising political threats take US into uncharted territory as 2024 election looms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

DENVER (AP) — This week’s confrontation that ended with FBI agents fatally shooting a 74-year-old Utah man who threatened to assassinate President Joe Biden was just the latest example of how violent rhetoric has created a more perilous political environment across the U.S.Six days earlier, a 52-year-old Texas man was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for threatening to kill Arizona election workers. Four days before that, prosecutors charged a 56-year-old Michigan woman for lying to buy guns for her mentally ill adult son, who threatened to use them against Biden and that state’s Democratic governor.Threats against public officials have been steadily climbing in recent years, creating new challenges for law enforcement, civil rights and the health of American democracy.The Capitol Police last year reported that they investigated more than double the number of threats against members of Congress as they did four years earlier. Driven by former President Donald Trump̵...

Broncos Stock Report: Who’s up, who’s down after loss to Arizona in preseason opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

The initial stock report of the preseason after the Broncos’ 18-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Friday night.Stock UpOLB Nik BonittoBonitto was arguably the Broncos’ best defensive player Friday night, with the second-year outside linebacker notching three tackles, a split sack and a quarterback hit while using his speed to get in the backfield. Bonitto’s best play of the night happened in the second quarter when he charged toward Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune before changing direction to stop running back Corey Clement on third down. Bonitto left the game after the play due to a hip injury, according to the game broadcast. Outside linebacker was one of the biggest question marks heading into training camp. However, Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper have shown that Denver’s edge rushing depth might be better than expected.RB Jaleel McLaughlinMcLaughlin delivered when it mattered most — by preseason standards, anyway. The undrafted rookie running back played a big role durin...

Rockies squander chance, strike out 16 times in loss to Dodgers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

You wouldn’t know it by the 6-1 final score, but the Rockies actually had a sliver of a chance to capture a rare victory at Dodger Stadium Friday night.In the fourth inning, the Rockies tied the game, 1-1, combining a leadoff single by Ezequiel Tovar, a walk by Ryan McMahon, an infield hit by Brendan Rodgers, and a throwing error by Los Angeles third baseman Enrique Hernandez.With runners on second and third and nobody out, Colorado needed one clutch hit to take charge. But Dodgers right-hander Lance Lynn struck out Elias Diaz and Nolan Jones and then got Michael Toglia to fly out to left. Opportunity wasted.From that point on, the Rockies’ hitters went quietly into the SoCal night, getting just three hits over the final five innings. By the time “I Love L.A.” blared out of the speakers, the Rockies struck out 16 times, the 10th time this season they have fanned at least 15 times.Since 2019, the Rockies are now 9-28 at Dodger Stadium.“It was a little bi...

2 dead in Lancaster shooting, multiple injured

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

At least two people were killed and multiple were others injured after shots rang out at a Lancaster home on Friday night. Deputies responded to reports of a shooting on the 3300 block of Knott Court around 7:25 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Arriving officers found several gunshot victims at the scene. The total number of victims has not yet been confirmed. At least two people were seen dead lying on the street.Sky5 video showed a large presence of law enforcement and ambulance vehicles on the quiet neighborhood street.Details remain limited as authorities investigate the incident. The motive behind the deadly shooting is unknown. No suspect descriptions were provided.The area remains on lockdown as deputies appear to be knocking on neighbors’ doors in search of possible suspects.This developing story will be updated.

Ventura County authorities use fake social media account to track suspect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

A man was arrested on Tuesday after he was found using social media to advertise the sale of illegal narcotics. Ventura County detectives discovered that Demitri Ruybalid used various social media accounts to advertise sales of counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl, according to a Ventura County Sheriff’s Office news release. Detectives also found that Ruybalid had an outstanding Ventura County warrant for his arrest on an unrelated case.Authorities used an undercover social media account to contact Ruybalid and pretend to purchase the fentanyl-based pills. Ruybalid agreed to meet with the undercover detective to deliver the drugs in the area of 1000 S. Westlake Boulevard, where he was identified and arrested. While searching Ruybalid’s vehicle, detectives recovered 150 counterfeit oxycodone pills, seven grams of cocaine, two grams of powdered fentanyl, and 25 Xanax pills that were packaged to be sold. Ruybalid was booked into the Ventura County Pretrial...

'This is like Gotcham City': Burglar hits popular San Francisco burger restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – A San Francisco burger spot is out thousands of dollars after an early morning burglary. Security video captured the crime happening in the city’s Richmond district.Security video from Uncle Boy’s captures what owner John Espejo says was a costly crime. The burglar took $2,000 in cash from the register and left another $1,500 dollars in damage. “I’m not gonna sugarcoat it,” he said. “It’s tough out there. There’s a lot of things going on that make you think, ‘Man, this is like Gotham City out there.’” American Canyon burglary suspect arrested after stealing luggage out of a car: police Espejo says the crime was peculiar and done by what appears to be a professional. Instead of smashing the glass to get in, the burglar removed it.“I don’t know how to explain it. I’m not in that profession, but the glass is perfectly preserved. It wasn’t broken or nothing. There was no shattering, nothing,” Espejo said.Running Uncle Boy’s has been Espejo’s American dream....

QBs Watson, Howell have solid starts, Brissett has TD run in Commanders’ 17-15 win over Browns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore runs against the Washington Commanders during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)(AP/David Richard) Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore runs against the Washington Commanders during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)(AP/David Richard) CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson feels like he’s finally back to being himself.Everything that prevented him from playing like an elite quarterback in 2022 — the long layoff, a lengthy suspension — has been shaken free.“I’m not thinking about no rust,” he said. “That wa...

Baker Mayfield throws a TD pass in his bid to follow Tom Brady as the Buccaneers’ starting QB

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield continued his bid to follow Tom Brady as Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback and jumpstart his career with a solid, if not overly impressive preseason debut for the Buccaneers in a 27-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night.The 2018 No. 1 overall pick is competing with Kyle Trask for the starting job that opened when Brady retired after last season.Mayfield, who played without six starters on offense, including three veteran linemen and receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, was 8 of 9 for 63 yards and one touchdown over five series against a mix of Pittsburgh starters and reserves. Trask, a 2021 second-round draft pick who appeared in just one regular-season game in two years as the No. 3 quarterback behind Brady and Blaine Gabbert, was sacked three times while going 6 of 10 for 99 yards with one interception.Steelers starter Kenny Pickett, who worked one series, completed six of seven passes for 70 yards on a 10-play, 83-yard drive and fin...

Dodgers beat Rockies 6-1 behind Lynn for 6th straight victory and improve to 10-1 in August

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:08 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lance Lynn won his third consecutive start with the surging Los Angeles Dodgers and Freddie Freeman drove in two runs Friday night in a 6-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.Amed Rosario grounded into a fielder’s choice for the go-ahead RBI in the fifth inning and the Dodgers scored four more in the sixth. The NL West leaders took their sixth game in a row, equaling their season-high winning streak accomplished four times. Los Angeles improved to 10-1 in August.Lynn (9-9) allowed just an unearned run and four hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out nine and walked one to improve to 3-0 in three starts since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox shortly before the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Mookie Betts doubled leading off the fifth and went to third on Freeman’s flyout. Austin Gomber (9-9) hit Will Smith with a pitch before Rosario grounded to third, scoring Betts for a 2-1 lead while Smith was out at second. Rosario was caught stealing second to e...