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US military captures key Islamic State militant during helicopter raid in Syria

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Monday it had captured an operator for the Islamic State extremist group during a helicopter raid in northern Syria.The operator, Abu Halil al-Fad’ani, “was assessed to have relationships throughout the ISIS network in the region,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement.His capture on Saturday increases the chance that U.S. counterterrorism operations there will be able to target additional members of the group, command spokesman Lt. Col. Troy Garlock said.The U.S. has approximately 900 troops in Syria focused on countering the remnants of the Islamic State group, which had held a wide swath of Syria until 2019. News of the capture came as U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces imposed a curfew after continued skirmishes with rival Arab militiamen. According to reports from Syrian media and activists, the Syrian Democratic Forces imposed the curfew Monday in several towns in Deir el-Zour province, including in Ziban, close to the Iraqi border where...

Trump campaigns in South Carolina after a weekend spent issuing threats and leveling treason claims

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump ramped up his campaign schedule with a visit to South Carolina on Monday after a busy weekend online that included threats to the media, multiple accusations of treason and a claim he could design a better fighter jet than the military.The Republican presidential front-runner, who has spent far less time on the campaign trail than his leading rivals, began his trip to small-town Summerville with a meet-and-greet with volunteers at a local campaign office and a visit to a local gun store, where he admired a Glock.He later addressed supporters outside a boat manufacturing facility, where he showed off a slew of new South Carolina endorsements, including from the state’s attorney general, its secretary of state, its House majority leader and other members of the South Carolina House of Representatives.While his rivals have been busy holding town halls and visiting local diners, Trump has spent much of the last months respondi...

Police investigating after taxi driver critically injured in St. Catharines

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

Police in Niagara Region are investigating after a taxi driver was found suffering from critical injuries in St. Catharines over the weekend.Authorities were called to Eastchester Avenue near Lorne Street at around 4:45 a.m. on Sept. 23 after a taxi driver was found beside his parked cab.Police noted that the taxi door was opened and in the roadway while the driver was unconscious, suffering from a critical injury. The initial investigation determined that a civilian had been driving in the area and discovered the driver lying on the road.The male driver was rushed to an out-of-region hospital, where he remains in critical condition.Investigators are appealing to members of the public to come forward with viable evidence in this incident. Residents or businesses in the area are also asked to review surveillance footage for suspicious activity between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Sept. 23.Police said the taxicab was a silver Toyota Camry. There is no suspect information at this time.The inve...

Firefighter’s 3-year-old son struck and killed as memorial walk for slain firefighters was to begin

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The 3-year-old son of a firefighter was struck and killed in Delaware over the weekend shortly before a memorial walk was to begin to honor three firefighters killed in an a blaze seven years ago, authorities said.The Wilmington fire chief’s office said a group of off-duty Wilmington firefighters, family members and friends were gathering just before 10 a.m. Sunday for the walk to honor three city firefighters killed in the line of duty at a structure fire on the same day in 2016.Capt. Matthew Marsella said in a statement that the child, the son of an off-duty firefighter, was struck by a vehicle driven by another off-duty firefighter trying to park to take part in the memorial event. The boy was taken to Wilmington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name and the name of the driver were not immediately released.Wilmington police are investigating and are asking anyone with information to call them.Wilmington Mayor Michael Purzycki said in a sta...

Music Review: Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz revive folk songs on ‘Nothing but Green Willow’

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

Folk artists Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz combine to offer a real oldies collection, with ballads that date back generations and have roots on both sides of the Atlantic. They’re mostly sad songs about class divide, unfaithful lovers and family strife, where bloody dreams come true and even the valleys are lonesome.It’s music that still resonates today, as shown in these compelling new interpretations by Simpson and Jutz. “Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs of Mary Sands and Jane Gentry” will be released Friday.Simpson and Jutz mined the material from a book published in 1917 by English folklorist Cecil Sharp, who transcribed traditional British songs he heard while visiting Appalachia to document a transoceanic cultural connection. North Carolina residents Sands and Gentry helped Sands’ research by performing the tunes for him.If that makes the album sound like a dry academic exercise, it’s not. Intricate melodies are beautifully sung by Simpson, Jutz and a parade of guests, incl...

Indigenous group in N.B. signs deal with companies behind proposed nuclear reactor

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

SAINT JOHN, N.B. — A group of First Nations in New Brunswick has signed agreements with two companies developing small nuclear reactor technology for the province’s electric utility.The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council held a joint news conference Monday with Moltex Energy Canada Inc. and ARC Clean Technology Inc., to announce that its seven First Nations are making financial investments in both Saint John-based companies.Jim Ward, the council’s general manager, said Indigenous leaders are keen to support a sustainable project that will benefit future generations. “With this investment, we are building a legacy for our youth, as well as our communities and the environment,” he said in a statement. “We are laying the groundwork for a prosperous future.”Under the deal, the communities will receive $2 million in share value from Moltex Energy and $1 million in share value from ARC Clean Technology, but the actual number of shares will depend on future va...

From fans to drivers to cooking, Blackhawks' Connor Bedard gets to know Chicago, NHL

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

CHICAGO — The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and the best prospect in years in professional hockey is getting an education on a number of fronts this September. It's a lesson that Connor Bedard will continue to learn over the next few months as he joins the Blackhawks, adjusting to life in the NHL and in Chicago. There's a lot to learn even for the talented center, who is now the face of the rebuilding Blackhawks in 2023-2024 about life on and off the ice. That continues in training camp, which the team is holding at Fifth Third Arena before their season opener October 10 against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. Already that venue is featuring Bedard jerseys for sale in the lobby, further cementing the 18 year old's place on the franchise's hierarchy."I haven't thought about it too much," said Bedard if it's hit him that he's in the NHL and already has so much attention. "Kinda those first few times, it's pretty crazy to think about, I guess. You kinda see somebody wearing your...

How can airlines improve their flight timeliness?

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A new study shared by the University at Buffalo explores how airlines can stick to their schedules a little better.UB Operations Management and Strategy professor Milind Sohoni collaborated with professors at Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina on the study, which took a look at airlines' on-time performance.The professors studied 11 years of flights spanning 2005 through 2015, and looked at factors like schedule padding and operational changes.MORE | Read the abstract of the study here."Airlines showcase their on-time performance (OTP), a globally accepted operational performance metric, to demonstrate punctuality, service reliability, and attract air travelers," the study's abstract reads."While there is a high degree of variation in airlines' OTP from year to year, it is unclear if and the extent to which airlines' active or passive actions impact their OTP because of factors, like weather, outside an airline's control," the study...

Saints manager Toby Gardenhire’s next move could be following his father into the big leagues

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

The St. Paul Saints’ third season as the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate is in the books under the leadership of manager Toby Gardenhire, who has promoted a winning culture while staying focused on the primary task of preparing the Twins’ top prospects for the big leagues.The Saints have a combined record of 225-202 over the past three seasons, including a high-water mark of 84-64 this season. Being the one who makes it all go, Gardenhire has drawn praise from throughout the organization for the job he has done.Combine all that with the fact that he has been tutored on the craft of managing by his father, Ron Gardenhire, who won 1,200 games over 16 seasons as a major-league manager, including 13 with the Twins, and it’s not a reach to suggest that Gardenhire could emerge as a candidate for any major-league jobs that open during the offseason.For his part, Gardenhire said he would welcome the chance to return the Saints’ dugout next season, to continue working in what is basically his home...

Rosemount soccer coach takes on double duty, coaching Irish girls and boys teams

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:22:07 GMT

Being a coach presents its challenges, from time commitment to bringing together athletes with different personalities and agendas.Coaching one single team can be too much for some, and the idea of coaching two at the same time would have many scratching their heads, wondering, “Why they would ever do that?”Rosemount High School boys soccer coach Todd Farrington has done just that, and doubled down.Farrington has been coaching the boys’ team at Rosemount for nearly a decade, with this season being his ninth. This fall, he’s also coaching the Irish girls.Girls head coach Gretchen Stramel stepped away from the coaching position after her team won a state championship last season, and Farrington was asked to fill the role. Given that he was already coaching the boys team, he said it wasn’t an easy decision to make, and there were some concerns when he ended up accepting the role.Questions swirled about how he would juggle practices and games between the two teams, and...