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Bishop acquitted of raping nun resigns as leader of Catholic diocese in Indian city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — A bishop acquitted of raping a nun resigned as leader of the Catholic diocese in an Indian city on Thursday.Pope Francis accepted the resignation of 59-year-old Franco Mulakkal, who was bishop of the Jalandhar Diocese in the northern state of Punjab.The Vatican did not provide a reason for the resignation or why Francis accepted it. The normal retirement age for bishops is 75.The nun accused Mulakkal of raping her multiple times during his visits to her convent in Kuravilangad in Kerala state, in a case that became a major issue amid allegations of sexual abuse in the church.Police charged Mulakkal with rape, illegal confinement and intimidation of the nun. A group of fellow nuns launched unprecedented public protests demanding Mulakkal’s arrest in 2018. He was detained and soon released on bail.A court acquitted Mulakkal in January last year. The nun has appealed the verdict to Kerala’s High Court.Mulakkal was the official patron of the nun’s community, the Mission...

NATO presses Turkey to approve Sweden’s membership, eyes Ukraine security framework as summit looms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

OSLO, Norway (AP) — NATO on Thursday ramped up pressure on member nation Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden’s membership as the military organization seeks to deal with the issue by the time U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts meet next month.The 31-member alliance is also looking at boosting Ukraine’s non-member status in NATO and preparing a framework for security commitments that it can offer once the war with Russia is over. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO wants to bring Sweden into the fold by the time allied leaders meet in Lithuania on July 11-12. The allies also hope to make progress on long-term funding and the security plan for Ukraine at the same event, Stoletenberg said.He said the allies continue to agree that Ukraine will become a NATO member but that in the meantime the alliance should provide it with security commitments and substantial new funding.“Our focus today was on how we can bring Ukraine closer to NATO where it belongs,” he ...

Man fatally shot by police in Blue Island; investigation underway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. — An investigation is underway after a man was fatally shot by police in Blue Island.Around 2 a.m. Thursday, police responded to the area of Broadway and Division for a suspicious vehicle and well-being check of a man who was unresponsive in the driver's seat.Upon arrival, police said officers observed an AR-15 pistol on the front passenger seat of the vehicle. Additional officers arrived to the scene as attempts were made to wake the man.According to police, the man finally woke up and saw the officers — then reached for the front passenger seat.Police said one officer then fired one round and shot the man in the torso area. He was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead. Off-duty Chicago police officer shot on city’s Near West Side Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services responded to the scene to process evidence and the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force has launched an independent investigation...

Former Mayor Lightfoot to teach class at Harvard as fellow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

BOSTON — Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is headed to Harvard this fall.On Thursday morning, the university announced the appointment of Lightfoot as a Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow for the upcoming fall term.She will teach a course in the Health, Policy and Management Department tentatively titled “Health Policy and Leadership" at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, located in Boston.“I’ve always loved teaching, and the opportunity to get back to it is something I am really excited about. I learned a lot over the past four years, and this gives me an opportunity to share my experiences and perceptions of governing through one of the most challenging chapters in American history. I look forward to interacting with students who are committed to the public sector, particularly in the area of public health,” Lightfoot said. “I’ll share specifics about the way we managed the COVID-19 public health crisis, and we’ll delve into how we approached th...

Spirit Airlines experiencing 'technical issue'; passengers complain of hours-long delays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Budget airline Spirit is warning travelers they may experience "longer than usual lines" on Thursday as the company faces "a technical issue."Details are limited, but the airline says the issue had caused its website, its app, and its airport kiosks to be unavailable as of 8 a.m. CT. "We anticipate longer than usual lines at the airport so please plan on arriving early," Spirit wrote on Twitter. A representative for Spirit Airlines did not disclose the cause of the issue, nor what impact the technical issue is expected to have on Spirit flights. One Twitter user commented that they had been "stuck on a plane for 2 hours not taking off."Another claimed his flight from Baltimore/Washington International Airport deplaned early on Thursday morning before eventually re-boarding three hours after the scheduled takeoff time.“I'm at DFW my flight was to take off at 5:15 a.m.,” another person tweeted just before 8 a.m. CT. “Still waiting…”Others, including some who were waiting f...

Dean's A-List Interviews: Shameik Moore as Miles in Spider-Verse saga

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

Dean sits down with Shameik Moore, the voice of Spider-Man or Miles Morales in the returning Spider-Verse Saga, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" and Hailee Steinfeld as Ghost-Spider.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

National Doughnut Day: Where to get free doughnuts this Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

(WSYR) – In honor of National Doughnut Day, several national and regional chains are offering free treats with qualifying purchases — or no purchases at all, in some cases.National Doughnut Day, which falls on June 2 this year, was first celebrated in 1938. Organized by the Salvation Army, the observance was meant to honor the "Donut Lassies" who traveled overseas during WWI to provide support for the troops, sometimes by frying up doughnuts on the front lines. The original Dunkin' Donut wasn't shaped like a traditional doughnut The Salvation Army still celebrates National Doughnut Day today, usually with fundraisers, charitable events, or special deliveries to veterans, first responders and frontline workers. But pretty much anyone can get in on the fun by picking up a free doughnut at one of the following shops:Duck DonutsThe Pennsylvania-based chain, which specializes in made-to-order doughnuts, is offering free cinnamon-sugar doughnuts to customers this Friday. No other purch...

Loons star Emanuel Reynoso ‘not far away’ from 2023 debut

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

After missing 44 percent of the season, Minnesota United star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso might make his long overdue 2023 debut on Saturday.Manager Adrian Heath was asked Wednesday about Reynoso’s status for the 20-player game-day roster that will face Toronto FC at Allianz Field.“I would think maybe,” Heath said after the Loons’ 2-1 loss to Austin. “I don’t know, maybe on the bench or something like that.”Reynoso ended his four-month holdout on May 6 and had his MLS suspension lifted on May 16. The Argentine central attacking midfielder has been doing multiple workouts each day and joined in the entirety of first-team training for the first time on Tuesday.“He’s worked really, really hard,” Heath said, adding MNUFC2 coach Cameron Knowles relayed Reynoso was “excellent” in his work in Blaine on Wednesday.Heath has been reluctant to share when Reynoso will return to game action. Heath is considering the fact that Reynoso hasn’t played a competitive game since the MLS Cup Playof...

Two drivers die in wrong-way crash on I-694 in Oakdale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

Interstate 694 in Oakdale is open again after a wrong-way crash early Thursday killed two drivers and sent a juvenile to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.The driver of a Toyota Corolla was traveling south in the northbound left lane of I-694 and crashed head-on into the Pontiac Vibe traveling north at 2:24 a.m. near Stillwater Boulevard, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The Pontiac Vibe spun out and hit a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van in the northbound right lane.The Pontiac’s driver was ejected from his vehicle and died. The juvenile passenger was taken to Gillette Children’s Hospital with critical injuries.First responders extricated the Toyota’s driver and he was pronounced dead soon after, the State Patrol said.The driver of the Sprinter van was taken to Regions Hospital with minor injuries.I-694 west was closed at exit 57, which is 10th Street North in Oakdale.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Judge orders year in jail/prob...

Denver weather: Showers, thunderstorms likely starting early Thursday afternoon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:51 GMT

Showers and thunderstorms are all but guaranteed Thursday as Denver has an 80% chance of precipitation.Thursday will be much cooler than previous days with a high of 73 degrees. Showers will start increasing in the early afternoon, and most areas around the Denver metro area are likely to see a storm or two through the evening.Expect slightly cool temperatures and scattered showers this morning to become widespread by afternoon with embedded thunder. Hazards include small hail, gusty winds, and localized heavy rainfall. #CoWx pic.twitter.com/UGNysEyPWw— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) June 1, 2023Most of the storms will produce light rain and wind gusts up to 35 mph, but a few have the potential for heavy rain and gusts up to 50 mph.Some storms could produce small hail and strong outflow winds.The chance for storms Thursday night to about 50%, and the low is 49 degrees.Showers and storms will continue into next week, with chances of rain every day through next Wednesday.Related Arti...