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Barbara Kingsolver wins Women’s Prize for Fiction with Appalachian novel ‘Demon Copperhead’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

LONDON (AP) — American novelist Barbara Kingsolver won the prestigious Women’s Prize for Fiction Wednesday with “Demon Copperhead,” the Dickens-inspired tale of a boy’s struggle against the odds in a corner of America scarred by opioid addiction. Kingsolver’s Appalachian coming-of-age tale was announced as winner of the 30,000 pounds ($38,000) award at a ceremony in London.Kingsolver, 68, also won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for the novel, which transplants Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield” to modern-day southwest Virginia, where the author lives.It was a second victory for Kingsolver, who previously won the Women’s Prize in 2010 for “The Lacuna.”“Lightning strikes twice,” she said as she accepted the award.Kingsolver said she wrote the book to tell stories from a part of the United States — the mountainous Appalachia region — that is often overlooked or regarded as “just a joke.”“We’re the last demographic in the U.S. that progressive people are allowed...

Pregnant woman fatally shot in car at Seattle intersection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — A woman who was eight months pregnant died after a man shot multiple times into a car she was in while stopped at an intersection in central Seattle, authorities said. The 34-year-old woman’s baby was delivered at a hospital and but died soon after, The Seattle Times reported Wednesday, citing a probable cause statement. A 37-year-old man who was in the car with the woman was wounded in the arm and remained hospitalized. The motivation for the Tuesday morning shooting in the Belltown neighborhood was unclear. A man approached the car, fired at the driver’s side with a handgun and ran away, the statement said. Video from the neighborhood showed no previous interaction with the victims. A 30-year-old man who matched witnesses’ description was located by police soon after. Approached by officers, he raised his arms and said, “I did it, I did it,” according to police. Police said he told investigators he saw a firearm in the vehicle and reacted by firing...

Drug syndicate hid meth in Canadian maple syrup, canola oil bound for Down Under, authorities say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A drug syndicate that tried to smuggle tons of methamphetamine from Canada to Australia and New Zealand by hiding it in shipments of maple syrup and canola oil has been busted, authorities said Thursday.Authorities from the three nations said they had worked together for more than five months to unravel the elaborate scheme that was worth billions of dollars. Australian police said they had intercepted four separate hauls of meth weighing more than six tons and filed charges against six men. They said that in January, Canadian authorities alerted them that 2,900 liters (766 gallons) of liquid meth had been hidden in 180 bottles of canola oil bound for Australia. They said Canadian authorities swapped out the meth for a harmless substance and allowed the shipment to continue. Australian police said that two men then moved what they believed were the drugs to storage locations around the city of Melbourne. Two more shipments came in May and June, and the...

Oakland Athletics stadium deal wins final legislative approval in Nevada as MLB weighs move to Vegas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics cleared a major hurdle for their planned relocation to Las Vegas after the Nevada Legislature gave final approval on Wednesday to public funding for a portion of a proposed $1.5 billion stadium with a retractable roof.The deal still needs the governor’s signature, and MLB still must approve the A’s move to Las Vegas, but both are anticipated.The Assembly approved the final version of the bill with $380 million in taxpayer money on a 25-15 vote after making minor changes to the measure the Senate approved on a 13-8 vote Tuesday just hours before the Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup.The Senate accepted the changes with no debate on a voice vote Wednesday night and sent it to the governor’s desk as an “emergency measure” adopted during the special legislative session that convened with Democratic majorities in both houses June 7. Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo had proposed the stadium spending plan.The $380 million in pub...

Woman wanted for stealing luxury car, striking police cruiser in North York

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

A Toronto woman is wanted on several charges after she allegedly stole a luxury car and crashed into a police cruiser in an attempt to flee from responding officers.Just before 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, Toronto police were investigating a woman wanted on multiple warrants in the Dufferin Street and Finch Avenue area in North York.It’s alleged that officers attempted to arrest the woman when she fled in her vehicle, striking a police cruiser. Authorities said the suspect then mounted the sidewalk and collided with two other cars in a busy plaza, endangering lives.No one was injured, police said.The woman fled the scene in a grey Mercedes GLC SUV, last seen northbound on Alness Street. Police believe the luxury vehicle to be stolen.Colbie Harris, 31, of Toronto, is wanted on multiple offences. They include dangerous operation, operation while disqualified, three counts of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, three counts of failing to comply with probation, theft of...

Biden endorsed by 4 environmental and conservation groups for efforts to fight global warming

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told an audience of conservation and environmental groups Wednesday that their work has never been more important at a time when they are battling the greatest threat facing future generations.Speaking at the annual Capital Dinner of the League of Conservation Voters, Biden told the supportive audience there are “a lot of threats to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren” but climate change “is the only truly existential threat.”He said the audience members and his administration had done good work in combatting the threat but everyone needed to “finish the job.”Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were endorsed by four environmental and conservation groups at the dinner: the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, NextGen PAC, NRDC Action Fund and the Sierra Club. Speakers for the organizations praised the Biden-Harris team as the administration that has done the most to combat climate change.In earlier comments, former House ...

Child critically injured after being struck by vehicle in Brampton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

A child is in the hospital with critical injuries after they were struck by a vehicle in Brampton.Peel Regional Police were called to the Sugarhill Drive and Orangegrove Drive area around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday for reports of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle.A police spokesperson noted a heavy presence of officers in the area due to a collision investigation.Peel Regional Paramedics tells CityNews a child between the ages of 12 and 15 was struck and seriously injured. The youth was rushed to a trauma centre.The child’s injuries are considered life-threatening, paramedics said.The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.COLLISION INVESTIGATION:-Sugarhill Dr / Orangegrove Dr in #Brampton. -Heavy police presence in area. -Officers investigating a collision. -Injuries unknown at this time. -No threat to the public. -Please avoid the area. -PR230193186— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) June 14, 2023

Two dead after shooting in Geneva neighborhood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

GENEVA, Ill. — A man and a woman are dead after suffering gunshot wounds inside a Geneva residence early Wednesday evening, according to Geneva Police Chief Eric Passarelli.Police said officers responded to a report of a gunshot at a home on Pebble Beach Court around 5:22 p.m. in Geneva. When police arrived, officers found two victims — a man and a woman — suffering from gunshot wounds.Firefighters removed both individuals from the residence and took them to an area hospital where they later died from their wounds.It is not clear who fired a gun, or how many people may have at this time. Sheriff: 2 inmates charged after being found with drug-soaked papers Police said they are investigating the incident as isolated and something domestic in nature, but they are also still very early in the investigative process."It’s too early to tell," Passarelli said. "It does not appear to be accidental at this time, but again, we’re very early in trying to gather the information and facts as to...

A tunnel, a rail, a bus route extension: Group wants better public transit to airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- "We just need to be better connecting our transit systems to the airport. Full stop," said Patrick Rose, secretary for Austin's Airport Advisory Commission.On Wednesday, commissioners unanimously passed a recommendation to enhance public transit access to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).Earlier this month, the City of Austin, CapMetro and Austin Transit Partnership formally adopted a Phase 1 light rail service route for Project Connect, the city's mass transit program in the works. It’s official: Austin adopts Phase 1 of Project Connect light rail plan Under that design, the guaranteed route would run from 38th Street to Oltorf Street to Yellow Jacket Lane. While the promised route doesn't go directly to AUS, the now-approved recommendation does prioritize extending it from Yellow Jacket Lane to the airport, should there be sufficient funding available.Austin city and transit leaders approved the 38th Street to Oltorf Street to Yellow Jacket Lane ...

Gov. Greg Abbott threatens string of vetoes if lawmakers can’t agree on property tax cuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:11:20 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- Gov. Greg Abbott is raising the prospect of vetoing large numbers of bills passed by the Legislature as he demands a House-Senate compromise on property tax relief, further raising public tensions with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.Sunday is the deadline for Abbott to sign or veto bills from the regular session, which ended late last month without a resolution on property taxes. Lawmakers are about halfway through a 30-day special session in which they remain gridlocked on the issue.Abbott has recently held back on signing legislation — Senate bills in particular — and on Tuesday, he vetoed Senate Bill 2035. And on Wednesday evening, Abbott vetoed two more bills, one from each chamber, saying lawmakers could revisit them after they tackle property taxes.“As we get closer and closer to this Sunday, all of these bills that have yet to be signed face the possibility — if not the probability — that they’re going to be vetoed,” Abbott told reporters Wednesday afterno...