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Australians are voting on creating an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Here’s what you need to know

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australians will vote on Oct. 14 in a referendum that would enshrine in the nation’s constitution a mechanism for Indigenous people to advise Parliament on policies that effect their lives known as the Voice.Proponents say embedding the Voice in the constitution would recognize the special place that Indigenous people have in Australian history while giving them input in government policies.Opponents argue it would be the biggest change to Australia’s democracy in the nation’s history and divide Australians along racial lines without reducing Indigenous disadvantage.As Australia’s first referendum in a generation approaches, the bipartisan support regarded as essential to successfully changing the constitution has not emerged and Indigenous leaders remain divided.Here are some questions and answers about key issues behind the referendum:WHO ARE INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS? Australia is unusual among former British colonies in that no treaty was ever signed with...

2 teenage boys charged after NW Side armed robberies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Two teenage boys — one 15 and another 16 — were charged Tuesday evening with armed robbery after police said they connected them to a pair of Northwest Side robberies that happened Monday.According to the Chicago Police Department, both juveniles have been charged with three felonies; two counts of armed robbery with a firearm, and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon/vehicle under the age of 21.Police said the two were arrested around 9:40 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of North Western Avenue after they were identified as two of the offenders who, less than 30 minutes earlier, took property at gunpoint from a 36-year-old woman in the 1600 block of North Rockwell Street. The two teenage boys are also charged in connection to an armed robbery of a 51-year-old woman that happened minutes later in the 2000 block of North Mozart Street. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 3 arrested after armed robbery, crash on Northwest Side: police The charges come after three suspects were arr...

11 p.m. update: Hurricane Idalia expected to make landfall as Category 4

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- Idalia is now expected to make landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.As of the 11 p.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said Idalia is moving north at around 18 mph. The storm's wind speeds have increased to 110 mph. Real-time wobble tracker monitoring Hurricane Idalia’s shifts in Gulf of Mexico The storm is currently located 125 miles west of Tampa, according to the National Hurricane Center. Storm surge remains the biggest threat with Idalia, with some areas north of Tampa Bay expected to see 8 to 15 feet of storm surge, with 4 to 6 feet in the Tampa Bay area and 3 to 5 feet south of Tampa Bay.The storm surge threat is increased thanks to higher-than-normal high tides due to Wednesday's Super Moon. Do I need to evacuate? Orders issued for several counties ahead of Idalia A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:Englewood north...

Who is behind Flannery Associates, the mystery California land buyers?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

(NewsNation) — After five years of investigating who is behind Flannery Associates, the big secret has been revealed. Flannery Associates is comprised of a group of ultra-wealthy Silicon Valley investors acquiring vast parcels of land northeast of San Francisco with the mission to build a new California city “from scratch.”The group has invested more than $800 million on almost 54,000 acres of agriculture-zoned land surrounding the Travis Air Force base in Solano County, California, since 2018, public records revealed. Airfare is finally cheaper, but you may want to book soon Despite early speculation that China was behind the purchases, and as companies with ties to China have been ramping up efforts to buy American farmland, legal representation for Flannery has maintained the group is controlled by U.S. citizens, with 97% of its capital coming from U.S.-based investors.Among some of the group's investors are LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, prominent Silicon Valley investor M...

Monster Jam trucks damaged in California highway fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

(KTXL) — Two of the beloved monster trucks featured in the Monster Jam motorsports event were damaged Tuesday morning when the semi-trailer they were being transported in became engulfed in flames. The tractor-trailer caught fire on Highway 50 in Sacramento around 8:30 a.m., according to the Sacramento Fire Department. A Sacramento driver spotted the fire from an overpass, capturing video, seen in the player above, of flames rising from the trailer as the truck traveled down the highway. Black smoke billowed from the trailer, casting the traffic behind the truck in a dark shadow. Dairy Queen celebrating fall with 85-cent Blizzards Fire officials said the driver was able to release the tractor from the trailer before it could be involved in the fire.Unfortunately, the trailer and its cargo weren't entirely saved from the fire. Two monster trucks — Megalodon and Scooby-Doo — were damaged. Both trucks appear during Monster Jam events held throughout the U.S. and worldwide.Megalodon i...

APD searching for criminal trespassing suspect who entered north Austin home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect allegedly involved in a north Austin criminal trespassing case.APD said the man allegedly entered a north Austin couple's home in the 4400 block of Whispering Valley Drive Saturday morning. That's located just north of Duval Road and west of MoPac Expressway.Police said the couple saw the man standing in their bedroom when they woke up, and he ran away shortly after.Anyone who recognizes him may submit a tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program online or by calling 512-472-8477.

Twins’ offense stuck in first gear in loss to Cleveland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

The Twins’ offense, so potent over the past week, never woke up in a 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday in front of an announced crowd of 23,433 at Target Field.After averaging 7.2 runs a game in its previous six games, and going 4-2 in the process, the Twins got virtually nothing going against a handful of Cleveland pitchers, their only runs coming on solo home runs by Royce Lewis in the fourth and Michael A. Taylor in the ninth.That pulled the Twins to within 3-1, but it was as close as they’d get against their closest rival in the American League Central.The Guardians opened a 1-0 lead on Bo Naylor’s second-inning, solo home run off Twins starter Pablo Lopez, went up 2-0 when Jose Ramirez singled and scored on a wild pitch, and 3-0 after No. 9 hitter Gabriel Arias drew a one-out walk in the fourth and scored on Kole Calhoun’s weak groundout to first.Lewis then opened the Twins’ half of the inning with his ninth home run, hitting a 93.5 mph fastball from reliever Hunte...

4-year-old boy dies after being pulled from Fridley pond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

A 4-year-old boy died Tuesday after being found unresponsive in a pond in Fridley, authorities said.Fridley police around 1:30 p.m. were sent to a report of a child who had left a home and was missing near the 1600 block of Rice Creek Road Northeast, the Anoka County sheriff’s office said.Shortly after arriving, officers located the unresponsive boy in a nearby pond. Fridley firefighters and Allina paramedics arrived at the scene and administered lifesaving measures. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.The incident is under investigation by Fridley police, the sheriff’s office and Hennepin County medical examiner’s office.On Monday, a boy was hospitalized after being found face-down in a stormwater retention pond in the 4200 block of Radio Drive in  Woodbury. The boy’s condition wasn’t immediately clear, and there was no further update Tuesday.Related ArticlesLocal News | Wrongful-death lawsuit alleges Ramsey County Jail ...

Lead found in more water samples in Troy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- More homes have tested positive for lead in the water in the city of Troy. City officials said 60 more homes and buildings were tested for lead. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! In some of the samples, an elevated level of lead was found in the water. They said the city's source of water is free from lead, and it may be from lead water service lines or interior lead plumbing.The city is continuing to try to remove all lead service lines and interior plumbing to help keep residents safe.

Jennings mayor sues majority of his city council

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:53 GMT

JENNINGS, Mo. – The mayor of Jennings is suing five members of his city council.Mayor Gary Johnson filed the lawsuit Tuesday, a day after the members protested a regularly scheduled meeting because they claimed multiple meeting agendas were being circulated, and it would be improper to attend.In the lawsuit filed with the 21st Judicial Circuit, Johnson claims council members Terri Wilson, Allan Stichnote, Nadia Quinn, Jane Brown, and Jeannine Roberts held an improper emergency city council meeting on Aug. 18 because there was no clerk available for the meeting.“The City Clerk, whose resignation became effective at 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 2023, unilaterally decided to remain on premises without authority or permission and discharge the duties of the City Clerk for the August 18, 2023, meeting,” the lawsuit reads.The emergency city council meeting was called in an attempt to reverse personnel decisions that were made during an Aug. 9 meeting.The lawsuit has asked the 21st Judicial Cir...