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As Pacific Northwest fentanyl crisis surges, officials grapple with how to curb it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The fight against fentanyl is increasingly being waged in schools, jails and on city streets in the Pacific Northwest, where state officials in Oregon and Washington have named it a top issue as overdose deaths rise.Washington’s Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee plans to ask lawmakers for $50 million more to treat and prevent opioid use. In Oregon, Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek has proposed declaring a fentanyl emergency in Portland, and lawmakers have created a committee on addiction to get a jump on the issue before the Legislature reconvenes in February.“We know how serious this problem is. Fentanyl is deadly,” Inslee said. “But there is a positive note — we can be successful if we put our minds to this. Treatment works. We can help people recover.”A surge in fentanyl deaths, including among children, has marked the latest iteration of the years-long opioid crisis. The most recent provisional figures from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention es...

Oprah Winfrey portrait – featuring the color purple – unveiled at National Portrait Gallery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — It seemed only fitting that Oprah Winfrey chose to wear a flowing, full-length purple dress for her portrait unveiled Wednesday at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. She told the assembled crowd that she wore purple not because a musical remake of the movie that launched her career is coming out later this month: “I chose to wear the color purple because for me, that color has been seminal in my life.”As she pulled a curtain and saw the portrait by Chicago artist Shawn Michael Warren for the first time, Winfrey exclaimed: “Spectacular. Great job.” The painting shows Winfrey against the backdrop of a prayer garden at her home in California. She is holding a sprig from an olive tree.Warren said he had asked Winfrey to consider how she wanted to be depicted for the generations to come.“You could have chosen anyone, but you saw fit that an artist from the place you called home during your rise to prominence should be given this honor,” he said.Win...

‘Heart filled with joy’: Toronto retiree wins $5M in OLG Lotto 6/49

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

Sometimes dreams do come true. A retired man from Toronto is $5 million richer after he won the OLG Lotto 6/49 classic jackpot on Nov. 29, 2023. Rafael Mesa Valdes, who retired from the construction sector, told the OLG he has been a regular lottery player for the past 30 years and said his favourite game is Lotto 6/49.“I went to the store and asked the clerk for a printout of the winning numbers. As I was matching the numbers, the last number was covered by my thumb. When I noticed it matched, I was shocked,” Valdes said. “I went to the ticket checker to double-check and saw all the zeroes. I was so happy. I had hoped this day would come.” Related: GTA woman waited 30 minutes before telling mom she won $60M in OLG Lotto Max The Toronto man said he went home a winner, ready to have a memorable dinner with his wife. Now, he and his family have big plans.“She didn’t believe me at first. She thought I was joking,” Valdes admitt...

Somalia secures $4.5 billion debt relief deal with international creditors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Somalia on Wednesday secured a $4.5 billion debt relief deal from its international creditors, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank said, which will allow the nation to develop economically and take on new projects. The deal comes as part of a debt forgiveness program —called the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative— overseen by both organizations. As a result of its participation in the program, Somalia’s external debt will fall from 64 percent of GDP in 2018 to less than 6 percent of GDP by the end of 2023, the IMF and World Bank say in a joint news release. Somalia’s national debt currently exceeds $5 billion, according to official figures.“Somalia’s debt relief process has been nearly a decade of cross governmental efforts spanning three political administrations. This is a testament to our national commitment and prioritization of this crucial and enabling agenda,” said Somalia’s President, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a statement.U.S. Treasur...

B.C. police seek Interpol notice for return of cocaine smuggler who escaped to India

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

SURREY, B.C. — Police in British Columbia are asking Interpol to post a red notice for the arrest and return of a Surrey man who escaped to India after being convicted of smuggling cocaine into Canada from the United States.RCMP say 60-year-old truck driver Raj Kumar Mehmi was sentenced in absentia by a B.C. provincial court judge to 15 years in prison in November after his arrest in 2017 for smuggling 80 kilograms of cocaine.A red notice asks member countries to help locate, arrest and extradite a person to face criminal charges, and India is a member of Interpol. Police say the 80 sealed bricks of cocaine were hidden inside a truck owned and driven by Mehmi while he was at the Pacific Highway border crossing into Metro Vancouver.Mehmi was convicted of smuggling and trafficking in September 2022, but police say he boarded a flight from Vancouver to New Delhi a month later before he could be sentenced. Police say a Canada-wide warrant for Mehmi has also been issued, and they are see...

WATCH: Fed Chair Jerome Powell discusses latest data, key interest rate projections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Will the Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate sometime next year — and, if so, by how much?Wall Street investors have been obsessed with such questions since a top Fed official hinted last month that rate cuts were at least possible as early as March.The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday for a third straight time, a sign that it is likely done raising rates after having imposed the fastest string of increases in four decades to fight painfully high inflation.The Fed’s policymakers also signaled that they expect to make three quarter-point cuts to their benchmark interest rate next year, fewer than the five envisioned by financial markets and some economists. The relatively few number of rate cuts forecast for 2024 — which may not begin until the second half of the year — suggest that the officials think high borrowing rates will still be needed for most of next year to further slow spending and inflation.Still, in a statement it is...

House moves closer to Biden impeachment vote

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - The Republican-controlled House is poised to pass an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden tonight.Lawmakers wrapped up their floor debate on whether to launch the investigation, and even with their slim majority, Republicans promise it'll pass.The credibility of the House's impeachment probe into President Joe Biden depends on who you ask, but Republicans argue an inquiry is necessary to get to the bottom of everything."Our investigation has revealed how Joe Biden knew of, participated in and benefited from his family cashing in on the Biden name around the world," said Rep. James Comer (R-Ky).Comer was hoping President Biden's son, Hunter, would be a key witness to support Comer's claims that while vice president, he used his political power for personal gain.But on Wednesday, Hunter Biden, defied a congressional subpoena and made a rare public statement."There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my bus...

Marine killed, several injured in training incident at California military base

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) — A U.S. Marine was killed in a tactical vehicle rollover during a training exercise at Camp Pendleton in California on Tuesday, base officials confirmed to Nexstar's KSWB.The incident occurred around 6 p.m. as an amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) was making a ground movement during training, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. What caused the vehicle to overturn remains under investigation at this time.Officials said 14 other Marines were in the vehicle when it rolled over. They were transported to nearby hospitals and Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton for evaluation and treatment. California man shoots bear after it charges, bites him in his yard The current conditions of the other Marines or severity of their injuries are not yet known.The identity of the Marine is being withheld by Camp Pendleton officials pending notification of next of kin. The Marine was described as a member of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.No additional details about the incident were imm...

What’s happened in the 3 years since Jason Landry’s disappearance?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) provided an update Wednesday on its investigation into the Dec. 2020 disappearance of Texas State University student Jason Landry.The office said it had an unwavering commitment to the investigation and was pursuing all credible information it has received. RELATED: Reward doubled to $20,000 to find missing Texas State student Jason Landry Landry was last seen Dec. 13, 2020, and his abandoned vehicle was found the following day on a rural road just outside of Luling, Texas. OAG said its Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit has dedicated hundreds of hours of investigative resources to the case, including forensic testing, issuing search warrants, interviewing witnesses, and enlisting the assistance of experts.The office said in November, its Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit held a case review. RELATED: Volunteers for Jason Landr...

Metro Transit targets fare evasion with non-criminal fines on light rail trains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:00 GMT

With a citation book in hand, Metro Transit Community Service Officers Vy Vang and Chi Vang boarded a westbound light rail train at the downtown Union Depot station on a mission to discourage — but not detain — fare evaders. Mostly, they wanted to be seen and heard.“Metro Transit Police,” announced Chi Vang, in a commanding voice, as at least two passengers on Tuesday morning hot-footed themselves off the Green Line train car. “Please have your fare out. We’ll be checking tickets.”What followed was part enforcement action, part delicate dance, with compliant passengers offered a chance to dismount at the next transit station rather than take home a $35 non-criminal citation. Sleeping passengers were roused, in part for their own safety to ensure they hadn’t overdosed, explained the two student officers, who are not related.Those cited were informed of ways they could get the tickets waived or reduced, such as by adding cash to a fare c...