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Hamas frees 24 hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire deal.The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar.The agreement opened the way for sorely needed aid to flow into Gaza for beleaguered residents. It was also a moment of hope for families in Israel and elsewhere worried about loved ones taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the war.With the truce’s start Friday morning, Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians saw quiet for the first time after seven weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment, which has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and flattened vast swaths of residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.The freed Israeli hostages included eigh...

Amsterdam pizzeria reopens in new location

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Slice of Amsterdam has opened for business at 189 Market Street in Amsterdam. Formerly known as Southside Slice, the pizzeria relocated from 68 Bridge Street. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! After two years in the building on Bridge Street, owners Brent and Corey Yager decided that they wanted to move closer to the center of the city and make their pizzeria more accessible to those who don’t drive. The pizza place closed on September 23 for the move.“When we were on the south side, we pushed for live music and pizza but sometimes it got so busy it just didn’t make sense,” said Brent Yager. The Bread Butler opens relocated shop in Colonie Center The Yagers also own Drifter’s and What-A-Bargain in Amsterdam. They are looking to open up a live music venue in a different space, as well.The Slice menu features wings, calzones, subs, and of course, pizza. You can view the full menu on the Slice of Amster...

Mines football opens Division II playoffs eyeing another run to the national championship game: “We have an extra chip on our shoulder”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

GOLDEN — New coach, same standard.The ultimate goal hasn’t changed for Colorado School of Mines football: national championship or bust.Under Pete Sterbick, the Orediggers’ third head coach in three years following Gregg Brandon retiring and Brandon Moore taking the head job at San Diego, Mines is undefeated and back as a favorite in the NCAA Division II playoffs after falling in the title game a season ago.“The culture’s the same and I think it’s gotten even better,” Sterbick said. “The difference is our experience factor has gotten that much better after a five-game playoff run last year. Our mentality on what we want to accomplish is the same as far as the end goal.“But we have an extra chip on our shoulder with how things ended last year, and we feel like all the time that we have to re-prove ourselves to people. People forget about us, so we’re fired up.”Mines’ Cinderella carriage turned into a pumpkin in t...

Broncos scouting report: How Denver matches up against Browns and predictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

Browns (7-3) at Broncos (5-5)When: 2:05 p.m. MT, SundayWhere: Empower Field at Mile High StadiumRadio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/FOXBroncos-Browns series: The Broncos are 21-7 in 28 regular-season games dating back to 1970; they lost 17-14 in the last meeting, on Oct. 21, 2021, in Cleveland, and have lost two of the last three matchups to the Browns.In the spotlightThe Broncos are in the playoff hunt — barely.Denver has a 19% chance of making the postseason, according to the New York Times. Still, it’s impressive that the Broncos are in the mix despite starting the season at 1-5.The Broncos’ four-game win streak has their confidence at an all-time high, said safety Justin Simmons. For Denver to sustain this euphoric feeling while moving up in the standings, the next two games are pivotal. The Broncos need to handle business against the Browns and the Houston Texans — a pair of AFC teams also jockeying for position down the stretch.The Browns are the fifth seed, while the Texans — led...

Canada removes sanctions on businessman Oleg Boyko

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

In a significant development, Canada has officially lifted sanctions against international businessman Oleg Boyko, who was previously included in the list of individuals facing sanctions in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The decision came following recommendations from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, leading to amendments to the list of sanctioned individuals.The move to lift sanctions came after Oleg Boyko, in August 2023, took legal action by filing claims against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Federal Court of Canada. Citing a lack of response from Canadian authorities, Boyko sought justice through the legal system. Subsequently, the court initiated administrative proceedings, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the designated authority for sanction-related matters, reviewed the case.On November 10, the Minister of Foreign Affairs informed Oleg Boyko through a formal letter that the appeal had been considered and decided in favor of lifting the ...

Panera Bread, Baskin Robbins and more offering Black Friday deals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

Black Friday deals don’t only apply to retail merchandise; many restaurants offering steep discounts on food items.  Here is a list of some restaurants offering food deals for one of the year's biggest shopping days.1-800-Baskets.comCustomers can save $50 when they spend $150 or more on the website. Almond CowCustomers can get a Milk Maker for half the price until Nov. 27. The machine makes plant-based milk in under a minute, according to its website. Customers who already have the machine can also save $50 when they spend $200 or more.Baskin RobbinsIce cream lovers can receive 20% off Baskin Robbins orders when they make an in-app and online order. To receive the deal, code HOLLY must be applied at checkout.Dunkin’While it’s not exclusive to Black Friday, customers can get a $1 medium coffee. The deal is also valid on Cyber Monday. Customers can also get a free doughnut on Wednesdays throughout December.Honey Baked HamCustomers can receive a $10 standard shipping fee discount when ...

Netherlands’ longtime ruling party rules out deal with Wilders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

By Mike Corder | Associated PressTHE HAGUE, Netherlands — A senator from the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom was appointed Friday to investigate possible governing coalitions after the far-right party’s election victory, while the party of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it would support a center-right administration in parliament but not join the next government.The Party for Freedom, or PVV, led by veteran anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, won 37 seats in the 150-seat lower house, indicating a seismic shift to the right for the Netherlands. Rutte’s People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy won 24 seats, 10 fewer than in the previous election, according to a near complete count of Wednesday’s votes.After a meeting of party leaders at the parliament, PVV Senator Gom van Strien was appointed to investigate possible coalitions. Newly elected lawmakers will debate his findings on Dec. 6.Van Strien said that he would begin meetings with party leaders...

‘You took my best friend away from me’: Oakland woman gets 11 years for fatal shooting during early morning fight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

OAKLAND — A woman who allegedly stated, “I’m not going to hurt you, I’m going to kill you,” before fatally shooting her victim during an early morning argument has been sentenced to 11 years in state prison through a plea deal, court records show.Renee Colvin, 33, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for the 11-year sentence, whereby prosecutors dropped a murder charge against her. Colvin shot and killed 33-year-old Slai’On Carter with Carter’s own pistol during a heated argument that occurred around 4 a.m. on Dec. 3, 2021.Before Colvin was sentenced, she heard a victim impact statement read aloud by a prosecutor, which had been submitted by Carter’s brother, Deangelo Williams.“You my best friend away from me. I hope you never have to feel the pain of losing a sibling or a child like you caused my mother,” Williams said, adding that he wished Colvin “had got life.”Carter, a transgender woman whose ...

San Jose Sharks update: One defenseman is injured, and another waits to play

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks defenseman Jan Rutta is considered week-to-week with an upper-body he suffered against the Seattle Kraken, coach David Quinn said Friday before his team played the Montreal Canadiens at SAP Center.Rutta didn’t play the final two periods of Wednesday’s game against the Kraken as the Sharks were blasted 7-1 at Climate Pledge Arena. As of Friday morning, though, Rutta, 33, had not been placed on injured reserve.Rutta had played in all 19 games for the Sharks so far this season, averaging 18:37 in ice time. The Sharks’ defense corps is already without Matt Benning, although he is close to returning from a lower-body injury.Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic has been a healthy scratch for the last three games. Asked what he wants to see from Vlasic if he plays Friday against his hometown team, Quinn seemed to intimate that the defenseman will be watching the game instead.“He and I have talked about what needs to take place,” Quinn said. “He&...

Gilroy Fire Department faces staffing shortage, but quick solutions are scarce

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:52:04 GMT

For years, Gilroy has experienced a chronic firefighter staffing shortage – leading to slower response times that many say is a risk to their safety and homes.Now, residents and firefighters have had enough, and are urging the city to address the problem — an issue city officials readily acknowledge while pointing to funding shortages that they say make it difficult to resolve.“Right now we’re gambling with the lives of our residents, with our firefighters, with their health, with their safety, with that of their property,” said Gilroy Councilmember Rebeca Armendariz at a City Council meeting this week where residents and local firefighters rallied to draw attention to the shortage. “What are we going to do in the immediate?”The city currently has three fully-staffed fire stations. In 2020, they established a fourth temporary station housed in a building formerly used for children’s nature classes and located in the Santa Teresa area due to increased growth in that part ...