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California, Arizona, Nevada offer landmark drought deal to use less Colorado River water – for now

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Arizona, California and Nevada on Monday proposed a plan to significantly reduce their water use from the drought-stricken Colorado River over the next three years, a potential breakthrough in a year-long stalemate that pitted Western states against one another.The plan would conserve an additional 3 million acre-feet of water through 2026, when current guidelines for how the river is shared expire. About half the cuts would come by the end of 2024. That’s less than what federal officials said last year would be needed to stave off crisis in the river but still marks a notable step in long and difficult negotiations between the three states.The 1,450-mile (2,334-kilometer) river provides water to 40 million people in seven U.S. states, parts of Mexico and more than two dozen Native American tribes. It produces hydropower and supplies water to farms that grow most of the nation’s winter vegetables. In exchange for temporarily using less water, cities, irr...

MUST-WATCH: Another film from the fast and furious family

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

All types of families are heading to the cinema to check out the latest Fast and Furious film! But will it speed its way to the top of the MUST-WATCH? Or could it go to a remake of a ’90s classic? Perhaps an adaptation of a beloved graphic novel starring the two leads of last year’s Best Picture winner at the Oscars?Prehistoric Planet (Season 2)Where to watch: Apple TV+First up, a trip back in time!Prehistoric Planet is a nature documentary, but one that doesn’t the show the world as it is. It instead shows the world during the time of the dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous period, around 66 million years ago. This show, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, depicts the average life of many creatures including Triceratops, Velociraptors, and Morrosaurus.You can watch the second season on Apple TV+ now!Master GardenerWhere to watch: CinemasNext up, an intense drama!Joel Edgerton and Sigourney Weaver in Master Gardener, courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.Master Gardener is th...

Atlantic City 1Q casino earnings down nearly 15% from year ago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Atlantic City’s nine casinos collectively saw their gross operating profit decline by nearly 15% in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period a year earlier.Figures released Monday by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show the casinos collectively posted an operating profit of $135.4 million in the first three months of 2023, down from the more than $159 million in profits they saw in the first quarter of 2022.James Plousis, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, said the casinos are dealing with higher costs this year, including significantly higher wages they agreed to pay workers including housekeepers, bartenders, beverage servers and porters under a landmark contract reached last summer.Gross operating profit reflects earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and other charges, and is a widely accepted measure of profitability in the Atlantic City casino industry.“Compared to the first qua...

Ukraine’s ambassador welcomes F-16 pledges; urges patience on counteroffensive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

NEWTON, Mass. (AP) — Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova welcomed pledges of F-16 fighter jets to her country Monday while also urging patience for the launching of a spring counteroffensive against Russia’s full-scale invasion. For Ukrainians, she said, the effort to repel Russian has essentially been one long counterattack.“I wouldn’t label it. Whether it’s going to be one offensive or several. Whether it going to be just the hard, daily work on every front line or we will see some big results in any of them, it doesn’t really matter,” Markarova said. “What matters is the goal is to liberate all Ukraine.”Markarova, speaking after delivering a commencement address at Boston College, said the delivery of F-16 jets is critical to the short and long-term security of the country.The U.S. has agreed to help train pilots in Ukraine to fly F-16s, but it has provided few details and said decisions on when, how many, and who will supply the F-16s will be made in the mont...

Irish actor Ray Stevenson, of ‘Rome’ and ‘Thor’ movies, dies at 58

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

Ray Stevenson, the Irish actor who played the villainous British governor in “RRR,” an Asgardian warrior in the ‘Thor’ films, and a member of the 13th Legion in HBO’s “Rome,” has died. He was 58.Representatives for Stevenson told The Associated Press that he died Sunday but had no other details to share on Monday.Stevenson was born in Lisburn in 1964. After attending the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and years of working in British television, he made his film debut in Paul Greengrass’s 1998 film “The Theory of Flight.” In 2004, he appeared in Antoine Fuqua’s “King Arthur” as a knight of the round table and several years later played the lead in the pre-Disney Marvel adaptation “Punisher: War Zone.”Though “Punisher” was not the best-reviewed film, he’d get another taste of Marvel in the first three “Thor” films, in which he played Volstagg. Other prominent film roles included the “Divergent” trilogy, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” and “The Transporter: Refueled.”A loomin...

Indiana Court of Appeals upholds murder convictions in 1998 Hammond triple slaying

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — The Indiana Court of Appeals on Friday upheld the murder convictions of a man in the killings of a woman and two teens who were bludgeoned to death in 1998 in a house in northwest Indiana.In a 3-0 ruling, the appeals panelk rejected several arguments offered by James Higgason III, 53, of Whiting, including a long delay in bringing him to trial and the use of a digital copy of a phone call linking him to the killings, instead of the original cassette recording.Higgason was sentenced to 180 years in prison. Man gets 2 life sentences in Gary bank robbery where retired Cook County deputy was killed Prosecutors alleged Higgason and David Copley, 47, beat Elva Tamez, 36, Jerod Hodge, 18, of Chicago; and Timothy Ross, 16, of Calumet City, Illinois, to death on Jan. 18, 1998, at the woman’s Hammond home with pieces of wood or metal pipes, according to court records. They were trying to get drugs and cash, prosecutors said.The victims' skulls we...

Housekeeper accused of assaulting 88-year-old with dementia for 'personal sexual gratification'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — An employee of an assisted living facility in Arlington Heights is accused of sexually assaulting a patient with dementia.Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Arlington Heights police officers responded to Lutheran Life Communities for a report of a sexual assault upon learning that an employee witnessed a staff member engaged in a sexual act with an 88-year-old patient.According to police, a certified nursing assistant overheard the victim shouting for help. The CNA entered a nearby patient's room and allegedly observed a man, later identidied as 67-year-old Felipe De-Gyves, "engaged in a sexual act with the victim as she laid in her bed," police said.Felipe De-Gyves Former DuPage County corrections officer accused of having sex with inmate The CNA shouted at De-Gyves, who in turn, asked that CNA not report the incident.De-Gyves fled the facility when police were called. Officers responded to De-Gyves' home a short time later and he was placed under arrest.Prosecutor...

Closest national parks to Chicago: All 63 ranked in order of distance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

(STACKER) — President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 signed the act creating the National Park Service to leave natural and historic phenomenons "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Since then, our national parks have welcomed visitors from around the world to experience some of the best the country has to offer and showcase the country's natural beauty and cultural heritage. Today, the country's 63 national parks contain at least 247 species of endangered or threatened plants and animals, more than 75,000 archaeological sites, and 18,000 miles of trails. VIDEO: Fireball turns night into day in Australia Stacker compiled a list of the closest national parks to Chicago. National parks are ranked by closest straight line distance, measured from representative points in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area and each national park. Estimated driving times are from Here and are only available within the lower 48 states. All featured distances and driving times are esti...

LIVE: Austin police warn of 'growing trend' in auto thefts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police said there's a "growing trend" of criminals stealing vehicles throughout the community, so they're striving to share ways to avoid that from happening. The Austin Police Department will hold a news conference Monday afternoon to draw attention to this problem and demonstrate how people can best protect their property. KXAN will carry a live stream of the officers' remarks starting at 3 p.m. in this story and on the station's Facebook page. This is a developing story, so KXAN will update it once more information is shared Monday afternoon.

Niall Horan, formerly of One Direction and currently a coach on ‘The Voice,’ to play X in July 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:30:38 GMT

Grown up boy bander Niall Horan will hit the road next year for a world tour that brings him to St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center on July 7.Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. June 2 through Ticketmaster, some 13 months before the show. Citi cardholders have access to a presale that starts at 10 a.m. May 30. Neither the venue nor the promoter announced ticket prices.The Irish vocalist rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction and co-wrote many of the group’s songs, including the singles “Story of My Life” and “Night Changes.” After 1D went on an extended hiatus in 2015, Horan released his debut solo single, “This Town,” an acoustic pop song that earned comparisons to Ed Sheeran and Vance Joy. It went platinum and peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.In 2017, Horan released his solo debut album, “Flicker,” which was inspired by such classic rock acts as the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. It also featured his biggest hit to date in “Slow Hands,” which made it to No. 11....