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China accuses US of interfering in training exercise before aerial confrontation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Defense Ministry accused the U.S. of “interference and surveillance” of a naval exercise in the South China Sea ahead of an incident in which a Chinese fighter pilot flew at high speed in front of a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane, underscoring the rupture in contacts between their militaries. A statement issued late Wednesday by the Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command said it had “organized air forces to track and monitor the whole process, dealt with it according to laws and regulations, and operated professionally.” The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the pilot of a Chinese J-16 fighter had “performed an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” while intercepting a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft on May 26, flying directly in front of the plane’s nose. “The RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law,” the U.S. side said. “We expect all countries in the ...

Pistons reach agreement to hire former Suns coach Monty Williams, AP sources say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons made a bold move in their latest attempt to become relevant in the NBA again.Detroit reached an agreement to hire former Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams, according to two people familiar with the situation.One of the people, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced, told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that Williams agreed to a six-year contract.Phoenix fired Williams two-plus weeks ago, two years after reaching the NBA Finals and a year after he won the league’s coach of the year honors.The 51-year-old Williams won 63% of his games over four regular seasons with the Suns, but they were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals two years in a row after losing to Milwaukee in the 2021 NBA Finals.The Pistons would be thrilled to approach that level of success anytime soon under Williams.Detroit won an NBA-low 17 games last season, losing 30% or fewer games for the fourth straight season und...

Coast Guard suspends search for man who fell from cruise ship off Florida coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA/WAVY) — The Coast Guard suspended the search for a man who fell from a cruise ship off Florida's coast.Officials said 35-year-old Ronnie Peale Jr. fell off the Carnival Magic ship on Monday. Security footage on the ship shows Peale “leaned over the railing of his stateroom balcony and dropped into the water” around 4 a.m., according to a Coast Guard statement.The Coast Guard said it searched more than 5,171 square miles and 60 hours. Man who fell overboard Carnival Magic has ‘zest for life’ “The decision to suspend the active search efforts pending further development is never one we take lightly. We offer our most sincere condolences to Mr. Peale’s family and friends,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Hooper, Coast Guard District Seven search and rescue mission coordinator. The cruise was returning to Norfolk, Virginia from the Bahamas when Peale fell overboard. He had been on the trip with his partner and her family. Monday morning, when Peale's mother hadn't heard f...

TEA refreshing 'A-F' accountability rating system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A system meant to raise the bar for how districts measure student readiness is also raising concerns, some districts say.In March, hundreds of school districts across the state sent a letter to the Texas Education Agency asking to delay the 'A-F' Accountability Rating system changes.Austin ISD was one of those districts, they also posted about their concerns on their website."I think the challenge will be for districts and the Texas Education Agency to help explain that this might not be a change in performance, actually students are doing as well as they did, but it is a resetting of the accountability system," said Carolyn Hanschen, executive director of accountability and assessment with AISD.TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said the changes to the system will help in a number of ways."As schools are improving, parents need to know then," said Morath. "If they are not and they are regressing then parents need to know that as well." SEARCH: How did your school or dis...

Driussi scores in return, Austin FC hangs on for dear life in 2-1 win over Minnesota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was a big return for the captain and a frantic final 10 minutes for Austin FC.Sebastian Driussi scored the game-winning goal in his first game in about a month and Brad Stuver stood on his head to save a barrage of Minnesota United shots late to preserve a 2-1 Verde victory Wednesday at Q2 Stadium.Austin FC midfielder Jhojan Valencia, center, heads the ball past Minnesota United midfielder Will Trapp (20) and defender Michael Boxall (15) during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Minnesota United midfielder Franco Fragapane, left, works the ball past Austin FC midfielder Sofiane Djeffal (22) during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Austin FC defender Nick Lima (24) and Minnesota United midfielder Joseph Rosales compete for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay...

Perspective on investigating suspects linked to multiple murders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Authorities across Texas are looking at their outstanding cold cases to see if there might be a connection to Raul Meza, who a city official called a serial killer this week after police arrested him for murder.Meza, 62, was identified and arrested and charged after confessing to the murder of his roommate Jesse Fraga, 80. in Pflugerville. Meza also implicated himself in the murder of Gloria Lofton, 66, in 2019, three years after Austin Police said he was released from Travis County Jail. TIMELINE: What we know of Raul Meza’s criminal history Texas Municipal Police Association Executive Director Kevin Lawrence isn't connected with this case, but he has experience investigating people charged in multiple homicides. "It's actually typically pretty overwhelming," he said. "Multiple crime scenes, multiple sets of witnesses, and you have to coordinate all that. You'll be working a murder case, then all of a sudden you'll start to get info about another incident, anothe...

Twins leave Houston with a series win over defending champs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

HOUSTON — No Byron Buxton. No Carlos Correa. No Royce Lewis. No problem, apparently.The Twins’ starting lineup was without some of its big names on Wednesday — Correa did appear in the game briefly for defense in the ninth inning — but a collection of others stepped in to help lead the Twins to an 8-2 win over the Astros in the series finale at Minute Maid Park.“When you see … the lineup (without) Correa, Buxton, (Christian) Vázquez, Lewis, those big name, it’s like, ‘Okay, we performed like that. We can help the team win,’” infielder Donovan Solano, who drove in four runs on Wednesday, said. ” … We can battle no matter what. We got the talent to compete, and I know when those guys come back, we get even more dangerous.”The Twins (29-27), who lost all six games against the Astros (32-23) last season, sealed the season series against the defending World Series champions, winning a pair of games at home against Houston in April before taking two of three on the...

DNR wants further Boundary Waters protections from mining, but says Legislature must weigh in, too

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

State regulators want any potential mining activity to be farther away from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness than currently allowed, but they are leaving more restrictive regulations up to the Minnesota Legislature to decide.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ 74-page decision released Wednesday came two and half years after it agreed to review whether its 1993 rules for nonferrous mining in the same watershed as the BWCAW were adequate.In a news release, the agency said the rules were “largely protective” of the wilderness but could be bolstered to better protect the BWCAW from light and sound pollution.The DNR started a rulemaking process to extend the Minerals Management Area, which bans mining activity that would disturb the surface along the outside edge of the BWCAW. The corridor is wider along the Gunflint Trail, Echo Trail and Fernberg Road. Mining is banned within the BWCAW.The DNR received more than 4,000 public comments on the adequac...

Two teens arrested at Madison Park in Albany

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two teenagers were taken into custody by police after incidents at Madison Park in the city of Albany. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Around 5 p.m. Wednesday, police said a 16-year-old approached an officer who was on his bicycle and engaged in an altercation with the officer. The teen was taken into custody by the officer as well as another cop who was at the park. Police said another 16-year-old approached the officers during the arrest and was also taken into custody.The officer on the bike was injured and taken to the hospital. Neither teen was injured and both have been charged.

House passes debt ceiling bill in big win for McCarthy: Five takeaways

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:23 GMT

The House’s passage of a debt limit deal Wednesday night marks the end of a pivotal chapter for the new House GOP majority, putting Congress on a path to avoid a default and securing a huge victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — even as it’s infuriated conservatives in his own conference.The vote followed months of jockeying between McCarthy and President Biden over the appropriateness of negotiating future spending as part of the effort to extend the government’s borrowing authority — a fight McCarthy won handily, by forcing Biden reluctantly to the table.But the final agreement also excluded most of the spending cuts and other favored provisions in the partisan debt ceiling package Republicans passed last month, highlighting the political realities — and potential pitfalls — of shepherding big ideas through a divided Washington.With a final vote of 314-117, the bill overwhelmingly passed, and McCarthy garnered a "yes" vote from about two-thirds of the Republican...