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Montana county to vote on removing election oversight duties from elected official

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

Commissioners in a Montana county are expected to vote Tuesday on whether to remove election oversight duties from a clerk and recorder who expressed doubts about the integrity of the election process when she ran for office last year.The Cascade County commission meeting was moved to the fairgrounds in Great Falls to accommodate the anticipated public participation. If the resolution passes, it would take effect immediately.Commissioner Joe Briggs proposed the resolution, noting that since Sandra Merchant was sworn in early this year, the county has received complaints about the way several local elections have been run. Lawsuits have been filed. The library board asked for court-appointed oversight for their mill levy election this summer.“It’s been everything from people not getting ballots that should have to people who got ballots that shouldn’t have in these various elections, so there seems to be some systemic problems,” Briggs said Monday.The issue needs to be settled ...

China’s homegrown C919 aircraft arrives in Hong Kong in maiden flight outside the mainland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A Chinese C919 jet arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday in the Chinese-made plane’s first foray outside of mainland China as its manufacturer prepares to take on Airbus and Boeing in the market for single-aisle commercial aircraft. The C919 and another Chinese-made aircraft, an ARJ21, will be on display at Hong Kong’s international airport until Sunday. The C919 is due to perform a fly-past over the city’s scenic Victoria Harbor on Saturday. The maker of the C919, the Commercial Aircraft Company of China, or COMAC, designed many of the C919’s parts, but some of its key components are still sourced from the West, including its engine.The narrow-bodied airliner was in development for 16 years and received certification in 2022. It has a maximum range of about 3,500 miles (5,630 kilometers) and is designed to carry 158-168 passengers.The Associated Press

Suicide bomber attacks police station in northwest Pakistan, killing 6 officers and wounding 25

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle at a police station’s main gate in northwest Pakistan early Tuesday, killing at least six officers and wounding 25 others, officials said. Part of the building collapsed upon impact, local police officer Kamal Khan said. Some militants also opened fire and a shootout ensued for hours between them and security forces before three attackers were gunned down, he said. Several officers were transferred to hospital in critical condition.The attack happened in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, Khan said. The province is a former stronghold of the militant Pakistani Taliban group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.The newly formed militant group Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, or TJP — believed to be an offshoot of the TTP — claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it targeted officers who were at the police station.A larger number...

One year after Qatargate, Ombudsman highlights remaining concerns about Parliament’s new ethics framework

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

Following a series of exchanges with the European Parliament on its post-Qatargate ethics reforms, European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly (pictured) acknowledges significant progress in strengthening the rules but concerns remain about their implementation and enforcement. A credible ethics framework requires adequate resources, rigorous implementation and strong enforcement but it is not yet clear that these elements are in place. The Ombudsman urges Parliament to put them in place as quickly as possible to reassure the European public ahead of next June's elections. As the self-regulation model remains largely intact, citizens need to be confident that it can work. The reform package includes some welcome improvements such as a more detailed definition of conflict of interest and the obligation on Members to publish all meetings organised with registered lobbyists and with diplomatic representatives from non-EU countries. Three issues remain of particular concern: Firstly, it is not cl...

South L.A. street food vendors robbed by knife-wielding man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

A knife-wielding suspect remains at large after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles.Surveillance video captured the hooded suspect walking up behind a street vendor worker and demanding all their cash.The incident happened on Dec. 8 as the workers at Tacos El Caguamo were set up on East 78th Street.The victim, Jose Segura Romero, becomes emotional when speaking about the ordeal, saying he was wondering whether he would be coming home to his family that night.“He came from behind me and forcefully applied pressure to my neck,” Jose told KTLA in Spanish.A knife-wielding suspect remains at large after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2023. (Tacos El Caguamo)The Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los Angeles. (KTLA)The suspect's getaway car leaves the scene after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2023. (Tacos El Caguamo)The victim, Jose Segura Romero, owner of the Tacos El Caguamo food stand. (KTLA)The Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los A...

Uber offers festive, holiday-themed party buses in L.A.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

As the holiday season approaches, Uber is giving its customers a chance to ride in style to this season’s parties, festivities, and gatherings. Beginning Monday through Sunday, Dec. 17, customers can book a Festive Fleet with Uber, a holiday-themed party charter bus filled with karaoke, festive lights, Christmas decor, and photo props to help stir up the holiday spirit. Perfect for holiday group gatherings on the go, the holiday-themed charter trips will be available in L.A., New York, Washington D.C., Miami, and Chicago. Riders who book a charter up until Sunday will receive 10% off with promo code “FESTIVE 10.” In addition to the holiday party buses, Uber is also offering several other special holiday offerings including the Gift Hub in the Uber Eats app to easily find and send gifts, Robot Reindeers that will be delivering food for the month of December, and free package returns using Uber Connect. 

Clippers hold off short-handed Trail Blazers 132-127 for 4th straight win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 132-127 on Monday night for their fourth straight win.James Harden added 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Paul George had 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Ivica Zubac had 18 as the Clippers improved to 9-3 in their last 12 games since ending a season-worst six-game skid.Leonard has scored 75 points in his last two games. “The biggest thing is health and finally getting his rhythm with PG and James starting,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. Portland was without Deandre Ayton, who missed his third straight game, and Malcolm Brogdon, who sat out his second in a row. Both have right knee soreness.Anfernee Simons scored a career-high 38 points and Shaedon Sharpe added 27 for the Blazers, who fell to 0-8 against the West on the road. “I knew it was going to be a tough game for us,” Lue said. “Defensively, we couldn’t get stops. They s...

Kings set franchise record for 3s with 25 and beat Nets 131-118

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — DeAaron Fox had 28 points and nine assists, and the Sacramento Kings set a franchise record for 3-pointers with 25 in a 131-118 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.Domantas Sabonis added 15 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists for the Kings, who have won three straight against the Nets including a season sweep last year. Keegan Murray scored 24 and Malik Monk had 21 points and nine assists.It was the second time this season the Kings had three players with seven assists or more. They set a team season high with 38 assists overall.“We’re a team that can shoot the basketball, and it was evident tonight,” coach Mike Brown said. “To see us get corner 3s and be able to knock them down was very gratifying because these guys can flat-out shoot and they’re going to share the basketball.”Sacramento shot 25 of 45 from 3-point range (55.6%), breaking the previous Kings record of 23. Fox and Trey Lyles led the sharp shooting from beyond the arc with five 3s ...

Packers had everything going for them until they ran into Tommy DeVito

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers had seemingly righted their early-season problems with a three-game winning streak that put them squarely in playoff position.They had an easy schedule over the final five games, and winning out seemed a possibility.Tommy DeVito and the New York Giants spoiled all that Monday night by rallying for a 24-22 victory that left the Packers one of six NFC teams with a 6-7 record. The playoffs are up for grabs again.Next up is a date Sunday with the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, another team sitting at 6-7 and fighting for a playoff spot.Defensive lineman Kenny Clark refused to say this was a trap game for the Packers, who were coming off a win over the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.“I’m not going to disrespect them like that,” Clark said of the Giants (5-8), who won their third straight behind DeVito, an undrafted rookie quarterback. “They showed up and they made plays. We’re in the NFL. You don’t play your be...

MacKinnon scores winner as Avalanche rally from 2-goal deficit in 3rd for 6-5 win over Flames

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:42 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had open ice, plenty of speed and a steely determination not to let this one get away. Not after this rally.MacKinnon scored with 4:30 remaining on a breakaway to complete Colorado’s comeback from two goals down in the third period as the Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 6-5 on Monday night.Trailing 5-3 entering the final period, Ross Colton scored with 8:40 remaining and Mikko Rantanen tied it up with 6:29 left.MacKinnon scored the winner after Rantanen delivered a long pass to Valeri Nichushkin who dished it over to MacKinnon in stride. MacKinnon simply took it from there.“We can take the positivity out of that game,” MacKinnon said. “No one was deflated. Even after 5-3 we kept pushing and kept a good attitude.”The goal by MacKinnon spoiled a big game by Nazem Kadri, who had a goal, assist and a roughing penalty against his former team. Ivan Prosvetov took over in net for Alexandar Georgiev in the third period and stopped all 11 shots he...