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States and Congress wrestle with cybersecurity at water utilities amid renewed federal warnings

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The tiny Aliquippa water authority in western Pennsylvania was perhaps the least-suspecting victim of an international cyberattack.It had never had outside help in protecting its systems from a cyberattack, either at its existing plant that dates to the 1930s or the new $18.5 million one it is building.Then it — along with several other water utilities — was struck by what federal authorities say are Iranian-backed hackers targeting a piece of equipment specifically because it was Israeli-made.“If you told me to list 10 things that would go wrong with our water authority, this would not be on the list,” said Matthew Mottes, the chairman of the authority that handles water and wastewater for about 22,000 people in the woodsy exurbs around a one-time steel town outside Pittsburgh. The hacking of the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa is prompting new warnings from U.S. security officials at a time when states and the federal government are wrestling with how...

Hong Kong activist publisher Jimmy Lai pleads not guilty to sedition and collusion charges

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Prominent activist and publisher Jimmy Lai on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to three charges of sedition and collusion with foreign countries in a landmark national security trial in Hong Kong.Lai, a media tycoon who founded the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, faces one count of conspiring to print seditious publications to incite hatred against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, as well as two counts of collusion with foreign countries to call for sanctions and other hostile actions against China and Hong Kong.Flanked by three prison officers, Lai formally pleaded not guilty to the charges read to him, shortly after the court rejected a last-ditch attempt by his counsel to throw out a sedition charge against him. The court began hearing opening statements from the prosecution on Tuesday.Dressed in a navy blazer and a white shirt, Lai smiled and waved at his family members as he entered the courtroom ahead of the start of the court session.Lai, 76, was arrested ...

Colder temps in coming days, week to average 11 degrees lower than last week

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

Tuesday night/Wednesday plus possible flurries; more significant winter system early next weekWGN WEATHER HEADLINESPOTENTIALLY INTERESTING WINTER STORM SYSTEM COMING TOGETHER EARLY NEXT WEEKIt's hardly time to reach for the shovels yet. But, I first mentioned to you we had some agreement in the medium range (the 1- to 2-week period) from a series of ENSEMBLE FORECASTS last week on a potential precip system early next week. These models have continued on this line of reasoning, even taking it to the next level by picking up on a potentially well developed surface system. To be sure, this forecast is hardly carved in stone — modifications and updates will come. But, as is said, where there's smoke, there's possibly fire, and this is a situation we'll be monitoring and providing updates. We've got plenty of time to do that. Any impact it may have on the Midwest is a good week away. A lead storm will pass to the region's south this weekend and may produce flurries or a bit of light snow...

Washington beats Texas 37-31 at the Sugar Bowl, advances to face Michigan in College Football Playoff title game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Washington beats Texas 37-31 at the Sugar Bowl, advances to face Michigan in College Football Playoff title game.

Powerful earthquakes leave at least 15 dead, destroy buildings along Japan’s western coast

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

A building falls on the ground following an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. A series of major earthquakes started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu. (Kyodo News via AP) A building falls on the ground following an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. A series of major earthquakes started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu. (Kyodo News via AP) WAJIMA, Japan (AP) — A series of powerful earthquakes hit western Japan, leaving at least 15 people dead and damaging buildings, vehicles and boats, with officials warning people in some areas on Tuesday to stay a...

Today in History: January 2, John F. Kennedy launches bid for presidency

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

Today in History Today is Tuesday, Jan. 2, the second day of 2024. There are 364 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 2, 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts launched his successful bid for the presidency. On this date: In 1788, Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1811, Sen. Timothy Pickering, a Federalist from Massachusetts, became the first member of the U.S. Senate to be censured after he’d improperly revealed the contents of an executive document. In 1900, U.S. Secretary of State John Hay announced the “Open Door Policy” to facilitate trade with China.In 1929, the United States and Canada reached agreement on joint action to preserve Niagara Falls.In 1942, the Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II.In 1967, Republican Ronald Reagan took the oath of office as the new governor of California in a ceremony that took place in Sacramento shortly after midnight. In 1971, 66 people w...

Stock market today: Asian markets mostly slip on the first trading day of 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

Asian markets opened the year on a downward trend after Wall Street benchmarks ticked lower on the last trading day of 2023. U.S. futures were mixed and oil prices gained more than $1 a barrel. Japan’s markets were closed for a holiday.The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong sank 1.5% to 16,800.73 and the Shanghai Composite index dropped 0.2% to 2,968.81. Investors were selling property developers like debt-laden China Evergrande, which fell 6%, and LongFor Group Holding, which lost 5.7%. The December survey of the official purchasing managers index, or PMI, in China fell to 49 for the third consecutive month, signaling weak demand and underscoring the challenging economic conditions in the world’s second-largest economy. That contrasted private-sector survey, by financial publication Caixin, which registered a slight improvement in the manufacturing PMI to 50.8, driven by increased output and new orders. However, it showed that business confidence for 2024 remained subdued.South Kor...

Clarkson posts the 1st Utah triple-double since 2008, helps Jazz beat Mavericks 127-90

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to post the first regular-season triple-double by a Utah player since 2008, leading the Jazz to a 127-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.Clarkson had 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds — the first triple-double of his career — and the first for the Jazz in a regular-season game since Carlos Boozer had one on Feb. 13, 2008, a stretch of 1,256 games. Also, Clarkson’s triple-double was the first in more than 40 years for a Jazz player coming off the bench, dating to Feb. 5, 1983, when Mark Eaton had 12 points, 14 rebounds and 12 blocked shots.The 31-year-old Clarkson achieved the triple-double in his 685th regular-season game, and 728th game of his career. He was a second-round pick, 46th overall, in the 2014 draft by Washington before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019 and moved to the Jazz in 2019.Simone Fontecchio paced the Jazz with 24 points. Lauri Markka...

Tow truck driver killed in hit-and-run SR-125 crash identified

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

SPRING VALLEY, Calif. -- An on-duty tow truck driver who was killed in a hit-and-run crash on New Year's Eve on state Route 125 has been identified, local medical officials said. Dale Alan Pumphery, 63, of El Cajon, was announced as the deceased, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said on its website.The crash occurred around 8 p.m. on SR-125 and Jamacha Blvd. in Spring Valley, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). San Diego lowriders show out as cruising ban officially lifted Pumphery was removing a vehicle that was stranded on southbound state Route 125, when a Prius sedan struck him as he partially entered the No. 4 lane while moving to the driver's side of the tow truck, according to authorities.First responders attempted lifesaving measures on Pumphery, but he was later pronounced dead.The vehicle that hit Pumphery left the scene.One lane on southbound SR-125, north of Jamacha Blvd., was closed for several hours due to the collision.

Michael Penix Jr. leads No. 2 Washington to 37-31 victory over Texas and spot in national title game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:23:23 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. passed for 430 yards and two touchdowns, and Washington held off Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night to advance to the College Football Playoff championship game, earning both the sixth-year quarterback with two surgically repaired knees and the beleaguered Pac-12 one more game this season.The second-ranked Huskies (14-0) will face No. 1 Michigan next Monday night in Houston, looking for their first national championship since 1991 and the Pac-12’s first since Southern California in 2004. Washington is one of 10 schools fleeing the Pac-12 for other Power Five conferences next year, with the Huskies headed to join Michigan in the Big Ten.But first, the final season of the four-team playoff before expansion to 12 in 2024 comes down to a Pac-12-Big Ten matchup, just like the first when Ohio State beat Oregon.“Huskie Nation stand up,” Penix told the UW crowd in the postgame trophy ceremony. “We goin’ to the natty!”No...