Gunman opens fire at prominent Shiite shrine in southern Iran, wounding at least 4 people

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

Gunman opens fire at prominent Shiite shrine in southern Iran, wounding at least 4 people TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A gunman opened fire Sunday night at a prominent shrine in southern Iran, wounding at least four people, authorities said.Information on the attack at Shah Cheragh remained unclear immediately after the shooting, with state media and semiofficial news agencies offering differing details. The state-run IRNA news agency said four had been wounded, including two workers at the shrine and two pilgrims. The governor of Fars province, where Shiraz is the provincial capital, told Iranian state television that a single gunman carried out the attack and later was detained by security forces. Mohammad Hadi Imanieh did not offer any motive for the attack in his brief comments. Shah Cheragh is one of Iran’s top five Shiite shrines. It draws pilgrims to Shiraz, which is some 675 kilometers (420 miles) south of Iran’s capital, Tehran. The attack Sunday night comes after an October 2022 attack on the same shrine killed 13 people and wounded dozens of others. The Islamic S...

North Dakota teen survives nearly 100-foot fall at North Rim of Grand Canyon

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

North Dakota teen survives nearly 100-foot fall at North Rim of Grand Canyon GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — A 13-year-old North Dakota boy has survived a fall of nearly 100 feet at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon during a family trip.Authorities said it took emergency crews two hours to rescue Wyatt Kauffman after he slipped on a cliff Tuesday and plunged the nearly 100 feet (30 meters) at the Bright Angel Point trail.The teenager was airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment of nine broken vertebrae plus a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a concussion and a broken hand and dislocated finger.“I was up on the ledge and was moving out of the way so other people could take a picture,” Kauffman told Phoenix TV station KPNX. “I squatted down and was holding on to a rock. I only had one hand on it.“It wasn’t that good of a grip. It was kind of pushing me back. I lost my grip and started to fall back,” he added.Rescue crews had to repel down the cliff and get the injured boy out of the canyon in a basket.“I just remember somewhat waking up and b...

“Barbie” has legs: Greta Gerwig’s film tops the box office again and surpasses $500 million

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

“Barbie” has legs: Greta Gerwig’s film tops the box office again and surpasses $500 million LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Barbie” has legs. Director Greta Gerwig ‘s film phenomenon remained a runaway No. 1 at the box office in its fourth week, bringing in $33.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The Margot Robbie-led and produced film from Warner Bros., still in 4,137 theaters, refused to drop off as most box-office toppers have this year, surpassing $500 million in North America overall a week after it crossed the $1 billion mark globally, a record for a female director. The second half of the “Barbenheimer” duo, “Oppenheimer,” returned to the No. 2 spot in its own fourth week after a week at No. 3 overall. The Christopher Nolan-directed film from Universal Pictures brought in $18.8 million from 3,761 locations for an overall domestic total of $264.3 million. The top pair had thin competition. The week’s top new release, Universal’s “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” finished fifth with a $6.5 million opening weekend. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Muta...

‘There’s nothing left’: Canadian in Maui recounts horrors of fatal wildfire

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

‘There’s nothing left’: Canadian in Maui recounts horrors of fatal wildfire A Winnipeg woman recounts the horrors of the past few days after a wildfire that broke out on Tuesday night on Maui levelled the historic town of Lahaina.Originally from Winnipeg, Tess Lemon now resides on the northern part of the island, which she says was not impacted by the fire. But many were not so lucky.“This isn’t just a pretty tourist destination,” said Lemon. “This is where people live. And this was people’s heritage and culture. And it is now in ash.“It’s gone. Everything they’ve ever owned is ashes.”Lemon says she heard from some locals who have gone back to the site within the last 48 hours about what they’ve seen left behind.“People unfortunately have died in their cars trying to escape the fire,” she said. “People who are running out of gas because it was so hot from running air conditioning in their cars trying to evacuate. People jumping into the water trying to evacuate the fire.”Lemon says transportation to the west side of...

Maryland man leads Virginia police on wild chase in stolen truck and ambulance before DC arrest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

Maryland man leads Virginia police on wild chase in stolen truck and ambulance before DC arrest ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — A Maryland man committed over a dozen hit-and-run crashes in a stolen ambulance alone in addition to driving a stolen truck on several major northern Virginia highways this weekend before being taken into custody in the District of Columbia, authorities said.Virginia State Police said there were no reports of serious injuries in Saturday’s crashes on portions of Interstate 66, I-395 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway.According to the state police news release, the driver, identified as Darell T. Caldwell, 30, of Brandywine, Md., was charged by federal and local law enforcement. State police charges were still pending. Caldwell was being evaluated at a hospital Saturday evening.The string of accidents began shortly after 3:30 p.m., when state police responded to a two-vehicle crash in the eastbound lanes of I-66. Caldwell was identified as the driver of one of the vehicles — a truck that had been reported stolen in Virginia, police said.The truck left th...

As Maui rescue continues, families and faith leaders cling to hope but tackle reality of loss

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

As Maui rescue continues, families and faith leaders cling to hope but tackle reality of loss For scores of families in Hawaii still hoping to reunite with loved ones, it was not yet time to give up — even as the staggering death toll continued to grow, and even as authorities predicted that more remains would be found within the ashes left behind by a wildfire that gutted the once-bustling town of Lahaina.But many others are already confronting a painful reality. Their loved ones did not make it out alive.Kika Perez Grant wasn’t sure what would become of the remains of her uncle, Franklin Trejos, who was found in a charred car, his body shielding a friend’s dog.“We knew he was happiest out there, and so we’re allowing his best friends, who he’s been with for over 30 years out there, do whatever they think he would be happy with,” said Grant, who lives with her mother and family in Maryland.Specific plans have yet to be decided, she said, partly because it was unclear who had possession of his remains.Thus far, the remains of more than 90 people have been pulled ...

Man hospitalized after attempted carjacking, shooting in Loop

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

Man hospitalized after attempted carjacking, shooting in Loop CHICAGO — An attempted carjacking and shooting in the Loop left a man hospitalized early Sunday morning, according to Chicago Police.Officers say a 44-year-old man was held at gunpoint by a group of men who attempted to steal his car in the 100 block of West Van Buren Street at around 4 a.m. Rideshare driver, CCL holder, fires shots at robbers on West Side Police say the man exchanged gunfire with the group and sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg. The group then fled the scene in a black Dodge SUV following the shooting. 5-year-old pedestrian hospitalized after Irving Park car crash, driver in custody The victim sustained critical injuries and was taken to the hospital, police say.Area Three detectives are investigating, and authorities have not offered a description of the individuals involved.

Bulls star, community leader team up for violence prevention basketball league

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

Bulls star, community leader team up for violence prevention basketball league CHICAGO — Hundreds of young people in Chicago spent the summer learning skills on and off the court.They played in a basketball league powered by former Bulls star Joakim Noah and more than two dozen anti-violence groups. ‘A week of blessing:’ Kids battling cancer set health challenges aside at Illinois camp "I was part of the problem. Now I'm part of the solution and I think it's important to let people know that you can change," Cobe Williams, a co-founder of the One City Basketball League, said. "You can do the right thing."After seeing Williams work on the frontlines of Chicago's fight against violence captured in the acclaimed documentary "The Interrupters," Noah reached out to see how he could help young people in the city."One thing I respect about Joakim, he did a lot of listening, asked them, 'What do y'all want to do?'" Williams said.Now, 12 years later, the two continue to collaborate.They brought together 300 young people and nearly 30 anti-violence organizations for t...

Driver dead after four-vehicle rollover crash on I-290: ISP

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

Driver dead after four-vehicle rollover crash on I-290: ISP COOK COUNTY, Ill. -- A person is dead after a four-vehicle accident that ended in a rollover crash on I-290 early Sunday morning. According to police, a vehicle was traveling near 290 west at Homan Avenue in lane one when it switched to lane two, side-swiping another vehicle. The vehicle in the first lane lost control and skidded across the roadway into lane 4. A third vehicle struck the passenger side of the first vehicle and the first vehicle continued onto the right shoulder and struck the rear of a fourth vehicle that was parked on the side. The first vehicle rolled over the top of the fourth vehicle. Elderly woman dead after semi crash in Volo: Police The driver and two passengers in the first vehicle were transported to a hospital with injures. The drivers of the second and third vehicles refused medical attention and the fourth driver was pronounced dead on the scene. Police are continuing investigation on the incident and there is no further information provided.

Jet aborts landing in close call at San Diego Airport: FAA

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:06:41 GMT

Jet aborts landing in close call at San Diego Airport: FAA SAN DIEGO (KSWB) -- A Cessna Citation business jet was instructed to discontinue landing at the San Diego International Airport Friday to avoid a Southwest plane that was still on the runway.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said officials are investigating a "go-around" that occurred shortly before noon Friday. The term "go-around" refers to flight procedure in which an arriving aircraft aborts its landing and returns to the landing queue. Officials say these instances are initiated if a pilot or air traffic controller is not completely satisfied that the requirements for a safe landing are in place.According to the FAA, preliminary review of the event showed that an air traffic controller instructed the pilot of a Cessna Citation business jet to discontinue landing because a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 was still on the runway awaiting clearance to depart.In the following statement, the FAA explained the situation further:"The controller had previously cleared the Citatio...