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Venezuela and opposition reach deal on electoral conditions. They plan to sign Tuesday in Barbados

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Venezuela’s government and opposition have reached an agreement on new electoral conditions that once signed Tuesday will trigger relief from U.S. energy sanctions on President Nicolás Maduro’s administration, according to a person familiar with the outline of deal.Venezuela’s government agreed to open up the electoral process, including allowing European Union observers and creating a process for lifting bans that have blocked his top opponents from running for president, to level what is widely seen as an unfair playing field, the person said Monday. If Maduro doesn’t live up to his end of the bargain, the sanctions will be imposed again, according to the person, who insisted on not being quoted by name as a condition to discuss the agreement before it was signed.Venezuela’s government and opposition were scheduled to resume their Norway-mediated dialogue in Barbados on Tuesday, the Norwegian Embassy in Mexico said. But it appeared an agreement wa...

Sports, internet bets near-record levels in New Jersey, but 5 of 9 casinos trail pre-pandemic levels

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., (AP) — Sports betting and internet gambling were at near-record levels in New Jersey in September, and nearly half of the Atlantic City casinos won more money from in-person gamblers than they did in September 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.But the encouraging numbers released Monday by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement did not change a fundamental concern of this seaside gambling resort: that its core business — money won from people on the casino floor — is still not back to pre-pandemic levels at five of the nine casinos.The amount of money collectively won from on-premises gamblers was higher this September ($246 million) than it was in September 2019 ($224 million.)Four of the nine casinos (Caesars, Hard Rock, Ocean and Resorts) reported higher in-person winnings last month than they did in September 2019, before the coronavirus outbreak. That’s a slight improvement from the usual two or sometimes three casinos that exceed that level most m...

Candidates wrangle over abortion policy in Kentucky gubernatorial debate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron accused each other of taking extreme stands on abortion policy Monday night as they wrangled over an issue that’s become a flashpoint in their hotly contested campaign for governor in Kentucky.During an hourlong debate at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky, the rivals fielded questions over education, taxes, public safety and the monthlong strike by auto workers. Some of their sharpest exchanges during the televised debate, however, came when asked to lay out their stands on abortion. Their remarks, which took place about three weeks before the Nov. 7 election, came against the backdrop of Kentucky’s current law, which bans all abortions except when carried out to save a pregnant woman’s life or to prevent a disabling injury.Beshear said that his challenger celebrated the abortion ban’s passage and pointed to Cameron’s long-running support for the law as written, without e...

Colombia signs 3-month cease-fire with FARC holdout group

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s government and the rebel group known as FARC-EMC on Monday signed a three-month cease-fire and formally began peace talks, as President Gustavo Petro tries to bolster his plans to pacify rural areas ahead of regional elections that will take place at the end of October.In an event that took place in the township of Tibu, near Colombia’s border with Venezuela, both sides also agreed to cease attacks on civilians and set up a group that will monitor the cease-fire and could include United Nations personnel.“Peace today seems to have been eclipsed when sirens, bombs, shouts of pain and desperation can be heard in places like the Middle East, Europe or sub-Saharan Africa” said Camilo González, the government’s lead negotiator. “These peace talks (in Colombia) are a bet on life and freedom.”FARC-EMC are currently Colombia’s third largest armed group, with around 3,500 members. The group is led by left-wing guerrilla fighters who refused to join a ...

Tim Scott praises ‘restraint’ of Israel’s Netanyahu, says US should move more firepower to region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina on Monday praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for showing what he called “restraint” after Hamas attacked Israel over a week ago.The Republican presidential candidate said Netanyahu “waited” and showed “patience” and “humanity” in response to the Oct. 7 attack. Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza the day of the attack and Netanyahu declared war with Hamas, vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price.” The war has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with more than 4,000 dead.“One of the first things that Israel’s done is they waited,” Scott said about Israel as he spoke at an event focused on U.S. foreign policy and national security at Georgetown University in Washington. “Now how Prime Minister Netanyahu had the kind of restraint to refrain from immediate action, it just talks about the morality and the humanity that we see coming from Netanyahu into Gaza,” the senator said.Hamas militants’ surpr...

Justice Barrett expresses support for a formal US Supreme Court ethics code in Minnesota speech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett said Monday that it would be a good idea for the nation’s highest court to adopt a formal code of conduct, but she said the nine justices already agree that they should hold themselves to the highest ethical standards possible.Barrett spoke at a University of Minnesota Law School event just two weeks after the high court opened its current term in October with fresh cases on guns, abortion and the power of regulatory agencies on its docket, but with ethical concerns high on many observers’ minds. Ethics issues have dogged some justices — including conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito and liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor.“I think it would be a good idea for us to do it, particularly so that we can communicate to the public exactly what it is that we’re doing — and in a clearer way than perhaps we have been able to do so far,” Barrett said. “I will say this, there is no lack of con...

Californians plead guilty in $600 million nationwide catalytic converter theft scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Three members of a California family pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy for their role in a ring that shipped $600 million worth of stolen catalytic converters from California to New Jersey, federal prosecutors said.Brothers Tou Sue Vang, 32, and Andrew Vang, 28, along with their mother, Monica Moua, 58, were part of “a national network of thieves, dealers, and processors” who provided the stolen auto anti-smog devices to a metal refinery for more than $600 million dollars, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.Twenty-one people from California and New Jersey have been charged in the case, prosecutors said. The three Sacramento family members pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport the devices in return for more than $38 million.Tou Sue Vang also pleaded guilty to 39 charges related to money laundering, prosecutors said.Catalytic converters are easily stolen and contain precious metals including platinum.“Some of these precious m...

UN Security Council rejects Russia’s resolution on Gaza that fails to mention Hamas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council rejected a Russian resolution Monday night that condemned violence and terrorism against civilians but made no mention of Hamas, whose surprise attack that killed 1,300 Israelis was the worst Jewish massacre since the World War II Nazi Holocaust.Only four countries joined Russia in voting for the resolution. Four countries voted against it, including the United States. Six countries abstained.Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, had urged support for the resolution to respond to the “unprecedented exacerbation” of the situation, citing the council’s inaction since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.It was unclear if the council would vote Monday night on a rival resolution from Brazil that would condemn’s the Hamas attack. The U.N.’s most powerful body, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, has not taken a position on the Hamas assault or on Israel’s re...

Silver Cross Hospital CEO dies unexpectedly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

CHICAGO -- The President and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox passed away unexpectedly Sunday.Ruth Colby, who served as the President and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox since 2017, died on Sunday at the age of 69.During her time, Silver Cross Hospital was named one of the nation's 100 top hospitals 11 times.The Will County executive said Colby "was a servant leader and her legacy is the outstanding health care institution she helped create in Will County."Along with her duties at Silver Cross Hospital, Colby served as chair-elect of the Illinois Health and Hospital Assocation.She was slated to become chair in 2024.For more information, click here.

Texas men's hoops ranked No. 18 in preseason AP poll, hosts Orange-White scrimmage Tuesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fresh off an Elite Eight appearance last season, the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team checked in at No. 18 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday.The Longhorns are the third-highest ranked Big 12 Conference team in the AP Top 25 with Kansas earning the No. 1 ranking and Houston at No. 7. Baylor is the remaining Big 12 team in the rankings at No. 20. The Longhorns were also picked to finish third in the Big 12 behind the Jayhawks and Cougars.Full preseason AP Top 25The Field of 68 Media Network announced its "Almanac" Top 25 earlier in the summer and picked Texas as the No. 12 team in the country.Four players were tabbed as preseason All-Big 12 honorees with Oral Roberts transfer Max Abmas named to the first team. Abmas is the NCAA Division I active leader in scoring with 2,562 points. Dylan Disu, Tyrese Hunter and Dillon Mitchell were all named honorable mention. Hunter and Mitchell came back to Austin after declaring for the 2023 NBA Draf...