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Young humpback whale leaps out of Seattle bay, dazzling onlookers

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — A humpback whale visiting the waters off Seattle dazzled onlookers Thursday morning with several breaches in they bay just beyond the city’s downtown area.The whale has been spotted for the last three days swimming around Elliott Bay. But on Thursday, the whale breached for about 40 minutes, also performing several pectoral fin slaps and dives.Local whale watching groups have identified the young humpback as the calf of an adult female with the identification BCY0995, better known as “Smiley.”It’s not unusual for humpback whales to visit the waters off Seattle as they migrate along the West Coast.Smiley’s last calf, Chip, was fatally struck by a Washington state ferry in 2020, according to the Canadian group Vancouver Island Whale Watch. On Thursday, personnel from Soundwatch Boater Education Program shadowed the whale for most of its time in the bay to alert other vessels of it. Jeff Hogan, co-coordinator of the program’s Seattle branch, said he cou...

Myanmar’s military is losing ground against coordinated nationwide attacks, buoying opposition hopes

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — A major offensive against Myanmar’s military-run government by an alliance of three militias of ethnic minorities in the northeast has been moving at lightning speed, inspiring resistance forces around the country to launch new attacks. With Myanmar’s military falling back on almost every front, hope is rising among opponents that this could be a turning point in the struggle to oust the army leaders who toppled democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi almost three years ago.“The current operation is a great opportunity to change the political situation in Myanmar,” said Le Kyar Win, spokesperson for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, one of the three militias known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance that launched the offensive on Oct. 27.Caught by surprise by the attack dubbed Operation 1027, the military has lost more than 180 outposts and strongpoints, including four major bases and four economically important border crossings with China.Both si...

Montana’s first-in-the-nation ban on TikTok blocked by judge who says it’s unconstitutional

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana’s first-in-the-nation law banning the video-sharing app TikTok in the state was blocked Thursday, one month before it was set to take effect, by a federal judge who called the measure unconstitutional. The ruling delivered a temporary win for the social media company that has argued Montana’s Republican-controlled Legislature went “completely overboard” in trying to regulate the app. A final ruling will come at a later date after the legal challenge moves through the courts. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said the ban “oversteps state power and infringes on the Constitutional right of users and businesses” while singling out the state for its fixation on purported Chinese influence. “Despite the state’s attempt to defend (the law) as a consumer protection bill, the current record leaves little doubt that Montana’s legislature and Attorney General were more interested in targeting China’s ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting...

Dave Chappelle makes appearance at Capitol

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

(The Hill) — Comedian Dave Chappelle was seen smiling for snapshots with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle while paying a visit to Capitol Hill on Thursday.The star met with Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) while touching down at the Capitol.“Chapelle is interested in politics and his meeting with members delved into this interest along with a discussion of current events,” a Plaskett spokesperson confirmed. Trump spokesperson: DeSantis ‘so desperate for attention’ he’s debating ‘Grade A loser’ Gavin Newsom The comedian, who was criticized in 2021 for including potentially transphobic material in his Netflix special, “The Closer,” was also seen posing for photos with House members.Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) posted an image on X, formerly known as Twitter, of herself smiling broadly alongside Chappelle and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.).“Just three people who understand that there’s only two genders,” Boebert wrote with a smiling face emoji. Boebert’s offic...

Plaza Hotel's 'Home Alone 2' package lets guests get lost in New York fun

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) – Want to be the main character in your own Christmas movie set in New York City? Well, thanks to the city's iconic Plaza Hotel, you can. The Plaza offers guests a chance to recreate their version of the 1990s hit “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," with a special new offer: the "Home Alone 2: Fun in New York" package. ‘Mean Girls’-themed pop-up restaurant coming to NYC Guests will see New York City through the eyes of Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) with a four-hour private limousine ride passing filming locations like the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Carnegie Hall, and Radio City Music Hall. Like Kevin, guests can devour their famous New York-style pizza during the ride, with a large cheese pizza included.The package also features a "Home Alone"-inspired over-the-top ice cream sundae – delivered right to the room – with 16 scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, cherries, M&M’s, brownie bits, chocolate, caramel, and raspberry sa...

Netflix to offer 'Grand Theft Auto' games for no extra cost

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

(WTAJ) – Netflix has big plans to bring Rockstar's most popular games to their mobile app.In a release from Netflix, the company announced that it will be bringing "Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition" to members on Dec. 14. The games will be available through the App Store, Google Play and in the Netflix mobile app. Fans who are overly excited about the games can pre-register to play at no additional charge. The three games being released will be "Grand Theft Auto III," "Vice City" and "San Andreas." You need up to $15,000 more just to live like you did in 2021, analysis finds The launch of the games on Netflix's platform comes after the collection was released in November 2021 where the games were only available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.The trilogy will join Netflix's growing lineup of over 80 mobile games across multiple genres that are accessible to subscribers without ads, in-app purchases or extra fees. Netflix games can be download...

Israeli Counsel General to the Midwest talks Israel and Hamas conflict with WGN

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Yinam Cohen, Israeli Counsel General to the Midwest, talks about the Israel and Hamas conflict on WGN's Evening News at 5 p.m.Among the topics discussed were a last-minute deal to extend the truce between Israel and Hamas that allows more hostages to be released, aid trucks, government funding, and what happens in the war's aftermath.READ MORE: Israel and Hamas ConflictWatch the full interview in the video player above.

DFLers clash over Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

A rift among Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict entered the spotlight this week after a group of senators condemned a colleague for statements on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.At a Wednesday news conference, Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, and Jewish community groups railed against a boycott movement pushing for governments to pull investments out of Israel. Latz, who is Jewish, described Gaza as a “poisonous” breeding ground for terrorism.“Palestinian youth dream of the opportunity to achieve glory and even martyrdom by killing as many Jews as possible,” said Latz. “Is it any wonder that these same children grow up and call their parents after slaughtering innocent concert-goers in the desert to brag about killing 10 Jews?”Latz was referring to a video released by the Israeli government allegedly showing a Hamas fighter bragging about the number of people he killed during the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel. H...

President of Douglas County school board resigns, successor promises less drama

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

The president of Douglas County’s school board on Thursday announced his resignation following a tumultuous tenure leading the suburban district.Mike Peterson, during a special meeting of the board Thursday evening, said he planned to resign at the end of the meeting, effective Friday. He previously told the Douglas County News Press that he was stepping down because his family was moving out of state.Peterson’s term would have expired in November 2025.Christy Williams — like Peterson, a member of the board’s conservative majority — was elected by a 4-to-3 vote to become the next board president. Peterson declined to recuse himself, voting for Williams over director Susan Meek.The directors, in nominating Meek and Williams for the chairperson role, said it was crucial the board avoid the bitter infighting that marked the previous two years under Peterson.Williams cited 25 years of leadership experience as proof that she would make a good board president...

Free RTD rides reduced Front Range air pollution in July and August. But is that enough?

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:08:52 GMT

The Regional Transportation District spent more than $15 million this summer on free rides with the goal of cleaner air along the Front Range, and a first-of-its-kind study shows more than 6 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions were cut during the Zero Fare for Better Air promotion.However, 6 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions is just a bite-sized chunk of the air pollution Colorado wants to reduce. The state’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap calls for a reduction of 12.7 million tons in annual transportation emissions by 2030.People who chose to ride RTD’s buses and trains in July and August likely reduced the number of vehicle miles traveled by 145,393 a day, or 9 million miles over the course of two months, according to the Zero Fare for Better Air 2023 Evaluation report released Thursday.By not traveling all those miles, drivers did not contribute to the pollutants that combine on hot summer days to create ground-level ozone.The Regional Air ...