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15 UN peacekeepers in a convoy withdrawing from northern Mali were injured by 2 explosive devices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Fifteen U.N. peacekeepers in a convoy withdrawing from a rebel stronghold in northern Mali were injured when vehicles hit improvised explosive devices on two occasions this week, the United Nations said Friday.U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said eight peacekeepers injured Wednesday were evacuated by air and “are now reported to be in stable condition.” He said seven peacekeepers injured by an IED early Friday also were evacuated by air. He did not give their conditions.Dujarric said the peacekeepers, who were withdrawing weeks earlier than planned because of growing insecurity, suffered two other IED attacks after leaving their base in Kidal on Oct. 31.JNIM, an extremist group with links to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks, in which at least two peacekeepers were injured.Dujarric said the U.N. doesn’t know if the IEDs that hit the convoy had been there for a long time or whether the peacekeepers were deliberately targeted. The convoy i...

Two suffer serious injuries after 4-vehicle crash between Hutto and Taylor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) -- Two people suffered serious injuries after a four-vehicle crash between Hutto and Taylor on Friday, a spokesperson for the City of Hutto confirmed to KXAN.At approximately 5 p.m., officials responded to the crash in the 11000 block of US-79, according to the Hutto Police Department.One person was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, and the other was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, police said.The crash remained under investigation Friday by Hutto PD.

High School Football Roundup: East Ridge continues Cinderella run to state

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

East Ridge 13, Minnetonka 10: East Ridge has now won as many games in the playoffs as it did during the entire regular season. And that has the Raptors in the state tournament.Tanner Zolnosky’s 8-yard scoring strike to Kyle Frendt with 4 minutes, 27 seconds to play in the fourth quarter put the sixth-seeded Raptors (4-6) on top for good.East Ridge’s other two scores were both field goals off the foot of Luke Ryerse. The Raptors have topped the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in its quadrant, and will get a date with top-seeded Lakeville South on Friday at St. Michael-Albertville.Lakeville South 30, Shakopee 13: Connor Cade ran for three scores, but the Cougars (9-1) opening score of the night came via a safety. And the first offensive points were on an 8-yard passing touchdown from Gaven Dean to Coltin Smith.Stillwater 49, Rochester Mayo 31: Stillwater (8-2) compiled 546 total yards of offense, experiencing success in both the air and on the ground.Nick Kinsey threw for 251 yards ...

Girls state soccer: St. Paul Academy blanks St. Charles in Class A finale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

The St. Paul Academy Spartans won the girls Class A state soccer championship Friday night, taking down St. Charles 3-0.The first half was one of defenses, with just one goal being scored in the first 40 minutes. Sophomore Clare Ryan Bradley scored in the 31st minute, breaking the stalemate and sending her team into halftime with a 1-0 lead.The second half was more Spartan-sided. SPA dominated possession time for most of the half. Sawyer Danielson scored in the 62nd minute to give the Spartans a little breathing room, then gave them a little more with another goal in the 68th minute.Danielson, who scored two goals in Friday’s game on top of a hat trick on Wednesday in the semifinals, said it was important to stay out of her own head about the success she had the previous game.“I feel like this game I put a lot of pressure on myself to live up to how I played last game. So that was kind of hard at first,” Danielson said. “But I just needed to get out of my head, and, like, just...

Back to business, Gophers men’s hockey team holds off Bulldogs to snap three-game losing streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

After a week filled with noise and potential off-ice distractions, the Minnesota Gophers elected to put all of that aside and play dominant hockey. In workmanlike fashion, they built an early lead versus in-state rival Minnesota Duluth and kept the Bulldogs from barking, winning 5-1 to snap a three-game losing streak.Bryce Brodzinski scored twice — including the 50th goal of his Gophers career — while Cal Thomas, Oliver Moore and Rhett Pitlick also scored for Minnesota (4-3-0), which also snapped a four-game losing streak in their head-to-head series with the Bulldogs, which dates back to the 1950s. Justen Close had 14 saves for Minnesota in the win, but lost his bid for a third shutout of the season late in the game.“It wasn’t perfect, but all four lines contributed to an attack in the zone, and that led to tonight,” said Gophers coach Bob Motzko, who noted that players getting their first goals of the season naturally gets them going. “These are young guys ...

With tight labor market in mind, Walz eliminates college-degree requirement for most state jobs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order this week eliminating the need for applicants for most state government jobs to have a four-year college degree.The executive order dropped the degree requirements for about 75 percent of the government jobs in Minnesota to help the state recruit and retain a “talented and diverse workforce,” wrote Walz, a Democrat.With 38,000 employees serving in 1,800 different job classes, Minnesota is the largest employer in the state, he said.By dropping the requirement for a bachelor’s degree for the majority of state jobs, the governor hopes to encourage more people to apply and help hiring managers find suitable candidates over the next few years. The 2024 and 2025 state budget will require state agencies to recruit and hire more employees in an already tight labor market, he said.The Monday order also calls for ways in which the state can clarify and streamline the application process.One of the barriers to recruiting state...

High school football playoffs: Lakeville North passes through Forest Lake

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

Nursing a 14-7 lead with less than minute to go in the first half at its own 32, Lakeville North was not content.Quarterback Riley Grossman threw back across to Sam Ripplinger for a 23-yard gain into Forest Lake territory, and then rolled left on the ensuing play and fired a tight spiral to Lane Johnson for a 45-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown.It was one of three first-half Lakeville North scores that were at least 39 yards. Five of their six touchdowns in the game were at least that far, including a 57-yard pick-six by Quinn Power midway through the final quarter, his second interception return for a score this season.It all added up to a 42-21 win Friday over Forest Lake in a Class 6A playoff matchup.Up next for the 9-1 Panthers is top-ranked Eden Prairie in a state quarterfinal Nov. 10 at Spring Lake Park High School. The Eagles dominated Eagan 42-14 Friday.“We’re peaking at the right time. (Forest Lake) is a very physical team. We know we have a really good opponent next week; ...

High school football: Alec Mahoney helps Mahtomedi top Cretin-Derham Hall, advance to state

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

Alec Mahoney did a little bit of everything Friday night. As a result, Mahtomedi is headed back to the state tournament.The senior running back/safety rushed for 100 yards and one touchdown and picked off three passes — including one that set up another score — as his team rolled past Cretin-Derham Hall 19-7 in the Class 5A, Section 4 championship game at Mahtomedi’s George Smith Field.“This was definitely my best game of the season,” a smiling Mahoney said afterward. “Probably my career. It was big.”The top-seeded Zephyrs (6-4) advance to face Section 2 champ Chanhassen (which scored a late touchdown to edge Mankato West 37-36 in that section final Friday) in the Class 5A state quarterfinals. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Nov. 11 at Apple Valley High School.Mahtomedi has now advanced to state in six of the past seven seasons there has been a tournament (there was no state tournament in 2020 as a result of COVID-19). The third-seeded Raiders finished their season 5...

Lawmakers want daylight saving time permanent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Daylight saving time is over on November 5, putting the clocks back an hour and gaining sleep in the fall with standard time. Some state lawmakers are looking to do away with the seasonal time change.According to Kathryn Kosto of the Albany County Historic Association, time was not always tracked as frequently and accurately as today. One train accident in 1853 helped lead to more consistent tracking."Two trains were on the same track running headlong. After that, New Englanders decided they were going to go to a New England-based central time system," stated Kosto. Albany County reveals ARPA awards The historian says economics played a large factor in getting up early. Most jobs and the cost of lighting meant daylight was valuable. "People really did get up with the chickens. Staying up late at night was an expensive luxury due to burning candles and whale oil lamps," described Kosto.In 1966, the Uniform Time Act welcomed daylight saving time and the changi...

Food drive honors fallen St. Louis County officer Blake Snyder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:04:54 GMT

ALTON, Ill. - Family and friends gathered Friday for a food drive in honor of Blake Snyder, a St. Louis County officer killed in the line of duty seven years ago. Snyder would have turned 41 years old on Nov. 7. The food drive is one of several ways that family members honor his life.  Housing authority scandal rocks East St. Louis; whistleblower faces backlash "Last year, we honored him by giving away ice cream sundaes. Sometimes we do gas giveaways," said Tina Bennett. This year, they're honoring his life through canned goods and cereal boxes. "In memory of Blake's birthday, we wanted to help with the local food pantries and with the Boys and Girls Club because they have a food panty and serve a lot of the homeless," said Peggy Snyder, Blake's mom. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News ...