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Sister of Denver man and her mother released by Hamas after being held hostage for nearly 2 weeks, ABC News reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

A Denver man’s 17-year-old sister and her mother have been released by Hamas after being held hostage in Gaza for nearly two weeks, ABC News reported Friday.Judith and Natalie Raanan were in southern Israel celebrating Judith’s mother’s 85th birthday when the Palestinian group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing around 1,400 people and taking at least 200 people hostage.The Israel Defense Forces confirmed to ABC News that the mother and daughter, who live in the Chicago area, have been released.Ben Raanan, Natalie’s sister and Judith’s former stepson, said in a Thursday interview with The Denver Post that the two were in a kibbutz about a mile from the Gaza border when they heard gunshots and explosions on Oct. 7, according to a message Natalie sent their dad.“She sent my father a text saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to lock myself in the house and try to keep quiet,’ and that was the last we heard from” either Natalie or Judith,” Be...

Colorado designated as official tech hub for quantum industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

Colorado has been designated as an official technology and innovation hub for the quantum industry, opening up tens of millions of dollars in funding and elevating the region’s profile as a leader in the field.Gov. Jared Polis said the Biden administration notified the state Friday that it was chosen as a tech hub under the  CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. The act makes $500 million available initially with $10 billion authorized for 20 regional hubs.The U.S. Economic Development Administration manages the program. Sources familiar with the decision said the list of 20 tech hubs will be officially announced Monday.The Polis administration and a bipartisan group of legislators sent a letter earlier this month to Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo to show support for declaring Colorado as a quantum tech hub.“The quantum sector is one of the key industries of tomorrow, and I’m thrilled the Biden administration is awarding Colorado a TechHub designation for quantum technology,&...

Man arrested in connection with massive theft operation at local Home Depot stores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

A man from Pico Rivera was arrested for his alleged role in a retail theft operation responsible for nearly $200,000 worth of stolen merchandise from Home Depot stores across Los Angeles.Sergio Arellano was arrested Thursday by members of the California Highway Patrol's Retail Crime Task Force.Arellano is suspected of being involved in an illegal "fence" operation, which involves the purchase of stolen goods from thieves and burglars to be resold through seemingly legitimate businesses. 89 arrests made so far by LASD’s new retail crime task force CHP says Arellano was tied to 960 stolen items with an approximate retail value of about $200,000. Investigators allege that he was purchasing the stolen items and then reselling them on the popular website and app OfferUp.The stolen merchandise is believed to have come from Home Depot stores throughout the Los Angeles area. A firearm was also recovered as part of the investigation, CHP said.The Los Angeles Organized Retail Crime Task For...

Humpback whales put on dazzling show for Dana Point watching tour

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

Passengers aboard a whale watching tour that departed from Dana Point were treated to a spectacular sight as two humpback whales gave the performance of a lifetime.On Thursday, the Ocean Adventures vessel neared two humpback whales that were curious about the boat.Two humpback whales float vertically in an almost-dance for passengers aboard a whale watching boat in Dana Point on Oct. 19, 2023. (Danawharf.com)For more than 30 minutes, the two humpback whales "mugged" the boat, meaning they showed interest in the boat, got close and behaved curiously toward it.The two whales swam around the boat and rolled, showed off their tails and peeking their heads out of the water in a motion known as "spy hopping.""Watching them glide through the glassy water seeming to look at us as we watched them was magical," said a spokesperson for Dana Point Whale Watching. Playful ‘puppy’ whale entertains boat tour near Dana Point Drone footage from the encounter shows the two whales floating upright, ...

French hiker falls to his death in Sequoia National Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON, Calif. - A French national has died after falling off a cliff in Sequoia National Park.Officials say the hiker, Tom Gerbier, was found in an area known as “The Notch,” according to the National Park Service.Gerbier was a French national from Fontenay-sous-Bois, a suburb of Paris. He was a pilot for Air France. He was reported missing when he didn’t show up for his return flight on October 18.Officials say the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office took the lead with the search and rescue operation with flyovers of Mt. Whitney on the day he was reported missing, turning up with no results.The National Park Service and the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office launched ground teams in the area and began to summit on the Mountaineering Route. Officials noticed clues that a hiker may have fallen off the cliff known as “The Notch.”Officials say the Gerbier had fallen about 1,000 feet.According to officials, Gerbier’s body was recovered via helicopter and transferred to Tulare Coun...

Woman Hospitalized after Pedestrian Accident on Mira Mesa Boulevard [San Diego, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

18-Year-Old Woman Injured in Pedestrian Collision near Camino RuizSAN DIEGO, CA (October 20, 2023) – Wednesday night, a pedestrian accident occurred on Mira Mesa Boulevard, resulting in the hospitalization of one woman.Local law enforcement promptly arrived at the 8350 block of Mira Mesa Boulevard, near Camino Ruiz.According to available information, a 2017 Fiat Spider was traveling north on Camino Ruiz when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to fishtail. The car swerved back and forth before colliding with a woman seated at the MTS bus bench.Emergency responders transported the 18-year-old female pedestrian to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla with severe injuries.Aerial footage from the scene showed the damaged white Fiat Spider parked along the sidewalk.Currently, the investigation into the incident is being led by the San Diego Police Department Traffic Division.This incident serves as a reminder that a minor driving error can escalate into a dangerous, multi...

Elderly Woman Pronounced Dead following Two-Vehicle Crash on Enterprise Street [Visalia, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

Car Collision Near Tulare Avenue Kills 73-Year-Old WomanVISALIA, CA (October 20, 2023) – Wednesday morning, a two-vehicle crash on Enterprise Street claimed the life of a female driver.Authorities responded to the crash around 7:49 a.m. at the intersection of Enterprise Street and Tulare Avenue.Based on the initial investigation, a Saturn traveling eastbound on Enterprise stopped for a posted stop sign.However, the Saturn failed to yield to the right-of-way of an eastbound Jeep on Tulare Avenue, leading to a collision.Unfortunately, the 73-year-old female driver of the Saturn sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Paramedics transported a passenger to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.Additionally, both directions of the roadway were temporarily shut down to allow for cleanup and preliminary duties.At this time, police are working to determine if drugs and alcohol contributed to the crash. Anyone with further information about the Enterprise Street two-vehicl...

Rider Dies in Motorcycle Collision on East Lake Mead Boulevard[Las Vegas, NV]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

54-Year-Old Motorcyclist Pronounced Dead after 2-Vehicle Crash near North Hollywood BoulevardLAS VEGAS, NV (October 20, 2023) – Wednesday evening, a fatal motorcycle collision on East Lake Mead Boulevard resulted in the death of one motorcyclist. The incident unfolded at around 9:00 p.m., in the vicinity of North Hollywood Boulevard, on October 11th.According to investigators, the motorcycle rider, a 54-year-old individual, was traveling east on Lake Mead, while a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup-truck, driven by a 26-year-old male with three passengers, was heading west. The collision transpired when the pickup-truck driver executed a left turn, colliding with the motorcyclist.As a result of the impact, the rider was forcibly thrown from the motorcycle onto the roadway. Due to the severity of the injuries sustained, medical personnel later pronounced the rider deceased.The driver of the pickup-truck involved in the incident remained at the scene and fully cooperated with the ongoing inv...

Woman Fatally Struck in Pedestrian Accident on Tropicana Avenue [Las Vegas, NV]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

43-Year-Old Woman Pronounced Dead after Pedestrian Collision near Ocean DriveLAS VEGAS, NV (October 20, 2023) – A pedestrian accident took place on Tropicana Avenue late Sunday night, resulting in the death of a woman.This incident unfolded on October 15th, just before 11:30 p.m.,  near Ocean Drive. Preliminary findings suggest that a 43-year-old female pedestrian from Long Beach, for reasons currently under investigation, attempted to cross Tropicana Avenue against a red traffic signal.She was then struck by the driver of a 2023 Kia EV6. Medical personnel arrived near MGM Grand, and rushed the severely injured victim to Sunrise Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.Meanwhile, the 49-year-old female driver of the Kia remained at the scene and fully cooperated with investigators. Authorities have reported that there were no indications of impairment on her part.Presently, an active investigation is underway to gather more information regarding this incident. Further det...

Pence faces cash shortage, campaign viability questions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:25 GMT

By Jill Colvin | Associated PressNEW YORK — With three months to go before the Iowa caucuses that he has staked his campaign on, former Vice President Mike Pence faces mounting debt and lagging poll numbers that are forcing questions about not only whether he will qualify for the next debate, but whether it makes sense for him to remain in the race until then.Pence ended September with just $1.18 million left in his campaign account, a strikingly low number for a presidential contest and far less than his rivals, new filings show. His campaign also has $621,000 in debt — more than half the cash he had remaining — and is scrambling to meet donor thresholds for the Nov. 8 debate. While he would likely meet the debate’s polling requirements, Pence has struggled to gain traction and is polling in the low single digits nationally, with no sign of momentum.Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is leading every one of his rivals by at least 40 points in national polls and ended S...