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China’s GDP grew by 4.5% in quarter, boosted by consumption

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s gross domestic product grew 4.5% in the first quarter of the year, boosted by increased consumption and retail sales, after authorities abruptly abandoned the stringent “zero-COVID” strategy.The growth in the world’s No. 2 economy from January to March compared to the same period in 2022 was the fastest in the past year, and outpaced the 2.9% growth in the previous quarter, according to government data released Tuesday.The growth in GDP comes amid a rebound in consumption, as people flocked to shopping malls and restaurants after harsh COVID-19 restrictions were removed.In March, total retail sales of consumer goods went up by 10.6% year on year, and grew 7.1 percentage points compared to the first two months of the year.Industrial production output, which measures activity in the manufacturing, mining and utilities sectors, grew by 3.9% in March compared to the same time last year.Fixed-asset investment — in which China invests in infrastructure and other pro...

Man who killed Washington police officer gets life sentence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — The man who fatally shot a police officer in Everett, Washington, last year was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Richard Rotter, 51, apologized during his sentencing for killing officer Dan Rocha, 41, in a Starbucks parking lot in Everett, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Seattle, as Rocha tried to arrest him, the Daily Herald reported.“My sincere apologies to the Rocha family and my family and everyone this has affected,” Rotter said. “I pray for everyone’s continued healing and restored peace. I ask you and everybody (to) please forgive me.”During sentencing, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Bruce I. Weiss called the fatal shooting a “brutal execution.” The courtroom was crowded with Everett police, the city’s mayor and others.Earlier this month, a jury found Rotter guilty of aggravated first-degree murder, unlawful gun possession, possession with the intent to manufacture or distribute methamphetam...

Probe faults OAS boss for work romance, finds no misconduct

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — An outside investigation determined that the head of the Organization of American States showed poor judgment by carrying out a romantic relationship with a younger staffer but didn’t favor her in any salary or personnel decisions, according to a copy of the review seen by The Associated Press.The findings about Secretary General Luis Almagro’s conduct are contained in a 121-page report delivered Monday to OAS member states. And while it stopped short of clearing him of all the allegations, Almagro said the report represents closure to an issue that has divided regional governments along ideological lines and threatened to distract the democracy-building organization from its mission.“At every moment I acted with maximum transparency, putting first the organization’s interests and respecting the norms,” Almagro said in a 10-page response that was included in the report, a copy of which was shared with the AP by someone who received it on the condition of ano...

LA mayor wants $1.3B for homeless crisis, hotels for housing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, who was elected in November after promising to take on the city’s out-of-control homeless crisis, announced Monday she would recommend spending what she called a record $1.3 billion next year to get unhoused people into shelter and treatment programs.The funding to be included in the mayor’s upcoming budget could be used in part to buy hotels or motels that would be converted to housing, while the city combs through its inventory of properties for those that could be used for sheltering homeless people. The former congresswoman’s remarks, in an annual address to City Council on the state of the city, came roughly four months into her first term.Bass added that the budget also would include funds for substance abuse treatment beds for the unhoused, but she did not specify how many. And her signature program, dubbed Inside Safe that offers homeless people motel rooms and a path to permanent housing with services, has over 1,0...

‘Mangrove Man’ in India fights to salvage sinking shores

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

VYPIN ISLAND, India (AP) — On the receding shorelines of low-lying Vypin Island off India’s western coast, T. P. Murukesan fixed his eyes on the white paint peeling off the damp walls of his raised home and recounted the most recent floods. “The floods are occurring more frequently and lasting longer,” he said. The last flood was chest-height for his young grandson. “Every flood brings waters this high, we just deal with it.”Sea level rise and severe tidal floods have forced many families in Murukesan’s neighborhood to relocate to higher grounds over the years. But the retired fisherman has almost singlehandedly been buffering the impacts of the rising waters on his home and in his community.Known locally as “Mangrove Man,” Murukesan has turned to planting the trees along the shores of Vypin and the surrounding areas in the Kochi region of Kerala state to counter the impacts of rising waters on his home.Tidal flooding occurs when sea level rise combines with local factors to push wa...

Large fire, smoke billows in the sky prompts quick response from fire crews

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

CHICAGO -- A massive fire broke out at a pallet yard on Chicago's southwest side Monday evening.According to reports, fire crews responded Monday to the intersection of West 25th Street and South Rockwell Street in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood.Smoke and flames could be scene coming from the property. Fire crews were able to contain the fire just after 8:30 p.m. Monday, but crews will reportedly remain on scene. ‘We’re so scared right now’: Indiana couple caught in downtown Chicago violence The flames were contained to the yard that was filled of pallets and raw wood for a manufacture of those items. CFD believes a large number of pallet's went up in flames, but are unsure what caused the fire.No injuries have been reported.No further information has been provided at this time.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Sun’s return Tuesday to boost temps; even warmer weather follows as new spring storm sends warm front across Chicago Wednesday night — 70s return Thursday but with t-storms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

Watch how the National Weather Service's GFS model sends moisture into the central U.S. with the new spring storm. This is the forecast for 1am CDT TuesdayTHE FOLLOWING SERIES OF PREDICTED WEATHER MAPS shows how the new spring storm is to traverse the country. This panel is the forecast for 7am CDT WednesdayFROM JULY-LEVEL WARMTH TO FEBRUARY-LEVEL CHILLChicagoans have been on the receiving end of a jarring—and all too APRIL-LIKE 44-degree temperature pullback over the past 2 days. It’s a temp plunge which has effectively taken the area from July-level warmth on Saturday back to a late February-level chill.Saturday’s high of 83 is but a distant memory as we move into Monday evening in the wake of an afternoon high of just 39-degrees—a reading 21-degrees below normal. Add to the chill and the 40-mph gusts which delivered the overnight and Monday morning snow that coated the ground near O’Hare with 0.4 inches of snow, just a trace at Midway, and as much as 1.8 inches fell in far north ...

Illinois alum among the 2023 Boston Marathon winners

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

BOSTON — It was a moment to remember at one of the biggest road races in all of the world for a graduate of the University of Illinois who has honed her craft in the state.As it turns out, the ninth time was the charm with Susannah Scaroni at the Boston Marathon.The wheelchair athlete captured her first victory in the 127th edition of the iconic race on Monday as she bested the rest of the field in the women's division with room to spare. Scaroni crossed the finish line with a time of 1:41:45, besting Australia's Madison de Rozario by over five minutes. It's the first time that she captured the win in her ninth Boston Marathon, having finished second in 2018 and third in 2014, 2015, and 2017. Scaroni continues what has been a great run in marathon races over the past six months as she came home with the victory at the Chicago Marathon in October 2022 and the New York Marathon in November 2022. Earlier in her career, she also captured back-to-back women's wheelchair wins at the Los A...

San Marcos CISD board to vote on school marshal program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) - Monday night, the San Marcos CISD school board discussed the possibility of a school marshal program for the district. The school board is currently in executive session but is expected to vote when they finish. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: San Marcos CISD school board discusses school marshal program At the meeting, several parents and community members spoke out against the idea. "We can do better than just more guns," said one SMCISD parent. What is the school marshal program?It's a licensing program under the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement that allows school employees to carry a gun on campus. The marshal must fulfill certain requirements like have a current license to carry, pass a psychological exam and complete the 80-hour school marshal training. People expressed concerns about potentially arming teachers, but San Marcos CISD School Board President Clementine Cantu said they wouldn't do that. "Thinking about retired law officers or retired military t...

How could school choice vouchers affect high school sports in Texas?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:19:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Public high school sports in the state of Texas are a big reason why Hutto Athletic Director Brad LaPlante is where he is. He feels that legislation being discussed in Texas right now could threaten the future of the system he believes in so much."If you're not getting the same funding that you're used to doing to provide what you think you need to do for your coaching staff and the great kids that you work with every day, it hurts," said LaPlante. Senate bill gives detailed look into Republicans’ plans for ‘school choice’ The legislation is being dubbed the "Parental Bill of Rights," by Gov. Greg Abbott and other advocates. It would give parents $8,000 of public money to cover home-schooling expenses or private school tuition for their children.LaPlante and others feel that if Senate Bill 8 were to pass, public schools could lose students, and in turn, money. It creates doubt in a lot of areas, including athletic departments.There are fears that athletic programs ...