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GOP candidates tangle in Milwaukee as they vie to be the leading alternative to front-runner Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

By SARA BURNETT, JILL COLVIN and JONATHAN J. COOPER (Associated Press)MILWAUKEE (AP) — Republican presidential candidates opened the first Republican primary debate Wednesday night with broadsides against President Joe Biden — and each other — as they vied to be the leading alternative to front-runner Donald Trump.While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running a distant second to the former president, was expected to be the top target as the front-runner on the stage, the candidates focused their early attacks on tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been rising in the polls.“Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don’t need to bring in a rookie. We don’t need to bring in people without experience,” said former Vice President Mike Pence, who opened the debate on a fiery note as he tried to position himself as the most experienced man in stageFormer New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has emerged as a fierce critic of Trump, al...

Trump gets jump on GOP rivals, blasts Biden and tackles fear of ‘civil war’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

As he GOP rivals had yet to speak, former President Donald Trump came out blasting away at the “bullshit” being thrown his way and the fear of a “civil war” over the 2024 election.In a pre-recorded interview with Tucker Carlson on X, the former Twitter platform, the Republican front-runner called out President Biden’s competency and said his top priority if elected will be tackling the border crisis.Carlson’s last question in the one-hour scoop, however, was stark: Did Trump fear a “civil war” was brewing?“I don’t know,” Trump said, adding that on Jan. 6, 2020, he had never seen so much “spirit and passion.” But, he cautioned, “that level of passion and hatred is a bad combination.”On Biden, he said “he’s worse mentally than his is physically,” adding photos of the president on the beach is not a good look.Trump predicted the Democrats “will have some kind of primary....

Man accused of strangling wife, fleeing to Mexico pleads not guilty

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man accused of strangling his wife to death and then fleeing to Mexico was arraigned in a South Bay courtroom Wednesday.The San Diego Police Department is calling this a tragic case of domestic violence.German Armando Luna Salazar, 44, appeared in person in the courtroom with a Spanish interpreter and pleaded not guilty to all charges.Just after midnight on the Fourth of July, a citizen reported a body inside of a vehicle parked in a lot in the 4400 block of Camino De La Plaza in San Ysidro. Officers responded and found 32-year-old Leyva Elizabeth Oregel Garcia dead in the vehicle. She had been reported missing from Guadalupe, CA on July 2. That's about 302 miles north from where she was found dead. It's not clear where the murder took place.According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, the female suffered blunt force trauma to her upper body and died by strangulation. San Diego Lifeguards cracking down on illegal boats, jet skis in Mission Bay After ...

Trump attacks rivals in online interview with Tucker Carlson while skipping presidential debate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — While eight Republican presidential candidates tried to make their case in Wednesday night’s debate that their party should move on from Donald Trump in 2024, the former president tried to make his case that everyone but him is irrelevant.Trump, the early front-runner for the nomination, skipped the first Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee, instead opting to appear in a pre-recorded interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson posted Wednesday night on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. The interview was posted online five minutes before the debate aired. “Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president?” Trump said in the 46-minute interview. “Should I be doing that at a network that isn’t particularly friendly to me?” Trump attacked some of his rivals early, calling former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson “nasty,” and cited him as an example of ...

The candidates are going after one another at the leadoff 2024 GOP debate. Follow live updates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Follow along for live updates on the first 2024 Republican presidential debate. The field’s early front-runner, Donald Trump, skipped the event and conducted an interview with Tucker Carlson instead.What to know— Trump won’t be at the GOP’s first presidential debate. But his presence will be felt — Who’s in, who’s out, who’s boycotting: The 8 candidates appearing on stage — Want to tune in for the debate? Here’s how to watch — Trump’s decision to back out tests Fox News’ ability to pivot again — The GOP presidential debate puts the spotlight on swing-state WisconsinDeSantis borrows Trump’s famous lineIt was Donald Trump’s famous line on “The Apprentice,” but at the debate, “You’re fired!” was taken over by one of his top GOP challengers.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that “a major reason” for America’s current struggles is “because how this federal government handled COVID-19 by locking down this economy.”DeSantis, who has talked often on the campaign tr...

PeaceHealth to shutter only hospital in Eugene, Oregon; nurse’s union calls it ‘disastrous’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — PeaceHealth announced this week it is closing the only hospital in Eugene, Oregon, and moving services 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to its Springfield location. PeaceHealth said Tuesday the hospital serving the city of about 178,000 people is underutilized, the Register-Guard reported. The PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District in Eugene, which first opened in 1936, employs hundreds of nurses, health care professionals and staff.PeaceHealth officials said patient volume has been declining, causing the hospital to lose an average of $2 million per month. The facility has about 95 patient visits daily, with about 15.5 patients per month admitted as inpatients and 7.5 patients per month admitted for observation, according to hospital officials.“As the needs of the Lane County community evolve, PeaceHealth services and sites of care also need to evolve to ensure compassionate, high-quality care now and in the future,” Alicia Beymer, chief administrat...

UN Security Council — minus China and Russia — condemns Myanmar military’s killing of civilians

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Members of the U.N. Security Council – minus China and Russia – condemned the “unrelenting violence” and killing of civilians in Myanmar and again urged its military rulers to stop attacks, release ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and respect human rights.Thirteen of the 15 council members on Wednesday backed a joint statement that said there had been “insufficient progress” on implementing the first-ever Security Council resolution on Myanmar that was adopted last December. In that 12-0 vote, China and Russia, which have ties to the military that seized power from Suu Kyi’s elected civilian government in February 2021, abstained along with India whose two-year term on the council has ended.Britain’s deputy U.N. ambassador James Kariuki read the statement, flanked by diplomats from the other countries, after the council was briefed at a closed meeting by U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths on his recent visit to Myanmar and by Assistant Secretary-General Kha...

Indigo store in Toronto will offer alcohol in new concept

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

Indigo is prepared to try something new at one of its Toronto locations in a concept that will allow customers to consume alcohol as they browse for books.A new 16,000-square-foot Indigo store will open this fall in Toronto’s The Well development, stretching down the western side of Spadina Avenue from Wellington to Front.This Indigo location will allow customers to drink beer, wine or coffee while shopping. Additionally, snacks will be offered for customers to enjoy.Indigo CEO Peter Ruis said the move will be a radically different experience for shoppers.“We know our customers love the current Indigo stores, but we also know the world is changing, and people are craving more meaningful experiences that get them closer to their passions,” Ruis said in a statement on Wednesday.“We are thrilled to offer our customers an elevated experience that is much more than a shop. This will be a destination and social meeting place, celebrating the best of what Indigo doe...

The Fukushima nuclear plant’s wastewater will be discharged to the sea. Here’s what you need to know

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese officials plan to start discharging treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, a contentious step more than 12 years after a massive earthquake and tsunami set off a battle against ever-increasing amounts of radioactive water at the plant.The government and plant operator say the release is an unavoidable part of its decommissioning and will be safely carried out, but the plan faces opposition in and outside Japan. Here is a look at the controversy. WHY IS THERE SO MUCH WASTEWATER?The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami destroyed the plant’s cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt. Highly contaminated cooling water applied to the damaged reactors has leaked continuously to building basements and mixed with groundwater.The plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), has taken steps to limit the amount of groundwater and rainwater entering the reactor area, and...

Bears legend Steve McMichael named 1 of 4 committee finalists for 2024 Hall of Fame class

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:19 GMT

CANTON, Ohio — Steve "Mongo" McMichael is one step closer to the Hall of Fame.On Tuesday, McMichael was selected as one of four finalists for the hall's Seniors Committee.Two other former players who were selected were former Denver Bronco Randy Gradishar and Art Powell, primarily remembered for his days as an Oakland Raider.Coach Buddy Parker was also selected as a finalist in a separate category.The three finalists from the Seniors Committee now move on to the main vote for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024. That will be in front of the main 50-person committee that will meet Super Bowl week, with each candidate needing 80 percent approval to get in.Last year, all three finalists from the Seniors Committee were inducted as part of the Class of 2023. The members of this year's class will be announced at the NFL Honors show on Super Bowl week.McMichael was among the first group of 24 players that were picked by the Seniors Committee for consideration for the Class of 2024 ...