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US tells China a Taiwan president stopover is ‘nothing new’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is putting out the word that an expected stopover in the United States by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen would fall in line with recent precedent and should not be used as a pretext by China to step up aggressive activity in the Taiwan Strait.In recent weeks, senior U.S. officials in Washington and Beijing have underscored to their Chinese counterparts that transit visits through the United States during broader international travel by the Taiwanese president have been routine in recent years, according to a senior administration official. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.In such unofficial visits in recent years, Tsai has met with members of Congress and the Taiwanese diaspora and has been welcomed by the chairperson of the American Institute in Taiwan, the U.S. government-run nonprofit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan. The official added that the anticipated stopover is “noth...

Spanish govt faces confidence vote brought by far right

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain’s parliament on Tuesday debated a confidence vote brought by the nation’s far-right Vox party against the governing left-wing coalition that has little chance of succeeding.No other party in the 348-member lower chamber in Madrid has said it will support the attempt by Vox’s 52 lawmakers to topple the government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez when the vote is held on Wednesday.In a move that has been widely panned by other political parties and Spanish media, Vox leader Santiago Abascal has broken with custom and is not presenting himself as an alternative prime minister. Instead, in an attempt to lure votes from centrist and leftist legislators, Vox convinced a former communist party member and university professor to lead the no-confidence measure. Ramón Tamames, 89, who was a lawmaker in the 1970s-80s, has pledged that if the vote were to prosper, his only act as prime minister would be to immediately call for national elections to coincid...

Trump legal woes force another moment of choosing for Republicans

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — From the moment he rode down the Trump Tower escalator to announce his first presidential campaign, a searing question has hung over the Republican Party: Is this the moment to break from Donald Trump?Elected Republicans have wavered at times — whether it was Trump's condemnation of John McCain's war record, his racist attack against a Mexican-American judge, his sexually predatory language caught on video, his alleged extramarital affairs, his decision to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence, his promotion of false allegations of election fraud and his incitement of a violent mob that threatened the lives of lawmakers in both parties. NYC preparing for protests ahead of possible Trump indictment But after almost eight years of near-constant scandal, Republicans have ultimately rallied behind Trump over and over and over again.Now, on the eve of a new presidential campaign season, that loyalty is being tested anew as Trump prepares...

Is it illegal to drive with a flat tire in Illinois?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Hypothetically, if you get a flat tire and you're only a mile away from the nearest service station — and you don't have a spare tire — do you call a tow truck? Or drive on the flat?According to Illinois law, you call the tow truck. It is illegal in the state to drive on a flat tire, which is considered unsafe.According to the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/12-405), "No person or organization shall place, drive or move, or cause or allow to be placed, driven or moved, on a highway of this State, any vehicle equipped with one or more pneumatic tires deemed to be unsafe." Can I buy weed off the street in Illinois? However, there are exceptions, but those are in effect only if the vehicle is being transported "not under its own power," such as being towed, pushed "or otherwise transferred" to a repair, relocation, storage, salvage, junking, or another collection site.Illinois law considers a tire unsafe if the tread or sidewall is cracked; if there is a bul...

NY grand jury appears near end of its work in Trump case

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York grand jury investigating Donald Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment.Trump over the weekend claimed without any evidence that he would be arrested on Tuesday, with his representatives later saying he was citing media reports and leaks. There was no indication that prediction would come true, though the grand jury appeared to take an important step forward by hearing Monday from a witness favorable to Trump, presumably so prosecutors could ensure the panel had a chance to consider any testimony that could be remotely seen as exculpatory. NYC preparing for protests ahead of possible Trump indictment The next steps in a grand jury process shrouded in secrecy remained unclear, and it was uncertain if additional witnesses might be summoned. But a city mindful of the riot by Trump loyalists at the U.S. Capitol more...

Man shot, killed on Montopolis Drive overnight

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man was shot and killed in southeast Austin overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning. Austin Police said a 911 call of gunshots near 800 Montopolis Drive came in around 12:28 a.m.That area is between Hwy 183 and East Riverside Drive, close to the intersection of Montopolis Drive and Felix Avenue. APD arrived at 12:36 a.m. and found a man in his early 20s with signs of trauma. Police tried to save his life until EMS got there, but he died on the scene around 12:47 a.m.Another man in his 20s showed up to a local hospital with injuries related to the incident, according to APD. Police said that man is stable. Police are talking to a person of interest and a witness. APD said this was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. This is being considered Austin's 18th homicide of the year. APD initially said that a Monday death investigation on Meridian Oaks Lane was the 18th homicide of the year. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Fire burns vacant downtown Austin building

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Fire crews put out a fire at a vacant building on Congress Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets early Tuesday morning. AFD told KXAN that crews were called out around 11:40 p.m. Monday after a 911 caller reported seeing smoke. AFD says a responding fire crew saw fire in the second floor window of the building at 903 Congress. That's when more crews were called. According to AFD, the fire did not spread beyond the vacant structure and there was no one inside at the time of the fire. No one was hurt in the fire.AFD posted on social media at 1 a.m. that crews were working outside the building because of structural conditions. AFD says crews were putting out hotspots and you could no longer see flames from the outside of the building.

Warmer, muggier leading up to next cold front

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After an extended stretch of cooler weather, our much-anticipated warm-up begins today. BLOG: April showers: Here's the outlook for Central Texas Today starts cloudy for all and wet for some with spotty light rain making for a slick commute in parts of the Austin-metro. By midday, rain clears and clouds thin. Afternoon highs will return to the 70s with breezy south winds gusting to 25 mph.First Warning: Next Threat of Severe ThunderstormsA strong storm system passing north of our area will send down a Pacific cold front late Thursday into Friday, likely triggering a line of strong storms overnight.Low risk of strong to severe storms in the Hill Country late Thursday into early FridayWe are currently expecting the bulk of the rain and thunderstorms after midnight Thursday night, through the morning commute Friday. Rainfall amounts look to average around 1/2". Stay tuned for updates.Forecast rain totals through Friday eveningFIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date wi...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Can You Celebrate Your Brother's Divorce W/His Pending Ex-Wife?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Ellen and it's about celebrating a divorce. Here's the email: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime I'm in a sticky situation. My brother and sister-in-law are getting divorced after a 14 year marriage. It was not his idea, it was hers. I have been very close with my sister-in-law, and in fact I knew her before my brother did. Well now, my sister-in-law is having a divorce party and rented a beautiful house at the Jersey shore for a weekend this June to celebrate. She invited me and I'm thinking about going because it sounds like fun and a bunch of friends are going, but I don't want to hurt my brother's feelings. I would think he would understand that I was friends with her before they were even married. The rest of my family is telling me not to go, but I think I should be able to. It doesn't mean I don't love my brother. What do you think? Thanks so mu...

Ask Amy: A “thin and fit” person tries to understand obesity

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:59:45 GMT

Dear Amy: I have always been thin and fit. I eat well and exercise.Like most people, I have friends and family who struggle terribly with weight issues.I have read volumes about the genetic origins of obesity and want to be sensitive to this issue.I can’t help but noticing, however, that the overweight people I know eat a lot more than I do, exercise less, and generally lead far less healthy lifestyles.Am I to believe they’re genetically prone to these behaviors?Please help me to understand the science!— Trying not to JudgeDear Trying not to Judge: To quote author Roxanne Gay: “When you’re overweight, people project assumed narratives onto your body and are not at all interested in the truth.”If you truly wanted to understand the science, you would have gone ahead and digested (excuse the pun) the portion of research you’ve done, versus the choice you’ve made — to scratch your head in disingenuous wonderment that you witness overweight people eating more and moving less ...