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Belgian minister quits over ‘monumental’ security error

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

By Lorne Cook | Associated PressBRUSSELS — Belgium’s justice minister resigned on Friday over what he described as a “monumental error” after it was discovered that Tunisia was seeking the extradition last year of an Islamic extremist who shot dead two Swedes and wounded a third this week.Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said that he and his services had been searching for details to understand how Abdesalem Lassoued had disappeared off the map two years ago after being denied asylum and ordered by Belgian authorities to be deported to Tunisia.On Monday night, Lassoued gunned down two Swedish men and wounded a third with a semiautomatic rifle. The attack forced the lockdown of more than 35,000 people in a soccer stadium where they had gathered to watch Belgium play Sweden.In a video posted online, he claimed to be inspired by the Islamic State group. Police shot him dead on Tuesday morning in a Brussels cafe.“This morning at nine o’clock, I rem...

San Jose’s BART extension gets oversight after major cost jump, timeline delay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

San Jose’s BART extension, one of the nation’s priciest transportation projects, will get a watchdog after transit officials recently revealed exploding price estimates and a significantly delayed timeline.On Friday, the chair of the Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors announced the project would be under the eye of an oversight committee that will review problems going forward, provide recommendations and probe the project’s financials.“This committee will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the project,” Chairperson Pat Burt said. It will report to the full VTA board “on any and all issues that raise concern.”Burt — who as chair has the authority to form the committee — recommended the members include himself, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmembers Dev Davis and Omar Torres, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and City of Santa Clara Councilmember Sudhanshu “Suds” Jain. The trans...

BART delayed on Richmond Line due to police activity at Berkeley Station

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- There is a 20-minute delay on the Richmond Line in all directions due to police activity at the Berkeley Station Friday afternoon, according to a tweet from BART. 2 California Hells Angels sentenced to prison in case involving murder, illegal cremation The transit system did not specify how long trains would be delayed. No other details were immediately available.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

UCB center Ila Lane named preseason watchlist for the 2024 Lisa Leslie Award

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

(KRON) – University of California at Berkeley’s center Ila Lane was among 20 players named to the preseason watchlist for the 2024 Lisa Leslie Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced on Friday. The Lisa Leslie Award annual award recognizes the top centers in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. The deciding committee is top college basketball personnel. Andre Iguodala retiring after 19 seasons in NBA “Ila has been a dominant center her entire career and is deserving to be recognized as one of the best in the country,” Cal head coach Charmin Smith said. “She brings a high basketball IQ along with a strong and active low block presence to our team. I expect her to have an immediate impact for our squad and make her mark in the Pac.”Lane is one of 19 active players in NCAA Division I women’s basketball to record at least 1,000 points and 800 rebounds for her career. In 2021-22, Lane was even named to th...

Pa. governor administration settles for $295K with woman who accused a top aide of sexual harassment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — After a top aide to Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was accused of sexual harassment earlier this year, the governor’s office settled with the complainant for $295K last month, according to documents released by the administration Friday through an open records request.The settlement stems from allegations made by a coworker against Mike Vereb, who served as Shapiro’s secretary of legislative affairs until his resignation in September. The woman, who started in her role not long after Shapiro was taking office, wrote in a complaint earlier this year that Vereb made lewd, misogynistic remarks and she was retaliated against when she spoke up.Her attorney, Charles Pascal, confirmed the settlement, which provided $196,365 to the woman and $49,517 to both law firms she had hired to represent her through this process. He declined further comment.Source

Defending champion Otaegui shares 3-way lead at Andalucia Open after 2nd round

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

SAN ROQUE, Spain (AP) — Defending champion Adrián Otaegui was in a three-way tie for the halfway lead at the Andalucia Masters after shooting 3-under 69 in the second round on Friday.The Spaniard is level with Louis de Jager of South Africa (67) and Jeong weon Ko of France (68) at 9-under 135 going into the weekend.Otaegui has not made a single bogey over the first 36 holes.“I think I played very solid from tee to green, didn’t put myself in too much trouble over the last two days,” he said.Otaegui, a four-time European Tour winner, won at the Real Club Valderrama by a full six shots a year ago.Daniel Hillier is one shot back, followed by a six more players on 7 under.U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, the only top-10 player in the field, was seven shots back in a tie for 44th, along with Robert Macintyre.Matt Kuchar just made the cut on 1 under.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfSource

WATCH: Damage from water main break closes Kirby Road in McLean

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

A water main break flooded a roadway early Friday morning in McLean, Virginia, causing extensive road damage.It happened before 5 a.m. Fairfax County police came to the scene at Kirby Road between Sugarstone Court and Claiborne Drive.Officers are on scene of a water main break in McLean. Both directions of Kirby Rd are closed between Sugarstone Ct and Claiborne Dr. Please avoid the area as repairs are made. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/Z3WaVUL9eZ— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) October 20, 2023The road is expected to take several days to repair and drivers are advised to avoid the area, police said. The WTOP Traffic Center said it will continue to be closed through the weekend.Below is a map where the water main break took place. Source

Pennsylvania gov’s office agrees to pay $295K to settle sexual harassment complaint by ex-employee against former aide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania gov’s office agrees to pay $295K to settle sexual harassment complaint by ex-employee against former aide.Source

General Motors raises offer to autoworkers union ahead of UAW bargaining update

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is to update members Friday afternoon on progress in contract talks with Detroit’s three automakers as General Motors increased its offer to the union in an effort to end a strike.In a statement, GM said it made an offer Friday with “substantial movement in all key areas in an effort to reach a final agreement with the UAW and get our people back to work.”The company says the offer raises pay for most of the work force to $40.39 per hour, or about $84,000 per year by the end of a four-year contract. That’s a 23% increase over the $32.32 per hour that most factory workers make. Compounded annually it’s 25%.The company also said it reinstated cost of living raises for many employees in the first year of the contract, boosting the pay increase to over 30% by September of 2027. Workers gave up the inflation-fighting raises in 2007 when the companies were in financial trouble.GM previously had offered to contribute...

Families hold out hope for hostages after a mother and daughter are released

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:25 GMT

Families of the more than 200 people whom the Israeli military says were taken hostage by Hamas militants are holding out hope after the news that two hostages have been released. But nearly two weeks after their loved ones were abducted during the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, family members of those abducted are left struggling with thoughts of what they might be enduring and how to explain to young children what happened to their parents.Here are some of their stories.Judith and Natalie RaananJudith and Natalie Raanan, an American woman and her teenage daughter, have been released and are being reunited with family. It was the first such hostage release. Before the release was announced Friday, Natalie Raanan’s brother, Ben, described her as a typical 17-year-old: she loves art, makeup, fashion, and DoorDash — “she hates eating at home.”She graduated from high school in the Chicago suburbs this year and has a birthday coming up, according to her brother, who...