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NATO skirts final call on Ukraine membership, leaving unity-testing fight for later

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

Vilnius is only the beginning.Ukraine wants NATO to give it a clear path to membership at this week’s summit in Lithuania. And the request is tying the group’s members in knots.Just wait until they have to make a real decision. When the shooting eventually stops, NATO allies will actually have to choose: Is Ukraine in or out? That’s the moment that will truly test the alliance’s unity.Kyiv wants to join NATO as soon as hostilities are over and has advocated for the alliance to put Ukraine on a concrete path to membership in the meantime. It argues the promise would help the war effort now, leaving no room for Russia to think it can cleave Ukraine from the West. Allies, however, have struggled to address Kyiv’s demands. And while a compromise is in the making, the emotional lobbying and intense negotiations are merely a small preview of a much bigger political fight over Europe and Ukraine’s future once ceasefire negotiations start.Can a country with disputed borders be gra...

Proud perk: Salem makes parking free for vets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

Parking in the city of Salem is now free for veterans, a move the mayor hopes is a meaningful gesture for those who served our country.Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo called the program “a small gesture but an important one.” Drivers who park at metered spots or one of the city’s surface parking lots with a pay station won’t have to pay if they have a veteran license plate following the unanimous vote of approval from the Salem City Council.The new rule was signed into law last week.All other parking rules still apply to people with veteran plates.“This is just another step in that expression of our gratitude and our commitment to their families,” Pangallo said. View this complete list of eligible license plates.

Safety concerns on the water as cities and towns grapple with lifeguard shortages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

Many swimmers across the state are swimming at their own risk this summer as cities and towns work to incentivize open lifeguard positions amid an ongoing shortage.In Revere and in Boston, special programs have been set up in the hopes of staffing beaches, parks, and pools during the busy summer months.Just Saturday, officials in New Hampshire were reminding residents about water safety after three separate water-related deaths in six hours.The CDC says drownings hit their peak in the US in July.The City of Boston is offering free certification and training for those who join the city as lifeguards.

‘Floor Lords’ bringing international breakdancing competition to Boston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

Boston’s oldest breakdancing crew, Floor Lords, is marking its more than 40 years of dancing with an international breakdancing competition in the city.The event next Sunday is a chance for dancers across the nation to come to Boston to compete and show what they can do.The Floor Lords were founded in 1981. Its President, Alex Diaz, aka BBoy El Nino, said breakdancing has been in his family for as long as he can remember.His uncles, he said, founded the crew.Winners at the competition will walk away with cash prizes.

Revolution suffer controversial 2-1 loss at New York Red Bulls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

The Revolution had their seven-game unbeaten streak snapped with a controversial 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.With the Revolution down a man, Red Bulls’ midfielder Wikelman Carmona scored the game-winner in the 85th minute. The Revolution appeared headed for an unwarranted point when right back Brandon Bye deadlocked the match 1-1 in 79th minute.The Revolution tied the game 2-2 on a tally by Andrew Farrell in the 93rd minute. But the goal was disallowed when it was determined that Revs’ striker Giacomo Vrioni interfered with the sight line of NYRB keeper Carlos Coronel.“The ball was deflected by a Red Bull player so the goal should have been good,” said Revolution head coach Bruce Arena. “That is my opinion of it.“They said Vrioni was interfering with the goalkeeper. But with the Red Bull player deflecting the ball the goal should be allowed. That’s the third time this year we have had a goal taken away on a VAR interpretati...

Employers want arbitrator for maintenance issues as talks resume in B.C. port strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

VANCOUVER — Talks between the two sides in an ongoing port strike in British Columbia have resumed, ending a days-long stretch away from the negotiating table.The BC Maritime Employers Association issued a statement on Saturday evening saying it met with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and proposed a committee and independent arbitrator to make recommendations related to the key sticking points around maintenance work. The meeting took place a day before the union is expected to hold a rally in Vancouver in support of the 7,400 workers who walked off the job on Canada Day, in part because the union says its jurisdiction over maintenance is being eroded by the use of contractors.Talks broke off on Monday, and the association has accused the union of trying to “aggressively expand” its control of maintenance duties beyond what has been established for decades.In its latest statement, the association says an arbitrator could make non-binding recommend...

‘Very dangerous’ inmate escapes Pennsylvania jail using bed sheets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

Authorities from local, state and federal agencies were searching Saturday for an inmate described by police as “very dangerous” who escaped from a jail in northwestern Pennsylvania using bed sheets, officials said.Michael Burham, 34, escaped from a jail in Warren by climbing on exercise equipment and using bed sheets to escape through a window, authorities said. Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said Burham was being held in lieu of $1 million bail on kidnapping, burglary and other charges, and Warren police said he was a suspect in a homicide investigation.Law enforcement officials believed Burham was still in the Warren area and had likely changed clothes since he escaped wearing a blue denim coat and orange jail jumpsuit, Bivens told a Saturday news conference. Burham is “a self-taught survivalist with military experience and could be potentially holed up in a wooded area,” Bivens said.“He is considered very dangerous, and the public is asked to be vigilant...

NU football players release statement, student newspaper details hazing allegations made against team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — The Northwestern University football team released a statement Saturday after a story from the university's student-run newspaper detailed hazing allegations made against the team that lead to head coach Pat Fitzgerald's suspension Friday.In a statement obtained by WGN, Northwestern's football team wrote "to address the recent hazing investigation" and offer support for their head coach, who they reiterated was not involved, or had knowledge of the hazing allegations until they were brought to his attention during the investigation.The full statement can be read at the bottom of this article.The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University's student-run newspaper, published an article Saturday morning detailing hazing allegations made by a former football player within the program, that were also confirmed by a second player.According to the article, the center of the hazing allegations focused around a practice called 'running.'According to both players, who spoke o...

Brush fire in Hays County around 150 acres

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A brush fire near Hilliard Road in Hays County has reached nearly 150 acres as of 9 p.m. Friday. Mike Jones, Hays County director of emergency services, said that emergency responders are calling it the "Vineyard Fire.""We've got plenty of water on hand," said Jones.No homes are currently at risk from the fire, and Jones said that his agency is not planning any evacuation of civilians.South Hays Fire Department is leading the firefighting effort with the assistance of multiple other fire departments, including the San Marcos Fire Department. STARFlight is also performing airdrops of water onto the fire. According to Jones, around 60 firefighters are involved in the operation.This is a developing story. KXAN will provide more details as they become available.

Driverless cars stop traffic on Austin streets, company responds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:27 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — Two autonomous vehicles blocked lanes of traffic Friday night, the company that owns them said the vehicles stopped as a safety measure. Self-driving cars roll around Austin Cruise, a rideshare and delivery company, responded to KXAN's inquiry about the cars. One vehicle was stopped in a lane of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, another was stopped near the intersection of W.15th Street and Trinity.Multiple videos show self-driving cars from the company Cruise stopping in the middle of busy roads in downtown Austin. @kxan_news is looking into this traffic hazard. pic.twitter.com/T8Hhz1xOLr— Ricky (@RickyG_TV) July 8, 2023A Cruise spokesperson said when the driverless cars are uncertain of the safest way to proceed, they will pull over and turn on their hazard lights.In a statement, the company said there are Remote Assistance advisors who monitor and occasionally assist vehicles in incidents like this. "Within our dedicated team who continuously monitor...