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Belarus leader asks Hungary’s Orban to visit and seeks a dialogue with EU amid country’s isolation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The authoritarian president of Belarus invited Hungary’s prime minister to visit his country, which has faced increasing isolation over the government’s relentless crackdown on dissent and support of ally Russia’s war with Ukraine. President Alexander Lukashenko extended the invitation to Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who arrived in Belarus earlier this week. Lukashenko expressed readiness “for a dialogue with European countries” and invited Orban over “to discuss serious matters.” Orban’s press chief, Bertalan Havasi, said the prime minister would consider the invitation once he returns from a European Union summit in Brussels.Belarus has come under a barrage of Western sanctions since 2020, when Lukashenko won his sixth term in an election the West and the opposition denounced as rigged. The vote sparked an unprecedented wave of mass protests, to which Lukashenko’s governmen...

Internet blackout in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes bomb emergency services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Palestinian telecom provider Paltel says internet service in Gaza Strip has been cut off by Israeli bombardment.Services were cut Friday evening, following a heavy round of Israeli airstrikes that lit up the night sky over the darkened territory.The Palestinian Red Crescent, the main emergency service in Gaza, said it was cut off from its operations room in the strip because of the internet blackout.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel expects to launch a long and difficult ground offensive into Gaza soon to destroy Hamas, the defense minister said Friday, describing a campaign that will require dismantling a vast network of tunnels used by the territory’s militant rulers.Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s comments pointed to a potentially grueling and open-ended new phase of the war, three weeks after Hamas’ attack into southern Israel sparked relentless bombardment in Ga...

Worker rescued from trench after scaffolding collapses at suburban construction site

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. —Emergency crews helped rescue a worker who was injured and trapped at a construction site Friday in Lake Forest.Lake Forest Fire Department said crews responded to the Onwentsia Country Club at 300 block of South Green Bay Road around 10 a.m. Friday.Upon arrival, emergency crew found a construction worker at the bottom of a basement foundation that was under construction. Fire officials said the worker was 15 feet below grade.According to fire officials, the worker was in the trench in the basement when surface scaffolding fell on him.Sixty pounds of steel fell 15 feet and the worker was struck in the back.The man was eventually freed and taken to the hospital. Fire officials said he was alert and responsive.Fire departments from the surrounding area including Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Lincolnshire, Highland Park, Libertyville, Northbrook, Wheeling, Newport, Buffalo Grove, and Grayslake assisted in the rescue.The country club is putting up a new pro shop. The shop wa...

Woman, 16-year-old boy killed in Matteson double shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

MATTESON, Ill. — Two people were killed late Thursday night in a shooting in south suburban Matteson. Officers responded to a shots fired call in the 4100 block of Lindenwood Drive just before 10:30 p.m. Arriving officers found a 20-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy with gunshot wounds to the head. The 16-year-old boy also suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. Both were rushed to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, where they were pronounced dead. According to police, the shooting victims did not reside in Matteson. The shooting incident appears to be isolated, officials added. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines There was no imminent danger to the public. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division of the Matteson Police Department at (708) 503-3130.

'It's truly a blessing:' A Pilsen running tradition continues to grow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

CHICAGO — A tradition is returning to Pilsen on Saturday, and the event's reach across the country is continuing to grow. Carrera de los Muertos 5K will be run for the 16th time in the neighborhood and sold out nearly two weeks before the event that starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. It features a record 6,000 participants, and perhaps more interesting, features runners coming from 25 states to take part in the event. Started in 2007, the 3.2 miles are part of the celebration of "Día de los Muertos" or "Day of the Dead" in the neighborhood."It's truly a blessing. We don't take it for granted," said race director Carlos Jaramillo of the record turnout. "Chicago has a very rich running scene and running community. There's so many great races out there and folks can choose from a variety of different ones and different distances as well."So to say that our race has the biggest field that it ever has, knowing full well that a lot of races have decreased in numbers or have remained kinda flat, i...

How veteran volunteers at a historic landmark help preserve WWI's enduring impact

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

KANSAS CITY (WDAF) – Kansas City is home to the country’s official National WWI Museum and Memorial, but there are many untold stories behind the people working at the popular attraction.The city is proud of the museum and has made it a focal point during the Royals World Series celebrations and Chiefs Super Bowl victory parades. Most recently, it was showcased during the 2023 NFL Draft, where more than 54 million people saw this landmark on TV.But the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City is more than just a beautiful landmark. It started as the “Liberty Memorial,” breaking ground in 1921 and officially opening its doors in 1926. The memorial was also founded by Kansas City residents, an aspect that is critical to its history.These days, the daily operations are mostly run by volunteers. Last year, more than 530 volunteers contributed more than 57,000 hours of their time. What’s even more amazing is that many of them have served our country, just like Army Veteran Paul Fr...

Day 5: APD Officer Christopher Taylor's statement read during murder trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The state continued to bring witnesses Friday on the fifth day of trial for Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.KXAN's Grace Reader will be in court Friday to provide live updates on social media platform X: Day 5: Testimony continues today in the trial of APD Officer Christopher Taylor. He's charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos in 2020. Thread from the courtroom Friday🔽https://t.co/kE2FOwJOVF— Grace Reader (@GraceReaderTV) October 27, 2023 Detective details investigation The jury heard Friday morning from a retired Austin Police Department detective who was the lead investigator for this shooting in 2020. Sergeant Dan Mireles testified Friday that the police department's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) dev...

Vikings at Packers picks: ‘Two teams headed in opposite directions’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

Members of the Pioneer Press sports staff who cover the Vikings forecast Sunday’s game against the Packers in Green Bay, Wis.:DANE MIZUTANIVikings 24, Packers 21This is going to be closer than last week’s results for both teams might suggest. In the end, though, the Vikings win, because for the first time in 30 years, the Packers don’t have a hall of famer under center.JOHN SHIPLEYVikings 27, Packers 19Two teams headed in opposite directions. Confidence counts.CHARLEY WALTERSVikings 31, Packers 21Was that really Kirk Cousins beating the 49ers? And now the Packers in Green Bay? Suddenly, these Vikings are worth watching.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | The underdog story of Vikings safety Cam Bynum: ‘All he had was the belief’ Minnesota Vikings | The Loop NFL Picks: Week 8 Minnesota Vikings | Vikings defense has more celebrations planned. Now the hard part: More turnovers to unveil them. Minnesota Viking...

26 amazing burgers by Minnesota chefs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

When some of the metro’s best chefs put their minds to making a burger, the results are nothing short of amazing.New or updated entries among these 26 restaurants are marked with asterisks.If you have other suggestions, please email them to us at [email protected] categories from our 2023 guide:Burgers for beer (and cocktail) hounds‘Cheffy’ burgersCult burgersDestination burgersDive bar burgersNeighborhood burgers1. * JucheWhen I say that a Korean restaurant has one of my favorite new burgers of the year, I’m often met with raised eyebrows, but this is a hill I’m willing to die upon. Chef Chris Her and owner Eddie Wu have made some burger magic in this dark, comfortable space. The bulgogi burger has a very slight Korean flavor — what mostly comes through is the delicious Peterson beef, topped simply with American cheese, aioli, romaine and caramelized onion and nestled into a squishy brioche bun. The spicy Korean burger is for the more adventurous am...

Vikings at Packers: What to know ahead of Week 8 matchup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:58:20 GMT

Here are some things to know before the Vikings travel to play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday:Vikings at PackersWhen: 12 p.m. SundayWhere: Lambeau FieldTV: FOXRadio: KFANLine: Vikings – 1.5Over/Under: 42Keys for the Vikings— After an impressive performance on Monday Night Football in a win over the 49ers, the Vikings need their offensive line to hold up against the Packers and their sneaky-good defensive front. If quarterback Kirk Cousins can go through his progression, he has shown the ability to slice and dice whatever defense is in front of him. It’s on the offensive line to give him enough time to throw.— There should be ample opportunities for the Vikings to rush the passer this weekend. If they can make young Packers quarterback Jordan Love uncomfortable, they could be in really good shape. He has been a turnover machine as of late with six interceptions during a three-game losing streak.Keys for the Packers— There should be a concerted effort from the Packers not to pu...