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Hurricane Otis rapidly grows into Category 4 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast heading for Acapulco

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Otis strengthened from a tropical storm to a dangerous Category 4 hurricane in a matter of hours Tuesday as it approached Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, where it was forecast to make landfall near the resort of Acapulco early Wednesday possibly as a catastrophic Category 5 storm.The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Otis has maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 kph) early Tuesday evening. It was centered about 85 miles (135 kilometers) south-southeast of Acapulco and moving north-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).The center warned that Otis would continue strengthening and could become a Category 5 hurricane with top winds above 157 mph (253 kph) before making landfall. A hurricane warning was in effect from Punta Maldonado to Zihuatanejo.In Acapulco, people hurried home as rain began to pelt the resort and winds picked up, driving tourists from the beach.The Guerrero state government said it was preparing 396 shelters in anticipation of families b...

Toll rises to 8 dead, 63 hurt from Louisiana interstate pileup blamed on dense fog, marsh fire smoke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The toll from a series of crashes on a Louisiana interstate rose to eight dead and 63 injured Tuesday evening, a day after a “super fog” of marsh fire smoke and dense fog snared more than 160 vehicles in the fiery pileup, authorities said. Lance Scott was among the many drivers caught in the wreckage on Interstate 55 west of New Orleans. The 51-year-old had been driving his daughter to the airport Monday morning when the fog thickened like a “white-out on a ski slope.” He slammed on his brakes, narrowly avoiding the cars in front of him while hearing “the most horrendous clank of metal” behind him.“It was, ’Bang. Bang. Bang.’ It just went on… for probably 45 seconds,” Scott said. “As every second went by the clanking of the metal got a little bit fainter, which told me it was backing up — so I knew there was layers and layers of collisions.”Scott turned to his 24-year-old daughter, an intensive care unit nurse, and said to her, “There’s going to be a l...

Hurricane Otis now a dangerous Category 4 storm, and forecasters warn it could reach Category 5 before landfall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Otis now a dangerous Category 4 storm, and forecasters warn it could reach Category 5 before landfall.Source

Tickets purchased in the name of suspended Michigan staffer to two SEC title games, AP source says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

Tickets for the last two Southeastern Conference championship games were purchased in the name of a suspended Michigan football staffer who is the focus of an NCAA investigation into an alleged sign-stealing scheme, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to speak publicly about an open NCAA investigation, said electronic records revealed Connor Stalions bought tickets to the games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.ESPN was first to report that in addition to tickets being purchased in Stalions’ name to multiple games involving most of Michigan’s Big Ten rivals over the past three years, he also bought tickets to the games of several potential College Football Playoff opponents for the Wolverines.Michigan has won the Big Ten and played in the CFP each of the last two seasons. The Wolverines lost to Georgia 34-11 in the Orange Bowl semifinal of the 2...

84-year-old Montgomery Co. woman scammed out of over $100k

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

Joy Boone can’t believe what happened to her 84-year-old mother.Boone said scammers convinced her mom who lives in Montgomery County, Maryland, to give them $120,000.Montgomery County police confirmed to WTOP that the incident was reported, and said detectives are investigating.“I just feel like she just got brainwashed,” Boone said of the incident.It started with a phone call from someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House, according to Boone. She suspects this is a sweepstakes scam — when people are contacted by impostors who tell them they’ve won a prize, even if they haven’t entered a contest, and must pay to claim their winnings.“They instructed her that she would need to pay taxes on her earnings,” Boone said. “That it was going to be $92,000 in taxes.”According to Boone, her mom got a $92,000 cashier’s check and deposited it into a local bank.“They also told her that when her bank questioned her as...

Get a look at the Denver Nuggets' lavish championship rings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets received their well-deserved championship rings Tuesday, and each ring is packed with symbolism.The rings were created by Jason of Beverly Hills, a firm that has created multiple championship rings for several professional sports teams over the years.Symbolism in the Nuggets ringsOne of the most unique elements of the ring is a lever that changes the color of the background on the top from blue to white."Using the lever at the top of the ring to change 1967 to 2023 switches the color of the ring top background from blue to white," a release from Jason of Beverly Hills said.A hidden retractable compartment that includes the championship banner is included on the side of the rings.Hidden compartment on the side of the championship ring (Credit: Jason of Beverly Hills).The 2023 Denver Nuggets Championship ring is packed with symbolism, according to the firm that designed it (Credit: Jason of Beverly Hills).Side of the Denver Nug...

Police increase patrols on Parker Road, where citizens complain of traffic woes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

PARKER, Colo. (KDVR) – Some in Parker are calling for changes along South Parker Road, where they say there have been too many crashes and traffic issues.On Saturday morning, a driver was killed at South Parker Road and Parkglenn Way. The Parker Police Department says the accident is still under investigation. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox FOX31 was told there have been three fatal crashes in the town of Parker this year. Now officers are stepping up patrols. Police say nearly a third of all September traffic stops were on Parker Road. Officers made 119 traffic stops and conducted traffic enforcement 12 times last month on Parker Road.Parker traffic citations doubleParker Police say they stepped up enforcement after citizens started asking that something be done to make it safer.“Our traffic stops are up 53% relative to last year," Public Information Officer Josh Hans said. "Our traffic citations have more than doubled in the last year. We unde...

Denver airport gargoyles reunited after 5-year separation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- After a long, five-year separation, both gargoyles tasked with guarding baggage at Denver International Airport have been reunited.DIA posted about the reunion, which was made possible by the reinstallation of the east side gargoyle.The two statues are part of "Notre Denver," by Terry Allen. They have been part of the airport since it first opened in 1995, but construction in the Great Hall forced one of them into storage. Colorado lawmakers ask TSA for answers on long security wait times The cast bronze gargoyles sit inside suitcases, and DIA said they watch over the baggage claim areas to ensure the safe arrival of baggage. The airport addressed rumors about the gargoyles -- as well as other conspiracies about DIA -- and said the two gargoyles love passengers and, perhaps more importantly, are not evil.

New executive chef for Miami Heat creates new menu for fans to try at Kaseya Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

The Miami Heat are getting set to tip off their season and fans can enjoy some new things to eat.This goes far beyond your typical burgers and hot dogs. It’s a menu fit for any top restaurant you’d find in South Florida.“Welcome to 601, with our new reinvented, re-imagined menu,” said Juan Prieto, executive chef.This season will be bringing the heat , and not just on the court, but also in the kitchen.The Miami Heat organization’s newest executive chef, Prieto, has been cooking up something special for fans and gave us a little taste of what’s to come.“It’s Latin and Asian fusion cuisine,” he said.Prieto invited everyone, basketball fan or not, to try out the dishes. Come for the game and stay for the food.“This area is one of the accessible areas in the arenas where you just need a regular ticket, you don’t need to be a special member or a season ticket member to come in here,” he said.There’s a array of ...

House Republicans meeting again to pick speaker candidate after Tom Emmer drops out of speaker’s race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:11 GMT

(CNN) — House Republicans are once again scrambling for a path forward after Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer dropped his bid for speaker just hours after winning his party’s nomination.The swift exit from the race is the latest sign that Republicans are still no closer to electing a new speaker three weeks after Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster.Republicans quickly pivoted to attempting to find a new nominee following Emmer’s abrupt withdrawal from the race and held another candidate forum Tuesday evening. There are now five candidates in the running: Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Mark Green also of Tennessee, Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Roger Williams of Texas. The conference is expected to vote later in the evening to select a new nominee.Republicans are under intensifying pressure to find a new leader as the House remains in a state of paralysis, and the GOP remains unable to govern without a speaker. The conference has repeatedly failed...