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Coal miners in North Dakota unearth a mammoth tusk buried for thousands of years

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The first person to spot it was a shovel operator working the overnight shift, eyeing a glint of white as he scooped up a giant mound of dirt and dropped it into a dump truck.Later, after the truck driver dumped the load, a dozer driver was ready to flatten the dirt but stopped for a closer look when he, too, spotted that bit of white.Only then did the miners realize they had unearthed something special: a 7-foot-long mammoth tusk that had been buried for thousands of years.“We were very fortunate, lucky to find what we found,” said David Straley, an executive of North American Coal, which owns the mine.The miners unearthed the tusk from an old streambed, about 40 feet (12.1 meters) deep, at the Freedom Mine near Beulah, North Dakota. The 45,000-acre (18,210-hectare) surface mine produces up to 16 million tons (14.5 million metric tons) of lignite coal per year. After spotting the tusk, the crews stopped digging in the area and called in experts, who estimated ...

Louisiana Gov.-elect Jeff Landry to be inaugurated Sunday, returning state’s highest office to GOP

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana Gov.-elect Jeff Landry, a Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump and known for his conservative positions on issues like abortion, is set to be inaugurated Sunday afternoon on the steps of the state Capitol. The inauguration scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. outside of the capitol in Baton Rouge originally was slated for Monday but was pushed up a day due to weather concerns. However, it is purely ceremonial and Landry will not officially take office until the next day. Landry, who has served as the state’s attorney general for eight years, won the gubernatorial election in October, beating a crowded field of candidates and avoiding a runoff. The win was a major victory for the GOP, reclaiming the governor’s mansion. Incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, was unable to seek reelection due to term limits.Landry, 53, has raised the profile of attorney general since taking office in 2016, championing conservative policy position...

As police lose the war on crime in South Africa, private security companies step in

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Thamsanqa Mothobi was going about his life in Johannesburg when he was carjacked and taken to an informal settlement where robbers accessed his mobile banking apps.“They had guns and demanded the PIN codes for my apps. They increased the withdrawal limits in my accounts and emptied them. I was only released in the early hours of the morning,” the father of three said, adding that his one comfort was that he was not killed.It’s an all-too-common story in South Africa, a country that in the past year has seen an average of 75 killings and 400 robberies with aggravating circumstances every day, according to official statistics. While it may be Africa’s most developed country, it also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. Experts have warned that the South African police are losing the battle against crime — and that has led those citizens who can afford it to turn to a booming private security industry. “It’s not getting better, it is gettin...

At Florida’s only public HBCU, students watch warily for political influence on teaching of race

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A core mission of Florida A&M University from its founding over a century ago has been to educate African Americans. It was written into the law that established the school along with another college, in Gainesville, reserved for white students.At Florida’s only public historically Black university, some students now fear political constraints might get in the way of teaching parts of their history. A law signed last spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, blocks public colleges from using taxpayer money on diversity programs. It also forbids instruction of theories that “systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.”The new law, part of broader GOP efforts to rein in campus efforts on equity and inclusion, has spurred protests on campus. Some students say they are wat...

Resurrected Golden Globes will restart the party with ‘Barbie,’ ‘Oppenheimer’ and Swift

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

The Golden Globes are back from the dead, and ready to party.The long-running award show will again have the champagne flowing Sunday night when the 81st Globes begin at 8 p.m. EST. Much will look the same as always when well-attired celebrities gather at the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom in Los Angeles.But the Globes are returning sans the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which was disbanded after years of diversity and ethical scandals. The Globes also lost its longtime network home. This year’s show is being broadcast on CBS in a one-year deal.Can the revamped Globes recapture the bubbly, irreverent spirit of all those shows hosted by Ricky Gervais or Tina Fey and Amy Poehler? Those broadcasts help turn the Globes into the third biggest award show of the year, after the Oscars and the Grammys. The Globes’ glitzy good time enabled many to overlook the impropriates of an award show that often doubled as a punchline.Regardless of the behind-the-scenes drama, most v...

Voters cast ballots in a Bangladesh election marred by violence and an opposition boycott

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

DHAKA (AP) — Voters in Bangladesh began casting their ballots Sunday as polls opened in an election fraught with violence and a boycott from the main opposition party, paving the way for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League to seize a fourth consecutive term.Authorities said at least 18 arson attacks were reported across the country since late Friday, with 10 of them targeting polling places. Four people died Friday in an arson attack on a passenger train heading toward the capital, Dhaka. The incidents have intensified tensions ahead of the parliamentary elections that the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allied groups said they would shun.Campaigning in the South Asian nation of 169 million has been marred with violence as at least 15 people have been killed in recent months. Hostilities reached a boiling point in late October, after a massive rally in Dhaka by the BNP saw clashes with police. As the election neared, authorities blamed much of the viole...

City of Harvey responds after allegations that apartment building was boarded while tenants were still inside

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

HARVEY, Ill. — The City of Harvey is responding to allegations from residents who claim that apartments in the city were boarded up while tenants were still inside. Videos circulating on social media on Friday night reportedly showed crews boarding up an apartment building near East 145th Street and South Halsted Street.In a statement shared on Saturday, a spokesperson for the City of Harvey said the buildings at 14437 Halsted Street had been declared unlivable, and evacuation was mandatory by Oct. 28. City officials said the notice to the property owners also emphasized the responsibility to communicate the information to tenants. Investigation underway after man fatally hit by car in Park City "The property owners were officially notified in writing that the building's structural integrity had surpassed its life expectancy, and evacuation was mandatory by October 28, 2023," the statement read in part. The city said it did not evict anyone during the process, but instead "communi...

FireWolves fend off Thunderbirds to stay unbeaten

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- With every game, the Albany FireWolves' storybook start to the season becomes more and more improbable. On the heels of an overtime victory in Saskatchewan on New Year's Eve, Glenn Clark's squad opened up 2024 in style with a come-from-behind victory at home against the Halifax Thunderbirds Saturday night, improving their NLL-best record to a perfect 5-0.Saturday's 12-10 win was just the latest show of resilience from the youngest team in the league. Albany has now overcome two fourth-quarter deficits this season, and prevailed against the Rush last Sunday even after blowing a five-goal lead."Their composure...it almost looks and feels like a veteran team, where they've got this confidence; they don't really get rattled. They just keep playing," said Clark. "It was (Sam) Firth today making big plays. And (Alex) Simmons was having a bit of a tough night in terms of scoring, but he found a way. And other guys contributed, which has sort of been our calling car...

Local hardware store talks winter storm prep

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

BRUNSWICK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -The first winter storm finally arrived in the Capital Region. Before it started, customers made some last-minute stops at Hatchet Hardware Ace. "Well finally we're getting some snow. Which is good for us because we sell all the safety items that people are going to need. We have everything here in abundance," stated Assistant Store Manager, Scott Ross. 01/06/2023: Snowstorm Video Update From salt to snow blowers, Ross has the store ready. Even if you don't have to shovel at home, he says preparing with emergency kits and other supplies are just as important. "It's really smart no matter where you're going, even if it's just a short trip. Have hats, gloves, and coats in the car to keep you warm incase you get stuck in a breakdown." Though drivers will want to be careful on the road, some shoppers are looking forward to staying home.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Definitely loo...

Crash leaves vehicle crushed under semi-truck on 10 Freeway

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:49:48 GMT

One person was hospitalized after their vehicle was found crushed under a semi-truck on a Redlands freeway Saturday.Redlands fire crews responded to a collision on the eastbound lanes of the 10 Freeway near the Ford Street exit at around 5:45 a.m.Arriving crews found a small four-door sedan completely wedged underneath the trailer of a parked semi-truck on the side of the freeway.The driver was trapped inside the sedan, requiring crews to use the jaws of life to cut the vehicle away from the driver. One person was hospitalized after a vehicle was found crushed under a semi-truck on the 10 Freeway in Redlands freeway on Jan. 6, 2024. (Redlands Fire Department)One person was hospitalized after a vehicle was found crushed under a semi-truck on the 10 Freeway in Redlands freeway on Jan. 6, 2024. (Redlands Fire Department)One person was hospitalized after a vehicle was found crushed under a semi-truck on the 10 Freeway in Redlands freeway on Jan. 6, 2024. (Redlands Fire Department)One pe...