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HBCU coalition receives $124M gift from nonprofit funder Blue Meridian Partners

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The HBCU Transformation Project, a coalition of 40 historically Black colleges and universities, on Wednesday announced a $124 million gift from philanthropic funders Blue Meridian Partners to increase enrollment, graduation rates and employment rates for the schools’ graduates. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF, which is acting as an intermediary overseeing the funding, called the donation a vote of confidence in the coalition, which includes public and private schools. “This very significantly scaled grant from them signals to the philanthropic community that this is a really good investment to make,” he said of the Blue Meridian gift.The donation will expand the work of the project, which has already received $75 million from Blue Meridian Partners since 2020. Part of those funds arrived at the start of the pandemic to help participating HBCUs cover their operating costs when the schools had to close. UNCF, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), a...

Palestinian politicians lash out at renowned academics who denounced president’s antisemitic remarks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian politicians on Wednesday raged against dozens of Palestinian academics who had criticized President Mahmoud Abbas’ recent remarks on the Holocaust that drew widespread accusations of antisemitism.They lambasted the open letter signed earlier this week by over a hundred Palestinian academics, activists and artists based around the world as “the statement of shame.” The well-respected writers and thinkers had released the letter after footage surfaced that showed Abbas asserting European Jews were persecuted by Hitler because of what he described as their “social functions” and predatory lending practices, rather than their religion or ethnicity.“Their statement is consistent with the Zionist narrative and its signatories give credence to the enemies of the Palestinian people,” said the secular nationalist Fatah party that runs the Palestinian Authority. Fatah officials called the signatories “mouthpieces for the occupatio...

Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante has been arrested after 2 weeks on the run in Pennsylvania

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

POTTSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Escaped murderer Danelo Souza Cavalcante was captured Wednesday after eluding hundreds of searchers for two weeks, a conclusion that relieved residents of southeastern Pennsylvania who had endured sleepless nights as he hid in the woods, broke into suburban homes for food, changed his appearance, and fled under gunfire with a rifle pilfered from a garage, authorities said.Cavalcante’s heat signal was picked up around 1 a.m. from an aircraft, but storms prevented teams from continuing to track him until the morning, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. In the meantime, tactical teams secured the area, and later moved in with search dogs, Bivens said at a news conference.“The were able to move in very quietly. They had the element of surprise,” Bivens said. “Cavalcante did not realize he was surrounded until that had occurred.”Cavalcante — still armed with the rifle — tried to escape by crawling through thick underbrush, Bivens said, and h...

Rwanda will host a company’s 1st small-scale nuclear reactor testing carbon-free energy approach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — Rwanda’s atomic energy board says it has signed a deal with a Canadian-German company to build its first small-scale nuclear reactor to test what the company asserts is a new nuclear fission approach in one of the world’s most densely populated countries.Rwandan officials said Tuesday that the reactor won’t produce any electricity for the country’s grid. Instead, it will explore the technology developed by Dual Fluid Energy Inc. to address the need for cleaner sources of energy.If all goes well, officials said, Rwanda and the company could set up a production line of such reactors in the central African nation as the country turns to nuclear power to help meet growing energy needs and adapt to climate change. Much of the country’s electricity comes from hydropower and diesel plants, according to the Rwanda Energy Group, and only about 68% of people have access to electricity.Dual Fluid Energy, founded in Canada in 2021, is one of more than 20 small ...

WATCH LIVE | AJ Freund death, DCFS workers trial day 3

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — The trial for two former Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers accused of child endangerment enters its third day Wednesday.The multiple felony charges filed in Sept. 2020 against Andrew Polovin and Carlos Acosta stem from the April 2019 death of five-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund of Crystal Lake. They are accused of having known Freund’s life was in danger four months earlier yet not taking action. Previous Coverage: Nearly 20 police reports can be used in AJ Freund DCFS trial The bench trial began on Monday with the McHenry County State’s Attorney providing an opening statement for the prosecution, and separate attorneys providing statements for each of the defendants. Tuesday's proceedings were occupied entirely by the state's fourth witness, Carol Ruzicka. Ruzicka is a retired DCFS regional administrator who testified for the prosecution as an expert in regard to DCFS procedures.Ruzicka will return to the stand Wednesday ...

Chicago police investigate string of burglaries at smoke shops, dispensary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are searching for the suspects who targeted smoke shops and a dispensary during a string of burglaries on the West and Northwest sides.According to authorities, the offenders were traveling in a white Kia SUV.Police said the first burglary happened just after 11 p.m. Tuesday on the 5600 block of West Roosevelt. Three males exited a Kia SUV and shattered a glass door to enter a retail shop. The suspects got away with a cash drawer and merchandise.Another incident happened just before 1 a.m. Wednesday on the 600 block of West Roosevelt at a dispensary. Police said two males got out of a Kia SUV and broke into the building and stole merchandise. Around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said three offenders targeted another retail shop on the 2400 block of North Milwaukee Avenue. Surveillance video captures the suspects stealing a cash drawer and a safe, wearing hoodies and exiting a white Kia SUV. 2 men stabbed multiple times, 1 fatally, inside apartment on Northwe...

Olivia Rodrigo bringing 'GUTS' world tour to Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Good for you! Pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo is slated to play Austin's Moody Center early next year as part of her GUTS World Tour, the venue announced Wednesday.Rodrigo is set to perform at the Moody Center on Feb. 28. Ticket registration for the event is available online through Sept. 17.The Grammy Award-winning singer first burst onto the scene in January 2021 with her single "driver's license," before following it up with her debut album "Sour" in May 2021. Rodrigo took home the award for best pop vocal album at the 2022 Grammy Awards.She previously performed at the Moody Amphitheater in May 2022 as part of her Sour Tour. Rodrigo's sophomore album, "GUTS," dropped Sept. 8, featuring hit singles such as "vampire" and "bad idea right?"More details on Rodrigo's GUTS World Tour, including other Texas tour dates, are available online.

Photos: Colorado peaks see first snowfall of the season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — It's starting to look like winter on top of some Colorado peaks. Longs PeakLongs Peak, which sits at 14,259 feet, recorded snow just before 7 a.m. Monday. Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Chris Tomer said this was the peak's first snow of the season.The first snow of the season has fallen on Longs Peak on Sept. 11, 2023. (National Park Service)Temperatures on the peak reached 38 degrees with mostly cloudy skies and light winds. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you hike this fall, Longs Peak isn't the only snow-covered mountain.Breck's Five PeaksMother Nature showed a "sneak peak" of the fresh dusting on Breck’s Five Peaks. Vail Resorts said this is their official first snow of the season.Snow across Breck’s Five Peaks (Sarah Mclear, Breckenridge Ski Resort)Pikes PeakSnow covered another 14er Monday morning. The Pikes Peak summit had white-out conditions with the temperature just above 40 degrees. Snow on Pikes Peak (Photo credits: Colorado Springs Pikes Pea...

Vikings picks: Don’t expect Eagles to be hospitable hosts on Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

Pioneer Press staffers who cover the Vikings make their picks for Thursday night’s game in Philadelphia:DANE MIZUTANIEagles 31, Vikings 27Justin Jefferson will do everything he can to keep it close. In the end, though, the Vikings don’t have enough to hang with the Eagles.JOHN SHIPLEYEagles 38, Vikings 16Confidence is low in the heartland after Week 1. Take away the takeaways and maybe the Vikings beat Tampa Bay, but the you can’t —- and the Eagles aren’t Tampa Bay.CHARLEY WALTERSEagles 27, Vikings 14The disappointing Vikings lose the battle in both trenches — offensively and defensively — while Eagles QB Jalen Hurts near-flawlessly leads his team to victory before the NFL’s most unbecoming fans.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 2: Which surprises will continue opening success? Minnesota Vikings | Vikings turn page on Buccaneers debacle, embrace taking on Eagles (and their fans) Minnesota Vikin...

North Korea’s Kim vows full support for Russia at a summit with Putin at a Far East spaceport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:03 GMT

By KIM TONG-HYUNG and DASHA LITVINOVA (Associated Press)SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s Kim Jong Un vowed “full and unconditional support” for Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Wednesday as the two leaders isolated by the West held a summit that the U.S. warned could lead to a deal to supply ammunition for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.The meeting, which lasted over four hours at Russia’s spaceport in the Far East, underscores how the two countries’ interests are aligning: Putin is believed to be seeking one of the few things impoverished North Korea has in abundance -– stockpiles of aging ammunition and rockets for Soviet-era weapons.Such a request would mark a role reversal from the 1950-53 Korean War, when Moscow gave weapons to support Pyongyang’s invasion of South Korea, and in the decades of Soviet sponsorship of the North that followed.The decision to meet at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia’s most important launch ...