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Denmark to boost military spending to upgrade facilities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s centrist government wants to spend 38 billion kroner ($5.6 billion) over the next decade to modernize military facilities, renovate shabby and dilapidated buildings, increase the number of soldiers and upgrade outdated computer systems. Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen called it “a very serious situation” and said Thursday that previous governments and senior defense officials haven’t prioritized spending money on such facilities.“Are all responsible for the fact that we have ended up in this situation,” he said.“For many years, the security policy situation has worn down the armed forces,” Lund Poulsen said. “We are now faced with a major task of restoring the foundation of the armed forces before we build on top of it.”“We lack soldiers and many buildings are not up to date, or are dilapidated. The same applies for part of our equipment and the computer systems,” Gen. Flemming Lentner, head of NATO-member Denmark’s armed forces...

Woman, man found dead in Near West Side: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

CHICAGO — Police found a man and woman dead in the city's Near West Side Wednesday night.Police found a 47-year-old man and a woman between the ages of 50-55 unresponsive near the 1100 block of South Desplaines Street around 9:00 p.m. Chicago police: 4 people shot at Parkway Gardens, 1 critical Detectives are conducting a death investigation pending autopsy results.There was no other information provided.

Active shooter drills may be traumatizing millions of students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

(The Hill) -- Schools are desperate to protect their students from the rising threat of mass shootings, but experts say the very measures being deployed for safety are in fact traumatizing entire generations of American youth.There were 51 school shootings in 2022, according to a tracker from Education Week, directly impacting thousands of students. By comparison, 95 percent of U.S. schools have shooter lockdown practice, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, affecting millions of students each year.Sarah Burd-Sharps, senior director of research at Everytown, said, "Active shooter drills are actually harmful" for students.“The cumulative impact of shooter drills, lockdowns, metal detectors, armed teachers, and other school-hardening measures is an environment that feels inherently unsafe for America’s schoolchildren,” Burd-Sharps said.  Dip in history, civics scores recorded among eighth graders, echoing losses in reading, math In 2020, Everytown analyzed millions of tweet...

City of Austin to discuss financial aid for homes damaged in flood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City council member Chito Vela placed a resolution on the agenda that would direct the Watershed Protection, Austin Resource Recovery, and the Parks and Recreation departments to quickly clear creek beds of vegetative debris. The resolution is in response to the more than 30 homes that were flooded in north Austin after the April 20 storm. Vegetative debris, such as dead trees, clogged a storm culvert in Little Walnut Creek, leading to heavy flooding in the area that damaged homes.  Related: Homeowners frustrated with city after flood waters damage properties Those homes are in Vela's district. He met with frustrated homeowners six days after the storm who said the flooding could have been prevented. Ryan Albright, a homeowner in the area who had two feet of water in his home, said he and his neighbors called 311 multiple times to warn of the debris in the creek bed and the potential of flooding. "We were informed that watershed relies on 311 requ...

Why students across Central Texas biked and walked to school this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

GEORGETOWN (KXAN) — This week we’ve seen thousands of students, teachers and parents rolling around on bikes, roller skates, or other wheels.That’s because school districts across our area are taking part in National Bike & Roll to School Day.On Wednesday, several schools in the Austin area participated, and on Thursday, hundreds hopped on bikes in Georgetown. The event was spread throughout seven elementary school campuses within Georgetown ISD.Typically, this city-wide event takes place on May 3, but because of STAAR testing, the district decided to postpone it to May 4.Bike & Roll to School Day is a celebratory sign for these students because it marks the end of the school year inching closer, but it's also an effort to raise awareness about safety in school zones. The district said parents, students, and drivers in the area can expect an added amount of police officers and even some firefighters stationed around schools on Thursday.“It's really a time to highlight safety...

Video shows Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 ambulance crash into car in N. Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated the ambulance was an Austin-Travis County EMS ambulance. This story has been updated to reflect that it was a Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 ambulance.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On-board video showed an ambulance crashing into another vehicle at an intersection in north Austin Wednesday, Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 confirmed in a statement to KXAN.Shortly before 8:45 a.m., a vehicle with three people inside collided with a Travis County ESD No. 2 EMS ambulance at the intersection of Burnet Road and Shoreline Drive in north Austin, the statement said.One person was taken to St. David's Hospital Round Rock for further assessment, and no other injuries were reported for the three ESD No. 2 medics, the statement said.Officials said a reserve ambulance is now in service to replace the ambulance involved in the crash."We are thankful the accident was not more severe and wish the individual a speedy recover...

Third week of Pittsfield hydrant flushing begins May 8

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) — The third week of hydrant flushing in Pittsfield will begin Monday, May 8. Water mains throughout the city will be flushed through hydrants to remove pipeline corrosion products. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The City of Pittsfield says there will also be early morning flushing on Tuesday, May 9, from 3 to 6 a.m. The impacted areas include South Street/East Housatonic intersection to Charles and Wahconah Streets.The flushing commencing on May 8 is expected to affect the following areas:Several locations along Park, King, and Onota streets near Von Nida Street, Walnut Street,West Housatonic Street, Fort Hill Avenue, South Street, and Velma AvenueAll of West Housatonic Street from South Street to Callahan Drive and all neighborhoodstreets in between (i.e. Boylston Street, Cadwell Road, Lebanon, and Cole Avenues)West Street from Park Square continuing to Fort Hill Avenue and all neighborhood stre...

Albany man arrested after stolen credit card investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man was arrested following a stolen credit card investigation. David McBride, 54, faces several charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On September 24, 2022, around 12:21 p.m. troopers say they received a complaint regarding fraudulent charges made on their credit card that was stolen. An investigation determined McBride had the victim's card and made several purchases in July 2022, totaling over $650, according to New York State Police. Police say he did this all without the victim's permission or knowledge while assuming their identity.Charges:Fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property (warrant)Third-degree identity theftPetit larceny Schenectady man who stole seven snow blowers sentenced McBride was arrested at his home in Albany on Tuesday. He was taken to Latham State Police for processing. He was issued an appearance ticket to return to the Albany City Court and was rel...

Prosecutor from Kim Gardner's office dies on I-270

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A deadly crash on Interstate 270 in south county is hitting close to home for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office. The Missouri Highway Patrol confirmed that the person killed in the crash is 32-year-old James Heitman. It's understood that Heitman was one of the remaining prosecutors in Kim Gardner's office under the General Felonies Unit.Traffic is flowing smoothly now, but it was a much different scene for hours Wednesday afternoon into the night.The crash happened on southbound I-270 south of Tesson Ferry at 5:15 p.m. The Missouri Highway Patrol said four vehicles were involved in a chain reaction wreck as traffic was stopped on the interstate. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW The patrol told FOX 2 that Hietma...

Opinion: Ouch! Property tax increase will hurt, despite Democrat’s Rube Goldberg plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:59:46 GMT

Like other Colorado homeowners, I opened a little white envelope this week and found out my property taxes were going to go up, way up. My home’s value is 57% higher than before which means I could pay $1,400 more in taxes next year.Adjunct professors aren’t one-percenters; we’re more like Starbucks employees minus benefits and free coffee. Property values, which are reassessed every two years in odd-numbered years, went up in the Denver metro area by 35% to 45%. Some of us got even luckier.Monday, the governor flanked by Democrats announced they’re here to help. In a departure from their usual rob Peter to pay Paul redistributionist schemes, their best idea is to rob Peter to pay Peter. They will place an initiative on the ballot asking voters to provide themselves property tax relief by, in effect, raising income taxes.The proposal would lower the state’s assessment rate on residential property from 6.98% to 6.7% of the value of the home. I did the math; that’s a reduction of less...