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Paris Olympics could join a longer list of Games marred by scandal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

The news that French law enforcement officials are looking into possible corruption in awarding contracts for the Paris Olympics threatens to place those Games on the ever-growing list of Olympics that have been tarnished by scandals. A look at notable bidding scandals of the 21st century:SALT LAKE CITY, 2002 — Possibly the most wide-ranging bidding scandal of all time resulted in the removal of 10 members of the International Olympic Committee and a complete overhaul of the bidding process. The first whiff of scandal came in 1998 when a letter emerged suggesting the Salt Lake City bid committee was paying college tuition for the child of an IOC member. Payments totaling more than $1 million in cash, gifts, trips and scholarships were later discovered. The U.S. Department of Justice opened a case alleging 15 counts of bribery and fraud, though it was later thrown out. One major change is that IOC members were no longer allowed to visit bid cities.RIO DE JANEIRO, 2016 — The investiga...

Rwanda genocide suspect to claim asylum in South Africa, lawyer says, complicating extradition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — One of the last remaining suspects accused of orchestrating the brutal massacres of the Rwandan genocide nearly 30 years ago plans to apply for political asylum in South Africa, his lawyer said Tuesday.The U.N. tribunal charged Kayishema in 2001 with being a central figure in the slaughter of more than 2,000 people seeking refuge at a church.Now 62 years old, he was arrested last month in the small town of Paarl near Cape Town, South Africa, having been on the run for half his life.More than 800,000 people were killed when militias made up mainly of members of Rwanda’s Hutu ethnic group turned on their Tutsi neighbors. The killings, an attempt to wipe out the minority Tutsis, were triggered on April 6, 1994, when a plane carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, was shot down, killing him. Kayishema is accused of being one of the leaders of a Hutu mob that killed Tutsi men, women and children who were hiding in the Catholic church t...

What laws are going into effect in Colorado in July?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A lot of laws were passed and signed by Gov. Jared Polis during and after the 2023 legislative session, and they don't all go into effect at the same time.There are 11 laws that go into effect July 1, but here are three that might impact people the most:1. Change to motor vehicle theft lawsSB 23-097 changes the way motor vehicle theft laws work in Colorado.Previously, the severity of the crime was determined mainly by how much the car was worth. That meant that someone stealing a car worth more than $100,000 would be punished much more harshly than someone stealing a car worth less than $2,000. What are the most common crimes in Denver and Colorado? With the new law, the severity of the crime depends on a few factors.For example, after July 1, for someone to be charged with the highest offense -- motor vehicle theft in the first degree -- they need to have two prior convictions for motor vehicle theft or unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.2. Law codifying Miranda...

$3.8 million local lottery winner just wants a new vacuum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — "What would you do if you won the lottery?" An age-old question where many might dream of spending their theoretical earnings on a luxury vacation, buying a new house or splurging on a nice car. However, one Colorado man would be happy to spend part of his $3.8 million winnings on a new vacuum.Sixty-nine-year-old Bill S. of Carbondale is Colorado's latest millionaire. The Colorado Lottery said Bill won $3,896,039 million on the June 10 drawing of Colorado Lotto+. His winning ticket matched all six numbers: 5-13-14-16-30-33. How this Colorado man plans to spend his $5.5M winning lotto ticket The lucky $2 Colorado Lotto+ ticket was sold at the City Market at 905 Highway 133 in Carbondale. Bill S. of Carbondale won $3.8 million on the Colorado Lotto+ jackpot. (Colorado Lottery)Bill said he has been playing the lottery weekly for 10 years, but this is of course his biggest prize by far. He told the Colorado Lottery that when he saw he hit the jackpot, he was "beyo...

Endangered twin cotton-top tamarin monkeys born at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom recently witnessed the arrival of an adorable pair of critically endangered twins, effectively doubling the cotton-top tamarin population at the park. Weighing no more than a common chicken egg and measuring a mere four inches long, these pint-sized newborns are captivating visitors as they tightly cling to their agile parents, who effortlessly leap from branch to branch in their habitat on Discovery Island.Merely a week old, these cotton-top tamarins mark the first birth of their species at Disney’s Animal Kingdom since 2001.Credit: Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney WorldCredit: Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney WorldCredit: Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney WorldCredit: Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney WorldCredit: Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney WorldCredit: Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney WorldThe cotton-top tamarin, a critically endangered primate native to Colombia, faces a dire situation in the wild, with fewer than 7,500 individuals remaining. However, ...

Crews find body of 17-year-old boy after Florida jet ski accident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

POLK COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of a 17-year-old after a jet ski overturned in Lake Clinch.It happened Sunday just before 8:30 p.m.According to the sheriff’s office, the driver of the Jet Ski, 17-year-old Jose Torres, made an abrupt turn, causing him and his passenger, 15-year-old Mekhi Guillaume, to be ejected into the water.Guillaume was wearing a life vest and was able to swim back to the jet ski. He could not find Torres.In the early morning hours of Monday, Torres’ body was found in about 20 feet of water. Officials believe he drowned.Torres was a student at Ridge Technical College.“Our hearts hurt today for this loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with Jose’s family and loved ones. This is a tragic accident and a stark reminder that life jackets save lives. Please, when out on the water, wear a life jacket. It could save your life,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Giant African land snail infestation prompts quarantine and treatment area in Broward County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

In response to the detection of giant African land snails in the Miramar area of Broward County, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and its Division of Plant Industry have announced the establishment of a quarantine and treatment area in specific regions of Broward County.The quarantine prohibits the movement of giant African land snails or regulated articles within, through, or from the defined quarantine area without a compliance agreement. Regulated articles include plants, plant parts, plants in soil, soil, yard waste, debris, compost, or building materials.The giant African land snail is notorious for being one of the most destructive snail species globally, devouring over 500 different types of plants. As a result, they pose a significant threat to Florida’s agriculture and natural areas, causing extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments.In addition to the agricultural and environmental concerns, these snails also pose a s...

Bud Light is ‘coming back’ but controversy is a ‘wake-up call,’ Anheuser-Busch exec says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

New York (CNN) — Anheuser-Busch InBev’s top marketing executive is speaking out following a monthslong boycott of Bud Light that has cost the brand its title as America’s top-selling beer.“When things get divisive and controversial so easily, I think it’s an important wake-up call to all of us marketers to be very humble,” said Marcel Marcondes, Anheuser-Busch’s global chief marketing officer, at a conference on Monday.Bud Light sales have tumbled since the company’s partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney sparked an anti-trans backlash and calls for a boycott. The company’s tepid response angered LGBTQ+ advocates, and the episode became ground zero in America’s culture wars.“It’s tough to see all the controversial and divisive debates happening in the US the last couple of weeks involving lots of brands and companies, including, especially, Bud Light,” Marcondes told an audience at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. He said brands i...

Somerville man accused of shooting woman in the head in Malden arraigned from his hospital bed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

A man accused of nearly killing a woman by shooting her in the head during what prosecutors say was an attempted robbery in Malden was charged with the crime as he lay in a hospital bed and avoided being photographed.Mohamed Abdulaziz, 35, of Somerville, is charged with armed assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition. He appeared before a Malden District Court judge Tuesday afternoon via the Zoom internet teleconferencing program from his hospital bed, though only his lawyer, Tim Flaherty, could be seen in the video feed.“He’s present, he’s participating, he’s suffering from multiple injuries,” Flaherty said after requesting that Abdulaziz’s “image or his likeness not be distributed at this time,” citing concerns that his client may have been misidentified or that seeing him would unfairly prejudice any future jury trial.Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Carrie Spiros, the prosecutor for the ...

Quick Fix: Summer Berry and Turkey Salad celebrates the season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:11:51 GMT

Linda Gassenheimer | Tribune News ServiceI love this time of year when there’s a plentiful display of colorful berries. I decided to create a summer salad dinner, adding them to cooked turkey strips.Here are a few tips on selecting and using berries. Strawberries don’t ripen off the vine. Look for bright red ones when buying them. The sweetest raspberries are the darker red ones. Although you won’t be able to tell until you get them home, blueberries should be firm to touch. Look to make sure there is no mold on the berries. They should be washed just before using them.Helpful Hints:— You can use any type of berries can be used.— You can use any type of salad greens can be used.— If cooked turkey breast isn’t available in the meat case, use cooked turkey breast from the deli.Countdown:— Prepare all the ingredients.— Assemble the salad.Shopping List:To buy: 1 bag washed, ready-to-eat salad greens, 3/4 pound cooked turkey breast, 1 cucumber, 1 bunch celery, 1 container fresh strawberr...