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NATO chief convenes talks in a bid to persuade Turkey to let Sweden join the military alliance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday he has called a meeting of senior officials from Turkey, Sweden and Finland for July 6 to try to overcome Turkish objections to Sweden joining the military alliance.The meeting is a last-ditch effort by Stoltenberg to deal with one of the final obstacles to Sweden’s membership before a major summit the following week. Sweden’s membership would be a highly symbolic moment and another indication of how Russia’s war in Ukraine is driving countries to join the Western alliance.However, Hungary also has not yet ratified Sweden’s bid, and Hungarian lawmakers said a long-delayed parliamentary vote on ratifying Sweden’s NATO membership would not would not happen until the autumn legislative session. NATO requires the unanimous approval of all members to expand, so that almost certainly means the country will not get the green light in time for the July 11-12 summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius.“The time...

These are the highest-rated barbecue restaurants in Denver, according to Yelp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Barbecue, also known as BBQ for short, has captivated the taste buds of millions of people across the world; its smell, a quintessential part of backyard parties and long, lazy holiday weekends. This cooking method involves slow cooking and smoking meat over an open flame or heat source. Beyond the slab of baby back ribs and brisket that we're probably familiar with, barbecue has a long history dating back centuries and is rooted in various cultures.The earliest origins of barbecue can be traced back to the Taino people, who were Indigenous to the Caribbean. By the 19th century, the technique became widespread in the American South, primarily using pork. Taino people didn't use the word barbecue. Instead, this method of cooking food over a raised wooden grate was referred to as barbacoa. Voting results: Where you can get the best burger in Colorado As time passed, techniques and flavors evolved as a result of colonization, globalization, and advancements in technology. Today, barb...

Police: BSO deputy who killed himself was under investigation for sex assault allegations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

A Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy who took his own life was under investigation stemming from sexual assault allegations, police said.It was a gruesome scene at Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach, Tuesday morning, as crews recovered the body of BSO Deputy Kyle Schlapik.The Broward Medical Examiner’s Office said the 25-year-old died as a result of an intraoral gunshot wound, meaning he shot himself in the mouth. Schlapik worked out of BSO’s Oakland Park District and had been a deputy for four years.According to Fort Lauderdale Police, he was being investigated for rape.FLPD Detective Ali Adamson on Wednesday released a statement that reads in part, “On Saturday June 17th, FLPD received a report of a possible sexual battery that occurred during the overnight hours within our jurisdiction.”According to BSO, Schlapik was off-duty at the time, but with the looming investigation, he would have been placed on administrative leave by internal affairs.A source tol...

2 workers stuck on 21st floor of Brickell building pulled to safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Crews came to the rescue of two construction workers who became stuck hundreds of feet from the ground in Miami’s Brickell section.City of Miami Fire Rescue units responded to the scene along the 1700 block of North Miami Avenue, Wednesday afternoon,Officials said the workers ended up stuck on the 21st floor of a building after the hanging platform they were working on malfunctioned, at around 2:15 p.m.Miami Fire Rescue’s Technical Rescue team was dispatched to perform a high-angle rescue operation. Rescuers got up on the roof and pulled both workers to safety using ropes, harnesses and hoisting devices. After they were hoisted over the edge, both workers were evaluated by paramedics. They did not require any treatment or transport to the hospital.

Where to celebrate 4th of July across South Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Miami-Dade 4th of July celebration at Tropical Park – Gather with family and friends to enjoy a day at the park or stop by the Park Central area to enjoy live music, food trucks, and other activities and giveaways throughout the day. Fireworks start at 8:45 p.m. Admission is free. Fire on the Fourth on Miami Beach – Fireworks and drones will once again light up the skies over Miami Beach, along with a dedicated family zone, food trucks, live entertainment, and a rock-climbing wall. Admission is free. Race to the 4th – The City of Homestead is hosting “Race to the 4th,” an electrifying annual event filled with live music, entertainment, delicious food, thrilling rides for children, and a grand fireworks finale. Admission is free. Hialeah Independence Day Celebration – Milander Park will host its Independence Day Celebration presented by Hialeah Park. Admission is free. Doral Independence Day Celebration – The City of Doral is hosting its annu...

New technology allows Palm Beach dispatchers to livestream from caller’s phone

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

The Palm Beach Police and Fire Departments announced the introduction of new technology that aims to improve emergency response time in an effort to improve public safety. When Palm Beach dispatch supervisor Marlene Peralta takes a call, she now has a new level of awareness. Prepared Live allows dispatchers to send a text to a caller’s cellphone by giving permission to access their camera and location during an emergency.“Having that timely information helps us with decision-making along the way and throughout the whole incident,” said Palm Beach Police Capt. Will Rothrock.Rothrock said this technology could help them solve cases faster and retrieve real-time information that they never had before.“You can have a crime in progress, and you may be able to see the actual crime taking place or an accurate suspect description, which we don’t always get after the fact,” he said.Here’s how it works. After calling the Palm Beach Police non-emergenc...

Aerospace Career Education Academy inspires and empowers pilots with sky-high aspirations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

A transformative program organized by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals is propelling the dreams of aspiring pilots nationwide as they immerse themselves in a weeklong Aerospace Career Education Academy hosted by American Airlines.Accompanied by fellow OBAP members, aspiring pilot Elijah Pierce spent Wednesday at the American Airlines Miami International Airport Hub, where the airline hosted OBAP’s Aerospace Career Education Academy—an immersive weeklong initiative designed to introduce, educate, and guide diverse students towards fulfilling careers in the aerospace industry.“This program takes you places where other people cannot go,” said Pierce. “We are an inclusive group that is for the promotion of minorities within the aviation industry,” said Clayton James, assistant director of OBAP’s ACE Academy. During the program, students were granted exclusive access to explore the inner workings of American Airlines’ flagship ai...

President touts ‘Bidenomics’ though new poll shows just 34% approve his handling of the economy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — President Joe Biden made his pitch Wednesday to a skeptical public that the U.S. economy is thriving under what he now touts as “Bidenomics” — even as a new poll showed that could be a hard sell as the foundation for his 2024 reelection campaign.In a major economic speech in Chicago, Biden said his administration’s efforts were sparking recovery after Republican policies had crushed America’s middle class. But the poll said only one in three U.S. adults approve of his economic leadership.That 34% figure is even lower than his overall approval rating of 41%, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.Biden’s approval figures have barely moved for the past year and a half, a source of concern for a president pursuing a second term on his ability to govern and focus on workers. He wants voters to connect local roads and bridge projects, factory construction and the rise of electric vehicles and r...

DA hosts ‘Basketball for Peace’ tournament to connect community youth, law enforcement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement officials and young teens are bonding over basketball.The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office hosted its annual Basketball for Peace tournament for a day of fun and friendly competition.Charlene Luma, the chief of staff for the Suffolk DA’s Office, said their goal is to give kids a chance to build positive relationships with local community leaders and to provide a safe space for them to have fun this summer.“Basketball brings people together. It creates opportunities for people from all different communities to come together,” she said. “The attorneys, the police officers, they come from their neighborhoods. They live in Boston, they live in Revere, they live in Chelsea, they live in Winthrop, they live in Cambridge.”Police officers, investigators and advocates came out to the event in Dorchester – shooting hoops and cheering on the teams made up of kids between 12 and 15 years old.“The children are out of school, and we know that at th...

Chicago Bulls extend Nikola Vučević’s contract, further limiting their flexibility as NBA free agency opens this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

The Chicago Bulls front office stayed true to its offseason refrain of continuity by announcing Wednesday that it extended the contract of center Nikola Vučević.The extension — reported as a three-year, $60 million deal by The Athletic and ESPN — will maintain a key veteran presence in the Bulls locker room.Vučević, 32, averaged 17.6 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 assists over the last two seasons for the Bulls and started all 82 games last season. After struggling early with the transition following his March 2021 trade from the Orlando Magic, where he was the centerpiece of the offense, Vučević carved out a more functional role for himself last season in which he shifted his focus away from 3-pointers.At the end of the season, both Vučević and the front office voiced a shared goal to keep the center in Chicago for the near future.“I’m excited to continue my journey as a Chicago Bull,” Vučević said in a st...