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Biden wraps up visit to wartime Israel, to address the nation on Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — President Joe Biden swept into wartime Israel for a 7 1/2-hour visit Wednesday that produced a heaping dose of vocal support, a deal to get limited humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt, likely by the end of the week, and a plea for Israelis not to allow rage over the deadly Hamas attack to consume them.“I understand. Many Americans understand,” Biden said as he wrapped up his stay in Tel Aviv, likening the Oct. 7 Hamas assault to the attacks against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, that killed nearly 3,000 people. “You can’t look at what has happened here ... and not scream out for justice," he said. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox “But I caution this: While you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it,” he said. “After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. And while we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes."Biden urged Israel to step back from the brink, not just to ease growing tensions in the ...

Aurora man dies in possible drowning in Hawaii

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- An Aurora man died in a possible drowning after a large wave pulled him into the ocean from a beach in Hawaii, according to police.Hawaii Police Department identified the victim as 53-year-old Jeffrey Jewers.The incident happened just before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Kona.Police responded to a report of a distressed swimmer. When they arrived, they learned that Jewers was walking along a rocky area of the shore when a large wave struck him. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox He was pulled into the ocean, and witnesses saw him trying to climb out of the ocean when he was struck by a second large wave that pulled him away from the shoreline.Hawai'i Fire Department personnel were able to locate Jewers, who appeared lifeless, according to police. He was taken to the Kona Community Hospital and pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. An autopsy will determine his cause of death.

Denver dog becomes ill, tests positive for meth after walk in RiNo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Haden Carr is relieved that Mister, a 3-year-old golden retriever, is feeling better. "I think he's on the mend," Carr said.It's been a tough couple of days. Carr believes Mister became ill after their nightly walk near 26th and Lawrence streets Monday night in the River North Art District.Carr said a few minutes after their walk, Mister started acting erratically.  Colorado pedestrian deaths close to reaching all-time high "By the time he got inside, he started doing a lot of spinning," Carr said. Mister was panting heavily and wouldn't calm down, so Carr took him to a veterinarian hospital.  "It appeared to me that he was having a dog anxiety attack," Carr said.After a series of tests, providers told Carr that Mister tested positive for a drug. "To my shock, and their shock as well, they said he tested positive for methamphetamines," Carr said. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather Mister stayed the night at the animal h...

Golfer breaks Guinness world record at Broomfield course

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — On Tuesday, Patrick Koenig unofficially broke the Guinness world record for the most 18-hole golf courses played in a single year.On Tuesday, Koenig played his record-setting 450th course at Omni Interlocken in Broomfield.The previous record holder was a couple who completed 449 18-hole golf courses between 2008 and 2009. Koenig set the new unofficial world record in Broomfield and played at a few other Colorado courses along his journey. Patrick Koenig and supporters after unofficially breaking the world record. (Courtesy of Patrick Koenig)Patrick Koenig and supporters after unofficially breaking the world record. (Courtesy of Patrick Koenig)Leading up to his record, Koenig played at eight different Colorado courses, including Hyland Hills, TPC Colorado, Blackstone Country Club, CommonGround and Pinehurst Country Club.But Koenig's work isn't done yet. He is aiming for 500 18-hole golf courses before the year is up, and he will be playing at a few more Colorado ...

Xcel gets $100M for wildfire projects in Colorado, other states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country, including in Colorado, to strengthen electric grid resilience as extreme weather events such as the deadly Maui and California wildfires continue to strain the nation’s aging transmission systems. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. Biden wraps up visit to wartime Israel, to address the nation on Thursday The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said.“The grid, as it currently sits, is not is not equipped to handle all the new demand” and withstand natural disasters and extreme weather worsened by climate change, Granholm said at a news conference Wednesday. “We need it to be b...

Veteran first responder with search-and-rescue organization shares account of recovery efforts in Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

As people wait for the violence in the Middle East to stop, South Florida is doing what it can to support the victims in the war between Israel and Hamas. A man who has helped in the recovery efforts in a couple of America’s worst disasters is once again taking the call.“I can’t say that I’m used to disasters, because no one is used to disasters, but I went through a lot,” Yossi Landau said.A lot, but Landau said it is nothing like what he’s witnessing now in Israel. Landau works as a volunteer who recovers and identifies the dead.He leads a team of volunteers with ZAKA, the Israeli search-and-rescue organization, who have been called in the wake of mass casualty accidents, natural disasters and acts of terror.Landau’s team also helps to prepare the dead for burial in accordance with Jewish law.“It’s 9/11 attack, or it was in Surfside in Miami, I was there,” he said.ZAKA was deployed to the Surfside condo col...

District volunteer arrested after allegedly pushing police officer during BCPS board meeting discussing sex-ed curriculum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

A meeting about controversial coursework in Broward County schools led to a harsh lesson in the law for one of the speakers.Sex education at Broward schools became a heated topic at Tuesday night’s board meeting.The discussion led to a public disruption, which ended with the arrest of a district volunteer.According to Fort Lauderdale Police, Debbie Espinoza got into an exchange with another attendee and then pushed a police officer.She appeared in bond court Wednesday morning and was later released.At the board meeting, parents and others looked into the revised sex ed curriculum. Some addressed board members directly.“Those statistics go up, new cases of HIV and AIDS go up, if we are not educating our children about what it means to engage in sexual intercourse in science-based ways,” said a speaker.“You start to teach our children, ‘Mostly girls have vulvas, and mostly boys have penises.’ Well, that’s not true,” said another speaker....

President Biden wraps up visit to Israel after meeting with prime minister, war cabinet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — President Joe Biden swept into wartime Israel for a 7 1/2-hour visit Wednesday that produced a heaping dose of vocal support, a deal to get limited humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt, likely by the end of the week, and a plea for Israelis not to allow rage over the deadly Hamas attack to consume them.“I understand. Many Americans understand,” Biden said as he wrapped up his stay in Tel Aviv, likening the Oct. 7 Hamas assault to the attacks against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, that killed nearly 3,000 people. “You can’t look at what has happened here … and not scream out for justice,” he said.“But I caution this: While you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it,” he said. “After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. And while we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.”Biden urged Israel to step back from the brink, not just to ease growing tensions in the Mideast that threaten to spiral into a b...

Group of children in Newton raises money to help kids in Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

Many in the Boston area have continued to take a stand in support of Israel as the country’s war with Hamas continues. In Newton, one group of children is finding ways to raise money to help Israeli children.“When I heard about what was going on there, I couldn’t bear it, so I thought there must be something I could do to help,” one of the children in Newton said this week. “It made me feel bad and worried about all the people who were injured or kidnapped or died,” another one of the children said. The group in Newton had already raised $5,000 as of Wednesday to help replace toys, clothes and other personal items. As part of their efforts, the children said they’re doing everything they can to collect donations, including setting up a booth to sell cookies at a harvest festival last weekend. The group has also partnered with an organization that delivers care packages to children who have evacuated with their families. “Someone needed to make a difference a...

Gun reform bill opposed by police chiefs passed by state House

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:29 GMT

House lawmakers have passed a sweeping new gun reform bill already unanimously opposed by Bay State police chiefs.The House suspended their rules, passed the bill by a vote of 120-38, and will send it to the state Senate.Lawmakers said they aim to reduce gun violence by strengthening laws around firearms licensing, and carrying and by going after so-called ghost guns.“While the Commonwealth annually ranks as one of the safest states in the entire country from gun violence, the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision nullified existing components of our gun laws, threatening the safety of the Commonwealth’s residents. With the passage of this legislation, the House has once again displayed an unwavering commitment to ensuring that Massachusetts remains one of the safest states in the country,” House Speaker Ron Mariano said.This summer, a year after the high court decided in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen that most extraordinary licensing requirements were at odds with...