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Georgia case over railroad’s use of eminent domain could have property law implications

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — It’s a fight over land in one of rural Georgia’s poorest areas, but it could have implications for property law across the state and nation.A hearing is scheduled to begin Monday to help determine whether a railroad can legally condemn property to build a rail line 4.5 miles (7.25 kilometers) long that would serve a rock quarry and possibly other industries.A hearing officer will take up to three days of testimony, making a recommendation to the five elected members of the Georgia Public Service Commission, who will ultimately decide.The line would be built by the Sandersville Railroad, which is owned by an influential Georgia family. It would connect to the CSX railroad at Sparta, allowing products to be shipped widely. Sparta is about 85 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of Atlanta.People in the rural neighborhood don’t want a train track passing through or near their property, in part because they think it would enable expansion at a quarry owned b...

Global watchdog urges UN Security Council to consider all options to protect Darfur civilians

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — An international watchdog urged the United Nations Security Council on Monday to consider all options to protect civilians in Sudan’s Darfur region after the latest attacks on non-Arabs killed hundreds of civilians.The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which was born out of the notorious Janjaweed militias, has been at war against the Sudanese military since mid-April, when months of tension exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and other urban areas in the African nation. The conflict wrecked the country and forced more than 6 million people out of their homes, either to safer areas inside Sudan or to neighboring countries.In the first week of November, the RSF and their allied Arab militias attacked the town of Ardamata, a few kilometers (miles) north of Geneina, the provincial capital of West Darfur, Human Rights Watch said. After taking over a military base in Ardamata, the attackers rampaged through the camp for displaced people and other nearby re...

North Korea restores border guard posts amid rising tensions over its satellite launch, Seoul says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Monday North Korea is restoring frontline guard posts that it had dismantled during a previous period of inter-Korean rapprochement, deepening tensions that spiked over the North’s recent spy satellite launch.The two Koreas each earlier dismantled or disarmed 11 of their guard posts inside their heavily fortified border under a 2018 deal meant to ease frontline military confrontations. But the deal is now in danger of being scraped, as both Koreas openly threaten to breach it amid rising animosities over the North’s satellite launch.After North Korea claimed to place its first military spy satellite into orbit last Tuesday, South Korea said it would partially suspend the deal and resume front aerial surveillance in response. South Korea called its step “a minimum defensive measure” to respond to the launch that it says involved the North’s intentions of improving its missile technology as well as establishing a space-based surveillanc...

Why do they give? Donors speak about what moves them and how they plan end-of-year donations

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

What motivates people to donate to charities or causes they care about is often deeply personal. Donors name relatives or friends who have survived or died from illnesses. They recount tearful conversations with their children. They point to their aspirations for how their communities and the larger world could be improved. In advance of GivingTuesday, The Associated Press interviewed people from across the country with a variety of life experiences about why they give, which organizations they choose to support and how they plan their giving throughout the year. While not all will participate in GivingTuesday, which started in 2012 as a hashtag, the date has become a central part of nonprofit fundraising and a kind of last chance to meet their budget goals for the following year. These interviews have been edited for length: HOUSTON — A longtime resident of Houston, Monica Fulton, 51, prioritizes giving to organizations serving the city’s residents. She’s volunteered with the Houst...

First 1 inch snow comes early this year; cold air moves in with bitter wind chills

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

A plunge in temps ahead for Monday and Tuesday, with cold air dropping into the upper 20s and bitter wind chills accentuating the chill. However, relief is on the way as the cold spell is expected to be brief, with temperatures rebounding into the 40s later this week, offering a respite from the wintry cold.First 1" Snowfall Comes Early This YearAdding the snow from late October and O'Hare has received 2.7" for the season.  Midway's seasonal total is 1.1", less than normal snow for November which is 1.5".

Nikola Jokic pays Victor Wembanyama respect after first matchup: “He’s gonna change the game, 100%”

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

Michael Malone commended Julian Strawther for his courage in the face of potential humiliation. But the truth is, the No. 29 draft pick didn’t even consider the possibility of a slam dunk attempt until it was too late, when the No. 1 draft pick was rising about four feet above him.Strawther avoided getting posterized into oblivion by fouling. Victor Wembanyama wasn’t able to finish the dunk through contact, leaving Strawther nervously laughing as Ball Arena applauded him.“He was really far out, so my initial mindset was, ‘OK, I’m gonna contest the layup here,'” Strawther told The Denver Post. “But when I saw him reach his arm back … at that point it was like, ‘Whatever happens happens. I’m here. There’s no going back. There’s no teleporting out of it.'”The building continued to buzz with amazement just from watching an “almost” sensational moment. That’s how awe-inspiring the 7-foot-4 San...

Comments on the EU Commission’s proposal for a framework for forest monitoring

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

The Swedish Forest Industries Federation supports the ambition from the European Commission to ensure the availability of quality data on forests in the EU. However the proposal presented today on a new monitoring system of the Union’s forests risks not delivering on these expectations. It is not obvious how the proposal adds relevant knowledge of the functions of the forest, at least not for countries with national inventories that already exchange data within international initiatives, and in relation to mandatory monitoring already set in EU-legislation.“We welcome the ambition to improve knowledge about the state of Europe’s forests and greater accessibility to comparable data, and to extended use of satellite monitoring to improve fast access to data on on-going natural disturbances. At the same time, it is, at a first glance, difficult to discern a clear purpose for all of the suggested indicators” says Viveka Beckeman, Director General of the Swedish Forest Industries Federat...

91st Hollywood Christmas Parade rolls through the streets of Tinseltown

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

Thousands of people lined the streets Sunday night to watch the 91st annual Hollywood Christmas Parade make its way through Tinseltown and end with a very special visit from Santa Claus and his reindeer.  The festivities, which benefit the Marine’s Toys for Tots charity, kicked off at 6 p.m. with the 3-mile route getting underway at Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Street, then traveling south on Vine Street to Sunset Boulevard and back to Orange Street.  In all, some 5,000 parade participants took part in the event, including 90 celebrities, 14 parade performers, 10 bands, 39 cars from movies, three floats and six four-story-high character balloons.  Thousands lined the streets to watch the 91st Hollywood Christmas Parade roll through Tinseltown on Nov. 26, 2023. (KTLA)The Grand Marshal of this year’s parade was Retired U.S. Army Col. Paris D. Davis, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in March, some 60 years after being nominated for his heroism in the Vietnam War, City New...

Crowds hit LAX as Thanksgiving holiday travel comes to an end

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

With an estimated 2.5 million travelers passing through Los Angeles International Airport between Nov. 16 and Thanksgiving weekend, according to officials, it’s one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.  Add service dog into the mix and the frenzy of travel can be even more hectic.  “She’s been kind of glued to us because it’s overwhelming, how busy it is,” Merna Michael said of her dog named Maya.  At LAX, Michael, her family and their pet were on their way back to Arizona after a visit to Southern California.  “It’s definitely busier. It's way more crowded,” she told KTLA’s Omar Lewis. “It’s still pretty easy because we have pre-check getting through security. That, honestly, has been a big help for us, but other than that, I think there’s just more people traveling now than there were last year.” Doug Shupe with AAA told KTLA that they’re projecting this Thanksgiving holiday to be the third busiest on record due to the number of travelers they haven’t see...

Zay Flowers catches and runs for TDs, Ravens force 4 turnovers in 20-10 win over Chargers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:13:45 GMT

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) celebrates his touchdown run with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)(AP/Ryan Sun) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) celebrates his touchdown run with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)(AP/Ryan Sun) INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Lamar Jackson has been waiting for wide receiver Zay Flowers to have a breakout game.On Sunday night, the Baltimore Ravens rookie finally seized his opportunity on a national stage.Flowers had a touchdown catch and r...