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British and Swiss police break up a crime ring and recover a valuable Ming vase in a sting operation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A sting operation at a London hotel helped authorities recover a 15th-century Chinese vase worth about 2 million pounds ($2.5 million) and break up the criminal ring believed to have stolen the artifact from a Swiss museum, British police said Saturday.The vase, which dates to the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, was one of three items stolen from the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva in 2019.The Metropolitan Police Service made the announcement after a London court on Friday found two men guilty of charges related to the gang’s effort to sell the vase. A third man pleaded guilty to similar charges earlier this year, and two other men who were arrested in London are awaiting trial in Switzerland for their alleged role in the burglary. All five are from southeast London.“The organized crime group involved in this offending believed they could commit significant offenses internationally and that there would be no comeback,’’ said Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, ...

Large wildfire ravages forest in northern Greece as 7 villages are ordered to evacuate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities on Saturday ordered seven villages evacuated near the northeastern border with Turkey due to a large summer wildfire burning out of control and whipped on by high winds.The fire service said more than 100 firefighters, assisted by nine water-dropping aircraft, were struggling to contain the blaze. The forest fire broke out early Saturday near the village of Melia, east of the town of Alexandroupolis.The evacuation orders were issued as a precaution and no damage to buildings or injuries to humans were reported. Authorities shut down a section of a major highway in the area due to heavy smoke drifting across it.Another smaller wildfire was burning outside Thessaloniki, in the north, the second-largest city in Greece. Earlier, firefighters brought under control a blaze on the western island of Cephalonia.The fire service has issued a high wildfire alert for the weekend.Last month, deadly wildfires caused havoc in central Greece, and forced the e...

Nissan recalling more than 236,000 cars to fix a problem that can cause loss of steering control

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Nissan is recalling more than 236,000 small cars in the U.S. because the tie rods in front suspension can bend and break, possibly causing drivers to lose steering control.The recall covers certain Sentra compact cars from the 2020 through 2022 model years. Tie rods help vehicles move the wheels for steering.Nissan says in documents posted Saturday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that if tie rods become bent, they can break and affect the steering, increasing the risk of a crash.Owners should contact dealers if their steering wheel is off center or they feel a vibration. At first, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods. Once a new design is available, they will replace both the left and right tie rods at no cost to owners.Letters notifying owners will be mailed starting Oct. 5. A second letter will go out once parts are available.Many of the same vehicles were recalled in 2021 to fix the same problem, the documents say. Cars...

'Weekend Break' visits 2023 Ribfest Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

CHICAGO — A popular event in Chicago for BBQ fans is making it's return to North Center once against in 2023. Featuring a variety of vendors from the Chicago area and the entire country, Ribfest Chicago opens up Saturday and continues through Sunday evening at 4000 N. Lincoln Avenue. We decided to feature the event on Saturday's "Weekend Break" on WGN Weekend Morning News as Christine Flores made her way to the festival site to preview what's ahead the next two days. Christine spoke to Mike Frost, who works for Chicago BBQ Company, about what he's looking forward to this week while also showing off the brisket he made for Ribfest. The event also features a number of out-of-town vendors, including Nikki Haggerty of Austin Texas Lightning BBQ.She spoke with Christine during one of the segments on the WGN Weekend Morning News on August 19.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delive...

What's the deal with the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (NEXSTAR) — It may be a familiar sight to Memphis residents, but visitors continue to be confounded by one particular downtown building — it's the oddball Bass Pro Shops Pyramid.In addition to a massive Bass Pro Shops store, the 32-story steel Pyramid houses the Big Cypress Lodge hotel, restaurants, multiple aquariums, waterfalls, a cave, a bowling alley, live alligators, and a cypress swamp containing "nearly 600,000 gallons of water," according to Bass Pro Shops. That's not to mention it boasts the tallest free-standing elevator in the U.S. Earn $1K to test Buc-ee’s snacks: Here's how to apply But despite all that it offers, you may be wondering how this pyramid came to exist at all. After all, even though Memphis, Tennessee, is named after the ancient Egyptian city, most pyramids usually don't house businesses (unless you're counting Luxor Las Vegas).Here's the bizarre backstory behind this modern marvel.The swampy exterior of the Big Cypress Lodge (Courtesy of B...

ATCEMS: 2 dead after crash on Bee Caves Road

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Two people died after a crash on Bee Caves Road on Friday night, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.Officials said a vehicle rescue call came in at 9:23 p.m. in the 7000 block of Farm-to-Market Road 2244. ATCEMS said it arrived on the scene of a two-vehicle collision with three patients involved.ATCEMS said two adults were pronounced dead at the scene, and one adult was taken to the hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries.  Officials had no other information available, and EMS was no longer on scene as of 10:58 p.m.

Williamson County names new elections administrator

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Judith Ritchie will be Williamson County's next elections administrator, the county announced Wednesday. Ritchie was appointed the interim elections administrator until the Williamson County Elections Commission starts a permanent replacement search. She has worked as the county's deputy elections administrator for over two years. Ritchie replaces Chris Davis, who resigned from the role Aug. 9. The reason for Davis' resignation was not shared. PREVIOUS: Williamson County elections administrator resigns The county said Ritchie meets the statutory requirements for the job. A release said while Ritchie can apply for the permanent position, the elections commission advised Richtie her appointment "is based on the expectation that she will step down and resume her role as deputy elections administrator should someone else be selected."

What damage Southern California can expect from Hurricane Hilary 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

Hurricane Hilary continues to travel towards Southern California, and while the storm will weaken before it makes landfall, damage is still expected to be widespread.The National Weather Service placed SoCal under its first ever tropical storm warning on Friday evening, impacting most of Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties as well as mountain communities in the Inland Empire. Almost all of San Diego County will be effected by the storm.Major, and in some cases, historic flooding is expected throughout Southern California, according to the National Weather Service, especially in mountain and desert areas. “Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places,” NWS said. “Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos and ditches may become dangerous rivers.” The projected path of Hurricane Hilary. Aug. 19, 2023. (KTLA)In addition to overflowing rivers and tributaries, runoff from mountain valleys may impact foothill communities and other areas susceptibl...

Photos: Southern California braces for Hurricane Hilary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

Images from the Los Angeles/Long Beach area as Southern California braces for the arrival of Hurricane Hilary. Hilary is expected to weaken into a tropical storm by the time it makes landfall on Sunday.Seal Beach resident Tom Ostrom, walks past a home protected with sandbags in Seal Beach, Calif., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. Hurricane Hilary is churning off Mexico's Pacific coast as a powerful Category 4 storm threatening to unleash torrential rains on the mudslide-prone border city of Tijuana before heading into Southern California as the first tropical storm there in 84 years. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)A couple walks along berms in Seal Beach, Calif., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. Officials in Southern California were also re-enforcing sand berms, built to protect low-lying coastal communities against winter surf. Hurricane Hilary is churning off Mexico's Pacific coast as a powerful Category 4 storm threatening to unleash torrential rains on the mudslide-prone border city of Tijuana before ...

Stray bullet wounds woman asleep in Oakland home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:36 GMT

OAKLAND — A 50-year-old woman asleep inside her East Oakland home early Saturday suffered a graze wound to her head from a stray bullet fired during an apparent gun battle outside the residence, authorities said.The woman was in stable condition at a hospital.The shooting happened around 3 a.m. Saturday in the 1800 block of 88th Avenue. Police said based on initial reports it appears a gun battle erupted between different people or groups outside.At least 20 shots were fired, prompting the activation of a gunshot detection system.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | East Bay man pleads guilty in lottery ticket theft scheme Crime and Public Safety | Family men or cruel cops? Indictments expose Antioch officers’ stunning dark side Crime and Public Safety | San Ramon woman shot in West Oakland Crime and Public Safety | Martinez police fatally shoot person after responding to reported burglary at cannabis dispensary ...