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Tony Bennett, legendary American singer, dies at 96

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday. He was 96, just two weeks short of his birthday.Publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed Bennett's death to The Associated Press, saying he died in his hometown of New York. There was no specific cause, but Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.The last of the great saloon singers of the mid-20th century, Bennett often said his lifelong ambition was to create "a hit catalog rather than hit records." He released more than 70 albums, bringing him 19 competitive Grammys — all but two after he reached his 60s — and enjoyed deep and lasting affection from fans and fellow artists.Singer Tony Bennett arrives for his 90th birthday celebration at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Plaza on Wednesday, ...

Russia targets Ukraine’s farm storage sites after days of hitting Black Sea port facilities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian cruise missiles destroyed farm storage buildings in the Odesa region early Friday, Ukrainian officials said, as the Kremlin’s forces expanded their targets following three days of bombardment of the region’s Black Sea port infrastructure.Other Russian missiles damaged what officials described only as an “important infrastructure facility” southwest of the port city of Odesa, in what appeared to be part of an ongoing effort to cripple Ukraine’s food exports.Attacks in recent days have put Odesa in Russia’s crosshairs after Moscow abandoned a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.In the attack on the storage site, two of the low-flying cruise missiles hit initially and started a blaze, and then another struck during firefighting efforts, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said. The barrage injured two people, damaged equipment and destroyed 100 metric tons of peas and 20 metric tons of barley, Kiper said.Russia targeted Ukrai...

Stock market gains help pave way for IPO resurgence in 2023 after worst year since Great Recession

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A strong stock market turnaround is helping spur a resurgence in companies going public a year after the number of Wall Street newcomers fell to the lowest level since the Great Recession.Some 55 initial public offerings, or IPOs, have priced so far this year, raising $9.7 billion in proceeds, according to IPO tracker Renaissance Capital. Last year, 71 companies went public, raising $7.7 billion.The last time there were fewer IPOs was 2009, when 63 companies went public.All told, 100 companies have filed IPO documents this year, compared to 83 at this point in 2022, said Matt Kennedy, senior strategist at Renaissance Capital.“We are expecting just continued, gradual pickup in the second half (of the year), gaining momentum heading into 2024,” he said.Historically, between 150-200 companies go public every year, so the IPO market this year has a ways to go to return to a more normal pace, something Kennedy doesn’t expect will happen.“It’s definitely going to be a s...

Live updates | Protesters disrupt British Open at 17th hole

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

PROTESTERS DISRUPT OPEN AT 17THHOYLAKE, England (AP) — Three environmental activists have briefly interrupted play at the British Open.The Just Stop Oil protesters went onto the 17th hole, with one throwing what appeared to be orange paint to the side of the green. Another was led away from the green by American player Billy Horschel.The three protesters were escorted away by police.Just Stop Oil is an organization that wants the British government to stop new oil, gas and coal projects. It has interrupted a slew of major sporting events in Britain in recent months, including Wimbledon, an Ashes cricket test and the world snooker championship.Ahead of the Open, R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said there were “significant security procedures in place” to deal with protesters and that players have been advised to not get involved.___WHAT TO KNOW— A day of surprises at British Open.— South African amateur Christo Lamprecht is a big man with a big game— Rasmus and Nicolai first ...

Possible tornado strikes Pikes Peak leaving behind large debris field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A possible tornado may have hit Pikes Peak Thursday afternoon leaving behind a trail of downed trees in its wake.At around 2 p.m., the Pinpoint Weather team noticed some severe weather in the Pikes Peak region in El Paso County and rotation on the radar. Some witnesses also reported seeing a path of damage. Coroner: Altitude contributed to hiker’s death in RMNP Brad Carroll snapped some shots of a large debris field on the Pikes Peak Highway just a few miles short of the summit. He described it as a "clear path of destruction" as multiple trees had been downed and dispersed.A possible tornado may have struck Pikes Peak on July 21 leaving behind a path of downed trees and debris. (Credit: Brad Carroll)A possible tornado may have struck Pikes Peak on July 21 leaving behind a path of downed trees and debris. (Credit: Brad Carroll)Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Liz McGiffin said the National Weather Service will head up to the 14er to survey the damage and look at the ...

Judge sets a trial date for next May in Trump’s classified documents case in Florida

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Florida has set a trial date for next May for former President Donald Trump in a case charging him with illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents.The May 20, 2024, trial date is a compromise between a request from prosecutors to set the trial for this December and a request from defense lawyers to schedule it after the 2024 presidential election.

Body cam video reveals ‘swatting’ incident after Florida deputies respond to fake call

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

DELTONA, Fla. (WSVN) — Newly released body camera footage captured the tense encounter after deputies responded to a distress call reporting a homicide at a Deltona home but what they discovered was a sinister prank known as “swatting,” left everyone involved shaken and apprehensive. Sandile “Hunter” Mgidi, visiting from New Jersey, found himself facing Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies with guns drawn, as he stepped outside of a house on Monday night. “I see everyone pointing a gun at me, and I’m freaking out. I’m like, ‘Whoa, what the heck is going on?'” Hunter recounted. On the body cam footage, Hunter can be heard saying he was “utterly confused” to which a deputy responded, “Yup, so are we.”The call that brought the deputies to the scene alleged that someone had shot their wife, tied up their children, and threatened to set the house on fire. Sheriff Mike Chitwood expressed his concern ove...

Tony Bennett dies at 96: ‘Best singer in the business’ [+photo gallery]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday. He was 96, just two weeks short of his birthday.FILE - American singer Tony Bennett and 27-year-old Sandi Grant smile during the reception held at the Hilton Hotel, London on March 8, 1968, for Bennett who is in London for a concert tour. Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday, July 21, 2023. He was 96. (AP Photo/Bob Dear, File)FILE - Veteran singer Tony Bennett displays his two Grammy's backstage at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Wednesday, March 1, 19...

Councilor Kendra Lara’s crash: Police body camera footage catches her misleading cops

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

“Is she alive?”That was the first comment made by the 83-year-old owner of the Jamaica Plain home where City Councilor Kendra Lara slammed the Honda Civic she was driving into at 4:27 p.m. on June 30. It was all picked up on police body camera video.The owner was stunned to see a car almost in her house, but she first asked about the victims.Lara’s 7-year-old son suffered a bad laceration over his eyebrow and both the District 6 councilor and her son were taken to Children’s Hospital. The police body camera footage released late Thursday shows police calmly helping Lara and her son first along with firefighters and EMTs and then investigating the crash second.A police officer takes a cell phone photo of Councilor Kendra Lara’s crash. (BPD body camera video screengrab.)Lara, according to the audio on the footage, mislead police when she said “No” she did not have her license with her adding: “I can bring it,” she says on video.Tha...

Man in critical condition after being struck by van in Midtown Toronto

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:10 GMT

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after being struck by a vehicle in Midtown Toronto on Thursday afternoon.The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Yonge Street and Chaplin Crescent.Police say a 37-year-old man was driving a Dodge Ram van southbound on Yonge and was sitting at a complete stop when an emergency vehicle approached from behind with its sirens on.When the driver went to change lanes to get out of the way, the van lost control and drove up on the curb striking a male pedestrian sitting on a bench next to a bus shelter. The van continued through the intersection and stopped on the southside of the intersection.The pedestrian was rushed to hospital in life-threatening condition.Investigators are examining the van for mechanical failure. There is no word if any charges will be laid.Anyone witnesses are being asked to contact police.