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Crypto sector sees an existential moment in the US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

Crypto businesses have warned for months that the Biden administration is quietly moving to push them out of the U.S.Now, with the collapse of three crypto-friendly banks, they say the evidence is piling up.The Federal Reserve and other top regulators are cautioning banks about crypto’s risks. The SEC is threatening to sue the largest digital asset exchange. And White House officials recently questioned whether digital tokens had any “fundamental value.”The $1 trillion crypto industry is going on the offensive against what executives say is an existential threat to “de-bank” digital asset businesses, mounting a lobbying campaign to oppose efforts to discourage lenders from taking them on as customers.“The concern is very real,” Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), one of several GOP lawmakers allied with the industry, said in an interview. “We’ve seen this sort of regulatory abuse before with Operation Choke Point,” the Obama-era program that pushed banks away from finan...

Daunting recovery underway in tornado-devastated Mississippi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

By LEAH WILLINGHAM (Associated Press)Help began pouring into one of the poorest regions of the U.S. after a deadly tornado wrought a path of destruction in the Mississippi Delta, even as furious new storms Sunday struck Georgia, where two tigers briefly escaped their badly damaged safari park.At least 25 people were killed and dozens of others were injured in Mississippi as the massive storm ripped through several towns on its hour-long path late Friday. One man was killed in Alabama after his trailer home flipped over several times.Search and recovery crews resumed the daunting task of digging through the debris of flattened and battered homes, commercial buildings and municipal offices after hundreds of people were displaced.Jarrod Kunze drove to the hard-hit town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, from his home in Alabama after hearing about the storm, ready to volunteer “in whatever capacity I’m needed.”“The town is devastated,” Kunze said. “Everyt...

San Diego Padres: The starting pitcher for Opening Day has been announced

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The starting pitcher for the Padres Opening Day has been announced as the start of the 2023 Major League Baseball season inches closer.Drum roll please! Padres welcome Rady Children’s cancer patients to spring training The Friar Faithful will be cheering on their team as the professional hurler repping jersey #4 strides to the pitcher's mound at Petco Park on March 30. Blake "Zilla" Snell is set to sling the first heated pitch of the season, the Padres announced Friday.With over 14,000 pitches thrown in his MLB career, this season's Opening Day will mark Snell's 160th game as a starting pitcher, according to MLB stats.Snell has struck out 989 basemen throughout his career, according to those same stats, which started after he was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2011 draft. San Diego baseball fans will be rooting for the home team as the Padres faceoff against the Colorado Rockies at 1:10 p.m. on Thursday.

Police investigate 'suspicious' death of man in San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Authorities are investigating a suspicious death that took place in the Tierrasanta neighborhood on Saturday night, said the San Diego Police Department.The San Diego Police Communications Center said they received a call to assist San Diego Fire-Rescue personnel on a report of a death at a residence in the 10600 block of Esmeraldas Drive around 11:30 p.m. Man detained after loaded gun found in car following collision SDPD said fire crews had responded to a report from a woman that her husband had fallen down the stairs in their home. Upon arriving, SDFD said members of their crew rendered first aid. Despite their efforts, however, the man was pronounced deceased at 11:40 a.m.San Diego Police Homicide Detectives were called to the scene to investigate due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the man's death, SDPD said. Authorities say detectives are in the process of interviewing witnesses and gathering any evidence that may assist in further clarifying the circum...

4th person found dead in chocolate factory blast; 3 missing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

WEST READING, Pa. (AP) — A fourth person was confirmed dead and three people remained unaccounted for Sunday, two days after a powerful explosion at a chocolate factory shook a small town in Pennsylvania.West Reading Borough Chief of Police Wayne Holben confirmed the body of a fourth victim was found under debris early Sunday at the R.M. Palmer Co. plant in the borough of West Reading, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. Holben asked for continued prayers from the community and vowed that rescuers and officials “will not rest until every single person affected by this tragedy has been accounted for” from the blast that occurred just before 5 p.m. Friday.Rescue crews have been using heat imaging equipment and dogs to search for possible survivors after the blast destroyed one building and damaged a neighboring building. Crews were now using heavy equipment to methodically and carefully pull debris from the site, Holben said.Borough Fire Chief Chad Moyer said Sat...

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ comes out blazing with $73.5M

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — “John Wick: Chapter 4,” the fourth installment in the Keanu Reeves assassin series, debuted with a franchise-best $73.5 million at the box office, according to studio estimates Sunday. The Lionsgate film, starring Reeves as the reluctant-but-not-that-reluctant killer John Wick, exceeded both expectations and previous opening weekends in the R-rated franchise. Since first launching in 2014 with “John Wick” ($14 million on its opening weekend), the Chad Stahelski-directed series has steadily grown as a ticket-seller with each sequel. The 2017 follow-up opened with $30.4 million, and the 2019 third chapter, “Parabellum,” debuted with $56.8 million. But “Chapter 4,” running two hours and 49 minutes and costing at least $100 million to produce, is the biggest film yet in the once-lean action series. Critics also said it was a franchise high point, scoring 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.Though “John Wick” has been bigger at the box office with each new release — an enviable ...

Chicago org. to combat violence against Black girls and women

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago-based organization is celebrating 20 years of empowering Black girls and women and fighting against their issues.'A Long Walk Home' is an arts organization empowering and working to help end the violence against young Black girls and women. Co-founder Scheherazade Tillet shares her inspiration in starting the organization alongside her sister 20 years ago.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Can you 'work your way' through college?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

(NerdWallet) - For the past few years, the out-of-pocket costs for attending a public four-year college have decreased and minimum wages have risen in many states. While you might think these shifts should make it easier for students to work their way through college, it would still take a herculean effort — adding a full-time job (or more) — to a full-time courseload.Assuming a student earns the average of state minimum wages ($10.40 per hour), they’d need to work 35 hours per week to cover the average costs at a public four-year school in their state. And that wouldn’t account for additional expenses, such as gas and car insurance, recreational activities or any unexpected costs. It also wouldn’t leave much room for the estimated 30-45 hours per week they’d need to dedicate to their full-time courseload.Wages and inflation affect working student outcomes The net cost of attendance — which includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and an allowance for personal expenses,...

Public opinion sought on bike, pedestrian improvements to John Ireland Boulevard bridge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is asking the public to weigh in on bicycle and pedestrian lanes slated for St. Paul’s John Ireland Boulevard bridge, which is set to be taken down and rebuilt to improve its structural integrity.The bridge, built in 1967, spans Interstate 94 between Kellogg Boulevard and Rice Street. MnDOT said that while the bridge is safe, the overhaul will help future-proof it based on modern weight limits for vehicles.The new version of the bridge is to be built with the same footprint as the existing bridge, which carries four lanes of traffic, but it will include sidewalk repairs, accessibly updates and railing replacements along with the bike and pedestrian lanes.MnDOT said the project should kick off in 2025 with some painting, restriping and construction slated for 2026.The department is asking for public feedback on three options for the bridge layout that envision different versions of the bicycle and pedestrian lanes.Input is welcome at a...

Two accused of burglary, grand larceny in Hoosick Falls

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:22 GMT

HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Two people were arrested and are accused of grand larceny, burglary, and criminal mischief. Richard Simmons (31, Hoosick Falls), and Harold Lashway III (42, Eagle Bridge) were arrested on Friday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Friday, Hoosick Falls Police say Simmons and Lashway illegally entered the old WCW Building on Mechanic Street in Hoosick, caused damage to the building, and allegedly stole copper wiring and copper piping. Police say they then sold the copper to a recycling facility. Police also say Simmons had an outstanding bench warrant for failure to appear for an unrelated incident.Arrest warrants were issued for both, and they turned themselves into the police the same day. They were arraigned in the Village of Hoosick Falls Court and released. They are set to reappear on April 20.