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Acting police chief’s nomination unanimously approved by DC Council’s public safety committee

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

Acting police Chief Pamela Smith’s nomination to become the permanent leader of the District’s police force has been approved by a key D.C. Council committee. The nomination now heads for a final vote by the entire council next month.The Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety on Tuesday unanimously voted to approve Smith’s nomination for the position.Before calling the committee to a vote, Ward 2 Council Member Brooke Pinto reflected on how the police department is at a “turning point,” and comes at a “critical time for the department and the District.“As we face a significant increase in both violent crime and property crime and MPD simultaneously suffers a hiring and retention crisis. Our communities are crying out for help, for more police, more security, more opportunities and more accountability.”Referring to the fact that the District surpassed 200 homicides in 2023 last month, Pinto said “the new chief must be ready to...

German authorities say there’s no hope for 4 missing sailors after North Sea ship collision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities on Wednesday broke off their search for four crew members missing since their British-flagged cargo ship sank a day earlier following a collision with a larger vessel in the North Sea. A senior official said there was no longer any hope for them.The Verity, which had seven people on board and was en route from Bremen, Germany, to the English port of Immingham, sank shortly after the collision a little before 5 a.m. Tuesday. Two sailors were rescued and the body of another was recovered.Rescue ships and aircraft participating in the search were unable to locate the four missing crew members on Tuesday, and divers sent down to the wreck of the Verity to check for any signs of life did not find anything. Officials said that the water temperature at the time of the collision was about 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit), which experience shows most people can survive for about 20 hours.Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said the en...

AAC votes to add Army in 2024 for football, AP sources say. Army-Navy to remain nonconference game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

The American Athletic Conference voted unanimously to add Army as a football-only member starting in 2024, two people with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday.The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement was still in the works. AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco was planning to attend a news conference at West Point, New York, with school officials later Wednesday.Army will replace SMU, which is moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference, to keep the American a 14-team football league. The move puts Army and Navy football in the same conference, but their traditional, end-of-the-season, standalone matchup will remain a nonconference game so it can be played after conference championships.Army mostly competes in the Patriot League, but it has been an independent in football for most of the program’s existence. The Black Knights competed in Conference USA from 1998-2004 and never won more than three football games ...

Did you know a Denver woman named the Ouija board?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The "Mother of the Ouija board," a woman who named and helped patent the talking board, is still in Denver today.The original Ouija boards, which were called "talking boards," started in the mid-1800s. They became increasingly popular during the Spiritualism movement in the late 1800s after the Civil War, according to Molly Bown House Museum director Andrea Malcomb. People used the boards as a way to communicate with those who had passed on. While talking boards have existed for over 100 years, the boards became commercialized once Helen Peters Nosworthy discovered the new name. Photos: Behind the scenes of ‘Denver’s oldest haunted house’ Nosworthy's story is told by the Talking Board Historical Society. It was referred to as a talking board until Nosworthy, said to be a medium, patented the new name in 1890.As the legend goes, Nosworthy asked the board what it would like to be called, to which it responded "O-U-I-J-A." After asking the board what the name meant, i...

Mike Johnson is the latest GOP nominee for House speaker as Republicans move to yet another vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans chose Rep. Mike Johnson as their latest nominee for House speaker desperate to unite their fractious majority and end the chaos, just hours after an earlier pick abruptly withdrew in the face of opposition from Donald Trump.Johnson of Louisiana, a lower-ranked member of the House GOP leadership team, becomes the fourth Republican nominee in what has become an almost absurd cycle of political infighting since Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as GOP factions jockey for power.When the House convenes at noon Wednesday ahead of a floor vote, Johnson, who won the majority behind closed doors, will need almost all Republicans in the public roll call to win the gavel.“Mike! Mike! Mike!” lawmakers chanted at a press conference late Tuesday night, surrounding Johnson and posing for selfies in a show of support.Three weeks on, the Republicans have been frittering away their majority status — a maddening embarrassment to some, democracy in action to others, but not at...

Moped driver left injured after hit-and-run in Tampa speaks out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

A man is on the road to recovery after becoming the victim of hit and run horror. He said he’s lucky to be alive after being dragged for hundreds of feet and was then left for dead.Jonny Fitzcharles didn’t need to see the video to know how close he was to losing his life earlier this month.“It’s been a weird week of saying the word lucky, like that is not a word I expected to say, but I really am, all things considered,” Fitzcharles said.Somehow, 12 days later, he’s able to sit and talk about the hit-and run crash that nearly killed him.“When it happened, it was so fast. I don’t remember being under the car,” he said.Fitzcharles had only owned his moped for less than a month and was riding it near an intersection in Tampa.“I remember she was just locked straight on and she just kept going,” he said.When the driver blew through a stop sign, she slammed into him, practically running him over. The driver was seen getting...

Video shows man leaping into EPCOT waters at Disney World

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (WSVN) — Video footage emerged from Walt Disney World after a guest took a leap into the waters at EPCOT on Monday. Reports suggest that the individual agreed to jump for a hefty $6,000 bet, despite repeated warnings of potential expulsion from the park. “You’re gonna get kicked out of Disney, mister!” one person is heard on cellphone video. After he pulled himself out of the water, the jumper reunited with friends, only to be confronted by the park’s security. According to Walt Disney World’s website, engaging in any “unsafe act” is prohibited at the parks. “We reserve the right to prohibit the use or storage of any other item not listed above that we determine may be harmful or disruptive, in our sole and absolute discretion,” stated Disney’s park rules website.It is unclear if the man is going to be prohibited from entering the theme park again.

South Florida philanthropists honored by Community Foundation of Broward

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

South Florida’s automotive industry celebrated the philanthropic efforts of two distinguished figures as the Community Foundation of Broward honored Rita Case, President, and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, and Colin Brown, JM Family Enterprises Board Chair.Plaques were unveiled in a ceremony at the Community Foundation of Broward, recognizing their dedicated charitable endeavors. Rita Case established the Rita & Rick Case Family Fund to support initiatives benefiting children and families in need, while Colin Brown created the Colin W. Brown Charitable Fund to support educational efforts.Speaking at the ceremony, Rita Case emphasized the growth and community spirit of Broward County. “The growth in Broward County is exponential as we see it every single day,” said Case. “People want to be here n Broward County. They’re coming from all over. We as a community foundation — we as a community that can philanthropically support that need to pro...

Arrest made after crucifix vandalized at Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

Boston police say a suspect is in custody after an exterior crucifix was vandalized at the historic Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston overnight.The arms of Jesus on the crucifix were broken and left dangling and video posted online shows someone swinging back and forth from the crucifix, trying to pull it down.A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston said, “Unfortunately, the Cathedral experienced vandalism at the exterior crucifix … It’s now in the capable hands of the BPD. The Archdiocese will work with the Cathedral to assess the damage.”Following an investigation Wednesday morning, the Boston Police Department said an individual had been taken into custody in connection with the case. Details on what charges they might be facing have not yet been released.The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the largest Catholic church in New England.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Report of gunfire ends with arrest after Marshfield man allegedly shot rounds that struck homes while intoxicated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:25 GMT

Police in Marshfield say a resident was taken into custody after a report of shots being fired led to officers finding evidence of property damage and intoxication.The Marshfield Police Department said David Planchard, 66, was arrested after officers responded to the area of Foster Avenue on Monday night.Officers arrived at his home after a caller living nearby described hearing gunshots and seeing “flashing lights” at Planchard’s Foster Avenue address.“They also stated they saw ‘an older gentlemen pacing back and forth on the porch’ of 4 Foster Ave. at the time,” the police department stated in a news release.According to police, officers arrived and came into contact with Planchard, who allowed them into his home. While at the address, Marshfield PD said another caller reported hearing gunshots that evening.Inside the home, police allegedly detected “a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the defendant” as Planchard...