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Florida’s Greek community celebrates the Epiphany with annual dive into water to retrieve cross

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — After thunderstorms moved past, Florida’s largest Greek Orthodox community celebrated the Epiphany on Saturday as a 16-year-old boy dove into chilly water to retrieve a cross in an annual rite that draws thousands. John Hittos found the cross before 64 other boys after it was thrown into a bayou in Tarpon Springs, a town on the Gulf Coast 30 miles north of Tampa and known for its large Greek community. The retriever of the cross is believed to receive a year of blessings. It is one of the largest Epiphany celebrations in the country. “I didn’t see where the cross went in the water,” Hittos told reporters after emerging from the 65-degree (18-degree Celsius) water. “I didn’t know where it was, but I had a feeling and I just went down. I couldn’t see anything, but it was in my hand.”The Epiphany commemorates the manifestation of Jesus to the world and comes from the Greek word “epiphaneia,” which means “appearance.” It i...

Polish farmers suspend their blockade at the Ukrainian border after a deal with the government

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish farmers who had blockaded a border crossing to Ukraine ended their protest after reaching an agreement with the government that met their demands, Poland’s state news agency PAP reported Saturday.The frustration of the farmers was one of the challenges facing the new Polish government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, which seeks to support Ukraine while also addressing the demands of Polish farmers and truckers whose livelihoods have been hurt by the war.Since November, both farmers and truckers have been blockading border crossings, threatening the flow of some aid going into Ukraine.Polish farmers complain that imports of Ukrainian foods have caused prices to fall, hurting their incomes, while truckers say they are being undercut by their Ukrainian counterparts.The truckers are continuing their protest, creating queues of many kilometers at serveral border crossings. This week truckers had to wait over two days before they could cross. Agriculture ...

Trump courts young voters in Iowa before heading to two rallies for the Jan. 15 caucuses

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former President Donald Trump courted young conservative activists Saturday morning in Des Moines as he kicked off another day of campaigning in the state that will launch the race for the White House in just over a week.“You’re a good looking crowd … I usually don’t look at people who are this attractive,” Trump quipped to members of Run GenZ, an organization that encourages young conservatives to run for office. Many in the audience at the Embassy Suites hotel in Des Moines seemed surprised to see Trump, whose visit had not been previously announced.Trump’s campaign is hoping to turn out thousands of supporters who have never caucused before on Jan. 15 as part of a show of force aimed at denying his rivals momentum and demonstrating his organizing prowess heading into the general election. He is set to hold a pair of commit-to-caucus events later Saturday in Newton in central Iowa and Clinton in the state’s far east. His chief rivals, form...

Canadian airlines say they’re unaffected by Boeing 737-9 Max jetliner incident

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

TORONTO — Canadian airlines say they don’t fly the Boeing 737-9 Max jetliners that U.S. regulators have grounded after an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout while in flight.The Alaska Airlines 737-9 Max jetliner blew out a window and a portion of its fuselage shortly after takeoff nearly five kilometres above Oregon late Friday, creating a gaping hole that forced the pilots to make an emergency landing as its 174 passengers and six crew members donned oxygen masks.Airlines including Air Canada, WestJet, Flair Airlines and Lynx Air all say they fly the 737-8 Max jetliner. Air Canada says its 40 aircraft in the 737-8 Max series don’t have the mid-cabin exit door configuration of the Max 9, adding the aircraft have performed very reliably. WestJet spokeswoman Julia Kaiser says the airline’s Max 8 planes also don’t have the same door in question in the Alaska Airlines incident, and the company is in constant communication with Boeing to make sure there are ...

Jordanian army says it killed 5 drug smugglers in clashes on the Syrian border

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

AMMAN (AP) — The Jordanian army said Saturday that it killed five drug and weapon smugglers and arrested 15 in a day of clashes with armed groups of smugglers attempting to cross into Jordan from Syria.The army statement said the clashes broke out before dawn between Jordanian border guards and armed organizations “that practice smuggling and rely on systematic infiltration operations.” It said the smuggling operations have recently increased in frequency.The state-run Jordan News Agency reported that in recent days smugglers have “aimed to cross the Kingdom’s border by force by targeting border guards.”Jordanian security forces seized Captagon amphetamine pills, hashish and weapons, the statement said.Smugglers have used Jordan as a corridor in recent years to smuggle the highly addictive Captagon out of Syria, mainly to oil-rich Arab Gulf states. The drug is used recreationally and by people with physically demanding jobs to keep them alert.Jordanian authorities have interce...

A Pentagon mystery: Why was Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospital stay kept secret for days?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of Congress and Pentagon leaders were unaware for days that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized since Monday, U.S. officials said Saturday, as questions swirled about his condition and the secrecy surrounding it. And it remained unclear when the White House and other key U.S. officials were told about his stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.The Pentagon’s failure to disclose Austin’s hospitalization for days reflects a stunning lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he may be released. Such secrecy, at a time when the United States is juggling myriad national security crises, runs counter to normal practice with the president and other senior U.S. officials and Cabinet members. Austin, 70, remained hospitalized due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, his press secretary said, as it became clear how closely the Pentagon held information about his s...

United Airlines temporarily suspends select Boeing 737 aircraft

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago-based commercial airliner United Airlines temporarily suspended service on a select number of Boeing model aircraft Saturday, likely leading to dozens of cancellations.According to a statement released by United Saturday, they are grounding a number of their Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft to conduct an inspection required by the Federal Aviation Administration."United has temporarily suspended service on select Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft to conduct an inspection required by the FAA," the statement reads. "We are working directly with impacted customers to find them alternative travel options."United has 79 Boeing 737 MAX 9's in their fleet, including about 33 that have already received the necessary inspection required by the FAA.Removing the select number of Boeing 737 Max 9's from service is expected to cause about 60 cancellations in Chicago Saturday. United keeps options open on potential HQ move to Denver Boeing released the follow statement after the grounding of...

Austin bakery sees big business pick up for Rosca de Reyes cakes

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the traditional Christmas season comes to an end, a local bakery sees big business as people pick up traditional Mexican Rosca de Reyes cakes.Mi Tradicion Panadería in south Austin has baked the hand-made rosca cakes for over a decade and a half for Three Kings Day.The cake's different colors, candies, and even the shape, all represent different aspects and qualities of the Christian faith.On Saturday, they are exclusively selling the rosca cakes to mark the big celebration, and Jesus Guevara, the owner of Mi Tradicion Panadería, expects to sell out quickly."In the past years, we always run out of roscas. So this year, we are a little bit more prepared so everybody can get a piece of the rosca," Guevara said.A good reminder for people getting in on the tradition for the first time, if you happen to get the little baby statue, signifying the baby Jesus, you're expected to host a party on Candelaria Day, Feb. 2.

Fuzzy black caterpillars in Texas: Are they poisonous?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — With winter in full swing in the Lone Star State, the fuzzy black caterpillars you might see in trees and bushes in spring and summer may start becoming more scarce. But that doesn't mean you won't encounter them anymore.As explained by Wizzie Brown, integrated pest management specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services, even though fuzzy black caterpillars — also known as woollybear caterpillars — are hunkering down for the winter, you still might see them out on warmer days.But is there any reason to worry when you do encounter them? Whataburger reveals new menu item: Whatawings It turns out that despite how instinctually you might be repelled by these furry-looking insects, they can't really harm you."Many people see the hairs on this caterpillar and automatically think, ‘Don’t touch that — I’m going to be stung.’ Fortunately, these are not stinging caterpillars, so you can handle them, and they won’t hurt you," said Brown.There are many types of woolly...

DoorDash driver carjacked overnight in south St. Louis

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:36:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Police are searching for a stolen vehicle and a suspect who allegedly carjacked a DoorDash driver overnight in south St. Louis. The incident unfolded around 3:30 a.m. Saturday in the 4000 block of Oregon Avenue in the Dutchtown neighborhood. Investigators say the victim, a 34-year-old man, was delivering a DoorDash order to a home when a suspect suddenly approached the passenger's side of his car and produced a weapon. The suspect ordered the victim out of the car, snatched his keys, and took off in the northbound direction. Snow blankets St. Louis, more winter weather expected Police are looking for the victim's stolen vehicle, a black 2011 Nissan Sentra with Missouri license plate number VG9L8N. If you have any information relevant to this information, contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department at 314-231-1212.