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Florida man’s wild excavator joyride ends in Walmart wreck

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WSVN) — A Florida man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a massive construction excavator and wreaking havoc in Gainesville. Police said 47-year-old Jesse Charles Smith hot-wired the excavator before embarking on a destructive journey that included knocking down power poles and plowing through the front of a Walmart store. Smith’s escapade of destruction caused $2 million in damages. Authorities said he was armed with a machete during his rampage but thankfully, no one was injured during the incident. Smith now faces many charges, including grand theft, trespassing, property damage, and criminal mischief. He now resides behind bars at the Alachua County jail.

‘Love at First Sight’ adds up to Netflix’s latest easy-to-like (not love) romance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

(CNN) — Netflix spends a lot of money on prestigious Oscar bait, but its subscriber/viewership numbers probably owe as much to the light romances that the service spits out with regularity. Add “Love at First Sight” to that column, playing like a slightly darker fairy tale – rom without much com – about the odds against finding your soulmate, filtered through one of the young lovers’ preoccupation with math.The meet-very-cute premise involves Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson, fresh off her stay at “The White Lotus”) missing her flight from New York to London, leaving her with some time to kill in the airport when she meets Oliver (Ben Hardy, whose credits include “Bohemian Rhapsody”), also bound for the UK.While she’s heading not very enthusiastically to the wedding of her dad (Rob Delaney, in a role that ill fits him), he’s bound for a different kind of family gathering, the details of which he’s not eager to share.The improbabilities that go into meeting Mr. or Ms. Right, and being in ...

Alligator missing upper jaw rescued by Florida trappers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

An alligator with a missing upper jaw has been captured after weeks of searching and is set to be treated at a facility. Photos of the injured reptile circulated on social media after a Seminole County woman reached out to several wildlife departments to try to help the alligator after she spotted it at Wilson’s Landing Park in Sanford. Wildlife experts expressed concern after they discovered posts of the injured creature. Kimberly Titterington, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with over three decades of experience, has encountered numerous alligators during her career but never one like this. She described the situation as “very extreme,” emphasizing that while it’s not uncommon to see alligators with various injuries, the extent of this particular damage is highly unusual.According to Bear Warriors United, a non-profit wildlife organization, alligator trappers Jerry and Chase Flynn captured the jaw-less creature, Thursday evening. Officials with the organization said the in...

Greens slam von der Leyen over plan to not run as MEP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

BERLIN — The European Green Party on Friday sharply criticized Ursula von der Leyen for her plan to potentially stand for a second term as president of the European Commission without running for election in the European Parliament.POLITICO reported Thursday how von der Leyen told her local branch of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the state of Lower Saxony that she won’t join a list of candidates running for a seat in the European Parliament in next year’s EU election. However, von der Leyen may nevertheless become the center right’s lead candidate, or Spitzenkandidat, for reelection as Commission president — a decision that she “has not made” yet, according to an official close to von der Leyen, granted anonymity as they are not authorized to speak publicly.In an emailed statement to POLITICO, the co-chairs of the European Green Party, which represents the pan-European grouping of national Green parties, lambasted von der Leyen for her decision.“It w...

Vestager cautions about defense, nuclear investments in EIB pitch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain — The European Investment Bank should not become a “political fighting arena” for investments in nuclear energy or defense, said Margrethe Vestager, who’s trying to convince European Union finance ministers to pick her to head the powerful government-backed lender.Vestager, currently on leave as EU digital and antitrust chief, is one of the top candidates to take over from President Werner Hoyer next year and lead the bank that finances EU policies, from fighting climate change to rebuilding Ukraine.She stressed that a successful candidate needed broad support, including smaller countries, because “the bank is for everybody, big shareholders as well as small shareholders,” she told POLITICO on the sidelines of a finance ministers’ gathering in Santiago de Compostela.France and Germany, who together with Italy, account for nearly half of the bank’s capital, haven’t said who they will back. France has been pushing for a...

Hurricane Lee prompts ferry schedule disruptions in Mass.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

Hurricane Lee was already having impacts around Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and beyond Friday, prompting ferry disruptions as it continued its approach toward the region. Hy-Line Cruises announced Thursday that it had canceled all its service between Hyannis and Martha’s Vineyard as well as direct inter-island service between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket for Friday and Saturday. Service between Hyannis and Nantucket will run on a trip-by-trip basis through the day Friday, Hy-Line said, “with service interruptions anticipated.”The Steamship Authority in its own statement said ferry passengers should plan for disruptions and cancellations Friday. The Steamship Authority said it then expects additional trip cancellations on Saturday.While watching Lee, the Steamship Authority said it is waiving change and cancellation fees for travel booked on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.Forecasts on Friday projected peak wind gusts potentially as high as 70 miles per hour on th...

New England, eastern Canada hunker down as Hurricane Lee’s high winds and brutal rains approach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

By DAVID SHARP and PATRICK WHITTLE (Associated Press)PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — New England harbors and fishing villages were being emptied of boats — and becoming ghost towns — as commercial fishermen and recreational boaters scrambled Friday to make final preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Lee, a storm threatening to bring tropical-storm-force winds across a swath hundreds of miles wide.Hundreds of out-of-state utility workers poured into Maine amid fears of widespread power outages because of a combination of heavy winds and rain-saturated soil in the nation’s most heavily wooded state.A tropical storm warning was in place from Maine to Massachusetts, but forecasters removed a hurricane watch for eastern Maine, as the storm with 20-foot (6-meter) ocean swells approached. Forecasters said there would be winds topping 40 mph (64 kph) across an area spanning more than 400 miles (643 kilometers) ahead of landfall Saturday afternoon.On Friday, there was litt...

Patriots missing CB Jonathan Jones, two O-linemen at last practice before Dolphins game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

A day after being limited by a new ankle injury, Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones missed the start of Friday’s practice.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: Will big-name option fill biggest current need? New England Patriots | Devin McCourty unsurprised but impressed with how Patriots replaced him at free safety New England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Ezekiel Elliott endorses signing ex-Cowboys O-lineman New England Patriots | Patriots aren’t underestimating Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa ahead of Week 2 New England Patriots | Patriots-Dolphins injury report: Pats defensive back hurt Thursday, could affect Tyreek Hill plan Jones was one of three players absent, along with offensive linemen Trent Brown and Sidy Sow. Brown and Sow are dealing with concussions that are likely to keep them out of Sunday’s game versus Miami. Jones’ injury has suddenly put h...

Jury clears 3 men in the last trial tied to the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

By ED WHITE (Associated Press)A jury acquitted three men Friday in the last trial connected to a plan to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a scheme that was portrayed as an example of homegrown terrorism on the eve of the 2020 presidential election.William Null, twin brother Michael Null and Eric Molitor were found not guilty of providing support for a terrorist act and a weapon charge. They were the last of 14 men to face charges in state or federal court. Nine were convicted and now five have been cleared.The Nulls and Molitor were accused of supporting leaders of the plan by participating in military-style drills and traveling to see Whitmer’s vacation home in northern Michigan. The key players, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., were convicted of a kidnapping conspiracy last year in a different court.In the latest trial, the jury heard 14 days of testimony in Antrim County, the location of Whitmer’s lakeside property, 185 miles (297 kilometers) north of the state Cap...

From Asian markets to beer fests, these events are happening in San Diego County this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The weekend is meant for leisure and good times, and San Diego County has several events on the calendar that are perfect for just that.From North County to South Bay, Sept. 15-17 shows a promising lineup of events and activities for adults looking to have some fun and families looking for a nice outing.FOX 5 has created a compilation of some things to do across the county this weekend. Dump Day: How to dispose of unwanted items for free San Diego626 Night Market (Family-Friendly): Delicious foods, live entertainment, craft vendors and an atmosphere that welcomes all — that’s what you can expect when strolling through 626 Night Market in San Diego. The famous Asian bazaar is back this weekend from 1-10 p.m. each night. Tickets are free but limited, so you must register online.Pixies with Modest Mouse and Cat Power: This triple lineup concert will draw the crowd at Petco Park's Gallagher Square on Saturday at 7 p.m. These indie rock staples will close th...