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Who’s in charge of Nashville’s airport? US and Tennessee officials disagree under a new state law

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — While Nashville International Airport hums to the tune of live music in a terminal filled with tourists and locals alike, this trendy gateway to Tennessee has quietly confronted an identity crisis.Under a new state law, there is no clear agreement now about who’s in charge of airport operations. The confusion comes at a time when the airport is booming, its annual passengers having more than doubled over the past decade to 21.8 million by the 2023 fiscal year.The nonprofit Metro Nashville Airport Authority and state officials argue that a new group of state appointees has lawfully taken over the authority’s board. But federal officials and the city contend the old board picked by Nashville’s mayor still has power.Both boards met at the same time last week across town from each other.The dispute heads to a hearing Friday in a state court in Nashville. Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers approved plans for the state to make enough appointm...

Hollywood actors' strike goes to state capital, Newsom offers to broker negotiations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

Union members took the picket lines to the state capital this week as the actors' strike enters its third week with no deal in sight.“We're responsible for the biggest box office movies in the last 20 years but we're not getting our fair share,” said Pete Antica, Chair of Stunt Safety at SAG-AFTRA.Stunt performers joined writers and actors on the picket lines on Thursday, also seeking higher residuals and royalty payments from studios for rerun shows.“Stunt coordinators currently do not get residuals in that particular deal so they can work three different contracts breaking them down in advance, 15 hours a day and they're so busy that all the performers make more money than them,” Antica said.In Sacramento, about 100 SAG-AFTRA members picketed outside the front steps of the California State Capitol.In Sacramento, SAG-AFTRA members picketed outside the front steps of the California State Capitol. (KTLA)Stunt performers joined writers and actors on the picket lines on July 27, 2023, ...

The 10 most expensive homes that reported sold in Milpitas the week of July 17

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

A house in Milpitas that sold for $1.5 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Milpitas in the past week.In total, 10 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.3 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $840.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of July 17 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $1.1 million, condominium in the 1400 block of Bond StreetThe property in the 1400 block of Bond Street in Milpitas has new owners. The price was $1,058,000. The condominium was built in 2018 and has a living area of 1,449 square feet. The price per square foot is $730. The condominium features two bedrooms and two bathrooms.Bond Street9. $1.2 million, condominium in the 600 block of SouthAbel StreetA sale has been finalized for the condominium in the 600 block of SouthAbel Street in Milpitas. The price wa...

Oakland youth organization's van repeatedly vandalized

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – An Oakland nonprofit centered around youth and community programs says they’ve had their van broken into four times in just the past two months.     The latest case of vandalism happened just days ago. The organizer of “Brown Girls Climbing” says a lot of kids and families depend on her program to help them get included in outdoor adventures, and their van is essential to that mission.She believes the broken windows are another example of neglect and flagrant crime in Oakland.  It just keeps happening. Oakland carjacking suspects arrested in connection to Skyline Blvd. incident, others “It’s been really, really hard,” said Emily Taylor, who runs Taylored Fit Solutions, which includes Brown Girls Climbing. “I’m gonna be honest with you. This summer has been the hardest summer that I’ve had.”Brown Girls Climbing describes itself as a youth adventure team for Black people, indigenous people, and other people of color. Their van parked in the Pill Hill area of...

Leclerc asks for patience from F1 drivers as rain threatens to hit Belgian GP at Spa

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc urged his fellow Formula One drivers not to complain if wet conditions affect racing at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.With rain expected at Spa-Francorchamps, Leclerc says impatience should never influence safety on a circuit where two drivers from other racing series have died from crashes in the past four years.Because this weekend has a sprint-race format on Saturday, qualifying for Sunday’s race takes place on Friday with only one practice session. It means a heavy downpour could potentially curtail that lone practice and send drivers into qualifying without any track time.“(Safety) needs to be the priority,” Leclerc said Thursday. “First of all, us drivers, we shouldn’t complain if we don’t have any laps if it’s not safe to do so, with everything that has happened (in the past).”When Leclerc won the first race of his F1 career at the Belgian GP in 2019, it was the day after F2 driver Anthoine Hubert died following a multi-car crash...

Trump charged with new crimes in classified documents case

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

Special counsel Jack Smith has brought three new felony charges against former President Donald Trump, including explosive claims that he asked an employee of his Mar-a-Lago club to delete security camera footage sought by investigators probing his handling of classified documents.In a 60-page superseding indictment unveiled Thursday, prosecutors also accused Trump of possessing a highly classified war plan that he shared with people lacking security clearances months after his presidency ended. And prosecutors added a third defendant: Carlos De Oliveira, a worker at Mar-a-Lago who is accused of joining Trump and aide Walt Nauta to seek the destruction of the security footage.The additional charges are another stunning chapter in prosecutors’ case against the former president, who has repeatedly professed that he “quickly” shared all security camera footage from his estate with the government.Trump now faces two new obstruction-of-justice charges related to the alleged attempt to er...

Japan raises alarm over China’s military, Russia ties and Taiwan tensions in new defense paper

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese government stepped up its alarm over China’s assertiveness, warning in a report issued Friday that the country faces its worst security threats since World War II as it plans to implement a new strategy that calls for a major military buildup.The 2023 defense white paper, approved by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet, is the first since the government adopted a controversial new National Security Strategy in December, seen as a break from Japan’s postwar policy limiting the use of force to self-defense.China, Russia and North Korea contribute to “the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II,” according to the 510-page report. It says China’s external stance and military activities have become a “serious concern for Japan and the international community and present an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge.”On Thursday, Russian and Chinese delegates joined North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyong...

Hong Kong’s leader may be barred from a key economic summit. The city says that breaks conventions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong government on Friday called on the United States to invite its city leader to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, after reports that Washington would bar the top official from the major economic summit — a move likely to intensify China-U.S. tensions. On Thursday, the Washington Post quoted anonymous U.S. officials to report the White House’s decision to bar Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee from attending the economic leaders’ meeting in November. The reported move could undermine ongoing efforts to restore dialogue between Washington and Beijing after their relations have sunk to a historic low.Lee is one of the Hong Kong officials sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 after the enactment of a Beijing-imposed national security law. The tough law has prosecuted and silenced many of leading pro-democracy activists in the city following the massive 2019 pro-democracy protests. Growing numbers of young professionals have responded to the erosion of Hong...

French luxury group Kering to buy 30% stake in Valentino for 1.7 billion euros cash

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

MILAN (AP) — French luxury conglomerate Kering has reached a cash deal to purchase a 30% stake in Italian fashion house Valentino for 1.7 billion euros from a Qatari investment firm.With the purchase, Kering is seeking to shore up its revenue stream as it struggles to turn around former powerhouse Gucci. Kering on Thursday reported first-half revenues of 10.1 billion euros, up 2%, as Gucci sales stagnate. Under the deal announced Thursday, Kering has the option to buy 100% of Valentino no later than 2028. The partnership could lead to the Qatari investment firm, Mayhoola, becoming a shareholder in Kering, as well as other potential “joint opportunities,” the statement said.Kering Chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault expressed admiration for “the evolution of Valentino under Mayhoola ownership,” which Kering said turned Valentino “into one of the most admired luxury houses in the world.”“I am very pleased of this first step in our collaboration with Mayhoola to develop Valentino a...

Sudan conflict brings new atrocities to Darfur as militias kill, rape, burn homes in rampages

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:44 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Amna al-Nour narrowly escaped death twice. The first was when militias torched her family’s home in Sudan’s Darfur region. The second was two months later when paramilitary fighters stopped her and others trying to escape as they tried to reach the border with neighboring Chad.“They massacred us like sheep,” the 32-year-old teacher said of the attack in late April on her home city Geneina. “They want to uproot us all.”Al-Nour and her three children now live in a school-turned-refugee housing inside Chad, among more than 260,000 Sudanese, mostly women and children, who have fled what survivors and rights groups say is a new explosion of atrocities in the large western region of Sudan.Two decades ago, Darfur became synonymous with genocide and war crimes, particularly by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias against populations that identify as Central or East African. Fears are mounting that that legacy is returning with reports of widespread killings, rapes and destruct...