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A deadline arrives for Niger’s junta to reinstate the president. Citizens cheer and fear what’s next

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — The deadline arrived Sunday for Niger’s military junta to reinstate the country’s ousted president, but the West Africa regional bloc that has threatened a military intervention faces prominent appeals to pursue more peaceful means. In the capital, coup leaders appeared at a stadium rally where a chicken decorated in the colors of former colonizer France was beheaded, to cheers.Neighboring Nigeria’s Senate has pushed back against the plan by the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, urging Nigeria’s president, the bloc’s current chair, on Saturday to explore options other than the use of force. ECOWAS can still move ahead, as final decisions are made by consensus by member states, but the warning on the eve of the deadline raised questions about the intervention’s fate.The July 26 coup, in which mutinous soldiers installed Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as head of state, adds another layer of complexity to West Africa’s Sahel region that’s struggling with milita...

‘Barbie’ joins $1 billion club, breaks another record for female directors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

Greta Gerwig should be feeling closer to fine these days. In just three weeks in theaters, “Barbie” is set to sail past $1 billion in global ticket sales, breaking a record for female directors that was previously held by Patty Jenkins, who helmed “Wonder Woman.”“Barbie,” which Gerwig directed and co-wrote, added another $53 million from 4,178 North American locations this weekend according to studio estimates on Sunday. The Margot Robbie-led and produced film has been comfortably seated in first place for three weeks and it’s hardly finished yet. Warner Bros. said the film will cross $1 billion before the end of the day.In modern box office history, just 53 movies have made over $1 billion, not accounting for inflation, and “Barbie” is now the biggest to be directed by one woman, supplanting “Wonder Woman’s” $821.8 million global total. Three movies that were co-directed by women are still ahead of “Barbie,” including “Frozen” ($1.3 billion) and “Frozen 2” ($1.45 billion) both co-d...

Libyan governing body’s vote to replace its head could further fracture the country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — One of Libya’s top governing bodies elected a new head on Sunday, in a development that could further fracture the country already split between two rival administrations. Members of the Supreme Council of State, which is separate from both of the governments and is based in the capital of Tripoli, voted for Mohamed Takala to be the body’s new leader. Takala would take over from former head Khaled el-Meshri, a powerful figure who had been key in negotiations over the country’s election laws. Both the voting and count were live-streamed on local Libyan news channels. The final count was announced in favor of Takala, 67-62. The council did not immediately issue any statements on the outcome of the election. The introduction of a new leader at the helm of a key political institution could add more uncertainly to the country’s already deeply divided politics.The international community and the United Nations have repeatedly said that nationwide elect...

Justice Fund’s Yonis Hassan & Noah “40” Shebib on making Toronto safer for youth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

TORONTO — A Toronto-based non-profit with connections to Drake’s record label is partnering with several major city organizations — including the local school board and public transit operator — to address youth safety issues.  The Justice Fund, which provides opportunities in the arts for young people experiencing poverty, announced partnerships on Friday with the Toronto Transit Commission, NBA Foundation, and the Toronto District School Board on initiatives such as promoting public art and safety on transit. Justice Fund co-founders Yonis Hassan and Noah “40” Shebib say their goal is to address root causes of poverty and violence, which have recently been top of mind in the city. “The spike of violence that we’ve seen over the last little while is the byproduct of lack of investments in our communities and a byproduct of a mental health crisis,” Hassan said in an interview at a summit promoting the new partnerships. When youth are given the opportunity to thrive in th...

'Nourishing Hope' and CFD Foundation work to help with fire safety in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

Their mission is to educate and help serve needs of fire safety in the city of Chicago.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.

Waffle House's 1955 menu offered this ritzy dish for just $1.50

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The very first Waffle House didn’t have smothered or covered hash browns on its original menu, but at least you could get a ritzy steakhouse-style dinner for well under two bucks.In 1955, Waffle House founders Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner opened their first restaurant in Avondale Estates, Georgia, with the goal of providing customers with “quality food at a great value,” according to Waffle House’s own account. To that end, the original menu offered a variety of all-day dishes at the same (similarly) reasonable prices as today’s Waffle House restaurants.(Waffle House)An order of eggs with toast, for instance, was just 45 cents, or around five bucks in today’s money. And waffles — the “highest profit item” on the original menu, according to Forkner — started at just 40 cents, or the equivalent of about $4.50 in 2023.In fact, everything on the 1955 menu could be purchased for $21.85 — and that included a whole “take-home” pie for $1.25. Grammy-nominated singer serves coffe...

From $83 to $219, where your family will spend the most to attend an MLB game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Taking your family to the ballgame and buying them some hot dogs and sodas is a beloved summer pastime. Unfortunately, depending on the stadium, the price you pay may be a shame. MoneyGeek analyzed budget ticket options for the rest of the 2023 season, along with parking and concessions, to calculate how much it costs on average for a family of four to attend a game with all 30 MLB teams. Overall, the personal finance website found that an average trip to an MLB game for a family of four costs $140.  These are the best MLB ballparks, according to Yelp A family visiting the most expensive team on the list, the Los Angeles Dodgers would spend about $219, MoneyGeek found. If you’re looking to save a buck — or way more — you’ll need to go across the country to Miami, where a Marlins game will cost an average of $83. A combination of more affordable ticket, parking, and concession prices (four hot dogs, two beers, and two sodas) helped keep a game in Mia...

Oak Grove wildfire estimated at 400 acres, 20% contained; 1 home destroyed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — At least one home was destroyed and multiple homes were evacuated after a wildfire in Hays County started Saturday. Officials said no more evacuations were in place Sunday. Officials responded to the fire, named the Oak Grove Fire, shortly after 3 p.m., according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Services website. PHOTOS: Oak Grove Fire burns in Hays County The fire was first reported to be near Oak Grove Road near San Marcos. It is estimated at 400 acres and 20% contained as of Sunday morning, according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Management and the Texas A&M Forest Service.On Sunday, officials said firefighters would map the fire in daylight. Walter Flocke, a spokesperson for the Texas A&M Forest Service, said there was no fire growth overnight. There are no current evacuations, but Flocke said people should stay up-to-date on fire information and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. He said Sun...

What are David Yeomans' favorite weather movies?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — While KXAN's First Warning Weather Team members are experts in the reality of everyday weather and natural disasters, they're no strangers to depictions of extreme weather in movies.For KXAN Chief Meteorologist David Yeomans, his ranking for the Top 3 best weather movies are as follows:"Twister""The Day After Tomorrow""The Perfect Storm"How did KXAN viewers' preferences compare? We reached out via X -- formerly known as Twitter -- and Facebook to see which weather movies they ranked supreme. "Twister" and "The Day After Tomorrow" were named popular favorites, along with "The Perfect Storm." Others listed included "Singin' in the Rain," "Geostorm," "An Inconvenient Truth," "Ice Age" and "The Wizard of Oz."Sign up for our daily forecast newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters. Download the KXAN Weather app to get the latest weather forecast: Apple | Android

Man gets 12-month sentence related to 2021 fatal crash in Taylor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:29 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was convicted and sentenced for his role in a fatal crash that killed two people in Taylor in 2021, according to Williamson County court documents.Documents showed 29-year-old Dylan Wade Weise was convicted by a court July 24 after pleading guilty to criminal negligent homicide, which was a lesser offense. He was previously charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter related to the 2021 incident.Weise was sentenced to serve 12 months in state jail. His sentence could have been anywhere within the range of punishment from deferred probation to two years, according to court documents.Records showed he had a jail credit of 117 days toward his sentence. RELATED: Man charged with intoxication manslaughter after 2 killed in Taylor crash According to past coverage, the crash occurred Dec. 5, 2021, just before 7 p.m. at the intersection of North State Highway 95 and Chandler Road in Taylor.Officials said Weise failed to yield to the ri...