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AP PHOTOS: Tens of thousands of Armenians flee in mass exodus from breakaway region of Azerbaijan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

More than half the population of Nagorno-Karabakh has fled the breakaway region recently reclaimed by Azerbaijan, creating a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians.The migration began Sunday. By Thursday evening, over 78,300 people — more than 65% of the population of 120,000 — had left for Armenia, and the influx continued unabated, according to Armenian officials.The surge of families on the move could be seen on the only road to Armenia. It quickly filled with vehicles, triggering a massive traffic jam. Long lines of cars that were packed to the roof with belongings snaked slowly through the mountains.A student reported that it took three days to get to Armenia from the regional capital of Stepanakert, a distance of about 50 miles (80 kilometers).Azerbaijani authorities have pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians, but tens of thousands of Nagorno-Karabakh’s residents feared reprisals.In three decades of conflict between the two countries, each has accused the other of targete...

Florida high-speed train headed to Orlando fatally strikes pedestrian

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s high-speed passenger train service suffered the first fatality on its new extension to Orlando on Thursday when a pedestrian was struck in what appears to be a suicide, officials said. Overall, it was Brightline’s 99th death since it began operations six years ago. A northbound Brightline train headed to Orlando struck the 25-year-old man shortly before 9 a.m. near the Atlantic Coast city of Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said at a news conference. He said the man was homeless and appeared to have intentionally stepped in front of the train. Brightline’s trains travel up to 79 mph (127 kph) in urban areas, 110 mph (177 kph) in less-populated regions and 125 mph (200 kph) through central Florida’s farmland. It is unknown how fast this train was traveling, Mascara said. Brightline officials did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment. Brightline opened its extension connecting Miami and Orlando...

Woman pleads guilty to calling in hoax bomb threat at Boston Children’s Hospital

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty on Thursday to calling in a fake bomb threat to Boston Children’s Hospital as it faced a barrage of harassment over its surgical program for transgender youths.Catherine Leavy, who was arrested last year at her home in Westfield, pleaded guilty in Boston federal court to charges including making a false bomb threat, according to prosecutors. She’s scheduled to be sentenced in March.The most serious charge she pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.Her attorney, Forest O’Neill-Greenberg, didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.Authorities say the threat was called in August 2022 as the hospital, which launched the nation’s first pediatric and adolescent transgender health program, was facing an onslaught of threats and harassment. The hospital became the focus of far-right social media accounts, news outlets and bloggers last year after they found informational YouTube video...

Travis Hunter, Colorado State safety whose hit landed him in hospital, make peace by going bowling

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Travis Hunter and the Colorado State safety whose late hit sent the Colorado standout to the hospital have put the incident behind them by meeting up to go bowling.Hunter and defensive back Henry Blackburn went to a bowling alley in Boulder on Wednesday to roll a few frames. The outing served as a way to make peace once and for all. Blackburn posted a video of them shaking hands and embracing.Hunter, who has been a star on both offense and defense, was running a deep route in the first quarter of the Sept. 16 game against the Rams when he was hit by Blackburn shortly after the ball sailed by him. Blackburn drew a penalty on the play as Hunter stayed down on the turf. Hunter briefly returned to the game before leaving to go to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a lacerated liver. Blackburn and his family received death threats in the wake of the double-overtime win by the Buffaloes, with Colorado State coach Jay Norvell mentioning that police were contact...

Many questions but few answers in congressional hearing on Maui’s wildfire and electric provider

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

FILE - A general view shows the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. Hawaii's top public utility officials and the president of Hawaiian Electric are expected to testify Thursday, Sept. 28, in a congressional hearing about the role the electrical grid played in last month's deadly Maui wildfire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)(AP/Jae C. Hong) FILE - A general view shows the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. Hawaii's top public utility officials and the president of Hawaiian Electric are expected to testify Thursday, Sept. 28, in a congressional hearing about the role the electrical grid played in last month's deadly Maui wildfire. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)(AP/Jae C. Hong) ...

Former Adams County sheriff and senior staff charged with fraud

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- On Wednesday, the former Adams County sheriff and members of the staff at his department were charged with fraud.Former Adams County Sheriff Richard Reigenborn, former Undersheriff Thomas McLallen and former Division Chief Michael Bethel are accused of falsifying records claiming they completed mandatory annual training hours in 2021.According to an arrest affidavit, investigators also claim that Bethel took some of McLallen's training courses on his behalf. Troopers find 290 pounds of cocaine during traffic stop “A foundation of effective policing is reliable and sound training. Well-trained officers build community trust and confidence in law enforcement. We’ll continue to take seriously any allegation of efforts to disregard state-mandated training or submit fraudulent training records to POST,” Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a press release.Officers are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of annual in-service training, such as training in arr...

Where does Colorado rank in the US for fentanyl deaths?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Over half of the U.S. is seeing an increase in fentanyl deaths in 2023, and Colorado is among those states.Families Against Fentanyl analyzed the newest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which revealed that overdose deaths are at an all-time high. The most recent data was collected from April 2022 to April 2023. Officials warn of powdered fentanyl circulating in Boulder County The national average for fentanyl deaths in 2023 so far is 77,415 people, which went up by 5% from 2022. In the U.S., 22 states ranked above the national average for an increase in fentanyl deaths. Some of the highest increases happened in Oregon, with a 67% increase, and Washington with a 65% increase. States that saw an increase in fentanyl deaths in 2023:Oregon: 67%Washington: 65%Nevada: 58%Oklahoma: 55%Wyoming: 41%Texas: 28%Hawaii: 27%Alabama: 27%Utah: 21%Vermont: 19%Delaware: 19%Alaska: 17%Maine: 16%Kansas: 16%Georgia: 13%Minnesota: 13%California: 10%Idaho: 9...

BSO seeks public’s assistance in identifying juveniles behind violent vandalism spree targeting Parkland home

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

Authorities in Parkland are on the hunt for a group of juveniles who escalated their pattern of vandalism to a dangerous level, as captured on video surveillance.According to Broward Sheriff’s Office Parkland District detectives, the series of incidents began on Saturday, July 2, at around 3 a.m., when the subjects targeted a home along the 10000 block of Majestic Trail in Parkland.Investigators said the juveniles hurled several beer cans into the backyard and swimming pool.When they returned on Friday, July 8, at approximately 11:30 p.m., detectives said, the subjects were seen pelting the same property with multiple eggs before they fled in a golf cart. Lissette Muñoz, the homeowner whose property was targeted, spoke with 7News on Thursday about the incidents.“One of them stays up there, the other one comes to the fence here, and if he saw, because it covers that fourth bar right there, and he has a hard time lighting it,” she said “Once he lights it, it gets th...

7 rescued after yacht takes on water off Miami Beach

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

A yacht that took on water off Miami Beach prompted a quick response by first responders.U.S. Coast Guard and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews arrived at the scene a mile and a half east of Government Cut, Thursday afternoon. According to officials, there were seven people on board the 60-foot vessel.No injuries were reported.

Man taken to hospital after falling off roof in Brighton

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:17:10 GMT

A man was taken to a hospital Thursday after falling off a roof in Brighton, Boston police said. SKY7-HD was over the scene on Elko Street around 5 p.m. where emergency crews could be seen with police tape in place around a home. Police said an initial call reporting the incident came in around 4:20 p.m. No further information was immediately available. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.