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Pennsylvania chocolate plant blast kills 2, leaves 9 missing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

WEST READING, Pa. (AP) — An explosion at a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania Friday evening killed two people and left several others missing as investigators begin to determine a cause.West Reading Borough Police Department Chief of Police Wayne Holben confirmed there were two fatalities, nine people missing and several others injured by the explosion at the R.M. Palmer Co. plant in West Reading. The explosion at 4:57 p.m. sent a plume of black smoke into the air and resulted in the destruction of a building at the facility and damage to a neighboring building. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, Holden said during a press conference.There was no further danger, but Holden directed residents to avoid the area of the factory about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia.Tower Health spokeswoman Jessica Bezler said eight people were taken to Reading Hospital Friday evening.Two were admitted in fair condition and five were being treated and would b...

Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon earn three points each in Avalanche’s 3-1 win over Coyotes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

Cale Makar was due.Back in the Avalanche lineup after missing two games with a lower-body injury, he spurred Colorado’s offense to action after a dismal start to the second period. By the third, missed chances were piling up against the defiant Coyotes, always more a headache than they’re supposed to be.Makar kept creating and got rewarded with the game-winning goal in a 3-1 Avalanche bounce-back Friday night at Ball Arena. With Mikko Rantanen screening Phoenix goalie Karel Vejmelka, Makar snapped it from between the circles, giving Colorado the lead with 13:19 remaining.“Just trying to get pucks to the net,” Makar said. “I feel like we were struggling with doing that all night.”The Avs (42-23-6) are back within two points of the Central division lead, with one game in hand on both Dallas and Minnesota.They fought off the Coyotes with two power play goals, including J.T. Compher’s insurance rebound with 8:43 left, and with three-point nights...

Crazy Eight: No top seeds among last 8 in March Madness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

By JOHN MARSHALL (AP Basketball Writer)LAS VEGAS (AP) — March has gone from madness to unprecedented.With Miami’s win over Houston and San Diego State’s takedown of Alabama on Friday night, the men’s NCAA Tournament will not have a No. 1 seed in the Elite Eight for the first time since seeding began in 1979.“There’s not a lot of difference between the best team in the country and the worst team in the country,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. “You’re seeing that on this stage.”Purdue, Kansas, Houston and Alabama are all gone, ensuring the Final Four will not have a No. 1 team for the first time since 2011 and the third overall. The four teams deemed by the NCAA to be the best in the country combined to win five tournament games this year, the fewest by three among No. 1 seeds since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985.Three No. 2 seeds were gone already, with lone survivor Texas playing Xavier on Friday night. T...

End of the line: CU Buffs women’s basketball ousted by Iowa in Sweet 16

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

Snapshot: Iowa 87, Colorado WBB 77Turning point: A 13-0 run by Iowa early in the third quarter turned a one-point CU lead into a 12-point deficit. The Buffs never fully recovered.Buff of the game: Frida Formann. Before fouling out, she was the leader of the offense, scoring a team-high 21 points.What’s next?: The Buffaloes head to the offseason.SEATTLE – The disappointment hurt as much as the bumps and bruises, but for the Colorado women’s basketball team, there was also a sense of pride as it saw a remarkable and unexpected NCAA Tournament run come to an end on Friday night.“I just told the team there’s nothing to hang our heads down about,” senior point guard Jaylyn Sherrod said. “This was a great season. We answered a lot of questions that people had about us.”Once again, Colorado’s effort was elite, but this time, the result was not, as second-seeded Iowa ousted the sixth-seeded Buffs, 87-77, in the Sweet 16 at Climate Pledge Arena.“We’re all battered and bruised from that game,...

Driver left with costly insurance bill following alleged car crash scam by Yucaipa man

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

A Southern California driver was left with a sky-high insurance bill after he claimed a Yucaipa man crashed into his vehicle intentionally.“He knows what he’s doing and he knows how to not be at fault for them,” said Jeremy Perales, a victim who said he was struck by the suspect, Christopher Phelps, 40.Christopher, along with his wife, Kimberly, 40, were arrested on Wednesday and accused of intentionally causing car crashes that were posted on a YouTube channel.The couple is accused of causing collisions in an attempt to collect fraudulent insurance payouts, according to the California Department of Insurance.A YouTube channel under the name “BLU3 GHO57" allegedly housed around 162 videos of “vehicle collisions, attempted or near collisions, road rage incidents, and other content involving the couple,” officials said.It was in April 2022 when Perales said his insurance premium shot up after an accident involving Christopher.A rear dashcam video of the crash was posted on Christopher...

What you need to know about buying a generator

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

DUBLIN, Calif. (KRON) -- The lights go out during the storm. It's time to fire up that portable power generator -- that is if you can find one on the shelf of your neighborhood hardware store after multiple power outages here in the Bay Area. Eastbound 580 in Livermore reopened after crews complete work At Ace Hardware in Dublin, Romas Terveydis broke down how to determine the amount of power that is needed before purchasing a portable generator because one size doesn't fit all applications. There are also dual fuel power generators that have the ability to run on gasoline or propane.Experts say to eliminate the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning or starting a fire, never use a gasoline or propane powered generator inside your home. Keep it outdoors and at least 25-feet away from doors and windows."You're dealing with the safety of your property," said Terveydis. "The safety of your home and your family. It's very important that if you have any questions to check with an exp...

Winery ex-employee steals $10K worth of wine: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

NAPA, Calif. (KRON) -- A former employee at a Napa winery was arrested after he was allegedly caught stealing $10,000 worth of wine from his former employer, the Napa County Sheriff's Department said on Facebook Friday.The suspect was identified as Jose Humberto Martinez. According to police, Martinez claimed he was holding the wine as a way to get his final paycheck from the winery.An image (below) shows a large number of boxes piled into a white van. Image from the Napa County Sheriff's Department.The wine and the van were returned to their owners, police said. Martinez was booked into jail for grand theft, taking a vehicle without consent and receiving stolen property. In Hayward, a Home Depot employee was busted on Tuesday for allegedly stealing from their employer. California Highway Patrol said it recovered 600 items worth a total of more than $50,000 in addition to nearly $90,000 in cash.

Antioch man charged with murder after fetus dies in triple stabbing: DA

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) -- A man was charged with murder after last Saturday's triple stabbing in Antioch, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office announced Friday in a press release. Antioch resident Bartley Hall, 37, stabbed his pregnant domestic partner and her two children around 4 p.m. on the 100 block of Wilbur Avenue. Pregnant woman, 2 children stabbed in Antioch Although his partner and her two children did not die from the attack, the stabbing led to the death of the 35-year-old woman's unborn baby. The DA's office cited the unborn baby's death as a reason for Hall's murder charge, according to the press release. The district attorney charged Hall with 10 felony counts related to the stabbing:1 count of murder for the murder of an unborn child3 counts of attempted murder4 counts of child abuse1 count of corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant1 count of evading a peace officerHe was also charged with one misdemeanor for a hit-and-run that damaged anot...

Clark’s March Madness marches on, Iowa women beat Colorado

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Caitlin Clark felt it was all happening a little too quick and on the stage of playing in a regional semifinal, Iowa’s star needed to slow down for a change. “I felt like I was playing a little frantic. I felt like I was rushed on offense,” Clark said. In this case, slowing down led to a big second half from Clark and the Hawkeyes. Clark scored 31 points, 18 coming in the second half, and No. 2 seed Iowa shook disappointments the past two seasons and reached the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament with an 87-77 win over Colorado in the Seattle 4 Regional semifinals on Friday night. After two straight tournaments where Clark’s season ended in the round of 16 and the round of 32, the Hawkeyes will play for a chance at just the second Final Four berth in school history on Sunday. “Anytime you get to play basketball for this long, it’s really special. None of us want this to end,” Iowa’s Monika Czinano said. Clark was the catalyst for Iowa’s big s...

Memphis player charged over punch in handshake line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:52 GMT

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (AP) — A Memphis basketball player has been charged by Bowling Green campus police with assault after punching a Falcons player in the handshake line following a Women’s NIT game, according to the Bowling Green athletic department. “Violence is never acceptable and our priority remains the health, safety and support of our student-athlete, who is recovering and doing well,” the athletic department said in a statement Friday. “This is an active investigation in conjunction with the City of Bowling Green Prosecutor, and no further comment is available at this time.” As the teams walked toward center court Thursday night following Bowling Green’s 73-60 win in the Round of 16 game, Memphis’ Jamirah Shutes stopped to talk with the Falcons’ Elissa Brett. After a short conversation, Shutes appears to throw a punch at Brett’s face. Brett fell toward the scorer’s table and onto the sideline.There was no immediate word about what caused the confront...