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Florida school uproar leads Italy to invite viewing ‘David’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

ROME (AP) — A Florence museum on Sunday invited parents and students from a Florida charter school to view Michelangelo’s “David” in person after the school principal was forced to resign following parental complaints that an image of the nude Renaissance masterpiece was shown to a sixth-grade art class.Florence Mayor Dario Nardella also tweeted an invitation for the principal to visit so he can personally honor her. Confusing art with pornography was “ridiculous,” Nardella said. The incredulous Italian response highlights how the U.S. culture wars are often perceived in Europe, where despite a rise in right-wing sentiment and governance, the Renaissance and its masterpieces, even its naked ones, are generally free of controversy.The Italians are responding to the board of the Tallahassee Classical School forcing Principal Hope Carrasquilla to resign last week. The school has a policy requiring parents to be notified in advance about “controversial” topics being taught. Carrasquilla...

12 injured in apartment floor collapse near university

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

INDIANA, Pa. (AP) — A dozen people were injured in the collapse of a second-story floor inside an apartment complex near a western Pennsylvania over the weekend, authorities said.Seven people were taken to hospitals and five others were treated at the scene after the 11:50 p.m. Saturday collapse at Elm by Traverse Commons about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, state police told the Tribune-Review.Trooper Cliff Greenfield said the victims had injuries ranging from serious to minor. He said responding troopers found one person lying in the road and others grouped outside the three-story building reported that a floor inside had collapsed.“It is unknown exactly how many people were inside the apartment at the time of the floor collapse,” he said. Those still inside were helped out through a broken first-floor window, which caused many of the injuries. Fire rescuers searched the building, which has been secured by the management.Greenfield said its unclea...

Pray for rain: Spanish farmers hold unique Mass amid drought

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

L’ESPUNYOLA, Spain (AP) — When Josep Altarriba looks across his parched fields, the Spanish farmer can’t remember a time of such widespread drought in Catalonia. If it doesn’t rain in the next two weeks, he says there’s little chance of saving the harvest.What can be done? For the mountain villagers of L’Espunyola, the answer is divine intervention. On Sunday, around 250 residents brought back the faded practice of a special Mass and procession to pray to Our Lady of the Torrents, a local virgin associated with rainfall. Under mostly sunny skies, worshippers lifted the colorfully painted statue of the Lady of the Torrents from its place of prominence in the stone church. She was nestled onto a wooden litter filled with green branches and hoisted aloft, then carried around the village followed by the bishop and parishioners. “It’s not a magic act, it is an act of trust,” Bishop Francesc Conesa told The Associated Press.Very low rainfall and high temperat...

Army pulls recruiting ads after Jonathan Majors' arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The arrest of actor Jonathan Majors has upended the Army’s newly launched advertising campaign that was aimed at reviving the service’s struggling recruiting numbers.Majors, who authorities said was arrested Saturday in New York on charges of strangulation, assault and harassment, was the narrator of two ads at the heart of a broader media campaign that kicked off at the start of the NCAA's March Madness college basketball tournament.Army leaders were hopeful that the popularity of the star of the recently released “Creed III” and “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania,” would help them reach the youth audience. ‘Don’t give up’: Arkansas man missing since 2021 found in Texas In a statement Sunday, the Army’s Enterprise Marketing Office said that the Army was aware of Majors’ arrest and was "deeply concerned by the allegations.” It added that while Majors “is innocent until proven guilty, prudence dictates that we pull our ads until the investigation into these allega...

'Don't give up': Arkansas man missing since 2021 found in Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) -- An Arkansas family is getting their best sleep in ages after their loved one finally returned home almost a year and a half since he was reported missing.Harley McCourt was located in Galveston, Texas on March 11, the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office confirmed.According to McCourt's family, the 27-year-old first went missing in October of 2021. It was just before a University of Arkansas Razorbacks game when they realized he was nowhere to be seen at his trailer. Even his wallet and phone had been left behind. Missing 81-year-old survives six days trapped in snowbound SUV McCourt's family did everything to get Harley's name out there for the more than 500 days he was missing, from renting a billboard to making flyers and offering a $10,000 reward."Every day, just trying to find something, anything. I felt like an investigator," Brittany Crumpton, Harley's sister, said. "Your mind just wanted to tell you no, he's not alive. He's not alive, but my heart ju...

Mississippi woman accused of killing husband on Facebook Live

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) - A woman was arrested after she allegedly shot and killed a man on Facebook Live in Mississippi on Saturday. Officials with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) said deputies responded to a domestic violence call in Columbus shortly before 8 a.m. They found that a 28-year-old man, who lived at the home, had died from a single gunshot wound. Florida woman charged after boyfriend dies in suitcase According to LCSO officials, the victim and 28-year-old Kadejah Michelle Brown were in an argument that turned physical. Brown then allegedly shot the victim, which officials said was captured on Facebook Live. They said evidence was found at the scene, including a handgun. Authorities confirmed the man was Brown's husband, who was trying to leave the home. Brown was arrested and charged with murder. She was booked into the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center. Florida dad allegedly shoots, kills daughter’s ex-boyfriend after domestic dispute: police A...

How to visit these countries for free (or with incentives) in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

(WJW/NEXSTAR) – Looking for a free getaway, or maybe even one that you could earn money while taking? Several countries across the globe are dishing out incentives to bring in new tourism in 2023. Right now, the people of Finland (or rather, their legendary happiness) have inspired a promotion that would allow 10 lucky Americans to visit the country for free. In celebration of Finns being named the happiest people on the planet in the 2023 World Happiness Report for a sixth consecutive year, Visit Finland is inviting 10 foreigners to visit for free this June. Offering a four-day masterclass in how to find your inner-Finn, the organization is paying for travel to the all-inclusive Kuru Resort.There are only a few stipulations, too: You must be willing to come with an open mind, you must be OK being filmed during the event, and must be able to speak some English, according to Visit Finland. Are we dating the same guy? Facebook group lets you know "Finnish happiness is a skill. A ski...

Israeli Defense Minister Gallant Splits With Netanyahu On Judicial Reform

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

New UT Austin exhibit honors first Black undergraduate students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new outdoor exhibit at the Univeristy of Texas at Austin aims to share the stories of the university's first Black students in the 1950s.The exhibit, called "Precursors — We Are Texas East Mall," honors and tells the story of UT's first black undergraduate students. The university's Contextualization and Commemoration Initiative created the project, located on the East Mall near the Martin Luther King Jr. statue. The first Black undergraduates began at UT in the fall of 1954, but the first official cohort started classes in the fall of 1956. This group is knowns as "precursors," according to the project. "The East Mall project will commemorate these precursors’ experiences as well as those of the other Black students in the early days of campus integration," the project website said.UT began admitting Black graduate and professional students in 1950 but didn't allow Black undergraduate students until the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education court decision, according to...

Courts warn about scammers threatening jail time for missing jury duty

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:10 GMT

Scammers are calling Minnesotans and threatening jail time for missed jury duty unless they pay up, according to a warning sent out on behalf of Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea.The state’s judicial branch never contacts people by email or phone, the release said.The scammers typically ask for a credit card number or other personal information in order to avoid incarceration, according to the alert. That information is then used for identity theft.“Counties and district courts are hearing, again, that scammers are preying on Minnesotans with fake jury duty phone calls,” said Chief Justice Gildea. “Jury duty is an important civic duty. I commend citizens who report for jury service, and urge Minnesotans to learn about and protect themselves from the potentially devastating consequences of these scams.”Recently, scammers have pretended to be Minnesota courts officials. In some cases, they have engaged in phone “spoofing” so it appears their...