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February 15, 2024
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February 15, 2024
AP-Newswatch

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February 15, 2024

Israeli forces storm the main hospital in southern Gaza, saying hostages were likely held there

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces have stormed the main hospital in southern Gaza in what the army says is a limited operation seeking the remains of hostages taken by Hamas. Thursday’s raid came a day after the army sought to evacuate thousands of displaced people who had taken shelter at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The southern city has been the main target of Israel’s offensive against Hamas in recent weeks. Separately, Israel launched a second day of airstrikes in southern Lebanon after killing 10 civilians and three Hezbollah fighters just hours after a rocket attack killed an Israeli soldier. Negotiations over a cease-fire in Gaza appear to have stalled, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until Hamas is destroyed.

Relationship between DA Fani Willis and Nathan Wade started years earlier than claimed, witness says

ATLANTA (AP) — A witness has testified that a personal relationship between DA Fani Willis and Nathan Wade started in 2019, earlier than previously known. The testimony came Thursday in a hearing to determine whether Willis should be removed from the case because of the relationship. Robin Yeartie’s testimony directly contradicts statements from Willis and Wade that their personal relationship didn’t begin until after Wade was hired in November 2021. In a sworn statement attached to the filing, Wade said the relationship began in 2022, after he was hired as special prosecutor, and that he and Willis shared travel expenses and never lived together.

Israeli airstrikes killed 10 Lebanese civilians in a single day. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate

NABATIYEH, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanon’s state-run news agency says the civilian death toll from two Israeli strikes in Lebanon the day before has now risen to 10, making it the single deadliest day since in more than four months of near-daily cross-border exchanges. Hezbollah that lost three fighters, including a commander, has vowed to retaliate for Wednesday’s strikes, which hit in the city of Nabatiyeh and a village in southern Lebanon just hours after projectiles from Lebanon killed an Israeli soldier and wounded eight. The fatalities marked a significant escalation in more than four months of cross-border exchanges, triggered by the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Democrats embrace tougher border enforcement, seeing Trump’s demolition of deal as a ‘gift’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Democrats plan to “constantly over the next year” remind voters that it was Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, who torpedoed a bipartisan bill on border enforcement. They say the strategy has already paid dividends, with Democrat Tom Suozzi, who campaigned on tougher border enforcement, winning a special election this week in New York, flipping a House seat away from Republicans. It’s a strategy with significant political risk. Republicans have campaigned on border security for years, and public frustration is running high with the record number of illegal U.S. border crossings.

6 people are killed, 18 injured by a missile strike in the Russian city of Belgorod, officials say

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Officials say a missile strike on the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukraine border has killed six people, including a child, and injured 18 others, in what appears to be the latest exchange of long-range missile and rocket fire between the two countries. Hours earlier, Russia fired cruise and ballistic missiles at a broad area of Ukraine, hitting multiple regions after a midnight strike in Ukraine’s northeast killed four people in an apartment building. Russian officials say five of the 18 people injured in Belgorod were children and a shopping center and a school stadium were hit in the attack. Russia’s Ministry of Defense says air defense systems destroyed 14 missiles over the Belgorod region that were launched by Ukraine.

Red flags, missed clues: How accused US diplomat-turned-Cuban spy avoided scrutiny for decades

MIAMI (AP) — Long before career U.S. diplomat Manuel Rocha was arrested on charges of being a secret agent of Cuba for decades, there were plenty of red flags. An Associated Press investigation including interviews with former U.S. and Cuban intelligence officials found the CIA received a tip about Rocha’s alleged double life as far back as 2006, that Rocha may have been on a short list of suspected spies since 2010 and could have been linked to intelligence from 1987 of a U.S. turncoat known as Fidel Castro’s “super mole.” Rocha’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment. Both the FBI and CIA declined to comment.

Warning signs mounted before Texas shooter entered church with her son, former mother-in-law says

HOUSTON (AP) — The former mother-in-law of the woman who opened fire at a Houston megachurch says she tried for years to alert authorities and other, including church staff, to her ex-daughter-in-law’s mental health struggles. But Walli Carranza says no one seemed listen or take action. Carranza told The Associated Press on Wednesday she believes systemic failures and lax gun laws led to Sunday’s shooting at celebrity pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church. Police say Genesse Moreno entered the church with her 7-year-old son and opened fire in a hallway. Two people were injured, including her son, who was shot in the head. Carranza says the boy remains in critical condition but is improving.

NYC trial scrutinizing lavish NRA spending under Wayne LaPierre nears a close

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York lawsuit claiming National Rifle Association executives wildly misspent millions of dollars of the nonprofit organization’s money on lavish perks for themselves is wrapping up after weeks of contentious testimony. Closing arguments began Thursday in state Supreme Court in Manhattan in the case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James against the NRA, its former CEO Wayne LaPierre and three other NRA officials. Jury deliberations will follow. LaPierre resigned just days before the trial opened Jan. 8. Prosecutors say LaPierre dodged state financial disclosure requirements while treating the NRA as his personal piggy bank.

Things to know about the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gunfire erupted at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration, leaving one woman dead and more than 20 people injured, including children. The shooting happened at the end of Wednesday’s celebration outside the city’s historic Union Station. Fans had lined the parade route and some even climbed trees and street poles or stood on rooftops to watch as players passed by on double-decker buses. Radio station KKFI said via Facebook that Lisa Lopez-Galvan, the host of “Taste of Tejano,” was killed. Police Chief Stacey Graves says three people had been detained and firearms were recovered. She says police were still piecing together what happened. She didn’t release details about those who were detained or a possible motive.