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Denver man's family members taken hostage by Hamas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A Denver man's family members, who were visiting Israel, were taken hostage Saturday by Hamas.Ben Raanan spoke with FOX31 and said his family was on a call with President Joe Biden on Friday, confirming the kidnapping. Latest: Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders 1 million to evacuate as ground attack looms His 17-year-old sister, Natali Raanan, and her mother, Judith Tai Raanan, from Evanston, Illinois, were visiting relatives in Israel in Nahal Oz, near Gaza, when the attacks began, according to WGN-TV. Natali Raanan was taken hostage by Hamas on a trip to Israel, her brother Ben said. (Credit: Ben Raanan)Raanan's father told WGN-TV the two had not been heard from in days, with family members worrying they were among those being held hostage by the Palestinian militant group. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Hamas and other militants in Gaza have said over 130 soldiers and civilians captured from inside Israel w...

Denver announces micro-community location, nixes other proposed site

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver announced Friday it will not move forward with one of the 11 proposed micro-community sites and confirmed the location of a second site in the city.In August, Mayor Mike Johnston announced the preliminary list of 11 potential sites that would provide short-term housing for people experiencing homelessness. The micro-communities are part of the mayor's House1000 initiative, which aims to house 1,000 people by the end of the year. Denver Mayor Johnston announces 11 potential short-term housing sites After a community information meeting on Thursday, the city announced Friday it would move forward with one of the proposed micro-communities at 1375 N. Elati St. Another proposed site at 1151 N. Bannock St. has been nixed."Due to additional complexities at 1151 Bannock St., we are not moving forward with the Bannock site at this time. We are grateful for the residents who expressed interest in finding another alternate site in District 10 and we will continue to ...

Aurora renames street section to honor first African American firefighter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) -- The City of Aurora announced Friday that a portion of East 16th Avenue will be renamed in honor of Aurora Fire Rescue's first African American firefighter.An honorary street sign reading Ruben Sims Jr. Ave. will be placed between Florence Street and Emporia Street near the fire rescue's historic Fire Station No. 1, according to a press release. Photos: Blankets of snow bring out vibrant fall colors “This honorary street sign celebrates this extraordinary icon for diversity within the fire department and the city of Aurora," Aurora Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Gardner said in a release.Ruben Lewis Sims Jr. joined the fire rescue team in 1977 and served as a firefighter and an engineer until he retired in 1997.Sims attended junior high and high school in Denver. He played the clarinet throughout his youth and went to the Berklee College of Music.An honorary street sign reading Ruben Sims Jr. Ave. was placed between Florence Street and Emporia Street near th...

Eric Roberts attends premiere of horror short ‘Hammer’ at MDC’s Koubek Cultural Arts Center

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

There’s no shortage of spooky movies premiering this Halloween season. We have one more to add to your watch list, starring Eric Roberts. It’s called “Hammer.”The short film premiered at the Miami Dade College’s Koubek Cultural Arts Center this week.Deco caught up with the film’s director, Orlando Cicilia III, and hammered out the details, as well as Eric Roberts himself, who spoke about why centers like this are important.Orlando Cicilia III: “You’re going to see a great movie, a great performance by Eric Roberts, and an overall thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”Eric Roberts: “Art comes last, art is the most precious, art is the most fragile, and art is the most fun. We all need this kind of centers to help find our artists.”You can catch the gory horror flick, streaming now on hammer-movie.com/watch.

BSO searching for 26-year-old man reported missing from Lauderdale Lakes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

Authorities seek the public’s help in their search for a man who was reported missing from Lauderdale Lakes.According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Unit, 26-year-old Duby Lorsirs was last seen along the 3700 block of West Oakland Park Boulevard, at around 8 a.m., Thursday.Detectives said Lorsirs stands 6 feet tall, weighs around 170 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.Lorsirs’ family told investigators that he experiences mental illness.Officials urge anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact BSO Missing Persons Detective Erica Chace at 352-578-1611 or the BSO non-emergency number at 954-764-HELP (4357).

South Florida man from Gaza mourns 21 family members killed in airstrike, seeks information on brother

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

A South Florida man says he is desperate to hear from his brother in the Middle East after Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of nearly two dozen loved ones.Cellphone video from inside Gaza captured the chaos after a bomb went off earlier this week.The ongoing violence in on the mind of Abd B., who spoke with 7News about the toll that the conflict has taken on him.“How have I been living in the last six days? In constant fear, in constant sadness, in constant worry that one morning I will wake up and lose yet another [family member],” he said.Abd, a South Florida resident who was born and raised in Gaza City, said many of the loved ones who perished as a result of the airstrikes were children.He said he first learned about it on the news.“I saw my family named on the news, the family name, and then the description of the street. I was crying before I even called,” he said.Video showed his relatives’ home reduced to rubble.“In the last six days a...

Biden speaks with families of Americans unaccounted for in Israel

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

Washington (CNN) — President Joe Biden on Friday spoke with the families of the Americans who remain unaccounted for in Israel after promising to speak with family members of those who are held hostage by Hamas.During a speech in Philadelphia Friday afternoon, Biden recounted the conversation.“They’re going through agony not knowing what the status of their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, children are,” he said. “You know, it’s gut wrenching. I assured them my personal commitment to do everything possible, everything possible” to ensure the Americans’ return.National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby told reporters that Biden “conveyed directly to these families that they have been in his prayers and we affirmed for them that the United States government is doing everything possible to locate and bring home their loved ones.”The call was led by special presidential envoy for hostage affairs Roger Carstens, Kirby said.“Several of the fam...

Man seriously injured after being struck by car in Vaughan

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

A man is in serious condition after being struck by a vehicle in Vaughan.York police were called to Jane Street near Norwood Avenue, south of Major Mackenzie Drive, for reports of a collision just before 7:30 p.m. Friday evening. When they arrived they found a man had been struck by a vehicle. The man was taken to hospital in serious condition. The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene for the investigation.

Jenkins to give up Notre Dame presidency at end of 2023-2024 school year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The University of Notre Dame announced Friday that the Rev. John Jenkins will give up the school’s presidency at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year to return to teaching and ministry.Jenkins, the university’s 17th president, has led the school since 2005.“Serving as president of Notre Dame for me, as a Holy Cross priest, has been both a privilege and a calling,” Jenkins said in a news release. John Brennan, chair of the university’s board of trustees, praised Jenkins’ “courageous and visionary leadership.” “Together with the remarkable leadership team he has assembled, he has devoted himself to advancing the University and its mission, fulfilling the promise he made when he was inaugurated — to work collaboratively to build a great Catholic university for the 21st century,” Brennan said.The university said Jenkins’ accomplishments include promoting research growth and gaining Notre Dame’s admission in the research- and education-focused ...

Montana man to return home from hospital weeks after grizzly bear bit off lower jaw

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:39:26 GMT

A Montana man who was mauled by a grizzly bear that bit off the front of his lower jaw is ready to return home after five weeks in a Utah hospital, a physician and his family said Friday during a news conference.Rudy Noorlander, who answered most questions at the University of Utah hospital by writing on a white board, is looking forward to having a root beer float, reuniting with his Yorkshire terrier Sully, returning to the outdoors and maybe even being able to attend the rivalry football game next month between the Montana Grizzlies and his beloved Montana State Bobcats.“And he’s developed a whole new hatred toward the University of Montana,” his daughter Katelynn Noorlander Davis said, referring to the team’s mascot.Noorlander can speak briefly, but it hurts “a little,” he said. He will need speech therapy, his surgeon, Dr. Hilary McCrary said. Noorlander didn’t want to take questions about the attack because he wants to tell the story himself and write a book....