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Unification Church in Japan offers to set aside up to $67 million in a compensation fund

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The Unification Church’s Japanese branch announced plans Tuesday to set aside a fund up to 10 billion yen ($67 million) to cover possible compensation for those seeking damages they say were caused by the group’s manipulative fundraising tactics.The move is seen as an attempt to allay any suspicion that the group would try to avoid later payouts by hiding assets overseas while a government-requested dissolution order is pending.The announcement by head of the church’s Japanese branch, Tomihiro Tanaka, came a month after Japan’s Education Ministry asked the Tokyo District Court to revoke the legal status of the group. The ministry investigation concluded that the South Korean-headquartered group for decades has systematically manipulated its followers into donating money, sowing fear and harming their family ties. The investigation followed public outrage and questions about the group’s fundraising and recruitment tactics that surfaced after former Prime Mini...

5 hostages of Hamas are free, offering some hope to families of those still captive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

Five hostages of Hamas are free, offering some hope to the families of others snatched in southern Israel during the militants’ deadly rampage on Oct. 7. But the families of those still in captivity have questions, such as why progress has been so slow, why some and not others are being released and whether Israel’s punishing bombardment of the Gaza Strip puts their loved ones in danger. Israel on Oct. 30 announced its first hostage rescue — that of army Pvt. Ori Megidish. Hamas had earlier released Americans Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter, Natalie, 18. Also let go were Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, along with Nurit Cooper, 79. Their husbands remain in captivity. Hamas has said it would let the others go in return for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which has dismissed the offer. Here are stories of some of the 242 hostages still being held.Alex DancygAlex Dancyg left Poland at age 9, sailing by ship to a new life in Israel in 1957. But Poland never left him. ...

Election might not settle Connecticut mayor’s race upended by video of ballot box stuffing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

The people of Bridgeport, Connecticut, cast their ballots for mayor Tuesday knowing there’s a chance the results won’t actually settle an election thrown into uncertainty by allegations of voting irregularities.A judge last week tossed out the results of the Democratic mayoral primary and ordered a new one, citing “mishandled” absentee ballots that left the court unable to determine who won.That set up the most bizarre of the mayoral contests held across the state Tuesday.Both Democrats who competed in the primary — incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim and challenger John Gomes — were on the ballot again for the general election. Then, they may have to face each other a third time in a new primary to be held at a later date. Depending on the outcome of a continuing court fight, that could then be followed by a rerun of the general election.“This is an unprecedented situation,” said Gomes’ lawyer, William Bloss.The Associated Press will not declare a winner in the general election u...

Proposition II results: Colorado voters approve using nicotine tax money for pre-K | Election results 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Voters in Colorado passed Proposition II, allowing the state to keep $23.65 million in tax revenue collected from cigarettes, tobacco and other nicotine products, and use it for preschool programs.That measure deals with taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products approved by voters in 2020. Analysts underestimated how much it would take in so, under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, voters needed to be asked if the state can keep the extra money taxes brought in in the first year, including interest.Full results below: Prop II vote totalsIf it was not passed, the funds would have been refunded to wholesalers and distributors of nicotine, and tax rates would have decreased on nicotine products.Current tax rates on nicotine products will stay the same. Full 2023 election results: Denver & Colorado races The funds will be used to expand the universal preschool program implemented in Colorado. The funds are anticipated to alleviate some of the program's rollout issues, ...

Denver school board election results 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Voters in Denver are electing members to the Denver Public Schools Board of Education. There are three open seats: Director At-Large, Director District 1 and Director District 5.Get the latest results below on the Denver school board race in the Nov. 7, 2023 election. Live updates from FOX31 KDVR and Colorado's Very Own Channel 2 KWGN.Get the latest results below on Colorado's Proposition II in the Nov. 7, 2023 election. Live updates from FOX31 KDVR and Colorado's Very Own Channel 2 KWGN.Election Results Quick LinksFull ResultsDenver ResultsProp HH Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts SIGN UP NOW Get the latest results and alerts on breaking news with the FOX31 & Channel 2 App for iOS and Android. For complete coverage of Colo...

Semi-truck driver takes off after striking bridge, damaging Georgetown home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Colo (KDVR) -- Police are searching for the driver of a semi-truck that struck a bridge and damaged a house in Georgetown Monday evening. Sgt. John Gaskins of the Georgetown Police Department said a semi-truck driver crashed into the side of a bridge and dragged part of the railing through a house in the 700 block of 7th Street just before 7 p.m. and took off.  Proposition HH results: Colorado voters reject property tax measure | Election 2023 “It’s certainly one of the craziest incidents I’ve had to investigate here,” Gaskins said. Ring video captured the semi-truck leaving the area, believed to be heading west on I-70 around 6:53 p.m. on Monday.The truck was captured in Ring doorbell footage. (Georgetown Police Department)But with no visible markings, Gaskins said it’s been challenging to track down.  "All we have is a description of the tractor and trailer which is a smaller white sleeper cab, pulling a 52- or 53-foot trailer,” Gaskins said. Jason and Amanda Fi...

Phone stolen from grocery cart leads to $15,000 bank card theft

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. (KDVR) – A woman who was shopping at Trader Joe's in Greenwood Village Saturday says her cell phone was stolen from her shopping cart, but what the thieves got away with was worth much more.Michelle, who asked to go by her first name only, was shopping at the store on South University Boulevard when she leaned over to grab something from the frozen food section. Say goodbye to plastic bags, they may start disappearing soon "(I) got bumped from the back, turned around and nobody was there. Took about 20 more steps and my phone was gone," Michelle said.Her Android phone screen was unlocked so she could see her grocery list, but she said she had it set to lock automatically after one minute.She thought that the locking system would stop thieves from accessing her information but later learned that was not the case. In about 20 minutes, the thieves circumvented all the locks and multiple verification systems she had set up."They were able to change all the pas...

Miami Beach mayoral race heads to runoff election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

The top two candidates for Miami Beach Mayor will have to campaign for a little while longer because they’re headed to a runoff.The contest will pit Commissioner Steven Meiner against former three-term Commissioner Michael Gongora.Neither candidates cracked the 50 + 1% threshold Tuesday evening to avoid the Nov. 21 runoff election.The pair advances to the next round, handily defeating former MTV executive Bill Roedy and former commissioner and state representative Michael Grieco.Incumbent Mayor Dan Gelber was term-limited and couldn’t run again.

Paradise Lost: Is Florida becoming an uninsurable state?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

We know insurance rates are sky-high in Florida, but now industry insiders say people living here might not be able to get insurance at all. 7’s Karen Hensel has more in tonight’s installment of our assignment report, “Paradise Lost.”With insurance rates skyrocketing many homeowners are making expensive repairs in hopes of lowering their bills.Francisco Landaeta: “We have a new roof. We have hurricane windows and doors, and these are things that they look into. They didn’t matter.”Francisco Landaeta says even after spending thousands of dollars, his rates are four times higher than they used to be.Francisco Landaeta: “Not too long ago, we were paying $900 and right now, we went to $3,600. So it’s a huge increase.”Ronnie Mackliff bought his home two years ago. He’s afraid he’ll have to move because he can’t afford his premium, which jumped from $3,264 to $4,589.Ronnie Mackliff: “It’s just gettin...

Holocaust survivors gather in Aventura to reflect on attack on Israel, pray for safe return of hostages taken by Hamas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:25 GMT

Holocaust survivors Tuesday night gathered with other members of the community to prayed for the safe return of those held hostage by terrorist group Hamas. The slogan “never again” became a saying for the Jewish people after the Holocaust. Many of those survivors have spent much of their lives spreading that message and are reminding people of the horrors they faced. Now, their biggest fears, is that those horrors are once again returning. With great pain, comes great strength. “I was in three concentration camps,” Saul Dreier said.“My father was killed right away,” Diane Horowitz said.“It’s never again, it’s here, it’s ever again, and I hope that never again will mean something to everybody, and please, stop all this evil,” Tzippy Holland said.These holocaust survivors have looked evil in the face once before and fear that as the war rages on in Israel, that evil is peaking its head out all around the world again.&...