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Threads hits 100 million sign-ups within first week 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

(The Hill) -- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Monday that the company’s new social media platform Threads hit 100 million sign-ups over the weekend, within less than a week of the app’s launch. “Threads reached 100 million sign ups over the weekend. That’s mostly organic demand and we haven’t even turned on many promotions yet. Can’t believe it’s only been 5 days!” Zuckerberg said in a post on the new platform.Threads saw some 30 million downloads in the first few hours it was live, and it had reached 70 million by Friday, according to the Meta CEO. Meta, which is the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has positioned Threads as an alternative to Twitter, the app bought out last year by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Musk’s takeover of Twitter has been fraught with controversy as he moved to make sweeping changes to the company’s organization and to certain app features, including tweaks to the user verification process that made Twitter’s recognizable blue check...

Campsites found in Pennsylvania manhunt for escaped 'survivalist' prisoner

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

(NewsNation) — A manhunt is underway in Pennsylvania for Michael Burham, an escaped prisoner who police describe as a "survivalist" with military training, prepared to withstand the elements and conceal himself.Police have located some small campsites they believe are associated with Burham, Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said at a press conference. The jail from which Burham escaped is in northern Pennsylvania, about 18 miles from Jamestown, New York, and just outside the Allegheny National Forest.Officials have scoured the homes and wooded areas inside the search radius of the manhunt. Army reservist accused of defrauding Gold Star families out of millions "Burnham is a self-taught survivalist with military experience and could be potentially holed up in a wooded area near the city," Bivens said. "We are considering him armed and dangerous, and we are cautioning residents if they see him or believe that he may be anywhere near them that they should not a...

Solar storms this week light up the sky for 17 states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

SPACE (KXAN) -- Skies across the United States will light up later this week. Two solar storms are expected to occur on Thursday night, meaning the Northern Lights could be visible in 17 states.This year is an exceptionally active year for our sun. Every 11 years, the sun reaches a point of peak activity, where storms are more likely. This year is that peak. Antarctica explorer and University of Texas researcher to be honored with Polar Medal The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are a colorful glowing light display that occur in the upper atmosphere. These events happen when a solar wind, charged particles released when a storm occurs on the sun, strike the Earth's magnetosphere. ‘Violent solar events’ at a high risk this week amid severe weather on the sun Typically, the Northern Lights occur in upper latitudes, like Canada or Iceland. However, this year's active sun is causing them further south.The Associated Press reports that The Geophysics Institute of Alask...

Gov. Hochul updates New Yorkers on floods, rain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Gov. Kathy Hochul will hold a press conference with updates on extreme flooding in Highland Falls in Orange County. She's scheduled to start at 10:15 a.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Heavy rain spawned extreme flooding in the Hudson Valley, with at least one death as of Sunday night. Punishing rains washed out train tracks, swamped roadways, and forced closures.Flooding remains on ongoing concern in the region. The area-wide flood watch remains in effect through mid-day tomorrow. Even once the rain comes to an end, it will take time for the added moisture to drain into larger rivers and creeks.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Vermont State Police release statement on flooding

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Vermont State Police (VSP) have released a statement regarding serious, life-threatening flooding taking place today. Police say several emergency crews have conducted multiple rescues in several communities. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! People are urged to stay home if they can unless floodwaters approach their homes. The VSP released the following statement."If you can, please stay home today. However, if floodwaters are approaching your home, leave immediately. Make an evacuation plan before it becomes necessary.Do not drive or walk through floodwaters. The water can obscure washouts, carry debris and strong currents, and be deeper than it appears. Turn around, don’t drown. Crash on I-87 closes Northway southbound in Malta Continue monitoring local media, the National Weather Service, and sign up for VT ALERT through Vermont Emergency Management if you have not done so already to receive...

Reward increased in animal cruelty investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

CLAVERACK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Investigations into the animal cruelty case in Claverack are ongoing. The Columbia-Greene Humane Society announced the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible is now $5,000. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Two dogs were found on Schoolhouse Road. One dog is receiving medical attention for starvation and dehydration. The other dog passed away while on the way to receive emergency care.Anyone with information can contact an investigator at (518) 828-6044, ext. 108. All information will be kept confidential.

Kids held at gunpoint during Arizona toy store robbery, video shows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

A recently released video shows children among the victims who were held at gunpoint during a toy store robbery in Arizona. The incident occurred at a store on Brown Road in Mesa on April 16, but video of the armed robbery was just released Friday.Images of a toy store robbery in Arizona was released on July 7, 2023. (Silent Witness)A man holding a handgun is seen directing customers, including several children, to stand in a corner of the store. Another customer walked in as the suspect was demanding cash from an employee at the counter. Several homes destroyed as hillside collapses in Rolling Hills The gunman directed the new customer to stand in the corner with the other victims and completed the robbery.Investigators believe the robber, described in a news release as a man in his mid to late 20s, left the store with about $800. Police are still searching for the suspect.

4 South Los Angeles taco stands robbed at gunpoint, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

Four taco stands were robbed at gunpoint in multiple neighborhoods in South Los Angeles Sunday night.The robberies occurred between 9:45 and 11 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Two of the stands are in Historic South-Central at the intersections of 43rd Street and Central Avenue and at Vernon and McKinley avenues.One stand was in South Park at Avalon Boulevard and 51st Street.The fourth was in Central-Alameda at Ascot Avenue and 51st Street.In all four robberies, cash was taken and no one was injured.The robbers are believed to be three men, two of them Black and one Hispanic, according to Officer Cervantes.They had fled by the time police arrived on scene, and they remain at large. Alexis Lewis contributed to this report.

1st reviews of 'Barbie' overwhelmingly positive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

The pink carpet was rolled out at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium on Sunday for the big premiere of "Barbie."A select few got a sneak peek and their reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Screen Rant's Joseph Deckelmeier was very surprised by the film. "'Barbie' caught me off guard and I mean that in the best way possible," he tweeted. "It’s funny, bombastic, and very smart. Greta Gerwig aims for the fences & hits a home run. Margot Robbie’s performance is great and Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu are pure entertainment! The whole cast is brilliant!" Philippines consider banning ‘Barbie’ movie over South China Sea map Collider.com's Perri Nemiroff said the "craftsmanship" was "incredible.""In particular the costume & production design includes next-level work that heavily contributes to creating the feeling that these truly are Barbies, their dream houses, and their worlds come to life," she tweeted. "As for the story, that’s where I’m a bit more mixed. I think the film serves Margot Rob...

Meet Cosplay Collagist Rakeem Cunningham

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:37 GMT

In an aggressively delightful mixture of conceptual cosplay, collage, installation, video, photography, painting, and performance, Rakeem Cunningham creates multivalent portraits of himself and his eclectic community of subcultures—queer Black folks, role-play and video gamers, anime enthusiasts, neurodivergent creators, and other adventurous souls. His use of cascading palettes and all-over patterning combined with tenderly confrontational and firmly self-possessed figures evoke manga-infused surrealism and high-fashion editorial in equal measure. But for Cunningham, despite the validation of joy, fantasy, and playtime, the process of creating these elaborate and ornate tableaux is also a serious self-care measure—one that embodies ideas around psychological healing and honoring the instincts of the wild imagination.Rakeem Cunningham: Alter Ego, 2023 (Courtesy of Schlomer Haus)L.A. WEEKLY: When did you first know you were an artist? RAKEEM CUNNINGHAM: I first knew I was an artist w...