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Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare awarded French Legion of Honor title by Macron

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare was awarded the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor title by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday.Macron arrived in Tirana after a summit of European Union leaders with Western Balkan countries earlier in the day. He didn’t attend the talks because of the attack in which a teacher was fatally stabbed and three other people were wounded at a school in northern France.In a long speech describing Kadare’s different novels throughout his writing career and how he had resisted Albania’s communist government, Macron awarded the title “for his works, his courage to rise up against a dictatorial system … and a defender of freedom, a great writer of humanity.”Kadare, 87, has long been mentioned as a possible contender for the Nobel Literature Prize. He has been well-known internationally since his “The General of the Dead Army” novel was published in 1963 when Albania was governed by the communist governmen...

Bears QB Justin Fields has dislocated thumb and is doubtful to play against Raiders

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields will likely miss at least one game because of a dislocated right thumb, coach Matt Eberflus said Monday.Eberflus said it’s “doubtful” Fields plays this week when the Bears (1-5) host the Las Vegas Raiders after he was injured in Sunday’s 19-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Rookie Tyson Bagent figures to start in his place. Eberflus also said the Bears hired former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Phil Snow as a defensive analyst, filling a position created after former defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned last month.Fields was hurt on Chicago’s first possession of the third quarter against Minnesota. He seemed to land awkwardly on his hand trying to throw the ball away while getting sacked by Danielle Hunter. The Bears punted on the next play, and Fields headed to the locker room.An X-ray showed no fractures. Fields underwent an MRI on Monday, and Eberflus had no timetable for Fields’ return.“It’s...

Semitruck driver killed in I-25 coal train derailment, bridge collapse

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A semi-trailer truck driver was killed when a train derailed and a railroad bridge collapsed onto a major highway near Pueblo, Colorado, spilling coal and mangled rail cars onto the roadway and shutting it down indefinitely, authorities said Monday. The 60-year-old driver was initially said to be trapped in the Sunday afternoon crash on Interstate 25, but authorities said Monday that he had died. It was unknown whether any other vehicles were involved, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Gayle Perez said.Photos and videos posted by authorities showed the partially collapsed bridge with the semi-truck caught beneath in the right lane. The images also show a pileup of train cars and wheels scattered across the scene and loads of coal covering a portion of the highway.A nine-mile stretch of I-25 — the main north-south road corridor in Colorado, used by 39,000 to 44,000 vehicles daily — was shut down in what the Colorado Department of Transportation said Monday wou...

Denver International Airport plans to move rental cars to new facility

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Travelers at Denver International Airport will have a new location to get rental cars in the future. The airport on Monday announced plans for a new facility that will be home to all on-site rental companies.The consolidated rental car facility (ConRAC) will be located along 78th Avenue, north of Peña Boulevard and east of Jackson Gap Road. What happens when you lose an item at Denver International Airport? It depends It will be situated in the area where Peña Boulevard turns from running south away from the terminals to westbound into the city. An employee lot currently sits in the area and will be moved, the airport said in the announcement.The project will not begin for at least another year. The airport expects to have a Request for Proposals, or similar process, ready by late 2024.An illustration showing the planned Consolidated Rental Car Facility at Denver International Airport, released by the airport in October 2023. (Image provided by DIA)Today, the airpo...

I-25 north of Pueblo still closed in both directions after train derailment

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Following a train derailment that occurred on Sunday afternoon, Interstate 25 remained closed in both directions just north of Pueblo on Monday morning. The BNSF Railway train derailed on a bridge over I-25 near mile markers 106 and 107 around 3:25 p.m. on Sunday.Colorado State Patrol said both directions of I-25 would be closed for an extended period of time because of the 12-car train crash and coal on the road. Train derails on I-25 near Pueblo, interstate closed If you're heading southbound, FOX31's Drew Engelbart recommends taking Exit 110 onto a country road parallel to I-25. It's a dirt road which will add about 15-30 minutes to the commute.Northbound will take 30 minutes to an hour longer than your normal commute. You'll be rerouted to Exit 106 and take Highway 50 all the way out west to Highway 115, then back onto I-25.Engelbart expects a multi-day closure.

Biden postpones trip to Colorado to as Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden postponed a trip to Colorado on Monday to stay in Washington and focus on the growing conflict in the Middle East, setting aside an opportunity to pitch his economic accomplishments as he runs for reelection.The White House said Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser; Avril Haines, the national intelligence director; and Bill Burns, head of the Central Intelligence Agency. Chief of Staff Jeff Zients also attended. I-25 north of Pueblo still closed in both directions after train derailed Biden planned to visit Rep. Lauren Boebert's district, where he was to tour CS Wind, the world's largest facility for wind tower manufacturing. But the White House said just a few hours before Biden was set to take off for the trip that it would be rescheduled as Israel prepares a ground invasion of Gaza and humanitarian concerns worsen in the territory.The Democratic president is we...

Denver weather: Staying warm and sunny

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you enjoy sunshine and above-average temperatures, then this forecast is for you!Weather tonight: Clear and coolAfter a beautiful day in the metro area, the page is turning Monday night and temperatures will cool off into the middle 40s under mostly clear skies. Look for winds to be gusty at times, up to 20 mph overnight. Will Tuesday be the last 80-degree day of the year? Weather tomorrow: Even warmer with more sunTuesday temperatures will be well above average with even more sunshine on the way! Highs will max out in the lower 80s under mostly sunny skies. It will be breezy at times with gusts up to 20 mph, other than that there's a very mild day in store. Looking ahead: Staying dry and warmWhile Tuesday will be the warmest day of the week, temperatures are expected to stay mild and conditions will be dry. Highs on Wednesday will be in the lower 70s with gusty winds. Those winds will calm down by Thursday and Friday, as temperatures ramp back up into the uppe...

Tattered Cover bookstore files for bankruptcy, to close 3 stores

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The local bookstore chain Tattered Cover has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to close three stores. A press release states the move aims to help the company access small business financing "to recover from changing market conditions exacerbated by the COVID pandemic." The company plans to use the funding for holiday shopping inventory, technology and operations and to pay staff. The company operates six Denver-area bookstores and one in Colorado Springs, as well as shops at the Denver airport. The website states Tattered Cover was established in 1971. The Colorado Springs, Westminster and McGregor Square locations are expected to close between late October and early November, affecting at least 27 workers, according to a press release.According to forms filed in the case, the bookstore has unsecured claims to multiple publishers, property management and even the state of Colorado. The claims range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Anothe...

Disney celebrates 100 years of characters with animation special ‘Once Upon a Studio’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

Disney is celebrating 100 years of dreams coming true. One hundred years of Mickey and friends, can you imagine?The giant animation showed its powers through a short film with familiar voices.Disney Plus premiered “Once Upon a Studio” Monday.It reunited 85 iconic characters, from tiny Tinkerbell to Aladdin’s genie and the late Robin Williams, who voiced genie was honored through magic.Even though Robin passed in 2014, his voice lives on through his blue Disney character.Studio execs opened up the vault and were able to get outtakes from the 1992 film.They showed Robin’s children how they wanted to honor their father and they eventually gave the green light.

A 6-year-old Palestinian-American was stabbed 26 times for being Muslim, police say. His mom couldn’t go to his funeral because she was stabbed, too

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:39:19 GMT

Joliet, Illinois (CNN) — Loved ones and strangers united in grief Monday at the funeral of a 6-year-old Chicago-area boy who was killed because he was Muslim, officials say.Wadea Al Fayoume was stabbed 26 times Saturday by his family’s landlord in Plainfield Township, Illinois, the Will County Sheriff’s Office said.Courtesy Will County Sheriff’s OfficeHis 32-year-old mother, Hanaan Shahin, also suffered more than a dozen stab wounds, the sheriff’s office said.Shahin’s serious injuries prevented her from attending her son’s funeral Monday, said Ahmed Rehab, executive director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Chicago office. In accordance with tradition, deceased Muslims are buried as soon as possible after death.The mother “will be feeling Wadea’s loss more than anyone, but she is forced to mourn alone rather in the warm embrace of family and community at this time,” Rehab said, adding she “is fighting serious bodily injuries at the hospital, not to mention t...