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Energy Dept. cancels $200M grant to battery maker after GOP criticism over alleged ties to China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has canceled plans to award a $200 million grant to a U.S. battery manufacturer amid criticism from Republican lawmakers over the company’s alleged ties to China.Texas-based Microvast was one of 20 companies to win preliminary grants totaling $2.8 billion to boost domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles. The company is building a battery plant in Tennessee and was in talks with the Energy Department for a $200 million grant funded through the 2021 infrastructure law.A spokeswoman for Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm confirmed Tuesday that negotiations with Microvast were canceled, but did not offer a specific reason.The Energy Department said in a statement that it “maintains a rigorous review process prior to the release of any awarded funds, and it is not uncommon for entities selected to participate in award negotiations” to ultimately be denied a federal grant.“The department can confirm that it has...

Police arrest shoplifters suspected of $200K in thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (KDVR) -- Two people suspected of shoplifting approximately $200,000 from Denver metro King Soopers stores were arrested Monday, according to police in Wheat Ridge.Officers were called to a King Soopers store after employees recognized a man and a woman as frequent and wanted shoplifting suspects.When they arrived, officers found they had two carts full of nearly $10,000 worth of merchandise. Colorado cities are some of the most expensive to raise children The franchise told police the same people were responsible for thefts at stores across the metro area in the last few months.WRPD said detectives were in contact with other jurisdictions to figure out if the two are suspects in other similar thefts or if they are connected to any organized retail theft rings.

Bobrovsky and Panthers eye trip to Stanley Cup Final, as Hurricanes seek turnaround

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour spent some time Tuesday shaking his head. The occasional shoulder shrug was thrown in there, too. He knows all the questions, and there are few answers.Here’s what befuddles him right now: There isn’t much to fix regarding the way the Hurricanes are playing against the Florida Panthers. The offense is generating chances. The defense is giving up almost nothing.And they’re down 3-0 to the Panthers in the Eastern Conference finals anyway.The Panthers can wrap up their first trip to the Stanley Cup final in 27 years on Wednesday night when they host the Hurricanes in Game 4.Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been almost immaculate, stopping 132 of 135 shots in the series — hence, Brind’Amour spending his days wondering what the Hurricanes have to do to get one past that guy.“That is the toughest way to lose a game, when you come back in and it’s a play here or there that you didn’t make. That’s the whole difference in this series rig...

Panthers optimistic that Barkov could play in Game 4 of Eastern Conference finals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — All-Star forward Aleksander Barkov should be back on the ice soon, maybe very soon, and that news brought a collective sigh of relief from the Florida Panthers.It isn’t totally certain if the Panthers’ captain will play in a potentially series-clinching Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night. He left Game 3 in the first period with a lower-body injury.But it’s a possibility, coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday — obviously, a very good sign for a team that is one win away from the Stanley Cup final. Barkov was listed as questionable after the injury but did not return to Game 3; tests and evaluation since have evidently ruled out any major issue.“It was as much precautionary as anything, to rule out anything sinister,” Maurice said. “We’re very optimistic that he’ll return soon and when he does, he’ll be ready to go. … We’re optimistic that we would see him in Game 4 a...

Florida sued for restricting Chinese citizens, other foreigners from buying property

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A group of Chinese citizens living and working in Florida sued the state Monday over a new law that bans Chinese nationals from purchasing property in large swaths of the state.The law applies to properties within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of military installations and other “critical infrastructure” and also affects citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. But Chinese citizens and those selling property to them face the harshest penalties. The prohibition also applies to agricultural land.The American Civil Liberties Union says the law will have a substantial chilling effect on sales to Chinese and Asian people who can legally buy property. The suit says the law unfairly equates Chinese people with the actions of their government and there is no evidence of national security risk from Chinese citizens buying Florida property.The law “will codify and expand housing discrimination against people of Asian descent in violation of the Co...

Small plane lands on median of Orlando road

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

(CNN) – A small airplane made an emergency landing in the median of a road, Tuesday.It happened in the Christmas area of Orange County. https://twitter.com/OrangeCoSheriff/status/1661004039125966849?s=20No injuries were reported in the incident, but the downed plane blocked traffic.Firefighters notified the Federal Aviation Administration of the situation.

EU claims it’s now on track to get Ukraine 1M ammo rounds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

BRUSSELS — The EU has sent Ukraine 220,000 rounds of ammunition since pledging in March to get the war-stricken country 1 million shells in 12 months, putting the bloc on track to hit its target, top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said Tuesday. Yet questions remain about whether EU countries can keep up the pace. The ammunition contributed so far is being pulled from existing stockpiles, and EU countries will soon have to switch to jointly purchasing new ammo for Kyiv, while boosting the capacity of defense industries, to continue making donations — a more challenging prospect. Still, Borrell said, the current totals are promising. “The latest figures actually are much better than we had just some 10 days ago,” he told reporters after a defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, adding that EU countries had also sent Ukraine 1,300 missiles since the March pledge. The total value of the donations is roughly €860 million, according to officials close to the doss...

‘View Boston’ via upcoming new observatory in Prudential Tower

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

A skyline staple in Boston is getting ready to offer up a classic view of the city in a whole new way.The Prudential Tower will once again be home to an observation deck more than 50 floors up, offering visitors an incredible view of the cityscape and also a chance to plan a trip around it.“View Boston” is the new, three-floor observatory that starts with the sights you can see from more than 700 feet over Boston, through 24-foot windows wrapping all around the building.“The goal with that floor was to deliver the best view in Boston from any spot on the dance floor,” said Rebecca Stoddard, the Vice President of Marketing at the project’s developer, BXP.The old standup binoculars found at the previous observatory have been replaced by a touchscreen where you can not only see everything out on the horizon, but also tap the screen and learn more about the sights.There’s also plenty to see inside as well, from a restaurant and bar to a wraparound the...

One person stabbed inside Star Market in Mattapan 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

One person was taken to an area hospital Tuesday after they were stabbed inside a Star Market store on River Street in Mattapan, police said. Boston police said a call came in shortly after 3:30 p.m. reporting the incident. The victim, police said, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

LeBron James considering retirement after Los Angeles Lakers swept by Denver Nuggets – ‘I’ve got a lot to think about’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:40:10 GMT

(CNN) — After 20 incredible years in the NBA, LeBron James has added to speculation that he could finally be hanging up his sneakers for good.This comes after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the Western Conference Finals by Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets following a disappointing 113-111 Game 4 loss.“We’ll see what happens going forward. I don’t know,” the NBA’s all-time leading scorer said to reporters post-game. “I’ve got a lot to think about to be honest.“Just for me, personally, going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about.”ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said he followed up with James following the press conference to further elaborate on his comments adding that retirement is under consideration.“When you say you got to think about stuff, what thread should we be pulling on that?” McMenamin said he asked to which James replied, “If I want to continue to play.”James later added that he’d have to think about it w...