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How to protect yourself from ‘deepfake’ AI robocall scams

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

A recent consumer survey by Transaction Network Services, a telecommunications service provider based in Reston, Virginia, found two-thirds of Americans are concerned about artificial intelligence-generated “deepfake” robocalls.These scam callers can use AI to mimic the voice of a victim’s friend or family member to gather personal information or ask for money.The AI technology to do that doesn’t take much.“It takes less than 10 seconds of video that could be scraped from a popular social media app that could be used to acquire the voice that gives enough information to do a replica of that voice,” said John Haraburda, director of product management at TNS.The AI robocall scams TNS has seen include those trying to acquire information, or those soliciting money directly.TNS reports 68% of those it surveyed say they never answer a phone call from an unknown number, but robocall scammers can mask their calls with caller ID numbers that are familiar —...

Book Review: Explosive debut novel ‘Fireworks Every Night’ is a bittersweet celebration of survival

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

“Fireworks Every Night” by Beth Raymer (Random House)C.C.’s isn’t your typical rags-to-riches story. She remembers growing up in a single-wide with her older sister, stay-at-home mom and car-salesman dad. But she also remembers when they moved to Florida after everything in the car lot burned down — including their home — launching them into a comfortable middle-class life and a fresh start in a state her dad proudly brags has fireworks every night.“Fireworks Every Night” is Beth Raymer’s debut novel, but not her first book. Following her 2010 memoir “Lay the Favorite,” she borrows from her life to create a deeply personal story of a dysfunctional family. Having grown up in West Palm Beach, Raymer puts her local knowledge to use as her protagonist — a resident of Loxahatchee, Florida — rattles off the schools she plays basketball against, and how worn down or rich they are. She’s familiar with the Baker Act and who’s been institutionalized through its use. She knows all the neighbor...

Tornado and other severe weather kill 3, damage homes, and knock out power in multiple states

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

SHOALS, Ind. (AP) — A tornado struck an Indiana home, killing one occupant and injuring another while two people died in Arkansas after a tree fell onto a house there as severe weather rumbled through a number of states.The tornado that struck the home Sunday evening was part of a storm system that pushed through Martin County, Indiana, WXIN-TV reported. A tornado also touched down Sunday afternoon in Johnson County, south of Indianapolis, damaging at least 75 homes, authorities said.Martin County Emergency Management Agency Director Cameron Wolf confirmed the death and injury, according to WXIN, which reported that the home was in a rural area where multiple trees were brought down by high winds.Martin County emergency management officials did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking additional information about the casualties and the extent of storm damage.The town of Shoals, the Martin County seat, is about 85 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of India...

Denver could extend emergency declaration due to influx of migrants

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver City Council is expected to vote to extend the local disaster emergency declaration Monday pertaining to sheltering migrants that come to Denver from the southern border. Denver said it needs more money and resources to deal with the increase in migrants coming here. How you can help migrants in Denver Over the past seven months, the city has seen a steady influx of over 11,200 migrants and asylum seekers arrive in the city without having any immediate plans for shelter, according to the resolution.The sudden increase in need to provide shelter, transportation, food and services, basic health and first aid needs is straining and exceeding current city resources.  They call it a humanitarian crisis.  The resolution states the city has already requested financial assistance from the federal and state governments and nonprofits to help with the cost of resources. WATCH: How will Denver handle migrant influx? In a previous briefing to the ...

Biden says the US and NATO had no involvement in the insurrection in Russia by a mercenary force

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday said United States and NATO had no involvement in the short-lived insurrection in Russia by the Wagner Group mercenary force. He said it’s “too early” to assess theimpact on the war in Ukraine.Biden said he held a video call with allies over the weekend and they are all in sync in working to ensure that they give Russian President Vladimir Putin “no excuse to blame this on the West” or NATO.“We made clear that we were not involved. We had nothing to do with it,” Biden said. “This was part of a struggle within Russian system.”Biden also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the weekend about the situation and said he intended to speak with him again later Monday or early Tuesday.

Supreme Court drops case concerning Trump hotel records

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

(CNN) — The Supreme Court on Monday dropped a case concerning a lower court opinion that allowed for a handful of members of Congress to sue a government agency for records related to the Washington, DC, hotel once owned by former President Donald Trump.The court’s move is likely because the lawmakers were no longer pursuing the case.It means the justices will save for another day the issue of whether it is ever appropriate for a minority of members of a congressional committee to be able to demand executive branch documents.The case raised questions about when members of Congress – and not a full committee – had the legal right to sue an executive agency for documents under a specific federal law, Section 2954.While most of the documents related to the Trump hotel deal had already been turned over, the dispute was expected to resolve whether challenges brought by lawmakers in the minority could go forward in future cases.The Biden administration argued that if the lower court rulin...

Boat on trailer makes a splash at FLL; no injuries reported

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue units were dispatched to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport following reports of a truck colliding with the underside of the upper-level loop road. The incident occurred on the lower (arrivals) level of the airport, specifically between Terminals Two and Three. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the object responsible for the collision was, in fact, a boat being transported on a trailer. The boat’s size appeared to have exceeded the clearance of the upper-level loop road, resulting in the collision with the structure. After a brief period, the boat was successfully removed from the scene.Following the removal of the boat, traffic flow at FLL returned to normal. It appears that there was no significant damage as a result of the incident.

Newton pastor recounts kindness of victims who were found dead in apparent triple homicide

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

A church community in Newton is in mourning and planning a vigil after three elderly family members were found dead in what appeared to be a triple-homicide over the weekend.Authorities have not yet identified the victims, who were discovered Sunday morning at a home on Broadway Street. Police said a preliminary investigation suggested there were signs of forced entry into the home.Two of the victims were about to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and, according to their parish, were going to renew their vows that Sunday.Father Dan Riley, the pastor for Our Lady Help of Christians, told 7NEWS that one of the victims, the husband, was so excited while planning the event, it made their absence on Sunday all the more worrisome, which led to the discovery of their murders.“Three of the most wonderful people – salt of the earth, lovely,” Riley said. “One of them does the flowers in our church. They’re there at church every week. The most wonderful Ita...

4,000 US flights delayed or canceled due to severe storms

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

New York (CNN) — Nearly 4,000 flights across the United States were delayed or canceled Monday after powerful storms ripped through the parts of the country, mainly in the Southeast and the Ohio Valley.Data from FlightAware showed that on Monday at noon ET, 2,974 flights within, into or out of the US were delayed and another 1,007 were canceled.United Airlines (UAL)was faring the worst of the American domestic airlines. About 7% of its schedule, or 222 flights, was canceled and another 12%, or 357 flights, was delayed as of noon ET. Delta (DAL) wasn’t far behind, with 4% (171 flights) of its schedule canceled and 10% (358 flights) delayed.The delays and cancellations come after thunderstorms battered parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and the Ohio Valley Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. More than 700,000 people across the region are without powerMeanwhile, more than 50 million people from Arizon...

Massachusetts could see some ‘severe storms’ with large hail and damaging winds

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:22 GMT

Local meteorologists are warning that some isolated “severe storms” could hit the region on Monday, telling residents to keep their eyes to the sky and take shelter when storms approach.The summer storms could bring damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail.“Hit/miss showers & storms across southern New England this afternoon,” the National Weather Service’s Boston office tweeted on Monday. “A few could be strong to severe.“A line of storms move in late tonight & may also pose a severe risk,” NWS Boston added.Related ArticlesWeather | Massachusetts could see some severe thunderstorms: ‘Keep an eye to the sky’ The possible damaging wind gusts could lead to tree damage.The afternoon risk for severe storms will be greatest west of Interstate 495. The night risk will be greatest across much of southern New England.“Be ready to take shelter indoors when storms approach,” the National Weather S...