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Digital clones and Vocaloids may be popular in Japan. Elsewhere, they could get lost in translation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Kazutaka Yonekura dreams of a world where everyone will have their very own digital “clone” — an online avatar that could take on some of our work and daily tasks, such as appearing in Zoom meetings in our place. Yonekura, chief executive of Tokyo startup Alt Inc., believes it could make our lives easier and more efficient. His company is developing a digital double, an animated image that looks and talks just like its owner. The digital clone can be used, for example, by a recruiter to carry out preliminary job interviews, or by a physician to screen patients ahead of checkups. “This liberates you from all the routine (tasks) that you must do tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and the day after that,” he told The Associated Press as he showed off his double — a thumbnail video image of Yonekura on the computer screen, with a synthesized version of his voice. When his digital clone is asked “What kind of music do you like,” it pauses for several seconds, then goes into a ...

Family, friends, teammates and fans gather to celebrate Steve 'Mongo' McMichael

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

MERRIONETTE PARK, Ill. — Anticipation is building as many await word on whether Chicago Bears legend Steve "Mongo" McMichael will make it to the next round of seniors committee voting to possibly gain entrance into the National Football League Hall of Fame.According to Mongo's wife — Misty McMichael — they got a call from the NFL Hall of Fame today, but aren't able to share news on the decision until tomorrow."It’s just amazing. It’s been suspenseful, it’s been killing me and now that I have to wait another day,” McMichael said. “I’ll wait, I’ll be patient. He’s been nominated for years but this is the closest we’ve ever been.” PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Steve McMichael can get another step closer to Pro Football Hall of Fame Tuesday If Mongo makes it through to the next round of voting from the NFL seniors committee, he'll be one of three candidates voted on for official admittance into Canton, which is announced at the NFL Awards Show during the week leading up to the Super Bowl.Until t...

Man with previous history of DWIs pleads guilty to killing 20-year-old UT Dallas student in crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The mother and father of Colton Roberts, 20, addressed the man who killed their son in court Tuesday."All I can do now is write letters to him in a journal that only I will ever see. Things I would say that he'll never get to hear," said Bill, the young man's father.Scott Taylor pled guilty to intoxication manslaughter for the August 2021 crash that killed Roberts. The crash happened on Jollyville Road just after 9 p.m., right before Roberts was set to return to class at the University of Texas Dallas. Roberts' parents took their son's photo to the witness stand as they read their victim impact statements.During their impact statements, Roberts' parents talked about how close they were with their son and how much his community adored him. "My 6-foot tall son, healthy, vibrant, so full of life... came home in a small box," said his mother Tanya. Judge Julie Kocurek accepted Taylor's guilty plea in front a courtroom full of Roberts' family and friends. She asked Taylo...

Twins’ rotation plans in flux as they prepare to welcome Joe Ryan back

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

The Twins have had further discussions about shifting to a six-man rotation for the time being, manager Rocco Baldelli said, but they haven’t yet made any final decisions.Minnesota Twins’ Jordan Luplow scores safely past Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)As the Twins get ready to welcome Joe Ryan back from the injured list — Baldelli said he expected Ryan’s next start to come with the Twins rather than in a second rehab outing — their rotation plans are momentarily in flux.The Twins have listed Pablo López and Sonny Gray as the probable starters for Thursday and Friday against Texas, but they have yet to announce Saturday and Sunday’s starters.One of them is expected to be Ryan, who last pitched on Friday with the Triple-A Saints on rehab. If they do opt for a six-man rotation, Dallas Keuchel’s turn in the rotation would also fall during that series.Ryan has been on...

Suspect goes on trial for shooting that killed 3, injured 2 in St. Paul’s Payne-Phalen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

Derek Pemrick was the first St. Paul police officer to arrive at 951 Case Ave., where he and his partner would go on to find the bodies of three people who’d been fatally shot in the head.But before Pemrick entered the duplex, he was approached by the two surviving gunshot victims. One of them was Stephen Anderson, who had a gunshot wound to his forehead and wounds to both hands. He named the shooter as Antonio Dupree Wright.“It’s … Antonio,” Anderson said to Pemrick, as captured on his body-worn camera on the afternoon of Sept. 4, 2022.“Did he leave? Is he here?” Pemrick asked Anderson. “Where’s Tony?”Antonio Dupree Wright (Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Corrections)Ramsey County prosecutors played the short video clip as Wright’s mass shooting trial got underway Tuesday before District Judge Kelly Olmstead in downtown St. Paul.“By some miracle, Stephen Anderson survived,” Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Nori Wieder said in the prosecution’s opening statement. “And ...

Food bank to grow produce with new freight farm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A local food bank will soon be able to grow its own produce. The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York was given a freight farm thanks to a donation from Broadview Federal Credit Union.The freight farm is coming from a Boston-based company. Organizers hope it will reduce the food bank's reliance on donations. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "So, to be able to grow something specifically for the neighbors in need at the highest quality is going to be a game changer to allow us to not only feed those that are hungry but to nourish them with the proper produce that they need," Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY COO Nick Pisani said.The freight farm will also help the food bank expand its delivery services.

Illinois World War II veteran given France's highest distinction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) - A 98-year-old Pekin native who served in World War II, helping liberate France from German occupation, was recognized with the French Legion of Honor today at Preston-Hanley funeral home.Dean A. Preston was a Corporal in the Air Force who served as a radio operator and repairman, helping with communications across the front lines. He served in North Africa, Italy, Germany, and France during the war.Preston didn't want to have that duty initially, however."I volunteered to be in the Air Force; I thought I'd go someplace in the Air Force, but I guess they wanted me for radio maintenance, so they sent me to school, and there was 26 of us; we all ended in the same place, overseas," he said. Central Illinois hosts some of the best places to work according to Forbes A large crowd gathered to see the ceremony, which included veterans, citizens and French and American officials.Preston was given the award by French Consul General to the Midwest Yannick Tagand, who sai...

Keeler: How Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin ran from homelessness to NFL heroics: “I don’t want to live life with any regrets.”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

For three months, his bed was the back seat of a Ford Focus. As a teen, Jaleel McLaughlin went home to a McDonald’s parking lot, a five-star speedster living out of a four-door sedan.“You know, there (have) been games where I’ve had a great game and I’d come home to nothing,” the undrafted Broncos rookie recalled Tuesday after practice at Dove Valley. “I’d come home to sleeping in the car.“So that’s why … I don’t never get too high and never get too low. Because the unexpected can happen.”Criminy, does this unexpected fly. If your heart doesn’t lambada whenever McLaughlin touches the rock, check your pulse.If you’re not rooting for the kid to make this Broncos roster, especially once you hear his backstory, best check your soul.“(My family) definitely motivates me a lot,” the free-agent tailback and returner out of Youngstown State said. “Even if, say, I might have a down day or, say, it’s early in the morning, I think about my family. I think about the sacri...

Rescue efforts continue after massive mudslide in mountain communities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

Emergency airlifts to rescue San Bernardino County residents stranded in the mountains after Hilary caused massive mudslides that blocked roads and washed-out bridges continued Tuesday.  Forest Falls, Oak Glen and Seven Oaks on the east side of the San Bernardino Mountains were hit hard by the first tropical storm to hit California in 83 years.  San Bernardino County Fire flew helicopters into Seven Oaks today where many residents were trapped due to roads covered in mud and debris and even homes that were washed away. Firefighters airlifted 3-4 residents out at a time, bringing them into Angelus Oaks.  “It was just rain and it got stronger and stronger and by eight o’clock is when I started hearing the rocks and the boulders the size of cars bashing into each other. You could feel the whole house shake,” Seven Oaks resident David Zwieback, who was evacuated today, told KTLA.  Unfortunately, a neighbor of Tina Jerue and Zwieback is still missing, though firefighters c...

Body pulled from ocean had 'puncture wounds,' Ventura County authorities say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:00 GMT

An investigation is underway after a Los Angeles man's body was pulled from the ocean Saturday with "puncture wounds" to his torso.The man, Jason Jennings, 51, was found unresponsive in the water off Point Mugu in Ventura County Saturday afternoon.Fire crews and personnel from the Naval base responded to Family Beach around 1 p.m. following a report of a person in the water. The beach is located on Naval Base Ventura County property.After he was pulled from the ocean, Jennings was pronounced dead and paramedics discovered he had suffered multiple "puncture wounds" to his torso.His death is considered to be suspicious and the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Bureau has begun an investigation.Anyone with information about Jennings' death is urged to contact Ventura County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Jeremy Bramlette at 805-384-4727. Anonymous tips can be submitted online or by calling 800-222-8477.