JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police on Thursday arrested an American tourist after he allegedly knocked down and broke a statue of Jesus in a church in Jerusalem's Old City. Images on social media showed the statue laying horizontally on the floor after apparently being pulled down from a stand at the church. The incident occurred in the Church of the Flagellation, which is located on the Via Dolorosa, the route believed to have been walked by Jesus to his crucifixion. Police said they made the arrest with the assistance of a church security guard. Video on social media showed a man sitting atop the alleged vandal who is heard saying “you can't have idols in Jerusalem, this is the holy city.” Police said the man's mental health was being assessed. The American Embassy declined to comment. The incident came as tensions run high in Jerusalem and the region following a bloody week. An Israeli military raid in the West Bank killed 10 Palestinians, mostly militants but also a … [Read more...] about Israeli police: American arrested for vandalizing church
Why old music is killing new music
Take a tour of colorful Tlaquepaque Market in Houston’s East End
Love it or hate it, strip malls are the beating heart of Houston. In Chron's new series, we take you on a tour of the city's best, food-packed, culture-rich shopping centers. Most of Houston's strip malls, even the ones hiding the city's best restaurants , look like a drab ensemble of concrete and stucco you speed past on your way somewhere else. But slow down and look closer, and you'll notice a select few that are—dare we say?—quite attractive. This is the case of Tlaquepaque Market , perhaps the most colorful strip mall in Houston, which sits where Leeland Street becomes Telephone Road, in the heart of Houston's East End. It's named after the village of Tlaquepaque (tuh-laa-kay-paa-kee), an equally colorful destination in Jalisco, Mexico. In Houston, the shopping center's buildings are painted in vibrant blues, yellows, oranges, pinks and greens. Tlaquepaque Market stands out with its colorful buildings. (Photos by Emma Balter) Located in the Eastwood … [Read more...] about Take a tour of colorful Tlaquepaque Market in Houston’s East End
These hip Houston wine bars are worthy of a toast
When it comes to wine bars in Houston, lovers of the grape can have a field day—and night. Whether you're planning a romantic evening, a celebration or a leisurely rendezvous, Houston's best bars for wine lovers have you covered with selections from regions around the world. In addition to traditional pours, you'll also find glasses of rare wines, natural wines, biodynamic wines and fortified wines. Bookmark this sampling of the hottest wine bars in Houston the next time you're ready to indulge in a glass or two of vino. Montrose wine bars Boheme Feel worlds away on Boheme's chill, romantic patio , surrounded by a garden adorned with stone sculptures from Zimbabwe, or inside amid antique fixtures from England, France and Germany. Globe-trotting selections include a red rosso by Raina in Italy, a tempranillo by Pixide in Spain, and a malbec-cabernet blend by Ricominciare in Argentina. Cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails are available too. Tasting bites : Pair … [Read more...] about These hip Houston wine bars are worthy of a toast
For some, life after Ian is ‘more tragic than the hurricane itself’
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. - Some nights, Tara Boyd wishes she and her husband had just given up when the eight-foot storm surge from Hurricane Ian flooded their mobile home, forcing them to swim out into the storm. It would have been "easy to let go and just drift away," she said. But they fought to survive. And they've been doing that ever since. She hates to admit that living after Ian feels harder than living through its terror. She can't help it, especially on the really hard, frustrating days spent at a Federal Emergency Management Agency recovery center obtaining no real answers about the progress of their aid applications and then getting into their black Dodge Nitro, which they've been living out of since November. Boyd, 43, thinks about it when she watches her husband, Gerald Boyd, a veteran who was still recovering from a stroke when the storm hit in September, squeeze his long, hulking frame into the passenger seat at night to sleep. To deal with his cramping legs and … [Read more...] about For some, life after Ian is ‘more tragic than the hurricane itself’
Extremist Israeli group halts fund-raising effort in US
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 LAKEWOOD, N.J. (AP) — An Israeli group that assists Jewish prisoners convicted in some of the country’s most notorious hate crimes has halted its fund-raising efforts through a U.S.-based Jewish charity following an investigation by The Associated Press and the Israeli nonprofit news organization Shomrim. The fund-raising through the Lakewood, New Jersey-based World of Tzedaka had allowed American donors to make tax-exempt contributions to the hard-line Israeli group, and suggested that Israel’s far right was making new inroads into the U.S. World of Tzedaka confirmed that it was no longer working with Shlom Asiraich, while a fund-raising link on the Israeli group’s website that connected donors to the American nonprofit has stopped working. “We don’t do any business with them anymore, so we don’t have anything else to do with them,” said Yaakov Cohen, who identified himself as a … [Read more...] about Extremist Israeli group halts fund-raising effort in US
NJ councilwoman found shot to death outside of her home
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 26 SAYREVILLE, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey borough councilwoman was found shot to death in an SUV outside of her home in a quiet townhouse complex, where police Thursday searched the area without making an arrest. Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, 30, was found around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office. She had been shot multiple times and died at the scene. Dwumfour, a Republican, was elected to her first three-year term in 2021, when she ousted a Democratic incumbent. Colleagues recalled her as a soft-spoken devout Christian who could maintain her composure in contentious situations. “She was a 30-year-old woman. To have this happen in such a tragic way, I mean, our hearts are just broken and … [Read more...] about NJ councilwoman found shot to death outside of her home