Buffalo news

• WNY man legally changes name to Darth Vader

  21-12-2015 23:22 via wivb.com
  
  CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (AP) — Darth Vader is a tattooed 43-year-old retired Marine who owns a gym and is raising funds online for a bone marrow transplant.
  The former Eric Welch, of Canandaigua, says he grew up in foster homes and didn’t have strong family ties to his name. Vader legally changed his name last year to match the “Star Wars” villain, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.
  The “Star Wars” fan says he chose Darth Vader for his new name because the ch
  
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• Lockport man arrested on child porn charges

  21-12-2015 22:26
  
  State police have arrested a lockport man on child porn charges.        
  
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• Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suspended by NFL

  21-12-2015 22:13 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK, N.Y. (WIVB) — The NFL made the call Monday to suspend star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. over a hit in Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
  The New York Giants wideout has been suspended for only a game, but faced three personal fouls in Sunday’s loss against the Panthers. One particular hit, a helmet-to-helmet strike, triggered the ire of many watching.
  The Panthers, who remain undefeated, tweeted out Beckham’s picture with the caption insinuating he
  
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• NY man sentenced to prison for threatening Pres. Obama

  21-12-2015 22:05 via wivb.com
  
  ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Rochester man convicted of threatening President Barack Obama in 2014 will face over a year behind bars for his threats.
  Brandon Correa, 31, faced arrest and an indictment after police say he made threats to the president over Twitter. A federal grand jury indicted Correa after learning he tweeted messages on June 11, 2014, to the President, telling him to “GET READY to DIE (sic) Barack Obama.”
  Correa faced accusations of tweeting similar&nb
  
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• Local NYSP official promoted to NY’s office of Counter Terrorism

  21-12-2015 21:25 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A former leader within the New York State Police division protecting western New York is gaining a new set of responsibilities after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced he would receive a promotion.
  Major Michael J. Cerretto, former Troop A Commander, is leaving his police duties in western New York to join the Office of Counter Terrorism within New York State’s Homeland Security and Emergency Services division.
  Governor Cuomo announced on Monday he would appo
  
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• Dozens rescued as SeaWorld’s Skytower ride stalls in mid-air

  21-12-2015 21:12 via wivb.com
  
  ORLANDO, Fl. (WIVB) — Rescue crews working for hours in sweltering heat to free passengers who became stuck mid-ride on SeaWorld’s popular Skytower attraction.
  “We are in constant communication with the guests and team members on the ride, and all passengers are safe,” SeaWorld officials said in a release.
  There’s no word on precisely how many passengers were trapped, however outlets reported over 50 people were on board. Orange County Fire Crews work
  
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• Local man arrested on child porn charge

  21-12-2015 20:56 via wivb.com
  
  LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Niagara County man is facing felony charges after New York State Police say they found evidence of child pornography.
  New York State Police say they worked with the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office to charge David A. Drury, 20, with possession of a sexual performance by a child.
  The charge is a class E felony that accuses Drury of possessing explicit images of minors. Police say he received the images from a Canadian citizen.
  Following his arra
  
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• Cuomo to pardon thousands of youth offenders

  21-12-2015 20:27
  
  Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday he will grant "conditional pardons" to thousands of New York residents who were convicted of crimes in their youth, calling it a plan that balances "compassion and caring and protecting society."        
  
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• Hoverboards: Shopping Smart

  21-12-2015 19:45 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- You can’t hear the word “hoverboard” without thinking of one catching on fire.
  Shortly after the futuristic traveling gadgets hit the market this year, consumers posted videos of them spontaneously bursting into flames, even exploding.
  “These products are supposed to be safe. The consumer is being fooled by these retailers who are selling it at a low price and their products are exploding. I think we have to go after them,” said Profe
  
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• Cuomo signs IDA reform bill

  21-12-2015 19:20
  
  IDAs across NYS will soon have a mechanism to claw back tax breaks if businesses don't follow through on promise of new jobs        
  
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• LIVE STREAM: Las Vegas officials hold conference on car-pedestrians crash

  21-12-2015 19:15 via wivb.com
  LAS VEGAS (WIVB) — Las Vegas officials are holding a press conference in relation to a crash where one person was killed and 36 others were injured.
  APP USERS | Tap here to watch the conference.
  
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• US troops killed near Bagram, Taliban insurgency intensifies

  21-12-2015 18:58 via wivb.com
  
  KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide attacker rammed an explosives-laden motorcycle into a joint NATO-Afghan patrol Monday killing six foreign troops, among them Americans, in the deadliest attack on international forces since August.
  The attack happened as Taliban fighters overran a strategic district in southern Helmand province, the scene of some of the deadliest fighting between the Taliban and international combat forces prior to the 2014 withdrawal, adding weight to Pentagon predictio
  
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• US eases restrictions on blood donations from gay men

  21-12-2015 18:24 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. government health officials are lifting the nation’s 32-year-old lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, but major restrictions will remain on who can donate.
  Medical groups and gay activists have long said the ban could no longer be justified, based on modern testing methods. The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that the change is “backed by sound science and continues to protect our blood supply.”
  Officials are
  
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• Paying it forward this Christmas

  21-12-2015 18:22 via wivb.com
  
  WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) – With Christmas just days away, many families are out buying gifts for their loved ones. However, not everyone can afford to purchase gifts.
  The Pay it Forward Charitable Organization of Western New York is working hard to make Christmas merry for many, but they need some help.
  The founder, Denise Noble has been busy buying presents. She was out searching for crafts, dolls, and toys. She’s determined to make sure families in need, get something special for
  
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• Gov. Cuomo seeking to pardon thousands who committed crimes as teens

  21-12-2015 18:06 via wivb.com
  
  ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) — Governor Andrew Cuomo is seeking to pardon thousands of New Yorkers convicted of either misdemeanors or non-violent felonies as teenagers.
  Cuomo’s office says “approximately 10,000 people will be impacted” and that around 350 people will become eligible for pardoning each year.
  The pardons will affect people who have not been convicted of a crime in 10 years.
  “We spent all of these years believing that if we punished every o
  
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• Dog-walker killed, dog shot in Saturday shooting

  21-12-2015 17:41 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man was killed in a Saturday shooting in the area of Busti Avenue and Hudson Street.
  Edgardo Ortiz, 26, was shot just after 1 p.m. and died a short time later, according to Buffalo Police.
  He was walking his dog at the time, who was also shot, according to the SPCA. The dog and her six three-week-old puppies are being taken care of by the SPCA. The mother dog is expected to survive.
  Anyone with information on the shooting can call or text the confidential T
  
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• NC woman whose dog was killed in burglary is given a new puppy

  21-12-2015 17:23 via wivb.com
  
  LUMBERTON, N.C. (WNCN) — A Franklin County woman whose dog was shot and killed during a home break-in last month received a new puppy for free from a South Carolina breeder on Saturday afternoon.CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF DUKE, HER DOG MARLEY AND HER NEW DOG ZIGGYJonsie Duke cried as she held her new puppy — more than a month after her cherished 3-year-old German Shepard Marley was killed during the burglary.
  “Oh my God.. hey baby!” Duke said as tears streamed down her face
  
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• USPS working to deliver packages by Christmas

  21-12-2015 17:11 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – With Christmas now just days away, it’s crunch time to get your packages in the mail in time for a Christmas delivery.
  Monday is the US Postal Service’s deadline for Priority Mail packages to be sent. Priority Mail packages take two or three days to deliver, and come with $50 insurance coverage.
  Packages can still be sent using the premium Priority Express option, which costs more, but generally guarantees overnight delivery to most locations.
  “Chri
  
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• Man killed by police after holding 3-year-old boy hostage for 15 hours

  21-12-2015 17:02 via wivb.com
  
  (WSLS) — A 15-hour hostage situation in Campbell County, Virginia is over following an exchange of gunfire between a male suspect and police.
  The suspect was flown to Lynchburg General Hospital where he died shortly before 2 p.m. authorities said.
  The hostage, a 3-year-old boy, was safely rescued by a Virginia State Police hostage negotiator. The toddler is now in the custody of family members.
  Police said shortly before 12:05 p.m., Saturday, the 3-year-old boy emerged from the bedroo
  
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• Construction company employee accused of stealing from employer

  21-12-2015 16:38 via wivb.com
  
  CLARENCE, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man is accused of stealing from his employer — a Clarence construction company.
  The Erie County Sheriff’s Office charged Brian Gordon, 25, with forgery and felony grand larceny charges.
  The construction company that employed Gordon had been notified of a forged check by bank security officials. After being notified, the company reported the check to the Sheriff’s Office.
  A detective with the Sheriff’s Office says the
  
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• Lindsey Graham ends his 2016 presidential campaign

  21-12-2015 15:59 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham has ended his 2016 presidential campaign.
  The South Carolina senator posted a video Monday, saying he was suspending his campaign.
  He said he had run “a campaign we can be proud of” that was focused on the nation’s security.
  
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• BPD investigating Woodlawn Ave. shooting

  21-12-2015 15:56 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Police say an 18-year-old man was struck by gunfire during a shooting Sunday night.
  Police say the incident occurred just before 9:30 p.m. on Woodlawn Avenue. The victim was taken to ECMC where’s he’s listed in fair condition.
  Anyone with information can call or text the confidential TIPCALL line at (716) 847-2255.
  
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• Two people arrested on prostitution-related charges

  21-12-2015 15:40 via wivb.com
  
  CLARENCE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two people were arrested on charges related to prostitution Friday night at a Clarence hotel.
  Buffalo resident Malissa Thompson, 33, and Rory Moran, 36, of Tonawanda, were arrested by the Human Trafficking Unit of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.
  Thompson faces prostitution charges while Moran is accused of promoting prostitution and criminally possessing a controlled substance.
  The two were held at and released from the Erie County Holding Center. They will
  
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• Saturday night fire strikes vacant Niagara Falls house

  21-12-2015 14:47 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — No one lived in a house that caught fire Saturday night.
  The fire started around 11 p.m. that night and had many firefighters at the scene.
  News 4 is in contact with investigators to learn what exactly caused the fire.
  
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• Doctor warns Christmas gatherings could help spread the flu this holiday season

  21-12-2015 14:36 via wivb.com
  
  HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) – It may be the season of giving, but doctors say people share more than gifts at holiday gatherings.
  Health officials say there’s not much flu going around so far this flu season, but most flu seasons don’t really get going until around Christmas.
  “We would normally anticipate we’d have more positive flu tests by this time in a typical year,” said Dr. Ron Reynolds.
  Dr. Reynolds runs multiple Beach Family and Urgent Cares in Horry Cou
  
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• Hours after death of grandson, former President Jimmy Carter reveals news to his church

  21-12-2015 14:31 via wivb.com
  
  (CNN) — Just hours after his 28-year-old grandson died, a shaken former President Jimmy Carter broke the news to his Plains, Georgia, church and then taught Sunday School according to the church’s minister.The grandson, Jeremy Carter, had not been feeling well and laid down to take a nap Saturday, Maranatha Baptist Church Rev. Jeremy Shoulta told CNN.
  The younger Carter’s heart stopped, the minister said, and the family tried CPR and rushed him to a hospital.
  “
  
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• How criminals use your Christmas trash to target your home

  21-12-2015 14:21 via wivb.com
  
  NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) – On Friday morning many families across Connecticut will be opening their Christmas gifts. That means a great deal boxes and wrapping paper will be left behind. Many of those empty boxes will be put out with the trash. And that can be a problem.
  Some of the gifts people will be getting come in large, marked boxes, like TVs and laptops. Once everything is opened up, we so innocently put those boxes out with the trash on the curb. And that’s the problem.
  A crim
  
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• FAA drone registration begins Monday

  21-12-2015 14:05 via wivb.com
  
  WICHITA, Kansas (KSN) –– Drones are one of the more popular holiday gifts this year.
  As the drone popularity keeps growing, so do the number of regulations.
  MORE | See what News 4 learned about rules and regulations from a drone flight lesson here.
  Experts say it’s important to know the rules, including how to register the drone with the federal government.
  Beginning Monday, all drones and unmanned aircraft will have to be registered through the Federal Aviation Administration.
  
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• Dove recalls holiday candy due to allergy concern

  21-12-2015 13:51 via wivb.com
  
  (WSPA) — Thousands of cases of chocolates are being pulled from Walmart shelves.
  Candy maker, Mars, says it’s recalling 6,700 cases of its Dove Chocolate Assortment Snowflakes.
  The items may contain some other candies, including pieces of Snickers, Milky Way and Twix.
  The company is concerned about consumers with peanut, wheat, and egg allergies.
  The Dove Chocolate Snowflakes are sold only at Walmart stores in 24-oz bags.
  MORE |  Find additional details about the Dove recal
  
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• Teenager gets help fighting cancer from his BPS choir

  21-12-2015 13:33 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — When students play on a team, or in a band or choir, they spend a lot of time with their classmates, and the bonds that are made are strong. That bond became especially important for Daniel Williams and his friends in the Vocal Ensemble at The Buffalo Visual and Performing Arts School. Daniel was diagnosed with Stage Four Hodgkins Lymphoma in July, 2014.
  “Cancer wasn’t even in my head at that point. It took me getting done with all the tests and sitt
  
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• Afghan official: Taliban overrun district in Helmand

  21-12-2015 13:15 via wivb.com
  
  KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — Taliban gunmen have overrun a strategic district in the southern province of Helmand, delivering a serious blow to government forces, Afghan officials said on Monday.
  Fierce fighting in the Sangin district was continuing after the insurgents took control late Sunday, said Mohammad Jan Rasulyar, Helmand’s deputy governor.
  Only Afghan army facilities in the district had not been taken by the insurgents, he said. Casualties among Afghan security forces were
  
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• Sleeping man wakes to SUV driving through his house

  21-12-2015 12:49 via wivb.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — A man asleep in his home early Monday morning was woken to the sound of an SUV driving through the house.
  It happened around 1:00 a.m. Monday at the intersection of Rudisill and Anthony Boulevards in Fort Wayne, Indiana.An SUV comes to a stop in the backyard of a home at Rudisill and Anthony, after driving though the house.An SUV was traveling east, apparently at a high rate of speed, on Rudisill before it hit a guard rail and went into the small house, through th
  
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• Air France passenger detained after fake bomb found

  21-12-2015 12:40 via wivb.com
  
  PARIS (AP) — An Air France passenger has been detained after a Paris-bound flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Kenya because of a fake bomb hidden in a lavatory.
  The prosecutor’s office in the Paris suburb of Bobigny announced the arrest in a statement Monday. It is part of an investigation prompted by a lawsuit by Air France for reckless endangerment.
  The suspect was not identified.
  The lawsuit does not name a perpetrator but leaves it to investigators to determine who
  
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• Sheriff: Man drove drunk with baby and toddler in car

  21-12-2015 12:32 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF POMFRET, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Puerto Rican man is accused of driving drunk with two children in his vehicle in the Town of Pomfret.
  The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says Julio Enrique Figueroa Morales, 23, was found driving drunk around 3 a.m. on Sunday morning.
  A two-year-old child and a five-month-old baby were found in the car with Morales, according to Sheriff’s deputies.
  Morales was committed to the Chautauqua County Jail on $5,000 bail. H
  
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• 91 missing from landslide that buries buildings in China

  21-12-2015 12:15 via wivb.com
  
  SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Rescuers were searching Monday for at least 91 missing people a day after a mountain of excavated soil and construction waste buried dozens of buildings when it swept through an industrial park in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.
  China’s official Xinhua News Agency said the landslide buried or damaged 33 buildings in the industrial park in Shenzhen, a major manufacturing center in Guangdong province across the border from Hong Kong that makes product
  
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• FIFA ethics court bans Blatter, Platini for 8 years

  21-12-2015 11:50 via wivb.com
  
  ZURICH (AP) — Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were each banned for eight years by the FIFA ethics committee on Monday in a stunning removal of world soccer’s most powerful leaders.
  FIFA President Blatter and his one-time protege Platini were kicked out of the sport for conflict of interest and disloyalty to FIFA in a $2 million payment deal that is also the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland.
  Blatter’s FIFA career is ending in disgrace after more than 17 years a
  
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• Route 33 reopens after rollover crash

  21-12-2015 11:42 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A rollover crash temporarily closed the right lane of Route 33 East and part of the westbound lane near Ferry Street Monday morning.
  The accident happened just east of the Route 198 split near Grider Street around 4 a.m. The scene was clear shortly after 5 a.m.
  It is not yet clear if anyone was hurt in the crash.
  
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• Las Vegas crash suspect told valet to call 911 after Vegas crash

  21-12-2015 05:31 via wivb.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities say people jumped on a car and banged on its windows as a car plowed through pedestrians on a sidewalk on the Las Vegas Strip.
  Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told reporters Monday that 24-year-old Lakeisha N. Holloway wouldn’t stop and it appeared from video that it was an intentional act. Her 3-year-old daughter was in the car but wasn’t injured.
  He says that after striking more than two dozen people, Holloway drove to a hote
  
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• 1 killed, 37 injured after car hits pedestrians in Las Vegas

  21-12-2015 05:31 via wivb.com
  
   LAS VEGAS (AP) —Police say one person was killed after a car crashed into pedestrians on a sidewalk Sunday night on the Las Vegas Strip.
  Lt. Peter Boffelli says the vehicle was in the northbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard near Bellagio Way when the vehicle drove up onto the sideway in front of the Paris Hotel & Casino and struck pedestrians, including 37 people who were taken to the hospital. One person was killed, six were in critical condition, 2
  
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• 1 killed, 36 injured after car hits pedestrians in Las Vegas

  21-12-2015 05:31 via wivb.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police say one person was killed after a car crashed into pedestrians on a sidewalk Sunday night on the Las Vegas Strip.Lt. Peter Boffelli says the vehicle was in the northbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard near Bellagio Way when the vehicle drove up onto the sideway in front of the Paris Hotel & Casino and struck pedestrians, including 37 people who were taken to the hospital. One person was killed, six were in critical condition, 26
  
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• Support increasing for bill allowing government to scan social media sites

  21-12-2015 05:23 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is backing legislation which would allow the federal government to scan social media sites.
  “There is nothing wrong and everything right with scanning Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for key words like jihad and pipebombs,” said the Democratic Senator. “If someone is publicly talking about that on the social media, it is certainly available for the government to see.”
  If passed, the government could stop peopl
  
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• Miss Universe mistake crowns Colombia before Philippines

  21-12-2015 04:49 via wivb.com
  
   LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Miss Universe contestant from the Philippines is this year’s winner but for one brief moment Sunday evening, it appeared as if it might be a repeat win for Colombia.
  Colombia contestant Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo was already wearing the crown as this year’s Miss Universe winner when host Steve Harvey returned to apologize.
  Harvey says it was his mistake and that he would take responsibility for not reading the card correctly that named conte
  
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