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Myon Burrell, who was sent to prison for life as a teen but set free in 2020, is arrested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Myon Burrell, who was sent to prison for life as a teenager but was set free after 18 years behind bars, was arrested in a Minneapolis suburb Tuesday after police said they found a handgun and drugs in his SUV. Burrell, now 37, was released in 2020 after Minnesota’s pardons board commuted his sentence in a high-profile murder case. The Black man’s prosecution and harsh punishment raised questions about the integrity of the criminal justice system that put him away for the death of a young girl killed by a stray bullet. The Associated Press and APM Reports in 2020 uncovered new evidence and serious flaws in the police investigation, ultimately leading to the creation of an independent national legal panel to review the case. The Robbinsdale Police Department said in a news release that an officer on routine patrol Tuesday spotted an SUV veering out of its lane and followed it. The SUV continued to drive erratically, above the speed limit, and went over ...

Motorcyclist critically injured in crash with vehicle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

Toronto police say a motorcyclist has been rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a crash involving another vehicle.It happened Tuesday night in the Keele Street and Rogers Road area.Police are telling motorists to expect delays and consider alternate routes in light of road closures for their investigation.No further details were immediately available.COLLISION:(UPDATE)Keele St & Rogers RdROAD CLOSURES– Old Weston Rd closed between Watt Ave and Kane Ave– S/B Watt Rd to E/B Rogers Rd– expect delays– consider alternate routes#GO2017221^sc— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) August 29, 2023

Anti-abortion activists, including one who kept fetuses, convicted of illegally blocking DC clinic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Five anti-abortion activists, including a woman who was discovered to have five fetuses in her home, were convicted Tuesday of illegally blocking a reproductive clinic in Washington, D.C., The Washington Post reported.Lauren Handy of Virginia was part of a group accused of violating federal law when they blocked access to the Washington Surgi-Clinic in October 2020. Hardy and four others — John Hinshaw and William Goodman of New York, Heather Idoni of Michigan and Herb Geraghty of Pennsylvania — were all found guilty Tuesday, the Post said. A trial for four others involved in the blockade begins next week.Members of the group, known as the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, were prosecuted under a federal law known as the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or the FACE Act, which prohibits physically obstructing or using the threat of force to intimidate or interfere with a person seeking reproductive health services.In court documents, prosecutors said Han...

Canada’s first case of new COVID variant is detected in B.C.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

The BC Centre for Disease Control has detected Canada’s first known case of a new COVID-19 variant that has swiftly circled the globe, in what one expert says is a reminder the virus never went away.The centre said the BA. 2.86 variant of the Omicron strain was identified in a person from the Fraser Health region who hadn’t recently been outside the province.Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix said in a joint statement that there doesn’t seem to be increased severity with the strain and the infected individual is not in hospital.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says the new strain may be more capable of infecting people who have previously had COVID-19 or have received COVID-19 vaccines, compared to previous strains.The World Health Organization says it’s monitoring the variant due to its large number of mutations. It was first detected in Denmark on July 24, and has since turned up in Israel, South Africa, Britain...

Alabama lawmaker arrested on voter fraud charge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama legislator was arrested Tuesday on felony voter fraud charges accusing him of voting in a district where he did not live.Republican Rep. David Cole of Huntsville was arrested on charges of voting in an unauthorized location, according to Madison County Jail records. The details of the charge were not immediately available in court records, but the arrest comes after accusations that Cole did not live in the district in which he was elected. Cole, a doctor and Army veteran, was elected to the House of Representatives last year. Voter fraud is a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The Alabama attorney general’s office is prosecuting the case against Cole, a spokeswoman confirmed. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter issued a statement Tuesday saying he had learned of Cole’s arrest and is waiting to learn more details. “In recent years, the Alabama House has prioritized legislation that promotes election integrity, and we b...

New Mexico Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on local abortion-ban ordinances

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s Supreme Court will hear oral arguments regarding a request to strike down recent abortion-ban ordinances in several cities and counties.The high court on Tuesday announced it will hear arguments in December and agreed to consider legal briefings filed by an array of advocacy groups.The state attorney general in January petitioned the high court to strike down abortion-ban ordinances approved by local governments spanning much of eastern New Mexico. Attorney General Raúl Torrez argued that the local laws violate state constitutional guarantees — including New Mexico’s equal rights amendment that prohibits discrimination based on sex or being pregnant.State abortion laws in New Mexico are among the most liberal in the country. But local governments in cities and counties where opposition to abortion runs deep have approved their own abortion restrictions, largely based on a 19th century U.S. law that prohibits the delivery of abortion supplies ...

'Absolutely unacceptable:' FOP President Catanzara slams migrant conditions at police stations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

CHICAGO — According to Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, migrants staying in police stations are reaching intolerable levels, causing health problems for desk officers and sergeants at district stations all across Chicago."This is absolutely unacceptable and ridiculous working conditions," Catanzara said, as he recorded a video showing the migrant conditions at the CPD's 12th District police station."I was told there were calls made to the fire department out of the 12th district," Catanzara said. "And they refused to send anybody."Another video from Catanzara showed overflowing garbage and migrant overcrowding at the CPD's Third District police station."I've had desk sergeant after desk sergeant tell me they've never had more desk personnel off on medical leave or sick time," Catanzara told WGN's Ben Bradley.According to Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), there are at least 8,537 migrants being housed at City facilities around Chic...

HeyJB LIVE: Hurricane Idalia nears category 3 strength

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Idalia strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday and is expected to rapidly intensify in the Gulf of Mexico.As of an 8 p.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said Idalia is about 155 miles west-southwest of Tampa, moving north around 16 mph. The storm's wind speeds have increased to 105 mph. Real-time wobble tracker monitoring Hurricane Idalia’s shifts in Gulf of Mexico Idalia is forecast to track west of Tampa and make landfall along the northwest Gulf Coast of Florida sometime on Wednesday as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 major hurricane, to the NHC said.Storm surge remains the biggest threat with Idalia, with some areas north of Tampa Bay expected to see 8 to 15 feet of storm surge, with 4 to 7 feet in the Tampa Bay area and 3 to 5 feet south of Tampa Bay.The storm surge threat is increased thanks to higher-than-normal high tides due to Wednesday's Super Moon. Do I need to evacuate? Orders issued for several counties ahead of Idalia A St...

The Effigies frontman John Kezdy dies at 64

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

CHICAGO — John Kezdy, an Illinois prosecutor and the frontman for the Chicago punk rock band The Effigies, died on Saturday from injuries sustained in a bike crash in the northern suburbs earlier in the week. 64-year-old Kezdy was hospitalized after the crash on Wednesday, August 23, which occurred near the intersection of Sheridan Road and South Avenue in Glencoe. He succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, August 26, after several days in the hospital. Highland Park man dies, ID’d after crashing bike in northern suburbs Kezdy, a Highland Park resident was riding his bike along Sheridan Road when he crashed into the back of a stopped Dodge Ram ProMaster, according to Glencoe Public Safety. Officials say an investigation into the crash by the North Regional Major Crash Assistance Team is ongoing.Paul Zamost, a member of The Effigies, confirmed the death to WGN News on Tuesday afternoon."He was a unique individual," Zamost said.The Effigies formed in Chicago 1980 and released five st...

Airline starts weighing passengers: Here's why

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:53 GMT

(NewsNation) — If you've flown recently, you know the motions you'll need to go through before boarding your plane. Check your luggage, pass through TSA, show your driver's license, scan your boarding pass. What about stepping on a scale?Many reacted less-than-fondly to an announcement earlier this month that Korean Air, a South Korea-based airline, planned to weigh passengers before boarding. A representative for the airline told CNBC the practice would last for about three weeks, and is required by law. All Korean flag carriers have to weigh passengers and their carry-ons at least every five years to ensure safe flying operations, the representative explained. Airfare is finally cheaper, but you may want to book soon Passengers will be weighed anonymously, Korean Air said, and passengers can opt out. So can you expect to find yourself on a scale before boarding your next domestic flight?Likely, no, but it isn't impossible. The U.S. does not require airlines to weigh passengers ...