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Mexico and Venezuela restart repatriation flights amid pressure to curb soaring migration to U.S.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico and Venezuela announced Saturday that they have restarted repatriation flights of Venezuelans migrants in Mexico, the latest move by countries in the region to take on a flood of people traveling north to the United States.The move comes as authorities say at least 10,000 migrants a day have been arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, many of them asylum seekers. It also comes as a migrant caravan of thousands of people from across the region — largely Venezuelans — has trekked through southern Mexico this week. The repatriation flights are part of an agreement made between regional leaders during a summit in Mexico in October that aimed to seek solutions for migration levels that show few signs of slowing down.Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Relations said the two countries began repatriations with a flight on Friday and a second on Saturday in an effort to “strengthen their cooperation on migration issues.” The statement also said the two countries plan t...

Maine state official who removed Trump from ballot was targeted in swatting call at her home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

A fake emergency call to police resulted in officers responding Friday night to the home of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows just a day after she removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the Constitution’s insurrection clause. She becomes the latest elected politician to become a target of swatting, which involves making a prank phone call to emergency services with the intent that a large first responder presence, including SWAT teams, will show up at a residence.Bellows was not home when the swatting call was made, and responding officers found nothing suspicious.While no motive for the swatting attempt was released by the Maine Department of Public Safety, Bellows said she had no doubts it stemmed from her decision to remove Trump from the ballot.The swatting attempt came after her home address was posted on social media by a conservative activist. “And it was posted in anger and with violent intent by those who have been ext...

In a crisis-ridden world, Germany’s chancellor uses his New Year’s speech to convey confidence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s chancellor used his New Year’s speech to call on his country’s citizens not to lose confidence in the future as they adapt to a world experiencing multiple crises and changing at an ever-faster pace.“So much suffering; so much bloodshed. Our world has become a more unsettled and harsher place. It’s changing at an almost breathtaking speed,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in the prerecorded speech to be broadcast Sunday. Scholz was referring to Russia’s war on Ukraine, a resulting rise in energy prices, the suffering during the coronavirus pandemic, and the attack by Hamas that triggered Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.“The result is that we, too, are having to change,” he said. “This is a worrying thing for many of us. In some, it is also causing discontent. I do take that to heart. But I also know this: We in Germany will get through it.”The chancellor pointed out how despite widespread worry a year ago, Germans did not e...

Chicago woman facing hate crime charges after allegedly defacing several businesses, apartment building

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

CHICAGO — Hate crime charges have been filed against a Chicago woman accused of defacing several businesses, an apartment building and park property on Thursday. Chicago police say 30-year-old Mariana Lynch, a Rogers Park resident, is facing three felony hate crime charges, one felony count of a hate crime to a school, two felony counts of damage to government property and four misdemeanor counts of criminal defacement to property. Oswego man charged in connection with South Side shooting Lynch is accused of defacing several businesses, an apartment building and park property over the course of about an hour, but authorities did not provide details on where it occurred or how they were vandalized.Chicago police say Lynch was taken into custody in the 7300 block of Noth Sheridan Road just before 1 p.m. on Thursday.Lynch appeared in court on Saturday for a detention hearing.

State of Texas: 'We cannot respond to politics' - Chief Justice Hecht on court confidence, controversial cases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht played a role in some of the year's biggest stories in Texas politics: on the inauguration day stage, at Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's historic impeachment trial in the Senate, and in the courtroom for some of the most contentious cases in the country.State law forces Hecht to leave the court next year, and as he nears the end of his influential career, the longest-serving Justice in Texas' history sat down for an interview to reflect on what his tenure has meant for Texas. But he also looked forward, answering questions about how Texas can improve justice for all, and how politics influences that justice - including in a crucial abortion case still pending before the court.That case involves 20 women, many who almost died from serious pregnancy complications. They argue that the state's abortion ban does not give doctors the ability to intervene, even when in their best medical judgment they believe it's necess...

Kull, Thomas: Safeguarding democracy from artificial intelligence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

The Founding Fathers asserted that elected officials should listen to and be influenced by the views of the electorate. As James Madison said, “it is the reason, alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government.”However, the means for government officials to hear from the people are limited. Elected officials receive emails, letters, phone calls and input at town halls, and some agencies occasionally ask for public comments on complex regulations. Americans express very low levels of confidence that they influence the policymaking process and that elected officials understand the views of the people, undermining trust in the democratic process.With developments in artificial intelligence, this situation is growing worse. AI can generate vast numbers of communications to policymakers masquerading as citizen input.When the Federal Communications Commission in 2016 took public comments on whether to retain net neutrality, the New York Attorney General...

Central Minnesota woman fatally shot; husband arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

A central Minnesota woman was fatally shot Thursday, and her husband is expected to be charged with killing her, according to the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.Bryan Demarais, 35, of rural Dassel called law enforcement to report that he had shot his wife. (Courtesy of Meeker County Jail)The death of Kayla Demarais, 29, of rural Dassel, has been ruled a homicide resulting from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.Her husband, Bryan Demarais, 35, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and is being held in the Meeker County Jail pending a first court appearance on Tuesday.According to the sheriff’s office, Bryan Demarais called law enforcement Thursday to report that he had shot his wife and requested a law enforcement response.Two children in the home at the time of the morning shooting were not injured and have since been placed in protective custody.The investigation remains active and ongoing.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safe...

Family mourns St. Paul man at intersection where he was killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

Friends and family of Steve Wirtz, a St. Paul man who was struck and killed while crossing a street darkened by copper wire theft, held a candlelight vigil for him Saturday evening at the intersection where he died.Wirtz and his dog, Gunther, were killed shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday — Christmas Eve — while they were out for a quick walk in their neighborhood.The 45-year-old driver who hit Wirtz and Gunther cooperated with authorities at the scene. The intersection recently got a new pedestrian median, freshly painted crosswalk, signage and bump-outs designed to make it safer for pedestrians, but the new streetlight was not working because its copper wiring had been stolen, city officials said.St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Ramsey County officials issued statements of condolence, with Carter calling for “state policy to help prevent tragedies like this in the future.”Related ArticlesLocal News | Joe Soucheray: Are we headed for another ‘Year Without Winter’? I...

Lakers are flush with Timberwolves of old

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

The Los Angeles Lakers’ roster is flush with very recent Timberwolves.Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Los Angeles, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Taurean Prince just signed with the Lakers in the offseason after playing two years with Minnesota. D’Angelo Russell was dealt from Minnesota to Los Angeles in February. Jarred Vanderbilt was a piece of the package sent to Utah in the Rudy Gobert deal in the summer of 2022.So contests like Saturday’s at Target Center are essentially giant reunions masquerading as basketball games.“It’s always fun, it’s always good. Those are guys that I actually gravitated to a lot,” Wolves center Naz Reid said. “You’re going out there and competing against them while they’re playing well, as well. So you get to congratulate them on their success for how they’re doing, especially TP. It’s been great and ...

Five things to follow with the St. Louis Cardinals and Blues in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's hard to sugarcoat it. The 2023 calendar year was well below the standards of the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues. It's the first time since 2007 that both the Cardinals and Blues ended up with losing seasons in the same calendar year. There were some nice sentimental moments along the way, like Adam Wainwright winning his final start and Brayden Schenn becoming a captain. And St. Louis CITY SC's surprise inaugural season certainly offered some relief for the local sports scene. That said, there's lots left to be desired as St. Louis braces for 2024. As Gateway City's sports community rings in the new year, here’s a brief look at five things worth following for the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues. Cardinals 1. Year II of Jordan Walker and Masyn WinnThe Cardinals debuted their two top prospects last season in Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn. Best buddies in the minor league, both became regular lineup fixtures near the end of the 2023 campaign. It would s...