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Jury deliberations underway in trial of gunman who massacred 11 at Pittsburgh synagogue

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A truck driver who hated Jewish people turned a sacred house of worship into a “hunting ground” when he burst into a Pittsburgh synagogue and killed 11 congregants, a federal prosecutor said Thursday before jury deliberations got underway in the man’s capital trial.Robert Bowers is charged with 63 criminal counts, including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death, after opening fire with an AR-15 rifle and other guns in the nation’s deadliest antisemitic attack. Some of the charges carry a potential death sentence. The jury got the case Thursday afternoon,.In closing arguments, a prosecutor told the jury that Bowers targeted his victims because of their religion. “He is filled with hatred for Jews,” prosecutor Mary Hahn said, noting Bowers had an extensive history of posting antisemitic and white supremacist content online. “That is what propelled him to act.”Bowers’ attorney, Elisa ...

Florida deputy didn’t follow extensive training during Parkland school massacre, supervisor says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida sheriff’s deputy didn’t follow his extensive training on how to stop an active shooter when he didn’t confront the killer who murdered 17 people at a Parkland high school, a former training commander testified Thursday.Former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson had undergone training both in a video simulator and with live actors several times before the Feb. 14, 2018, massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Broward County Lt. Col. Sam Samaroo testified. He said Peterson was taught that even if he was alone, he would need to confront the shooter without waiting for backup. Samaroo worked at the agency’s training unit from 2013 to 2018, and was ultimately made its commander. He said deputies are taught that active shooters, if confronted, will kill or barricade themselves, surrender, or engage authorities in a gunfight, giving civilians time to flee or take shelter. That’s why deputies must go towar...

Wildfire evacuation order lifted for residents of Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

Residents forced out by a wildfire last week in the northeastern British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge were allowed to return home Thursday. More than 2,000 people had been ordered to leave last week when a fast-moving wildfire encroached on the town. A statement on the District of Tumbler Ridge website says an evacuation alert will remain in place indefinitely, “and residents are reminded to be ready to evacuate the area with little notice should the need be determined.”Residents were told to leave on June 8 when the West Kiskatinaw wildfire threatened to overrun the community. Recent rain and a change in winds calmed the wildfire, although it remains classified as out of control. For returning residents, the district says Highway 52-N has reopened between Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge, and residents will also be able to use highways 29S and 52E, via the Kelly Lake Road. The BC Wildfire Service says the West Kiskatinaw fire has grown to 250 square kilometres sinc...

Court vacates convictions against Black Muslim man whose attorney made racist posts

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

The highest court in Massachusetts has vacated sex trafficking convictions against a Black Muslim man whose court-appointed attorney had a history of posting racist and anti-Muslim vitriol on social media.Attorney Richard Doyle had a conflict of interest that deprived the defendant of his right to effective assistance of counsel, “a right upon which our entire system of criminal justice depends,” the Supreme Judicial Court wrote in its unanimous decision released Thursday.“Indigent and facing multiple felony charges, the defendant was appointed counsel who openly posted, on his social media account, his vitriolic hatred of and bigotry against persons of the Muslim faith; his unabashed anti-Muslim rants were matched only by his equal scorn for and racism against Black persons,” the court wrote.The now-deceased defense attorney’s racism continued even after he took the case, the court said.The defendant, Anthony Dew, was coincidentally released from prison on parole on Thursday,...

Mexican farmers take over airport, governor tells them to take over private grain warehouses instead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Farmers have taken over the airport in the northern Mexico city of Culiacan to protest low prices for their corn and wheat crops. While the three-day blockade in Sinaloa state has caused the cancellation of dozens of flights, it has not drawn wider international attention to the farmer’s complaints. But on Wednesday, Sinaloa Gov. Ruben Rocha appealed to the farmers to leave the airport and instead take over the warehouses or offices of the U.S. food giant Cargill. That drew a stern rebuke from a U.S. expatriate group in Mexico. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Thursday he won’t intervene in the dispute, which has prevented flights from taking off or landing since Tuesday. He accused big farmers, with thousands of acres, of taking advantage of a subsidy system meant for small farmers, and said political opponents were behind the dispute.“We are not going to give in,” López Obrador said but also insisted authorities were “not going to use force...

Republicans in Oregon Senate end six-week walkout that blocked bills on abortion, trans health care

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Enough Republican members showed up in the Oregon Senate on Thursday to end a six-week walkout that halted the work of the Legislature and blocked hundreds of bills, including some on abortion, transgender health care and gun safety.The boycott, which prevented the Senate from reaching a two-thirds quorum needed to pass bills, was prompted by a sweeping measure on abortion and gender-affirming care that Republicans said was too extreme. The walkout also blocked the approval of the two-year state budget and a gun-safety measure opposed by the GOP that would increase the purchasing age to 21 for semiautomatic rifles.GOP Minority Leader Sen. Tim Knopp had said the boycott would end only on the session’s last day — June 25 — to pass “bipartisan” legislation and budget bills. But an optimistic mood took over the Capitol this week as GOP and Democratic leaders met to negotiate compromises.“We asked for lawful, we asked for constitutional, we asked for compromise, and I ...

Highway 1 closed West of Winnipeg due to major collision

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

Highway 1 west of Winnipeg is completely closed after reports of a multiple casualty incident Thursday near Carberry, Manitoba.Manitoba RCMP say they are on scene of a “very serious collision”, the highway is closed, and motorists should yield to emergency vehicles on route.STARS air ambulance from Winnipeg and Regina have been dispatched to the area within a 3.2 kilometer distance either side of Highway 5.Winnipeg hospitals have also been placed in Code Orange and are preparing for patients.More to come.

Bayer reaches $6.9 million settlement with New York over advertising for weedkiller Roundup

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bayer, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, has agreed to pay $6.9 million to settle allegations by New York’s attorney general that its Monsanto unit made false and misleading claims about the safety of the weedkiller Roundup.The sum comes on top of the billions of dollars Bayer has already paid to settle lawsuits claiming Roundup, one of the world’s most widely used herbicides, causes cancer. The lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James focused on advertising by Monsanto, which was acquired by Bayer in 2018, saying Roundup “won’t harm anything but weeds” and does not threaten the health of animal wildlife.James said those claims breached a previous settlement New York state reached with Monsanto two decades ago, in which Monsanto agreed to stop making unsubstantiated claims regarding the safety of Roundup products containing glyphosate.“Pesticides can cause serious harm to the health of our environment, and pose a deadly threat to wil...

Homeowner finds possible World War II rocket while doing yard work in Lake County

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — Deputies said a possible World War II anti-tank rocket was found Thursday in unincorporated Antioch Township.According to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office, a homeowner found something with sharp edges sticking out of the ground while doing yard work in the 25000 block of West 3rd Street. The homeowner was curious and dug it out of the ground. New pickleball and entertainment center coming to Northwest Suburbs As a precaution, the sheriff's office said residents in the area have been evacuated until the bomb squad removes to possible rocket.Photo of the possible rocket from the Lake County Sheriff's OfficeThe sheriff's office said it's not known if the possible rocket is inert or if it could explode. It's unknown how long it has been buried.Additional details haven't been released.

Justin Fields has a unique trip planned for June

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:48:26 GMT

LAKE FOREST — The very limited summer offseason for the Bears' quarterback has begun, and it will include a very unique trip. Yet this travel to Europe won't just be for rest and relaxation for Justin Fields, who is heading overseas for an activity involving football. The third-year quarterback will be going to France to take part in the "QB Takeover Football Camp" on Sunday in Antony at the U.S. Metropolitaine Des Transports Paris. It's being run by Flexwork Sports and will feature quarterback trainer Quincy Avery.Fields will be joined by Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love and Cleveland Browns starter Deshaun Watson. He along with the rest of the Bears completed their final mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday at Halas Hall and he plans to leave for France on Friday night."It's gonna be my first time in Europe, so I'm definitely excited about that," said Fields when asked about the trip to the camp. "Jordan Love's going to be out there, Deshaun Watson, so guys I ...