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UN again seeks to reassure Afghans it will deliver aid

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations sought to reassure the Afghan people yet again Friday that it won’t abandon them, though it left in question how it was going deliver desperately needed aid following the Taliban ban on Afghan women working for the world organization. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the ban an unacceptable violation of the Afghan women’s human rights.The U.N. announced on April 11 that the head of its political mission in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, would carry out an “operational review” of its activities in the country until May 5.The mission, known as UNAMA, put out a statement in Kabul on Friday, reiterating its commitment “to stay and deliver on behalf of the men, women and children of Afghanistan” and appealing to donors to keep funding humanitarian assistance, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.“For now, we can only say that U.N. entities on the ground in Afghanistan continue to discuss appropriate working modalities,” Haq...

Michigan legal watchdog pursues Trump-allied attorneys

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Nine lawyers who were found to have abused the court system by filing a lawsuit that challenged Michigan’s 2020 election results in favor of President Joe Biden committed misconduct and should be disciplined, a watchdog agency said.The state Attorney Grievance Commission filed a complaint this week against Sidney Powell, Lin Wood and seven other lawyers who were allied with then-President Donald Trump. The complaint now goes to the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board for further consideration.In 2020, the attorneys supported a lawsuit on behalf of Republican voters that was filed just a few days after Biden’s 154,000-vote victory in Michigan was certified.The lawsuit sought to decertify those results and have voting machines impounded. U.S. District Judge Linda Parker said the request was “stunning in its scope and breathtaking in its reach.” The lawsuit was “frivolous” and exposed the legal profession to “contempt,” the Grievance Commission said in its complaint...

Colorado politicians seek power to block social media users

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers pushed a bill to the governor’s desk that would give politicians carte blanche to block social media users — including constituents — on their “private” accounts just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would consider to what extent that’s legal. The idea has sparked a national debate as social media becomes an increasingly popular tool for politicians to squeeze arguments into 280-character Tweets, laud their successes, air their grievances, and announce official business — all of which blurs the line between personal accounts and public forums. That fuzzy line has already spurred a litany of lawsuits, including one against former President Donald Trump, but legal precedent remains slim. The legislation’s bipartisan sponsors argue that it’s merely drawing a line between public and private lives and liken it to a public town hall — if two constituents began screeching at each other or harassed or intimidating...

Toronto Zoo welcomes adorable baby camel

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

Spring has sprung at the Toronto Zoo with the arrival of a baby camel.Suria, an eight-year-old Bactrian camel, gave birth to a female calf on Thursday.A zoo spokesperson said it’s Suria’s second calf, and the initial stages of nursing have been challenging. As such, the zoo will implement sound strategies to ensure a positive outcome for the mother and calf.“We are thrilled to welcome this little one to your Toronto Zoo,” said Dolf DeJong, CEO of the Toronto Zoo.“Our mission is to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. Some guests were fortunate enough to watch Suria give birth right there in the habitat. The experience of witnessing a life beginning is one they will likely never forget.”A Bactrian camel calf typically stays with its mother for three to five years until it reaches sexual maturity.The zoo says the first 30 days are critical, and staff will closely monitor the mom and baby. The calf’s dad, named ...

After winning $385K in damages from Quebec government, Charest seeking $700K more

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

QUEBEC — Former Quebec premier Jean Charest is seeking another $705,000 from the provincial government for media leaks related to a corruption investigation targeting him and his party.A judge already awarded him $385,000 in damages in early April after Charest sued the government because journalists were given details about a police investigation into alleged illegal Liberal party financing during his tenure as premier.The former premier and recent candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada was never charged in the investigation and has said the leaks tarnished his reputation and affected him personally.In its April ruling, Quebec Superior Court gave Charest 30 days to add allegations of abuse of process to the lawsuit against the attorney general and the anti-corruption police, known as UPAC.Charest’s lawyers are claiming that the attorney general used stalling tactics during his lawsuit against the province and that their conduct was abusive from start...

Sentencing dates set for 'ComEd 4' defendants

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

CHICAGO — The four defendants in one of the biggest corruption trials in the State of Illinois in over a decade now know when they'll be sentenced. Jay Doherty, John Hooker, Michael McClain and Anne Premaggiore - together known as the "ComEd Four" - all have January dates to find out their punishments after all were found guilty on all counts in federal court on Tuesday.McClain, a former lobbyist with close ties to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, will be the first to be sentenced on January 11, 2024 after he was found guilty on all nine counts.Pramaggiore, the former CEO of ComEd, who also was found guilty on all nine counts against her, will be sentenced five days later on January 16, 2024. ‘ComEd Four’ found guilty in bribery trial Hooker, ComEd's former executive vice president of legislative and external affairs, faces sentencing on January 25 after he was found guilty on all six counts in the trial.Doherty, a former ComEd consultant who also was guilty on ...

Two young players shine in Cubs' win over Marlins

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

CHICAGO — All of the optimism on a beautiful afternoon at the Friendly Confines could be found in the Cubs' battery on Friday.Their quickly blossoming starting pitcher continued his strong start to 2023 while the catcher had a moment in his first major league game. Both were able to get the Cubs off to a strong start to a homestand that followed a bad week on the road. Justin Steele's pitching and an insurance RBI by catcher Matt Mervis helped give the home team a 4-1 win over the Marlins on Friday afternoon. It snapped a two-game losing streak to start a six-game stretch at Wrigley Field as the Cubs evened their record at 16-16.This came after a 1-6 road trip against Miami and Washington on the road. Steele's seventh outing of the year was quality again as the pitcher allowed just one earned run on six hits through seven innings. He struck out four batters without a walk in 86 pitches to improve his record to 4-0 on the season. It marks the 14th consecutive game that Steele has all...

Illinois man gets 44 years for hitting trooper during stop

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

BGLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — An eastern Illinois man was sentenced to 44 years in prison for assaulting a state trooper during a traffic stop.Randy M. Turner, of Danville, was pulled over in May 2022 for driving over 100 mph (161 kph) on Interstate 55 near Chenoa, northeast of Bloomington, The Pantagraph reported.Prosecutors had played dashboard camera video that showed Turner tackling Illinois state Trooper Matthew Niehaus, sending the officer to the ground, and punching him. VIDEO: Kenosha police save elder driver after flat tire sparks vehicle fire Turner, who was sentenced Thursday, was found guilty in March of disarming a peace officer and several other counts.Turner admitted to smoking PCP, a powerful psychedelic drug, authorities said.The trooper, Niehaus, testified he suffered fractured vertebrae.Turner apologized to Niehaus in court and said he was not in the right state of mind.“I didn’t have control like I have control now,” Turner said.

Bipartisan bill looks to change healthcare coverage for guard and reserve personnel

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Last July, as Connecticut resident Rachel Clark drove her daughter to gymnastics, she got a notification that two soldiers were at her door."That is when they told me that Mike was killed," Rachel said.Her husband, Sgt. First Class Michael Clark, died during a 30-day training exercise in Georgia."He was struck by lightning and of course, I didn't believe them," Rachel said.And on top of his death, Rachel's family soon faced another issue: the loss of their healthcare coverage."They would increase our monthly payment over 400% or they would drop me," Rachel said.Because Michael's death happened during a training exercise, military policy only allowed 6 months of continuing health coverage, instead of the 3 years offered after the death of an active duty service member. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) said that needs to change."Tragic events really expose weaknesses and gaps in the law," Courtney said.He is introducing bipartisan legislation to do just that."To crea...

Severe Thunderstorm Watch for most of Central Texas

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:18:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Stay weather aware into this evening as storms are once again in the forecast, but won't impact everyone tonight.Isolated storms have already started developing in parts of the northwestern Hill Country. Isolated to scattered storms will continue developing as we head into the evening getting roughly 30-40% of Central Texas rain.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for most of Central Texas until 10 p.m. The main severe weather threats this evening will be for large hail and damaging winds, but an isolated tornado can't be ruled out.Severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m.The latest outlook from the Storm Prediction Center has most areas along and west of I-35 under a slight risk (2 out of 5) for severe storms beginning mid-Friday afternoon through midnight.Risk of isolated to widely scattered severe storms Friday afternoon & eveningAnother round of isolated strong to severe storms is possible Saturday.Risk of isolated severe storms in the Hill Country on Sat...