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2nd trial in death of New York anti-gang activist ends in mistrial

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — The second trial of a New York woman accused of causing the death of an anti-gang activist in a dispute over a memorial honoring the activist’s slain daughter has ended in a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a verdict on the top count of criminally negligent homicide.Jurors on Long Island deadlocked Monday after four days of deliberations in the case of Annmarie Drago, accused of fatally running over Evelyn Rodriguez in 2018. Drago was found guilty of one misdemeanor count of petit larceny for stealing a bouquet and other items from the memorial that Rodriguez had set up to honor her teenage daughter, Kayla Cuevas.Newsday reported that neither Drago not defense attorney Matthew Hereth commented after the mistrial was declared Monday in a courtroom in Suffolk County.Drago was convicted in Rodriguez’s death in 2020, but the conviction was overturned last year and the judge ordered a new trial, citing prosecutorial misconduct.Suffolk County District...

CP NewsAlert: Federal Court approves $23B First Nations child-welfare settlement

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

OTTAWA — A Federal Court judge has verbally approved a landmark $23-billion settlement that will see Ottawa compensate more than 300,000 First Nations children and their families over chronic underfunding of on-reserve child-welfare services.More coming. The Canadian Press

‘Blood on your hands’: Ontario NDP leader Stiles’ Toronto office vandalized

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

The Toronto constituency office of Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles was vandalized one day after she removed MPP Sarah Jama from caucus over comments she made on social media about the Israel-Hamas war.The office, located at Bloor Street, was seen defaced with the words “Free Palestine. Blood is on your hands.” Stiles’ photo is covered in what appears to be red paint.“I don’t know who did it or what happened,” Stiles told CityNews. “Nobody is hurt. My staff are fine, we’ll make the necessary reports.”On Monday, Stiles announced that Jama was removed from caucus in the wake of a social media post she made about the Israel-Hamas war. On Oct. 10, Jama, the MPP for Hamilton Centre, posted a two-paragraph statement under Ontario NDP letterhead that made no mention of the surprise attack by Hamas.The constituency office of Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles was vandalized one day after she kicked out MPP Sarah Jama over comments she m...

A look at the 18 people charged alongside Donald Trump in the Georgia election fraud case

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Four of the 18 people charged alongside former President Donald Trump with participating in an illegal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia have now negotiated deals with prosecutors, pleading guilty to reduced charges in exchange for their truthful testimony in future trials.Lawyer Jenna Ellis on Tuesday became the latest to turn against Trump, pleading guilty to a single felony charge in exchange for a sentence of probation rather than prison time. Fellow attorneys Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro reached similar deals last week, just as their trial in the case was supposed to start because they had invoked their rights to a speedy trial. Bail bondsman Scott Graham Hall last month was the first to plead guilty.Trump and the others charged in the case have pleaded not guilty.The sweeping indictment, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in August, capped an investigation that had lasted more than two years and...

Five people, including shooter, dead after shootings in Sault Ste. Marie, police say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

Five people – including three children and a shooter – were found dead in the northern Ontario city of Sault Ste. Marie after shootings at two homes, police said Tuesday, calling what happened a tragic case of intimate partner violence. Sault Ste. Marie police said the shootings that took place Monday night had left the community in deep mourning. “The grief the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims are facing is unimaginable. Our hearts go out to them,” Chief Hugh Stevenson wrote in a statement.“As our community grieves this tragedy, I urge everyone to please watch out for each other.”Police said the shootings were not random acts of violence and there was no ongoing risk to public safety. They also said they would not be releasing the names of the victims or the accused because it was an intimate partner violence case. Police were alerted to the shootings late Monday night, they said. Officers first discovered the body of a 41-year-old around 10:...

Pilot who police say tried to cut the engines on a jet midflight now faces a federal charge

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot struggled with the flight crew as he tried to cut the engines on a regional jet midflight on Sunday, and even tried to grab the handle of an emergency exit after being restrained, federal prosecutors said in charges announced Tuesday.Joseph David Emerson, 44, of Pleasant Hill, California, was initially arrested in Oregon on Sunday night on state counts of attempted murder after the flight crew reported that he attempted to shut down the engines on a Horizon Air flight from Washington state to California while riding in the extra seat in the cockpit. The plane was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people onboard.A federal charge of interfering with a flight crew made public Tuesday said Emerson, who as an off-duty pilot was authorized to ride in the cockpit’s jump seat, made casual conversation with the captain and first officer when the plane was between Astoria, Oregon, and Portland, before trying ...

Police: 8 children rescued in California after their mother abducted them from Arkansas foster homes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

ANDERSON, Calif. (AP) — Authorities rescued eight children in California on Saturday after they were abducted by their biological mother and found roughly 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from their foster homes in Arkansas, police said.The 36-year-old mother had lost her custodial rights, according to police in Anderson, a tiny city in a rural part of Northern California about 140 miles (225 kilometers) north of Sacramento. Law enforcement in Arkansas had previously issued a warrant for her arrest, though it was unclear when that occurred and how she transported the children.A “concerned citizen” reached out to authorities around 12:30 a.m. Saturday to request a welfare check after seeing six children with a woman who was “displaying bizarre behavior,” Anderson police said.Officers discovered the outstanding arrest warrant and took the woman into custody. The other two children were found in a home about 5 miles (8 kilometers) away.Details about the abductions and why the mother had ...

Myanmar reinstates family visits to prisoners to end a ban started during the pandemic

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Military-ruled Myanmar on Tuesday allowed prisoners to have family visitors from outside, a right that had been suspended for 3 1/2 years because of the coronavirus pandemic, the military’s information office and prison officials said.The rule allowing visitors carries detailed conditions, but it’s the first opportunity for many of the thousands of political detainees who have been locked up for opposing the military’s 2021 seizure of power to meet with their family members.Visitors must be able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations and a household relationship to the prisoner being met. Further documentation is required from the visitors’ local administration offices and police precincts.A family member of a prisoner convicted of incitement and high treason for protesting military rule told The Associated Press that she was allowed to meet her son for about 20 minutes in a large room after waiting for about two hours with more than 100 other visitors. She v...

Chicago City Council to review Mayor Johnson's proposed 2024 CPD budget

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Members of the Chicago City Council will get their first look at Mayor Brandon Johnson's new plan for the Chicago Police Department on Tuesday.The mayor's 2024 spending plan would increase the overall CPD budget to nearly $2 billion.Part of Johnson's proposal includes spending nearly $5 million more next year on mental health services for law enforcement.This is the new superintendent's first budget hearing since being confirmed by the council last month. CPD Supt. Larry Snelling will oversee changes in the department at the direction of Johnson, who is working to transform it. The mayor unveiled his budget plan a few weeks ago. Mayor Johnson delivers first budget address When it comes to public safety, Johnson wants to move close to 400 police jobs and make them civilian jobs, and also promote about 100 officers to the detective ranks.Johnson said allowing civilians to do some of the work police are now doing will allow more officers to stay on the streets to do more la...

'Good day for you to move': Northwest Indiana man set house on fire after no longer being welcomed there, police allege

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:49:00 GMT

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. — A Northwest Indiana man flashed a gun and set a residence on fire after no longer being welcomed there, police allege.At around 10:45 p.m. Saturday, police responded to the 500 block of Serenity Terrace, located in Portage Township, on the report of a fire.A responding officer met with a woman who called 911 after observing her residence was on fire.The woman told police she suspected Timothy Burelison, of Valparaiso, 61, because he allegedly flashed a gun at her the day prior. An investigation into the matter was then launched by the Porter County Sheriff's Office.The woman told police Burelison used to resided at the residence "on occasion," but was no longer welcomed due to alleged "violent and unpredictable" behavior.The woman's camera footage allegedly showed Burelison lighting her residence on fire with a gas can. He was driving a red GMC Sierra truck.Another resident provided police with two alleged text messages from Bureilson."This is a good day for yo...