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Biden confirms Americans among hostages captured in Israel, condemns ‘sheer evil’ of Hamas militants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. citizens are among the hostages captured by Hamas in this weekend’s attack on Israel and he condemned the militant group for “sheer evil” for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens.Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground. Biden outlined the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about “sickening” reports of torture inflicted by militants on innocent civilians.“Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear,” said Biden, who compared Hamas action to the terrorist group ISIS. He added, “Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israel’s back. We’ll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend i...

Atlanta police chief fires officer after traffic stop led to Black deacon’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta’s police chief on Tuesday fired an officer who shocked a 62-year-old Black church deacon with a stun gun during a dispute over a traffic ticket, leading to the man’s death.Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Officer Kiran Kimbrough didn’t follow department procedures Aug. 10 when he didn’t wait until a supervisor arrived to arrest Johnny Hollman Sr. The chief said he decided to fire Kimbrough after an internal investigation concluded Monday.“Part of my job is to assess, evaluate, and adjust how this police department is carrying out its sworn mission to serve and protect the citizens of this city,” Schierbaum said in a statement. “I understand the difficult and dangerous job that our officers do each and every day throughout the city. I do not arrive at these decisions lightly.”Schierbaum’s decision comes days before video that Kimbrough’s body camera recorded of his interactions with Hollman could be released. Ma...

Fraud trial: Trump acknowledged penthouse size at 11,000 square feet, not 30,000 he later claimed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump signed a document 30 years ago that gave the true size of his New York penthouse that was later listed as far larger on his financial statements, according to evidence shown Tuesday at the former president’s civil business fraud trial.The evidence appeared in an email attachment shown as Allen Weisselberg, the former finance chief of Trump’s company, testified in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ fraud lawsuit against Trump and his Trump Organization. Trump denies any wrongdoing.The attachment was a 1994 document, signed by Trump, that pegged his Trump Tower triplex at 10,996 square feet — not the 30,000 square feet later claimed for years on financial statements that were given to banks, insurers and others to make deals and secure loans. Weisselberg said he recalled seeing the email but not the attachment, explaining that the attachments were documents he already had on file in the company’s offices. But in any event, he said, he did...

Ontario man charged in past sexual assault wanted for 2nd-degree murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

An Ontario man charged with a prior violent sexual assault is wanted Canada-wide for second-degree murder in a fatal arson investigation from March.The fire broke out at an address on Court Street, in the area of Olive Avenue and Simcoe Street in Oshawa, just before 10 a.m. March 6, 2023.When officers arrived at the address, officials informed them that one person was found deceased. The man’s death was ruled a homicide, and the victim was identified as Amaar Jawaid.On Tuesday, police said 37-year-old Josh Bickle of Tweed, Ont., is wanted for second-degree murder in Jawaid’s death.Durham Police have identified a homicide victim who was found dead in an Oshawa house fire on March 6, 2023. CITYNEWS/Rob Ramlackhan.Authorities said Bickle was facing charges in a violent sexual assault and was required to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet.Investigators have evidence that the accused removed the bracelet and are appealing to the public for assistance in locating him.Police sai...

'So grateful': Ohio family elated after reuniting with trucker's dog in Romeoville viral video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — A family in Ohio is exhilarated to have their dog back thanks to a viral video, but hope was admittedly dwindling.On the night of Sept. 27, Deb Liden, whose passion is helping and finding lost pets, received a call from Romeoville Animal Control.They were having a tough time getting a cute American Pit Bull, with one dark eye and one blue eye, inside.Liden was helping another dog in Oswego, so her friends Jill Boland and Brian James were able to lay in the grass for hours to loop the dog, later identified as King, for intake.Earlier, when Boland arrived, King was howling and wouldn't leave a particular spot in a parking lot near the 1200 block of Normantown Road."We knew he was not a dump and obviously a trucker's dog," Liden told WGN News.Boland was able to take heartbreaking footage of King howling, waiting for his owner, truck driver Brandon Weh, to return. They also contacted nearby businesses, which showed surveillance footage of King looking for Weh."At one ...

Man killed after attempted armed robbery leads to shooting on West Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is dead after he was shot during an attempted armed robbery on the city's West Side, police said.Officers say the deadly shooting happened in the 1600 block of North Lawndale Avenue in Humboldt Park just after 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday. According to police, a 48-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman were standing outside in the area when a white-colored sedan approached and two armed individuals exited the vehicle. The two offenders then demanded property from the victims.  Man arrested after climbing Accenture Tower in Chicago Police say the man attempted to intervene and was shot in the head by one of the offenders. According to police, the two offenders then got back in the sedan and fled the scene in an unknown direction without taking any belongings from the victims. The man was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The woman was not injured in the altercation. Police did not provide a description of the individuals involved ...

'Gut-wrenching': Parents of Gabby Petito, Brian Laundrie meet for first time since Petito's killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

VENICE, Fla. (WFLA) — The parents of Gabby Petito have come face-to-face with the parents of Brian Laundrie for the first time since Petito's killing more than two years ago.On Tuesday in Venice, Florida, the legal team for Petito's parents deposed Christopher Laundrie, Brian Laundrie's father, as part of the civil lawsuit filed against the Laundries and their longtime attorney Steven Bertolino. Laundrie attorney offers ‘confidential’ settlement proposal to Gabby Petito’s parents Petito's parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, described Christopher Laundrie's testimony as "gut-wrenching.""It was extremely hurtful to listen to someone that has no remorse and no compassion for the girl they would call their daughter-in-law," Schmidt told WFLA.Attending the depositions in person were Christopher Laundrie, Roberta Laundrie, Joe Petito, Steven Bertolino, and various attorneys. Schmidt listened in virtually over Zoom."It was difficult to be in the room with Joe and Nichole on Zoom ask...

2024's Social Security COLA increase to be announced this week: What we know

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – It’s already very likely that Social Security recipients can expect a significantly lower cost-of-living increase than the 8.7% adjustment they received in 2023. But they’ll know for certain this week.The Social Security Administration’s annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) are designed to help Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients retain their buying power amid rising inflation. These increases, which are issued annually, are determined using the Bureau of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which itself is a measure of the change in prices for common consumer goods and services.The Labor Bureau actually releases a revised CPI-W each month, reflecting the change in prices concerning a number of consumer goods and services including food, utilities and shelter. But only the data from July, August and September are considered when calculating the annual COLA adjustment for the following year.Sep...

Texas brands James Avery, Blue Bell collaborate on new jewelry charm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — James Avery Artisan Jewelry is adding a sweet treat to its lineup of jewelry charms.It's a sundae of Texas brands in the mix, following the launch of a Blue Bell ice cream charm produced by James Avery. The ice cream brand announced the collaboration Monday, referring to the mixed-metal charm as the first "in this iconic Texas partnership."“We are excited to partner with Blue Bell and craft an artful design that speaks to so many Texans,” James Avery CEO John McCullough said in the release. “James Avery and Blue Bell fans alike will be able to purchase the first charm in this iconic Texas partnership.”The charm is designed to replicate the look of a Blue Bell carton of ice cream. It's made from sterling silver and bronze and incorporates Blue Bell brand detailing, including the cow and girl logo on both the front and top of the piece. RELATED: Blue Bell, Dr Pepper team up, release ‘Dr Pepper Float’ ice cream “We are honored to have James Avery create a Blue Bell ch...

Election 2023: St. Paul City Council Ward 6

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:14:54 GMT

ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL WARD 6On Nov. 7, St. Paul voters will elect the seven members of the city council by ward. The ranked-choice ballot allows voters to rank their picks in order of preference. Ward 6 spans the neighborhoods of Frost Lake, Hayden Heights, Hazel Park, Payne/Phalen, Phalen Village and Prosperity.General information about the Nov. 7 election is online at twincities.com/tag/elections. In addition, twincities.com/news/politics/elections will have a full voters guide with candidates for Ramsey, Dakota and Washington county races online this month. To find out where to vote, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s online polling place finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.Gary B. UngerGary Unger, candidate for St. Paul City Council, Ward 6, in the November 2023 election. (Courtesy of the candidate)Age: (The candidate did not provide a response)What qualifies you to hold this position? I believe I have the right combination of understanding my community and the havi...