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Appellate court reverses federal conviction against former Nebraska US Rep. Fortenberry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An appellate court on Tuesday reversed a 2022 federal conviction against former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, ruling that he should not have been tried in Los Angeles. Fortenberry was convicted in March 2022 on charges that he lied to federal authorities about an illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign from a foreign billionaire at a 2016 Los Angeles fundraiser. He resigned his seat days later following pressure from congressional leaders and Nebraska’s GOP governor.In its Tuesday ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit wrote that the trial venue of Los Angeles was improper because Fortenberry made the false statements during interviews with federal agents at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, and in his lawyer’s office in Washington.“Fortenberry’s convictions are reversed so that he may be retried, if at all, in a proper venue,” the decision said.A federal jury in Los Angeles found the nine-term Republican guilty of concealing information an...

The rapper Ye, who has a long history of making antisemitic comments, issues an apology in Hebrew

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

The rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who has a long history of making antisemitic comments, apologized to the Jewish community in an Instagram post written in Hebrew on Tuesday. “I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions,” Ye wrote.“It was not my intention to offend or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused,” continued the rapper, who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021.The statement arrives less than two weeks after Ye went on an antisemitic rant in Las Vegas while promoting his upcoming album “Vultures,” due out Jan. 12. In the rant, he made insidious insinuations about Jewish influence and compared himself to Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler.“After causing untold damage by using his vast influence and platform to poison countless minds with vicious antisemitism and hate, an apology in Hebrew may be the first step on a long journey towards making amends to the Jewish community and all those who he ha...

Migrant caravan slogs on through southern Mexico with no expectations from a US-Mexico meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

HUIXTLA, Mexico (AP) — Under a beating sun, thousands of migrants in a caravan continued to trudge through southern Mexico on Tuesday, with some saying they expect nothing good from an upcoming meeting this week between American and Mexican officials about the migrant surge at the U.S. border. The migrants passed by Mexico’s main inland immigration inspection point outside the town of Huixtla, in southern Chiapas state. National Guard officers there made no attempt to stop the estimated 6,000 members of the caravan. The migrants were trying to make it to the next town, Villa Comaltitlan, about 11 miles (17 kilometers) northwest of Huixtla. In the past, Mexico has let migrants go through, trusting that they would tire themselves out walking along the highway. No migrant caravan has ever walked the 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) to the U.S. border.U.S. officials are expected to press Mexico to stop more migrants at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The meeting “will be between fools ...

New Mexico delegation wants more time for the public and tribes to comment on proposed power line

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s congressional delegation wants the public to have more time to weigh in on a proposed transmission line that would bring more electricity to one of the nation’s top nuclear weapons laboratories, saying the comment period should be extended by 60 days.The project comes as Los Alamos National Laboratory looks to power ongoing operations and future missions that include manufacturing key components for the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Native American tribes and environmentalists already have voiced opposition to the multimillion-dollar power line project, which would cross national forest land in an area known as the Caja del Rio and span the Rio Grande at White Rock Canyon. Several pueblos have cultural and spiritual ties to the area.The congressional delegation said in a letter to the National Nuclear Security Administration that the current 30-day comment period falls on numerous federal and religious holidays and overlaps with multiple Pueblo feasts, mak...

Uber driver charged after sexually assaulting passenger in Whitby

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

Durham police have charged a Whitby man with sexual assault after an incident involving a female passenger who was acquiring his Uber services.On Sunday, police responded to a sexual assault call in the area of Taunton Road and Garden Street in Whitby. The female victim was reportedly sexually assaulted by a male driving for Uber as she was being taken back to her homeAnees Ashraf, 32, from Whitby, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault. He was released on an undertaking.Police believe the accused may still be continuing to offer ride share services under different apps. Investigators are in contact with the companies, but want to warn the public to ensure there are no further victims.

New Year's Eve in Chicago: Where to watch fireworks across the city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

CHICAGO — If your New Year's Eve plans are in Chicago, there are several spots to watch fireworks light up the skies across the city.The Chicago Riverwalk fireworks will be launched from six different bridges, including from Franklin Street. All told, bridge closures will be in place at Franklin Street, LaSalle Street, Clark Street, Dearborn Street, State Street and Columbus Drive beginning Sunday, Dec. 31, from 11:45 p.m. until 12:15 a.m.SEE ALSO: These Illinois towns make America’s Most ‘Christmassy’ listThe Wabash and Michigan Avenue bridges will remain open.The fireworks show can be best viewed along the Chicago River from Upper Wacker Drive from McClurg Court to Franklin Street. Admission is free.Navy Pier will also host its own fireworks show that is free to the public beginning at midnight.'Art on the Mart' will carry colorful light projections throughout the evening. A countdown to the New Year will follow, beginning at 11:55 p.m. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines C...

Ye, formerly Kanye West, posts Hebrew-language apology to Jewish community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

(The Hill) – Rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, deleted all the content on his Instagram page Tuesday and posted a Hebrew-language apology to the Jewish community after years of antisemitic comments.“I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions. It wasn’t my intention to hurt or disrespect, and I deeply regret any pain that I might have caused,” he wrote in Hebrew, which is not universally known by Jewish people.“I am committed to starting with myself to learn from this experience in order to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future,” he added.Earlier this month, the rapper was filmed going on an antisemitic rant, including tropes about Jewish ownership of significant institutions. In the rant, he also compared himself to Hitler.Last December, Ye went on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’s InfoWars show to praise Hitler and proudly declare himself a Nazi. He was kicked off Twitter, now X, the next day after ...

A bright and dry end of the year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas is going to have mostly sunny days and clear nights heading into this holiday weekend. Most temperatures today will peak in the upper 50s to low 60s with winds coming out of the south 5 to 10 mph. This afternoon's normal high is 62°.The morning was cold with many lows at or below freezing. Some areas had a little more cloud cover than others. In fact, downtown Austin had clouded over by 9 a.m.Lows ranged from 27° at Llano to 39° at Luling. Camp Mabry's low was 33°, nine degrees below normal. There was a freeze at Austin Bergstrom Int'l Airport where the low was 31°. The next cold front comes across the area late tonight. After peaking again in the upper 50s to low 60s Wednesday, highs Thursday and Friday will only make the mid to upper 50s.Mornings will be cold, especially Friday and Saturday when area thermometers drop to the low to mid 30s.The weekend ahead, the final of 2023, will find warmer temperatures both days. Highs will peak in the low to mid...

Texas city to open nation's first glow-in-the-dark playground in the new year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas (KXAN) -- A normal playground in the day, but a park aglow at night. That's the vision for a new Texas playground set to open in the new year. Farmers Branch, Texas -- a Dallas suburb situated in the northwest region of the metro area -- is home to the nation's first glow-in-the-dark playground, according to the park website. The city announced last week the Joya at Oran Good Park has a grand opening date of Jan. 20, 2024. The city initially anticipated opening the playground in the fall of 2023, but construction was delayed for several months due to a grant review process conducted by the National Parks Service.The playground has garnered lots of media attention, as it's a one-of-a-kind, inclusive, glow-in-the-dark playground. Not only does the over 18,000-square-foot playground have interactive features that glow, allowing for day and evening play, but it also has a 27-foot sphere with six climbing levels, swings, an obstacle course, a zipline with interactiv...

Ice storms and blizzards pummel central US — including North Dakota — the day after Christmas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

From an ice storm in North Dakota that is sealing windows shut, to blizzard conditions in Colorado that caused scores of airport delays and cancellations, a winter storm pummeled much of the central United States on Tuesday, the day after Christmas.“The heavy snow conditions in the Plains should be slowly alleviating today, but it’ll be very slow. Even when the snow ends, the high winds should keep visibility near zero — whiteout conditions — for a decent part of today,” said Weather Prediction Center Forecaster David Roth.The heavy snow is skipping the Twin Cities, though:Widespread rain will gradually end from southeast to northwest on Tuesday, the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service reports. A light wintry mix will be possible along the back edge of the area of precipitation, primarily across western Minnesota. Temperatures will continue to fall throughout the day. Scattered snow showers are possible Wednesday, with little to no accumulation expec...