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Death of intellectually disabled inmate at Virginia prison drawing FBI scrutiny, document shows

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The FBI is looking into the death of an intellectually disabled inmate at a Virginia prison who’s been identified as “a possible victim of a crime,” the agency said in a document reviewed Monday by The Associated Press, months after a federal lawsuit was filed alleging the man was fatally beaten by correctional officers.The February 2022 death of Charles Givens, who was serving time for murder at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center, is the subject of a federal lawsuit alleging Givens was “sadistically tortured” and beaten before being found unresponsive at the southwest Virginia facility. “This case is currently under investigation by the FBI,” said an email from an FBI victim specialist addressed to an attorney for Givens’ sister. “A criminal investigation can be a lengthy undertaking, and, for several reasons, we cannot tell you about its progress at this time.”The email was dated Sunday and shared with the AP by Kym Hobbs, Givens’...

Santa Barbara’s paper, one of California’s oldest, stops publishing after owner declares bankruptcy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Pulitzer Prize-winning Santa Barbara News-Press, one of California’s oldest newspapers, has ceased publishing after its owner declared the 150-year-old publication bankrupt.The newspaper became an online-only publication in April. But its last digital edition was posted Friday when owner Wendy McCaw filed for bankruptcy. Managing editor Dave Mason broke the news to staff in an email Friday, according to NoozHawk, a digital publication whose executive editor, Tom Bolton, used to lead the News-Press.“They ran out of money to pay us. They will issue final paychecks when the bankruptcy is approved in court,” Mason wrote to staff.On Monday, the News-Press’ website was still online, with the most recent stories published Friday. There was no mention that it would cease publishing or that it has declared bankruptcy. A voicemail message left Monday by The Associated Press in the newsroom’s phone number was not immediately returned. The Chapter 7 bankrupt...

Justice Department to make prosecutor in Hunter Biden case available to testify before Congress

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead prosecutor in the case against President Joe Biden’s son Hunter says he is willing to testify publicly this fall, setting up a clash with House Republicans who have demanded he come in soon for a closed-door interview.In a two-page letter to Rep. Jim Jordan on Monday, the Justice Department offered to make U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware available before the House Judiciary Committee for a public hearing after the August break as Republicans continue to escalate their ongoing investigation into his handling of the probe into Hunter Biden.“The Department believes it is strongly in the public interest for the American people and for Congress to hear directly from U.S. Attorney Weiss on these assertions and questions about his authority at a public hearing,” Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte wrote to Jordan.House Republicans, led by Jordan — chair of the Judiciary Committee — had requested last month for Weiss and nearly a dozen other officials ...

Officer who put woman in a police car hit by a train didn’t know it was on the tracks, defense says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado police officer accused of putting a handcuffed woman in a parked police car that was hit by a freight train did not know the car was parked on the tracks, the officer’s lawyer said in court Monday.While evidence will show Officer Jordan Steinke standing on the railroad tracks during a night traffic stop on Sept. 16, 2022, she did not know that an officer she was assisting had parked his patrol car on the tracks, defense lawyer Mallory Revel said in opening statements in state court in Greeley. The tracks were completely flush with the road, nothing to trip over, and there were no crossing signs or lights at the railroad crossing in the rural area, Revel said. She said prosecutors would not be able to prove that Steinke acted recklessly by leaving the woman in the patrol car. Yareni Rios-Gonzalez suffered extensive injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. She is suing over her treatment, after being arrested when a driver reported she had pointed a...

Florida couple pleads guilty to participating in the US Capitol attack

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Florida couple pleaded guilty Monday to participating in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Jamie Buteau, 50, and Jennifer Buteau, 46, both of Ocala, entered guilty pleas in District of Columbia federal court, according to court records. Jamie Buteau pleaded guilty to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers. Jennifer Buteau pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. They’re scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 20.According to court documents, the Buteaus joined with others in objecting to Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over then-President Donald Trump. A mob stormed the Capitol to try to stop Congress from certifying election results for Biden over Trump, authorities have said, and five people died in the violence.According to the criminal complaint, the Buteaus entered the U.S. Capitol building through the breached door and moved with a large mob to a ...

U of Michigan president condemns antisemitic vandalism at two off-campus fraternity houses

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The University of Michigan’s president has condemned antisemitic vandalism at two off-campus fraternity houses.President Santa Ono sent an email to students saying the vandalism includes broken windows and “vile, homophobic, and anti-semitic” messages spray-painted onto both houses, including a swastika at one of the locations.“These types of incidents are in direct conflict with the university’s deeply held values of respect and inclusion and have no place within our campus community or in the broader Ann Arbor community,” Ono wrote in the email.Both houses are vacant for the summer.The Ann Arbor Police Department is seeking tips about the vandalism. It said the vandalism is believed to have occurred early last week, news outlets reported.“Hate has no home in the City of Ann Arbor,” the police department said in a news release.The Associated Press

TTC train derails on Scarborough Line 3, passengers injured

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

Multiple passengers were treated for injuries after a TTC Line 3 train derailed in Scarborough.It happened in the Kennedy Road and Ellesmere Road area on Scarborough’s Line 3 on Monday evening during rush hour.Toronto paramedics tell CityNews four people were treated for minor injuries. No one was taken to hospital.A TTC spokesperson said the rear car of a train on Scarborough’s Line 3 separated from the rest of the train and derailed.“Working with [Toronto police] and first responders to ensure everyone onboard is safe. Full-line service is being replaced with 20 shuttle buses,” the TTC said.Passengers were being evacuated from the Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) Line 3 train, though an exact number was not confirmed by transit officials.Minor??? The last car got disconnected from the rest of the train while on the way to Kennedy. It may take a while. ????. pic.twitter.com/kc4sAwsVLQ— Revin416 (@itsnotchao) July 24, 2023Police said Ellesmere station is...

US and major donors demand independent UN aid operation in Syria’s rebel-held northwest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States said Monday it has joined major donors in demanding that the United Nations be able to deliver aid through a key crossing from Turkey to Syria’s rebel-held northwest independently and to everyone in need. That’s a rejection of conditions set by Syria and backed by its ally Russia that Damascus control all aid and banning U.N. communications with rebels in the region. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the U.N. Security Council that the Syrian government’s offer earlier this month to allow aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa crossing showed the need for cross-border assistance, but she said Syria’s restrictions were unacceptable and “would hinder relief and put humanitarians, including U.N. personnel, at risk.”After the latest six-month mandate expired on July 10, Russia vetoed a nine-month extension and the council rejected a Russian resolution for a six-month extension. President Bashar Assad’s government then gave a ...

B.C. resort manager says ‘biggest shocker’ is how quickly wildfire neared its site

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

VANCOUVER — The manager of an evacuated resort near the Ross Moore Lake wildfire in British Columbia’s Interior said he could not believe how fast the fire grew over the weekend.Jason Upton, manager of the Lac Le Jeune Nature Resort south of Kamloops, escaped to nearby Merritt with four staff members after the blaze came within a few kilometres of the property on Sunday.Upton said he had been keeping track of the fire because it was so close to the resort and thought it was out on Sunday morning when he saw very little smoke.But hours later, Upton and his staff were rushed out as visible flames approached.“I would say the one thing that really was the biggest shocker out of this whole experience was how fast it could happen and move,” he said. “I didn’t ever expect it could move that fast.”The resort, which offers lodging on the lake, only just reopened this spring after a 3-1/2-year pandemic shutdown, Upton said. The wildfire, located about 20 ki...

CTA's Forest Park Branch rebuild is underway

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:20:27 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority has officially begun work on the 'Forest Park Branch Rebuild' project.Starting early Sunday morning, the CTA Began its first phase, which they said will unfold in two parts, the first portion they are aiming to complete by late August. According to the CTA, the project aims "to provide safer, more reliable and accessible transit on Chicago's West Side," where construction crews will replace three miles of train tracks, as well as rebuild the Racine station to improve accessibility to riders who use mobility devices.During the first phase, CTA officials said the Clinton, UIC-Halsted and Racine stations will remain closed through late August, with a local shuttle bus route to accommodate the gap between the Illinois Medical District and Jackson stops. Two types of shuttles will operate along the route, one with immediate stops at all times, and another non-stop, express option that will operate during morning and evening rush hours on weekdays...