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Arkansas man sentenced to 5 1/2 years for firebombing police cars during 2020 protests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The ringleader of a group who admitted to firebombing several police cars in Arkansas during the 2020 protests over the killing of George Floyd has been sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison, while three of his co-defendants were sentenced to 18 months each.A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Mujera Benjamin Lung’aho, a North Little Rock community organizer and activist who pleaded guilty in August to one count of malicious destruction of a vehicle by means of fire, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Friday. Emily Nowlin, Aline Espinosa-Villegas and Renea Goddard were also sentenced in the case on Thursday. A fourth defendant, Brittany Dawn Jeffrey, was sentenced last year to time served after 17 months in pre-trial detention for her involvement.The defendants were charged in the firebombing and attempted firebombing of police cars in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Shannon Hills and the Arkansas State Police headquarters, and with defac...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom advances water tunnel project amid opposition from environmental groups

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A long-sought and disputed project in drought-prone California aimed at capturing more water during heavy rain storms reached a key milestone on Friday when Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration finished an environmental review for an underground tunnel.The tunnel would be about 45 miles (72 kilometers) long and 36 feet (10.9 meters) wide, or large enough to carry more than 161 million gallons of water per hour. The tunnel would be another way to get water from Northern California, where most of the state’s water is, to Southern California, where most of the people live.The Newsom administration says the tunnel is a necessary upgrade of the state’s aging infrastructure because it will protect the water supply from earthquakes and capture more water from rainstorms known as atmospheric rivers that scientists say have been increasing because of climate change. But environmental groups, Native American tribes and other opponents say the project ...

Unifor ratifies agreement establishing pattern for energy workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

CALGARY — Unifor says representatives from its energy locals have ratified a tentative agreement that sets a pattern for more than 7,500 workers.The workers are part of the union’s National Energy Program.In a press release Friday, Unifor says it reached the three-year agreement with Suncor.To complete the process, local unions will supplement the national pattern by negotiating over specific local issues. These locals include multiple terminals and refineries across the country. Unifor national president Lana Payne says it was a difficult round of bargaining. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:SU)The Canadian Press

New Mexico’s delegation outraged at removal of expand nuclear radiation compensation from proposal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — All members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation expressed outrage with the U.S. House leadership’s move to block compensation for people sickened by exposure to radiation during nuclear weapons testing and the mining of uranium during the Cold War.Originally, the bill expanded eligibility for compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, offering up tens of thousands of dollars in compensation to residents of New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Guam and Missouri — as well as those in some parts of Arizona, Nevada and Utah — who suffered the effects of nuclear testing or uranium mines and who are not covered under the current program.The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that the compensation was included in a massive defense spending bill that won Senate approval in July. But the GOP-controlled House removed those provisions from the act Wednesday, rendering New Mexicans — including those stricken with ailments from the radioactive fallout of the firs...

Kevin McCarthy endorses Trump for president and would consider serving in his Cabinet

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Retiring Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the ousted former House speaker, said he is endorsing Donald Trump for president and would consider serving in his Cabinet if the GOP front-runner were to win back the White House.McCarthy had a rocky relationship with the former president, notably when he declined to publicly support Trump’s bid for a second term, despite being one of his earliest and most loyal allies. But they always seem to patch things up, and as McCarthy prepares to leave Congress he gave his nod.“I will support the president. I will support President Trump,” McCarthy said in excerpts of an interview to air this weekend on “CBS News Sunday Morning.”McCarthy has not disclosed his post-Congress plans, but asked if he would willing to serve in a Trump cabinet, he said, “In the right position, look, if, if I’m the best person for the job, yes.”“Look, I worked with President Trump on a lot of policies. I, we, worked together to win the majority,” he t...

Mexico raids and closes 31 pharmacies in Ensenada that were selling fentanyl-laced pills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican authorities said Friday they have raided and closed 31 pharmacies in Baja California’s coastal city of Ensenada, after they were detected selling fake or fentanyl-laced pills.Marines and health inspection authorities seized 4,681 boxes of medications that may have been offered for sale without proper safeguards, may have been faked and may contain fentanyl.“This measure was taken due to the irregular sales of medications contaminated with fentanyl, which represents a serious public health risk,” the Navy said in a press statement.Mexico’s health authorities are conducting tests on the seized merchandise. Ensenada is located about 60 miles (100 kms) south of the border city of Tijuana.The announcement represents one of the first times Mexican authorities have acknowledged what U.S. researchers pointed out almost a year ago: that Mexican pharmacies were offering controlled medications like Oxycodone, Xanax or Adderall, but the pills were often fentanyl...

Family, friends 'outraged' after mother shot dead during mental health call in Morris; body cam released

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

Editor's note: Viewer discretion advised above.MORRIS, Ill. — Family and friends are “outraged” after a mother of three was shot and killed by Morris police responding to a mental health call in late September. WGN News obtained the body cam footage of the incident.It had been nine days since Alivia Schwab, 40, transitioned out of Bourbonnais Terrace, a mental health facility on Sept. 29.The mother who "lived for her kids" had been battling schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder for several years, according to family and friends. That morning while at her new apartment, 911 was called after Schwab informed a case manager in a phone call that she had a knife and was going to hurt herself. That information was relayed to the 911 center, according to the state's attorney's office.The case manager stayed on the phone with Schwab as police were dispatched to the complex in the 1800 block of Anne Lane. Two officers arrived at the scene at around 10:53 a.m.The officer who ended up firing thei...

Logan Square resident faces eviction over display of Palestinian flag

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Controversy is brewing over a flag flying outside of a Northwest Side apartment that could lead to a woman's eviction if she doesn't remove the flag, or the property manager doesn't rescind their eviction notice.The flag in question has hung outside of Manal Farhan's Logan Square apartment since October, the Chicago resident told WGN News.It's a Palestinian flag, which Farhan said she has displayed in support of the people of Palestine amid the Israel-Hamas War.The building's property management company — M. Fishman and Co. — said the flag must go, and is in violation of their lease agreement, which states, "Lessee shall not place nor permit any article or antenna outside of the windows, or on the exterior walls, or on the roof of the building." More from Kelly: Court denies Jussie Smollett’s request to toss conviction According to a company spokesperson, the phrase "any article" is intended to include everything — from a Chicago Cubs flag to Halloween decorations. The s...

Chicago City Council discusses ordinance meant to ease reporting, tracking of hate crimes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council is reacting to the surge of hate crimes across the city and state with a proposed ordinance meant to make it easier to report and track how often they are happening.The city's Public Safety Committee took up the newly revised ordinance on Friday and will be sending it to the full city council next week. Chicago officer relieved of police powers after deadly pedestrian accident in River North Experts say it is estimated that 90% of hate crimes or incidents go unreported due in large part to uncertainty about who to report it to, or whether an ugly incident or harassment rises to the level of a hate crime.“'Chi vs Hate' finally gives Chicagoans a safe, accessible and responsive reporting environment,” said Alderwoman Debra Silverstein (50th Ward), who sponsored the ordinance.According to the ordinance, a 'hate incident' includes, "hateful graffiti or vandalism, derogatory insults, bullying or gestures, verbal online or written abuse and harassment,...

With Panera facing lawsuits over 'Charged Lemonade,' dangers of highly caffeinated beverages come to forefront

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:56:20 GMT

CHICAGO — A second lawsuit has been filed against the fast-casual food chain Panera Bread because a man in Florida died after drinking the chain's highly caffeinated "Charged Lemonade" beverage.According to court documents filed in Delaware and obtained by multiple outlets, the family of 46-year-old Dennis Brown of Fleming Island, Fla., is suing Panera over Brown’s October death. Brown’s family says the man drank three of the "Charged Lemonades" after finishing a work shift at Publix on Oct. 9.It's the second such lawsuit filed since October, and Panera is now warning customers to drink its "Charged Lemonade" in moderation. Read more: Panera faces second lawsuit after ‘Charged Lemonade’ blamed for Florida man’s death Dr. Nick Cozzi, EMS medical director at RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago, joined WGN-TV's Ben Bradley for Medical Watch to discuss the dangers of consuming highly caffeinated beverages such as "Charged Lemonade.""The concern on some of the...