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Finland reports a rush of migrant crossings hours before the reclosure of 2 border posts with Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Dozens of migrants crossed into Finland on Friday, hours before the reclosure of two southern crossing points on the border with Russia as the Nordic country experiences an influx of asylum-seekers.The Vaalimaa and Niirala crossings had reopened briefly Thursday after being shut down at the end of last month, along with Finland’s six other posts on the border with Russia. Finland blames Moscow for sending migrants to the border in an effort to destabilize the country, which joined NATO in April. Russia denies the accusation.“This is an exceptional phenomenon. We have never seen traffic like this before,” deputy border commander Samuli Murtonen told Finnish broadcaster YLE.Already by late Thursday, the Finnish Border Guard had reported that dozens of migrants without proper documentation or visas had arrived at the two checkpoints. However, the Finnish government decided the same day to close them again, effective Friday as of 8 p.m. They will remaine...

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says Orioles lease at Camden Yards headed to a vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A long-term agreement between the Baltimore Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority for a new lease at Camden Yards is moving forward for a vote by state officials next week, Gov. Wes Moore announced.The agreement is slated to go before the Maryland Stadium Authority on Monday. It also is expected to go before the state’s Board of Public Works later that day.“This historic agreement embodies the three core principles I laid out at the beginning of this process: this is a long term deal that will keep baseball in Baltimore for all to enjoy, that puts all Maryland taxpayers at the top of mind, and that benefits the entire City of Baltimore,” Moore said in a statement.The governor’s office has yet to release details about the agreement.“I know for many this process has been long, and the team that worked on securing this deal has done so diligently with the best interests of the taxpayer in mind,” the governor said in a statement. “The Orioles are a treas...

The title of Bill Maher’s new book promises ‘What This Comedian Said Will Shock You’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bill Maher has had a few second thoughts, or at least some variations on the first ones.Next June, Simon & Schuster will publish “What This Comedian Said Will Shock You,” in which the outspoken host of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher” revisits some of his on-air commentary. According to the publisher’s announcement Friday, Maher “reviewed more than a decade of his editorials, rewriting, reimagining, and updating them, and adding new material to speak exactly to the moment we’re in.”Subjects range from free speech and drugs to religion and show business. “We’re not investigative journalists — we don’t break stories, we break new ways of looking at stories,” Maher said in a statement.Maher’s previous books include “The New New Rules” and the novel “True Story.”The Associated Press

Mother: Girl, 15, was dating someone who lived in South Shore building where her body was found

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

CHICAGO — The mother of the 15-year-old girl who was found strangled inside an apartment in the city's South Shore neighborhood is speaking out.According to the Chicago Police Department, the body of Amarise Parker was found inside a residence in the 7200 block of South Phillips Avenue around 6:09 p.m. Tuesday. She was pronounced dead on the scene.The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed her cause of death was homicide via strangulation.Parker had a history of running away from home.Yahanna Clark, the teen's mother, first reported her daughter missing at the end of August, but says she returned to her Morgan Park home the next day.Parker ran away again on November 26.Her mother found out she was dating someone who lived in the building on Phillips Avenue where her daughter's body was found. She said three days ago, Parker had called her to come get her."I picked her on the corner right there, and she ended up leaving again," Clark said. Missing 15-year-old girl found s...

Chicago cousins exonerated served longest wrongful conviction sentence in Illinois history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

CHICAGO — Two Chicago men wrongfully convicted of murder more than 40 years ago will be home with their families for the holiday season.The pair of cousins spent 42 years in Prision for a McKinley Park double murder -- the longest serving wrongful conviction in Illinois history. Jimmy Soto's wife says the ruling is a long time coming. "We're grateful to the judge," she told reporters in the Cook County Criminal Courts Building lobby. Family questions CPD’s response after Midway Airport worker shot, killed Soto, along with David Ayala, were wrongly arrested and later convicted in 1981 in connection with two Chicago murders. Under coerced testimony, both were convicted, with Soto being the shooter and Ayalya, a gang leader who allegedly ordered the hits. Lawyers with the University of Chicago Exoneration Project took up their cases and proved corruption.While in prison, Soto earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, recently took the LSAT and is planning to app...

Men charged with killing 3,600 birds, including bald and golden eagles, for black market

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

Two men killed about 3,600 birds, including bald and golden eagles, during a “killing spree” on Montana's Flathead Indian Reservation and elsewhere, then sold eagle parts on a black market that has been a long-running problem for U.S. wildlife officials, a federal grand jury indictment says.The men worked with others to hunt and kill the birds, according to the indictment, and in at least one instance used a dead deer to lure in an eagle that was shot. The two defendants conspired with others who weren't named to sell eagle feathers, tails, wings and other parts for “significant sums of cash” across the United States and elsewhere, the indictment said.A bald eagle flies at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, in Mound City, Mo. A federal grand jury in Montana early Dec. 2023, has indicted two men accused of killing about 3,600 birds, including bald eagles and golden eagles, and selling them on the black market. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)Simon P...

The top 15 jobs people want to quit the most, according to a recent survey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

(KTLA) – The results of a recent survey suggest that some of us can't wait to leave our current jobs.The poll, conducted by the software firm Payscale, identified the top 15 jobs workers are planning to quit partially due to stressful work environments, return-to-office mandates, low compensation packages and the current state of the economy.Workers in industries ranging from tech to healthcare dominated the list, even with some of these positions boasting median salaries of over six figures. Is your company planning layoffs, closures? Many states let you check While some respondents indicated they hoped to find work in other professions or fields, many were simply seeking to leave their jobs for identical or similar roles at other companies, where there may be better compensation, benefits, or work-life balance. Payscale also noted that the "expansion of pay transparency legislation" may have given some of these employees a peek at the salaries they could earn for the same job el...

Can TSA stop you for marijuana in your luggage?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Maybe you're gearing up to fly home for the holidays, or flee to a warm-weather destination to escape the cold. And while many states have legalized marijuana, you may want to think twice before packing any. There are many things you can bring throught TSA security checkpoints at airports. That includes some timely items like baked goods, candles, and even your pets. When it comes to marijuana, it's a bit more complicated. Despite recent efforts, marijuana remains illegal on the federal level. TSA explains that that includes certain cannabis-infused products as well, like CBD oil.However, you are allowed to bring cannabis products containing no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis or those approved by the FDA in your carry-on or checked luggage, according to TSA. If marijuana is rescheduled, will it be legalized nationwide? These rules apply regardless of the departure or arrival airports.“TSA’s response to the discovery of marijuana is the same in ever...

Person injured after shooting in LA Fitness parking lot in Tinley Park: Report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. -- A person was injured after a shooting in an LA Fitness parking lot in Tinley Park Thursday night. According to the Village of Tinley Park Public Safety, the incident took place near the 18400 block of Convention Center Drive. Tow truck driver shot multiple times on Eisenhower One person was transported to the hospital and another people is in custidy.This was an isolated incident, and the scene is secure.

How to cope with holiday stress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The holidays can be a stressful and emotional time for many, and that’s OK.“Some people are dealing with things where they're not feeling very connected,” said Matthew Harmon, a local therapist at Thriveworks. “They're feeling isolated and depressed, anxious, unhappy.”Financial stress plays a big role this time of year, according to Harmon.“We all know that Holidays are not cheap. You gotta buy gifts, and there's traveling and hosting events. And as prices increase, some people's wages are not increasing. That can also create a feeling that they're not supporting their families.”Harmon warned social media could also trigger anxiety.“You see the perfect image, you see a snapshot, but as we know, life is not always perfect.”His advice? Take a deep breath.“There are physiological aspects to relax breathing,” he said. “When you relax the body, it can relax the mind and kind of decrease some of that tension, stress, anxiety and worry that happens when we get too worked u...