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Washington governor rolls back limitations on police chases

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — With the stroke of a pen Wednesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee rolled back some requirements for police to chase people in vehicles, a partial reversal of a controversial pursuit policy first enacted in the state at the height of racial injustice protests following George Floyd’s murder.Under the new law, police no longer need probable cause to initiate a pursuit. Instead, reasonable suspicion that a person inside a vehicle has committed or is committing a crime would be enough to give chase.The bill reflects a call for a return to more flexibility for law enforcement after Washington lawmakers passed an array of reforms to reduce violence and death in police response, covering everything from background checks officers undergo before they’re hired to the circumstances under which they can pursue vehicles.“Sometimes the pendulum swings too fast,” said John Bandler, a lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “The criminal justice system is not a well-oiled whe...

Guatemala seeks arrest of ex-guerrilla leader in 1980 blast

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — A judge in Guatemala issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for Gustavo Meoño, a former leftist guerrilla leader and transparency activist, in connection with a 1980 bomb attack. The bombing in Guatemala City’s main plaza killed several people and was blamed on the rebels of the Guerrilla Army of the Poor. The attack occurred during the country’s 1960-1996 civil war between the army and leftist rebels in which over 200,000 people died, most at the hands of the military. Meoño was leader of the Army of the Poor at the time of the attack. He later went on to head the National Police Historic Archive, a collection of millions of documents found in a warehouse in 2005 that documented rights abuses during the conflict. Meoño faces homicide and other charges in the case. He had not been charged until now because the case was based on a complaint filed by citizens in 2017.The Associated Press

Chicago Park District after-school program relocated to accommodate migrants

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago Park District after school program in Avondale is being relocated in order to help migrants arriving in the City.The City of Chicago is converting the building found at Brands Park on North Elston Avenue into a temporary shelter for migrants, meanwhile, the park district is moving children enrolled in programming at the park to Horner Park on Montrose Avenue and Linne Elementary on Sacramento Avenue.Parents who picked up their kids from after school programming at Brands Park Wednesday learned their children couldn't come back."Honestly the kids were confused. My child was very upset," said Courtney Roman. "I told my son to clean out his locker and bring everything home because we wouldn’t be returning. That was really inconsiderate."Mayor Lori Lightfoot's Office provided a statement Wednesday on the City's latest efforts to accommodate migrants arriving in Chicago:"As a welcoming city, Chicago continues to receive new arrivals and tend to their immediate needs. ...

1 in critical condition after 3-car crash in Hobart

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

HOBART, Ind. — One person is in critical condition after a crash on Wednesday afternoon in Hobart, according to the Hobart Fire Department.The crash happened around 3 p.m. near 37th Avenue and North Lake Park Avenue. Man runs red light, dies after being hit by semi-truck driver in Northwest Indiana According to a Facebook post from the Hobart Fire Department, one person was removed from the car and taken to a hospital in critical condition.The Hobart Police Department said three cars were involved in the crash.The South Lake County Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating.Additional details haven't been released at this time.

Aurora man accused of hurling death threats at Pritzker

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

WHEATON, Ill. — An Aurora man is accused of threatening harm to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker by voicemail last month. Steven WoletzSteven Woletz, 46, is charged with one felony count of threatening a public official after prosecutors allege Woletz called the Governor’s Office of Constituent Affairs on April 15 and left a threatening voice message directed at Pritzker. SEE ALSO | AG: Chicago man charged with hate crimes after threatening Foxx, LightfootAccording to prosecutors, some of the comments left by Woletz included: “(Expletive) you and your (expletive) mother” and “I’m going to (expletive) kill you, you (expletive) silly (expletive) (expletive).” Illinois State Police troopers identified Woletz as the suspect. He was taken into custody on Tuesday and released on Wednesday after posting bond.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesHis next appearance in court is scheduled for Monday, May 22.

All Oregon residents could soon choose to pump their own gas as bill advances

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A bill that would allow all Oregonians the option to choose between pumping their own gas or having an attendant pump it for them may soon receive a vote from the Senate. Oregon is one of only two states - New Jersey being the other - that require attendants to pump gas for customers. There are currently laws in place allowing people in rural Oregon counties to pump their own gas, and drivers of diesel vehicles can also pump their own gas.If passed, House Bill 2426 would change Oregon law and require gas stations statewide to allow customers to pump their own gas if they choose. It would require that gas cost the same amount no matter what service a person chooses and would not allow stations to have more self-service pumps than they have attendant-service pumps.  HB 2426 passed the House on March 20. On Tuesday, May 2, a public hearing on the bill was held in the Senate Energy and Environment Committee. At the public hearing, verbal testi...

A little bad luck puts Cubs catcher Yan Gomes on IL

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C — An unfortunate break early in Monday's game against the Nationals means that one of the catcher's in the Cubs' rotation will be out for a bit. Cubs catcher Yan Gomes is headed to the 7-day concussion IL. .Javier Assad has been called up from Triple-A Iowa..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/hfwF1flEKJ— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) May 3, 2023Yan Gomes was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list on Wednesday retroactive to May 2 ahead of the Cubs' third of a four-game series against Washington at Nationals Park.Pitcher Javier Assad was called up for a third time this season from Triple-A Iowa to take his spot on the roster.This comes after he was injured on a bit of a freak play early on Monday when Jeimer Candelario's backswing hit the catcher in the top of the helmet in the first inning. He was removed from the game before the next inning and wasn't in the lineup on Tuesday night. In his second year with the Cubs, Gomes was off to a solid start in 2023 as he ha...

Illinois attorney general fighting to keep abortion pill

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is fighting to preserve access to the drug used in the most common method of abortion.Raoul joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general who filed a brief in defense of "mifepristone" with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday. Illinois city backs abortion pills ban, defying legal risks They urged the appellate court to reverse a lower court ruling to suspend the FDA's long-standing approval of the drug.The attorneys general said that it will harm millions of Americans, under-served groups in particular.The Supreme Court allowed access to mifepristone last month to continue while the appeals process plays out.

Man dies after being placed in chokehold by subway rider in NYC

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (WPIX) – A man who was acting erratically on a New York City subway train died after another rider put him in a chokehold, according to a witness and police.The incident happened on a northbound F train at the Broadway–Lafayette Street/Bleecker Street subway station in Manhattan on Monday around 2:30 p.m., NYPD officials said. A 30-year-old man, identified as Jordan Neely, boarded the subway train and started acting erratically, police explained."I don't have food, I don't have to drink, I'm fed up … I don't mind going to jail and getting life in prison … I’m ready to die," Neely allegedly said, according to journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez, who recorded video of the incident that was shared on Facebook.Neely was showing signs of mental illness, according to Vazquez. A 24-year-old subway rider, who is also a Marine, according to authorities, then went up to Neely and put him in a chokehold, video of the incident showed. Woman dead after plunge from Manhattan hotel r...

Woman who overcame homelessness wins $5M from California lottery scratcher

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:58:44 GMT

(KRON) -- One of California's newest millionaires was homeless just six years ago. Lucia Forseth recently bought a 2023 Scratchers ticket at a Walmart in the Northern California city of Pittsburg while getting an oil change when she scratched the top prize, lottery officials announced Wednesday."I only bought one ticket,” Forseth told the California Lottery. “I closed my eyes and picked that one, and it won! I first thought I’d won a free ticket, but I checked, and it said I won $5 million!” Five $1 million lottery wins in Illinois remain unclaimed Back in 2017, Forseth said she was homeless. This year, she plans to get married and complete her associate degree. She also told the Lottery she hopes to buy a house and invest the rest of her winnings."You never think you have a chance to win it. It is just random. Being homeless just six years ago, I never thought it would happen to someone like me,” Forseth said.According to the California Lottery, $5 million is the top prize availa...