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Lawyer makes unconfirmed claim that Tyre Nichols had stolen items in car before beating death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A lawyer for one of five former Memphis officers charged with fatally beating Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop made an unconfirmed claim in court documents that investigators found a hallucinogenic drug and stolen credit cards in Nichols’ car when he was pulled over. A lawyer for Nichols’ family didn’t immediately return a request for comment, while federal prosecutors criticized the court filing in their own document to the court.“The fact that the defendant now seeks to rifle through the deceased victim’s personal effects for new information suggests that he intends to attack the character of the victim at trial and, in so doing, ask the jury to improperly nullify the criminal charges,” federal prosecutors wrote.The defense lawyer for former officer Justin Smith said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s inventory of Nichols’ car showed he had psilocybin, a substance found in mushrooms, when police stopped him Jan. 7 for an al...

Stock market today: Oil prices climb following the latest Gaza war, but stocks rise with rate hopes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices climbed Monday on worries about violence in the Middle East. The stock market was less fearful, though, and flipped from early losses to gains. The S&P 500 rose 27.16, or 0.6%, following some potentially encouraging news on interest rates, which have been dragging Wall Street mainly lower since the summer. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 197.07 points, or 0.6%, to 33,604.65, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 52.90, or 0.4%, to 13,484.24. Stocks perked higher after two officials at the Federal Reserve suggested they may not need to raise interest rates again at their next meeting Nov. 1, because a jump in longer-term bond yields may be helping to cool inflation without further market-rattling hikes by the Fed. That gave stocks some oxygen and helped them erase modest losses from the morning. The S&P 500 had sagged by as much as 0.6% in its first trading after Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel, which then formally declared war. T...

Florida settles lawsuit over COVID data, agrees to provide weekly stats to the public

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida will have to provide COVID-19 data to the public again after a former Democratic state representative settled a lawsuit with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration over the decision two years ago to stop posting information on the virus’ spread online.Then-Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith sued after the Department of Health denied his public records request for COVID-19 data in 2021 and announced the settlement Monday. He was joined by the Florida Center for Government Accountability.The settlement requires the department to provide COVID-19 data to the public for the next three years, including weekly statistics on cases, deaths and vaccinations by county, age group, gender and race, Smith said in a news release. The state must also pay more than $152,000 in legal fees to cover the plaintiffs’ legal costs.“All Floridians have a constitutional right to public records and the right to receive critical public health data in a timely ...

Louisiana public school principal apologizes after punishing student for dancing at a party

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

WALKER, La. (AP) — A Louisiana public school principal has apologized and requested leave for punishing a student and questioning her religious beliefs after he saw a video of her dancing at an off-campus party. The 17-year-old student government president and scholarship candidate was videotaped dancing at an off-campus party following Walker High School’s Sept. 30 Homecoming festivities. A hired DJ took the video and posted it on social media. Three days later, Jason St. Pierre, principal of the public high school near the state capital of Baton Rouge, told the student she would be removed from her position with the student government association and that he would no longer recommend her for college scholarships. At a meeting in his office with the assistant principal, St. Pierre told the student she wasn’t “living in the Lord’s way,” her mother said, according to The Advocate. He printed out Bible verses with highlighted sections and “questioned who her friends were and if ...

European Union reverses earlier announcement that it was suspending development aid to Palestinians

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was “immediately” suspending development aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas to make sure no money was misused.“There will be no suspension of payments” at the moment, a terse European Commission statement said late Monday, five hours after EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi had said that all payments from the development program for Palestinians would be “immediately suspended. All projects put under review. All new budget proposals … postponed until further notice.”No immediate explanation for the reversal was given. A full European Commission statement always trumps a statement from an EU commissioner, but the reversal on a 691 million-euro ($730 million) program capped an embarrassing day at the EU’s executive at a time of extreme geopolitical sensitivities. Since Satur...

Emergency crews respond after possible home explosion in Woodstock

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

WOODSTOCK, Ill. — Emergency crews are on the scene of a possible home explosion in the northwest suburbs on Monday afternoon.Debris and smoke from the home could be seen overhead by WGN TV's Skycam 9 which was over the scene in Woodstock near North Tryon Street and Lincoln Avenue at around 3:40 p.m. In a post on Facebook Woodstock Fire and Rescue officials said that crews were working a natural gas leak in an area along North Tryon Street between Washington Street and West Judd Street. Crews closed the road while working in the area. In the post, officials said St. Mary's Catholic Church was evacuated and surrounding homes were advised to shelter in place. "The safety of the public and every family we serve is our No. 1 value. Nicor Gas crews are onsite working with first responders to safely secure the area and to assist local authorities with their investigation of this incident," an official from Nicor Gas said in a statement on Monday afternoon. ...

2 dead after shooting inside convenience store in Englewood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Two people are dead on Monday after a shooting inside of a convenience store on the city’s South Side, police say.According to Chicago police, the shooting happened in the 6200 block of South Ashland Avenue in Englewood around 2:35 p.m. Man, 24, shot while inside parked car on West Side Police say a victim and a 28-year-old offender were involved in a fight before both suffered fatal gunshot wounds.According to police, both people involved were taken to the hospital where they were pronounced dead. Currently, it is unclear what led to the altercation or who fired the shots. Police say Area One detectives are now investigating. This is a developing story, stay with WGN News for the latest updates.

Chicago artist uses vibrancy to uplift marginalized communities in exhibit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Using vibrant colors and intricate flowers as a sign of growth, a Chicago artist utilizes her artwork to uplift marginalized communities and visualize the change many artists hope to see in the world.Shirien Darma, a Palestinian illustrator, is showcasing her work at IMAN Central, a South Side community organization, to create a visual platform for social justice initiatives.“I want to use art to pave a vision moving forward,” Darma said.With more than 10 years of experience, Darma has forefronted her art in causes ranging from the Black Lives Matter movement to raising awareness for the Indigenous community.  Kiptum sets world marathon record in Chicago in 2:00:35, breaking Kipchoge’s mark “Black and Brown communities are often villainized, and many people haven’t gotten the love from society, so I want to uphold their dignity,” Darma said.Darma works with families, non-profits, and legal teams to create honest, informative, yet eye-catching art pieces. Her newest exhib...

Airbnb guest won't leave after staying at rental for over a year without paying, homeowner says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

(KTLA) – It's sometimes said that uninvited guests are most welcome when they leave, but one California resident wouldn't know from personal experience. Sascha Jovanovic said a one-time Airbnb tenant has remained on his Brentwood property for over a year, refusing to either leave or pay. He told the Los Angeles Times that Elizabeth Hirschhorn didn't move out when her stay ended in April 2022. Not only has she been living there rent-free, Jovanovic also claims Hirschhorn wants him to pay her a relocation fee of $100,000.“This is like a nightmare, to be honest,” Jovanovic told KTLA. “This is extortion. This is like manipulation. Nobody should go through this.” Shrek’s Swamp now an Airbnb stay in Scotland Hirschhorn's attorney told the Times that "she was not required to pay rent because the city had never approved the unit for occupancy and that its shower was constructed without a permit."Because of those code violations, the city determined that Jovanovic couldn't evict Hirschhorn...

RFK JR announces he's running for president as an independent candidate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:12:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is now running as an independent instead of a Democrat. The move adds some drama to the already complicated 2024 race, which is expected to be a rematch between President Biden and Former President Trump.In a speech in Philadelphia on Monday, RFK Jr. announced he's leaving the Democratic party, but not the 2024 race for president. New Florida bill would shorten wait time for firearms purchases "I'm here to declare myself an independent candidate," Kennedy said.Taking aim at President Biden's age and Former President Trump's legal challenges, RFK Jr. pitched himself as an alternative for Americans fed up with the two-party system."We need to pry loose from the hammerlock of the corrupt powers in Washington D.C. and make this nation ours again," Kennedy said.Historically, independent presidential candidates haven't gained enough traction to win. Despite that, Kennedy could still have an impact on the race.Political ...