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VP Harris visits historic LGBTQ+ landmark, decries flurry of anti-trans bills in state legislatures

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Stonewall Inn national monument on Monday to pay tribute to activists at the site of a watershed moment in the gay rights movement. And she spoke out as state lawmakers around the U.S. have introduced or passed hundreds of bills this year that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights.That tally includes a recent flurry of bills that affect transgender people, including legislation recently passed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination.The vice president’s surprise visit to Stonewall in New York City comes just days ahead of the 54th anniversary of the police raid and the rebellion it sparked on June 28, 1969, as patrons and others fought back against officers and against a social order that kept gay life in the shadows. The uprising is widely seen as one of the most pivotal moments in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.Harris, in brief remarks, paid tribute to the “courage and determination and the inspir...

First Nations in B.C. call on minister to resign over horrific child abuse case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

CHILLIWACK, B.C. — For months, an Indigenous boy and his little sister were subjected to what a British Columbia judge called “incomprehensible” abuse from the foster parents who were supposed to care for them and instead meted out torture, starvation and assaults that culminated in the boy being beaten to death.Now the horrifying case has triggered a call for the resignation of the children’s minister, a vow from the children’s commissioner to conduct an inquiry, and a promise from the premier that his government would do better.Provincial court Judge Peter La Prairie in Chilliwack, B.C., sentenced the foster parents this month to 10 years in prison after they pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and manslaughter of the First Nation boy, 11, and aggravated assault of his sister, aged eight.The violence was captured in hundreds of hours of video footage filmed inside the home.“It is incomprehensible how someone can inflict such pain, suffering and viole...

California mushroom farms cited for workplace safety violations after January fatal shootings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

California has cited two Northern California mushroom farms for health and safety violations and proposed more than $165,000 in potential fines five months after a farmworker killed seven people in back-to-back shootings on the farms in Half Moon Bay.Chunli Zhao, who had worked at the farms, is charged with seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in the Jan. 23 shootings that stunned the small coastal community about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of San Francisco. He has pleaded not guilty.Authorities say Zhao opened fire at California Terra Garden, where he previously worked, killing four co-workers and wounding another one. They said he then drove about 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) to Concord Farms, a mushroom farm he was fired from in 2015, and shot to death three workers.The state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as CAL/OSHA, filed 22 violations against California Terra Garden, Inc. and proposes $113,800 in fines, according to a Monday new...

Self-professed ‘Wolf of Airbnb’ pleads guilty to wire fraud for defrauding landlords

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A Florida man who dubbed himself the “Wolf of Airbnb” pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge Monday, admitting gaining about $2 million illegally by defrauding landlords and cheating a government pandemic program.Konrad Bicher, 31, of Hialeah, Florida, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court, agreeing not to appeal any prison sentence that is roughly four to five years long. The wire fraud charge otherwise carried a potential 20-year prison sentence.Bicher also agreed to forfeit $1.7 million and make restitution of $1.9 million. A sentencing date was not immediately set.U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement that Bicher proudly referred to himself as the “Wolf of Airbnb” but admitted that his businesses were premised on fraud after he entered lease agreements based on false pretenses and made false statements to obtain U.S.-guaranteed loans.“Bicher lined his own pockets by abusing government programs and tenant protections intended to benefit those in c...

4 bodies found in charred remains of Arkansas house died from gunshot wounds, police say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Four people found dead in a burned down Little Rock house were killed from gunshot wounds, including one self-inflicted, police said Monday.Little Rock Police released the cause of death following an autopsy of the four bodies that were found in the charred remains of a house in southwest Little Rock early Friday morning. The Little Rock Fire Department has said the cause of the fire is under investigation.Police did not release the identities of the people found dead in the fire and said they’re notifying next of kin. They did not release ages of the four people or say if the four were related.Police said the investigation into the deaths is ongoing. The Associated Press

Prosecutors files charges in shooting that killed 3 and wounded 6 in Kansas City

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 26-year-old man was charged Monday in a weekend shooting that killed three people and wounded six more in Kansas City, police said. Keivon Greene is accused of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, and prosecutors said they expect to file more charges. A second suspect was involved in the shooting, according to a probable cause statement. Responding officers found two men and a woman dead from gunshot wounds at around 4:30 a.m. Sunday in a parking lot where a crowd had gathered near an auto shop known to host informal after-hours get-togethers, police said. According to the probable cause statement, one of the wounded told police the shooting started after she greeted one of the suspects and his girlfriend with a hug.The victim’s boyfriend then told the suspect to “watch his hands.” When the victim and her boyfriend began to walk away, the suspect took out a gun and fatally shot him in the back, according to the statement. Another person pul...

Levy sanctions against foreign aggressors targeting Canada with disinformation: MPs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

OTTAWA — The House of Commons defence committee is urging the Liberal government to levy sanctions against individuals and organizations who target Canadians with disinformation. In a new report calling for stronger cybersecurity, the committee warns of increasingly sophisticated disinformation and foreign influence campaigns by China, Russia and other aggressors. Canada has developed national strategies, launched and funded cybersecurity initiatives, adopted legislation and fostered closer international co-operation in cyberspace, the report acknowledges. Overall, however, the committee says more could be done to strengthen Canada’s cybersecurity and cyberwarfare efforts, and to improve resilience to threats from home and abroad. During committee hearings, witnesses stressed that Canada should encourage the development of international norms and frameworks for addressing these threats. The committee recommends using existing sanction regimes against people and entities trying to ma...

Skilling: Sunshine to return Tuesday, Wednesday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

Sunshine is set to return Tuesday and Wednesday boosting temps in the process.It follows the warmest & wettest weekend to date of 2023—with 0.81" of rain at O'Hare and 1.45" at Midway. The peak area rainfall over the past 3 days has been the 1.88" which fell near Oak Lawn.While many areas received more than an inch of rain, areas farther south weren't as fortunate. Only 0.26" was reported at Coal City, 0.27" at Ottawa, 0.22" at Jasper, IN and 0.35" at Hebron, IN as examples.Even in areas which received rain, the weekend downpours weren't drought busters. At O'Hare, as an example, weekend rainfall boosted the total which has fallen since April 1 to 4.99"---just 43% the normal of 11.71" for the period. That leaves a deficit of 6.72" in place and shows how difficult it can be to address moisture deficits which have taken months to accumulate.This past weekend saw the year's high single daytime temp to date at O'Hare—a reading of 93-deg—and Sunday recorded an 85-deg temp. The weeken...

MedWatch Daily Digest: Next big advance in cancer treatment could be a vaccine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

For Monday, June 26, WGN’s Ben Bradley and Jackie Bange have the latest on new information, including the following: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Vaccines show promise in cancer treatmentAfter decades of limited success, scientists say the research is at a significant turning point when it comes to cancer treatment. These aren't traditional vaccines that prevent disease, but shots to shrink tumors and stop cancer from coming back. Targets for these experimental treatments include breast and lung cancer, with gains reported this year for deadly skin cancer melanoma and pancreatic cancer. Scientists predict more vaccines will be out in five years. Daily pill could help treat obesity Treating obesity may soon be as easy as taking a daily pill. New research shows that high-dose oral versions of the medication in the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy may work as well as the popular injections. The pills also appear to work even in hard-to-treat people with diabe...

Armed pair who allegedly robbed Red Line rider sought by police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:05 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police seek the public's help with identifying two male suspects linked to an armed robbery on the CTA Red Line, according to police. Mass Transit detectives say the armed robbery incident occurred Sunday around 2:40 a.m. at the 69th St. Red Line stop at 15 W. 69th St.SEE ALSO: Photos show suspect accused of robbing 68-year-old victim on Blue LinePolice say two men approached a CTA passenger, displayed a knife and demanded the victims' property by force.No additional information was made available by the police. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAnyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com. Tipsters may also contact (312) 745-4706.