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Iowa man pleads guilty in Arizona election threats case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — An Iowa man pleaded guilty Thursday to threatening two Arizona officials in messages that mentioned discredited allegations of fraud in the 2020 election.Federal prosecutors said 64-year-old Mark Rissi of Hiawatha left voicemail messages targeting Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, both Republicans. Rissi pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threatening interstate communication. He’s scheduled to be sentenced in June. Prosecutors said Rissi’s message for Hickman was left Sept. 27, 2021, three days after a technology firm called Cyber Ninjas released a report alleging a wide range of election improprieties in Maricopa County, which includes the Phoenix area. Experts said the report, which was commissioned by Republican leaders of the state Senate, was riddled with errors, bias and flawed methodology. More than two months later, as Brnovich was under pressure from election deniers to charge people with el...

Violence on transit has increased post-pandemic, police and union officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

Violence on public transit and in city spaces across Canada has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld said in relation to a spate of assaults in his city as well as Edmonton, Metro Vancouver and Toronto.Neufeld said he’s talked to his counterparts in other cities and it’s hard to know what’s driving the violence, but calls related to mental health have been on the rise.“There has been a post-pandemic impact that I don’t know that we fully understand,” he told a news conference on Thursday.“But it’s manifesting itself in public spaces across the country and I think we’ve gone as far down this dark road as we are prepared to go.”Neufeld said everyone hoped things would return to normal post-pandemic, and governments have been making investments in mental health supports.“I just don’t think it’s taken effect just yet. I think there’s a lot of promise with respect to a ...

What is Discord, the chatting app tied to classified leaks?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The chatting app Discord, which is one of the most popular ways gamers communicate online, finds itself at the center of an investigation into the leak of classified documents about the war in Ukraine.The investigation is unfolding as Discord makes an ambitious push to recruit more users and expand the way they use the versatile app.Discord said it is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation of the leak, which is believed to have started on the site. A Massachusetts Air National Guard member reportedly posted on Discord for years about guns, games, favorite memes and, according to some who chatted with him, closely guarded U.S. secrets.WHAT IS DISCORD?Discord started in 2015 as a nerdy online hangout for gamers and had some hiccups in its quest for mainstream success. Its growth accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic as a forum for its mostly younger users to gossip or even help each other with homework.“Every month, more than 150 million peopl...

Experts doubt Mexico’s pledge to protect endangered porpoise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Environment Department announced a new program to protect the endangered vaquita marina porpoise Thursday, saying that has headed off trade sanctions by the international wildlife body CITES.The department said seven steps will be taken, including controlling illegal gillnet fishing that can trap and kill the vaquita, which is the world’s most endangered maine mammal. But experts had misgivings, saying Mexico has failed to live up to previous promises to protect the vaquita and even gone back on some. There are estimated to be as few as eight vaquitas left in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, the only place it lives. The species cannot be captured, held or bred in captivity.In late March, CITES called on its 184 member countries to stop trade with Mexico for products linked to sensitive species, such as orchids, cactuses and skins from crocodiles and snakes, as punishment for continued fishing in the vaquita protection z...

15-year-old girl missing since February last seen in Garfield Ridge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

CHICAGO — The whereabouts of a 15-year-old girl reported missing in February remain unknown. Leyla Brown was last seen near the 4500 block of S. Cicero on Feb. 20. SEE ALSO | 12-year-old girl reported missing in HermosaChicago police described the missing teen as 4-foot-11-inches, weighing 120 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Leyla Brown also has a tattoo of a cross on her right shoulder. She was last seen wearing a black sweater, black pants and black gym shoes. Anyone with information can call the police at (312) 747-8380.

Visitation services held for fallen Chicago firefighter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

OAK LAWN, Ill. — Hours after a Chicago fire lieutenant was laid to rest, the community is getting ready to say a final farewell to another fallen member.Chicago firefighter Jermaine Pelt, 49, died last week while responding to a fire in the city's West Pullman neighborhood.Visitation services were held on Thursday in Oak Lawn.He lived a life of putting others first. "People like him, always positive, always someone I could depend on," CFD Battalion Chief Capt. Christopher Olszewski said. "Always someone everyone could depend on."He joined the department in 2005 and was also a registered nurse, a paramedic and an instructor at the fire academy. Those who knew him say smart, ambitious and kind-hearted only scratch the surface of the type of person he was."Pelt could cook," Olszewski said. "I don't think there was a pot he didn't use in the kitchen and luckily I was his officer so I didn't have to clean them."The veteran firefighter leaves behind a 6-year-old son and he recently celebr...

Man arrested after allegedly robbing 87-year-old man in Englewood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police have arrested a man who allegedly battered and robbed an 87-year-old man in January in Englewood.William Green, 23, was arrested Wednesday in the 700 block of East 111th Street in the city's Pullman neighborhood. School bus damaged by gunfire during attempted carjacking on West Side According to the Chicago Police Department, Green allegedly was one of the people who robbed and battered an 87-year-old man on Jan. 30 in the 5800 block of South Ashland Avenue.He was charged with three felonies: aggravated battery/great bodily harm on someone over 60, aggravated battery/public place, and robbery of someone who is handicapped or over 60, according to a release from police.Green is due in bond court on Friday.

China upholds death sentence for US citizen detained on drug charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

(The Hill) – The U.S. State Department on Thursday said it’s “disappointed” by China’s decision to uphold the death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence for “wrongfully detained” U.S. citizen Mark Swidan.“Today the People’s Republic of China’s Jiangmen Intermediate Court denied wrongfully detained U.S. national Mark Swidan’s appeal, and upheld his death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence," State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement. "We are disappointed by this decision and will continue to press for his immediate release and return to the United States."Patel said U.S. officials have “repeatedly expressed their concerns” to top China officials about Swidan’s treatment and medical care, as well as “his inability to send or receive mail in a timely manner.” Swidan, from Houston, has been imprisoned in China on drug-related charges for more than ten years, Reuters reports. He was sentenced to death in 2018, according to th...

NOAA issues El Niño watch: Here's where and when Illinois will feel the impact

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Move aside La Niña – it's almost time for El Niño to take over.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center issued an "El Niño watch" Thursday morning, saying the climate pattern is expected to form sooner than previously anticipated. After La Niña ended last month, we entered "ENSO-neutral" conditions, which means neither La Niña nor El Niño is present. Those neutral conditions were expected to end at some point in the summer or early fall. But as of Thursday, it looks as though the timeline has moved up. Forecasters said there is a 62% chance El Niño will take over between May and July. The probability that El Niño will form by fall is even higher, between 80% and 90%. La Niña is officially over, NOAA announces: What does that mean? What would that mean for our weather? We usually feel the strongest effects of El Niño as we get closer to winter. An El Niño fall and winter would be the inverse of what we’ve seen the last ...

Texas House passes $12 billion property tax relief package, setting up fight over appraisal cap with Senate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:58:36 GMT

(Texas Tribune) -- A $12 billion proposal aimed at giving property tax relief to Texas homeowners and businesses cleared a major hurdle Thursday in the Texas House, setting up a showdown with the Senate over their warring tax-cut packages.House Bill 2 — backed by House Speaker Dade Phelan and carried by state Rep. Morgan Meyer, both Republicans — passed the full House by a 140-9 vote. It still must come back before the chamber for a final vote.The bill proposes pumping $12 billion into Texas school districts so that they, in turn, can lower their property taxes on home and business owners. For the owner of a $350,000 home, the package would result in more than $1,000 in savings over two years, according to Phelan’s office.Cutting the state’s high property tax burden has been a top priority for Texas Republicans this legislative session. HB 2 is a key part of the House’s $17 billion proposed package for how the Legislature should go about doing it.But HB 2 contains a provision that h...