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Extortion threat fueled New Jersey political murder-for-hire plot, prosecutors say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey political consultant who hired two career criminals to kill a colleague plotted the slaying because the fellow consultant sought to extort money from him, prosecutors said in a court filing made public Wednesday.Sean Caddle, a former Democratic campaign consultant, is scheculed to be sentenced Thursday for his role in the murder-for-hire scheme that resulted in the death of fellow political operative Michael Galdieri in Jersey City in 2014.Federal prosecutors have long cloaked the case in secrecy, revealing few details about the killing even after Caddle pleaded guilty in 2022, citing an ongoing investigation. But authorities finally outlined the motive for the first time in the court filing, saying Caddle and Galdieri were longtime friends and collaborators on political campaigns whose relationship had gone sour.Caddle told investigators he had become concerned that Galdieri was abusing drugs, but felt compelled to help him with money and occasiona...

Oregon governor names new secretary of state after last one resigned over work for pot industry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — LaVonne Griffin-Valade has been appointed Oregon’s new secretary of state, Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek announced in a news release Wednesday, filling the vacancy created when Shemia Fagan resigned last month over criticism for her consultancy work for a marijuana business.Griffin-Valade worked as a government performance auditor for more than 16 years, according to Kotek’s news release.“I told Oregonians in May that the primary objective of our next Secretary of State was to restore confidence in the office. LaVonne Griffin-Valade has the professional background and ethical judgment to rise above politics and lead the important work of the agency forward,” Kotek said. “This role demands accountability and transparency, especially at this moment, and I am eager to see her leadership restore faith in the Secretary of State’s office.”Fagan quit her post in early May after coming under fire for her side work for as a paid consultant for marijuana r...

United Airlines experiencing crew, weather problems

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

A summer storm in the Northeast is creating crew scheduling problems, delays and cancellations across the country. Chicago-based United appears to be the hardest hit airline with some flight attendants telling WGN Investigates they’ve been stuck in cities without hotel rooms and waited on hold for hours to find out their flight assignments.“It’s the worst I’ve seen it in 20 years,” said one flight attendant who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak publicly.  Other flight attendants shared screenshots with WGN Investigates showing they had been on hold with United’s crew scheduling phone center for as long as nine hours.   An internal company communication told employees there were approximately 400 calls waiting to be answered with the longest wait time at that moment of four hours.A United spokesperson did not directly respond to questions about whether the airline’s crew scheduling system was overwhelmed.   Related: Wi...

How Chicago authorities are preparing for the NASCAR Street Race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

CHICAGO — As crews continue to work to complete construction on the grounds of the 2.2-mile course downtown, a number of entities in Chicago are making their own preparations for the first NASCAR street race. Officials from the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, Chicago Police, Chicago Fire Department, and NASCAR gathered Wednesday to address some of their plans ahead of the event on Saturday and Sunday. They are not only dealing with the first-time event but also the upcoming July 4th holiday on Tuesday, making for one of the busiest weekends of 2023 for Chicago. What to know about NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race Week In terms of air quality, which has been low in Chicago the past few days, OEMC interim executive director Jose Tirado said they are monitoring the situation with the Illinois EPA. They don't anticipate being in an air quality alert when the on-track activity begins Saturday but will adjust if smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to move t...

A great performance from a veteran guard ends Sky's losing skid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

CHICAGO — The longest losing skid of the 2023 season for the Chicago Sky has come to an end thanks to a big day from a veteran guard.Courtney Williams scored a season-high 21 points in a Wednesday matinee at Wintrust Arena against the Sparks, helping the hosts to an 80-63 win over Los Angeles. In the process, she helped snap a six-game losing skid as the Sky won their first game since beating the Fever at home on June 6. The recent difficult stretch erased what was a strong start to the season for the new-look squad, as Wednesday's win improves the team to 6-9 on the season.The Sky outscored the Sparks by ten in the second quarter and continued to pull away for the rest of the second half, with Williams leading the way.She was 9-of-15 from the field with a trio of three-pointers in the effort to go along with her team-high seven rebounds in arguably her best game of the season. In her first year with the Sky, the guard averaged 7.3 points and 5.9 rebounds a game coming into the cont...

Almost 3,000 Texans had an abortion in Kansas last year, state data shows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Almost 3,000 Texas women received an abortion in Kansas last year, new data shows. At the same time, the number of abortions performed in Texas ground to a halt in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade.The Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in a 6-3 decision on June 24, 2022, eliminating the nearly 50-year-old constitutional right to abortion. The ruling gave states the authority to limit or ban the procedure. Number of abortions in Texas dropped 99.5% in the months after Roe v. Wade was overturned A trigger law in Texas went into effect in August 2022, banning most abortions in the state. Abortion is also banned in neighboring Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, meaning Texas women who want the procedure must travel to states like Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 2,978 abortions were performed on Texas residents last year, including 50 under the age of 18.The total number is...

Twins’ offense quiet as team suffers sweep in Atlanta

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

ATLANTA — Willi Castro was nearing third base for what would have been his second stolen base of the day when Christian Vázquez stung a ball towards center. Hit more toward the left or more toward the right, it could have found grass and Castro could have scored the Twins’ first run of the game and cut the Atlanta Braves’ lead in half.Instead, his screamer went right toward center fielder Michael Harris II, who gloved it and easily doubled Castro off of second base. It was that kind of day for the Twins, who were unable to manufacture much offensively in a 3-0 loss to the Braves on Wednesday afternoon at Truist Park.The loss caps a three-game sweep at the hands of the National League’s best team and concludes a grueling stretch of 16 games in as many days, which the Twins finished 7-9. It also drops the Twins (40-42) back to two games under .500 after a series in which they finished 0 for 23 with runners in scoring position.The Twins had the leadoff runner on base in three innings, ...

Hannaford recalls two Veggie Salads over mislabeling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Hannaford has recalled two Veggie Salads at certain stores due to mislabeling. The salads are missing the "milk" allergen on the label. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The affected salads were purchased between June 24 and June 27. Hannaford said there have been no reports of illness or injury. The salads impacted by the recall are 4.5 oz. containers of Hannaford Delight Veggie Salad with UPC Code 04126876416 and 14.8 oz. containers of Hannaford Veggie Salad with UPC Code 04126876772.Capital Region stores impacted141 Hannaford SQ Ste. 2 in Bennington, Vermont318 US Route 7 South in Rutland, Vermont43 Round Lake Road in Ballston Lake180 Delaware Avenue in Delmar100 Plaza Road in Kingston190 Quaker Road in Queensbury596 Columbia Turnpike in East Greenbush2967 Route 9 STE 400 in Valatie19 Clifton Country Road in Clifton Park900 Central Avenue in Albany175 Broad Street in Glens Falls95 Weibel Avenue in ...

Art on the rise as LARAC announces 2023 grants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC) has announced the list of artists and organizations set to get an injection of funding through its partnerships in 2023. Twenty-seven recipients will get funding, including six individual artists and many organizations across Warren and Washington counties. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The grand total of $91,805 comes via the New York Statewide Community Regrant Program. The funding has been dispersed across artists and groups with the goal of creating and bolstering affordable, accessible arts programming. The recipients are among 44 applicants.Individual artistsAndrew DalyCamille West-WodickaJustin O'RourkeLaurie MilesMargaret JacobsThomas MowattWarren County organizationsAdirondack Ballet TheaterAdirondack Theater FestivalAdirondack VoicesGlens Falls Community TheaterNorth Country ArtsNorth Creek Railway Depot Preservation AssociationOur T...

18-year-old charged with rape in Queensbury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:26:39 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A teen has been arrested and charged with rape by the Warren County Sheriff's Office. Police said Nathan Hilbert, 18, of Diamond Point, was arrested on June 27. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On June 25, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office started investigating two alleged sexual assaults that happened in Queensbury between June 24 and June 25. Hilbert is accused of having forciblesexual intercourse with an adult, as well as with an 11-year-old.Hilbert was charged with two counts of first-degree rape. He was arraigned at CAP Court and remanded to the Warren County Jail.