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French ambassador stays in Niger, defying junta, as Macron defends French policy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that France’s ambassador is staying at his post in Niger despite being asked to leave by the ruling junta, speaking out firmly against the coup leaders while insisting that France is not Niger’s enemy.Since ousting Niger’s democratically elected president a month ago, the junta has been exploiting grievances among the population toward former colonial ruler France, and has turned to Russian mercenary group Wagner for help.Macron dismissed concerns that standing up to the junta could be dangerous.“Our policy is the right one. It depends on the courage of President Mohamed Bazoum, the commitment of our diplomats, of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite pressure,” Macron told a gathering of French ambassadors in Paris.French Ambassador Sylvain Itte was asked to leave Niger within 48 hours in a letter Friday from the Nigerien Foreign Ministry that accused him of ignoring an invitation for a meeting with the minis...

Judge to decide if father of man accused in parade shooting will stand trial too

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois judge is expected to decide Monday whether the father of the man accused of fatally shooting seven people at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago will stand trial himself for helping his son obtain a gun license three years earlier.Prosecutors charged the father, Robert Crimo Jr., under an unconstitutionally vague law and the whole case should therefore be tossed, his lawyer argued at a hearing earlier this month in Waukegan, north of Highland Park where the 2022 shooting took place. If Lake County Judge George Strickland rejects the defense motion to dismiss, Crimo Jr.’s bench trial would start on Nov. 6.The judge said at that earlier hearing that he’d take three weeks to mull a decision and announce his ruling at Monday’s hearing.Crimo Jr. pleaded not guilty earlier this year to seven counts of reckless conduct — one count for each person killed. Each count carries a maximum three-year prison term. Prosecutors had alleged that he...

Man killed in industrial accident in Brampton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

A man is dead following an industrial accident in Brampton on Monday morning.Emergency crews were called to the area of Orenda Road and Dixie Road around 7:30 a.m.Police say a man was pronounced dead at the scene.The Ministry of Labour has been called in to investigate.This is a developing story. More to come.

At least 6 carjackings, armed robberies within 2-hour span on Chicago's North and West sides: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

CHICAGO — At least six people were robbed or carjacked within a two-hour span on the city's North and West sides.According to police, the robberies started around 9:45 p.m. Sunday on the 2200 block of West Hirsch. A man and women told authorities that two males approached them, punched the man multiple times and took their personal belongings.Just minutes later, police said a 67-year-old man and 29-year-old woman were approached by three suspects on the 2000 block of North Hoyne, one of them was armed with a gun. The two victims were robbed and the suspects punched the 67-year-old man multiple times.He was transported to St. Mary's Hospital where he is listed in good condition.Around 9:55 p.m., police said robbers attempted to steal a 35-year-old man's belongings on the 2100 block of North Hoyne. The victim refused to comply, resulting in the suspects' punching the man multiple times.Minutes after 10 p.m., police said suspects stole a woman's white SUV on the 1200 block of North Mil...

Judge to decide if father of man accused in Highland Park parade shooting will stand trial too

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois judge is expected to decide Monday whether the father of the man accused of fatally shooting seven people at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park will stand trial himself for helping his son obtain a gun license three years earlier.Prosecutors charged the father, Robert Crimo Jr., under an unconstitutionally vague law and the whole case should therefore be tossed, his lawyer argued at a hearing earlier this month in Waukegan, north of Highland Park where the 2022 shooting took place. If Lake County Judge George Strickland rejects the defense motion to dismiss, Crimo Jr.'s bench trial would start on Nov. 6.The judge said at that earlier hearing that he'd take three weeks to mull a decision and announce his ruling at Monday's hearing.Crimo Jr. pleaded not guilty earlier this year to seven counts of reckless conduct — one count for each person killed. Each count carries a maximum three-year prison term.Prosecutors had alleged that he helped his ...

2 men robbed in West Town: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

CHICAGO -- Two men were robbed in the city's West Town neighborhood Monday morning, police said. According to police, two men, 28 and 42 were outside near the 1200 block of North Milwaukee Avenue around 4:53 a.m. when they were approached by three individuals wearing ski masks and armed with handguns. At least 6 carjackings, armed robberies within 2-hour span on Chicago’s North and West sides: police Police said the armed individuals took their belongings and fled southbound. There were no injuries reported and there is currently no one in custody at this time. Police are investigating the incident.

Most states in South have banned gender-affirming care for trans youth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

(The Hill) -- Gender-affirming treatments, including puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries, are now inaccessible for transgender minors in much of the South because of new laws that heavily restrict or ban such care for youths younger than 18.Since 2021, lawmakers in 12 of the 16 states considered regionally South by the U.S. Census Bureau have passed legislation that prevents medical professionals from administering gender-affirming health care to transgender youths, accounting for more than half of bans enacted nationwide. Laws passed in states including Florida and Missouri also restrict access to care for some transgender adults.Four Southern states — Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia — plus Washington, D.C., have not enacted a law or policy banning gender-affirming health care. That isn’t for a lack of trying, however. Bills that were introduced this year in Virginia and South Carolina failed to advance through the respective state...

Snow day, meet heat day: Summer weather takes bites from school calendars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

(The Hill) - The ritual of snow days is a beloved part of American childhood. Kids wake up on winter mornings with frost in the air and ice on the roads and anxiously check to see if school was canceled or delayed. But now, summer is chipping away at the academic calendar too: Heat days are taking their toll. Hundreds of schools across the country have started out their school year by promptly shutting down due to extreme August weather fueled by climate change.“Milwaukee Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, August 23, 2023, due to an excessive heat warning for Milwaukee County,” the school district said Tuesday as temperatures reached the upper 90s in the area. In the past few years, heat days have become more common near the end and beginning of academic year as temperatures climb and schools lack the proper infrastructure to handle the change. “The heat wave season is getting longer. The average length of the annual heat wave season in the 1960s was maybe ...

Idalia to become major hurricane before hitting Florida's coast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Idalia intensified early Monday and was expected to become a major hurricane before it reaches Florida's Gulf coast, the National Hurricane Center said Monday, warning of an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds in Florida as soon as late Tuesday.Heavy rainfall in western Cuba could produce flooding and landslides, forecasters said, and hurricane-force winds were expected later Monday.At 8 a.m. EDT Monday, the storm was about 90 miles off the western tip of Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The storm was moving north at 8 mph at the time, the hurricane center said. Why do so many ‘infamous’ hurricanes have ‘I’ names? The center's update also included a hurricane advisory for the Cuban province of Pinar Del Rio.Forecasters said they expected Idalia to become a hurricane later Monday and a dangerous major hurricane by early Wednesday over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.Idalia was expected to move n...

Central Texas leaders mark 60th anniversary of March on Washington, launch equity initiative

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Monday marks the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech that was delivered during the  March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In Austin, a community event will take place on the South Steps of the Texas State Capitol at 9 a.m. to celebrate the progress made since MLK’s speech while launching a new equity initiative.The group is calling it Dream Together 2030, a goal to begin building a better future for Central Texas.Several churches, nonprofits and local leaders are involved in the effort.Greater Calvary Bible Church archbishop Sterling Lands is one of the organizers of this initiative.“This movement is to go to 2030, where we want Austin to be the model for the rest of the nation as the beloved community,” he said.Bianca Neal is the executive director of the SaulPaul Foundation. She says the group will work towards achieving a seven-year goal of positively changing the lives of everyone in the Austin area.“It's a ...