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Court vacates convictions against Black Muslim man whose attorney made racist posts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

The highest court in Massachusetts has vacated sex trafficking convictions against a Black Muslim man whose court-appointed attorney had a history of posting racist and anti-Muslim vitriol on social media.Attorney Richard Doyle had a conflict of interest that deprived the defendant of his right to effective assistance of counsel, “a right upon which our entire system of criminal justice depends,” the Supreme Judicial Court wrote in its unanimous decision released Thursday.“Indigent and facing multiple felony charges, the defendant was appointed counsel who openly posted, on his social media account, his vitriolic hatred of and bigotry against persons of the Muslim faith; his unabashed anti-Muslim rants were matched only by his equal scorn for and racism against Black persons,” the court wrote.The now-deceased defense attorney’s racism continued even after he took the case, the court said.The defendant, Anthony Dew, was coincidentally released from prison on parole on Thursday,...

Mexican farmers take over airport, governor tells them to take over private grain warehouses instead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Farmers have taken over the airport in the northern Mexico city of Culiacan to protest low prices for their corn and wheat crops. While the three-day blockade in Sinaloa state has caused the cancellation of dozens of flights, it has not drawn wider international attention to the farmer’s complaints. But on Wednesday, Sinaloa Gov. Ruben Rocha appealed to the farmers to leave the airport and instead take over the warehouses or offices of the U.S. food giant Cargill. That drew a stern rebuke from a U.S. expatriate group in Mexico. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Thursday he won’t intervene in the dispute, which has prevented flights from taking off or landing since Tuesday. He accused big farmers, with thousands of acres, of taking advantage of a subsidy system meant for small farmers, and said political opponents were behind the dispute.“We are not going to give in,” López Obrador said but also insisted authorities were “not going to use force...

Republicans in Oregon Senate end six-week walkout that blocked bills on abortion, trans health care

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Enough Republican members showed up in the Oregon Senate on Thursday to end a six-week walkout that halted the work of the Legislature and blocked hundreds of bills, including some on abortion, transgender health care and gun safety.The boycott, which prevented the Senate from reaching a two-thirds quorum needed to pass bills, was prompted by a sweeping measure on abortion and gender-affirming care that Republicans said was too extreme. The walkout also blocked the approval of the two-year state budget and a gun-safety measure opposed by the GOP that would increase the purchasing age to 21 for semiautomatic rifles.GOP Minority Leader Sen. Tim Knopp had said the boycott would end only on the session’s last day — June 25 — to pass “bipartisan” legislation and budget bills. But an optimistic mood took over the Capitol this week as GOP and Democratic leaders met to negotiate compromises.“We asked for lawful, we asked for constitutional, we asked for compromise, and I ...

Highway 1 closed West of Winnipeg due to major collision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

Highway 1 west of Winnipeg is completely closed after reports of a multiple casualty incident Thursday near Carberry, Manitoba.Manitoba RCMP say they are on scene of a “very serious collision”, the highway is closed, and motorists should yield to emergency vehicles on route.STARS air ambulance from Winnipeg and Regina have been dispatched to the area within a 3.2 kilometer distance either side of Highway 5.Winnipeg hospitals have also been placed in Code Orange and are preparing for patients.More to come.

Bayer reaches $6.9 million settlement with New York over advertising for weedkiller Roundup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bayer, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, has agreed to pay $6.9 million to settle allegations by New York’s attorney general that its Monsanto unit made false and misleading claims about the safety of the weedkiller Roundup.The sum comes on top of the billions of dollars Bayer has already paid to settle lawsuits claiming Roundup, one of the world’s most widely used herbicides, causes cancer. The lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James focused on advertising by Monsanto, which was acquired by Bayer in 2018, saying Roundup “won’t harm anything but weeds” and does not threaten the health of animal wildlife.James said those claims breached a previous settlement New York state reached with Monsanto two decades ago, in which Monsanto agreed to stop making unsubstantiated claims regarding the safety of Roundup products containing glyphosate.“Pesticides can cause serious harm to the health of our environment, and pose a deadly threat to wil...

Homeowner finds possible World War II rocket while doing yard work in Lake County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — Deputies said a possible World War II anti-tank rocket was found Thursday in unincorporated Antioch Township.According to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office, a homeowner found something with sharp edges sticking out of the ground while doing yard work in the 25000 block of West 3rd Street. The homeowner was curious and dug it out of the ground. New pickleball and entertainment center coming to Northwest Suburbs As a precaution, the sheriff's office said residents in the area have been evacuated until the bomb squad removes to possible rocket.Photo of the possible rocket from the Lake County Sheriff's OfficeThe sheriff's office said it's not known if the possible rocket is inert or if it could explode. It's unknown how long it has been buried.Additional details haven't been released.

Justin Fields has a unique trip planned for June

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

LAKE FOREST — The very limited summer offseason for the Bears' quarterback has begun, and it will include a very unique trip. Yet this travel to Europe won't just be for rest and relaxation for Justin Fields, who is heading overseas for an activity involving football. The third-year quarterback will be going to France to take part in the "QB Takeover Football Camp" on Sunday in Antony at the U.S. Metropolitaine Des Transports Paris. It's being run by Flexwork Sports and will feature quarterback trainer Quincy Avery.Fields will be joined by Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love and Cleveland Browns starter Deshaun Watson. He along with the rest of the Bears completed their final mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday at Halas Hall and he plans to leave for France on Friday night."It's gonna be my first time in Europe, so I'm definitely excited about that," said Fields when asked about the trip to the camp. "Jordan Love's going to be out there, Deshaun Watson, so guys I ...

2 Americans vacationing in Mexico found dead in hotel room

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

(KTLA) – Two Americans vacationing in Mexico were found dead in their hotel room on Tuesday under circumstances that remain under investigation.The bodies of John Heathco, 41, and Abby Lutz, 28, were discovered inside a room at the upscale Hotel Rancho Pescadero in the village of El Pescadero around 9 p.m. Tuesday, the Baja California Sur Attorney General’s Office confirmed to ABC News.El Pescadero is located on the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula, roughly one hour north of Cabo San Lucas.The couple's cause of death was listed as "intoxication by substance to be determined," the AG’s office said. Crowds, high prices and the ‘White Lotus’ effect: Worst places to travel this summer In a GoFundMe post, a friend of Lutz suggested the couple may have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.“Abby and her boyfriend thought they had food poisoning and went to the hospital to get treatment. We were told they were feeling much better a few days later,” Gabrielle Slate, the organizer of the o...

Rod Stewart says he's leaving rock 'n' roll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

(WJW) – After more than six decades in the music industry, rock legend Rod Stewart has announced that he is planning to leave rock ‘n’ roll behind.In a recent interview with BBC Breakfast, the 78-year-old singer revealed his intention to pivot to swing music and continue performing standards following his upcoming summer tour. Jury awards $25.6 million to white Starbucks manager fired after the arrests of 2 Black men Stewart stated that he is not retiring, but rather wants to move on from rock ("for a while, maybe") and he's looking forward to "doing something else.""Everything has to come to an end sooner or later," Stewart said in an interview.NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 08: Rod Stewart performs at the Mission Estate Winery on April 08, 2023 in Napier, New Zealand. (Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JULY 05: Singer Rod Stewart performs at Bridgestone Arena on July 05, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND ...

Illinois Gaming Board gives pre-approval for temporary Chicago casino at Medinah Temple

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:17:44 GMT

CHICAGO — The Illinois Gaming Board has approved a motion giving pre-approval to turn the old Medinah Temple location in River North into a temporary casino.Bally's will open the temporary location while a permanent $2 billion casino is being built at the site of the former Tribune printing plant along the Chicago River.Last weekend, Bally's held two job fairs to fill hundreds of positions.A spokesperson for Bally's said they hope to open the temporary location in late summer.This is a developing story. Check back for details.