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GOP donor faces trial on charges of sex trafficking minors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A formerly well-connected Republican donor, accused of plying petite, vulnerable teenage girls with cash, liquor and gifts, goes on trial Tuesday on federal charges of sex trafficking minors.Anton “Tony” Lazzaro is charged with seven counts involving “commercial sex acts” with five minors ages 15 and 16 in 2020, when he was 30 years old. His indictment touched off a political firestorm that led to the downfall of Jennifer Carnahan as chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota. His co-defendant, Gisela Castro Medina, who formerly led the College Republicans chapter at the University of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty to two counts last year. She is cooperating with prosecutors and will testify against him. She faces sentencing in August.Lazzaro denies the sex-trafficking allegations. He says the government targeted him for political reasons and because of his wealth.Prosecutors say it’s simply a sex-trafficking case. They have not signaled any intent to call...

Serbian president criticizes ICC arrest warrant for Putin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Issuing an international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin will have negative consequences and will only prolong the war in Ukraine, Serbia’s president said Sunday.The International Criminal Court issued the warrant for the Russian leader on Friday, accusing him of war crimes. The ICC accused him of bearing personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor that started almost 13 months ago.But Serbian populist President Aleksandar Vucic, who had in the past boasted about his personal relation with the Russian leader, criticized the court’s decision.“I think issuing an arrest warrant for Putin, not to go into legal matters, will have bad political consequences and it says that there is a great reluctance to talk about peace (and) about truce” in Ukraine, Vucic told reporters in Belgrade.“My question is now that you have accused him of the biggest war crimes, who are you goi...

Pakistani police file terrorism charges against ex-PM Khan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Police in the Pakistani capital filed charges Sunday against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, 17 of his aides and scores of supporters, accusing them of terrorism and several other offenses after the ousted premier’s followers clashed with security forces in Islamabad the previous day. For hours on Saturday, Khan’s followers clashed with police outside a court where the former prime minister was to appear in a graft case. Riot police wielded batons and fired tear gas while Khan’s supporters threw fire bombs and hurled rocks at the officers. More than 50 officers were injured and a police checkpoint, several cars and motorcycles were torched. Police said 59 of Khan’s supporters were arrested during the violence. Khan never actually appeared inside the court to face charges that he had sold state gifts received while in office and concealed assets. Besides Khan, the case filed Sunday also accuses former and current lawmakers, former ministers,...

Republican bills push cash bail, subvert Democratic changes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Just two days before he drove his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee, killing six people and injuring more than 60, Darrell Brooks Jr. had posted bail for charges of domestic violence.He had been accused of using his SUV to run over the mother of his child, and a pretrial assessment found Brooks was at high risk of reoffending. But a court official set that bail at a mere $1,000 cash at the request of prosecutors, who later called their recommendation a mistake. For the parade killings, Brooks was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.Brooks quickly became the poster child for a Republican-backed push to enact tougher bail policies. The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature is asking voters to ratify a constitutional amendment that would make it harder for violent criminals to get out of jail on bail.GOP lawmakers in other states also are scrambling to make it harder for defendants to get out of jail before trial a...

Police supervisor in Tyre Nichols' death retired with benefits day prior to termination hearing: reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

The police supervisor who responded to the scene of Tyre Nichols’ arrest retired with benefits the day before his termination hearing, according to media reports.Lt. DeWayne Smith, who spent 25 years on the Memphis police force, was facing disciplinary charges for neglect of duty, unauthorized public statements and compliance with regulations, when he submitted his retirement on March 1, Memphis’ Action News 5 reported. His disciplinary hearing was scheduled for March 2.During the Jan. 7 arrest that ultimately led to Nichols’ death, Smith failed to get the 29-year-old medical care or remove his handcuffs, despite hearing him say, “I can’t breathe,” according to NBC News.Nichols was brutally beaten by several Memphis police officers during the early January traffic stop and died three days later from his injuries. Despite noticing Nichols’ injuries, Smith failed to obtain reports from the other officers about their use of force.Smith also told Nichols’ family that he had been driving...

Allergy season is 'earlier, longer and worse' in these US cities, report finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – That extra head congestion you've been feeling lately may not all be in your head, so to speak. A new report on seasonal allergies found the growing season has lengthened by more than two weeks, on average. A longer growing season means more days of sniffles, sneezes and headaches for allergy sufferers. Climate Central, an organization of scientists and journalists focused on studying the impacts of climate change and warming global temperatures, analyzed temperature data from 203 U.S. cities since 1970. They found allergy season isn't just getting longer, it's also getting more intense. ‘National Customer Rage Survey’ points to troubling trend among US consumers It's largely because warming temperatures have essentially shortened the length of deep-freeze winters and extended the length of seasons where allergen-producing plants thrive. "Earlier spring and longer periods of freeze-free days mean that plants have more time to flower and release allergy-inducing po...

2 dead after trapped in apartment building fire in Vernon Hills: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

VERNON HILLS, Ill. — Two people are dead after an apartment building caught fire while trapped inside Sunday morning, police say. According to Vernon Hills Police, officers responded to a call of a fire and people possibly trapped at a building in the 900 block of South Court Shorewood around 3:15 a.m.Police found heavy fire conditions and after taming the fire, found two individuals. One person was found dead and another adult was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center where they later died. Man charged after officer struck by car on LSD Friday The identities of the victims have not been released yet. The fire was extinguished but the building is inhabitable. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Why getting a COVID vaccine in the nose might work better

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Scientists are hopeful a new type of vaccine in development could give us a better shot at fighting COVID-19 -- without involving any type of shot at all. Clinical trials are underway for a type of intranasal vaccine, which is administered by spraying into the nose, not injecting into the arm. While current vaccines and boosters are very effective at preventing severe disease and death, the hope is that a nasal vaccine would be even better at preventing mild illness."These will induce immunity in the mucosa of the nasal pharynx – the site of initial viral replication – and may prevent infection and reduce transmission," said Dr. William Moss, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Have the odds of getting long COVID changed? Nasal vaccines, because of where they are administered, work to immediately strengthen antibodies in the mucus and nose. "Mucosal immunity," Moss explained, could prevent infection before the virus is a...

Sunday Brunch with Galit Restaurant, "Chicago Chefs Cook for Earthquake Relief"

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

CHICAGO — Executive Chef Zachary Engel joins us for Sunday Brunch to cook an authentic Turkish food and share more about the "Chicago Chefs Cook for Earthquake Relief."Chef Engel is one of the 45 chefs participating in "Chicago Chefs Cook for Earthquake Relief," an event happening Monday night to raise funds for the relief efforts int he aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. He shared one of the recipes he will be offering at the Event. The event will take place Monday from 5-9 p.m. at Avli on the Park at 180 North Field Boulevard. In addition to the chef-curated tasting stations, the evening will offer an upgraded VIP meet and greet chef experience. General admission and VIP tickets are available and can be purchased by visiting Chicago Chef Cook for Earthquake Relief (givebutter.com).All funds raised will directly support the World Central Kitchen's relief efforts.

Skateboarders pitch new Dayton’s Bluff skate park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:27:49 GMT

A coalition of skateboarders and parents are advocating for a new skate park by the Dayton’s Bluff Community Center on Conway Street.Members of the nonprofit organization City of Skate plan to participate in a community meeting at the rec center at 6 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the proposal, which would repurpose an underused tennis court for seasonal skating. The meeting will be hosted by St. Paul Parks and Recreation.St. Paul maintains six city-designated skateboarding sites, but other than a new half-pipe ramp at Battle Creek Regional Park, the East Side has no skate park amenities, said Council Member Jane Prince. “I’m totally on board,” Prince said. “I’ve offered to help find funds. The East Side needs a skatepark.”Among potential funding sources, City of Skate plans to lobby the Legislature for $19 million in statewide skate park funding during “Skatepark Advocacy Day” at the Minnesota State Capitol, scheduled from 9 to 10:30...