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2 accused of running high-end brothel network in Massachusetts and Virginia are due in court

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A man and woman accused of operating a commercial sex ring with wealthy and prominent clients in Massachusetts and the Washington, D.C., suburbs are set to appear in court Monday. Junmyung Lee, of Dedham, Massachusetts, and Han Lee, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, are scheduled to appear in federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts, for a detention hearing, where a judge will weigh whether they should remain behind bars while they await trial. They were arrested last week when investigators busted the network of brothels in Massachusetts and northern Virginia. Acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said those who bought sex services include elected officials, company executives and government contractors with security clearances. None of the clients have been charged, and authorities have not publicly named any of them. But prosecutors have said their investigation is ongoing. Attorneys for Junmyung Lee and Han Lee declined to comment last week. A third pe...

El Salvador slaps a $1,130 fee on African and Indian travelers as US pressures it to curb migration

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — El Salvador’s government has begun slapping a $1,130 fee on travelers from dozens of countries connecting through the nation’s main airport, amid U.S. pressure to help control migration flows to its southern border.Since the end of October, citizens of 57 largely African countries and India have had to pay the fee, according to El Salvador’s aviation authority.Aviation officials did not say whether the measure was aimed at reducing migration and have described the tariff as an “airport improvement fee,” but El Salvador’s government acknowledged an uptick in travelers from those countries this year. Also, the U.S. has been pressuring Central American countries to curb migration flows to its border with Mexico. U.S. authorities say they stopped migrants there more than 2 million times during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. El Salvador’s aviation authority said most passengers who have to pay the fee are headed to Nicaragua on the commercial airline ...

Caribbean island of Dominica creates world’s first marine protected area for endangered sperm whale

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The tiny Caribbean island of Dominica is creating the world’s first marine protected area for one of earth’s largest animals: the endangered sperm whale.Nearly 300 square miles (800 square kilometers) of royal blue waters on the western side of the island nation that serve as key nursing and feeding grounds will be designated as a reserve, the government announced Monday.“We want to ensure these majestic and highly intelligent animals are safe from harm and continue keeping our waters and our climate healthy,” Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said in a statement.Scientists say the reserve not only will protect the animals, but it will also help fight climate change.Sperm whales defecate near the surface because they shut down non-vital functions when they dive to depths of up to 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). As a result, nutrient-rich poop remains along the ocean surface and creates plankton blooms, which capture carbon dioxide in the atmosphere a...

Bad Boy Furniture aiming to restructure business as it faces ‘challenging’ economy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

TORONTO — Bad Boy Furniture Warehouse Ltd. is aiming to restructure its business through a filing made under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. The Greater Toronto Area furniture company says in Ontario court filings that the move has become necessary because Bad Boy is operating in a “challenging” economic environment.The company says high interest rates, falling home sales and a tight retail climate are impacting its business.The conditions have left Bad Boy owing many of its vendors, including most of its appliance and furniture suppliers. It is also facing significant challenges sourcing more inventory, which is impacting its retail business.As a result of its challenges, Bad Boy says it is considering a liquidation sale to wind down inefficient portions of its business.The Pickering, Ont.-headquartered retailer, which started in 1990, is owned by Lastman Furniture Inc. and has 12 stores across Ontario.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 20...

Chicago firefighter dies after battling fire at restaurant in Lincoln Park

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter has died after battling a fire at a restaurant in the city's Lincoln Park neighborhood.Fire officials confirmed the death Monday morning, saying "on behalf of the Fire Commisioner, it is my sad duty to report the passing of our member injured this morning at 2430 Lincoln."The fire started around 6 a.m. Monday at Lincoln Station Bar and Grill in the 2400 block of Lincoln Avenue. According to officials, a Mayday call was made while crews were responding to the fire and one firefighter was trapped and had to be rescued. The crew member was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition, where they later died.The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.The firefighter's death is the fourth line-of-duty death the department has dealt with this year. Lt. Kevin Ward died following a Northwest Side fire in August. In the same week in April, CFD lost Jermaine Pelt, 49, and Jan Tchoryk, 55, in separate fires.This is a developing story. Check b...

Secret Service agents protecting Biden's granddaughter open fire when 3 people try to break into SUV

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secret Service agents protecting President Joe Biden’s granddaughter opened fire after three people tried to break into an unmarked Secret Service vehicle in the nation’s capital, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.The agents, assigned to protect Naomi Biden, were out with her in the Georgetown neighborhood late Sunday night when they saw the three people breaking a window of the parked and unoccupied SUV, the official said. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on Monday on the condition of anonymity.A secret service agent, July 20, 2022, in New York. Secret Service agents protecting President Joe Biden's granddaughter have opened fire after three people tried to break into an unmarked Secret Service vehicle in Washington. That's according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday. It happened Sunday night in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington...

Dean's A-List Interviews: Comedian, Chicago native John Mulaney reminisces watching Bozo Show

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

CHICAGO -- WGN Entertainment reporter Dean Richards sits down with Chicago native, comedian John Mulaney on some of his fondest memories growing up in Chicago -- including watching the Bozo Show.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Police: Person dead after jumping from vehicle on 183A in Cedar Park

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) – Police are investigating after they said a person jumped from a moving vehicle on Highway 183A and died Monday morning. Cedar Park Police shared they got a call at about 6:30 a.m. from a rideshare driver, who told them a passenger had just leapt from their vehicle while traveling northbound on the toll road. This happened in the 5900 block of 183A, which is close to the Scottsdale exit. The northbound lanes remain closed as of 9:30 a.m. Monday because of the ongoing investigation. Police said the road may reopen to traffic in one to two hours. Police initially said on social media the lanes were shut down near Whitestone Blvd. through Crystal Falls Parkway around 6:53 a.m. "for a traffic incident."This is a developing story. Stay with KXAN for more details.

Gas war in Denver area slashes prices below $2 a gallon, national average drops

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

Gas prices have been slowly coming down over the past months in Colorado and across the country, but one stretch of road is seeing prices nearly half the state average.When a new QuikTrip station opened on Arapahoe Road in Greenwood Village, a gas price war broke out among the stations on the street.Over the weekend, the price war drove gas under $2 a gallon, and as of Monday morning, the new station was selling regular gas for $1.71 a gallon, almost half Colorado’s statewide average of $3.25, according to reports from GasBuddy.Prices at other gas stations on the street hovered around $2.30 at 7:30 a.m., still more than a dollar below the average.In Denver, average gas prices have dropped 44.8 cents over the past month, putting the city average at $3.11, according to GasBuddy survey data. In the last week, prices have dropped 16.3 cents.For Colorado as a whole, prices are down 11.3 cents from last week and 41.7 cents from last month, according to GasBuddy.Nationally, prices ar...

10 Freeway closed: Los Angeles Mayor says 'damage will not be fixed in an instant'

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:11:42 GMT

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other local officials held a news conference Monday morning to update Angelenos on the closure of the 10 Freeway through downtown Los Angeles.“To the 300,000 people who would normally drive on this stretch of the 10 and to those who live, work or have appointments or schools in the area, as we made clear yesterday, this was a huge fire and the damage will not be fixed in an instant,” Bass said during her 6 a.m. address."Engineers have worked all night and are working right now to determine our path forward," Bass continued. "I have made it clear with our local, state and federal partners that any unnecessary bureaucracy or delays are not happening here."How long the freeway would be shut down remains unclear after the massive pallet yard fire over the weekend that prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency to help facilitate cleanup and repairs. No cars are seen on the 10 Freeway through downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 2023. (KTLA)Th...