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GOP lawmakers clash with Attorney General Garland over Hunter Biden investigation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday came face-to-face with his most ardent critics as House Republicans used a routine oversight hearing to interrogate him about what they claim is the “weaponization” of the Justice Department under President Joe Biden.Garland is appearing before the House Judiciary Committee for the first time in two years and at an unprecedented moment in the Justice Department’s history: He’s overseeing two cases against Donald Trump, the first former president to face criminal charges, and another against the sitting president’s son, Hunter Biden.Republicans on the committee — led by Rep. Jim Jordan, the chairman — came out of the gate with accusations that the Justice Department is protecting the Biden family, while targeting his opponent, Trump.“There’s one investigation protecting President Biden. There’s another one attacking President Trump,” Jordan, Republican of Ohio, said in his opening statement. “The Justice Department...

Man charged with murder over death of woman in Freetown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

A Freetown man has been arrested in connection with a homicide in town early Wednesday morning, the Bristol County District Attorney’s office said. The DA office in a statement said local police first responded to a scene on Chace Road between Pocasset Lane and Marie’s Way shortly before 4:30 a.m. where they soon found a 44-year-old woman dead in her home. After “some investigation,” the DA’s office said authorities identified a suspect and found him hiding in a nearby shed around 8:40 a.m. The DA’s office identified the suspect as Matthew Lucas, 54. He is facing a charge of murder and was expected to be arraigned in Fall River District Court at some point Wednesday morning or early Wednesday afternoon.Freetown police previously addressed the situation in a statement, saying a suspect was in custody as of 9:40 a.m. and adding “there is no imminent threat to the community.” “We appreciate the support and understanding of our community,” police said. “The members o...

Norfolk DA’s office reveals preliminary autopsy results about Patriots fan who collapsed during game

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

Preliminary autopsy results for a fan who collapsed during Sunday’s Patriots game did not suggest traumatic injury but did identify a medical issue, the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office announced. The DA’s office shared its latest update Wednesday morning, several days after Dale Mooney died following an incident in the stands at Gillette Stadium late in this weekend’s game between the Patriots and Dolphins. State police previously said Mooney, 53, suffered an “apparent medical incident” in the 308/309 section of stadium. Emergency crews responded and Mooney was taken to an Attleboro hospital, where he died, according to state police. As an investigation got underway, witnesses told 7NEWS they saw a fight near Mooney before EMTs rushed to his aid. The DA’s office on Wednesday said its investigation “has included numerous law enforcement interviews and the examination of multiple angles of video capturing the scuffle prior to Mr. Dale Mooney’s collapse during the Sunday...

Brad Marchand named as new Bruins captain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

Brad Marchand will be the Bruins’ next captain following the retirement of Patrice Bergeron earlier this year, the Bruins announced Wednesday. Marchand will be the 27th captain in Bruins history, following Bergeron and his predecessor, Zdeno Chara. “I am extremely proud of Brad and the hockey player he has become,” said Boston Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs in a statement. “Brad has been a Bruin for over 15 years and had the opportunity to learn from great leaders in Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron.” Jacobs said Marchand “is ready for this opportunity,” adding “our whole team will learn from his competitive nature and tenacity.” “I am confident he will represent our organization with heart and grit,” Jacobs said. Bergeron announced his retirement on July 25. Marchand, now entering his 15th NHL season, has spent his entire career to date with the Bruins, playing in 947 total games and scoring 372 goals through the 2022-2023 season.Marchand was originally dr...

UN chief warns of ‘gates of hell’ in climate summit, but carbon polluting nations stay silent

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

By SETH BORENSTEIN (AP Science Writer)UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of the United Nations warned Wednesday that the “gates of hell” are at hand as climate change intensifies, and top international officials said the world’s leaders still aren’t doing nearly enough to curb pollution of heat-trapping gases. They pleaded with major emitting nations to do more.Those nations remained silent. They weren’t allowed to speak because, organizers said, they had no new actions to take. The only countries that touted their efforts — “first movers and doers,” the United Nations called them — were responsible for just one-ninth of the world’s annual carbon pollution.“Humanity has opened the gates to hell,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday, opening a special climate ambition summit with yet another plea for action. “ Horrendous heat is having horrendous effects. Distraught farmers watching cro...

Brad Marchand named Bruins’ captain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

The Bruins have their captain for the club’s new era, and the torch has been passed to the most logical candidate.With players reporting to Warrior Ice Arena for physicals and testing, the B’s named Brad Marchand as the 27th captain as they embark on their 100th season in the National Hockey League.“I am extremely proud of Brad and the hockey player he has become,” said Boston Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs in a statement. “Brad has been a Bruin for over 15 years and had the opportunity to learn from great leaders in Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron. He is ready for this opportunity and our whole team will learn from his competitive nature and tenacity. I am confident he will represent our organization with heart and grit.”There was a day when it seemed unlikely that Marchand would ever wear the “C” with the multiple suspensions he’s incurred over his career for crossing the line in various ways. But if his predecessors Chara and Bergeron were the heart of the Bruins, M...

Cross-country rallies against ‘gender ideology’ in schools met with counter-protests

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

Thousands of people gathered in cities across Canada on Wednesday for competing protests, screaming and chanting at each other about school policies on gender identity.Separated by lines of police officers, the protests and counter-protests are linked to school policies, including in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, that require young people to get parental consent before teachers can use their preferred first names and pronouns.Posters created by a group called “1MillionMarch4Children” say rally participants are standing together against what they call “gender ideology” in the nation’s schools. They say that schools are exposing their children to inappropriate content about sexuality and gender identity, and they support the policies requiring parental consent.But the rallies are being met with counter-protesters who say those policies are a violation of children’s rights and that transgender youth should not be outed to their parents by teachers....

UK leader Rishi Sunak delays ban on new gas and diesel cars by 5 years

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he’s delaying by five years a ban on new gas and diesel cars that had been due to take force in 2030.The move is among measures that water down green pledges the U.K. has made.Sunak says Britain remains committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, but in a way that won’t “impose unacceptable costs on hard-pressed British families.”The announcement has angered green groups, opposition politicians and large chunks of U.K. industry, but has been welcomed by some in the governing Conservative Party who chafe at the expense of switching to renewable energy.The Associated Press

Pentagon working to restore benefits to LGBTQ+ veterans forced out under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon began a new effort Wednesday to contact former service members who may have been forced out of the military and deprived of years of benefits due to policies targeting their sexual orientation, starting with those targeted under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.Under DADT, which was enacted in 1994 by President Bill Clinton and in effect until 2011, service members who had other than heterosexual orientation could serve — as long as they kept it quiet. That led to years of discrimination, undue pressure, discharges and lost benefits.Under DADT and previous military policies forbidding gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer personnel from serving, at least 32,837 service members since 1980 were forced out of the military for their sexual orientation, according to Department of Defense data. More than 2,000 of those service members received general, other than honorable, or unknown discharge characterizations “that may hav...

Iran’s parliament passes a stricter headscarf law days after protest anniversary

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:25:27 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s parliament on Wednesday approved a bill to impose heavier penalties on women who refuse to wear the mandatory Islamic headscarf in public and those who support them.The move came just days after the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been detained by the morality police for violating the country’s dress code. Her death in custody ignited months of protests in which many called for the overthrow of Iran’s theocracy.The 70-item bill extends punishments to business owners who serve women not wearing the mandatory headscarf, known as hijab, and activists who organize against it. Violators could face up to 10 years in prison if the offense occurs in an organized way.The bill, which was approved by 152 lawmakers in Iran’s 290-seat parliament, requires ratification by the Guardian Council, a clerical body that serves as constitutional watchdog. It would take effect for a preliminary period o...