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Regulators and law enforcement crack down on crypto’s bad actors. Congress has yet to take action

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — While the scandals in the cryptocurrency industry seem to never end, Washington policymakers appear to have little interest in pushing through legislation to codify the structure of the industry.The latest shoe to drop is Binance’s multibillion dollar settlement with U.S. authorities and the resignation of its CEO this week. Before that came the conviction of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried for stealing billions from customers and the implosion of smaller crypto companies that cost investors large sums of money. When cryptocurrencies collapsed and a number of companies failed last year, Congress considered multiple approaches for how to regulate the industry in the future. However, most of those efforts have gone nowhere, especially in this chaotic year that has been dominated by geopolitical tensions, inflation and the upcoming 2024 election.In fact, the appetite for new rules seems more diminished than ever. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said plainly Tuesday...

Atlanta officer used Taser on church deacon after he said he could not breathe, police video shows

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — An Atlanta police officer responding to a minor car crash deployed a Taser on a church deacon who disregarded multiple commands to sign a traffic ticket, shocking the man after he repeatedly said he could not breathe, police body camera video released Wednesday shows.Johnny Hollman Sr. became unresponsive during his arrest late on the night of Aug. 10 and later died. An autopsy determined the 62-year-old’s death was a homicide, with heart disease also a contributing factor, and his relatives have called on prosecutors to charge Officer Kiran Kimbrough with murder. An attorney for Kimbrough, who was fired, says the officer acted lawfully.The roughly hour-long video shows Kimbrough arriving at the scene of the crash and gathering information from Hollman, the other driver and a passenger before the confrontation. Relatives have said Hollman was driving home from Bible study at his daughter’s house and bringing dinner to his wife when he collided with another vehic...

Military scientists identify remains of Indiana soldier who died in German WWII battle

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) — Military scientists have identified the remains of an Indiana soldier who died in World War II when the tank he was commanding was struck by an anti-tank round during a battle in Germany.The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Wednesday that the remains of U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Gene F. Walker of Richmond, Indiana, were identified in July, nearly 79 years after his death.Walker was 27 and commanded an M4 Sherman tank in November 1944 when his unit battled German forces near Hücheln, Germany, and his tank was struck by an anti-tank round.The tank’s other crew members survived, but Walker was killed and they were unable to remove his body from the tank due to heavy fighting. The War Department issued a presumptive finding of death in April 1945 for Walker, DPAA said.His remains were identified after a DPAA historian determined that one set of unidentified remains recovered in December 1944 from a burned-out tank in Hücheln possibly belonged to Walker. Th...

2 charged with operating sex ring that catered to wealthy clients will remain behind bars for now

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Two people accused of operating a high-end brothel network with wealthy and prominent clients in Massachusetts and the Washington, D.C., suburbs will remain behind bars for now, a judge said on Wednesday. Lawyers for Han Lee and Junmyung Lee agreed to a voluntary order of detention during a brief court hearing two weeks after their arrest. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy in Worcester, Massachusetts, entered the order without prejudice, which means defense lawyers can move for their release at a later date. Their attorneys declined to comment after the hearing. Authorities have said the commercial sex ring in Massachusetts and northern Virginia catered to politicians, company executives, military officers, lawyers, professors and other well-connected clients. Prosecutors have not publicly named any of the buyers and they have not been charged. But acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Josh Levy has said the investigation is ongoing and that prosecutors are commit...

Rebels claim to capture more ground in Congo’s east, raising further concerns about election safety

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

GOMA, Congo (AP) — A rebel group with alleged links to neighboring Rwanda claimed Wednesday to have seized a key town in Congo’s conflict-hit eastern region amid intense fighting, raising further security concerns ahead of the country’s Dec. 20 presidential election.Mweso town, which is about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the North Kivu provincial capital of Goma, came under the control of the M23 rebel group following days of fighting with government-backed forces, Lawrence Kanyuka, the group’s spokesman, said.Residents in the area told The Associated Press they witnessed gunfire between the rebels and security forces. “The enemy has managed to reoccupy Mweso,” said one, Alain Kamala.The AP was not immediately able to verify who was in control of the town. The Congolese army confirmed there was fighting under way around the area.M23 rose to prominence 10 years ago when its fighters seized Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city on the border with Rwanda. It derives its name from ...

U.S. egg producers conspired to fix prices from 2004 to 2008, a federal jury ruled

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Illinois jury ruled this week that several major egg producers conspired to limit the U.S.’s supply of eggs in order to raise prices in a case stemming from a federal lawsuit originally filed 12 years ago.Several large food manufacturing companies including Kraft Foods Global, Inc. and The Kellogg Company alleged in the lawsuit originally filed in 2011 that producers used various means to limit the U.S. domestic supply of eggs to increase the prices of eggs and egg products during the 2000s. The time frame of the conspiracy was an issue throughout the case; jurors ultimately determined damages occurred between 2004-2008. A jury unanimously delivered its verdict Tuesday in the Northern District of Illinois and damages will be decided in a trial scheduled for next week.The suppliers include the family company of an Indiana egg farmer running for the U.S. Senate in the state. Attorneys for the four egg suppliers named in the lawsuit did not immediately retu...

Local newspaper started by Ralph Nader saved from closure by national media company

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

WINSTED, Conn. (AP) — A small Connecticut newspaper that began publishing in February with the help of Ralph Nader has been saved from a planned shutdown after a national media company swooped in to buy it.American Business Media said Wednesday that it has acquired the Winsted Citizen, whose oversight board had decided only two days earlier that it could no longer operate because of financial woes. Terms were not disclosed.Vincent Valvo, chief executive, publisher and editor in chief of American Business Media, said the company made its offer to buy the Citizen on Monday after he heard about its possible demise. He said he wanted the newspaper to be successful.Valvo has longtime ties to Connecticut, having worked at the Hartford Business Journal and Connecticut Law Tribune and led the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information. He also has a home near Winsted, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Hartford.“I look at it and I think I know what folks in this region would lik...

The top cheeseburger joint in Chicago, according to Yelp

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – It’s been estimated that the average American eats approximately 60 burgers per year. And if that sounds high, it’s likely because most of those burgers weren’t so memorable.To rectify this issue, Yelp’s analysts recently set out to determine the “top” cheeseburger restaurant in every state using data obtained from Yelp’s community of online reviewers. The final list features something for folks in all corners of the country, from the meaty shores of Myrtle Beach to the cheesy plains of Wichita and beyond. The top-rated steakhouse in every state, according to Yelp The “top” places for a cheeseburger in every state, as determined by Yelp, can be found below:Alaska – Alaskan Burger & Brew, in AnchorageAlabama – Our Place Diner, in Ozark Arkansas – Table on 6th, in BentonvilleArizona – Happy’s Hamburgers, in ScottsdaleCalifornia – For The Win, in Los AngelesColorado – Burgers & Gyros, in Estes ParkConnecticut – Shady Glen Dairy Stores, in Manchester...

Train derails near phosphate plant in Florida

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

FORT MEADE, Fla. (WFLA) — A train derailed near the Mosaic phosphate plant in Fort Meade early Tuesday.Eagle 8 HD flew over the area, where at least 12 train cars derailed. A roadway near the entrance of the facility appeared to be blocked.(WFLA)(WFLA)(WFLA)(WFLA)Mosaic told News Channel 8 that the railcars were carrying phosphate rocks. Officials said the derailment poses no environmental concerns. No one was hurt in the incident.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023: Which performers, balloons can viewers expect to see?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:26:49 GMT

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (WPIX) – Balloons, floats, music icons, and celebrities will flood New York City's streets for the 97th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday. The rain-or-shine event kicks off at 8:30 a.m. — half an hour earlier than usual — near Central Park West and West 77th, and ends at the Macy's flagship store on 34th Street. Here's what to know about the parade before tuning in:Who is performing?The lineup at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade always includes a number of national musical acts in addition to marching bands and dancers. But perhaps the biggest name on the list is Cher, who just released a Christmas album. She'll make her appearance just before the parade's end, signaled by the arrival of Santa’s sleigh, parade organizers said.Grammy-winner Jon Batiste is scheduled to kick off the event, with performances to follow by Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Chicago, En Vogue, ENHYPEN, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Jessie James De...