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Judge awards Black church $1 million after BLM banner burned by Proud Boys during protest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge on Friday awarded more than $1 million to a Black church in downtown Washington, D.C. that sued the far-right Proud Boys for tearing down and burning a Black Lives Matter banner during a 2020 protest.Superior Court Associated Judge Neal A. Kravitz also barred the extremist group and its leaders from coming near the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church or making threats or defamatory remarks against the church or its pastor for five years.The ruling was a default judgment issued after the defendants failed to show up in court to fight the case.Two Black Lives Matter banners were pulled down from Metropolitan AME and another historically Black church and burned during clashes between pro-Donald Trump supporters and counterdemonstrators in December 2020.The destruction took place after weekend rallies by thousands of people in support of Trump’s baseless claims that he won a second term, which led to dozens of arrests, several stabbings and injuries...

16 kidnapped police employees released in southern Mexico

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) — After three days of captivity, 16 police employees kidnapped in the southern Mexico were released Friday.Rutilio Escandón, governor of Chiapas state, confirmed their return on Twitter. “I want to inform the people of Chiapas and Mexico that the 16 kidnapped colleagues have been released this afternoon,” he wrote in the post.No details were given on the circumstances of their release. The kidnappers had demanded the dismissal of three local police officials in Chiapas and the release of local singer Neyeli Cinco, who was abducted last week by another gang.The police workers were captured Tuesday by gunmen in several vans that intercepted a police transport truck on the Ocozocoautla-Tuxtla Gutiérrez highway. The gunmen took all the male employees but left 17 women.President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the group worked at a local prison, apparently as guards or administrative staff, though they are formally employed by the state police. After the kidnappin...

Passengers were stuck because United Airlines canceled their flights. The CEO took a private plane

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby apologized Friday for hopping on a private plane to get out of the New York area while thousands of United passengers were stranded because the airline canceled so many flights in Newark, New Jersey.“Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home,” Kirby said in a statement issued by the airline. “I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around-the-clock for several days — often through severe weather — to take care of our customers.”Kirby concluded by promising “to better demonstrate my respect for the dedication of our team members and the loyalty of our customers.”Kirby caught the private flight from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Denver on Wednesday, when United canceled 750 flights — one-fourth of its schedule for the day. That figure does not include flights on United Express. United has canceled nearly 3,000 flights this week, w...

Report: Rockets sign Fred VanVleet to three-year, $130M deal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

The Houston Rockets have signed former Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet to a three-year, $130-million deal according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.Free agent G Fred VanVleet has agreed on a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets, @KlutchSports CEO Rich Paul and agent Erika Ruiz tell ESPN. Rockets land ex-Raptors All-Star in his prime at 29 years old. pic.twitter.com/B6WwPmLYq1— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023It is the first max contract signed this summer.VanVleet, 29, has always been an advocate for betting on yourself. An undrafted guard out of Wichita State, he spent his entire career with the Raptors organization, rising up the ranks from the Raptors 905 to the sixth man and eventually the heir apparent to fan favourite Kyle Lowry.He was selected to his first All-Star game in the 2021-2022 season when he averaged a career-high 20.3 points while shooting 37 per cent from deep and dishing out 6.7 assists in his first season replacing Lo...

5-year-old girl dies after found unresponsive from Tinley Park pool

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — A 5-year-old girl has died after she was found unresponsive Friday evening at a water park in Tinley Park.According to the city officials, park district employees found the girl around 4 p.m. at the White Water Canyon Water Park. United Airlines CEO apologizes after taking private jet during flight disruptions Employees started CPR before paramedics arrived, took over CPR and took the girl to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.An official cause and manner of death haven’t been determined yet by the Will County Coroner’s Office.It’s not clear at this time how long the girl was underwater.A spokesperson for the Tinley Park-Park District said additional information isn’t being released at this time out of respect for the family.“Our thoughts are with the individual’s family and loved ones,” the statement read.

United Airlines CEO apologizes after taking private jet during flight disruptions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

CHICAGO — The CEO of United Airlines has issued an apology after he took a private jet this week while the airline struggled with widespread flight delays and cancelations due to weather.In a statement, Scott Kirby said it was the wrong decision and insensitive to customers who were waiting to get home. United Airlines experiencing crew, weather problems A spokesperson for the airline told The Wall Street Journal he flew from New Jersey to Denver because he couldn't get a seat on a commercial flight. In a statement, which was sent to WGN-TV, he also apologized to the employees."Watching our team firsthand with our customers at four different airports and during countless meetings this week, it’s clear to me they represent the best of United, and I regret that I have distracted from their professionalism," Scott said. "I promise to better demonstrate my respect for the dedication of our team members and the loyalty of our customers."United Airlines didn't pay for the private flight...

2 men charged after stealing over 200 catalytic converters

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- Investigators with the Chicago Police Department arrested two men on Friday in connection to a string of catalytic converter thefts.According to the Chicago Police Department, members of the Chicago Major Autor Theft Investigations United arrested two men on the 4500 block of West North Avenue on Friday, June 30.Marzel Woodard (left) and Vincent Parks (right)Marzel Woodard, 36, and Vincent Parks, 36, were both arrested and charged in connection with an investigation of stolen catalytic converters.CPD reported that over 200 catalytic converters and equipment used in the thefts were recovered from a building where the pair was arrested.No further information has been made available at this time.

1 dead after crash involving APD officer in northwest Austin

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person is dead and another was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a crash involving a police officer in northwest Austin Friday, Austin-Travis County EMS confirmed to KXAN.The Austin Police Department and medics responded to the 18000 block of North U.S. 183 in the northbound service road for a rollover. Two people were involved in the crash, medics said.One person was pronounced dead on the scene, and the other person was taken to the hospital with non-serious injuries, medics said.One person is dead, and another suffered non-serious injuries after a rollover crash on US 183 in northwest Austin Friday. | Andy Way/KXAN NewsOne person is dead, and another suffered non-serious injuries after a rollover crash on US 183 in northwest Austin Friday. | Andy Way/KXAN NewsA KXAN photojournalist was able to get photos from the scene, and an Austin Police Department vehicle was involved in the crash. While APD did confirm an officer was involved in the crash b...

Team meeting spurs changes as Twins embark on second half of season

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

BALTIMORE — The message was placed in a prominent spot, written on the dry erase board near the entrance to the visitor’s clubhouse at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for all to see.“Let the season begin,” it said in black ink. A rectangular red box had been drawn around it, helping reinforce the note. The Twins’ lineup, as usual, was posted right next to it. But there was something unusual about that, too, a familiar name occupying an unfamiliar spot to him.A frustrated Rocco Baldelli talked of changes — some that would be visible, some that might not — after the Twins lost to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. That loss capped off a sweep in which the team scored just three runs in three games and went a collective 0 for 23 with runners in scoring position.A visible change: Shortstop Carlos Correa, for the fourth time in his career, batted leadoff in Friday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, an idea that the manager said he’s been thinking about “for a while.” The shortst...

St. Paul school’s beloved pet goat ‘Hazelnut’ is stolen from pen, then found dead Friday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:36:00 GMT

A beloved goat that was stolen from a St. Paul school earlier this week was found dead Friday morning, police said.The goat, a 2-year-old, 120-pound female named “Hazelnut,” was reported missing Tuesday morning from Great River School at 1326 Energy Park Drive. Security video showed people around her pen the night before, authorities said.The Montessori charter school asked the public for help in locating Hazelnut, saying its student body was heartbroken about the theft of the trained and friendly Oberhasli goat, said Sgt. Mike Ernster of the St. Paul Police Department.About 9 a.m. Friday, police responded to a report of “suspicious items” in the 300 block of Lafond Avenue, some two miles southeast of the school, and found the remains of a goat in a plastic storage box, Ernster said.“Preliminary investigation revealed that there is a high likelihood that this goat is, unfortunately, the one that was stolen,” he said.No arrests have been made. The ...