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Pence signals debate plan to attack Trump and DeSantis for not pushing national abortion ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Friday he expected to call out former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during this month’s Republican presidential debate for not insisting on a national abortion ban, an issue Pence says requires federal action. “My former running mate, the governor of Florida and others are suggesting that the Supreme Court returned the question of abortion to the states,” Pence told reporters while touring the Iowa State Fair on Friday. The 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade stripped away constitutional protections for the procedure.“I truly do believe it’s vitally important that we seize the opportunity at the national level to advance protections for the right to life, and I’ll do so as president,” he added. “This is a really big issue. It will be on the stage in Milwaukee.” Pence was referring to the Republican presidential debate scheduled for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. Pence has recommen...

Nebraska judge allows abortion limits and restrictions on gender-affirming surgery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

A Nebraska judge on Friday rejected an effort to block a ban on abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy and restrictions on gender-affirming surgery.Lancaster County District Court Judge Lori Maret sided with the state and allowed a law approved by the Nebraska Legislature earlier this year to remain in effect.The law outlaws abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. As of Oct. 1, it also will prevent people under 19 from receiving gender-affirming surgery and restricts the use of hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors.Planned Parenthood of the Heartland had filed a lawsuit arguing legislators violated a constitutional requirement that bills not contain more than one subject. Lawmakers added the abortion ban to an existing bill dealing with gender-related care.The attorney general contended the issues didn’t violate the rule because they were both health related.“I am grateful for the court’s thorough de...

Security guard found not guilty in on-duty fatal shot reacting to gun fight by Nashville restaurant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A jury on Friday found a security guard not guilty of murder and other charges in a fatal shooting outside the Nashville restaurant where he was working, closing a case that hinged on whether he was justified in firing at a man involved in a shootout outside the business.Nathan Glass, 29, was facing an indictment for second-degree murder in the October 2018 death of 25-year-old Deangelo Knox, who was engaged in a shootout with people in a car outside The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden, where patrons were dining.At the state court trial that began Monday in Nashville, prosecutors contended that Knox was on foot out of his vehicle, fleeing the assailants in another car and fighting for his life when Glass inched the restaurant’s door open and shot him. But Glass’ attorneys said he was following through on his duty as a security guard to protect himself and others. They argued that Knox had begun turning toward the restaurant while holding ...

Brazil’s police allege Bolsonaro got money from $70,000 sale of luxury jewelry gifts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil’s federal police on Friday alleged former President Jair Bolsonaro received cash from the nearly $70,000 sale of two luxury watches he received as gifts from Saudi Arabia while in office, posing another potential blow for the embattled far-right leader.Earlier in the day, officers raided the homes and offices of several people purportedly involved in the case, including a four-star army general. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing involving the gifts.A Federal Police officer said the force is seeking authoriziation to access the personal banking and financial information of Bolsonaro. The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation, said the Federal Police had asked for help from the FBI.Bolsonaro’s lawyers said in a statement that he would authorize Brazil’s judiciary to have access to his banking records.“President Bolsonaro has never embezzled or misplaced any public assets,” it said.The case adds to the legal jeopardy ...

Southern California Marine charged with sex assault of girl, 14, who was found in barracks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Marine at California’s Camp Pendleton has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl who was found in a base barracks, the military announced Friday.Military prosecutors charged the Marine with sexual assault of a minor and with violating liberty restriction from an earlier, unrelated case. After a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 17, authorities will decide whether he will face a court-martial, said a statement from Capt. Charles Palmer with the 1st Marine Logistics Group.The Marine’s identity and other details of the case, such as when and how he met the teenager and how she got onto the base, weren’t immediately released. The girl had been missing for more than two weeks when military police located her inside a barracks on June 28 at the base 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of San Diego.Her grandmother has said the girl ran away in early June. Other relatives have speculated that she was sold by a sex trafficker. She has be...

Death toll rises to 67 in Maui wildfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

Officials in the County of Maui have confirmed the wildfire death toll has risen to 67.In an update posted online Friday, the county confirmed 12 additional fatalities as of 1 p.m. local time due to the active Lahaina fire.“Thirty-six fatalities were confirmed Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Another 19 were confirmed Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023,” the county said, noting, “the Lahaina fire is not yet contained.”Officials say firefighters continue to battle the blaze, which rendered large swaths of the centuries-old town of Lahaina into ashen rubble.The update came as some residents of the community were being allowed to return home for the first time to assess the damage.Related articles: Canadians flying back from Maui on Air Canada ‘ferry’ flights share wildfire horrorsDeath toll from Maui fires rises to 53, governor saysIncinerated cars crushed by downed telephone poles, charred elevator shafts standing as testaments to the burned-down apartment buildings ...

Massachusetts man pleads guilty to bomb threat aimed at then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to sending threats two years ago to Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs when she was the secretary of state, the U.S. Justice Department said Friday. James Clark, 38, entered a guilty plea to one count of sending a communication containing a bomb threat to an election official, according to a news release.The FBI arrested Clark last year over online threats he made in February 2021. According to prosecutors, Clark, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, sent a message through an online form maintained by the Secretary of State’s election department. He warned Hobbs she had to “resign by Tuesday Feb. 16 by 9 a.m. or the explosive device impacted in her personal space will be detonated.”He also was accused of doing Internet searches of Hobbs’ name with phrases like “how to kill” and “address.”Clark’s threat was one of countless threats made against Hobbs for her role in certifying the 2020 presidential election, which then-Republican Preside...

Amazon delivery driver hospitalized after South Side stabbing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

CHICAGO -- An Amazon delivery driver has been hospitalized after being attacked Friday evening.According to the Chicago Police Department, officers responded to the 3000 block of South Michigan Avenue around 3 p.m. on Friday. Officer-involved shooting in Morgan Park under investigation A 22-year-old woman reportedly parked in front of a residence when her Amazon delivery truck would not start. An individual became upset she was blocking the driveway and exited their vehicle. CPD said the individual produced a knife and stabbed the 22-year-old woman in the knee, right arm, and lower back.The 22-year-old woman was transported to a local hospital in good conditions.No arrests have been made at this time.No further information has been made available at this time.Stay with WGN-TV as this story develops.

At least 67 people died in fires on Maui. Residents had little warning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (NEXSTAR) — Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that warning sirens sounded before people ran for their lives from wildfires on Maui that killed at least 67 people and wiped out a historic town. Instead, officials sent alerts to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations — but widespread power and cellular outages may have limited their reach.Hawaii boasts what the state describes as the largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system in the world, with about 400 sirens positioned across the island chain to alert people to various natural disasters and other threats. Newest photos show devastation from Maui fire But many survivors said in interviews Thursday that they didn’t hear any sirens or receive a warning that gave them enough time to prepare and only realized they were in danger when they saw flames or heard explosions nearby.The wildfires are the state’s deadliest natural disaster since a 1960 tsunami that kille...

Mayor Johnson fires Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:28 GMT

CHICAGO -- Mayor Brandon Johnson fired Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady on Friday.Mayor Johnson's office confirmed the termination of Dr. Arwady to WGN-TV on Friday.Dr. Arwady was with the Department Of Public Health since 2015, where she initially served as Chief Medical Officer before being confirmed as Commissioner in January 2020. Illinois Supreme Court upholds state’s ban on semiautomatic weapons Dr. Allison Arwady released the following statement Friday night:"Over a decade of working in public health in Chicago--including four years as the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health--my top priority has always been protecting the health of all Chicagoans.It has been the best chapter of my life (so far!) leading the CDPH team, especially through the COVID pandemic, when public health was needed more than ever. Public health must always be driven by science and medicine, and never politics.It is critical that this work receives t...