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Protesters back on the streets of Belgrade as president ignores calls to stand down

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Thousands of people rallied in Serbia’s capital on Saturday for a fifth time in a month, following two mass shootings that shook the nation, even as the country’s populist president rejected any responsibility for the crisis and ignored the protesters’ demands to step down.The crowd, chanting slogans against President Aleksandar Vucic, marched through the capital, Belgrade, to gather in front of his downtown headquarters. They released a large balloon with the inscription “Vucic Go Away.”University students led the march, holding a banner that read “Serbia against violence!”The opposition protesters have been demanding the resignations of senior government officials and the revocation of broadcasting licenses for TV networks which, they say, promote violence and glorify crime figures.The protest on Saturday was somewhat different from the ones before. Independent journalists covering the march saw right-wing groups infiltrating the march to promote thei...

Israelis rally against proposed judiciary overhaul continue for 22nd week

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered Saturday to protest judicial overhaul plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, the most hard-line in Israel’s history.The weekly protests, now in their 22nd week, continue despite Netanyahu’s March announcement that the contentious legal proposals were put on hold.Several rallies were held across Israel, with the main protest drawing tens of thousands in the central city of Tel Aviv.The protesters waved Israel’s flags, lit torches, and beat drums.The plan would weaken the judiciary and limit judicial oversight on laws and government decisions, what critics say poses a direct threat to civil rights and the rights of minorities and marginalized groups.Protests have continued even though the government and opposition are in talks to find a compromise on the plan.The government says the judicial plan is meant to rein in what it says is an overly interventionist Supreme Court and restore power to elected...

CPD officer charged for possession of cocaine in squad car: court

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer has been charged in possession of cocaine in squad car Norwood Park early Friday morning. Antrinuis Andrews, 38, was charged with felonies of possession of a control substance and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to his court hearing held Saturday. According to bond court, Andrews was seen leaving a CPD vehicle, not in gear, walking into a bar in Norwood Park near the 7100 block of Higgins Avenue around 4:00 a.m. Upon a call of suspicion, a CPD officer arrived at the scene and approached Andrews, detecting odor of alcohol. Police also observed a clear plastic bag containing white residue and another bag containing a 'rock-like' substance. Boy, 16, charged for attempted murder in shooting on South Side Open bottles of alcohol were also found in the squad car. Andrews' FOID and CCL cards have been surrendered. His firearm has been turned into the Chicago Police Department.There is no additional information on th...

What is a 'Yellowhammer' cookie? Nutty treat becomes Alabama's newest state symbol

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

ALABAMA (WHNT) – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 421 (HB421) into law Friday, making the "Yellowhammer Cookie" the official state cookie. "Sweet Home Alabama just officially got a little sweeter!" Ivey said after signing the bill into law.The cookie, which was invented by Montgomery fourth-grader Mary Claire Cook, contains pecans and peanuts — both of which are recognized as crops of "historical and agricultural significance" in Alabama," according to the bill. The peanut is designated as the state legume and pecans, which are native to Alabama, are the official state nut.The cookie also contains other state-affiliated ingredients like oats and honey. How much does a wedding cost in your state? Cook collaborated with her grandmother to create the Yellowhammer cookie, after her class at Trinity Presbyterian School began studying state symbols, AL.com reported. The fourth graders realized the state didn't have an officially named cookie, so they all endeavored to make one....

Biden signs debt ceiling bill with just days to spare

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

(NewsNation) — With just two days to spare, President Joe Biden signed legislation on Saturday that lifts the nation’s debt ceiling, averting an unprecedented default on the federal government’s debt.The White House announced the signing, done in private at the White House, in an emailed statement in which Biden thanked congressional leaders for their partnership.Biden on Friday celebrated a “crisis averted" in his first address since the deal's passage, saying, “No one got everything they wanted, but the American people got what they needed.”The deal will suspend the debt limit for two years, while also putting in new work requirements for older Americans receiving food assistance. It also boosts funding for veterans and defense and approves a natural gas pipeline going from West Virginia to Virginia. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the plan cuts the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next decade.  Biden highlighted the “compromise and consensus” in the deal. “...

APD searching for 3 men in connection with March shooting that injured 1

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it was searching for three men in connection with a shooting that injured a man in March.Detectives said the shooting occurred March 8 at 1:14 a.m. in the 3400 block of North Interstate 35 Frontage Road heading northbound.APD officers and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services arrived at the scene and found a man with a gunshot wound in one leg. APD said the man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Detectives with APD's Aggravated Assault Unit said they believed the victim and another man were walking when one of three suspects, unknown to the victims, shot at them.Police said the suspects were traveling in a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 that was last seen heading north on the frontage road.Austin Police provided the suspect descriptions below.Images of three suspects (APD photos)According to police, the first suspect was described as a heavy-set Hispanic man that is approximately 30 years old. Police sai...

Travis County grand jury indicts out-of-state executives for insurance fraud

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A Travis County Grand Jury indicted multiple Georgia-based corporate executives for doing insurance business in Texas without licenses, according to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. “Our office will hold accountable powerful actors who violate our laws,” Travis County District Attorney José Garza said in a press release. “This was a collaborative effort between our office and the Texas Department of Insurance, and I appreciate our partnership.”An Unauthorized Insurance Business expense is a third-degree felony, punishable with an up to $10,000 fine and confinement for two to ten years, according to the Travis County DA. The grand jury indicted  Shelley Steele and Chase Moses, the CEO and President of The Aliera Companies – formerly known as Aliera Healthcare  – with 12 counts of Unauthorized Insurance Business. The charges brought against them allege the two accused collected money for insurance and assisted insurers in collecting mon...

Charley Walters: Only pitchers will make up Twins’ all-star contingent

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

It’s a good bet that no position players will represent the Minnesota Twins in the All-Star Game in Seattle on July 11. At least one pitcher would seem to be the first-place team’s representative from among Sonny Gray, Jhoan Duran or Joe Ryan.Gray (4-0) has baseball’s second-best earned-run average (1.94). No doubt the majors would like to showcase a guy, Duran, with a fastball that has reached 104.6-mph this season. And Ryan is 7-2.— Besides Justin Jefferson’s anticipated $150 million contract extension, the biggest issues for the Vikings now are a new deal for Danielle Hunter that could triple his $5 million salary for next season and trying to find a trading partner for Dalvin Cook, even if it’s a late-round draft pick.— Insiders say the Gophers halted recruitment of Bloomington Jefferson point guard Daniel Freitag, who is headed to Wisconsin, last March after they received a commitment from junior point guard Isaac Asuma of tiny Cherry High School near Duluth.— The Twins’ Byron ...

St. Paul man killed in single car crash on MN 280 early Saturday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

A 56-year-old St. Paul man was killed after he was ejected from his car in a single car crash early Saturday, authorities say.At about 1:43 a.m. Saturday, the Minnesota State Patrol reports, Edward Jack Larson was speeding in his 2004 Jaguar XJ8 on northbound Highway 280 when he hit the median just north of Larpenteur Avenue.After the vehicle struck the concrete center median, it careened into the right side ditch and then returned to the roadway, according to the report on the state patrol’s website.Larson, who authorities say was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Authorities say alcohol was involved in the crash.Related ArticlesNews | Joe Soucheray: We don’t have the $100 million. Might as well add another $12 million? News | Historic preservationist group sues to stop demolition, replacement of Hamline-Midway Library News | Artist Christopher Marley’s ‘Exquis...

City of Schenectady announces upcoming road closure

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The City of Schenectady has announced an upcoming road closure. On June 6 and June 7, construction will close Clinton Street between State Street and Franklin Street for a majority of the two days. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The city stated that construction crews will be installing a watermain connection on the Clinton Street block, and will require the closure of the roadway. The area will be closed to all traffic during the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.Traffic will be detoured to Barrett Street and Lafayette Street during the time of the closing.