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Veteran jurist picked to weigh moving Trump’s criminal trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge known for his care and cautiousness in presiding over litigation in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks was selected Friday to decide whether Donald Trump ’s criminal case proceeds in state or federal court.Alvin Hellerstein, a Manhattan federal judge for a quarter century, picked up the case after it was originally assigned to a colleague whose husband was a key prosecutor in special counsel Robert Mueller ’s investigation of the former president.Trump’s lawyers petitioned Thursday to have a federal court seize control of his criminal case, arguing that the case “involves important federal questions” and shouldn’t be tried in the state court where his historic indictment was brought.Such requests are rarely granted in criminal cases, but Trump’s request is unprecedented because he’s the first former president ever charged with a crime.The matter was initially assigned Friday to Judge Ronnie Abrams. Hours later, the docket showed it had been reassigned to Helle...

‘Freaky-looking’ fanged fishes found on Oregon beaches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

Several scaleless fish with fanged jaws and huge eyes that can be found more than a mile deep in the ocean have washed up along a roughly 200-mile (322-kilometer) stretch of Oregon coastline, and it’s unclear why, scientists and experts said.Within the last few weeks, several lancetfish have appeared on beaches from Nehalem, in northern Oregon, to Bandon, which is about 100 miles (161 kilometers) from the California border, Oregon State Parks said on Facebook. The agency asked beachgoers who see the fish to take photos and post them online, tagging the agency and the NOAA Fisheries West Coast region.Lancetfish live mainly in tropical and subtropical waters but travel as far north as areas like Alaska’s Bering Sea to feed. Their slinky bodies include a “sail-like” fin, and their flesh is gelatinous — not generally something humans wish to eat, according to NOAA Fisheries.Ben Frable, a fish scientist who manages the Marine Vertebrate Collection at Scripps Institution of Oceanogr...

Mexican chef and promoter of local ingredients celebrated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Years ago, chef Elena Reygadas of the restaurant Rosetta wondered why Mexican cuisine was not more popular internationally and concluded it was due to the ingredients. Now a proud defender of those same ingredients, she has been recognized as the World’s Best Female Chef 2023.Mexican cuisine was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010 and its popularity has only continued to rise. “I’m thrilled, I feel like it had taken long enough,” Reygadas said about the acceptance of her country’s cuisine.Speaking recently inside the mansion that Rosetta inhabits in the capital’s Roma neighborhood, Reygadas said: “It is so delicious, so vast, I think it’s really lovely … it makes me really happy that you go to other restaurants around the world and they give you tacos and moles, and their versions.”The award was announced last month by the list “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants,” compiled by the British company William Reed. Rosetta, one...

Georgia enacts law letting panel punish, oust prosecutors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill into law Friday creating a new commission empowered to discipline and remove wayward prosecutors, saying it will curb “far-left prosecutors” who are “making our communities less safe.”Kemp made the remarks at the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in Savannah, where he signed the measure establishing the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission, which will launch July 1 and start accepting complaints Oct. 1.“I am not going to stand idly by as rogue or incompetent prosecutors refuse to uphold the law,” Kemp said. “Today we are sending a message that we will not forfeit public safety for prosecutors to let criminals off the hook.” The law parallels pushes to remove prosecutors in Florida, Indiana, Missouri and Pennsylvania, as well as broader disputes nationwide over how certain criminal offenses should be charged. The efforts continue anti-crime campaigns that Republicans ran nationwide last year, accusing Democrats of coddling c...

More migrants expected this weekend in Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

CHICAGO — More migrants are expected to arrive in Chicago over the weekend.It comes after tensions were high at a meeting Thursday night in the South Shore neighborhood where the city talked about its plan to convert a former high school into a shelter for migrants seeking asylum. City meeting over housing migrants turns heated The city said it needs to identify sites to relieve police stations, which are currently housing about 300 migrants. It's a situation police sources said is unimaginable and inhumane.With more than 8,000 migrants bussed from Texas to Chicago since last August, the city has been forced to find housing.It's proposing to house 250 to 500 migrants at the old South Shore High School.On Friday, Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson addressed the situation at an event."What I will not accept is this dynamic being used to pit our communities against each other," Johnson said. He said he's hesitant to call this a "crisis" because he believes it would suggest "we've do...

LIVE BLOG: Severe weather rolls through parts of Central Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe storms are moving across Central Texas. The main concerns Friday evening are large hail and damaging winds. Isolated tornadoes are also possible.Scattered storms have already started developing in parts of the Hill Country. Isolated to scattered storms will continue developing as we head into the evening getting roughly 40% of Central Texas rain.The southeastward movement of storms has increased the chances for rain in at least part of the Austin Metro Counties.Tennis ball-sized hail has already been reported between Llano and Burnet. KXAN First Warning Weather forecast Weather ResourcesHow to talk to your kids about severe weatherWatches vs Warnings: Understanding how a storm is madeTraffic mapLive Central Texas radarCentral Texas rainfall totalsDownload KXAN Weather AppSign up for KXAN daily forecast newsletter and severe weather alerts newsletterPhoto of the edge of the storm in Liberty Hill.Latest blog updates are shown below:6:45 p.m.A supercell is ongo...

What's going on with this year's Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The owner of the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally said this year's event is scaled back compared to rallies of the past. This is due to the lasting impact of several years of challenges.The event is being hosted at the Austin Speed Shop. Owner Luther Moore said the 2023 ROT rally will consist of open houses, car and motorcycle shows, and scheduled group rides. ROT Rally moves to COTA in its 2021 return, begins Thursday While scaled back, Moore said the event is important for celebrating and maintaining the bonds of bikers across the state."This time we're kind of taking the year off. This gives us time to gather ourselves and come back better than ever in 2024," Moore said.In previous years, the ROT rally has hosted tens of thousands of bikers. The event has taken place every year since 1995, except for 2020 when it was canceled because of the pandemic. ROT biker rally gets underway outside Austin with capacity limit Last year's rally saw more distinct challeng...

APD seeking help identifying armed suspect who robbed, pepper-sprayed store employee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for May 5, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Police Department said it was searching for an armed suspect who robbed and pepper-sprayed a store employee April 17 in southeast Austin.APD said its robbery unit needed help identifying the suspect involved in the aggravated robbery that happened at 9:13 a.m., at the Furia Western Wear store at 5717 South Interstate 35 Frontage Road.Austin Police said the suspect pointed a handgun at a store employee and demanded money from the cash register. APD said the employee complied and did not resist.Police said the suspect also took the employee's purse and stole her personal property.“During the robbery, the suspect pepper-sprayed the victim and left the store,” APD said.Images of armed robbery suspect from April 17 incident in southeast Austin (APD photos)The suspect was described as a 5’8” Hispanic man weighing 180 lbs. Police said he was between the ages of 40 and 50. APD sai...

Bill banning gender transition care for youth stalls in Texas House again after protest, delay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN/Nexstar) — Texas House Democrats on Friday leveled a successful procedural objection to Senate Bill 14, which would ban gender transition care for minors. This is the second roadblock to the Republican priority legislation after a vote was delayed earlier in the week when opponents filled the chamber's gallery in protest.The bill was set for a vote Tuesday but the protests and a parliamentary move changed the plan. LGBTQ advocates booted from Texas Capitol; vote delayed for bill banning gender care for kids As the debate started on Friday, Rep. Mary González, D-El Paso, raised a point of order as a procedural move in an attempt to block the bill. The bill was sent back to the House Committee on Public Health to fix the challenged errors.The bill will be back up for debate in the House next week, according to Calendars Committee Chairman Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, who decides which bills are discussed on the House floor and when."It won't be watered down. It will pass...

Alex Kirilloff returns to Twins in flurry of activity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:29:15 GMT

CLEVELAND — Less than a week ago, the Twins decided to option Alex Kirilloff to Triple-A, his wrist healthy and his rehab assignment complete.On Friday, the Twins abruptly reversed course.With relief pitcher Caleb Thielbar landing on the injured list with a right oblique strain, the Twins had an opportunity to bring up the first baseman/outfielder and seized it. Since Kirilloff is being brought back as an injury replacement, the Twins did not have to wait the requisite 10 days (from being optioned) to bring him up. Because teams cannot carry more than 13 position players, they optioned the slumping Trevor Larnach to Triple-A, opening up playing time for Kirilloff.Finally, Dereck Rodríguez had his contract selected and was added to the bullpen on Friday. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Twins transferred Tyler Mahle — more on that later — to the 60-day injured list.While recalling Kirilloff was a quick change of plans, it’s a sign that the Twins are feeling confident in his twi...