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Senators take first step in repealing Iraq War authorization

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate took a first step Thursday toward repealing two measures that give open-ended approval for military action in Iraq, pushing to end that authority as the United States marks the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War.Senators voted 68-27 to move forward on legislation that would repeal the 2002 measure that greenlighted that March 2003 invasion of Iraq and a 1991 measure that sanctioned the U.S.-led Gulf War to expel Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait. The effort comes at a time when lawmakers of both parties are seeking to reclaim congressional powers over U.S. military strikes and deployments, arguing that the war authorizations are no longer necessary and subject to misuse if they are left on the books. President Joe Biden has backed the push, and the White House issued a statement Thursday in support.“Repeal of these authorizations would have no impact on current U.S. military operations and would support this administration’s commitment to a ...

Fugitive with distinctive facial tattoos captured in Hamilton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

It’s fair to say that fugitives with face tattoos are at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to eluding the authorities.In that case, Michael Stamatakos didn’t stand much of a chance.The heavily-tattooed federal offender’s time on the run came to an end when he was arrested by Hamilton Police less than a month after breaching his statutory release.Stamatakos, 31, had been unaccounted for since February 23, 2023, after which he became the subject of both a Canada-wide warrant and the internet’s gawking curiosity for his distinctive tats, which included a heart and teardrop with a stitch trail on his left cheek, a stitch trail on his right cheek and “SPARTON” on the right side of his neck, to name a few.The provincial Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad said on Thursday that he’s now back in custody after being arrested in Hamilton.Before his brief fling with freedom, Stamatakos was serving a two-year sentence for arson a...

Foreign influence registry must not be ‘overly broad,’ senator warns as talks begin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

OTTAWA — A senator says a prospective foreign influence registry must not be “overly broad” to avoid unfairly targeting members of the Chinese-Canadian community and other minority groups.Yuen Pau Woo, who sits in the Independent Senators Group, spoke to reporters today about the upcoming centennial anniversary of the introduction of the Chinese Immigration Act, known also as the Chinese exclusion act. Woo recently compared the legislation, which forced Chinese immigrants to register themselves or face deportation, to the idea of a foreign influence registry that would keep track of those working in Canada on behalf of other countries. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino announced last week that the Liberal government was beginning consultations on setting up a registry as part of its response to allegations of Chinese interference in recent Canadian elections.Mendicino said the government would pay attention to feedback from the Chinese diaspora community, and Woo ca...

Women’s World Cup prize money gets big FIFA boost for 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

KIGALI, Rwanda — The Women’s World Cup is getting an increase in prize money of more than 300% for this year’s tournament.The $152 million fund for the first 32-team tournament — covering prize money, team preparation and payments to players’ clubs — is a huge boost from the 24-team edition in 2019, and 10 times what it was in 2015.Some of the $110 million in pure prize money should be dedicated to paying players, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday in Rwanda after being re-elected by acclamation through 2027.Players’ union FIFPRO said Thursday it has challenged FIFA to secure a “global guarantee of at least 30% of prize money” that is paid to players.FIFA also said the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand won’t be sponsored by the Saudi Arabian tourism authority. Talks about a possible deal had caused unease among players and the tournament co-hosts.Government and World Cup organizers in both host countries had questioned if the deal with...

Top court ruling unleashes permit upheaval in Puerto Rico

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A ruling by Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court has thrown into limbo hundreds of thousands of business and construction permits issued by a U.S. territory already struggling to attract investors amid an economic crisis.Government officials on Thursday sought to quell anxieties over fallout from the ruling, which upholds the decision of an appeals court that voids a document from 2020 that regulates land use and the granting of permits on the island.The ruling released Wednesday prompted the government to take the unprecedented step of temporarily suspending access to the website where people apply for permits. While access was restored Thursday, confusion still reigned as people began to question whether they’re allowed to operate a new business they opened, keep a new deck they built or start from scratch and obtain new permits if they were in mid-construction of a hospital or other buildings.“This puts our weak economy at risk,” said Luis Vega Ramos, general ...

Collision between minivan and truck leaves two dead, four injured in Quebec

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

SAINT-JOSEPH-DE-BEAUCE, Que. — A 12-year-old girl and a man in his 40s died Wednesday in a head-on collision between a minivan and a heavy truck in Quebec’s Chaudière-Appalaches region.Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 4 p.m. on Highway 112 in the small municipality of St-Frédéric, about an hour’s drive south of Quebec City.The minivan was carrying six people, and provincial police said two of its occupants were left in critical condition while the other two suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.Authorities also said that none of the five people in the truck sustained any apparent injuries.It was not immediately clear what led to the collision, but initial findings showed that the 16-metre truck was travelling eastbound and the minivan was heading westbound at the time of impact.Police say the investigation is ongoing.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2023.The Canadian Press

CPS faces lawsuit on alleged teacher assault allegations in West Pullman school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

CHICAGO — Multiple families are suing CPS over claims of an elementary school teacher allegedly assaulting their children in a Far South Side school. A press conference regarding the incident took place Thursday. Eight families claim that their children were abused at Whistler Elementary school in the West Pullman neighborhood with four of the families present at the press conference.Attorneys with the Cochran Firm say a whistleblower came to them in February about the issue. While the lawsuit does not name the authority figure involved, attorneys describe the alleged abuse as an open secret and believe it has been occurring by the same teacher for several years, perhaps even 20 years. Eric Carter selected as CPD’s interim superintendent The students who were allegedly abused are in kindergarten through second grade and have varying developmental and physical disabilities along with learning disorders.The lawsuit says the teacher struck the students with her hands, wooden rulers,...

Certificate of innocence delayed again for brothers wrongly convicted of 1994 murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

CHICAGO — Two brothers wrongly convicted of murder did not leave the Cook County courthouse with their certificates of innocence Thursday.The Henderson brothers were hoping to have a judge make a decision on the case without an additional hearing, but that won't happen now despite what they say is overwhelming evidence that the two are innocent.It has been a very long journey for the brothers, who are now in their 40s. The two are said to be victims of police torture under disgraced Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge. Eric Carter selected as CPD’s interim superintendent Sean Tyler and Reginald were just 17 and 18-years-old when they were convicted of a 1994 murder. Their confession, they say, was coerced out of them by detectives working for Burge.They were both exonerated and freed in 2021, but they did not get their certificate of innocence which not only wipes their records clean — but also makes them eligible for $200,000 from the state.For unknown reasons, the Cook County sta...

Anglers catch probable great white shark in Alabama

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WKRG) — Dylan Wier and Blaine Kenny were having a relatively boring night on Sunday. They had been sitting on their fishing line with their clients in Orange Beach, Alabama, hoping for a bite. The two shark fishing guides never would have guessed that just before sunrise they were about to catch a 10-foot long great white shark. Their catch is believed to be the first great white caught in Alabama.“As soon as we got our hands on that fish, I think I blacked out for a quick second, just because of the adrenaline and then got right back into action and got that fish out as quick as possible," said Kenny. Mexican pharmacies selling fentanyl-, meth-laced pills: Study They estimated that the shark weighed between 800 and 1,000 pounds.  “I’m in the kayak coming back into the beach," said Wier. "Blaine over here, my business partner, he sticks that thing from the beach and immediately we knew we had a really big fish.”Amidst the chaos, it took an all-h...

Heated blankets recalled due to burn, fire hazards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) – More than 40,000 heated blankets are being recalled over the risk of people being burned while using them.The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall involves Sunbeam® Queen Size Heated Blankets. The blankets were sold on Amazon and in small independent stores nationwide from September 2022 through January 2023. 81,000 chairs sold at T.J.Maxx, HomeGoods recalled following injury reports The recalled blankets have model number 32810027 printed on the wash label. They were sold with detachable controllers and in the following colors: beige, ivory, light green, dark blue, light blue, burgundy, dark gray, light gray and gray violet.Photo//CPSCPhoto//CPSCThe recall was initiated because the recalled heated blankets can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards. So far, the company received 13 reports of the blankets overheating. No injuries have been reported as of the time of the recall posting.Anyone with the recalled blankets should stop using...