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Lawyers for jailed reporter Evan Gershkovich ask UN to urgently declare he was arbitrarily detained

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Lawyers for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich asked a United Nations body on Tuesday to urgently issue an opinion that he has been arbitrarily detained by Russia on espionage charges which are “patently false.”The request to the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention says “Russia has failed to produce a shred of evidence in support of its accusations” since the 31-year-old journalist was arrested on March 29 on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, almost 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) east of Moscow.“Russia is not imprisoning Gershkovich because it legitimately believes its absurd claim that he is an American spy,” the Journal’s request said. “Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin is using Gershkovich as a pawn, holding him hostage in order to gain leverage over – and extract a ransom from – the United States, just as he has done with other American citizens whom he has wrongfully detained.”Jason Conti, executive vice presiden...

California lawmakers OK bills banning certain chemicals in foods and drinks

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers are working through hundreds of bills before the legislative session ends on Thursday.If approved, the bills go to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who will have until Oct. 14 to decide whether to sign them into law, veto them or let them become law without his signature. The state Legislature almost never overrides a veto from the governor, no matter what political party is in charge. CHEMICALS IN FOODLawmakers on Tuesday voted to become the first state to ban four chemicals from processed food and drinks sold in California by 2027.The chemicals — red dye no. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propyl paraben — are still used in popular products like Peeps, the popular marshmallow chicks most associated with Easter.Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, the author of the bill, said those chemicals have already been banned by the European Union and other countries because of scientific research linking them to health probl...

Guatemala President-elect suspends transition after agents raid election facilities, open vote boxes

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arévalo said Tuesday he was temporarily suspending the transition process and called for the resignation of the attorney general following raids on electoral facilities during which government agents opened boxes of votes and photographed their contents in what experts called an unprecedented violation of the law.Arévalo said he had notified outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei, who just a day earlier had promised a smooth handover of power, and would only return to the process when the necessary conditions were met. It was not immediately clear if it could affect the constitutionally-mandated transfer of power Jan. 14.Agents from Guatemala’s Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday again raided facilities of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, but this time raising the stakes in Guatemala’s democratic transition by opening dozens of boxes of votes.Luis Gerardo Ramírez, spokesman for the tribunal, said the body had not...

Lawsuit accuses Beverly Hills police of racially profiling Black motorists

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — A lawsuit accuses Beverly Hills police of racially profiling nearly 1,100 Black people during traffic stops.The suit announced Monday was filed on behalf of most of the Black drivers who were pulled over in the wealthy city between August 2019 and August 2021.Out of a total of 1,088 Black motorists stopped, only two were convicted of crimes, attorney Benjamin Crump said at a news conference.About a third of all arrests made during the period involved Blacks, who make up only 1.5% of the city’s population, Crump said.“It wasn’t to deter crime. It was to send a message to Black people that we don’t want your kind around here,” Crump said. “That is racial profiling 101!”The city denied the allegations, saying in a statement, “The statistics presented referencing the number of convictions is a mischaracterization of the evidence in this case. In addition, the 1,088 arrests referenced includes people cited and released, not just custodial arrests.”“The ...

'Strongest man I know': Veteran survives grizzly bear ripping off his jaw

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

BIG SKY, Mont. (WJW) — A man is in critical but stable condition after being attacked by a grizzly bear outside of Yellowstone National Park in Montana last week, his family confirmed.Rudy Noorlander, a Navy veteran who owns an outdoor adventure company, was reportedly leading a group of hunters trying to find a deer they had shot on the Yellow Mule Trail when they encountered two bears, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue said. Apple’s new iPhones get faster chips, better cameras and new charging ports The man was attacked by one of the animals and was badly injured — including having his jaw ripped off — after not being able to shoot it.Noorlander was life-flighted out of the area and is recovering at a Utah hospital after an initial surgery in Montana, according to his family. Photo courtesy Gallatin County SheriffPhoto courtesy Gallatin County Sheriff"My father is the bravest and strongest man I know," his daughter KateLynn Davis wrote in a GoFundMe fundraiser set up for...

Three arrested in human smuggling, kidnapping investigation, SMPD says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) -- Three people were arrested on charges of kidnapping and smuggling undocumented immigrants, according to a news release from the San Marcos Police Department.Mason Castillo, Robert Cruz and Jeremiah Villarreal are facing charges including Smuggling of Persons, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Kidnapping for Ransom/Reward, according to police.SMPD said it was the sole law enforcement agency investigating the crimes beginning in August, when a group of immigrants were smuggled from Mexico to Austin and kidnapped by force in transit to their destination.“The investigation took about four weeks until sufficient probable cause was developed to issue arrest warrants on all three suspects and for the issuance of multiple search warrants,” said San Marcos Police Detective, Casey Tennant, in the news release.The three men are accused of holding at least 10 undocumented immigrants until they paid them several thousand dollar...

Jury awards $30K to man after St. Paul officers entered his apartment without warrant, arrested him

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

A jury awarded $29,500 Tuesday to a man after a federal judge found three St. Paul police officers violated his constitutional rights by entering his apartment without a warrant, and arresting and searching him.David Elgersma, 34, filed a lawsuit over the 2019 incident and U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez ruled in January that the officers’ actions were unlawful.A trial began Monday and the only issue for jurors to decide was how much money Elgersma was entitled to. He testified, as did the three officers.Assistant St. Paul City Attorney Tony Edwards told jurors the city was requesting $1, the required minimum, in compensatory damages and nothing in punitive damages. Elgersma’s attorney, Tim Phillips, said in court that would mean “paying the weakest penalty on earth in response to the most important rights on which our society is based.”Phillips asked the jury to award $10,000 in compensatory damages for Elgersma’s emotional distress and $50,000 ...

Shooting Sports Course promotes gun safety to youth

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) – A local group looking to start a conversation around guns and children by showing another side of how firearms can be used. James Pettis Jr., President of the Shooting Sports Committee for Saratoga County, said the 4-H Shooting Sports Course aims to promote the athletic side of firearms while teaching another very important lesson.“One, what a firearm will do. Responsibility while you’re handling a firearm. And safety while you’re using a firearm,” he said. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Organizers say that this recreational activity has led to other opportunities for many students. Leland Bunting, 4-H Resource Educator at the Cornell Cooperative Extension for Saratoga County, said that many of their students become hunters or shoot recreationally at competitions.“It’s really important for these kids to get this training upfront so that they’re not left to what they learn online or what they learn from video ga...

Three houses catch fire in U-City; infant hospitalized for smoke inhalation

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. – A house fire spread to neighboring residences in University City early Tuesday evening, prompting a response from multiple departments.The University City Fire Department received a call just before 6:10 p.m. for a two-alarm fire in the 6500 block of Etzel Avenue. Authorities were initially told two homes were ablaze.Units from the St. Louis City and Maplewood fire departments arrived to assist in extinguishing the spreading blaze and check for any potential rescues. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW University City Fire Chief William Hinson said three children suffered smoke inhalation. Only one, an 8-month-old, had to be taken to a local hospital.The fire began in the middle of the three houses.A neighbor said one of...

Adam Wainwright finally earns his 199th victory, and Cardinals top AL-leading Orioles 5-2

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:56:48 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Adam Wainwright pitched five solid innings for his 199th win, and the St. Louis Cardinals spoiled John Means' return for Baltimore, beating the Orioles 5-2 on Tuesday night.Richie Palacios homered in his first two plate appearances after entering the game as a pinch-runner for an injured Nolan Gorman in the second. It was that kind of night for the Cardinals. Wainwright (4-11) snapped a seven-start losing streak and a run of 11 in a row without a victory. The 42-year-old right-hander, who is retiring after this season, allowed two runs and seven hits.It was a frustrating loss for the Orioles, who entered with a three-game lead over Tampa Bay atop the AL East, but on this night, the big question for Baltimore was how Means (0-1) would pitch. He was making his first appearance since having Tommy John surgery in April of last year.Means allowed homers to Paul Goldschmidt in the first and Palacios in the fourth, but he made it through five innings allowing only four hit...