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Biden talks Supreme Court and Russia but also media and McCain in rare network interview

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden rarely gives network interviews, and when he sat down in the MSNBC studio on Thursday, it came at an especially busy time, with the Supreme Court having just overturned the use of affirmative action in college admissions and in the aftermath of a revolt in Russia.The nearly 20-minute conversation addressed those matters. But it also veered heavily into topics like criticism of the media and light-hearted discussion of the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, who was a friend of Biden’s.When Donald Trump was president, he was criticized for giving interviews to sympathetic media outlets where the questions were often soft and even fawning. Biden, meanwhile, has done far fewer formal interviews than his immediate predecessors. His last network interview was in early May and also on MSNBC. This time, interviewer Nicolle Wallace, who was White House communications director under President George W. Bush and worked on McCain’s 2008 p...

Former New Mexico priest charged with sexual coercion of minor in text messages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A former Catholic priest with a lengthy career at parishes across New Mexico has been arrested on criminal charges of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity through text messages, federal law enforcement authorities announced Thursday.The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI field office in Albuquerque said that Daniel Balizan of Springer, New Mexico, was arrested in connection with a grand jury indictment. A redacted copy of the indictment accuses 61-year-old Balizan of knowingly attempting to coerce an unnamed minor into sexual activity in August and September 2012 in Santa Fe County.The charges carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison upon conviction and up to a lifetime behind bars. It was unclear whether Balizan had a legal representative. An initial court appearance was scheduled for Friday.A timeline of Balizan’s church assignments from investigators show that he served at Santa Maria de la Paz Parish, starting in Jun...

Hiroshima peace park and Pearl Harbor memorial will work together to promote peace

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor, two symbols of World War II animosity between Japan and the United States, are now promoting peace and friendship through a sister park arrangement.U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui signed a sister park agreement on Thursday for Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and the Pearl Harbor National Memorial of Hawaii.“Nobody can go to Pearl Harbor, and nobody can go to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and enter the front door, walk out the exit door and be the same person,” Emanuel said at the signing ceremony at the American Embassy in Tokyo. “I think the hope here is that we inspire people from all over the United States and all over Japan to visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial and to visit Pearl Harbor so they can learn the spirit of reconciliation,” Emanuel said.Under the sister park arrangement, the two parks will promote exchanges and share experiences in restoring historic structures and landscapes, the use of virtu...

Man wanted on Jan. 6 charges arrested with weapons near Barack Obama’s Washington home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man armed with explosive materials and weapons, and wanted for crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was arrested Thursday in the Washington neighborhood where former President Barack Obama lives, law enforcement officials said. Taylor Taranto, 37, was spotted by law enforcement a few blocks from the former president’s home and fled, though he was chased by U.S. Secret Service agents. Taranto has an open warrant on charges related to the insurrection, two law enforcement officials said. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing case and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. They said Taranto also had made social media threats against a public figure. He was found with weapons and materials to create an explosive device, though one had not been built, one of the officials said. No one was injured. It was not clear whether the Obamas were at their home at the time of his arrest. Met...

Fugitive suspect in 1984 killing returned to Florida following arrest in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A man arrested earlier this month in California has been returned to Florida to face charges in the 1984 killing of a woman, authorities said. Donald Santini, 65, was booked into a Florida jail early Wednesday morning on a charge of first-degree murder, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office statement. Florida detectives had traveled to San Diego, California, following Santini’s June 7 arrest, and he was later extradited to Tampa, Florida.“The arrest of Donald Santini brings closure to a long-standing cold case and provides justice for the victim and her family after nearly four decades of waiting,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Let’s not forget the tireless work that has gone into this case over the years, the resources, and expertise to pursue justice for Cynthia Wood.”Santini had been on the run since June 1984, when Florida authorities obtained an arrest warrant linking him to the strangling death of Wood,...

Storms packing high winds buffet Indiana, Illinois, cutting power to more than 400,000 customers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Strong storms packing winds gusting as high as 70 mph (112.65 kilometers per hour) buffeted Indiana and Illinois on Thursday, cutting power to more than 400,000 customers at times.The storms toppled semitrailers on highways and blew tree limbs into power lines and onto houses and cars, causing sporadic damage, news outlets reported. When will air quality improve? Tom Skilling explains The National Weather Service said it measured a 70 mph wind gust near Indianapolis International Airport at 3:47 p.m. EDT.Shortly before 6 pm EDT, Ameren Illinois reported more than 175,000 customers without service, Duke Energy tallied more than 147,000 customers in central and southern Indiana in the dark, AES Indiana said more than 49,000 customers in the Indianapolis area had no power, and City Water, Light and Power in Springfield, Illinois, tallied more than 34,000 customers without service.

Nearly 190 flights canceled at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport ahead of busy holiday weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

CHICAGO — Thursday was a busy day at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport for many travelers, many of whom were dealing with delays and cancelations.As of Thursday evening, nearly 190 flights had been canceled at O'Hare. At Chicago's Midway International Airport, only two fights have been canceled.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesThe delays and cancelations also come among the record-breaking holiday travel expected to start today. AAA predicts 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from their home over the weekend."What's happening is it's not just weather," Peter Greenberg, a flight expert, said. "It's a number of factors that got together to produce this perfect storm."Greenberg points to issues with airline staff scheduling, layovers with less than one-hour connecting time."Majority of the people flying to Chicago aren't coming to Chicago," Greenberg said. "They're changing planes."In Illinois, 2.8 million people will travel 50 miles or more this holiday we...

Federal appeals court hears arguments on Illinois assault weapon ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

CHICAGO — A federal appeals court is considering Illinois' assault weapon ban after arguments took place days before the one-year mark since the mass shooting at Highland Park's Fourth of July parade.The law banning the sale of assault weapons and capping the purchase of magazines was enacted in January. Highland Park mayor calls for assault weapons ban Thursday's hearing was the first challenge of that ban to make it to a federal appellate court.Dozens of people came together to show their support outside the courthouse for the ban they worked hard to pass.They said they are sick and tired of living in fear."We've grown up in a society where gun violence is a daily occurrence and haunts us everywhere we go," Rachel Jacobi, a Highland Park resident, said.They're calling on the court to stick with them and protect their right to live in a society free of gun violence."Our progress is under attack because the gun lobby values their agenda over people's lives in our state," Jacobi sa...

K-9 locates home invasion suspect after fleeing police in McHenry County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. -- A Sheriff's K-9 helped deputies locate a suspect just 25 minutes after they fled police last week.According to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to I-90 near mile marker 43.5 to assist Illinois State Police by locating a suspect who fled on foot just before 10:30 p.m. on Monday, June 19. Traveler hits $1.3M jackpot at Las Vegas airport slot machine: ‘That’s one way to end a vacation’ A Sheriff’s deputy and K-9 Kylo arrived on scene where they were informed the suspect, identified as Tryan D. Campbell, was last seen heading southbound and had an active felony warrant for home invasion.K-9 Kylo was immediately deployed once arrived on scene and just 25 minutes later, the team approached a tree in the fence line where the Campbell was located on the other side of the fence.Campbell gave up and was taken into custody.No further information has been made available at this time.

World's largest cruise ship almost ready to start sailing from Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:09 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, successfully completed its initial round of sea trials and sailed the open ocean for the first time.The massive 1,198-foot ship is almost ready to start sailing from Florida early next year. DuPage County shelter waiving adoption fees for large dogs due to overcrowding crisis The ship returned to the Meyer Turku, Finland shipyard, where it's under construction.Later this year, the ship will be pushed to its limits in a second round of sea trials, Royal Caribbean said.(Royal Caribbean)(Royal Caribbean)(Royal Caribbean)In addition to 18 guest decks and 2,805 staterooms, the ship features the largest water park at sea — with six record-breaking waterslides and seven pools. The ship's Frightening Bolt will be the tallest waterslide to sail and Pressure Drop will be the first open freefall waterslide on a cruise.The ship is equipped to hold a maximum of 7,600 guests, according ...