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Roberts asked to testify on court ethics amid Thomas reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary chairman has invited Chief Justice John Roberts to testify next month on ethical standards at the court, a hearing that would undoubtedly focus on business transactions and travel involving Justice Clarence Thomas.Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said there has been a “steady stream of revelations” regarding Supreme Court justices “falling short of ethical standards expected of other federal judges.” “The time has come for a new public conversation on ways to restore confidence in the Court’s ethical standards. I invite you to join it, and I look forward to your response,” Durbin wrote in a letter Thursday to the chief justice.Court officials did not immediately reply to a request for comment.In recent weeks, news reports have focused on the purchase by a conservative donor of three properties belonging to Thomas and his family in a transaction worth more than $100,000 that Thomas never reported, according to the nonprofit investigative...

Beach birth: Hawaii blocks some Waikiki sands for seal pup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — The birth of an endangered seal at Hawaii’s most popular tourism hubs is highlighting the tension between protecting the islands’ fragile ecosystems and maintaining access to the pristine white sand beaches that attract millions of visitors each year.Hawaii officials this week fenced off a large stretch of a popular Waikiki neighborhood to protect the Hawaiian monk seal, named Kaiwi, and her days-old pup. They are expected to hold a news conference Thursday to remind tourists and local beachgoers of the need to stay far away from the pair. Kaimana Beach is next to a mid-sized hotel and is a favorite swimming and sunbathing spot for locals and visitors. Starting six years ago, Monk seals have occasionally given birth there, setting the stage for conflict between seal mothers and beachgoers.Authorities are taking extra care this spring after a California tourist got too close to a mother-pup pair last year, and was pulled underwater by the mother, leaving cuts on...

Russian foreign minister visits Cuba, condemns US sanctions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

HAVANA (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday condemned U.S. sanctions against Cuba as he visited the island during the last leg of a Latin American tour that took him to Brazil, Nicaragua and Venezuela.Lavrov met with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodríguez, kicking off the visit by taking part in a wreath-laying ceremony at a memorial in Havana for Cuban independence hero José Martí.During his visit to the island nation, which for decades was a staunch Moscow ally, Lavrov condemned the American economic sanctions on Cuba, and blasted the U.S. for seeking to impose “its will on the world,” according to a dispatch on the state media outlet Cubadebate.Rodríguez, for his part, rejected what he called the “expansionist aspirations” of NATO and the sanctions imposed on Russia. Lavrov was expected to meet later today with recently reelected President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Cuba has had an extensive relationship with Moscow since the 1960s, when it joined the bloc of so...

Tennessee gun-control push at crossroads as proposal stalls

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chances are shrinking fast for a key gun-control proposal to make it out of the Tennessee Legislature in the wake of a deadly school shooting, as GOP lawmakers are pushing back against the Republican governor’s proposal to keep firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others faces.Tennessee has become a flashpoint in the nation’s heated debate over gun rights. Two young Black Democratic lawmakers were expelled from the state House for a protest over gun control. The pair has since been reinstated. Pressure to pass gun safety measures has also come from students, parents, politicians and others after last month’s shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, which killed three children and three adults.“Tennesseans are asking us to set aside politics and personal pride,” Gov. Bill Lee said in a video Wednesday.As of Thursday, the path ahead was unclear.Facing scrutiny over the expulsions and public demands for gun control, Republican lawmak...

UK prime minister weighs deputy’s fate after ‘bully’ probe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday reviewed the findings of a long-awaited investigation into allegations his top deputy bullied government employees, but didn’t make a decision on his fate.An independent employment lawyer issued the report after investigating eight formal complaints that Justice Secretary Dominic Raab had been abusive toward staff during a previous stint in that office and while serving as foreign secretary and Brexit secretary.Raab, who is also deputy prime minister, has denied claims he was overly demanding and belittled and demeaned his staff. He said he “behaved professionally at all times,” but would resign if the bullying complaints were upheld.Sunak’s spokesperson, Max Blain, said the prime minister received the report Thursday morning and was considering the findings to determine if Raab had violated the ministerial code and whether any action — up to dismissal — should be taken. The code of conduct requires ministers to treat p...

CPD Interim Supt. Eric Carter to retire on May 15; same day as Mayor-elect Johnson's swearing-in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police interim Supt. Eric Carter will leave the department on May 15, the same day Brandon Johnson will be sworn in as the city's next mayor.In an email sent to officers, Carter said that he declared his intention to leave the department in late 2022, and reiterated that desire to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Mayor-elect Johnson. SEE ALSO: Eric Carter selected as CPD’s interim superintendent"Believe me when I say this decision was not an easy one," Carter wrote. "For nearly four decades, I have lived a life of service and sacrifice to our country and to this great city; and I wouldn’t trade these years for anything."A portion of Carter’s message to the Chicago Police Department… pic.twitter.com/7KS92KK7JQ— Ben Bradley (@BenBradleyTV) April 20, 2023Carter, a 30-year veteran of the department, has served as second-in-command of CPD since July 2020.“To the residents of Chicago, law enforcement agencies, clergy, community leaders, and the many organizations w...

FBI looking for additional victims in Chicago man's child porn case; Snapchat names released

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

CHICAGO — The FBI's Chicago office is seeking additional victims following a man's indictment for producing child pornography.The FBI alleges Michael Ramos, 46, of Chicago, allegedly used Snapchat to entice minors to produce sexually explicit videos and images.Ramos was charged Thursday with four counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of an electronic device containing child pornography. Lombard man charged with possession of child pornography Authorities allege Ramos used the following Snapchat user names.michaelramos197myislandmylovedamikeydamikey77lizziedu49young-goddess1tony2toothjhonnybrealfukuall007damikey007crystal_ebkl05tsoulAnyone who thinks they may be a victim can contact the FBI or email [email protected].

Another round of storms, potentially severe, expected later Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago area has already seen a couple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, but another one Thursday afternoon and into the evening poses the threat of strong to severe storms. Clusters of thunderstorms as well as supercell storms are probably, with any storm, capable of producing damaging winds and hail.  Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here A few tornadoes can’t be ruled out, especially with any sustained supercell storm. The severe weather threat is mainly from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. across northeast Illinois, including Chicago.Thursday Forecast: Isolated afternoon storm chance, chance for storms again late day/evening with slight severe risk, South winds of 15-20 mph and gusts of 35 mph. There will be a high of 76.Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, evening storms, W 10-15 G30. High is 47.Friday's weather is looking mainly cloudy with a chance for isolated showers. Winds: SSW 5-15 G25. High: 63.Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

Beyoncé to donate $2M from Renaissance tour to students, small businesses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

(The Hill) -- As Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter gears up for her Renaissance World Tour, she has announced she will be donating $2 million of the tour’s proceeds to students and entrepreneurs through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The tour, which kicks off in May and runs through September, will disperse $100,000 to 10 colleges and universities along its route through the Renaissance Scholarship Fund. The tour will also lead into the foundation’s next phase of the Black Parade Route, a program “to celebrate people, communities, and small businesses impacted by economic inequities worldwide” with $1 million. Through luncheons scheduled around the tour, entrepreneurs will have a chance to win small business grants.“The goal is to celebrate small business owners with relief grant opportunities and valued business support services offered by global partners to aid in business sustainability,” the BeyGOOD website reads. One hundred entrepreneurs will be selected in cities along the to...

Another team will play a game at Wrigley Field in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:08:25 GMT

CHICAGO — As it turns out, two teams from the school in the Chicago area will have the chance to take the field at the "Friendly Confines."Northwestern University announced this week that they'll be playing one of their baseball games at Wrigley Field this spring, returning to the venue for the first time in a decade. The Wildcats will face Notre Dame on Tuesday, May 16 at the ballpark at 5 p.m. central time in a non-conference match-up before their final Big Ten series against Iowa that weekend in Evanston.It's the second baseball game that Northwestern has played at Wrigley Field, with the tenth anniversary of the first coming on Thursday. On April 20, 2013, the Wildcats defeated Michigan 6-0 thanks to a shutout from pitcher Luke Farrell, who would pitch for the Cubs during 2018 season and then in their minor league system in 2022.Northwestern will also play a football game at Wrigley Field in 2023 as they'll take on Iowa at the Friendly Confines on Saturday, November 4. That will...