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Long Island woman convicted of manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of a New York police detective

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A Long Island woman was convicted on Tuesday of aggravated manslaughter in the death of a New York City police detective killed on the Long Island Expressway.Jessica Beauvais, of Hempstead, was arrested in April 2021 after 43-year-old Anastasios Tsakos, a 14-year veteran of the police department, was struck and killed while assisting officers at the scene of another fatal crash on the expressway in Queens.Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said Beauvais, 34, was intoxicated and driving with a suspended license. She fled, but was arrested a short time later.“The defendant had absolutely no business being behind the wheel,” Katz said in a written statement. “Her selfish decision-making and recklessness led to a horrific, senseless tragedy that left Detective Tsakos’ widow to raise their two young children without their father. We are grateful for the jury’s verdict and hope it brings at least some measure of solace to the detective’s loved ones.”The 43-y...

North Dakota GOP party leader resigns 1 week into job after posts about women, Black people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Only a week into the job, the North Dakota Republican Party’s executive director has resigned after a media outlet publicized some of his social media posts that were demeaning toward women and dismissed concerns raised by Black people about racism.The party announced the resignation Monday of Dave Roetman, who previously worked for the South Dakota GOP. He quit seven days after being hired and a few days after Forum News Service reported about his posts and replies on X, formerly known as Twitter. The posts dated from just over a year ago to as recently as this month.Many of the posts and replies were about political issues. But they also included crass comments, such as replying “she seems nice” to several posts of women in revealing clothing, and responding unfavorably to a woman in a plus-sized swimsuit. In another reply, he speculated about whether women should be addressed as “broads” or “dames,” adding that debates about gender and language are why...

Austin airport employee fatally struck by vehicle on tarmac

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A vehicle fatally struck a person on the tarmac of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, officials said Tuesday, the second fatal incident this year involving a worker at the airport in the Texas capital.The person was identified as an airport employee but authorities did not immediately release details about how the collision on Tuesday occurred. Firefighters and police responded to the scene, according to Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. The airport said in a statement that flights were not impacted. During the busy summer months, the airport had more than 2 million monthly passengers.The Austin Police Department said in an email that the investigation was ongoing and no other details were available. In April, an American Airlines employee died after driving a service vehicle that struck a jet bridge. Work around commercial airplanes has resulted in other fatal injuries in recent years. At the Austin airport in 2020, a man was fatally struck ...

Missouri appeals court rules against ballot summary language that described ‘dangerous’ abortions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday ruled against Republican-written summaries that described several abortion-rights amendments as allowing “dangerous and unregulated abortions until live birth.” A three-judge panel on the Western District Court of Appeals found the summaries written by Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who is running for governor in 2024, are politically partisan. The judges largely upheld summaries that were rewritten by a lower court judge to be more impartial.Ballot summaries are used on Missouri ballots to help voters understand sometimes lengthy and complex constitutional amendments and policy changes.Ashcroft said he plans to appeal the ruling. Summer Ballentine, The Associated Press

More than 40% of Ukrainians need humanitarian help under horrendous war conditions, UN says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russian strikes are inflicting unimaginable suffering on the people of Ukraine and more than 40% of them need humanitarian assistance, a senior U.N. official told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday.Ramesh Rajasingham, director of coordination in the U.N. humanitarian office, said thousands of civilians have been killed in strikes on homes, schools, fields and markets since Russia’s invasion in February 20022. The U.N. human rights office has formally verified 9,900 civilians killed, but he said “the actual number is certainly higher.”Ukrainian civilians are suffering “horrendous humanitarian consequences” and “unimaginable levels of suffering” from the Russian strikes, Rajasingham said. About 18 million Ukrainians — more than 40% of the population — need some form of humanitarian assistance, and as winter approaches “needs will be magnified,” he said.Rajasingham said significant damage and destruction of critical infrastructure continues to severely imp...

One man recovering, 16 containers retrieved in Iqaluit port following fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

IQALUIT, Nunavut — A shipping company serving the Far North says an employee is recovering in an Ottawa hospital after he and almost two dozen containers fell into the water near Nunavut’s capital on Friday.A spokesperson for NEAS Arctic Sealift, based in Montreal, says a worker lost his footing, fell into an Iqaluit shipping port, was rescued by a local and brought ashore to emergency crews. Jeremy Hennessy, with the Canadian Coast Guard, says 16 of the 23 containers that fell have been recovered as of Sunday, while the rest are still unaccounted for, and that there are no dangerous goods inside.Eight of the containers belong to the Northmart in Iqaluit, and a representative says the spill will have little to no effect on supply as containers shipped by boat generally carry non-perishable foods and general merchandise.The Transportation Safety Board says it’s still gathering information to determine if it will launch an investigation. Hennessy says local boat operators ...

Winter Weather Advisory issued for Cook, Lake County in Illinois and Porter, Lake County in Indiana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

CHICAGO — The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Cook and Lake County from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday.Also, the NWS has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Porter and Lake County in Indiana from 8 p.m. on Tuesday to 5 a.m. on Wednesday.Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) ask the public to drive safe as gusty winds, slippery conditions, and poor visibility can be expected Tuesday evening and night. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here What a Halloween! This is one for the books. It's not often Halloween here in Chicago has come with snow and this level of cold. It's official—the day has produced measurable snow—defined at 0.1" or more of snow on the ground---at the official O'Hare observation site. That makes today only the third Halloween in 138 years of official Chicago snowfall measurements in which the holiday has produced sticking storm---and only the 8th Halloween with any snow at all in all that time d...

Man charged in North Lawndale shooting that wounded 15

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been charged in the weekend shooting that injured 15 people, Chicago police announced Tuesday.William Groves, 48, has been charged with 15 counts of attempted first degree murder, 15 felony counts of aggravated battery with discharge of a firearm, one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and one felony count of aggravated discharge of a firearm in an occupied building.  Groves is expected to have his first court appearance Tuesday at noon.  According to police, the shooting happened just after 1 a.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of South Pulaski Road at Studio 1258.Officers say around 100 people were gathered inside the building. Officials Tuesday said Groves was in an altercation inside of the establishment, not allowed to return and then allegedly opened fire into the crowd. According to police, two people, a 48-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were both critically injured in the shooting and 13 others, ages 26 to 53, were reported...

CPS student shot and killed near South Side high school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

CHICAGO — A 16-year-old boy has died following a shooting near Chicago Vocational High School on the city's South Side.Officers say the shooting happened in the 1900 block of East 87th Street just before 4 p.m. on Monday. According to Chicago police, the boy was critically injured after he suffered gunshot wounds to his back and right leg while in a parking lot in Avalon Park. Police say the boy was taken to Comer Children's Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The medical examiner has identified the 16-year-old boy as Ameer McMullin. The teen was a student at Chicago Vocational High School. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and officers say no arrests have been made. An investigation into the deadly shooting is currently underway.Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Area Two Detectives by calling the CPD non-emergency number at (312) 746-6000. Tips for police can also be f...

Bears trade for DE Montez Sweat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The first Bears' move before the trade deadline is an addition to their defense. On Tuesday, the team acquired defensive end Montez Sweat from the Commanders in exchange for a 2024 second round pick.Now Official: The Bears acquire defensive end Montez Sweat from the Commanders for their 2024 second round pick. . A statement from Ryan Poles is below..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/3rn2Imgfyy— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 31, 2023“Montez is a huge addition to our team,” said general manager Ryan Poles in a statement from the Bears. “He is not is not only a great player but a great person. We expect him to help elevate our defense.”A first round pick of Washington in 2019, Sweat has shown his ability to get to the quarterback with 35 1/2 sacks in 67 career games with the Commanders over five seasons. So far in 2023, he's had 6 1/2 sacks along with ten tackles for loss in eight games.Establishing a consistent pass rush has been an issue for the Bears over the...