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Friends and families mourn the loss of Canadians killed by Hamas in Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

OTTAWA — Friends and family have confirmed that at least three Canadians were killed last weekend when Hamas militants conducted a series of brutal attacks in Israel.Two Canadian men were killed by Hamas gunmen who ambushed a music festival in southern Israel, according to their loved ones in Canada. And an Israeli Canadian mother of two was killed in her kibbutz, a communal farming settlement, an Ottawa Jewish group said.At least 2,800 people have been killed so far in the conflict sparked by the Hamas attacks, which has escalated throughout the week as Israel conducts retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip.Canada considers Hamas a terrorist group, and Canadian leaders have decried the violence it waged on the weekend. The federal government is organizing flights for Canadian citizens and permanent residents out of Tel Aviv, but it can do little to help some 100 Canadians trapped in Gaza amid Israel’s siege on the territory.  Here’s what we know about the three people th...

Hornets’ Miles Bridges turns himself in after arrest warrant issued over protection order

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges turned himself in on Friday after an arrest warrant was issued for an alleged protection order violation stemming from a domestic violence case last year.Bridges turned himself in early in the morning in Lincoln County, a suburb of Charlotte. He was accompanied by his attorney, according to Larry Seagle, the public information officer for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.Bridges appeared before a district court judge and was released on $1,000 bond.The 25-year-old Bridges had been in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night as the Hornets played the Wizards in a preseason game, according to a team spokesman. Bridges did not play because he is suspended by the league.The warrant had originally been issued on Jan. 2, but had not previously been served.Bridges “unlawfully” and “knowingly” violated the protection order, and “continually contacted the victim,” according to court documents made public Friday.Bridges is als...

Arizona tribe is protesting the decision not to prosecute Border Patrol agents for fatal shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

SELLS, Ariz. (AP) — The Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona on Friday blasted the decision by the U.S. Attorney’s Office not to prosecute Border Patrol agents who shot and killed a member of the tribe after they were summoned by tribal police. Body camera footage released in June by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows that the agents who fatally shot Raymond Mattia were concerned the 58-year-old may have been carrying a handgun. But no firearm was found.The tribe’s executive office called the decision not to file charges “a travesty of justice.”“There are countless questions left unanswered by this decision. As a result, we cannot and will not accept the U.S. Attorney’s decision,” said a statement signed by Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Verlon M. Jose and Vice Chairwoman Carla L. Johnson.The statement said the tribe may request Congressional inquiries into Mattia’s death. Mattia was killed the night of May 18 outside a home in the reservation’s Me...

Armed robbery at St. Louis Cardinals complex in Dominican Republic leaves players, staff ‘shaken’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Authorities are seeking at least five people in an armed robbery of the St. Louis Cardinals complex in the Dominican Republic on Friday. Dominican Republic police spokesman Diego Pesqueira told The Associated Press that the suspects bound and gagged a security guard and stole watches, rings, necklaces and other items from athletes and personnel. Pesqueira said the suspects used the guard’s shoelaces to tie his wrists and ankles together. No one was injured, and no shots were fired, he said.A statement from the St. Louis Cardinals said baseball equipment was also stolen. Players and staff at the complex were shaken, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. “This was scary on many fronts,” Mozeliak said in the statement. The team will reassess its security at the complex immediately, he said. Pesqueira said he did not have details of all the items stolen or the total value because police are waiting for the baseball ...

Measles case identified in Cook County, a first in Illinois since 2019

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. —The Illinois Department of Public Health said Friday that a positive test for measles was identified in Cook County.The confirmation is the first case of measles in Illinois since 2019.According to IDPH, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, the Cook County Department of Public Health reported a suspected case of measles to IDPH. The case involved an unvaccinated individual with exposure internationally. The IDPH laboratory confirmed the diagnosis on Wednesday, Oct. 11. What does the science say about the grass vs. turf debate in sports? Health officials believe the infectious period would have been between Oct. 5-13. Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Symptoms can take seven to 21 days to appear. IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said Illinois' first case of measles in four years is a reminder that the disease could be prevented with up-to-date vaccination. “Two doses of measles vaccine are 97% effective in preventing measles," Vohra said....

"Secrets" With Mentalist Sidney Friedman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

A Mentalist to the stars, Sidney Friedman is the master of extrasensory perception and music-mindreading abilities. He's in town for his critically-acclaimed interactive show called "Secrets" next Wednesday. Spotlight Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m

76 year-old admits to 'Wizard of Oz' ruby slippers theft in 2005, pleads guilty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man charged in the museum heist of a pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in the “The Wizard of Oz” pleaded guilty Friday in a deal that could keep him out of prison due to his failing health, but only cleared up some of the mystery that dates back 18 years.Terry Jon Martin, 76, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft of a major artwork. The shoes were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and recovered by the FBI in 2018.No one was arrested until Martin, who lives near Grand Rapids, was charged this year. During his change-of-plea hearing in federal court in Duluth, Martin said he used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum door and display case to take the slippers. He said he thought the slippers had real rubies and that he had hoped to sell the gems. But when a fence told him the rubies were glass, he said he got rid of the slippers.Martin did not say how he got r...

Netflix plans to open permanent store locations in 2025

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

(KTLA) — Netflix is planning to open new destinations where guests can dine, shop and be immersed in themed experiences based on the platform's popular movies and shows in various cities.Josh Simon, the company’s vice president of consumer products, told Bloomberg, who first reported the news, that the streamer plans to open the first two locations in the U.S. by 2025 and then expand to other destinations worldwide.Netflix is looking at cities such as Tokyo, New York and Mexico City as potential hubs for the new destination, known as Netflix House. Netflix quietly ditches a subscriber option “We’ve seen how much fans love to immerse themselves in the world of our movies and TV shows, and we’ve been thinking a lot about how we take that to the next level,” Simon told Bloomberg.Netflix House will be the company’s first permanent site after it has experimented with pop-up locations for the past few years.These experiences include “The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience,” which has...

NEW: 'Vigorous' exercise, thermal pants part of Armstrong's escape plan, court records reveal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Travis County court records obtained by KXAN investigators surrounding Kaitlin Armstrong's brief escape Oct. 11 during a trip to a medical facility, Ascension Orthopedics in Austin, outline months of planning before evading from two Travis County correctional officers on foot. Kaitlin Armstrong attempts escape ahead of Austin murder trial; will face additional charges According to the affidavit, Armstrong fled as she was exiting the rear entry doors of the doctor's office, was able to manipulate her left hand from the restraints and removed her black and white striped uniform pants. "She was wearing thermal pants underneath in an effort to disguise her appearance as an inmate," the affidavit states. According to the affidavit, Armstrong attempted to scale a 6-foot fence, which is when one officer grabbed her causing them both to fall to the ground. Armstrong was able to immediately separate from the officer and continued fleeing on foot for approximately one mile ...

Gov. Abbott on 'one yard line' in fight for education savings accounts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:53 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday projected confidence that his push for education savings accounts will pass the Texas legislature, following months of intractable disagreements between the Governor and some reluctant lawmakers in his own party."As we begin this final push, we are on the one-yard line, a good place to be," Abbott said at an event arranged by the conservative think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation. "I am committed. However long it takes, that race is going to continue. I will not stop until we get ESAs is passed in the state of Texas."Unstoppable force, meet immoveable object."Nothing changes," San Angelo Republican Drew Darby told Nexstar on Wednesday. "Now's not the time for timidity... Now I think we need to make sure all our positions are known and then stand by our position and never retreat. If I'm here in November, December, January, February, March, I'll be here. This is one of those things that I feel passionate about. And we're not just g...