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Justice Department calls abortion pill order ‘unprecedented’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Justice Department on Monday called a Texas court ruling that would halt approval of the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S. “extraordinary and unprecedented” while asking a federal appeals court to put the decision on hold.The request to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was filed just days after conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone put in doubt access to the drug that has been widely available for more than 20 years.U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointment of Donald Trump, issued his decision Friday but ruled it would not take effect for seven days.His decision came at nearly the same time a separate federal judge in Washington directed U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats had sued.The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of mifepristone in 2000. The Biden administration asked the New Orlean...

County seeks cash for land to expand Arlington cemetery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A trial underway in federal court will decide whether the U.S. government must pay up to $21 million to compensate a Virginia county for a parcel of land taken to expand Arlington National Cemetery.The cemetery expansion project is expected to add 50,000 to 60,000 burial spaces and extend its ability to accommodate new burials by 19 years — until 2060, under the current eligibility requirements. Work on the expansion has already begun and will not be halted no matter what the judge decides at the trial’s conclusion.At issue is how much money, if any, the federal government must pay to Arlington County for the nine acres (3.6 hectares) of land it took from the county to accommodate the expansion.The federal government says it’s fulfilling its duties by replacing and improving the road network on the cemetery’s southern border, including significant improvements to a highway, Columbia Pike, that serves as a primary commuter route.The county, on...

Man charged after downtown Montreal mosque break-in caught on video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

Montreal police say a 32-year-old man is facing a mischief charge after allegedly smashing his way into a downtown mosque early Sunday morning.Const. Véronique Dubuc says investigators don’t believe the incident was a hate crime, adding that the suspect will appear in court at a later date.A national Muslim group posted surveillance videos to social media showing someone using a rock to break into the mosque and to smash into the prayer room.The video by the Canadian Muslim Forum also shows an altercation involving the perpetrator and a handful of worshippers at the Al-Omah Al-Islamiah mosque.Forum president Samer Mazjoub says no one was hurt — even though a teenager narrowly escaped being struck by the suspect — adding that several worshippers managed to get the intruder to leave.Mazjoub says his group published the video to raise awareness about the attack and urge people to be cautious during the holy month of Ramadan, which ends later in April. This report by The Canadian ...

Fewer transit safety incidents after Toronto police boost: TTC data

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

New data from Toronto’s transit agency shows safety incidents were down in February after police boosted patrols in the system and the agency added extra security guards and outreach workers.The monthly Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) report from CEO Rick Leary shows the total number of offences against customers was 111 in February, down from 136 in January.TTC spokesman Stuart Green had previously said the transit agency saw 116 incidents in January, down from 145 the month before, but the report states data for those months may have inaccuracies.Police announced in late January that more than 80 officers would work overtime shifts at TTC locations following a series of violent incidents on the system, including stabbings, BB gun shootings and an alleged swarming.The city and TTC also announced it would add 50 contract security guards and 20 outreach workers to the system as an interim response.Police have since ended the extra patrols, and the force has said on-duty office...

Israeli PM retracts firing of defense minister amid tension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday retracted his decision to fire his defense minister over criticism of the government’s contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary.In a televised speech, Netanyahu said that Yoav Gallant is staying in his post. “I decided to put the differences we had behind us,” he said.Netanyahu announced late last month that Gallant was fired. The decision set off a wave of spontaneous mass protests and a general strike that threatened to paralyze the country, forcing the Israeli leader to suspend his divisive plan to overhaul the judicial system.The Associated Press

NY state budget delayed again amid talks on bail, housing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state lawmakers passed another weeklong extension for the state’s budget Monday to ensure state operations run undisrupted and workers get paid as budget negotiations continue. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli highlighted the need for lawmakers to push the deadline yet again when he sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday urging her to take action to ensure 83,000 state workers get paid in time for the next payroll cycle.State lawmakers will not be paid themselves until a budget is passed, DiNapoli’s office said, and it is not clear how long it’ll take Democratic legislative leaders to reach an agreement. The legislators missed the original April 1 deadline for adopting a state budget because of disagreements over the governor’s proposals to change bail rules and create new housing. There has been “zero movement in discussions” on any other issues besides bail and housing in a state budget that is now more than a week late, state ...

55-year-old man dies after hit-and-run in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

CHICAGO — A man died following a hit-and-run Saturday night in Austin.Just before 9:50 p.m., police responded to 5100 block of West Jackson Street on the report of a hit-and-run.A 55-year-old man was walking northbound on Laramie in the crosswalk when a gray Jaguar sedan made a turn eastbound and struck the man.The man suffered major head trauma and was pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai. U of C issues alert after 3 robberies in 3 days near campus The sedan did not stop and continued eastbound on Jackson. No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Merrionette Park PD raises over $16K for officer's wife who died suddenly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

MERRIONETTE PARK, Ill. — A GoFundMe fundraiser, organized by the Merrionette Park Police Department, has raised over $16,000 in honor of a fellow officer's wife who suddenly passed away.Kris Chlapecka, who has worked in law enforcement for many years, received a call last Thursday that his wife, Suzanne, was experiencing difficulty breathing while at work. She was rushed to an area hospital where she later passed away, according to the department.The couple have a 7-year-old daughter together. Suzanne was an instructional math coach at an elementary school in Glen Ellyn. Suburban woman found guilty after pregnant nurse kicked in stomach The Merrionette Park Police Department started the fundraiser Friday to help Chlapecka with his wife's funeral expenses. As of 1 p.m. Monday, it had already raised $16,563.For more information, go to: www.gofundme.com

Chicago State goes on strike for faculty pay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

CHICAGO — The union and Chicago state administration remains at an impasse when it comes to their issues, most notably, a wide gap on faculty pay. Chicago State and the faculty union met as recently as Saturday trying to come to an agreement.WGN spoke to a member of the negotiating team. He says what they’re asking for per year over a four-year contract is less than $400 thousand dollars.  Suburban woman found guilty after pregnant nurse kicked in stomach "It's less than the president's salary, less than a half percent," Economics Professor Ernest Coupet said.Chicago State is the first of three universities in Illinois that are having contract negotiation issues with their faculty. The faculty at Governors State University is expected to become the second state university faculty to go out on strike Tuesday.Eastern Illinois University in downstate Charleston, is also looking at a possible strike.

Texas DA calls Gov. Abbott's vow to pardon man who killed protester 'deeply troubling'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:54 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza called Gov. Greg Abbott's promise to pardon convicted murderer Daniel Perry "deeply troubling" in a statement Sunday.On Friday, a jury found Perry guilty of murdering Garrett Foster during a July 2020 protest in Austin but not guilty of an aggravated assault charge. Perry has not yet been sentenced for the conviction.But by Saturday afternoon, Abbott declared on social media that he would sign a pardon recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for Perry "as soon as it hits my desk." The Governor also said that he has instructed the agency to "expedite its review" of the case. Abbott calls for pardon of Daniel Perry after guilty murder verdict In Garza's Sunday statement, the DA noted that the jury deliberated on their verdict for 15 hours, after days of court proceedings.You can read the full statement below:PR-Abbott-PerryDownload"In our legal system, a jury that gets to decide whether a defendant ...