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Miami city commissioner charged with bribery and money laundering

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — A city of Miami commissioner accused of bribery and money laundering was arrested Thursday on multiple corruption charges, officials said.Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla and a co-defendant, Miami attorney William Riley Jr., were both booked into the Miami-Dade county jail and were expected to make their first court appearances on Friday, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.Separate attorneys for Diaz de la Portilla and Riley both said their clients are innocent and look forward to vindication in a court of law.Diaz de la Portilla said in a statement that the charges were politically motivated.“When the smoke clears, I am confident that these spurious charges will evaporate into thin air,” Diaz de la Portilla said.Diaz de la Portilla and Riley accepted more than $15,000 in payments for the Miami-Dade County Court judicial campaign of Diaz de la Portilla’s brother but did not report them, as required by state law, investigators said. R...

Families challenge North Dakota’s ban on gender-affirming care for children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Families and a pediatrician are challenging North Dakota’s law criminalizing gender-affirming care for minors, the latest lawsuit in many states with similar bans.Gender Justice on Thursday announced the state district court lawsuit in a news conference at the state Capitol in Bismarck. The lawsuit against the state attorney general and state’s attorneys of three counties seeks to immediately block the ban, which took effect in April, and to have a judge find it unconstitutional and stop the state from enforcing it.State lawmakers “have outlawed essential health care for these kids simply and exclusively because they are transgender,” Gender Justice attorney and North Dakota state director Christina Sambor told reporters. “They have stripped parents of their right to decide for themselves what’s best for their own children. They have made it a criminal offense for doctors to provide health care that can literally save children’s lives.”T...

Ohio attorney general rejects language for political mapmaking reform amendment for a second time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Attorney General’s Office again rejected petition language Thursday for a constitutional amendment aimed at remaking the state’s troubled system for drawing political maps, frustrating the effort’s backers. In his rejection letter, Republican Dave Yost said Citizens Not Politicians’ second submission had one “critical omission”: How party affiliation would be determined under the new system.He said because a key feature of the new citizen-led redistricting commission would be political balance, “how political affiliation is determined, who makes those determinations and what rules apply are critical issues that must be included in a summary of the proposed amendment if it is to be fair and truthful.”The group, which includes two former Ohio Supreme Court justices, aims to place the proposal on next year’s fall ballot. A spokesman said they will collect more signatures and keep trying.“We are disappointed and frustrated that the Attorn...

Texas AG Ken Paxton touts Donald Trump’s support in final stretch of impeachment trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — With time running out in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ‘s impeachment trial on corruption charges, the Republican on Thursday pointed to renewed support from Donald Trump before a jury of GOP lawmakers decides his future. The final stretch of the historic trial is pushing Paxton closer to a verdict that will determine whether one of Texas’ most powerful figures — who tried to baselessly help Trump overturn the 2020 election — is removed from office after years of criminal charges and alleged scandal. Closing arguments were likely to begin in the coming days. Trump blasted the impeachment as “shameful” in the waning moments of a trial that has showcased fractures in the party. Paxton was impeached by the Republican-led Texas House in May and activists on the hard right have sought to dial up pressure on GOP senators to acquit. “Democrats are feeling very good right now as they watch, as usual, the Republicans fight & eat away at each other. It...

Girl, 17, charged in carjacking, beating of 62-year-old man in Chinatown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

CHICAGO — A 17-year-old girl is charged with the brutal carjacking of a 62-year-old man in Chinatown last week. According to police, the unidentified girl is one of three offenders who assaulted a man and later made off with his vehicle in the 200 block of W. 22nd Place on Sept. 5. The attack was captured on video. ‘It seemed to be the only choice’: Suspect allegedly leaves note inside victim’s car after violent attack Following her arrest on Wednesday, police booked the 17-year-old on felony counts of vehicular hijacking with a weapon and aggravated battery. Last Friday, Alderwoman Nicole Lee (11th Ward) pledged "increased visible police presence in Chinatown," adding that residents should remain vigilant and report suspicious activity. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines"As a community, it is crucial that we look out for one another and report crimes to the police," Lee told WGN News on Sept. 8. "If you are the victim of a crime, we advise that you call 911 immediately."

Why is the United Auto Workers union poised to strike major US car makers?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Auto workers are poised to go on strike at a few targeted automotive factories unless General Motors, Ford and Stellantis grant big pay raises and restore concessions that the workers made years ago, when the companies were in financial trouble.Shawn Fain, the combative president of the United Auto Workers union, has outlined a strategy of using what he calls stand-up strikes in which a small percentage of the union’s 146,000 members would walk off the job at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday.United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is interviewed, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, in Detroit. Fain, who won the UAW’s presidency this spring in the first direct election by members, says the union plans to go on strike against any Detroit automaker that doesn't have an agreement by the time contracts expire next week. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)Fain says the targeted strikes will give the union leverage in contract talks and keep the auto companies guessing about the UAW’s next m...

An estimated 70,000 childcare centers across the U.S. could shut down due to funding issues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- Tens of thousands of childcare centers around the country could be forced to shut down in the coming months because the federal funding they rely on is about to run out.Over the past few years, a large part of the childcare sector was sustained by $39 billion in emergency pandemic funding.Without renewed funding, an estimated 70,000 childcare programs could shut down, leaving many American families to face difficult choices."Millions of children will likely lose their childcare slots," said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.)."States used this critical funding to reduce cost for families and improve pay for providers," added Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.).The consequences would also impact those who can still find and afford childcare by making it more expensive. That's why Democrats are now pushing the Childcare Stabilization Act, which would provide $16 billion a year in funding for childcare for the next five years."This is must-pass funding. We must prevent ou...

City Council tackles migrant housing crisis, budget shortfall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

CHICAGO — Thursday was a busy day for Chicago's City Council, with movement on one of Mayor Brandon Johnson's biggest promises and more debate on how the city is meeting the needs of asylum seekers. Emotions ran high at the Sept. 14 meeting, as councilmembers greenlighted plans to turn a North Park building into another shelter for asylum seekers. City leaders also voted to utilize $33 million in federal funding to address criticism about the city’s spending. "This body has the fiduciary responsibility to safeguard the taxpayer dollar and use it accordingly and none of us can explain where it is going. None of us know where it will go," said Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward). Mayor Johnson’s migrant ‘tent city’ faces criticism ahead of fall, winter season Johnson said his administration has been transparent and will move forward with strategic plans to create base camps to house people sleeping at police stations and airports. As the city faces a projected $500 million budget shortfa...

Iowa teen found guilty of 2nd-degree murder and manslaughter in deaths of 2 students at school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A jury has found an Iowa teenager guilty of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter in the deaths of two students that he shot at a Des Moines alternative school earlier this year.Jurors on Thursday found 19-year-old Preston Walls guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 18-year-old Gionni Dameron and 16-year-old Rashad Carr at the Starts Right Here program on Jan. 23. Teen charged in carjacking, beating of 62-year-old man in Chinatown Walls also was found guilty of willful injury causing serious injury for his shooting of Will Keeps, a former Chicago gang member and rapper who started the Des Moines program for at-risk teens.Starts Right Here reopened within several weeks of the shooting and Keeps returned despite lingering injuries.

LIVE: Paxton defense rests its case after calling 4 witnesses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:13 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Defense attorneys representing suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton rested their case in the historic impeachment trial Thursday evening, after calling a string of their first witnesses, current employees of the AG's office, who testified they found no wrongdoing in Paxton's actions.Senators, who are acting as jurors, could vote as early as Friday on whether to convict Paxton — which would result in removal from office if he is convicted on at least one of the 16 articles they are considering.Paxton faces 16 articles of impeachment in the Senate that accuse him of abusing his powers as attorney general to help his friend and donor Nate Paul, an Austin real estate investor who faced federal investigation and is central to many of the allegations against Paxton. The suspended attorney general pleaded not guilty to all impeachment articles on day one of the trial and has not been present in the Senate since then.On Thursday, the defense...