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New York governor urges Biden to help state with migrant surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday implored President Joe Biden to take urgent action to help her state absorb a surge of international migrants who have strained resources and filled homeless shelters — putting some Democrats in a vulnerable position in a state usually seen as immigrant-friendly.In a rare public address, Hochul said she had sent the president a letter asking him to expedite work permits for migrants and provide financial resources to help care for the estimated 100,000 asylum seekers who have come to the state in the last year, mostly to New York City.“The reality is that we’ve managed thus far without substantive support from Washington, and despite the fact that this is a national, and indeed an inherently federal issue,” Hochul said in speech delivered in Albany. “But New York has shouldered this burden for far too long.”The public plea comes after months of private requests to the White House. The central request of the governor’s let...

US sanctions 11 Russians and 2 re-education facilities involved in forced transfer of Ukrainian kids

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against 11 Russians and two re-education facilities reportedly involved in the forced transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children, accusing Moscow of war crimes and crimes against humanity.U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield made the announcement at a U.N. Security Council meeting that the U.S. organized on Ukraine’s national day to put a spotlight on the transfer or deportation of its children as young as four months old, not only to Russia but to its ally Belarus and Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine’s east.“Children are literally being ripped from their homes in the year 2023,” she said. “Russia and its proxies have detained children fleeing violence. They have forced children out of schools and orphanages. And local proxies have tricked or coerced parents into sending their children to so-called `summer camps’ only to be cut off from communication and refused to have their children returned to them...

Ontario city voted as the rudest in Canada. Here’s the full list

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

A Greater Toronto Area (GTA) city scored the rudest in Canada in a new public opinion poll from Preply, a U.S.-based language learning app and platform.“Canadians have garnered the stereotype of being exceedingly polite. Known for their welcoming attitude and over-apologizing, politeness is seen as a cultural norm,” wrote Preply contributor Adam Volz. “But is this representation just a myth?”Preply surveyed more than 1,500 Canadians across 44 cities. The respondents were asked how often they witness rude behaviours where they live, and unfortunately for Vaughan, it may not have the best reputation.Cities were ranked out of 10 from rudest (10) to most polite (1). The unofficial survey found that the top three rudest cities in Canada are Vaughan (Ont.), Coquitlam (B.C.) and Brampton (Ont.).CityNews asked locals how they feel about Vaughan being considered the rudest city in Canada.“Well, we’re not from Vaughan. We’re from up north in cottage c...

Ohtani to keep playing, his future and impending free agency murky after elbow ligament injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani already knew he had a career-altering tear in his elbow ligament when he roped a double to right in the fifth inning of the Angels’ doubleheader nightcap on Wednesday.After he hustled to second base, he was greeted by Elly De La Cruz. Cincinnati’s 21-year-old rookie shortstop jokingly poked at the smiling Ohtani, essentially asking the two-way superstar, “Are you real?”That’s the question all of baseball has been asking about Ohtani for the past three seasons, ever since he returned from Tommy John surgery and redefined what’s possible in this sport.But the new injury to his ulnar collateral ligament is a merciless reminder that the 29-year-old Ohtani is, in fact, real — a baseball unicorn, but also an athlete challenging the limit of human potential and physiology.Ohtani hit that limit earlier Wednesday when he abruptly left the mound after just 26 pitches in the doubleheader opener. Tests revealed a ligament tear t...

‘Dune: Part 2’ release postponed to 2024 as actors strike lingers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The release of “Dune: Part Two,” one of the fall’s most anticipated films, has been postponed from November until next near, Warner Bros. confirmed Thursday. Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction sequel had been set to open Nov. 3, but will instead land in theaters March 15 next year. With the actors strike entering its second month, “Dune: Part Two” had been rumored to be eyeing a move. Variety earlier this month reported Warner Bros.’ was mulling the delay. Warner Bros. is opting to wait until its starry cast can promote the follow-up to the 2021 Oscar-winning “Dune.” “Part Two” stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux. “Dune: Part II” is one of the biggest 2023 films yet postponed due to the ongoing strikes by actors and screenwriters. Recent releases have mostly opted to go ahead, despite lacking their stars on red carpets or on magazine covers....

Panama eyes new measures as flow of migrants through Darien Gap hits 300,000 so far this year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

PANAMA CITY (AP) — The government of Panama said Thursday it will launch a new campaign to stem the flow of migrants through the dangerous, jungle-clad Darien Gap, after crossings hit 300,000 so far this year.In comparison, less than 250,000 migrants crossed in all of 2022.The plan, named “Darien is a jungle, not a road,” will be launched next week, officials said, but they could barely hide their frustration with neighboring Colombia’s inability to stop migrants from coming to the two countries’ roadless border.“Despite all the efforts, meetings with other countries involved have not managed to stop (the flow of migrants),” Panama’s Security Minister Juan Manuel Pino told a news conference.Officials said the massive trekking of migrants through the gap — now running between 2,500 and 3,000 per day — has polluted and damaged the jungle, as well as exposed people to risks and rights abuses.Samira Gozaine, Panama’s top immigration official, said “don’t tell me the bo...

Trump surrenders at Georgia jail on charges he sought to overturn his 2020 election loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump arrived in Georgia Thursday evening to turn himself in on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in that state, a county jail booking expected to yield a historic first: a mug shot of a former American president.Trump's surrender to law enforcement authorities has become by now a familiar routine in a way that belies the history-making drama of a former president being booked on felony criminal charges. But his visit to Atlanta is notably different than the three past surrenders, requiring him to visit a jail — rather than a courthouse — and unfolding not in a liberal bastion like New York or Washington but rather the heart of a battleground state vital to the 2024 presidential election. Trump supporters gather outside Georgia jail where he is expected to surrender Trump landed in Atlanta shortly after 7 p.m. and was to be driven, through the city's rush-hour traffic, to jail for the booking process. Wearing his s...

Windham Rotunda, known as WWE star Bray Wyatt, dead at 36

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star Windham Rotunda., known to wrestling fans worldwide as Bray Wyatt, has died. He was 36. WWE's chief content officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque confirmed the passing on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, "Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotunda - also known as Bray Wyatt - unexpectedly passed earlier today. Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time." Terry Funk, beloved hardcore wrestling icon, dead at 79 Released by the company in July 2021, Rotunda returned at WWE's Extreme Rules premium live event in October 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to much fanfare. He last wrestled for the company in March following reports that the former world champion was sidelined with an unknown illness. Rotunda, who also wrestled under the moniker 'The Fiend' first joined WWE in 2009. Born May 23, 198...

Logan Square Farmer's Market canceled this weekend to due traffic safety concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

CHICAGO — The popular Logan Square Farmer's Market, known for attracting large crowds every Sunday, has been canceled this weekend.The farmer's market runs from mid-May through the end of October and stretches along Logan Boulevard from Milwaukee Avenue and Whipple Street. Mask mandates reemerge amid upturn in COVID-19 cases 1st Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata, who represents Logan Square, said the cancelation is due to traffic safety concerns for vendors and customers. "When we have that much car traffic that close to thousands of guests, 100 plus vendors, there is a lack of safety there," La Spata said. "We need to ensure safety as much as we do success. We're trying to figure out a road closure situation."While some who frequent the market are disappointed, they said they understand safety comes first."There is a lot of crowd space, or crowding, that ends up happening so I guess it can be hazardous," Brandon Kral said. La Spata is optimistic the market won't be gone long."I love what...

Surburban nonprofit ‘Tookie’s Voice’ answers call for domestic violence victims 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:25 GMT

EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. — Sharon Pughsley says he taught her daughter everything. But the one thing she couldn't teach her, she admits, was how to dodge a bullet. It has been almost three years since Pughsley’s only daughter, Tanisha, was gunned down by an abusive ex-boyfriend. The Montgomery, Alabama police detective was killed in her home after taking out an order of protection against him. On Wednesday, the accused ex-boyfriend was sentenced for the July 2020 killing - life without the possibility of parole. SEE ALSO: GoFundMe created by mother of boy shot and killed in Palatine“There are some days I don’t even want to get up out of bed, but I listen to her, and I think about my daughter - the awesome young lady she was and is because she is still with me,” Pughsley said.  Tanisha Pughsley (Photo courtesy of Sharon Pughsley)In the wake of her daughter’s death, Pughsley started ‘Tookie's Voice,’ a nonprofit dedicated to helping women escape abusive relationships. Pughsley works with...