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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends Orlando state attorney. He says she neglected her duties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended the top prosecutor in Orlando, saying she had neglected her duty to prosecute criminals.“It is my duty as Governor to ensure that the laws enacted by our duly elected Legislature are followed,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Tallahassee announcing the suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell of the 9th Judicial Circuit, which serves Orange and Osceola counties.This is the second elected state attorney DeSantis has suspended in the past year. Last August he removed Andrew Warren, the Tampa area state attorney, from office, accusing him of neglect of duty and incompetence. Warren, who like Worrell is a Democrat, joined other prosecutors across the country in signing statements opposing criminal charges against abortion providers or women seeking abortions. He also said he wouldn’t prosecute people for providing gender-affirming health care, and his office’s policies didn’t charge people with some ...

All evacuation orders lifted around Osoyoos, B.C., as wildfire no longer spreading

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

All evacuation orders have now been lifted around the southern British Columbia community that saw a wildfire burn to its doorstep late last month as flames swept north across the border from Washington state.The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has rescinded its state of local emergency as well as all evacuation orders related to the nearly 71-square kilometre Eagle Bluff wildfire just west of Osoyoos.More than 130 properties in or around the southern Okanagan community have been evacuated since the fire jumped the border on July 29, but the orders have been eased as the BC Wildfire Service says the blaze is no longer likely to spread.Evacuation orders have been downgraded to alerts and the regional district says homes that were previously on alert are cleared of further restrictions. At the height of the emergency, evacuation orders covered more than 700 properties while 2,000 more were on alert as strong winds blew the fire toward Osoyoos, but a shift in winds the next d...

Dozens of Croatian soccer fans appear in court in Greece after deadly violence outside stadium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — More than 90 arrested Croatian soccer fans were led in handcuffs Wednesday to appear before an investigative magistrate in Greece for their alleged involvement in deadly soccer fan violence, as police set up highway roadblocks and additional border checks to search for more suspects. The youths – many with their shirts pulled over their heads to hide their identity – appeared in court a day after a 29-year-old Greek fan was stabbed to death outside AEK Athens’ stadium, prompting the cancellation of a Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Zagreb.Amateur video of the attack showed dozens of youths wielding bats and iron bars running past the stadium, as flares and petrol bombs exploded. Ten people were injured and four remain hospitalized. Police in Greece earlier arrested six Croatian nationals as they attempted to flee the country. Five of the suspects were detained in the northwestern port of Igoumenitsa as they prepared to board a ferry bound for Italy, w...

Prince Harry lauds the healing power of sports as he kicks off a promotional tour of Asia in Tokyo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Prince Harry lauded the virtue of sports and its healing powers on Wednesday as he kicked off a trip to promote sports in Tokyo, the first stop on his tour of Asia. Sports not only helps build up physical strength but can also help heal the body and mind, the Duke of Sussex said as he spoke at an event hosted by the International Sports Promotion Society, an organization based in the Japanese capital. He said he has seen sports save people from “rock bottom” of their life. By creating a platform and helping people focus on redefining themselves, “that’s when I see sports really coming to itself.”“I have seen sports literally save their life,” Prince Harry said. “The physical piece to sports is the obviously the most important. But the mental aspect and healing ability is extraordinary.” He also stressed that sports has special value for children that can be taught only on a field, not in a classroom. “It brings people together — all sizes, backgrounds, beliefs or ...

Warlocks motorcycle club member convicted in death of associate whose body was left in crypt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A member of an outlaw motorcycle club accused of killing an associate member and leaving his body in a crypt at a Philadelphia cemetery has been convicted of murder and other charges.Michael DiMauro, 51, who represented himself at trial, faces a potential term of life without parole when sentenced this month.DiMauro shot David Rossillo Jr., 33, four times in Mount Moriah Cemetery in December 2017, prosecutors said, then tied a rope around his neck, dragged him across the property with a car, and left him in an underground crypt.Rossillo was missing for nearly three years before his body was found in April 2020, as authorities searched for another Warlocks motorcycle associate who had disappeared. The body of the other missing man was also found in the crypt, authorities said, and it’s still not clear why either man was killed.The Associated Press

Angelina Jolie joins producing team for Broadway-bound musical ‘The Outsiders’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Add Angelina Jolie to the growing list of celebrities lately dipping their toes into producing on Broadway.The Oscar-winning “Girl, Interrupted” actor has become a lead producer on the Broadway-bound new musical “The Outsiders,” a show based on S.E. Hinton’s novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 coming-of-age crime drama. “The Outsiders” had its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse earlier this year. The Broadway cast and dates have not been revealed yet.“I hope to be able to contribute while continuing to learn from this amazing team, who I have been working with since my daughter brought me to see the show at La Jolla Playhouse,” Jolie said in a statement. “I can’t begin to express how excited I am for this musical to make its Broadway debut and look forward to sharing this new adaptation of ‘The Outsiders’ with the world.”Other celebs who have signed up to produce Broadway shows include Mariah Carey on the current hit “Some Like It Ho...

Poland to double troops number at border with Belarus, accuses it of organizing illegal migration

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The Polish government announced Wednesday that it is planning to deploy an additional 2,000 troops to its border with Belarus, twice the number the Border Guard agency had requested, as fears of illegal migration rise. In an interview with state news agency PAP, a deputy interior minister, Maciej Wasik announced the decision and accused the Belarusian authorities of organizing illegal migration. He said migration pressure on the Polish-Belarusian border area is growing, although it cannot compare to the situation two years ago.At the time, large numbers of migrants from the Middle East and Africa arrived at the border, their travel there facilitated by flights and visas provided by the Minsk government — something Warsaw considered to be a form of “hybrid warfare.”“If we had real border guards on the other side and not a smuggling service, these crossings would not exist at all,” Wasik said. Polish authorities retaliated by building a tall steel wall, whi...

The US Open is adding video review for double bounces. It’s a first for Grand Slam tennis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

New U.S. Open tournament referee Jake Garner recalls being a chair umpire and having a tough time figuring out in the moment whether a ball bounced twice before a player got it back over the net. If that happens at Flushing Meadows this year, though, an official can check a replay: Video review will make its Grand Slam tennis debut when main-draw competition begins in New York on Aug. 28.“There were certain situations, of course, where you would see a video post-match and wish you had made a different decision,” Garner told The Associated Press, “or wish you had assistance in making that decision.”Video review — which is separate from the electronic line-calling used for ruling balls in or out at all matches — will be set up for five of the Open’s 17 competition courts: Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand, Court 5 and Court 17. That sampling, which should include a little more than 50% of singles matches, according to Garner, will be studied before decidin...

Steve McMichael returns home after being released from hospital

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

HOMER GLEN, Ill. — There was some very good news to report about "Mongo" late Tuesday evening. Steve McMichael, who has been battling ALS, returned to his home in Homer Glen after being released from the hospital, per his family. The former Bears' defensive tackle had been in the ICU as he dealt with sepsis and pneumonia, receiving treatments since last Friday. He will continue to receive antibiotics upon his return to his house. A "Team Mongo" rally will be held on Wednesday evening at Homer Glen's Village Hall, 14240 West 151st Street, at 6:30 p.m. ‘He’s still got a lot of personality in there’ – With help from many, Steve McMichael continues ALS fight and push for Hall of Fame It marks a positive moment for McMichael, who was diagnosed with ALS in January 2021 and continues to battle the disease. He's received support from his former teammates, professional wrestling performers, and fans from around Chicago as his ALS has progressed over the past two-and-a-half years. There are...

Niles introduces feral cat program for rat control

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

NILES, Ill. — Niles announced Wednesday that they are piloting a feral cat program to help control rats and other pests.Authorities are working with a resident in the 7800 block of North Nordica Avenue who will provide food and shelter for five feral cats.The cats will be released in the same block for a two-month trial program. Niles police will then evaluate the program's effectiveness. Meet the cats fighting Chicago’s rat problem If the program is found the be effective, it will potentially be expanded to other areas of Niles.