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Florida’s Republican chair has denied a woman’s rape allegation in a case roiling state politics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The head of the Florida Republican Party, whose wife is a founder of one of the nation’s most prominent conservative groups, has been accused of rape, leading Gov. Ron DeSantis to call for his resignation, roiling the state’s conservative politics and creating accusations of hypocrisy from Democrats and LBGTQ+ activists.Police search warrant affidavits obtained by Florida news organizations show that a woman who had been friends with Christian Ziegler for 20 years has accused him of raping her in her apartment two months ago. Ziegler, a longtime party activist who took over the state Republican Party in February, denied the allegations in an interview with police, saying the sex was consensual.No criminal charges have been filed against Ziegler, 40, but the Sarasota Police investigation remains open. The accuser’s name has not been released, and The Associated Press doesn’t identify the possible victims of sexual assault without their permiss...

Police in Paris arrested a man who targeted passersby, killing 1, injuring 2 others, official says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French police arrested a man who targeted passersby in Paris on Saturday night, killing a German tourist with a knife and injuring two others, France’s interior minister said.Police subdued the man, a 25-year-old French citizen who had spent four years in prison for a violent offense. After his arrest, he expressed anguish about Muslims dying, notably in the Palestinian territories, and claimed that France was an accomplice, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. The attacker apparently cried “Allahu Akbar” (God is great), Darmanin added.“This person was ready to kill others,” Darmanin told reporters.The attacker went after a German couple with a knife, killing the man. He then used a hammer to injure two others.The attacker, who was not identified by name, left prison after four years in 2020 and was under surveillance and undergoing psychiatric treatment, the minister said, painting a brief portrait of the assailant, who was born in Neuilly-Sur-Seine, a ...

Brighton Park migrant camp nearing completion, despite opposition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

CHICAGO — The site of a future migrant camp on the City's Southwest Side is nearing completion, despite protests and opposition from the surrounding community.Workers installed flooring, along with walls and heaters inside tents at a future migrant housing site in Brighton Park Saturday. Once opened, the City's plan is to house around 1,500 migrants there.“We should have been having this discussion about what to do when it gets cold back in the summertime," said 15th Ward alderman Raymond Lopez.Late Friday, the mayor's office released a nearly 800-page environmental report on the 38th Street and California Avenue project. The report said consultants hired by the City to inspect the nine acre land parcel found items that needed to be remediated.Those remediations included disposing of mercury-contaminated soil at one location, removal of DEHP (a human carcinogen), and eliminating part of the soil that had a high level of two semi-volatile compounds.“There’s a lot of chemicals at tha...

Coast Guard cutter 'Mackinaw' makes yearly Christmas tree delivery to Navy Pier

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Hundreds of local families will experience some extra holiday joy this year, after the Chicago Christmas tree ship made it's yearly stop at Navy Pier Saturday. Dozens displaced after extra-alarm apartment fire in Cicero WGN's Judy Wang travels to Navy pier to cover a yearly tradition that brings thousands of Christmas trees to the City of Chicago.

My Block, My Hood, My City lights up King Drive for the holidays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

CHICAGO — The group "My Block, My Hood, My City" mobilized a small army of volunteers to light up King Drive for the holidays Saturday.In the six years My Block, My Hood, My City has been lighting up King Drive, the effort has gone from ten homes, to over 500, all of which are powered by donations and volunteers."What started out as a small idea has taken root [and] blown up bigger and brighter this year," said Jahmal Cole, founder of My Block, My Hood, My City.Cole told WGN News the non-profit is on a mission to bring people together from across the City to make a difference. Hyde Park School of Dance Presents ‘The Nutcracker’ "We’re only as strong as our weakest community. What happens in Chatham should matter to people in Lincoln Park and vice versa and that’s where Chicago pride comes in," Cole said. "This is my block. This is my hood. This is my city!"Nancy McNamara is a volunteer from the Lincoln Park neighborhood who's team was responsible for stringing up lights and securi...

United Airlines hosts 'Fantasy Flight' for children with serious illnesses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

CHICAGO — A flight to beat all destinations to support children as they battle medical issues, United Airlines is hosting their 'Fantasy Flight' for families with children who have serious illnesses. United has hosted the flight for over 30 years at O'Hare International Airport's terminal one so that these families can take holiday flights on their own.Stacey Wahlberg, with Cal's Angels, said it's an incredible, magical day with hundreds of volunteers putting the initiative together. For more than ten years now, Cal's Angels, a nonprofit in St. Charles, that helps pediatric cancer patients has partnered with United.Terrence Burton is one of the dozens of United employees who volunteer their time to make it happen — from boarding to take off. Paws Pet of the Week "We bring them in every year, we provide them with gifts and just a festive atmosphere at the airport. 53 with a lot of our staff involved," Burton said."This is what we’re all about. Good leads the way is what we say all...

Suspect in LA homeless murders arrested; man linked to other homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

(KTLA) — A man has been arrested in connection with the murders of three homeless men in the Los Angeles area, and authorities believe he is also linked to another homicide in San Dimas.At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore identified the suspect as Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, of Los Angeles.Powell is alleged to be the gunman behind the murders of three homeless men across Los Angeles from Nov. 26 to 29. Did you know there’s only one ‘town’ in Pennsylvania? It was confirmed on Saturday that he is also the prime suspect in the follow-home murder of Nicholas Simbolon of San Dimas on Tuesday night.According to Chief Moore, Powell was responsible for four murders in four days.The LAPD on Dec. 1, 2023, released these images of the suspected killer of three homeless men and the suspect's vehicle.Los Angeles police have released a map that shows the locations where three homeless men were killed in late November 2023. Investigators be...

State of Texas: Women ask state Supreme Court to clarify abortion ban exceptions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday, in a case brought by women challenging the state's near-total ban on abortion, marking the latest development in a long legal battle spurred by women who said the ban nearly cost their lives.Twenty-two women are suing the state in Zurawski v. Texas. Many of the plaintiffs said that they nearly died due to pregnancy complications that could have been prevented with a medically necessary abortion. They argue the abortion ban's medical exceptions are unclear, tying doctors' hands and threatening them with life in prison if they perform an abortion the state deems premature.The lead plaintiff, Amanda Zurawski, said she nearly died of sepsis last year after her doctor delayed terminating her pregnancy. She developed cervical insufficiency, and her daughter would not live. PREVIOUS: Austin woman trying for baby says Texas abortion law nearly caused her death "My doctors didn’t feel safe enough to intervene as lo...

APD officers under investigation after shooting man in south Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

If you, or someone you know, is in emotional distress or a mental health crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Crisis counselors are available 24/7.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two Austin Police Department officers are under investigation after shooting a man allegedly suffering a mental health crisis in south Austin, according to Interim APD Chief Robin Henderson during a press conference Saturday afternoon.According to preliminary information from Henderson, officers responded to the 1100 block of Brecon Lane after a 911 caller reported a man had intentionally cut himself and was severely bleeding.APD officers and Austin-Travis County EMS arrived on-scene around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Two officers entered the residence a few minutes later and made contact with the man. According to Henderson, the officers claimed that the man pointed a firearm at them.An officer used a stun gun on the man, Henderson said, but it was ineffective. After that, both officers fired at the man. Henders...

Women’s hockey: Lindsay sisters lead Gophers to sweep of Bemidji State

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:32 GMT

With the Gophers women’s hockey team enjoying another romp over Bemidji State on Saturday at Ridder Arena — this time beating the Beavers 9-1 — a lot of Gophers got their name on the scoresheet in the two-game sweep.Among the players of note were the Lindsay sisters, Ava and Sadie, who had their own reasons to celebrate the weekend beyond helping the Gophers (13-2, 9-2 WCHA) extend their winning streak to eight games.Ava, a highly touted freshman right winger, had a pair of goals in Friday’s win and added another on Saturday, giving her seven on the season. Sadie, a junior right winger, picked up the first goal of her Gophers career.As one of the prize recruits in the 2022 class, Ava was being counted on to score to help fill the scoring void the Gophers were facing due to graduation, and she finds herself third on the team in goals scored.She is playing on the Gophers’ second line, with another skilled freshman, Emma Kriesz, at center, and junior captain Peyton Hemp on left wing.“S...