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Acquittals in Manuel Ellis’ death put Washington state’s police accountability law in the spotlight

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

A Washington state law aimed at improving police accountability is in the spotlight after three Tacoma officers were acquitted in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who was shocked, beaten and restrained face-down on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath. The measure approved by voters in 2018 was designed to make it easier to prosecute police accused of wrongfully using deadly force. Initiative 940, referred to as I-940, removed a requirement that prosecutors prove an officer acted with actual malice in order to bring a case — a requirement no other state had — and established that an independent investigation should be conducted after use of force results in death or great bodily harm, among other things.The nearly three-month trial of the three police officers — Matthew Collins, 40; Christopher Burbank, 38; and Timothy Rankine, 34 — was the first to be held under the 5-year-old law. The trial over Ellis’ death in Tacoma, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Seattl...

Tunisians vote in local elections on Sunday to fill a new chamber as economy flatlines

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Butter and milk shortages. Political party boycotts. Ongoing prosecutions of the president’s critics.This is the environment in which Tunisians will head to the polls on Sunday for the country’s first local elections since President Kais Saied wrote a new constitution that voters approved last year.Voting will determine the composition of a new National Council of Regions and Districts — one component of Saied’s vision to reshape politics in Tunisia, the country that sparked the region-wide uprisings that became known as the Arab Spring 12 years ago.The new legislative chamber is designed to focus on economic development and candidates have campaigned on the radio about building schools, roads and other infrastructure. It harkens back to Saied’s campaign promise to distribute power and funds far from Tunisia’s capital. Tunis is synonymous with widely criticized government bureaucracy whose unpopularity helped fuel Saied’s rise. But despi...

Dear Abby: My mother-in-law hit my kids, and I’m being pressured to reconcile

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for 25 years. Right now, our marriage is in trouble because I have been ordered to rekindle a relationship with his mother, whom I haven’t spoken to in six years.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I want to have a talk with my wife’s co-worker, but she says she’s handling it Advice | Dear Abby: Am I awful for living well while my daughter flounders? Advice | Dear Abby: My husband is desperate for women’s attention, and I don’t know what to do Advice | Dear Abby: I’m sure it’s the bride who made this hurtful decision Advice | Dear Abby: My sister doesn’t know it, but my husband’s demand is non-negotiable In my opinion, the woman is toxic. For 17 years, she has essentially stabbed me in the back.At my husband’s request, I initially forgave her each time. I love him, but I have come to realize he alway...

Médicos acusan a las tropas israelíes de profanar cadáveres y disparar contra civiles en un hospital que, según Israel, era “centro de mando” de Hamas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

(CNN) — Los soldados israelíes que asaltaron un hospital en el norte de Gaza profanaron los cadáveres de pacientes con topadoras, dejaron que un perro militar maltratara a un hombre en silla de ruedas y dispararon a varios médicos incluso después de descartar que tuvieran vínculos con el terrorismo, según denuncias del personal y de pacientes.Las denuncias se refieren a una operación de ocho días de duración llevada a cabo por las Fuerzas de Defensa de Israel (FDI) en el hospital Kamal Adwan la semana pasada, que según los militares estaba siendo utilizado como centro de mando y control por Hamas. CNN habló con dos altos cargos del personal médico, otro médico y un paciente del hospital, que aportaron testimonios que corroboran lo sucedido. CNN también revisó las pruebas de video de algunas de las afirmaciones.La evidencia pinta un cuadro inquietante de cómo las FDI llevaron a cabo la operación, mientras los médicos eran interrogados por sus conexiones con Hamas y el personal ...

Ndongo helps Georgia Tech hold off Hawaii 73-68 in Diamond Head Classic semifinal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Freshman Baye Ndongo scored a season-best 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help Georgia Tech hold off Hawaii 73-68 at the Diamond Head Classic on Friday night.The Yellow Jackets (8-3) advance to play Nevada in the championship game on Sunday. The Rainbow Warriors (8-3) and TCU will play for third place earlier Sunday.Ndongo sank 10 of 12 shots and notched his second double-double, taking over down the stretch for Georgia Tech.A 3-pointer by Naithan George gave the Yellow Jackets their largest lead at 52-31 with 16:24 left to play. Matthue Cotton answered with a 3-pointer for Hawaii, sparking a 19-0 run. Harry Rouhliadeff hit a 3-pointer to cap the surge, pulling the Rainbow Warriors within 52-50 with 9:04 remaining.George hit one of two free throws to end the run, but Hawaii kept coming and took a 59-58 lead on two free throws by Bernardo da Silva at the 4:35 mark. Ndongo answered with back-to-back layups and scored eight of the next 10 points for the Yellow Jack...

Israeli strike kills 76 members in one Gaza family, rescue officials say as combat expands in south

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike killed 76 members of an extended family, rescue officials said Saturday, a day after the U.N. chief warned again that nowhere is safe in Gaza and that Israel’s ongoing offensive is creating “massive obstacles” to the distribution of humanitarian aid.Friday’s strike on a building in Gaza City was among the deadliest of the Israel-Hamas war, now in its 12th week, said Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense department. He provided a partial list of the names of those killed — 16 heads of households from the al-Mughrabi family — and said the dead included women and children.Among the dead were Issam al-Mughrabi, a veteran employee of U.N. Development Program, his wife, and their five children.“The loss of Issam and his family has deeply affected us all. The U.N. and civilians in Gaza are not a target,” said Achim Steiner, the head of the agency. “This war must end.” Israel declared war after Hamas militants st...

Anger in remote parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir after 3 die while in the army’s custody

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Anger spread in some remote parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir after three civilians died while in the army’s custody, officials and residents said Saturday. This comes two days after a militant ambush killed four soldiers. Locals said the Indian army detained at least eight civilians on Friday for questioning, a day after rebels fighting against Indian rule ambushed two army vehicles in the southern Poonch district, killing four soldiers and wounding three others.The districts of Poonch and Rajouri are close to the highly militarized line of control that divides the disputed Himalayan region between India and Pakistan.Locals accused army personnel of torturing the three to death in a nearby military camp. The bodies were later handed to the local police who in turn contacted the families. Residents said the bodies bore marks of severe torture. The five other detainees were taken to an army hospital after they were severely tortured, their families said.Mohammed You...

Daily horoscope for December 23, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions after 10 p.m. PST. The Moon is in Taurus.Happy Birthday for Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023:You are an optimist with a strong sense of purpose. You are hardworking and a planner. You have been supportive to others this year. Next year is about learning and teaching. Explore philosophies that give you greater self-awareness and get you closer to the true meaning of your life.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★Keep your eye on your possessions today to avoid loss, theft or damage, because something unexpected could impact your money or your possessions. Definitely, things are loosey-goosey and confusing. Therefore, be mindful. Keep your eyes open. Don’t fall for any snake oil stories. Tonight: Be aware.TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★Today the Moon is in your sign lined up with unpredictable Uranus, which is why you feel restless, even impulsive. You might suddenly do something different or go off in a new direction. Unfortunately, issues are no...

Harriette Cole: My girlfriend cries easily, and I’m wondering if it’s a tactic to shut me down

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: My girlfriend is deeply in touch with her emotions, which, as a sensitive person myself, I genuinely admire.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: The problem started when my daughter switched to public school Advice | Harriette Cole: The 3 lists and one calendar you need for your 2024 life strategy Advice | Harriette Cole: There’s only so much I can do for this Plain Jane Advice | Harriette Cole: I don’t want to offend my friend but I can’t stay in this house Advice | Harriette Cole: An audience makes my roommate more irritating However, I’ve noticed that disagreements between us often result in her tears, regardless of the issue’s magnitude.While I respect her emotions, I feel like her crying has become a way to end arguments in her favor. It seems that she recognizes my discomfort with tears and, as a result, uses them to sway the outcome of our disagree...

Miss Manners: Maybe these new neighbors think their mock pity is cute. I find it annoying.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:30 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We relocated 900 miles and are attempting to acclimate ourselves to a lovely town.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: What should I have done when the groom insulted my wedding cake? Advice | Miss Manners: I had an awkward exchange with the friends I discarded Advice | Miss Manners: I try to make draft dodgers feel bad. Is this wrong of me? Advice | Miss Manners: People are noticing my watch and it’s making me uncomfortable Advice | Miss Manners: Snow shoveling has created an awkward situation with my neighbors We’ve been pleased to learn that our neighbors are just as willing to welcome and engage us as we are to approach and meet them.On occasion, we receive the seemingly benign question of whether we have pets. When we respond that we do not, I’m sometimes taken aback by a somewhat overplayed “I’m so sorry” — as if we or our lives are som...