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Trump legal woes force another moment of choosing for GOP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — From the moment he rode down the Trump Tower escalator to announce his first presidential campaign, a searing question has hung over the Republican Party: Is this the moment to break from Donald Trump?Elected Republicans have wavered at times — whether it was Trump’s condemnation of John McCain’s war record, his racist attack against a Mexican-American judge, his sexually predatory language caught on video, his alleged extramarital affairs, his decision to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence, his promotion of false allegations of election fraud and his incitement of a violent mob that threatened the lives of lawmakers in both parties.But after almost eight years of near-constant scandal, Republicans have ultimately rallied behind Trump over and over and over again.Now, on the eve of a new presidential campaign season, that loyalty is being tested anew as Trump prepares for the possibility that he may soon become the firs...

Federal judge blocks key parts of California handgun law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on Monday blocked key provisions of a California law that drastically restricts the sale of new handguns in the state, saying parts of the legislation violate the Second Amendment. A lawsuit challenging the law was filed last year by the California Rifle & Pistol Association and other gun rights supporters following a landmark 2022 decision from the U.S. Supreme Court that set new standards for evaluating firearm restrictions. The ruling left many laws aimed at regulating and limiting the sale and use of guns — in California and nationwide — at risk of being struck down.U.S. District Court Judge Cormac Carney, sitting in Santa Ana, wrote Monday that California’s requirements for new handguns are unconstitutional and cannot be enforced. Because of these restrictions, Carney wrote, no new models of semiautomatic handguns have been approved for sale since 2013 and Californians are forced to buy older and potentially less safe models.He issue...

Funeral for two officers shot and killed in Edmonton scheduled for next week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

EDMONTON — Police say a regimental funeral has been scheduled for two Edmonton officers who were shot and killed in the line of duty last week.The funeral for Travis Jordan, who was 35, and Brett Ryan, 30, is to be held March 27 at Rogers Place, the home arena for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.Police say the constables were responding to a family dispute at a northwest apartment complex early Thursday when they were shot multiples times by a 16-year-old boy.Police say the boy shot and wounded his mother during a struggle for the gun and then shot and killed himself. The officers’ bodies are set to be transported Tuesday from the medical examiner’s office to a funeral home.Police say the public is encouraged to show their support by lining the route.Investigators said last week the boy’s 55-year-old mother had called 911 because she was having trouble with the teen, but there was no indication of a threat of violence or that he had a gun.Jordan a...

Offenders in custody after 2nd string of robberies in Rivers Casino, Mariano's parking lot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

PARK RIDGE, Ill. — Not even two weeks after a group of armed men robbed several victims at gunpoint in the parking lots of Rivers Casino and a Park Ridge Mariano's, another group was at it again, but this time police have offenders in custody. Previous: Group commits four armed robberies in Rivers Casino, Park Ridge Mariano’s parking lots According to the Des Plaines Police Department, officers were called to an armed robbery at the address of Rivers Casino — 3000 South Rivers Road — at around 9:58 p.m. Sunday.Their preliminary investigation revealed that four males, who were travelling in a black and white Jeep Compass with an Illinois registration, entered the casino's property and pulled behind a car with two men inside.Police said the four offenders then got out of the Jeep and approached the car, opening the driver's side and passenger's side doors. Next, two of the offenders each pressed a gun into the chest of the driver and the passenger of the car, taking money and a cell...

Early voting for mayoral race in Chicago begins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

CHICAGO — Voting is underway in Chicago's runoff elections — from the mayor's race to the undecided races for members of City Council.While polls opened at 9 a.m. Monday ahead of the April 4 election, officials say there is still a gap to fill."We are facing a shortage. We need at least 1,000 poll workers," said Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.Cook County election judges will receive $250 for the day while polling places technicians will make $385. The amounts reflect a recent pay increase for the roles, $50 and $20, respectively. "Our poll workers play a critical role in ensuring the integrity of our elections and efficiency of our operation at our polling locations," Yarbough said.  The Chicago Board of Elections commissioners also announced vacancies with similar pay. "We still also need voters to step up as election judges. Returning judges make up to $255 a day and new judges make up to $230," said BOE chairwoman Marisel Hernandez. Jobs are open to registered voters who may b...

Murder affidavit provides more details into man accused of stabbing wife in north Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 273-8255. More than 100 local crisis centers are a part of a national network working on this lifeline and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.AUSTIN (KXAN)-- An arrest affidavit provided more details into a north Austin homicide that left one person dead March 14.According to the affidavit, a witness at an apartment complex in the 11700 block of Metric Boulevard called 911 and said a woman, Minerva Jimenez, 30, was stabbed and thought she was dying.The witness told police they heard Jimenez yelling to call 911, the affidavit said.When officers arrived on the scene, they found Jimenez, who appeared to have multiple stab wounds, the affidavit said. She was pronounced dead on the scene. APD: Man accused of stabbing wife in north Austin homicide Then, at approximately 3:25 p.m., dispatch began getting multiple 911 calls for a man standing on the we...

Police identify victim in north Austin homicide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)-- On Monday, the Austin Police Department identified the man who was the victim in a weekend homicide in north Austin, according to a APD news release.Shortly after 7 a.m., March 18, APD officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 300 block of Deen Avenue, the release said. Someone called 911 and reported a person was shot and lying outside a home. Officials responding to fatal shooting in north Austin When officers arrived on the scene, they found Barry Dockery, 20, lying in the backyard with a gunshot wound, police said.Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) provided medical attention when it arrived, but Dockery died shortly after, the release said.Homicide detectives and crime scene specialists responded to investigate the scene and discovered Dockery was in the front yard when he was shot multiple times, but he walked to the backyard before collapsing, the release said.This is being investigated as Austin's 17th homicide, according to police. MAP: Where have...

Austin Police congratulate rabbi as new police chaplain

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)-- The Austin Police Department pinned and congratulated Rabbi Marie Betcher on her new leadership role as the lead chaplain for APD, the agency confirmed in a tweet Monday.Betcher is the first woman to take on the role, APD said.She will oversee a team of chaplains in the department that provide support to officers.

Hastings strangling charged upped to 1st-degree murder. Pattern of domestic abuse, premeditation alleged.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

A grand jury has indicted a man for first-degree murder, alleging a pattern of domestic abuse and premeditation in the killing of his 36-year-old girlfriend in Hastings.The Dakota County attorney’s office previously charged Kyle Steven Williams, 34, with second-degree murder in the death of Kelly Jo Marie Kocurek. She was found unresponsive, bloody and bruised May 18, 2021, in a room at Coratel Inn and Suites on Vermillion and 25th streets. She was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul and was in a coma before dying May 23, 2021, according to a criminal complaint filed against Williams.Kyle Steven Williams (Courtesy of Dakota County Sheriff’s Office)Williams told Hastings police officers that Kocurek strangled herself with a cord, but an autopsy determined her manner of death was homicide. She was also found with numerous traumatic head injuries attributed to physical assault, including bruises on her face, head and ear, in addition to fractures on both sides of her jaw....

South St. Paul Schools IT director resigns after child porn charge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:31 GMT

The director of technology for South St. Paul schools resigned last week after he was charged with possessing child pornography at his Hudson home.Investigators searched Paul Michael Brashear’s home on March 6 and found a computer flash drive with hundreds of images of child pornography, according to a criminal complaint filed against the 63-year-old on March 13 in St. Croix County Circuit Court.The school district said in letters it sent to families last week that Brashear was put on administrative leave after his March 6 arrest and that the district is cooperating with law enforcement and other law enforcement agencies. He resigned March 14.The school district said law enforcement “has indicated the allegations against [Brashear] did not appear to occur on district property or any of its district devices.” Brashear’s job was a district office-based position “responsible for the oversight of technology operations and infrastructure and does not have direct or daily contact with stu...