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What’s the status of the US death penalty?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

The first federal capital case tried under President Joe Biden ended with a split among jurors that means the life of an Islamic extremist who killed eight people in a New York City will be spared. It came at a rare federal death penalty trial in a state without the death penalty.That Biden’s Justice Department continued to pursue the death penalty for Sayfullo Saipov, who used a truck to mow down pedestrians and cyclists on a popular bike path, was a surprise to many given Biden’s opposition to capital punishment and his 2016 campaign pledge to end it federally. The jury’s failure to reach a unanimous decision means Saipov receives an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the October 2017 attack.The initial decision to seek the death penalty came under then-President Donald Trump, who tweeted a day after the attack that Saipov “SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!” But Attorney General Merrick Garland, under Biden, gave his prosecutors th...

Biden’s test: Can he show competence to avert banking chaos?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — In 2016, Vice President Joe Biden warned against efforts to unravel banking regulations that Democrats had fought to implement following the nation’s financial crisis, just as the emerging Trump administration was determined to loosen those strict banking rules.Biden argued that without the far-reaching 2010 banking overhaul known as Dodd-Frank, financial institutions would continue to gamble with consumers’ cash and ultimately hurt the middle class. “We can’t go back to the days when financial companies take massive risks with the knowledge that a taxpayer bailout is around the corner when they fail,” Biden said in a speech at Georgetown University in the waning days of the Obama administration. Now there’s a banking crisis on his watch as president, and Biden is moving aggressively to assure the public that it is contained, bank executives will be fired, deposits are safe and taxpayers aren’t on the hook — measures also designed to calm jittery ...

Seoul: North Korea launches 2 ballistic missiles toward sea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters Tuesday in Pyongyang’s second show of force this week, officials said, a day after the beginning of U.S.-South Korean military drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the launches were made from the southwestern coastal town of Jangyon from 7:41 a.m. to 7:51 a.m., and it assessed that the missiles flew across North Korea before landing in the sea off that country’s east coast. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the South Korean military had boosted its surveillance posture and maintained readiness in close coordination with the United States.Pyongyang could further escalate its weapons tests over the coming days in a tit-for-tat response to the allies’ military drills, which are planned to run until March 23. Last week North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his troops to be ready to repel wha...

Bill to legalize sports wagering clears Kentucky House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill to legalize sports betting in Kentucky won House passage on Monday, setting up a potential Senate showdown on a proposal that creates divisions among the Republican supermajorities.Past efforts to legalize sports wagering in the Bluegrass State garnered House support but died in the Senate. It’s a reflection of how divisive gambling is in the state that’s home to Churchill Downs in Louisville, where the Kentucky Derby is run.After several years of coming up short, supporters said it’s time for Kentucky to accept a form of wagering already available in most bordering states.“You literally just have to drive across the county line or cross the river to go take part in their programs.” said Republican Rep. Michael Meredith, the bill’s lead sponsor.The measure cleared the House on a 63-34 vote, but its prospects in the Senate are uncertain, with a higher procedural hurdle to overcome this year. It needs a three-fifths vote in each chamber to pass, sinc...

Lightfoot signs executive order for city audit on pay equity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

CHICAGO  —  Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is prioritizing equal pay for women for Women's History Month. The mayor signed an executive order calling for a public audit of city workers' pay twice a year, stating that the move is meant to root out causes of inequity."Why this audit, I think, is so important is because we will be a public measuring stick of whether or not we are making progress...to make sure that women have equity in the workforce," Lightfoot said. "They can hold this administration accountable and every future administration accountable for the goals and the standards that we have set. SEE ALSO | Federal indictment says suburban man stole over $83 million in COVID-19 testing schemeAll told, the pay equity executive order will see the city:Conduct a pay audit of the City workforce to identify gender and racial inequities in employee compensation. Publish a report compiling the findings of the audit including, at a minimum, a comparison of pay by job titl...

16-year-old critically injured following South Side shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

CHICAGO — A 16-year-old boy was critically injured after being shot multiple times Monday evening on the South Side, Chicago police said.At around 6:50 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of E. 88th Street in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood.A 16-year-old boy was discovered with gunshot wounds to the left arm, chest and chin. He arrived at the University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAccording to police, the victim is being uncooperative with their investigation. No one is in custody. Anyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Bears add to their offensive line early in free agency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

LAKE FOREST - On the first day that NFL teams could talk to unrestricted free agents, the Bears made two major splashes on defense.While the reported agreements with linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards dominated the headlines, the team also made an addition at another major position of need: Offensive line.Per numerous reports, the first from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Bears are signing former Titans guard Nate Davis to a three-year, $30 million contract. The team cannot confirm the move until the beginning of the new league year on Wednesday. Bears will sign LB Tremaine Edmunds, reports say A third round pick out of Charlotte by Tennessee in the 2019 NFL Draft, Davis established on a Tennessee line that has seen success the last four years. He's started in 54 of the 55 games he's played in during that time, including 12 contests in the 2022 season. Davis was part of the offensive line that blocked for running back Derrick Henry, who has become one of the best ...

Missouri seeing record numbers after voters make recreational marijuana legal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Missouri is on track to set a record for cannabis sales in the United States. Sales are skyrocketing after weed was made legal in Missouri and people were allowed to purchase the drug from dispensaries."Pretty incredible that we would see those type of sales in Missouri," Tony Patton, co-founder of Fresh Karma Dispensaries, said. Trending: Battlehawks set attendance record, win in home-opener Missouri is on track to be the fastest state to reach $1 billion in cannabis sales. Dispensaries, like Fresh Karma, believe it after seeing high sales themselves in the last month."If we had to guess, I would say sales would continue to grow in the state," Patton said.Since adult use became legal in Missouri and dispensaries have been able to sell starting Feb. 3, 2023, he said business has been booming."We expected a two to three times the sales," Patton said. "And we're seeing approximately five times the sales."He anticipates even more growth and more green over the next...

Yet another storm headed for Southern California; heavy rain expected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

Rinse. Repeat.Another atmospheric river “event” is expected to bring heavy amounts of rainfall to Southern California on Tuesday into Wednesday, and the National Weather Service is warning that more flooding is possible.“We’re not just talking about a little shower passing through. We’re talking about a significant 24-hour storm,” said KTLA weather anchor Kacey Montoya.After a relatively dry Monday, rain begins to arrive early Tuesday morning and will increase in intensity throughout the day.“During peak rainfall around midday, some areas of the Los Angeles metro area will receive a half-inch to an inch of rain per hour,” Montoya said.Metropolitan Los Angeles can expect 2-4" of rainfall with the next storm. March 13, 2023.The NWS is forecasting rainfall totals of two to four inches for coastal areas and valleys, and three to six inches in the foothills. The mountains of southeastern Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County may see as much as seven inches of rain. California...

EPA looking to shut down 2 cesspools at L.A. County mobile home park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:23 GMT

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has filed a complaint against the operator of a mobile home park in Acton, alleging that the park is using two large unlawful cesspools to collect untreated raw sewage.The complaint identifies Eric Hauck as the operator of Cactus Creek Mobile Home Park in Acton. He's also identified as a trustee of Acton Holding Trust.The EPA alleges that Hauck has two illegal cesspools on the property, despite large capacity cesspools being banned by the environmental agency more than 15 years ago.Cesspools, according to the EPA, collect and discharge waterborne pollutants like untreated raw sewage into the ground. The practice of using cesspools can lead to disease-causing pathogens to be introduced to local water sources, including groundwater, lakes, streams and oceans.They were banned by the EPA in April 2005 under the Safe Drinking Water Act’s Underground Injection Control program.EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman said ...