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Court reverses former Nebraska US Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s conviction of lying to federal authorities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An appellate court on Tuesday reversed a 2022 federal conviction against former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, ruling that he should not have been tried in Los Angeles. Fortenberry was convicted in March 2022 on charges that he lied to federal authorities about an illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign from a foreign billionaire at a 2016 Los Angeles fundraiser. He resigned his seat days later following pressure from congressional leaders and Nebraska’s GOP governor.In its Tuesday ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit wrote that the trial venue of Los Angeles was improper because Fortenberry made the false statements during interviews with federal agents at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, and in his lawyer’s office in Washington.“Fortenberry’s convictions are reversed so that he may be retried, if at all, in a proper venue,” the decision said.Patricia Hartman, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, de...

Uber driver charged after alleged sexual assault of passenger in Whitby: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

Durham Regional Police officers say they have charged a Whitby man with sexual assault after an incident involving a female passenger who was acquiring his services as an Uber driver.According to a statement from police, officers responded to a sexual assault call in the area of Taunton Road and Garden Street on Sunday. The statement said the female victim reported being sexually assaulted by a male driving for Uber as she was being taken back to her home.Anees Ashraf, 32, from Whitby, was charged with two counts of sexual assault. He was released on a promise to appear in court.Investigators said they believe the accused might be offering ride-share services under different apps. The statement said officers are in contact with the companies, but wanted to warn the public to ensure there are no further victims.

U.S. strikes Iran-backed militia in Iraq

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - On the day after Christmas, tensions are increasing between the US. and Iran.The president ordered the United States military to strike back against Iranian-supported militants in Iraq.The airstrikes were retaliation for a Christmas day drone attack on a U.S. air base in northern Iraq.Three U.S. service members were hurt, one critically.National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement: "The President directed strikes against three locations…focused specifically on unmanned aerial drone activities."U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. will not hesitate to, "take necessary action to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests."Iraqi officials say the U.S. attacks killed one militant and injured 18 others.This comes at a time when the U.S. is trying to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading beyond Gaza.On Tuesday in Iraq, anti-U.S.  protestors took to the streets in Baghdad and carried what they sa...

Harvard under growing pressure over plagiarism allegations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

(The Hill) – Pressure is growing on Harvard University amid calls for President Claudine Gay to resign after allegations of plagiarism, the latest controversy to engulf the prestigious institution in recent months.  Gay has had to issue numerous corrections to previous papers in the past few weeks after plagiarism allegations were raised for work by her that spanned decades.  The controversy is drawing fresh scrutiny over Gay and putting even more pressure on Harvard, which has been under a tense spotlight since October.  In an op-ed published by The Washington Post over the weekend, deputy editorial page editor Ruth Marcus called on the university president to step down.“She plagiarized her acknowledgments. I take no joy in saying this, but Harvard President Claudine Gay ought to resign. Her track record is unbefitting the president of the country’s premier university," Marcus wrote. "Remaining on the job would send a bad signal to students about ...

Teen brothers get into fight over Christmas presents, sister shot and killed, sheriff says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Two teenage brothers are facing charges after a family fight turned deadly on Christmas Eve in Largo, Florida, authorities said. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said the 14-year-old and 15-year-old got into an argument while Christmas shopping with the family on Sunday. According to the sheriff, the 15-year-old was jealous over the number of gifts their mother was buying his brother.After leaving the store, the brothers, their mother, their 23-year-old sister, and her 10-month-old and 6-year-old sons headed to their grandmother's home so she could watch the children while the sister went to work, the sheriff said.While at the grandmother's home, the 14-year-old allegedly pulled out his gun and told his brother he was going to shoot him in the head, authorities said. According to investigating authorities, the 15-year-old initially refused to engage in the fight and the boys' uncle separated them. The 14-year-old reportedly left the home and went ...

Samsung delays production at Taylor factory to 2025, reports say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — Samsung’s new chip manufacturing plant in Texas has delayed the start of production to 2025, according to reports.Bloomberg, citing the Seoul Economic Daily, a business newspaper in South Korea, reported Samsung has delayed mass production plans at its new chip plant in Taylor, Texas, a city about 50 miles northeast of Austin. Previous coverage: Still about a year from opening new plant, Samsung is already driving growth outside of Taylor Bloomberg wrote mass production at the factory would begin in 2025, citing the newspaper, which referenced a speech by President Choi Siyoung of Samsung’s foundry business at an industry event in San Francisco.Samsung previously said the factory would start production in the second half of 2024 when it announced the investment in 2021. Samsung's website still notes the goal of launching operations in 2024.

Texas DPS looking for information on driver in deadly Christmas hit-and-run crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety is asking for details from the public about the driver involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash on Christmas night. The agency said one pedestrian was killed. According to DPS, the crash happened Monday at about 11:51 p.m. on State Highway 71 westbound near the intersection of Paleface Ranch Road. That location is in western Travis County. Based on evidence at the scene, DPS said the male pedestrian was possibly hit by a 1994 to 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup. The driver of the truck failed to stop and provide help to the pedestrian, according to DPS, and is now being sought for questioning. DPS said anyone with details, including automotive body shop owners and workers, is encouraged to call the agency at (512) 424-7391.

APD investigating officer-involved shooting in north Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it's investigating an officer-involved shooting in north Austin on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the shooting took place in the 1500 block of East Howard Lane. That's near Dessau Road. Officers are expected to provide more details in a media briefing. KXAN will update this story once more information becomes available.

Twin Cities Salvation Army behind last year’s Christmas fundraising pace by $700,000

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

Twin Cities Salvation Army officials say their Christmas fundrasing effort is behind last year’s pace by almost $700,000.The organization generally collects 75% of their annual revenues during the holiday campaign.“The last two weeks of December are the most active fundraising time of year, so we expect more gifts will still be coming in,” said Lt. Col. Randall Polsley, Salvation Army Northern Division commander, in a statement. “But at this point we’re nearly 18% behind last year’s pace, which tells us we won’t hit our target unless we see significant gains by December 31st.”Money raised during the final three months of the year account for a majority the group’s revenue and help pay for assistance programs offered throughout the year.Requests for assistance from the Salvation Army have stayed high despite the pandemic ending, officials said.“Current conditions are driving an increased demand for services, but they also put pressure on charitable giving, and we’re seein...

Prosecutors seek murder charge in Fridley 18-year-old’s shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:42 GMT

Anoka County prosecutors plan to bring a second-degree murder charge against a 17-year-old boy arrested in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old woman last week in Fridley, a spokesman said on Tuesday.The 17-year-old was arrested Thursday after emergency workers reported to a report of a hit-and-run crash that injured a pedestrian in the 4500 block of Third Street Northeast in Fridley shortly before 4 p.m. Responders at the scene found 18-year-old Jayden Lee Kline of Fridley with a gunshot wound.Life-saving measures were performed on Kline, who was brought to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale where she was pronounced dead less than an hour later.The Hennepin County Medical Examiner on Tuesday confirmed her death was the result of a gunshot to the head. The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office initially reported investigators found she had been shot, but did not immediately confirm the cause of her death.Prosecutors are seeking to charge the 17-year-old boy as an adult, ...