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Fast start to jury selection at trial of ex-deputy accused of failing to confront Parkland shooter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jury selection in the groundbreaking trial of a former sheriff’s deputy charged with failing to confront the killer of 14 students and three staff members at a Florida high school five years ago got off to a speedy start Wednesday, with the preliminary round nearing its conclusion in just a few hours.Circuit Judge Martin Fein had tentatively scheduled three days of preliminary jury selection, seeking 50 candidates whose schedules and employment would allow possibly two months of jury service at the trial of former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson. Before Wednesday’s lunch break, the judge already had 41 finalists out of 200 prospects interviewed and it appeared he would get his full complement by the end of the day.Those 50 will be brought back Monday for questioning by prosecutors and Peterson’s attorney about their knowledge of the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, and whether they can be fair in judging Pe...

Neglected Shih Tzus rescued by Plantation Police seeking loving homes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

Ten Shih Tzus, neglected and suffering from skin infections and dry eyes, were rescued by Plantation Police. Now, they’re waiting to find new homes at the Humane Society of Broward County.The Plantation Police came across the Shih Tzus, aged between 6 months and 4 years, on Tuesday. Concerned neighbors had reported a bad smell, leading police to discover the neglected dogs.The owner, who wasn’t sure about the exact number of dogs they had, decided to surrender them to the shelter voluntarily.After a thorough examination, it was revealed that all the dogs were dealing with severe skin infections. Some of them also had dry eyes, which meant their tear production was insufficient, resulting in dryness.To treat their conditions, the dogs will need daily medication, possibly for the rest of their lives.“It is incredibly sad to see the dogs in this state.  Some are so matted they will have to be shaved completely while under anesthesia to relieve the discomfort they are i...

Trump’s latest policy pitch: A massive birthday party for the nation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

Donald Trump’s latest idea to enshrine American greatness is to throw the country “the most spectacular” birthday bash — one that will last all year.In 2026, the U.S. will celebrate the semiquincentennial: the quarter millennial since its declaration of independence. To commemorate the anniversary, Trump is proposing a blowout, 12-month-long “Salute to America 250” celebration. In a new policy video, Trump calls for a “Great American State Fair,” featuring pavilions from all 50 states, nationwide high school sporting contests, and the building of Trump’s “National Garden of American Heroes” with statues of important figures in American history like Frederick Douglass and Amelia Earhart.“As a nation, we should be preparing for the most spectacular birthday party. We want to make it the best of all time,” Trump said in the new policy video previewed by POLITICO.A birthday celebration for the nation is the type of event that can be described as quintessentially Trump: heavy on patrioti...

Amazon corporate workers stage walkout, citing ‘lack of trust’ in leadership

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

(CNN) — Amazon corporate workers staged a walkout on Wednesday to signal a “lack of trust” in the company’s leadership, in what is perhaps the most visible sign of dissent among the e-commerce giant’s office workers in recent memory.On Wednesday afternoon, organizers of the walkout said more than 1,000 corporate employees participated in the event. In an email the night before, organizers had said more than 1,800 Amazon employees committed to join the walkout to call attention to employee frustrations on multiple fronts, including the company’s push to get workers in the office at least three days a week.“We’re here because a lot of Amazonians feel in their gut that something is not right with the company,” Eliza Pan, a former Amazon worker and co-founder of the Amazon Employees for Climate Justice group, said Wednesday at the walkout in Seattle. “And there are a lot of signs of this, such as a rigid, one-size-fits-all return to office mandate.”The main in-person walkout began ...

Man shot at by state trooper for driving to US-Canada border with a sign indicating he had an explosive didn’t have any such devices, authorities say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

(CNN) — A man who was shot at by a Maine state trooper while driving toward the Canadian border with a sign indicating he had an explosive inside his vehicle on Monday did not have any explosives with him, a public safety spokesperson said Wednesday.Police earlier identified the driver as Tony Holford, 42, from Providence, Rhode Island.“Investigators have confirmed that Tony Holford did not have explosives in his vehicle,” Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety, told CNN in an email.Holford appeared virtually from Aroostook County Jail in his first court appearance Wednesday.“I never had any dangerous weapon on me at all, there was never no bomb or nothing,” Holford said. “It was all just a lie for attention because I needed help.”The trooper first tried to stop Holford’s vehicle as it was heading north on Interstate 95 at around 10:39 a.m. Monday in Houlton, according to a statement from Maine State Police. The statement did not say why the troo...

Mike Pence to launch campaign for president in Iowa June 7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence will officially launch his widely expected campaign for the Republican nomination for president in Iowa next week, adding another candidate to the growing GOP field and putting him in direct competition with his former boss.Pence will hold a kickoff event in Des Moines on June 7, the date of his 64th birthday, according to two people familiar with his plans who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details ahead of the official announcement. He’ll also release a video message as part of the launch.His team sees early-voting Iowa as critical to his potential path to victory and advisers say he plans to campaign aggressively for the state’s conservative, Evangelical Christian voters. The campaign is expected to lean heavily on town halls and retail stops aimed at showcasing Pence’s personality as he tries to emerge from former President Donald Trump’s shadow.The week will be a bus...

Bipartisan bill would allow tribes in Maine to benefit from federal law, stops short of sovereignty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — New legislation would allow Native Americans in Maine to benefit from federal laws despite terms of a land claims settlement, providing help to Wabanaki tribes while stopping short of full sovereignty that they’ve long sought.The bipartisan proposal introduced by Democratic House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross forbids the creation of tribal casinos without state permission and keeps intact existing criminal jurisdictions, removing potential stumbling blocks to allowing tribes to benefit from laws meant to help them.“With this bill, we have the opportunity to right this wrong,” Talbot Ross said Wednesday in a statement, noting that the bill is a step toward greater sovereignty sought by tribes.But the administration of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills opposed the proposal, and her general counsel warned Wednesday that the bill could lead to confusion and litigation.Tribes in the state are governed by the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 that stipulat...

Aaron Rodgers limited during Wednesday’s practice, Jets optimistic he can return later this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

Last week during the first OTA practice made available to the media, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers strained his calf.Eight days later, Rodgers was limited during Wednesday’s practice, but Jets coach Robert Saleh said he expects the 39-year-old quarterback to fully participate later this week.“He’s fine,” Saleh said. “He’s just doing a bunch of rehab.”While warming up before practice, Rodgers injured his calf during conditional drills on May 23. It appeared he injured his calf during a drill that involved a medicine ball and a sled with a weight attached to it.He watched practice from the sidelines but told reporters he decided to take a “vet day” last week as he didn’t think the injury was too severe.On Wednesday, Rodgers, for the most part, continued to watch the rest of the Jets players practice from the sideline. At the start of practice, Rodgers and tackle Duane Brown rode stationary bikes off to the side while players...

Nuggets coach Mike Malone is taking his New York City style to the NBA Finals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

Before he could coach the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals, Mike Malone had to hide behind trees.The spying in disguise was a necessary part of his duties at Providence College, where Malone, a graduate assistant at the time, was tasked with ensuring players went to class.“We called Mike Malone a Friar, the real Friar,” says Jamel Thomas, a star guard for the Providence Friars from 1995 to 1999. “Because he’d hide behind trees to make sure we’d go to class and s—t.“He was literally behind trees with his hoodie on.”The ‘Friar’ nickname meaning, beyond the obvious connection to Providence, was likely rooted in the ‘Robin Hood’ character, Friar Tuck, who lived in Sherwood Forest. Malone had too much of a spicy vocabulary to be confused with a servant of religion. And while his spying came from a place of support, it might’ve been met by players with more resistance — or perhaps animosity — if it w...

MIAA state softball tournament pairings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:51 GMT

SOFTBALL DIVISION 1SEEDS: 1. Central Catholic (19-1); 2. King Philip Regional (20-2); 3. Taunton (19-1); 4. Wachusett Regional (20-0); 5. Peabody Veterans (17-1); 6. Lincoln-Sudbury (19-1); 7. Bishop Feehan (12-9); 8. Bridgewater-Raynham (17-3); 9. Methuen (13-7); 10. Attleboro (12-8); 11. Woburn Memorial (17-3); 12. Saint Paul Diocesan (14-6); 13. North Andover (13-7); 14. Westford Academy (10-6); 15. Chelmsford (10-10); 16. Arlington (13-7); 17. Reading Memorial (12-8); 18. Hingham (18-2); 19. Franklin (9-11); 20. Newton South (13-7); 21. Marshfield (14-6); 22. Doherty Memorial (10-7); 23. Andover (8-12); 24. New Bedford (11-9); 25. Natick (11-8); 26. Braintree (11-9); 27. Lexington (11-9); 28. Milford (7-13); 29. Concord-Carlisle (13-7); 30. Shrewsbury (8-12); 31. Needham (8-10); 32. Beverly (11-9); 33. Framingham (11-9); 34. Everett (18-2); 35. Wellesley (10-8); 36. Boston Latin (10-10); 37. Medford (14-6); 38. Lynn Classical (12-8); 39. Lynn English (10-10)PRELIMINARY ROUN...