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Jury in Breonna Taylor federal civil rights trial opens deliberations in case of ex-officer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A jury began deliberations Monday afternoon at the federal trial of a former Louisville police detective accused of violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights by opening fire on her apartment the night she was killed during a botched raid.The jury received the case on a day when the former officer, Brett Hankison, was grilled by a federal prosecutor over his actions at the time the 26-year-old Black woman was killed. Taylor was shot to death by police after they knocked down the door of her apartment on March 13, 2020. Federal prosecutors are attempting to do what Kentucky prosecutors couldn’t — convict Hankison for his actions on the night Taylor was fatally shot. Last year, the former officer was acquitted by a jury at a state trial of wanton endangerment charges.A federal prosecutor said in closing arguments Monday that Hankison “sent bullets flying” into Taylor’s apartment and an adjoining apartment. Jurors heard earlier that none of the shots he fired ...

Oysters in Paris: Chair of Montreal’s executive committee steps down over expenses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

MONTREAL — The second-highest-ranking member of Montreal’s municipal administration says she is resigning after media reports revealed a series of questionable expenses in her previous role as head of the city’s public consultation office.Dominique Ollivier, elected under Mayor Valérie Plante’s Projet Montréal banner, told a news conference today she is stepping down as chair of the city’s executive committee because she doesn’t want the controversy to undermine public confidence. The announcement comes two days before Montreal’s budget is scheduled to be tabled. Among the expenses claimed by Ollivier and reported by Québecor media outlets earlier this month were a $347 oyster dinner in Paris and several costly overseas trips.Ollivier, who headed the public consultation office between 2014 and 2021, says she plans to stay on as a city councillor.She says that since the controversy began she has received messages of support but she has also receive...

Mexican LGBTQ+ figure found dead at home after receiving death threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The first openly nonbinary person to assume a judicial position in Mexico was found dead in their home Monday in the central Mexican city of Aguascalientes after receiving death threats because of their gender identity, authorities said.The Aguascalientes state prosecutor’s office confirmed that Jesús Ociel Baena was found dead Monday morning next to another person, who local media and LGBTQ+ rights groups identified as their partner.State prosecutor Jesús Figueroa Ortega said in a news conference that the victims displayed injuries apparently caused by a knife or some other sharp object.“There are no signs or indications to be able to determine that a third person other than the dead was at the site of the crime,” he said.Mexico Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez said in a press briefing that authorities were investigating the death and it remained unclear if “it was a homicide or an accident.” Some murder investigations in Mexico have a history of bei...

New York City Mayor ducks questions on FBI investigation, but pledges to cooperate with inquiry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams kept a busy public schedule Monday, but sidestepped questions about the FBI investigation that prompted agents to seize his phones and raid the home of his chief campaign fundraiser.Speaking at Manhattan helipad where an air taxi company was demonstrating electric aircraft, Adams laughed, then walked away, when a reporter asked whether anyone else on his team had had their phone seized by the FBI.“We’re talking about helicopters,” the Democrat said, smiling. Later, he indicated he might answer questions during his next scheduled news briefing on Tuesday, but not until then.FBI agents stopped Adams last week as he was leaving a public event and took his electronic devices, including phones and an iPad. The seizure came four days after agents searched the home of the lead fundraiser for his 2021 mayoral campaign, Briana Suggs.The New York Times and New York Post have reported that part of the investigation involves examining whether...

Jill Biden tells National Student Poets that poetry feeds a hungry human spirit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jill Biden paid tribute to the power of poetry as she honored the 2023 class of National Student Poets on Monday at the White House, saying poetry “feeds our spirit.”“In so many moments throughout my life, I turned to poetry,” the first lady said, citing her dark nights and brighter days or moments of unbridled joy or unbearable heartbreak. “Poetry has been a refuge, a soothing companion that gives voice to emotions I can’t always articulate on my own.”“Poetry feeds our sprit when we’re hungry for something more,” she added. The five students, each representing a different region of the United States, read their work before an audience of classmates who joined remotely from their respective hometowns and parents and other relatives seated in the White House auditorium.The poets are: Gabriella Miranda of Salt Lake City; Kallan McKinney of Norman, Oklahoma; Shangri-La Hou of St. Louis; Miles Hardingwood of New York City; and Jacqueline Flores of For...

Oregon jury awards man more than $3 million after officer accused him of trying to steal a car

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

SALEM, Oregon (AP) — A jury in Oregon has awarded a man more than $3.1 million after a police officer accused him of trying to steal a car he was fixing and allegedly used excessive force when arresting him. That jury award included more than $2 million in punitive damages to Christopher Garza for false arrest, battery and the use of excessive force in the 2021 incident at a tire store in Salem.Garza alleged in the lawsuit that on Sept. 17, 2021, Salem Officer David Baker grabbed him, shoved him onto the roof of his police car and handcuffed him with no justification for his arrest.“Well, I feel vindicated,” Garza told Portland television station KGW-TV. “I feel good that justice has prevailed.Trevor Smith, a spokesperson for Salem, said in an email Monday to The Associated Press that the city was evaluating the jury’s decision and had no comment.Garza, a barber, lives next to the tire shop. He was with two other men and working on a car when Baker arrived and accused him of t...

Stellantis to offer buyout and early retirement packages to 6,400 U.S. nonunion salaried workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Stellantis said Monday it will offer buyout or early retirement packages to about 6,400 nonunion U.S. salaried employees as the auto industry faces what the company is calling challenging market conditions.The automaker, formed in the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot of France, said it is taking the action “to protect our operations and the company.”The offers, which include what the company said is a favorable benefits package, will go to workers who would like to leave the company or retire to pursue other interests. Workers with five to nine years of service would get three months of base pay under the offers, while those with 10 to 14 years would get six months. Workers with 15-19 years would get nine months of base pay and those with 20 or more years would get a full year, the company said.Stellantis said it has about 12,700 U.S. salaried workers who are not union members.It said the buyouts will help prepare the company for the transition to electric...

Israel says Hamas is using Gaza’s biggest hospital for cover. Hundreds of people are trapped inside

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Gaza’s Shifa Hospital has become the focus of a days-long stalemate in Israel’s war against the Hamas militant group.Shifa is Gaza’s largest and best-equipped hospital. But Israel claims the facility also is used by Hamas for military purposes. It says Hamas has built a vast underground command complex center below the hospital, connected by tunnels.Since Israel declared war against Hamas in response to a bloody cross-border attack by the Islamic group on Oct. 7, its forces have moved in on Shifa. While Israel says it is willing to allow staff and patients to evacuate, Palestinians say Israeli forces have fired at evacuees and that it is too dangerous to move the most vulnerable patients. Meanwhile, doctors say the facility has run out of fuel and that patients are beginning to die.Here is a closer look at the Shifa standoff.A HOSPITAL AND A SHELTERShifa is the leading hospital in a health care system that has largely collapsed after years of conflict, chronic under...

Chicago police officer struck by hit-and-run driver in parking lot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

CHICAGO — An on-duty Chicago Police Department officer was struck by a hit-and-run driver Monday in an apartment's parking lot.It happened at the Lake Parc Place apartment building near 40th and Lake in the city's Oakland neighborhood. Chicago firefighter, 39, dies after battling fire at restaurant in Lincoln Park A spokesperson for the department said the officer was on-duty, in uniform and walking int eh area when he was hit.They said the officer is going to be ok.Anyone with information on the driver who hit the officer should call police.

Electric air taxi flight takes off from NYC heliport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:52 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) – The future is … now. The first-ever successful electric air taxi flight was announced on Monday.“You can feel the electricity in the air here in New York City! Our vision for the Downtown Manhattan Heliport will create the world’s first heliport with infrastructure for electric-powered aircraft,” Mayor Eric Adams posted on X. List: Federal holidays in 2024 Two companies — Joby and Volocopter — conducted the test flights. Joby plans to launch a passenger service in 2025.It would considerably decrease the amount of time it takes to travel around the five boroughs. Traveling from Manhattan to JFK Airport could take up to an hour using current transportation options. By air, it can take seven minutes.