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Why executions by firing squad may be coming back in the US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The image of gunmen in a row firing in unison at a condemned prisoner may conjure up a bygone, less enlightened era. But the idea of using firing squads is making a comeback. Idaho lawmakers passed a bill this week seeking to add the state to the list of those authorizing firing squads, which currently includes Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Fresh interest comes as states scramble for alternatives to lethal injections after pharmaceutical companies barred the use of their drugs. Some, including a few Supreme Court justices, view firing squads as less cruel than lethal injections, despite the violence involved in riddling bodies with bullets. Others say it’s not so cut-and-dry, or that there are other factors to consider. A look at the status of firing squads in the United States: WHEN WAS THE LAST EXECUTION BY FIRING SQUAD? Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed at Utah State Prison on June 18, 2010, for killing an attorney during a courthouse escape a...

Ukraine using Soviet-era choppers to pummel Russia from afar

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

DONETSK REGION, Ukraine (AP) — Skimming the treetops, three Soviet-era attack helicopters bank and swoop down on a field after an early-morning mission to the front lines in the fight against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Each day, they might fly three or four sorties, says the commander, whose two-crew Mi-24 helicopter, built about 40 years ago, is older than he is.“We are carrying out combat tasks to destroy enemy vehicles, enemy personnel, we are working with pitch-up attacks from a distance from where the enemy can’t get us with their air defense system,” said the commander, who spoke on condition of anonymity for operational security reasons, in line with military regulations. The conflict in Ukraine is largely an artillery war, with territory being fought for inch by inch under a barrage of shells and missiles. But Ukraine’s aviation capabilities play a significant role in the fight, the pilot said.“The importance of the helicopters is huge,” said the commander, who is part of ...

EU leaders play down bank risks as economy weakens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders Friday played down the risk of a banking crisis developing from recent global financial turbulence and hitting the economy even harder than the energy crunch tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine.After a meeting in Brussels, the EU government heads said lenders in Europe are generally in sound health and in a position to weather a combination of rising interest rates and slowing economic growth.“The banking system is stable in Europe,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters after the summit. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: “Generally, I think we are in good shape.”The EU deliberations came in the wake of U.S. regulators’ shutdown of two U.S. banks, including Silicon Valley Bank, and a Swiss-orchestrated takeover of troubled lender Credit Suisse by rival UBS. The emergency actions on both sides of the Atlantic revived memories of the 2008 global financial meltdown and the ensuing EU sovereign debt crisis, which almost broke apart the euro ...

Stocks slip as worries rise about Deutsche Bank, other banks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are slipping on Wall Street Friday as worries about banks on both sides of the Atlantic tug markets lower. The S&P 500 was 0.5% lower in morning trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 192 points, or 0.6%, at 31,913, as of 10:15 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.5% lower.Markets have been turbulent on worries that banks are weakening under the pressure of much higher interest rates. That’s led to rising concerns about a possible recession and heavy uncertainty about what the Federal Reserve and other central banks will do with interest rates going forward.On Friday, much of the focus was on Deutsche Bank, whose stock tumbled 9.6% in Germany. Earlier this month, shares of and faith in Swiss bank Credit Suisse fell so much that regulators brokered a takeover of it by rival UBS.Credit Suisse faced a relatively unique set of longstanding troubles. But the second- and third-largest U.S. bank failures in history earlier this month ha...

UK watchdog softens position on Microsoft Activision deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British antitrust regulators scrutinizing Microsoft’s blockbuster purchase of videogame maker Activision Blizzard on Friday dropped concerns that the deal would hurt the console gaming market, narrowing the scope of their investigation.The Competition and Markets Authority said it no longer thinks the $69 billion deal will result in a “substantial lessening of competition” for console games in the U.K., an update to provisional findings issued last month based on new evidence. The all-cash deal is set to be the biggest in the history of the tech industry. But it faces stiff opposition from rival Sony and is being examined by regulators in the U.S. and Europe over fears that it would give Microsoft control of popular game franchises like Call of Duty.The purchase hit a hurdle last month when the U.K. watchdog said in its initial decision that the deal would stifle competition for both cloud and console gaming. Based on the new evidence, including data that gives b...

12 Naperville businesses cited for selling tobacco to underage residents

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Twelve businesses in Naperville have been cited following a round of tobacco compliance checks.The checks were performed at 76 Naperville businesses and 12 were cited for allegedly selling tobacco or alternative tobacco products to those under 21. Postal carrier robbed of mail keys in Westchester The following is a list of the businesses, per Naperville police.Dr Lungzzz, 2728 W 75th St. #114Food Plus, 351 E Bailey RdMobil (Casey’s), 20 E Ogden AvMobil, 1280 W Ogden AvSHO Mart, 1303 Plainfield-Naperville RdSmoke O Vapor, 686 S Route 59Smoke XL, 1003A W Ogden AvSmokes N Vapes, 760 N Route 59 #108Smokers Choice, 803 E Ogden AvSmoky Brothers, 2811 Patriots Ln #105Speedway, 631 N Route 59U Smoke, 931 E Ogden Av

Chick-fil-A discontinuing longtime side dish to 'help simplify' menu

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Chick-fil-A customers looking to offset their intake of fried chicken with some sort of vegetable will soon have one less option to choose from.As of April 3, Chick-fil-A locations across the country will no longer offer the chain’s Side Salad, which has existed on the Chick-fil-A menu in some form or another (sometimes with carrots and cabbage) for at least a decade.“Serving guests is at the heart of all we do at Chick-fil-A,” reads a statement issued by Chick-fil-A, Inc., concerning the salad’s discontinuation. “In order for our Restaurant Team Members to continue to deliver quality food and signature hospitality, at times we have to make difficult decisions to help simplify our menu.”Customers who order the salad between now and April 3 will also be provided with a “flyer letting them know of the upcoming change,” a spokesperson for the chain told Nexstar. Chick-fil-A confirms customer info stolen in ‘automated attack’ While the Side Salad itself may be disappearing...

Chicago snowplow naming contest concludes: Seven winning names unveiled

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

CHICAGO — Coming to a snowy Chicago street near you, Salter Payton could be clearing the way as one of seven newly named city snowplows.The Department of Streets and Sanitation unveiled the seven winning snowplow names of its inaugural "You Name a Snowplow" contest.They are:Mrs. O’Leary’s Plow Da Plow Salter Payton Sears Plower Sleet Home Chicago Holy Plow! Jean Baptiste Point du Shovel  Winter Weather Advisory issued early Saturday morning The winners were selected by a popularity vote from a list of 50 finalists. Originally only six names were to be selected, one for each of Chicago's snow districts, however a near tie for sixth place led to the seventh being added.Nearly 17,000 responses were received from Chicago residents, which translated to over 80,000 votes for the snowplow names, according to a press release.The officially named snowplows will enjoy a mini-parade at a Friday event where those who originally submitted the winning names wi...

Microsoft unveils plans to use AI feature in Outlook, Excel and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Everything you need to know about Microsoft’s new AI featureArtificial intelligence is quickly becoming a part of people’s daily routines. Some creative professionals have embraced these new technologies as tools to make their workflow easier. On the other hand, AI critics worry it will bring more harm than good.Microsoft seems to have big plans for AI tools, having incorporated the technology into its Bing search engine. On March 6, Microsoft announced it would also use an AI large language model in its Microsoft 365 products.In this article: Microsoft 365 Personal, Microsoft 365 Family and “Office 365 All-in-One For Dummies”What is ChatGPT?“I am a large language model developed by OpenAI based on the GPT-3.5 architecture,” said ChatGPT, when we asked it in a typed query. “I was designed to understand natural language, generate humanlike responses and perform a wide range of ...

Yes, the IRS wants you to report stolen items - unless you return them

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:50:45 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - If you haven't filed your taxes yet this year - you have less than a month until the April 18 deadline - which means you still have time to report your income. While doing so, don't forget to report income you collected from illegal activity or profits from items you stole. Yes, you read that right. IRS guidelines say you must include in your income money made from illegal activities, like dealing illegal drugs or thievery. According to the IRS's Publication 17, "income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8z, or on Schedule C (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity." When will I get my tax refund? When it comes to reporting stolen property, you'll need to report the item's (or items') fair market value - unless you return the item in the same year. The guideline is sometimes referred to as "the Al Capone rule," Mark Steber, Chief Tax Information Officer at Jackson H...