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EU official says Twitter abandons bloc’s voluntary pact against disinformation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Twitter has dropped out of a voluntary European Union agreement to combat online disinformation, a top EU official said Friday.European Commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted that Twitter had pulled out of the EU’s disinformation “code of practice” that other major social media platforms have pledged to support. But he added that Twitter’s “obligation” remained, referring to the EU’s tough new digital rules taking effect in August.“You can run but you can’t hide,” Breton said.San Francisco-based Twitter responded with an automated reply, as it does to most press inquiries, and did not comment.The decision to abandon the commitment to fighting false information appears to be the latest move by billionaire owner Elon Musk to loosen the reins on the social media company after he bought it last year. He has rolled back previous anti-misinformation rules, and has thrown its verification system and content-moderation policies into chaos as he pursues his goal ...

Jury finds man guilty of second-degree murder in 2018 California state park killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles jury on Friday found a man guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a father who was camping with his daughters and of the attempted murders of the two young girls, all at a popular park in Southern California.Anthony Rauda fatally shot Tristan Beaudette in the head while the 35-year-old father camped in a tent with his daughters on June 18, 2018. The jury exonerated Rauda on a first-degree murder charge but convicted him on a second-degree offense. He faces 40 years to life in prison and will be sentenced next month.A conviction for first-degree murder requires the government to prove intention and premeditation. Second-degree murder does not.Beaudette was killed at Malibu Creek State Park, roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of downtown Los Angeles. His daughters, then ages 2 and 4, were not injured but were considered victims of attempted murder. The jury convicted Rauda on the counts related to the girls but ruled that Rauda had ...

ISP seizes nearly 130 pounds of fake pills on I-57

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

CHICAGO — Illinois State Police announced a massive bust of fake drugs on Friday. Police intercepted a vehicle parked with almost 130 pounds of counterfeit drugs on northbound Interstate 57 overnight. More than 500,000 pills were discovered. MedWatch Daily Digest: DEA revokes license of drug distributor — and more Many of them were laced with fentanyl. The counterfeit drugs have a street value of one and a half million dollars. Police say they saved countless lives by getting these dangerous pills off the street. 

Students pour cement into toilets in 'senior prank' at NC high school, district says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

BURLINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) — A North Carolina school district is investigating a "senior prank" at Williams High School in Burlington — which caused over $4,000 in damages. The school system says students "gained entry" overnight and poured cement into the toilets and urinals.Alamance-Burlington School System says Williams was not its only school that suffered damages, either. This sport is most commonly linked to lightning deaths Maintenance crews are cleaning up overturned desks, damaged lockers, graffiti, eggs and trash at several other high schools. Other acts of vandalism were also reported across the district."We believe in celebrating milestones in a responsible and respectful way, without crossing the line and causing harm or damage," ABSS said in a statement.The district says students involved in the vandalism face potential suspensions and legal charges. Any seniors that were involved will be forbidden from participating in graduation ceremonies.

Indiana police sergeant, resident save driver from car fire after crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

LAKE STATION, IN. -- An Indiana police sergeant and a local resident are being hailed heroes after pulling a driver from a car that caught on fire after crashing onto a bridge embankment Thursday night.According to the Lake State Police Department, Sgt. James Lamprecht was on duty in his unmarked patrol vehicle, parked in the police parking lot around 11 p.m. on Thursday, May 25 when he observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Fairview Avenue and turning south onto Grand Boulevard, disregarding the stop sign there. Suspect dead after 48 hour crime spree, shootout with police in Batavia Lamprecht immediately pulled out and attempted to catch up to the vehicle. He lost the driver for a short time before a citizen called authorities stating that a vehicle had gone over the bridge and it was on fire.When Lamprecht arrived at the bridge on Grand Boulevard near Riverside Drive, he was flagged down by a resideny, Kevin Gaskin. Indiana police sergeant then saw a d...

These billionaires have more money than the US Treasury right now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

(The Hill) — As time winds down on how long lawmakers have to reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling to avoid the U.S. defaulting on its debt, the Treasury Department’s cash balance has been dropping. Data from the department’s website shows that its cash balance fell to $49.473 billion on Wednesday, a drop from about the $76.5 billion that it had at the close of Tuesday.  J.D. Vance says Target ‘decided to wage war’ on customers with Pride Month collection The White House and congressional Republicans are in the midst of negotiations to try to raise the debt limit before it is reached, potentially as soon as June 5. As the Treasury’s cash balance drops, an increasing number of individuals in the United States and other countries throughout the world are worth more than what the government has.The Bloomberg Billionaire Index, which issues a daily ranking of the world’s wealthiest people based on net worth, lists 24 individuals as having a higher net worth than the amount of m...

Addison man found guilty for setting fire to car at Elmhurst dealership

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. -- An Addison man reportedly poured gasoline and set a car on fire at an Elmhurst dealership last month.According to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, the Elmhurst Police Department responded to the BMW car dealership on the 500 block of West Lake Street just after 1 a.m. on Saturday, April 13. Search underway for missing Chicago woman last seen Sunday Upon arrival, Elmhurst police officers discovered a black Audi on fire. Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire once on scene.Further investigation showed that Dario Salas, 41, of Addison, entered the dealership parking lot at 1 p.m. on April 13. He reportedly poured gasoline on the black Audi, set the car on fire, and left the parking lot.Salas was arrested by the Elmhurst Police Department less than two hours after the incident. He was found guilty of two counts of arson and a class 2 felony.He will be sentenced on Thursday, June 22.

Mother's loss leads to overdose awareness bill going to Texas governor's desk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Stefanie Turner carried three large boxes of cookies into the Texas Capitol Friday morning and delivered them to three state lawmakers who she said helped send a bill named for her late son to the governor's desk. "We just wanted to express our gratitude," Turner said, smiling. "This couldn't have happened without them and so we're just grateful for them being willing to listen, to hear the problem that is happening and be part of the solution." What we know about possible impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton The Texas House of Representatives signed off Thursday on a minor change the Senate made to House Bill 3908, initially introduced by Republican Rep. Terry Wilson of Georgetown. The legislation is now bound for Gov. Greg Abbott's desk, where he's expected to sign it into law.It would require every school district in Texas to teach their students in sixth through 12th grades each year about preventing fentanyl abuse and making them aware of its deadly...

Texas among the Best States for Beekeeping—beating other states like Ohio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

DALLAS (KDAF) — The one thing we can live without, but the one thing we hate to have in our presence, is bees!Lawn care website, Lawnlove listed the best and worst states for beekeeping. There was no doubt that Texas made it to the top five. Texas ranked #4 out of 50 states as the best state for beekeeping.Lawnlove said, "We determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best States for Beekeeping. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into four categories: Output, Earning Potential, Distribution, and Support. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below".According to the study, Texas also ranked #3 for the highest honey production value, and #5 in most honey-producing colonies. Check out the entire study on the Lawnlove website.

Teen walks two hours for 8th grade graduation in St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:33:06 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A six-mile walk for an eighth grader to his graduation ceremony may have secured his academic future."I remember something Mr. Seals told me. He said, 'If I want it, I got to go get it,'" said Xavier Jones. "So, I wanted to graduate, so I was going to go to my graduation."When the 14-year-old didn't have a way to get to his Wednesday's Yeatman Middle School eighth-grade graduation ceremony, he enlisted the help of his brother and a friend. They walked from West Florissant up in north St. Louis to Midtown. Jones' journey took more than 10,000 steps in two and a half hours. Then it got him his diploma."I had to stop my speech and call him on board and was like, 'Hey, everybody get off your feet and give him a standing ovation,'" said Darren Seals, Jones's mentor. "They clapped for him. They were like, 'Woah, this boy walked.'" Why Gov. Mike Parson picked Gabe Gore as the next St. Louis Circuit Attorney President of Harris-Stowe State University, Dr. Latonia Collins Smith...