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California authorities arrest college professor in the death of Jewish demonstrator

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

By JOHN ANTCZAK and JULIE WATSON (Associated Press)LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California college professor was arrested Thursday in the death of a Jewish protester during demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war. Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, 50, was booked into jail on suspicion of of involuntary manslaughter — the unintentional killing of another person, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said. The district attorney’s office said it was reviewing the case and expects to make a charging decision later Thursday.A man who answered the phone at a mobile number listed for Alnaji in public records said he did not want to comment. He did not give his name. Paul Kessler, 69, died early Nov. 6 at a hospital following a confrontation the previous day with the suspect during what started as a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Thousand Oaks, a suburb northwest of Los Angeles, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff told reporters on Nov. 7. Kessler was among a group of pro-Is...

Are items hanging from rearview mirrors illegal in California?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KSWB) -- From dangling lanyards to Hawaiian leis and air fresheners, it's common for drivers to have items hanging from their rearview mirrors. But is it legal?Some may argue that having that keepsake necklace or retractable lighter attached to these middle windshield mirrors is harmless. California state law, however, disagrees. In fact, Golden State lawmakers have explicitly forbid the obstruction of a driver’s view through the side window or windshield. California does not legally allow drivers to hang decorative items, pendants, face masks, or other objects onto the interior rearview mirror if they could possibly obstruct their view.This rule is part of California Vehicle Code 26708 (2), which states the following:(2) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle that obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows."Althoug...

A pregnant woman who was put on life support after a Missouri mall shooting has died, police say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A pregnant woman who was shot in the head during a shooting at a Missouri mall last week has died, police confirmed Thursday. The woman had been on life support after being shot in the temple Friday at Independence Center, according to a report by police in the Kansas City suburb of Independence. Police said she was four months pregnant. Independence police have not released the victim’s name or age yet. A family friend gathering money to help pay for cremation costs identified her as 19-year-old Karla Brown in an interview with the Kansas City Star. Two others were shot in the leg when gunfire broke out, and the suspected shooter was shot in the back, Independence police said. A 21-year-old Independence resident has been charged with armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in the mall shooting. Independence police Officer Kelley Rupert in an email said those charges will be updated following the woman’s death. The defendant is in jail...

Advocates say increase to Ontario ECE wages doesn’t go far enough for retention of workers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

Child care advocates warn a new plan from the provincial and federal governments doesn’t go far enough to retain workers and boost the industry as they approach $10/day care.The Comprehensive Childcare Workforce Strategy announced Thursday is expected to support the recruitment and retention of talented educators.The province announced an increase to the wage floor for a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) from $20 per hour to $23.84 per hour. It’s expected to rise to $25.86 by 2025. Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the increase will create wage parity with those working in schools and allow daycare centres to keep more workers.“It also brings ECE’s minimum wage to be in the top four wages in the country by province,” said Lecce. “We’re committed to the workforce and we’re committed to keeping fees low. It’s why we see this as a way to enable childcare fee reduction by increasing access to the workforce, shoring them ...

Alex Murdaugh murder trial judge steps aside after Murdaugh asks for new trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The judge that presided over Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial has agreed to step aside as the former lawyer convicted of killing his wife and younger son requests a new trial, citing alleged jury tampering, the South Carolina Supreme Court said Thursday.But the justices refused a request from defense lawyers to remove Judge Clifton Newman from Murdaugh’s state trial on financial crime charges and to delay the trial, set to begin Nov. 27.Murdaugh is serving a life sentence without parole. A jury convicted him of two counts of murder in March after a sensational six-week trial during which prosecutors argued that he gunned his wife and son down because his life of power, privilege and prestige was falling apart.Months after his convictions, Murdaugh’s lawyers requested a new trial, saying several jurors whom they interviewed told them that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill tampered with the jury by suggesting Murdaugh was guilty, encouragi...

As Georgia looks to court-ordered redistricting, not only Republicans are in peril

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — It’s a pattern Southern states have repeated for decades: A federal court rules an electoral map illegally dilutes the power of Black voters and orders a new one.But with Georgia lawmakers scheduled to return Nov. 29 for a special session to debate new voting districts, some things are different.Unlike earlier decades, when Republicans avoided losses, some Georgia GOP lawmakers are now likely to walk the plank when new districts are drawn. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones in October ordered Georgia to draw Black majorities in one additional congressional district, two additional state Senate districts, and five additional state House districts.A new Black-majority congressional district, combined with similar rulings in other Southern states, could help Democrats reclaim the U.S. House in 2024. New legislative districts could narrow Republican majorities in Georgia.But some Democrats could get thrown overboard too, as Republicans seek to comply with the court whi...

DNA testing, genetic investigations lead to identity of teen found dead near Detroit in 1996

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (AP) — Nearly three decades after the body of a teenage girl was found in an alley in an enclave north of downtown Detroit, authorities have finally identified her.The break in the case came after a profile developed from DNA testing was uploaded into ancestry databases, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children said Thursday in a news release.A tip developed this past summer through forensic genetic genealogy finally came up with a name for the 17-year-old who was found dead in Highland Park in May 1996: Mindy Clevidence.Officials had ruled her death a homicide. But all they had to go on was what she looked like and her clothing: a white T-shirt with yellow and black smiley faces, a white skirt, white socks, white gym shoes and a teddy bear watch. She was known simply as “Highland Park Jane Doe.” “Identifying Mindy is an early step in the process. Now it’s time to get justice for Mindy,” Highland Park Police Chief James McMahon said. “It’s been m...

Halifax security forum to include former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

HALIFAX — Leaders from democratic nations, including a former Israeli prime minister, are gathering Friday in Halifax for a three-day conference on global security.This year, the annual Halifax International Security Forum is focused on the Ukraine war, but the fighting between Israel and Hamas will likely come up when former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak participates in a discussion on Saturday with a PBS correspondent.As the delegates gather, bloody street battles continue to rage in the Gaza Strip, and Global Affairs estimates about 386 people with connections to Canada are still attempting to flee the Palestinian territory.Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing an estimated 1,200 people and taking 240 others back into Gaza as hostages. Israel has retaliated with airstrikes and a ground offensive that the Hamas-run health authority says has resulted in more than 11,000 casualties.International pressure is increasing on Israel for a ceasefire, but Barak has sai...

While the suits are no longer super, swimming attire still has a big impact at the pool

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

Fifteen years ago, Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics wearing a high-tech swimsuit with a catchy name, the Speedo LZR Racer.The super suit era lasted just one more year, thwarted by a ludicrous assault on the record books. But it still matters what a swimmer is wearing.“It makes a huge difference,” said Abbey Weitzeil, a four-time Olympic medalist who is sponsored by Speedo. “Especially for the females. We have more coverage than the males. We want to take advantage of that.”With the Paris Olympics about eight months away, Speedo released its newest suits this week with updated versions of the Fastskin LZR Intent and LZR Valor. These sort of announcements no longer carry the fanfare that accompanied Phelps’ unveiling of the LZR Racer ahead of Beijing or the rubberized suits that dominated the 2009 world championships.But after 43 world records were set in Rome, the international governing body finally took some common-sense steps to eliminate...

Cold weather and rain is on the horizon after an unusually warm stretch in Toronto, GTA

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:52 GMT

Here’s to hoping you were able to enjoy the recent stretch of sweater weather felt throughout Toronto and much of southern Ontario this week, as that will be coming to an end for now.Sunshine and warmer temperatures will suddenly conclude, with 5 to 10 mm of rain on the way for Toronto and the GTA to end the week. While daytime temperatures should reach 13 C tomorrow, a drop of a few degrees will come on Saturday, with a forecasted high of 6 C that will feel more like 4 C.It will be even cooler on Sunday, with a daytime high of 6 C but feeling closer to 2 C. The start of next week could see a brisk day back to work and school, as Arctic air will lead to a forecasted high of 3 C, though it will feel like 1 C. Thankfully, after the wet weather on Friday, the next 72 hours will be mostly sunny.One more mild day with sunshine. Cool down begins tomorrow with periods of rain. Clear out again for the weekend but Highs near seasonal at 6 or7°C. How mild will it be today? Tune in h...