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GOP rivals take on Haley in effort to blunt her rise, and other takeaways from the Republican debate

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

With the Iowa caucuses rapidly approaching, a shrinking field of Republican White House hopefuls gathered Wednesday in Alabama for the fourth presidential debate. As usual, former President Donald Trump, who is dominating the GOP primary, didn’t appear. Instead, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie continued their effort to gain a sliver of the spotlight in the race.Here are some takeaways from the final primary debate of 2023.Haley under attackNikki Haley was under attack from the opening seconds of the debate. And it didn’t let up for almost 20 minutes, a clear reminder that the former United Nations ambassador’s opponents see her as a growing threat in the race.DeSantis took the opening shot as he answered the debate’s opening question, which was about his struggling campaign.“You have other candidates up here, like Nikki Haley, she caves every time the left comes after her,” DeSan...

1 dead after single-vehicle crash on Highway 427

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

A 42-year-old is dead following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 427 in Vaughan.Provincial police say the northbound lanes of the highway were closed between Highway 407 and Highway 7 around 6 p.m. Wednesday following the crash.Aerial footage of the scene shows the car pointed in the opposite direction of the traffic flow, suggesting that the vehicle may have been traveling in the wrong direction when it hit the concrete abutment at the base of a light pole. Police say one person was transported to hospital via an emergency run but was later pronounced dead.

Winter is coming but is the city prepared for what lies ahead?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

With snow in the forecast, there are questions about the City’s preparedness for the winter ahead with problems plaguing operations the last couple of years. So what can we expect when the white stuff starts to hit our roads and sidewalks?“We have a comprehensive plan for removal of snow and we are ready to go,” said Deputy Mayor and Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, who says all 1,400 pieces of equipment across the city are ready to be activated as soon as the snow arrives.“City staff have been planning year-round for snow operations, and they monitor the weather closely and as soon as the forecast is projected that will hit the thresholds, they get ready and they activate the command centres.”The city usually adds a liquid brine to the roads before the snow falls and then begins to salt when it begins to snow. Plows are not activated until there are at least 2.5 centimetres of snow on expressways, five centimetres on major roads and transit routes and eig...

Ex-NFL player Sergio Brown pleads not guilty to killing mother

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

MAYWOOD, Ill. (AP) — Former NFL Player Sergio Brown pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of first-degree murder and concealing a homicide in the September death of his mother.The body of his mother, 73-year-old Myrtle Brown, was discovered Sept. 16 near a creek in Maywood, about 12 miles (19 kilometers) west of Chicago. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said the woman died from blunt force trauma, determined that she had been injured during an assault and ruled her death a homicide.Brown, 35, and his mother lived together in Maywood.Brown was arrested in San Diego on Oct. 10 after being deported from Mexico and extradited to Maywood two weeks later. He admitted going to Mexico with his mother’s belongings, and prosecutors said he was using his mother’s credit card in Mexico in the days after her death.Prosecutors say investigators found similarities between DNA samples from under Myrtle Brown’s fingernails and a toothbrush in Sergio Brown’s bedroom. But public defen...

Deputy US marshal detained after ‘inappropriate behavior’ while intoxicated on flight, agency says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

A deputy U.S. marshal was detained in the United Kingdom on suspicion of acting inappropriately while intoxicated on a flight from New York, the agency said Wednesday. The deputy was one of two who flew to London Tuesday to bring back a person suspected of a crime when the federal agent was accused of acting inappropriately toward at least one woman on board the flight, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The second deputy was also briefly detained and later sent back to the United States, the person said. The official was not authorized to publicly detail the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.The incident was first reported by NBC. The U.S. Marshals said in a statement that the agency takes allegations of misconduct by its employees seriously and it’s cooperating with the investigation by UK law enforcement.“The alleged actions of the employees do not reflect the professionalism of the thousands of employee...

Massachusetts man drives into utility workers and officer, steals cruiser, then flees, police say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — A driver in a suburb of Boston crashed into at least two individuals and a police officer before stealing a police car, fleeing the scene and then crashing the cruiser, law enforcement officials said Wednesday.Police said they arrested the suspect after a foot pursuit. They did not immediately release the name of the male suspect.The first crash occurred Wednesday afternoon on Totten Pond Road in Waltham, Massachusetts, about 10 miles west of Boston.A spokesperson for National Grid said members of a utility crew were struck by the vehicle. At least three team members were injured and transferred to a local hospital, and indications are that at least one worker suffered serious injuries, according to the utility.Waltham police did not immediately offer additional details.The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and local and state police said the investigation is still active and updates will be provided as they become available.The Associated Press

COPA releases bodycam video from fatal South Shore shooting involving police

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

CHICAGO — The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) released body-camera footage Wednesday from a deadly shooting involving police officers in the South Shore neighborhood last month.COPA said the investigation into the incident, which happened on Nov. 6, is still in it's early stages. The three officers who discharged their weapons during the incident will remain on desk duty, pending the results of COPA's investigation.According to police, officers responded to the 7300 block of South Dante Avenue where the incident occurred. 32-year-old Trenza Campbell was taken from the scene to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Elgin police officer charged with possession of child porn One of the officers involved in the shooting was hit in the arm, and police said they are still in recovery. WGN's Julian Crews reports on the video release, and we would like to warn you, some of the content in the video above may be disturbing to watch.

Suburban man allegedly hit date with SUV after argument, police say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — A date almost turned deadly in northwest suburban Des Plaines following an incident police said was caught on video.According to police, Jose Roldan Vazquez, 37, of Mount Prospect allegedly hit a woman he met on a dating site with his SUV following an argument. Des Plaines officers patrolling the area of Golf Road and Mount Prospect Road said they heard a scream from a woman on the northwest corner of the intersection. Approaching officers in the first block of W. Golf Road then encountered the woman knocking on the front door of a business. Police said the woman's clothes were wet and disheveled as she explained to officers that someone, later identified as Vazquez, struck her with a vehicle.Officers later learned that the victim agreed to meet Vazquez in a parking lot after conversing on a dating app. Police said the victim entered Vazquez's white Ford SUV and he drove away. Shortly after returning to the parking lot, a verbal argument ensued.After the victim e...

Illinois' Newton, Northwestern's Braun and Ohio State's Harrison take AP's top Big Ten honors

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is The Associated Press Big Ten offensive player of the year, Illinois end Jer'Zhan Newton is defensive player of the year and Northwestern's David Braun is coach of the year.Harrison is a unanimous AP All-Big Ten first-team pick for the second straight year. Newton, Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter and Iowa punter Tory Taylor are the other unanimous first-team selections by the voting panel of 23 media members who cover the conference.The first team includes six players each from conference champion Michigan and Ohio State. Heisman finalists: LSU QB Daniels, Oregon QB Nix, Washington QB Penix Jr., Ohio St. WR Harrison Jr. Ohio State's repeat first-team picks are Harrison, defensive end JT Tuimoloau and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. Michigan running back Blake Corum and Zinter also were on the first team in 2022, as was Illinois' Newton.Harrison, a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, is the Buckeyes' first receiver with back-...

Apple Valley’s Tre Jones a valuable floor general for San Antonio, even while coming off the bench

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:44 GMT

Tre Jones was happy to get another trip to Minnesota added to the schedule, even if it was a bit last minute.When the Spurs and Timberwolves both failed to advance out of group stage in the In-Season Tournament, San Antonio was given an added game at Target Center as one of its fill-in contests, meaning the Apple Valley point guard was granted another chance to play at home.“All the family is in town for the most part. It’s always good to get back to Minnesota, especially around the holidays,” Jones said Wednesday. “We don’t really get a cold winter down there. So to be able to get some weather like this around Christmas, it’s always fun.”Jones returns to Minnesota playing in a different role than the one he occupied a year ago. Jones started 65 of the 68 games in which he played last season. Now he’s coming off the bench as part of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s grand experiment to throw point guards to the wayside. The coach tabbed second-year wing Jeremy Sochan to bring the ball up...