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Volatile world, arbitrary detentions have Ottawa seeking more friends at UN next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

OTTAWA — The Trudeau government is planning to use next week’s United Nations General Assembly to try building momentum against states using people as pawns in diplomatic spats, with the help of former detainees such as Michael Kovrig.“We’re in the midst of an international security crisis. That’s the reality in which Canada and the world is right now,” Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly told The Canadian Press in an exclusive interview.“Now is the time to reach out to a wide group of partners,” she said.Joly will co-host a meeting with her counterparts from Costa Rica and Malawi, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on ways to prevent states from arresting foreigners on political grounds.It’s part of an effort Canada launched in February 2021 to try creating a norm against arbitrary detention, with an action plan that aims to prevent states from placing people in harsh conditions and denying them legal council.A meeti...

National Hispanic Heritage Month highlights cultural diversity of Spanish-speaking Americans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Hispanic history and culture take center stage across the U.S. for National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The celebration recognizes the contributions of Hispanic Americans, the fastest-growing racial or ethnic minority, according to the Census. It includes people whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.With a U.S. population of over 63 million people, there will be a plethora of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations all over the country starting Friday.HOW DID IT COME TO BE?Before there was National Hispanic Heritage Month, there was Hispanic Heritage Week, created through legislation sponsored by Mexican American Rep. Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and signed into law in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The annual celebration was to be held the week that included Sept. 15-16.The weeklong commemoration was expanded to a month two decades later, with legislation signed i...

Man who threw bricks at TTC passengers went on to assault several others: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

Toronto police say they have arrested a man accused of throwing bricks at passengers on a bus in the city’s west end on Thursday.Officers responded to the area of Dufferin Street and Eglinton Avenue West around 9 a.m. after getting reports of an assault on a TTC bus.Police say a man on the bus got into an argument with other passengers. The man then allegedly left the bus and came back on board with bricks in hand.He allegedly threw the bricks at two passengers, hitting one of them in the head. One of the victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries.The suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction.Police allege the same man assaulted several other people in the north end of the city on the same day.Toronto resident Ljay Golden, 28, is now in custody and is facing a dozen charges including two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of assault.He is scheduled to appear in a Toronto courtroom on Friday morning.

Police: 3 shot while driving on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

CHICAGO — Three people were shot while driving early Friday morning on the South Side.At around 1:40 a.m., police responded to the 100 block of West 95th Street on the report of multiple people shot.Police said a 28-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman were shot while traveling in a vehicle.The man sustained two gunshot wounds to the chest and the woman sustained a graze wound to the thigh. The man was transported in critical condition and the woman was transported in good condition.Another man, 31, was shot in a separate vehicle as a result of the incident. He was transported in fair condition.No one is in custody.

WATCH: Trial day 5 of two former DCFS workers in connection with the 2019 death of 5-year-old AJ Freund

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — The trial for two former Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers accused of child endangerment entered its fifth day Friday after the prosecution rested their case Thursday afternoon.Charges were filed against the pair in Sept. 2020, stemming from the April 2019 death of five-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund of Crystal Lake. Andrew Polovin and Carlos Acosta are accused of having known the child’s life was in danger four months earlier, yet not taking the right steps to ensure the situation didn’t worsen.Throughout the trial, prosecutors have maintained that caseworkers should have taken action when they received information in Dec. 2018 from police, who called the DCFS hotline regarding a bruise on AJ’s hip. While the child and his mother blamed the bruise on being pawed by a dog, the child also told a doctor, “maybe someone hit me with a belt. Maybe mommy didn’t mean to hurt me.” PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Trial day 4 of two former DCFS workers in conn...

Skechers opens 'Costco-style' restaurant in California, and it's an overnight success

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

(KTLA) - For the last four months, lines have been building outside the Skechers store in Gardena, California, and it's not the shoes that everyone is buzzing about.The warehouse outlet store, which was the second brick-and-mortar location the company opened decades ago, is now home to a concession stand offering uncomplicated but high-quality cheap eats. The local business community, and even some well-known social media influencers, can't seem to get enough of it.Skechers has opened an elevated concession stand at its outlet store in Gardena and the project has become an overnight success. (KTLA)It's called the Food Spot, and the outdoor eatery is attached to the side of the unassuming store in a bustling shopping center.It's been described by many as a "Costco-style" concession stand that's a bit tastier and a touch more expensive, but one that doesn't require a membership to eat there.It offers some of the affordable classic Costco fare you know and love, like all-beef hot dogs ...

Closing arguments in historic impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The House board of impeachment managers and defense attorneys for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton will give closing arguments in the historic trial Friday, making their final cases to the 30 eligible senators who will decide whether Paxton can keep his elected title.The near-end of the trial comes after senators — functioning as a jury — heard from more than a dozen witnesses testifying about their firsthand experience with Paxton, who is accused of abuse of office, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Paxton defense rests its case in impeachment trial; closing arguments Friday morning What happens next?Prosecution and defense will have one hour each to make their final pitch to jurors. After that, eligible jurors — exluding Paxton's wife, Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney — will meet privately to deliberate. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has presided over the trial as a judge, is also exluded from deliberation. It is unclear how long it will take senators t...

I-35 in Buda reopens after deadly multi-vehicle crash Friday morning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

Editor's note: The above video is from a 6:30 a.m. traffic update while the interstate was still closed. BUDA, Texas (KXAN) -- Interstate 35 northbound in Buda has reopened after part of it was shut down for several hours early Friday morning after a deadly crash involving four vehicles. The Buda Police Department said the interstate was shut down near exit 220/Main Street. The department posted about the incident on social media at 4:31 a.m.The department posted an update at 8:30 a.m. that the interstate had reopened, but warned that roadways would still be congested as traffic resumes. Police asked drivers to be patient and allow for extra commute time. REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPS According to BPD, four vehicles, including a semi-truck, were involved in the crash. Police said the crash was caused by a driver going the wrong way. It's unclear how many people were killed or injured in the crash. Police asked drivers to use alternate routes and plan for delays. The majority of 911 serv...

Bastrop boy becomes pro cornhole player

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — Cornhole is often something we see played at tailgates, backyards or bars.Yet, an 11-year-old boy from Bastrop has turned this game into a career.Brayden Wilson is the youngest professional player in the American Cornhole League. His love for the game grew during the COVID-19 pandemic when the world shut down.“The first time I threw the bag, I fell in love with it,” Wilson said.Almost every day, he practiced and played cornhole with his father, Steven.When the world got back to normal, Wilson started competing in tournaments across the country. Now, he’s taking home trophies almost every weekend.“I'm only 11 years old and I'm a professional at this game,” Wilson said.Last season, he earned the Stevie Award given to the Amateur of the Year.To get geared up for the upcoming American Cornhole League season, Wilson trains for two hours every day.His father, Steven, says this can be tough at times for his sixth-grade son, who attends Bastrop Intermediate School.“S...

Immigrant advocates, faith leaders call on Congress to act after judge declares DACA illegal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:05:54 GMT

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- Dozens of faith organizations and migrant advocacy groups spoke out on Thursday calling on Congress to act after a federal judge in South Texas declared DACA to be illegal. Border commuters fume as CBP closes pedestrian crossing to process wave of migrants On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, sided with Texas and eight other states that sued the federal government to stop the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. This was the second time in two years that Hanen has ruled against the controversial program, which protects migrants who are brought illegally as children to the United States from deportation. Federal judge again declares DACA immigration program unlawful There are an estimated 600,000 in the program, who also are called "Dreamers." Hanen's ruling stops short of ordering them deported but it prevents any new applicants. Deferred Action for Ch...