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Iranian man charged in Germany over alleged plot for attack using deadly chemicals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — An Iranian man arrested in western Germany earlier this year after a tip from U.S. officials has been charged with plotting an Islamist attack using ricin or cyanide, German prosecutors said Wednesday.The 26-year-old, identified only as J.J. in line with Germany’s privacy rules, was arrested in January along with his brother in Castrop-Rauxel, a city in the industrial Ruhr region. Prosecutors in Duesseldorf said he was charged with preparing a serious act of violence and terror financing. An indictment was filed in the state court in Dortmund.A case against the suspect’s 32-year-old brother, who initially was suspected of involvement in the plot, was dropped for lack of sufficient evidence, prosecutors said. They said the younger man had decided by the end of October to carry out an attack in line with the ideology of the Islamic State group by spreading ricin or a cyanide compound, and intended to kill as many people as possible by spreading the chemicals....

Virginians oust Democrat who sought abortion limits and Republican who denied 2020 results

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Voters ousted two of Virginia’s most controversial political figures in Tuesday’s primary election, along with at least three more of their Senate colleagues. Sen. Joe Morrissey, a political centrist and increasingly rare Democrat who supports limits on abortion access, lost to former state legislator Lashrecse Aird, who calls herself a 100% supporter of abortion rights. “Joe’s been here too long. It’s time for new blood,” said Gail Coleman, 62, who voted for Aird Tuesday afternoon in suburban Richmond. Republican Sen. Amanda Chase, a right-wing firebrand who has served in the Senate since 2016 and embraced falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election, was edged out by Glen Sturtevant, a lawyer and former senator seeking a political comeback in the red-leaning suburban Richmond district. Voters decided dozens of other nominees, including in some swing districts that will help determine the balance of power in the General Assembly in the Nove...

Biden administration moves to restore endangered species protections dropped by Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Biden administration proposed new rules for protecting imperiled plants and animals on Wednesday that would reverse changes under former President Donald Trump that weakened the Endangered Species Act.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to reinstate a decades-old regulation that mandates protections for species newly classified as threatened. That provision was dropped under Trump as part of a suite of changes to the species law encouraged by industry.Under Wednesday’s proposal, officials also would drop consideration of economic impacts when deciding if animals and plants need protection. Another change would expand requirements for federal agencies to consult with the wildlife service or the National Marine Fisheries Service before taking actions that could affect threatened or endangered species.Details on the proposal were obtained by The Associated Press in advance of their public release.Under Trump, officials rolled back endangered specie...

Threats against Norway’s LGBTQ+ Pride festival rise following deadly 2022 attack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Threats have increased against next week’s LGBTQ+ Pride festival in Oslo following a deadly shooting last year at the annual event, the Norwegian Police Security Service said Wednesday.However, the domestic security agency, known by its Norwegian acronym PST, said it was not aware of any concrete danger. The head of its counterterror unit, Lars Lilleby, said the threats might be an attempt to force the cancellation of the July 1 parade.The threats have come from right-wing extremists and radical Islamists, PST said.“We all take it very seriously,” Lilleby said. “It is perhaps right now that it is important to carry out this event, we encourage that.”During last year’s festival, a gunman opened fire in Oslo’s nightlife district, killing two people and wounding 20 others. A Norwegian citizen originally from Iran, Zaniar Matapour, was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorism. No trial date has been set.There are three other...

Girl, 17, dies after shooting in Garfield Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

CHICAGO — A 17-year-old girl has died after a shooting Monday night in the city's Garfield Park neighborhood.The medical examiner has identified the teen as Shaniya Robinson.According to police, Robinson was one of three teenagers standing on a front porch in the 3800 block of West Gladys, when a dark-colored sedan approached and someone inside fired shots.Robinson was shot in the right eye and transported to Stroger Hospital, where she later died. 3 teens among 75 shot across Chicago over holiday weekend Another 17-year-old was transported in good condition to Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to the left leg and buttocks. A 19-year-old man was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the right arm.No one is in custody. Area Four detectives are investigating the shooting.The teens are among 75 victims shot across Chicago over the holiday weekend, with at least 14 people dying from their injuries, according to police.

Teen boys dead after Garfield Park shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

CHICAGO — Two teen boys, 14 and 16, are dead after a shooting that happened in Garfield Park late Saturday afternoon.According to the Chicago Police Department, officers responded to a report of a person shot around 4:45 p.m. in the 100 block of South Homan Avenue. When police arrived, they found two male victims — one being 14 years old, and the other being an unknown age.Family members told WGN the second victim is 16 years old and the two boys are related.The 14-year-old was shot multiple times throughout the body, while the 16-year-old was shot in the head. Police said both victims were taken to Stroger Hospital where they were both initially listed in critical condition.The two boys died from their injuries. FBI: 2 male suspects rob Frankfort bank, at-large Police have no one in custody as area detectives continue to investigate.If you or someone you know has information that could help police make an arrest and conviction in the investigation of this incident, anonymous tips...

Dead Indiana man lied about identity, was secretly member of 'Shotgun Bandits,' investigators say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

SALEM, Ind. (WXIN) — Forensic investigators said an Indiana man who died of natural causes on May 24, 2012, went to great lengths to hide his gun-toting past, even going as far as removing his fingerprints. But the man who died in Salem under the assumed name "Bill Lee Hull" had been living a lie, investigators revealed. Moxxy Forensic Investigations uncovered that "Bill Lee Hull" was in fact an outlaw named Albert Edwin "Pinky" Roadhs, who once ran with the "Shotgun Bandits," a Colorado gang that terrorized the citizens of Denver in 1955 through a series of armed stick-ups. Court docs: Muncie man firebombed neighbor’s dog house in attempted revenge of own dog’s death According to Moxxy Forensic's discoveries, Roadhs met Bessie Fields and her family in Tucson, Arizona, and lived with the family until his death in Salem, Indiana, in 2012. At the time of his death, an investigation into "Bill Lee Hull" uncovered that the deceased man was actually a John Doe who had been using an al...

Video shows Detroit-area police officer punching man; assault charges filed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

WARREN, Mich. (AP) — A suburban Detroit police officer was charged with assault after video showed him punching a young man in the face and slamming his head to the ground at the jail, authorities said Tuesday.“This is not what we do. This is not who we are,” said William Dwyer, police commissioner in Warren, who played the video for reporters.The 19-year-old man was being processed at the jail on June 13 after being arrested for multiple felonies. Video shows him and Officer Matthew Rodriguez apparently exchanging words before the officer punched the man, knocked him to the floor and smacked his head on the ground.Dwyer said other officers immediately intervened and also reported the incident to managers. FAQ: What we know about the charges against Hunter Biden Rodriguez was charged with willful neglect of duty and assault, both misdemeanors. A judge set bond at $5,000. It wasn't known if he has an attorney who could comment on the case.“No badge or uniform can shield anyone fr...

Total eclipse preps underway as NASA kicks off big year with summer solstice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - 2023 is going to be the year of the sun. Already bringing record heat to Texas, it's all leading to two eclipses over the state. The eclipses, an annular eclipse on October 13th and a total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024, will serve as highlights of what NASA is calling the Heliophysics Big Year. "This is a great kickoff for an exciting time to be talking about the sun," said Dr. Alex Young, an astrophysicist with NASA. "It touches everything, and it has an it has an influence on the Earth, the solar system and beyond."The summer solstice is serving as the unofficial start date of the year. According to Dr. Young, the solstice marks the time of the year where the northern hemisphere is pointed directly at the sun. "We're pointed closest to the Sun, giving us the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year."Two eclipses soar cross TexasThe two eclipses will both cross over Central Texas, providing us a chance to look directly at the sun during the event and...

Emergency drill underway at Austin Water treatment plant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Water is conducting an emergency drill Wednesday morning at the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant.This exercise is part of the public utility’s emergency preparedness program that builds on recommendations from recent after-action reviews.“Austin Water is working to strengthen our emergency protocols and this drill provides an opportunity to practice with our partners to become even more prepared for future emergencies,” Austin Water director Shay Ralls Roalson said.The drill will last up until noon at the water treatment plant, located at 1000 Forest View Dr, Austin, TX 78746.Throughout the morning, people in the area will be able to see emergency vehicles from the Austin Fire Department, Travis County ESD #9 and Travis County STAR Flight on this exercise.This is the same spot where an employee error impacted over a million customers in February of 2022.This led to a three-day emergency boil water notice that caused chaos all across Austin, as residents and resta...