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Panama eyes new measures as flow of migrants through Darien Gap hits 300,000 so far this year

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

PANAMA CITY (AP) — The government of Panama said Thursday it will launch a new campaign to stem the flow of migrants through the dangerous, jungle-clad Darien Gap, after crossings hit 300,000 so far this year.In comparison, less than 250,000 migrants crossed in all of 2022.The plan, named “Darien is a jungle, not a road,” will be launched next week, officials said, but they could barely hide their frustration with neighboring Colombia’s inability to stop migrants from coming to the two countries’ roadless border.“Despite all the efforts, meetings with other countries involved have not managed to stop (the flow of migrants),” Panama’s Security Minister Juan Manuel Pino told a news conference.Officials said the massive trekking of migrants through the gap — now running between 2,500 and 3,000 per day — has polluted and damaged the jungle, as well as exposed people to risks and rights abuses.Samira Gozaine, Panama’s top immigration official, said “don’t tell me the bo...

Trump surrenders at Georgia jail on charges he sought to overturn his 2020 election loss

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump arrived in Georgia Thursday evening to turn himself in on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in that state, a county jail booking expected to yield a historic first: a mug shot of a former American president.Trump's surrender to law enforcement authorities has become by now a familiar routine in a way that belies the history-making drama of a former president being booked on felony criminal charges. But his visit to Atlanta is notably different than the three past surrenders, requiring him to visit a jail — rather than a courthouse — and unfolding not in a liberal bastion like New York or Washington but rather the heart of a battleground state vital to the 2024 presidential election. Trump supporters gather outside Georgia jail where he is expected to surrender Trump landed in Atlanta shortly after 7 p.m. and was to be driven, through the city's rush-hour traffic, to jail for the booking process. Wearing his s...

Windham Rotunda, known as WWE star Bray Wyatt, dead at 36

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star Windham Rotunda., known to wrestling fans worldwide as Bray Wyatt, has died. He was 36. WWE's chief content officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque confirmed the passing on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, "Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotunda - also known as Bray Wyatt - unexpectedly passed earlier today. Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time." Terry Funk, beloved hardcore wrestling icon, dead at 79 Released by the company in July 2021, Rotunda returned at WWE's Extreme Rules premium live event in October 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to much fanfare. He last wrestled for the company in March following reports that the former world champion was sidelined with an unknown illness. Rotunda, who also wrestled under the moniker 'The Fiend' first joined WWE in 2009. Born May 23, 198...

Logan Square Farmer's Market canceled this weekend to due traffic safety concerns

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

CHICAGO — The popular Logan Square Farmer's Market, known for attracting large crowds every Sunday, has been canceled this weekend.The farmer's market runs from mid-May through the end of October and stretches along Logan Boulevard from Milwaukee Avenue and Whipple Street. Mask mandates reemerge amid upturn in COVID-19 cases 1st Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata, who represents Logan Square, said the cancelation is due to traffic safety concerns for vendors and customers. "When we have that much car traffic that close to thousands of guests, 100 plus vendors, there is a lack of safety there," La Spata said. "We need to ensure safety as much as we do success. We're trying to figure out a road closure situation."While some who frequent the market are disappointed, they said they understand safety comes first."There is a lot of crowd space, or crowding, that ends up happening so I guess it can be hazardous," Brandon Kral said. La Spata is optimistic the market won't be gone long."I love what...

Surburban nonprofit ‘Tookie’s Voice’ answers call for domestic violence victims 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. — Sharon Pughsley says he taught her daughter everything. But the one thing she couldn't teach her, she admits, was how to dodge a bullet. It has been almost three years since Pughsley’s only daughter, Tanisha, was gunned down by an abusive ex-boyfriend. The Montgomery, Alabama police detective was killed in her home after taking out an order of protection against him. On Wednesday, the accused ex-boyfriend was sentenced for the July 2020 killing - life without the possibility of parole. SEE ALSO: GoFundMe created by mother of boy shot and killed in Palatine“There are some days I don’t even want to get up out of bed, but I listen to her, and I think about my daughter - the awesome young lady she was and is because she is still with me,” Pughsley said.  Tanisha Pughsley (Photo courtesy of Sharon Pughsley)In the wake of her daughter’s death, Pughsley started ‘Tookie's Voice,’ a nonprofit dedicated to helping women escape abusive relationships. Pughsley works with...

Gannett sued for alleged 'discrimination against non-minorities'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

(The Hill) — Five current and former employees at the newspaper giant Gannett filed a lawsuit against the company last week, alleging that its internal policies discriminate against white employees.The employees claimed they were either fired or passed over for promotions in favor of less-qualified women or people of color in order to comply with company diversity policy.The policies implemented by the company in 2020 state an intent for Gannett newsrooms to better represent the demographics of the communities they cover by 2025. Detained Trump co-defendant was arrested earlier this year "Gannett executed their reverse race discrimination policy with a callous indifference towards civil rights laws or the welfare of the workers, and prospective workers, whose lives would be upended by it," the lawsuit reads.Gannett owns hundreds of newspapers of all sizes across the country, including USA Today. The suit, which plaintiffs seek to make a class action, cites last month’s Suprem...

WWE wrestler Bray Wyatt dies at 36

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

(WFLA) — WWE wrestler Bray Wyatt has died, WWE officials confirmed Thursday. He was 36.Wyatt, whose real name is Windham Rotunda, died on Thursday, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Carlos Santana gives anti-trans speech during New Jersey concert "Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotunda — also known as Bray Wyatt — unexpectedly passed earlier today," Triple H said. "Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time."This is a developing story.

Accountability at Austin Energy? Historic documents reveal potential for independent board

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Jessica Parker vividly remembers the week she spent without power in her Austin apartment during the winter storm in 2021. "At one point, I had to give up on the refrigerator," she said. "I opened it, and it was warmer in the refrigerator than it was inside the apartment." INVESTIGATION: Whose power gets shutoff during winter storms and for how long? Across town, a woman named Julie logged onto Nextdoor, looking for where to buy food and clean water. She moved to Austin from Chicago the year prior and had not "stocked up" on supplies. "I wasn't ready for Armageddon because an inch of snow, to me, is like nothing," Julie said. She didn't expect the city to shut down. Through a thread on the site, Julie, Jessica and a group of other Austinites connected and started asking questions: why had their power had gone out? Who was responsible? Who is in charge of overseeing the utility?These two Austin residents met online in the wake of the 2021 winter storm and both s...

Lawsuit: Texas school districts ask court to temporarily stop new A-F ratings

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

Del Valle, TEXAS (KXAN) -- Del Valle Independent School District and six other districts are suing the head of the Texas Education Agency over the agency’s decision to change how the state grades schools. The lawsuit against Education Commissioner Mike Morath alleges the changes will arbitrarily lower performance ratings for many school districts and individual schools even if their performance improved. The districts are asking a judge to temporarily stop the state from issuing ratings based on the new methods.  TEA refreshing ‘A-F’ accountability rating system “A school district that should receive an A rating for this component based on the 10 current measures, methods, and procedures could receive a D rating for this component even if performance has improved,” the lawsuit stated, referring to the College, Career and Military Readiness part of the accountability rating. The lawsuit also alleges the TEA did not give the legally required notice to school districts...

Live: Trump arrives in Georgia, headed to county jail for booking on 2020 election charges

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:48 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump arrived in Georgia on Thursday evening to surrender on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in that state, a county jail booking expected to yield a historic first: a mug shot of a former American president.Trump's surrender, coming amid an abrupt shake-up of his legal team, follows the presidential debate in Milwaukee the night before featuring his leading rivals for the 2024 Republican nomination — a contest in which he remains the leading candidate despite broad legal troubles. His presence in Georgia, though likely brief, is swiping the spotlight anew from his opponents after the debate in which they sought to seize on his absence to elevate their own presidential prospects.Trump landed in Atlanta around 7 p.m. and was to be driven, though rush-hour traffic, to jail for a booking process.The Fulton County prosecution is the fourth criminal case against Trump since March, when he became ...