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The Lewiston, Maine, mass shooting was the first test of Biden’s new gun violence prevention office

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first thing Greg Jackson did when he arrived in Lewiston, Maine, was to drive through the city, into its neighborhoods, past the crime scene tape and the boarded-up windows, to get a feel for a community reeling from a mass shooting. The deputy director of the new White House office of gun violence prevention was looking for his starting point.He set to work figuring out what grief and trauma resources were available for families of the victims and where the city could use assistance. He got a briefing from law enforcement. He met with the governor. And he started doling out help. “Most governors and even city leaders see the federal government as a big machine — there’s so many different levers and processes and contacts,” Jackson said in an interview. “So me just being a navigator and being able to help cut through some of the government jargon or get the proper contact within 15 minutes versus two days was huge.” The Oct. 25 shootings at a bowlin...

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Union House Arts wins $50K Lacey Prize

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

OTTAWA — A community art space on Newfoundland and Labrador’s Bonavista Peninsula has won the $50,000 Lacey Prize.The 2023 jury lauded Union House Arts in Port Union, N.L., for its “ability to produce programs that affect close communities.”The art space bills itself as an experimental, multi-functioning venue that focuses on “place-specific dialogues” and collaborative programming.Union House’s programming director Bethany MacKenzie says in a release that the prize will help its “limited staff” meet interest that’s grown since the space opened in 2019.Awarded every two years, the prize recognizes the role small arts organizations play in fostering Canadian creativity.The runners-up, who each receive $20,000, were Charlottetown’s “this town is small” and “Spill.Propagation” from Gatineau, Que.Established in 2019, the prize is funded by a $1.3 million gift from oil and gas entrepreneur John Lacey and ...

5 Republicans will take the stage in Miami, while Trump holds a rally nearby. Follow live updates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

Five candidates will take the stage at a whittled-down third Republican presidential debate in Miami as front-runner Donald Trump holds his own event a short drive away.What to knowWhat to watch during the Republican debateHow to tune in for the third GOP presidential debateTrump looks to upstage the debate with a rally targeting South Florida’s Cuban communityDebate will focus on Israel and foreign policy — and who can beat TrumpScott hosting Jewish high school and college students at debateThe ongoing Israel-Hamas war is sure to feature in discussion during Wednesday night’s GOP presidential debate, and Sen. Tim Scott is bringing with him some students who might be particularly interested.Scott’s campaign says the South Carolina Republican is hosting more than 20 Jewish students from the University of South Carolina, University of Miami and a local South Florida high school at the debate.The Republican Jewish Coalition is one of the partners for Miami’s debate. Scott was among the...

The family of a Palestinian activist jailed for incitement says young woman’s account was hacked

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The family of Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi insists she didn’t write the words for which she now sits in an Israeli jail.Israeli authorities burst into the Tamimi home in the occupied West Bank on Monday and arrested the 22-year old for “inciting terrorism” on her Instagram account. But her mother says the account was hacked.Tamimi gained worldwide fame in 2017 after a video of her slapping an Israeli soldier went viral on social media. She later said the soldiers had shot her cousin in the head just before the video was taken. After being released from prison, she wrote a book and crisscrossed Europe and the Middle East, becoming a sort of superstar in the campaign against Israeli occupation.Tamimi’s recent arrest has prompted criticism of an Israeli crackdown on Palestinian online speech in the wake of the Hamas cross-border attack Oct. 7. Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli authorities, fired by Israeli employers and expelled from Israeli sc...

General Motors tells AP it is only interested in entering Formula One with Andretti Global

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

General Motors will not break its partnership with Andretti Global to enter Formula One and is not interested in considering other teams to gain entry to the global motorsports series, an executive with the U.S. auto giant told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “GM is committed to partnering with Andretti to race in F1,” GM President Mark Reuss told AP. “The collaboration between Andretti-Cadillac brings together two unique entities built for racing, both with long pedigrees of success in motorsport globally.”General Motors plans to send a small group of executives to next week’s Las Vegas Grand Prix in hopes of jump-starting conversations with F1 and series owner Liberty Media about the Andretti application. Andretti told AP at last month’s U.S. Grand Prix that F1 President Stefano Domenicali was not returning his calls or texts.A month ago, F1 governing body FIA said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand ...

Democratic lawmakers want President Biden to protect Palestinians in US from being forced home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dozens of Democratic lawmakers are urging President Joe Biden to take steps to protect Palestinians in the United States as Israeli forces continue to fight Hamas militants inside Gaza City and thousands flee the area amid increasingly dire humanitarian circumstances.In a letter Wednesday to Biden, the Democrats call for enacting temporary protections for Palestinians through government programs that shield immigrants from returning to countries that are ravaged by natural disasters or war. The lawmakers cite the rising death toll in Gaza, especially among children, from the month-long Israel-Hamas war and the lack of food and water. “In light of ongoing armed conflict, Palestinians already in the United States should not be forced to return to the Palestinian territories, consistent with President Biden’s stated commitment to protecting Palestinian civilians,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter, provided to The Associated Press in advance of its release. The ...

$600K winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket sold at Jewel-Osco in Woodlawn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

CHICAGO -- While shopping for groceries, an Illinois Lottery player won a $600,000 jackpot and has 364 days to claim their prize.According to the Illinois Lottery, the winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket at the Jewel-Osco located on the 6000 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood on Tuesday. Illinois Lottery player wins $1 million on scratch-off The winning Lucky Day Lotto numbers were: 6-24-28-34-37. The winner will have one year from Tuesday to claim their prize of $600,000.The Jewel-Osco in Woodlawn will receive a selling bonus of $6,000.In 2023, over 10.4 million winning Lucky Day Lotto tickets have been sold, with total prizes amounting to nearly $60.5 million for Illinois Lottery players.Lucky Day Lotto draws twice daily, at 12:40 p.m. and 9:22 p.m.

Coroner: Inmate died from blunt force trauma at Indiana prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

WESTVILLE, Ind. -- An investigation is underway into the death of a 35-year-old inmate at a Northwestern Indiana prison on Tuesday.Indiana State Police investigators were contacted by the Westville Correctional Facility to investigate an inmate death that was discovered around 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Former Elgin day care center teacher pleads guilty to sexually abusing kids in classroom John Taylor, 35, of Greene County, Indiana, died from blunt force trauma, according to the LaPorte County Coroner's report.Taylor was serving a sentence for felony convictions out of Greene County, Indiana. He was projected to be released in February of 2030.The investigation is ongoing. Once completed and if necessary, the LaPorte County Prosecutor will consider charges.

City of Evanston offers free parking promotion during holiday season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — The City of Evanston is offering a promotion this holiday season where community members and visitors can enjoy free parking while holiday shopping in the city's business district.According to city officials, Park Evanston app users can enjoy up to two hours of free parking once daily per account/license plate from Nov. 22, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2024. To take part in the promotion, all users have to do is enter the code "Holiday2023" to access two free hours of street parking on the app.More in-depth directions on how to apply the promotion can be found at the bottom of this article.“We’ve improved upon our annual free holiday parking campaign, ensuring wide accessibility for community members and visitors, encouraging them to experience the holiday charm of Evanston while contributing to our local economy," said City Manager Luke Stowe. Smyth joins Alinea in rare Michelin star honor Steps to access free parking promotionStep 1: Download the Park Evanston app, ava...

Man arrested for alleged armed robbery of Illinois casino

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:07 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. (WMBD)-- The Illinois Gaming Board announced the arrest of a man on Wednesday for an alleged armed robbery of more than $14,000 in casino chips from Rivers Casino in Des Plaines.An Illinois Gaming Board news release states that 23-year-old Ismail Ateyat is suspected of donning a face mask, pointing a gun at casino employees, and stealing the chips before fleeing.Gaming Board Agents tracked Ateyat to his home in Chicago Ridge where they allegedly found the gun, the mask, and the stolen chips. Illinois bill could give temporary Bally’s Casino more time at Medinah Temple location Ateyat has been charged with three counts of alleged armed robbery by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and is being held without bond.“Because of the swift and diligent work by our Gaming Agents and our local law enforcement partners, we were able to arrest this individual and recover the stolen casino chips,” said IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter.He continued, “I am grateful t...