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UK opens inquiry into unlawful killing claims in Afghanistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A senior judge launched an independent inquiry Wednesday to investigate whether U.K. military police covered up or did not properly probe allegations of unlawful killings by British armed forces in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2013.Britain’s government ordered the inquiry after lawyers brought legal challenges on behalf of the families of eight Afghans who were allegedly killed by British special forces during nighttime raids in in 2011 and 2012.Senior judge Charles Haddon-Cave said his team would “get to the bottom” of whether investigations carried out by the Royal Military Police were adequate. “It is clearly important that anyone who has broken the law is referred to the relevant authorities for investigation. Equally, those who have done nothing wrong should rightly have the cloud of suspicion lifted from them,” Haddon-Cave said Wednesday. “This is critical, both for the reputation of the armed forces and the country.” The inquiry into tw...

Once a TV show, ‘Smash’ to make its Broadway bow in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The glitzy, fictional Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe that formed the heart of the TV show “Smash” will make the leap to an actual Broadway stage next season.Producers said Wednesday that “Smash” is slated for Broadway in the 2024-25 season, welcome news to many of the show’s fans and the Broadway community who embraced its look at the inner workings of their industry.“’Smash’ is near and dear to my heart, and it was always my hope that a musical inspired by the show would eventually come to the stage,” said lead producer Steven Spielberg in a statement.The new book for “Smash” will be co-written Tony-nominated Rick Elice, who penned “Jersey Boys,” and Tony-winner Bob Martin, who won for “The Drowsy Chaperone.” No casting for the Broadway version was revealed. The series on NBC lasted two seasons starting in 2012 and starred Megan Hilty, Jeremy Jordan, Katharine McPhee, Leslie Odom Jr., Krysta Rodriguez, Christian Borle and Debra M...

Muslims in Asia began marking holy month of Ramadan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Islamic authorities in Indonesia said the first day of Ramadan will begin Thursday, as millions of faithful in the world’s most-populous Muslim-majority country began marking the holy month with fasting and prayers. Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Wednesday evening declared that Islamic astronomy observers teams from several of the country’s regions had sighted the crescent moon, the official start of Ramadan. Shortly after, worshippers flooded mosques to offer evening prayers.Muslim authorities in Saudi Arabia and several other Middle Eastern countries said earlier that Ramadan in their region will begin Thursday based on the expected sighting of the crescent moon.Clerics across the Mideast said the moon was not visible Tuesday night, meaning it will almost certainly appear the following evening. During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual intercourse from sunrise until sunset. Even a tiny sip of water...

Race issues dog ‘wild card’ prosecutor in Ronald Greene case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

FARMERVILLE, La. (AP) — In this conservative corner of northern Louisiana, where reverence for law enforcement runs deep and Blue Lives Matter flags often fly alongside the Stars and Stripes, the case of five white officers charged in the deadly 2019 arrest of Black motorist Ronald Greene is seen as anything but a slam dunk.So even with explosive body-camera video showing officers stunning, beating and dragging Greene, the Black district attorney in mostly white Union Parish has decided to bring in a hired gun: an experienced white special prosecutor with a folksy law-and-order bravado and a three-decades-long reputation for winning complicated cases across the state.But Hugo Holland’s background is also marked by accusations of racial bias, including new claims uncovered by The Associated Press, that make him an unlikely advocate for racial justice. In fact, he says the concept has no place in the Greene case or anywhere in the justice system.“Justice is justice,” Holland told the ...

Driver critical after crashing into tree on Northwest Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Investigators are trying to determine what caused a driver to crash into a tree on the city's Northwest Side.The crash happened around 12:05 a.m. Wednesday in the 2400 block of North Central. Police said a 23-year-old man was driving a Ford SUV and traveling northbound on Central, when he lost control and struck a tree.The driver was transported to Loyola Hospital in critical condition. A 26-year-old male passenger was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital in fair condition. 78-year-old woman killed, 5 family members injured in North Side car crash A third man, who was also a passenger, was not injured.

Suburban man charged in DUI crash that killed elderly woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

MORTON GROVE, Ill. — A suburban man is facing multiple DUI charges after an elderly woman was struck and killed Sunday night in Morton Grove.At around 8:05 p.m., authorities were dispatched to the 9200 block of North Harlem Avenue on the report of a pedestrian struck.Police believe a 72-year-old woman, later identified as Bernardita Libot, of Glenview, was in the roadway when she was struck by a 2018 Cadillac sedan driving southbound. Libot was pronounced dead around two hours later.The driver, Christopher Harrington, 63, of Elmwood Park, was allegedly under the influence at the time, police said. Driver wanted after woman critically injured in South Side hit-and-run Harrington was charged with aggravated DUI resulting in death, two counts of DUI and driver to exercise due care.He is due in bond court on Wednesday.

WATCH LIVE | Legal action filed against Little Village Discount Mall owner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) plans to update the public Wednesday on "legal litigation against Novak Construction," according to a press release from his office.The action comes after 80 Little Village Discount Mall vendors were given eviction notices in February. At the time, they were given until Mar. 26 to liquidate their merchandise and be out of the mall. RECAP: Vallas, Johnson face off in WGN’s Chicago Mayoral Debate On Mar. 16, Sigcho-Lopez led a group of vendors and supporters from the mall to Novak Construction in a protest caravan against the company's redevelopment plans.WGN plans to livestream the Wednesday press conference within this story beginning at approximately 9 a.m.

'Don't Say Gay' lawmaker pleads guilty to COVID relief fraud in Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The former Florida lawmaker who sponsored the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” pleaded guilty Tuesday to committing $150,000 in COVID-19 relief fraud.Joseph Harding, a 35-year-old Republican, pleaded guilty in Gainesville federal court to wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud, according to court records. He faces up to 35 years in prison at a hearing scheduled for July 25.Harding resigned from the Florida House in December, a day after federal prosecutors announced his indictment. Why millions of people could lose Medicaid next month According to court documents, Harding made false statements to the Small Business Administration while applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for one of his dormant business entities. After obtaining $150,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, prosecutors said Harding conducted three monetary transactions, each involving more than $10,000 in fraudulently ...

Is it illegal to park on my front lawn in Illinois?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Sometimes, a growing family or auto enthusiast may have more cars than they have room for in their driveway or garage.Is it legal for someone to park a car in their yard?According to the Illinois Vehicle Code, there is no state law explicitly prohibiting it.State law is mostly concerned with making sure that there are no obstructions to public thoroughfares or access to fire hydrants or emergency equipment. Can you go to jail in Illinois if you get a tattoo before turning 18? However, many municipalities do have ordinances on the books that prohibit parking on your lawn.In Rockford, for instance, the City has ordinances prohibiting the parking of any "inoperable motor vehicle" from being parked for more than 7 days on either public or private property, because they contribute to blight; become a home for rodents, insects and vermin; can be a fire hazard; contain fluids that, if leaked, can contaminate the environment; or may pose a danger to the public beca...

Selena Gomez makes Instagram history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:41 GMT

(WJW) — A 30-year-old actor, singer and businesswoman has cracked the 400 million mark in Instagram followers, becoming the first woman to do so. Selena Gomez, who got her start on "Barney & Friends" as a child, has now made history, beating out Kylie Jenner (and her 382 million followers) to become the most-followed woman on the platform. Are we dating the same guy? Facebook group lets you know Yet, the "Only Murders in the Building" star is still trailing behind two of the most famous men on the planet: soccer moguls Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have 562 million followers and 442 million followers, respectively. Selena Gomez arrives at the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)Actor and musician Selena Gomez attends a special screening of the Apple Original Films documentary "Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me" hosted by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul at Metrogra...