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Trial begins over Texas voter laws that sparked 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A trial began Monday over a sweeping Texas voting law that sparked a 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021 and were among the strictest changes passed by Republicans nationwide following former President Donald Trump’s false claims of a stolen election.The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of voting rights groups after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the changes into law. The trial in San Antonio federal court could last weeks and it is unclear when U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez might rule. Potentially at stake are voting rules Texas will use for the 2024 elections, although any decision is likely to be appealed. The challenge, from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund and others, has not stopped the measures from taking effect, including a ban on 24-hour polling places and drive-thru voting. Many changes targeted Harris County, which includes Houston and is where a slate of Republican candidates are challenging thei...

Active-duty Marine gets probation and community service for storming Capitol with 2 unit members

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of three active-duty Marines who stormed the U.S. Capitol together was sentenced on Monday to probation and 279 hours of community service — one hour for every Marine who was killed or wounded fighting in the Civil War.U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said she can’t fathom why Dodge Hellonen violated his oath to protect the Constitution “against all enemies, foreign and domestic” — and risked his career — by joining the Jan. 6, 2021, riot that disrupted Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.“I really urge you to think about why it happened so you can address it and ensure it never happens again,” Reyes said. Dodge Hellonen, now 24, was the first of the three Marines to be punished for participating in the Capitol siege. Reyes also is scheduled to sentence co-defendants Micah Coomer on Tuesday and Joshua Abate on Wednesday.The three Marines — friends from the same unit — drove together from a military post in Virginia to Washin...

Balzan Prizes recognize achievements in study of human evolution, black holes with $840,000 awards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

MILAN (AP) — An American literary historian, a French paleoanthropologist, a Danish evolutionary geneticist and a German-Dutch astrophysicist have been named the winners of this year’s Balzan Prize. Their work in the humanities and natural sciences advances the study of comparative literature, human evolution and black holes. David Damrosch, chair of Harvard University’s comparative literature department, was recognized for “his creative approach to world literature as a translational circulation of works that remain alive because they are embraced and changed,’’ the Balzan Foundation said in its citation.Frenchman Jean-Jacques Hublin of the Max-Planck-Institute for evolutionary anthropology in Leipzig was cited for his discoveries of the oldest Homo sapiens in Africa, contributing to the study of human evolution. The citation also praised his ability to synthesize data, organize scientific teams and his qualities as a teacher “and popularizer.” Also awarded for contributions ...

Ex-Bengals player Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones arrested at Cincinnati airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

HEBRON, Ky. (AP) — Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Adam “Pacman” Jones was arrested early Monday after police responded to a report of an “unruly passenger” at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, authorities said.Jones was booked on misdemeanor counts of alcohol intoxication, disorderly conduct and terroristic threatening, Captain Kevin Klute of the Boone County Jail said.Airport spokesperson Mindy Kerschner said that police were called at 6 a.m. Monday to help crew members with an unruly passenger on a flight scheduled for departure. Kerschner confirmed that Jones was the passenger “arrested prior to takeoff and taken to Boone Country Detention Center.”Details about Jones’ arrest weren’t immediately released. Jones told WKRC-TV after he was released that he asked to be moved to another seat because the phone charger for the two seats he had purchased wasn’t working and was told that they would have to turn the plane around. He veheme...

Music Review: Harmonica guru Lee Oskar’s all sunshine on funky instrumental album ‘She Said Mahalo’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

On the instrumental album “She Said Mahalo,” Lee Oskar plays funk, reggae, a lullaby and more, all while using less than a dozen harmonicas. The harp virtuoso known for being a founding member of the rock-funk band War is front and center in a varied mix of arrangements that includes guitar, keys, winds, strings and buoyant percussion.“She Said Mahalo,” serves up sunny music for mornings when words are too much to process. The warm tone of Oskar’s unhurried harp rides smooth grooves, and several tunes sound like TV or movie themes.“Morning Rush” pairs a caffeinated rhythm with two classic Japanese instruments, shakuhachi and shamisen, courtesy of Oskar’s collaborations with “Sancho” Youichrou Suzuki and Mayo Higa respectively. “Caribbean Love Song” achieves an island sensibility, as if the rhythm section was placed directly on the beach.On “Funky Rhetoric,” the funk is more than rhetorical, and the tune’s put-your-hands-together beat sends Oskar’s high-C harp soaring.The tempo...

Charges against Peter Nygard in Toronto sexual assault case reduced

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

The number of charges in the Toronto sexual assault case against Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard has been reduced from 11 to six.Jury selection was set to get underway Monday for Nygard’s trial but was postponed to next week after a court heard some complainants aren’t expected to testify.Nygard was originally facing eight charges of sexual assault and three charges of forcible confinement in the Toronto case.Crown lawyer Neville Golwalla told Justice Robert Goldstein in a downtown Toronto courtroom Monday that three of the eight original complainants in the case are not expected to testify.Goldstein told the court he was adjourning the case until Sept. 20, when jury selection is expected to get underway.Court documents show Nygard is now facing trial in Toronto on five charges of sexual assault and one charge of forcible confinement.Nygard, who appeared in court in a wheelchair on Monday, faces charges in three jurisdictions in Canada and one in the U.S.He was first...

Oklahoma assistant Lebby sorry for distraction disgraced father-in-law Art Briles caused at game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby apologized Monday after his father-in-law, disgraced former Baylor coach Art Briles, was seen on the field with Lebby after Oklahoma’s 28-11 win over SMU on Saturday night.Baylor fired Briles in 2016 after an investigation concluded he and his staff took no action against players named in sexual assault allegations. The images of Briles decked out in Oklahoma gear on Owen Field drew backlash from Sooners fans on social media.“Just want everybody to understand, my father-in-law — his presence on the field after the game the other night is just something that created a distraction. And I do — I apologize for that,” Lebby said in a prepared statement at the start of his weekly media session. “That was not the intent at all. The intent was just to to celebrate with my family.”The situation caught Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione and coach Brent Venables off guard. Castiglione said in a statement on Satu...

Trial date to be set for Highland Park parade shooting suspect by end of year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — Lake County judges plan to set the trial date for the man charged in the deadly Highland Park parade shooting by Dec. 11.Crimo III, the man who prosecutors say opened fire on crowds of people watching the Highland Park Fourth of July parade in 2022, is facing more than 100 charges, including dozens of first-degree murder and attempted murder charges. Illinois judge refuses to dismiss case against father of Highland Park parade shooting suspect Seven people were killed, dozens were hurt and countless others were traumatized in the shooting.Crimo III pleaded not guilty and is currently being held without bond.The 22-year-old may also appear in another Lake County case prosecutors have brought against his father. Father charged with helping suspect in Highland Park shooting obtain gun license to ask judge to toss case In August, a judge refused to dismiss the reckless conduct case against Robert Crimo Jr. A trial date was set for early November.Crimo Jr. pleaded...

A groom dresses up like Mike Ditka for his wedding — just like his bachelor party

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

CHICAGO — After earning some fame from his Bears-themed bachelor party in 2022, a Chicago-area resident repeated the theme on his wedding day. Lincoln Park resident Jake Mazanke was married on Saturday, and like he famously did last November, donned a Mike Ditka outfit for part of the reception. (Courtesy: Jake Manzake)He along, with his groomsmen, took some time to put on the sweaters with "Bears" across the chest while also wearing sunglasses. Both were signatures of Ditka's gameday outfit when he was head coach of the Bears from 1982-1992, including the Super Bowl XX win over the Patriots in January 1986. Their time in the Ditka gear included the groomsmen taking part in a choreographed dance to "Bear Down, Chicago Bears." It came just a day before the team opened up their 2023 season against the Packers at Soldier Field, which didn't go as well as the dance as the team lost to the Packers 38-20.(Courtesy: Jake Mazanke)This comes after Mazanke wore ...

Monday Forecast: Temps in upper 60s with scattered showers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:06 GMT

CHICAGO — Mainly cloudy Monday with showers and a few thunderstorms. Winds: N 5-10. High: 68. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mostly cloudy tonight and showers expected to continue. Winds: N 5-10 G20. Low: 56.Tuesday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, showers (especially near the lake), N 5-10 G20. High: 69.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog