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Russian court fines war critic who asked for prison instead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A court in Russia convicted a woman from a Siberian city over social media posts condemning the war in Ukraine and punished her Friday with a steep fine even though both she and the prosecution asked for a prison sentence. Marina Novikova, a 65-year-old lawyer, was found guilty of “spreading false information” about the Russian army, which was made a criminal offense after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine more than 14 months ago. Novikova’s posts on the messaging app Telegram decried the invasion and criticized the Russian government. The court in Seversk, Novikova’s hometown, imposed a fine of 1 million rubles (over $12,400), the Russian human rights and legal aid group OVD-Info quoted her husband, Alexandr Gavrik, as saying.Prosecutors had requested a three-year prison sentence. Novikova herself pleaded with the court to send her to prison rather than the alternative: a fine of at least 700,000 rubles ($8,700) that the law allow...

Man arrested after attacking three people in Runnymede Road and Anette Street area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

One man has been arrested after attacking three people at random in the Runnymede Road and Annette Street area on Saturday morning.STABBING:Runnymede Rd + Annette St area12:30 a.m.– Man attacked 3 random people – Two went to hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries caused by an edged weapon– Officers located and arrested a 30-year-old man– Anyone w/info contact @TPS11Div #GO947992^lb— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) April 29, 2023Toronto police were called to the scene at approximately 12:30 a.m. after three people were attacked with a sharp edged object.Two victims were transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Officers located and arrested a 30-year-old man on scene.

Dust to dust? New Mexicans fight to save old adobe churches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

CORDOVA, New Mexico (AP) — Ever since missionaries started building churches out of mud 400 years ago in what was the isolated frontier of the Spanish empire, tiny mountain communities like Cordova relied on their own resources to keep the faith going.Thousands of miles from religious and lay seats of power, everything from priests to sculptors to paint pigments was hard to come by. Villagers instituted lay church caretakers called “mayordomos,” and filled chapels with elaborate altarpieces made of local wood.Today, threatened by depopulation, dwindling congregations and fading traditions, some of their descendants are fighting to save these historic adobe structures from literally crumbling back to the earth they were built with.“Our ancestors put blood and sweat in this place for us to have Jesus present,” said Angelo Sandoval on a spring day inside the 1830s church of St. Anthony, where he serves as mayordomo. “We’re not just a church, we’re not just a religion – we have roots.” ...

‘Blatant conflict’: Judge recuses from Catholic bankruptcy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

A federal judge overseeing the New Orleans Roman Catholic bankruptcy recused himself in a late-night reversal that came a week after an Associated Press report showed he donated tens of thousands of dollars to the archdiocese and consistently ruled in favor of the church in the case involving nearly 500 clergy sex abuse victims. U.S. District Judge Greg Guidry initially announced hours after the AP report that he would stay on the case, citing the opinion of fellow federal judges that that no “reasonable person” could question his impartiality. But amid mounting pressure and persistent questions, he changed course late Friday in a terse, one-page filing.“I have decided to recuse myself from this matter in order to avoid any possible appearance of personal bias or prejudice,” Guidry wrote. The 62-year-old jurist has overseen the three-year old bankruptcy in an appellate role, and his recusal is likely to throw the case into disarray and trigger new hearings and appeals of every conse...

Police officer, wife found dead in their North Carolina home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A police officer and his wife were found shot to death in their North Carolina home after the officer failed to show up for work Friday night, authorities said.State agents are investigating the deaths as a double homicide, Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden said at a late Friday news conference.Officer Domingo Tavarez-Rodriguez was supposed to start work at 6 p.m. Friday after several days off. When he didn’t show up for his shift or answer his phone, supervisors went to his house and found the bodies, Braden said.The chief said Tavarez-Rodriguez and his wife, Yenitza Arroyo Torres, were both shot, but he did not say if their home appeared to be broken into or give any other details about their deaths.Domingo Tavarez-Rodriguez was retired from the military and had been a Fayetteville officer for almost two years, Braden said.Since Tavarez-Rodriguez was a police officer, the State Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation, Braden...

'Left out': School support staff push for better pay amid teacher raises

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After more than two decades serving students as a special education paraeducator, Tammy Reyes feels right at home in her Galena Park school. The struggle begins, however, when she finds no place to go home after school."In my current situation, I'm homeless," she said. "I've been in Galena Park ISD for 23-plus years, and I'm homeless. I don't make enough. It's rough. It's really rough."Tammy makes $23,000 caring for special needs children and serving at the side of teachers. She could rely on her spouse's income when she was married, but in the twelve years since, she leaves exhausting days only to find extra money in other jobs. Working in children's ministry at her church helped to pad her paycheck for eight years. Cleaning houses also helped a little, until she was physically able to do no more."But I have a job with Galena Park that's 40 hours. I shouldn't have to work a second job. I shouldn't have to work a third job," she said. "My primary job should provid...

Austin finishes 2023 winter storm debris clean up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — About three months after the 2023 winter storm, the City of Austin said it finished its citywide debris pickups. Austin Resource Recovery finished its third pass-through across Austin to collect storm debris from the late January-early February winter storm, a city release said Friday. Crews have picked up nearly 170,000 tons of debris. The city said that is enough to fill Q2 Stadium more than four times. Typically, about 6,000 tons of material are collected in a year.The city also received over 40,000 requests through 311. Those requests are now closed. If you still have debris for collection, the city said to call Austin 311 for special collection through June 30. Debris can also be dropped off at Austin Water's Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plan at 2210 FM 973, Austin. It is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Sites that were used as temporary storm debris, including Circle C Ranch Metro Park and Bolm District Park, are returning to normal use,...

True crime: Dinner invite ends in Missouri family cult killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

KIRTLAND, Ohio -- On October 24, 2006, Jeffrey Lundgren, who was convicted of murdering a Missouri family, received a lethal injection at a correctional facility in Lucasville, Ohio.Lundgren was originally from Independence, Missouri and claimed to be a prophet of God who killed the Avery family of five. He claimed the killing was a sacrifice demanded by a higher power.Dennis and Cheryl Avery were a diligent and unassuming couple who resided in Independence, Missouri. They were devoted parents to their three daughters and deeply committed to their faith and church.However, by September 1986, the Avery family had become entranced by Jeffrey Lundgren, a persuasive and influential figure with extreme religious convictions. He had a reputation for being a skilled manipulator.Jeffrey Lundgren, alleged religious cult leader, is taken into court in Painesville, Ohio, by a Lake County sheriff's deputy for arraignment in the deaths of the Dennis Avery family, April 16, 1990. Lundgren plead...

1 man killed, 1 hospitalized in drive-by shooting in East Hollywood 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

A man was killed and another was hospitalized in a shooting in East Hollywood early Saturday morning. The shooting took place in front of an apartment building in the 900 block of North Mariposa Avenue around 2 a.m. A vehicle with two male suspects pulled up and opened fire, striking both men.  Baby found dead in South El Monte area; police search for mother The two unidentified men were rushed to the hospital. One was pronounced dead upon arrival and the other is said to be in stable condition. There is no description of the two suspects or their vehicle. Police are investigating whether this shooting was gang related. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the LAPD. 

Authorities investigating after shooting leaves a man dead in South L.A. 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:19 GMT

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Investigators are looking into the shooting death of a man in South Los Angeles. According to the Sheriff’s Department, deputies from the Century Sheriff’s Station responded to a call regarding a gunshot victim in the 1500 block of East 88th Street around 8:15 p.m. Friday night. Upon arriving on scene, deputies discovered a victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to their upper torso.  1 man killed, 1 hospitalized in drive-by shooting in East Hollywood The victim was described as a 45–50-year-old Hispanic male. He was pronounced dead at the scene.An investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.