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Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: 'Frivolous' lawsuit dismissed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A lawsuit against the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) petitioning for the release of its elephants has been dismissed by a district judge, who said the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) had no legal case against the zoo.The habeas corpus petition, filed in July by the NhRP, demanded the release of five elephants living at the zoo, Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou, and Jambo, based on claims that the elephants were showing signs of stress. Those claims were refuted by the zoo, which has been working with former Mayor John Suthers' law firm for the past five months to defend itself against the accusations. Denver Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo listed among the best in the country According to a press release from CMZoo, a 4th Judicial District Court judge denied the NhRP's petition on Dec. 3, and sided with the zoo and its right to care for the elephants in their home, stating that even if the court were to accept every fact brought forth as truthful, the NhRP still would no...

Suspect involved in I-95 police pursuit faces judge; charged with grand theft, sexual battery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

A police pursuit in Miami concluded with an arrest after reports of a stolen van from a dealership. The suspect, identified by police as Jose Carlos Blanciquett, faces charges including grand theft, fleeing and eluding, battery on a law enforcement officer, and sexual battery.According to Miami-Dade Police, the sexual battery incident occurred at a nearby mental health facility before Blanciquett fled. Officials said staff members tried to approach Blanciquett, who was also a patient there. Cell phone video footage captured the moments after Blanciquett ended up behind the wheel at Toyota of North Miami, with keys reportedly left inside the van. On Wednesday morning, Blanciquett faced a judge. “You were arrested for two cases: aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer after an accident, grand theft of a vehicle,” said Judge Mindy Glazer. “He could’ve killed somebody. He crossed over express lanes.” ...

Juanita Castro, sister of Fidel and Raul Castro, dead at 90

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

Juanita Castro, sister of former Cuban rulers Fidel Castro and Raul Castro, died on Monday, according to the Miami Herald. Castro, 90, was a strong opponent against the communist regime in Cuba. In 1964, she settled in Miami. But before leaving Cuba, she worked as a CIA agent and helped free 200 people who wanted to leave the island.In Miami, Castro started a pharmacy, which she later sold. After going into exile, she never returned to Cuba.

Miami Northwestern Senior High employee arrested for inappropriate conduct with students

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

An employee is now facing legal consequences after being arrested for inappropriate conduct involving students at Miami Northwestern Senior High. The incident, which occurred on Monday, was captured on the school’s surveillance camera and has raised significant concerns within the school community.On that day, one victim reported that Diajion Jones slapped her on the buttocks area while in the hallway, which was captured on the school’s surveillance camera.Another victim said Jones offered her access to a room to skip class. Once inside, he allegedly touched the second victim’s buttocks area and made explicit comments. Despite the student’s refusals, Jones persisted with inappropriate remarks and inquiries about her age.Law enforcement responded promptly to the incident on Tuesday, arresting Jones at Miami Northwestern Senior High. Jones is now being charged with battery and offenses against students by an authority figure.The school administration is fully c...

Putin trolls COP28 with oil talks next door

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — While everyone else was trying to rescue the world from climate catastrophe, Vladimir Putin was negotiating Russia’s oil exports down the road.As the COP28 climate talks in Dubai reached their scheduled halfway point on Wednesday, the Russian leader landed discreetly just 150 kilometers away. His destination, however, was not the international forum where officials were debating the future of fossil fuels.It was Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates’ capital, where Putin began a quick tour of two critical business partners. First up, Putin’s Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Then, it was over to Riyad to see Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.If not intentional, Putin’s timing certainly seemed designed to thumb his nose at the global talks happening less than a 90-minute drive away. His presence presented a symbolic split screen: Negotiators haggling over how to wean the world off fossil fuels in one frame,...

Credit card skimmer found at Chelsea Market Basket, police investigating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

The skimmer scammers are at it again, but Market Basket was vigilant.“Members of our Chelsea store management team found a suspicious device attached to a single payment terminal yesterday at 4:24 PM,” a spokesman retained by the Tewksbury-based Market Basket wrote in a statement Wednesday morning.The statement added that security camera footage showed the device had been placed on the terminal just six minutes earlier and the store wasn’t sure if any customer data had been compromised.A skimmer is a device that overlays the credit card machine found anywhere you may use such a card for payment, from grocery store checkouts to gas station pumps. The device records the information on a credit card so thieves can use your card themselves. The skimmer devices look just like the machines they’re placed over, so they’re easy to miss. But if something seems off, try giving the top of the machine a little tug and see if there’s a skimmer.The Chelsea Police Department wrote that it has the ...

Massachusetts town meeting interrupted by antisemitic ‘Zoombombing,’ person displays swastika and gives Nazi salute

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

A local town meeting was interrupted by a hateful outburst on Tuesday when someone reportedly shouted an antisemitic slur, displayed a swastika on their Zoom screen and appeared to give a Nazi salute, according to police who are investigating.Winthrop town officials are condemning the “Zoombombing” during the Town Council meeting. The unidentified person interrupted the meeting during a discussion about the town’s flag flying policy.The individual reportedly used an ethnic slur that’s described by the American Jewish Committee as being used by white supremacists to denigrate Jewish people. The hateful outburst is now the subject of a police investigation.“During a civic discussion on the flying of flags on town property, an individual seized the meeting to use it as a platform for hate speech and to display symbols of hate, intimidation and nazism,” said Town Council President James Letterie.“We condemn this act and all acts of hatred in or ...

Chicago Bears Q&A: Would 7-10 save Matt Eberflus’ job? Is Chris Jones a possible free-agent target? Which QBs are in the 1st-round mix?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

The bye week is over and the Chicago Bears are about to begin the final five-game stretch of the season with many important questions looming.What would they have to accomplish, beginning Sunday at Soldier Field against the Detroit Lions, for coach Matt Eberflus to return for a third season in 2024? Brad Biggs takes a swing at that and many more questions in his weekly Bears mailbag.Is 7-10 enough to save Matt Eberflus’ job? Is 7-10 enough to save his job but with conditions on his coaching staff moving forward? How do you see this playing out? — @oldvulture23That is one of the biggest questions to be answered in the stretch run as the Bears prepare for Sunday’s NFC North meeting with the Detroit Lions, whom they should have beaten three weeks ago at Ford Field. The Bears are seeking to win consecutive games for the first time under Eberflus, and that would be a step in the right direction. The Lions (9-3) are a high-quality opponent, which makes this a very import...

Daywatch: The best (and worst!) of TV and film this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

Good morning, Chicago.A Cook County judge overturned the murder conviction of a man who was found guilty in a fatal shooting at a South Side gas station primarily based on the testimony of an eyewitness who turned out to be legally blind.Darien Harris was an 18-year-old high school senior with a clean criminal record when prosecutors charged him in an ambush-style shooting that left one man dead and another seriously injured in June 2011.Now 30, Harris has long maintained his innocence, saying he was at home watching LeBron James play in the NBA finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks. But a now-retired judge found Harris guilty in 2014 and sent him to prison for 76 years.More than four years ago, his legal team, family and friends began urging the conviction integrity unit of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to take another look at the case. Among other arguments, they said the key witness had failed to disclose to the trial judge that the witness was lega...

Red Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione wins Hall of Fame’s Ford Frick Award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:50 GMT

NASHVILLE — Joe Castiglione is going to Cooperstown. Can you believe it?The longtime Red Sox radio broadcaster has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in broadcast by the Baseball Hall of Fame. Castiglione will be honored in Cooperstown as part of Hall of Fame Weekend this coming July.“Bringing knowledge and passion to the booth every day for more than four decades, Joe Castiglione has given voice to the greatest era of Red Sox success in the broadcast era,” said Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, in a statement. “Starting with the team in 1983 in Carl Yastrzemski’s final season, Joe has connected generations of Red Sox fans with a delivery that has become part of the New England fabric. His calls of the team’s four World Series wins in the past 20 seasons provided fans with memories that will echo forever throughout Red Sox nation.”Castiglione recently wrapped up his 41st season cal...