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Chase on Texas border that killed 8 puts high-speed pursuits in spotlight again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The white Honda Civic sped down Highway 57, a rural two-lane corridor that reaches the U.S.-Mexico border, after a Texas sheriff’s deputy tried pulling over the car and gave chase when it didn’t stop. High-speed pursuits of migrants and suspected smugglers have become routine in Texas. But Wednesday’s chase came to one of the deadliest endings in recent years: a head-on crash that killed eight people, including Honduran citizens and two residents of Georgia. The mangled wreckage at the scene near La Pryor, a small town about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of San Antonio, laid bare the danger of high-speed pursuits undertaken by an ever-expanding presence of law enforcement at the border. Texas alone has stationed hundreds of additional troopers the past two years in the name of curbing the flow of migrants and drugs. The crash has also renewed criticism that the pursuits are too fast and have gone on for too long despite chases that have ended...

Music Review: On ‘Heaven Knows,’ Internet pop sensation PinkPantheress provides IRL charms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — How do you become introduced to PinkPantheress? Is it the viral, U.K. garage-sampling TikTok hits “Break It Off” or “Pain”? Or is it more recent — an inescapable song of the summer, “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” featuring Ice Spice? Or “Angel,” her contribution to the Mark Ronson-produced “Barbie” soundtrack? Or something else entirely?There are countless ways in, but the destination is the same: sugary hooks that satiate, her sweet soprano carrying an addictive chorus above hybrid production. And as of Friday, it’s culminated in “Heaven Knows.” The debut full-length record from the U.K. star, who keeps her real name hidden, features 13 tracks she also co-produced. “Heaven Knows” is sometimes hyperpop, sometimes ornamented with the sound of pan flutes (“Blue”), sometimes 2000s emo-by-way-of- My Chemical Romance -inspired church organs (that’s “Another life,” featuring the Nigerian artist Rema of “Calm Down” fame), and sometimes something else entirely.Any kind of momentum...

Former Louisville officer charged in Breonna Taylor raid says he was defending fellow officers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The ex-Louisville police officer on trial for firing into Breonna Taylor’s apartment the night she was killed testified Thursday he had to react quickly after a fellow officer was shot in the leg during the drug raid.Brett Hankison said he saw a muzzle flash come from inside Taylor’s hallway after officers knocked down the door in the early hours of March 13, 2020, to execute a search warrant. He testified he believed it sounded like an assault rifle, so he moved to the side of Taylor’s apartment and fired shots in through a sliding glass door and window.“I had to react,” Hankison said on the witness stand in U.S. District Court Thursday. “I had no choice.” Taylor’s boyfriend had fired a single shot at officers after they came through the door, and two officers at the entry returned fire, striking and killing Taylor in the hallway of her apartment. While no one was hit by the 10 shots he fired, prosecutors have argued Hankison was shooting erratically without ...

Manny Machado digs in at groundbreaking for San Diego FC’s training complex and academy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) — With his mustard-yellow suit practically matching the color of a bulldozer right behind him, Padres slugger Manny Machado put on a hard hat, grabbed a shovel and joined in the ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday for the MLS expansion San Diego FC’s $150 million training complex and youth academy. Machado is a founding partner of San Diego FC, which is building its training complex and Right to Dream Youth Development Academy on the Sycuan Reservation in eastern San Diego County ahead of its MLS debut in 2025. San Diego FC is a joint venture between Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.“We said we were planting roots in San Diego, and what better way to see this project come to life than have our facility and youth development academy on the grounds of Sycuan Reservation,” Machado said. “It’s an absolute perfect location in beautiful San Diego.”“I’ve said from the beginning that this opportunity...

Escapee captured after 9 days when dog bark alerted couple pleads guilty in Pennsylvania

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

WARREN, Pa. (AP) — A homicide suspect who escaped from a northwestern Pennsylvania prison and was on the run for more than a week before a pet dog led to his recapture in July pleaded guilty on Thursday for the escape and to kidnapping a Pennsylvania couple.Michael Burham, 34, awaits sentencing in January. His defense lawyer declined comment after the hearing Thursday.He had been accused of kidnapping an older couple in Pennsylvania and driving them to South Carolina to evade a murder investigation in New York when he escaped from the Warren County jail, about 66 miles (105 kilometers) east of Erie.Authorities said he climbed from exercise equipment to a grated metal roof and slid down a rope that he had made of bedsheets. During his time on the lam, police described Burham as “a self-taught survivalist with military experience,” warning he could be dangerous.He evaded authorities for nine days before a couple responding to their barking dog encountered him. They contacted pol...

City council approves city-wide expansion of Community Crisis Service

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

Toronto City Council on Thursday unanimously approved the expansion of the 211 Community Crisis Service citywide.The program, referred to as Toronto’s fourth emergency service, will see mental health experts respond to calls involving people in crisis instead of the police service. According to a city report, in 2022 – the first year of the pilot program – the program received 6,827 calls for service and 78 per cent of calls transferred from 911 were “successfully resolved” without police intervention.“We need a different response to people in mental health crisis and an appropriate response that is more caring,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “By having 211 available city-wide police would be able to focus on the cause they need to respond to and hopefully they can respond faster.”The program was introduced after several incidents involving police resulted in the death of those who might have otherwise been helped through a mental heal...

Aurora Cannabis revenues rise in Q2, led by strength in medical cannabis sales

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

EDMONTON — Aurora Cannabis Inc. says it earned $256,000 in the second quarter, up from a loss a year earlier of $45.5 million. The Edmonton-based cannabis company says net revenue for the quarter was $63.4 million, up from $48.6 million during the same quarter a year earlier.The company attributed the increase to growth in its global medical cannabis business and quarterly revenue in its plant propagation business. CEO Miguel Martin says it was the company’s strongest fiscal year to date. He says Aurora is experiencing the benefits of diversification across its cannabis and non-cannabis platforms. The company’s net revenue from medical cannabis rose 42 per cent from a year earlier, while revenues from consumer cannabis were slightly lower. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:ACB)The Canadian Press

Skilling: Cloudy, breezy Friday to start the weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

Chicagoans basked in sunshine Thursday----the first 100% sunny day of the past 11.Temps reached 56 at O'Hare for the second consecutive day—a reading 4-deg above the normal high for Nov 9 of 52-deg.  The day marks the 7th consecutive day in which the average temp will post a surplus—a trend likely to be temporarily broken by modestly below normal readings Friday and Saturday.November's off to a milder than normal start averaging 3.5-deg above normal. Despite that surplus, the month is running 5.2-deg cooler than the opening 9 days of November a year ago.  The official high temp hit 70 on this date a year ago.Northwest winds through the atmosphere are circulating chillier air into the Midwest and the Chicago area.  Temps tonight will dip into the upper 20s in normally cooler locations away from the city and Lake Michigan and to the 36 in the city proper. Clouds will increase as the night goes on as a minor disturbance approaches and traverses the metro area other it would likely be e...

Pro-Palestinian protestors rally outside of Biden donor event in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Protestors filled a city block, advocating for Israel to stop the bombing of Gaza, across the street from where President Joe Biden spoke to donors at a private event Thursday.The protest, organized by the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine, moved locations last minute from Ida B Wells and Michigan to the 400 block of North Armour Street after learning of Biden's presence in Chicago.Earlier Thursday, Israel agreed to a four hour daily humanitarian pause in its assault on Hamas in Northern Gaza, where they said they will allow aid to enter the area, and civilians to flee. More from Dana: Charges filed against 2 accused of killing woman during attempted robbery in Worth Biden urged Israel for a multi-day ceasefire in exchange for a release of hostages but said there was no possibility of that happening right now."I’ve been asking for a pause for a lot more than three days, every day," Biden said."I've asked for even a longer pause," Biden added after being asked if...

Grand Lux Cafe on Chicago's Magnificent Mile announces closure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Grand Lux Cafe has announced it is closing its doors after 21 years later this year.On Thursday, the company said the last full day of service at the Michigan Avenue restaurant will be Dec. 24. Commission weighs whether to discipline Illinois judge who reversed rape conviction The company is working with employees to help transition them to the company's other concepts nearby."We have enjoyed being a part of the downtown Chicago community and hope that our guests will continue to dine with us at our other restaurants in the area," the statement read. Grand Lux Cafe also has locations in Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Texas.