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A judge called an FBI operative a ‘villain.’ Ruling comes too late for 2 convicted in terror sting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — In a scathing ruling last month, a judge said the FBI had used a ”villain” of an informant to manipulate a group of Muslim men into going along with a fictitious plot to destroy military planes and synagogues in New York City’s suburbs. She ordered three released from prison, saying the “the real lead conspirator was the United States.”Now, a man convicted in another sting carried out by the same FBI operative says he hopes the ruling will prompt U.S. prosecutors to review the fairness of similar counterterrorism operations carried out in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.“Hopefully this will be the first step for the Justice Department to review all those cases of conspiracy and entrapment,” said Yassin Aref, a former imam who spent 14 years in federal custody in a case involving a business loan made to an Albany pizza shop owner and a made-up story about a Stinger missile.Aref and the shop owner were arrested in 2004 in one of several FBI st...

Funeral planned in Philadelphia for O’Shae Sibley, who was killed in confrontation over dancing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A funeral will be held Tuesday in Philadelphia for O’Shae Sibley, who was fatally stabbed after he confronted teenagers who taunted his group of gay, Black friends as they danced at a New York City gas station.Friends of the slain 28-year-old were expected to celebrate his life at a historic opera house in the city where Sibley grew up and performed before moving to New York to pursue his career as a dancer. He had performed with the dance company Philadanco and used dance to celebrate his LGBTQ+ identity.Brooklyn prosecutors have charged a 17-year-old high school student with hate-motivated murder in the death of Sibley, who was Black.The stabbing happened after a group of teenagers got into an argument with Sibley and his friends as they danced shirtless to a Beyoncé song while they gassed up their car.Police said the teens used homophobic slurs and made anti-Black statements.Security camera video showed the argument had broken up and both groups had walked awa...

Fringe review: ‘Pearl and Eugene’ is delightfully heartwarming

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

Must seePearl and Eugene are delightful protagonists in this heartwarming, laugh-out-loud funny comedy. The show’s performance-based plot, snarky characters and original music engage the audience. Eugene bears a striking resemblance to Oliver Putnam, the character played by Martin Short on “Only Murders in the Building,” and Pearl is reminiscent of the sassiest woman in every senior care center and holds her own as the only female on stage. Each cast member was involved in writing the story, which adds a personal and put-together feel to the show. Directed and produced by Donald C. Hart, who with Avi Aharoni wrote the script.Presented by Clucklesworth Productions at Mixed Blood Theater; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11, 1 p.m. Aug. 13Still unsure of what to see? Check out all our Fringe reviews here.The Minnesota Fringe Festival turns 30 this year, presenting 101 hourlong stage acts from Aug. 3-13 at theaters throughout Minneapolis. Pioneer Press reporters will post their reviews online daily at T...

Fringe review: ‘Starved’ is crisply written, must-see theater

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

Must seeLongtime newspaper reporter Richard Chin learned about the University of Minnesota starvation experiment when he was assigned to write a story for the Pioneer Press in 2014 to mark its 70th anniversary.The groundbreaking study, conducted by U of M physiologist Ancel Keys, involved three-dozen men who volunteered during World War II to starve themselves for science and humanity. The men – conscientious objectors who opposed being drafted into the military – were subjected to “semi-starvation” in laboratory conditions so researchers could learn how to best feed starving people in newly liberated occupied and war-torn countries.Chin, now a reporter for the Star Tribune, penned a harrowing historical drama in “Starved: The Astonishing True Story of the University of Minnesota Starvation Experiment.” The writing is crisp and thoughtful, and the acting is top notch. Directed by Pat O’Brien and Larry Ripp.Presented at Augsburg Mainstage at 7 p.m. Thursday; 5:30 p.m. Friday and 4 p....

Towards a new Kazakhgate: Saving Private Massimov

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

From left to right: Madina Abllyazova (daughter of the oligarch), her father Mukhtar Ablyazov, Lyudmila Kozlovska (ODF) and Pier-Antonio Panzeri – European Parliament - 2017This July 28, 2023, we revealed that a Brussels-based NGO suspected of being funded by a fugitive Kazakh oligarch was accused by Ukraine of defending Russian interests, even as Brussels is fully committed to supporting Kyiv. In this second part, we go even further in our investigation - writes Paul Ymepatraux in PAN The traitorous oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov, we wrote, denies being the secret financier of the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF). The ODF too. Of which act, Justice will perhaps one day say what it is. But some things cannot be denied. Among other things, the fact that Lyudmila Kozlovskaya, the director of the ODF, has defended Ablyazov for years. To do so, it was able to benefit from numerous supports in the European Parliament. We also find the Belgian MEP Mari Arena ...Among all these friends of circum...

L.A. man arrested for kidnapping after dragging woman toward apartment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

A man was arrested for kidnapping after he allegedly dragged a woman toward an apartment complex on Saturday in Los Angeles. According to a San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department news release, Victor Valley deputies responded to a 911 call in the 18000 block of Montezuma street in Adelanto at 11:27 a.m. The victim says the suspect, 30-year-old Tyvell Thomas of L.A., grabbed her from behind while she was walking past the complex and dragged her approximately 15 feet toward the apartments while she fought and yelled for him to let her go. After a witness saw the incident and yelled for Thomas to let her go, he let the victim go and disappeared into the apartment complex. While authorities were interviewing the victim, Thomas walked out of the complex and was arrested for kidnapping and transported to High Desert Detention Center. While he was being transported, Thomas spit on the officer through the bars in the police car and was also charged with assaulting a peace officer.&nb...

1 dead, 2 injured after fight leads to shooting in Long Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

One man is dead and two others are injured after an altercation escalated into a shooting on Monday in Long Beach. According to a news release from the Long Beach Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting near 29th Street and Chestnut Avenue around 7:21 p.m.When authorities arrived on the scene, they found one man with injuries to his upper and lower body and later found two additional victims with injuries. Preliminary investigation revealed that all three men were involved in a dispute when shots were fired.All three victims were rushed to local hospitals, where one was pronounced deceased and the others were listed in stable condition.The deceased victim has not been identified.An investigation into what led up to the deadly shooting is underway.

Oakland A’s unable to hold lead vs. Texas Rangers, face Max Scherzer next

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

OAKLAND — Travis Jankowski had a go-ahead RBI groundout in the eighth and Leody Taveras followed with a sacrifice fly, and the Texas Rangers won their season-best seventh straight game by beating the Oakland Athletics 5-3 on Monday night.Texas tied it in the seventh when Nathaniel Lowe reached on an error by pitcher Kirby Snead while covering first and trying to catch a throw from first baseman Tyler Soderstrom, allowing Jankowski to score. He came through again the next inning facing Dany Jiménez (0-1).Zack Gelof hit a two-run double in the third and Nick Allen also doubled home a run that inning for the A’s, coming off two impressive wins over the San Francisco Giants during the weekend Bay Bridge Series.Mitch Garver hit a two-run double in the top of the fourth for Texas, which topped its six-game winning streak from July 14-19.Still, A’s starting pitcher Ken Waldichuk had a positive night, as he struck out seven, tying a season-high. The six innings he threw was the ...

SF Giants’ offense opens floodgates for late comeback vs. Angels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

So rarely over the past month have the Giants come up with the big hit.In the ninth inning Monday night, down one run with two men on base, Patrick Bailey broke the trend.The switch-hitting rookie catcher poked a blooper into left field that sent Randal Grichuk tumbling toward the foul line, allowing the ball to sneak past and for Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis to race home and score the tying and go-ahead runs of an eventual come-from-behind 8-3 win over the Angels.The ninth-inning meltdown by closer Carlos Estevez allowed the Giants to pick up their first win in their past nine games away from Oracle Park and sent the home team to its seventh straight loss since the trade deadline. Ironically, thanks to a two-RBI poke from newcomer Mark Mathias and two more insurance runs in a six-run ninth inning, one of the Giants’ most dramatic comebacks snapped a streak of nine straight games decided by two or fewer runs.The Giants had not had a rally of four or more runs in one inning sin...

Giants score 6 runs in the 9th inning of an 8-3 win, sending the Angels to their 7th straight loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:36 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Patrick Bailey put the Giants ahead with a two-run double when Randal Grichuk misplayed his drive to left, keying San Francisco’s six-run rally in the ninth inning of an 8-3 victory that sent the Los Angeles Angels to their season-worst seventh consecutive loss Monday night.Mark Mathias added a two-run single in his Giants debut off All-Star closer Carlos Estévez (5-3), who spectacularly blew his second consecutive save after converting his first 23 opportunities this season.Bailey got two RBIs when Grichuk tried and failed to snag his tailing drive, allowing the ball to roll away while Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis scored. Thairo Estrada and Blake Sabol eventually added RBI singles off Aaron Loup in the ninth.Davis hit a tying homer in the seventh for the Giants, who have won eight of 12.Shohei Ohtani doubled, singled, scored a run and stole his 15th base of the season for the Angels, whose fading hopes of joining the playoff race took another dramatic b...