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Disgraced children’s TV entertainer Rolf Harris dies at 93

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Rolf Harris, the veteran entertainer whose decades-long career as a family favorite on British and Australian television was shattered when he was convicted of sexual assaults on young girls, has died. He was 93.His death was confirmed Tuesday by a registrar at Maidenhead Town Hall, west of London, to Britain’s Press Association news agency.Harris, who had a hit record with “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport,” was adored by generations of children for his jovial on-screen persona, and was so respected in Britain that he was once granted the rare privilege of painting a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.But his reputation collapsed in 2013, when he was arrested in Britain in relation to sexual abuse allegations.Many were left in disbelief when in July 2014 Harris was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on four young girls from the 1960s to the ’80s. Prosecutors said he had a “Jekyll and Hyde” personality who used his fame to exploit his victims.Among the victims was a ...

The ignoble end of ‘the world’s worst McDonald’s’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

In today’s Big Story podcast, it’s challenging to gain notoriety among the more than 40,000 McDonald’s franchises worldwide, but Ottawa’s Rideau Street location managed to achieve it. With incidents ranging from violent confrontations to general chaos and viral occurrences (like the infamous raccoon fight), this recently closed restaurant earned the moniker bestowed upon it by a former police chief.Amy Dempsey, senior writer at Toronto Star, reported on the reputation and legacy of the Rideau Street McDonald’s.“This story is one that illustrates the challenges downtown business districts and communities are facing–amid a national housing crisis, an epidemic of homelessness, mental illness, and drug addiction,” says Dempsey.However, this McDonald’s story extends beyond crime and online fame. It is a tale that explores public space and who gets to use it, the transformation of cities during nighttime, the provision of resources to those in need, and...

7 people arrested in Spain linked to racial abuse cases against Vinícius Júnior

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Seven people accused of racially abusing Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior have been arrested in Spain, police said Tuesday.Three were detained in Valencia for alleged abuse against Vinícius in a Spanish league match on Sunday. Four were arrested in Madrid for allegedly hanging an effigy of the player off a highway bridge in January.The arrests come after an outpouring of support for Vinícius after he said he was abused in Valencia. The case prompted widespread reaction from sports figures and government officials in Spain and worldwide.The nation has been criticized for its lack of action in racism cases in soccer. Brazilian government officials, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, had publicly expressed their concerns.Vinícius, who is Black, has been subjected to repeated racist taunts since he arrived in Spain five years ago, and especially this season after he began celebrating his goals by dancing.The Brazilian has heavily criticized Spanish soccer for...

Some worshippers switching congregations amid United Methodist split over LGBTQ issues

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

The Rev. Bill Farmer reached the point where he couldn’t stay in the United Methodist Church anymore — but the congregation he attended was staying.Michael Hahn always wanted to stay in the UMC — but his congregation was leaving it.Each has found new church homes, and they’re not alone. Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nation’s largest denominations amid intractable debates over theology and the role of LGBTQ people. There are sharp differences over recognizing same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ clergy.But the dividing line isn’t just running between congregations. It’s running right through the pews of individual churches, separating people who had long worshipped together.Those who come up on the short end of a disaffiliation vote face the dilemma of whether stay or go. The splintering — often grievous and tense — has spurred new initiatives to provide havens for the unmoored. Some United Methodist regional confe...

UK economy to avoid recession but inflation still a worry, IMF says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The British economy will avoid falling into recession this year, according to upgraded growth forecasts Tuesday from the International Monetary Fund. In its latest assessment of the U.K. economy, the Washington-based fund said domestic demand had proven more resilient than anticipated in the face of the surge in energy costs. The IMF now thinks the British economy will grow by 0.4% this year, up from its previous prediction of a 0.3% decline. The forecast aligns with that from the Bank of England, which also upgraded its economic outlook this month. However, the IMF said inflation is likely to remain stubbornly high over the coming years and only return to the Bank of England’s target of 2% in mid-2025, six months longer than it predicted earlier this year.Like other central banks, the Bank of England has been raising interest rates aggressively over the past 18 months or so after inflation spiked sharply, first because of bottlenecks caused by the coronavirus pa...

Father charged after leaving 6 kids in hot van in Des Plaines to go to cleaning job: police

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — A father has been charged after leaving his six children inside a hot vehicle in Des Plaines.The man, whose name has not been released, faces six counts of misdemeanor child endangerment. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on June 22.Around 12:20 p.m. Monday, Sheriff's police responded to an apartment building in the 9000 block of Lincoln Drive, after reports of young children locked inside a vehicle parked at the complex.Officers discovered the six children, ages 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 18-months, locked inside a Dodge van.According to police, "the windows of the vehicle were opened slightly, but the doors were locked. The children did not appear to be in distress but were visibly overheated." 15-year-old boy killed, 14-year-old wounded after shooting on South Side Officers located the children's father, who told police he works for a cleaning service and left the kids in the vehicle to clean one of the residences at 11:30 a.m.Police s...

As SC school shooter seeks mercy, teacher, principal want him in prison for life

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A school shooter serving a life sentence without parole for killing a first grader on a South Carolina playground when he was 14 is asking a judge to lessen his sentence so he can eventually get out of prison.Jesse Osborne's lawyer asked Judge Lawton McIntosh on Monday to reconsider his sentence so Osborne, now 21, could have some hope of freedom in his 50s or 60s.Attorney Frank Eppes said the judge didn't fully consider a psychologist's report that Osborne's lashed out because of abuse and can be rehabilitated.“Give Jesse some hope to live with,” Eppes said at a televised court hearing.Osborne himself asked for a chance at life outside a prison cell, apologizing to the family of 6-year-old Jacob Hall who he killed and everyone at the school that day.“I would just like to say sorry to every single one of them. Because my evil actions hurt their lives,” Osborne said. “I’m just going to try to better myself in the Department of Corrections the rest of my life.But...

Is Travis County DA Garza dropping more felonies? Here's what the data show

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

Investigative Summary: Criminal case data shows an increase in the overall amount of felony cases not prosecuted in Travis County in recent years, under District Attorney José Garza. KXAN investigators sat down with Garza, who explained how his office decides to dismiss, reject or pursue a case -- and why, he says, his office is more focused on getting convictions in acts of violent crime. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Keesha Hodges can’t help but smile when she remembers her son, Javone.“He would always tell people, 'My mom is my best friend.' Like, all the time,” she said. “He'd call me: ‘Best friend, what are you doing?'"She remembers him playing with his little brothers, acting like a “coach” as they worked out together, and how nervous he was the day he got his first tattoo.“I’m like, ‘Oh my God, that’s so cool!’ He said, ‘That was scary, Mom, I’m not going to lie.’ He's like, ‘A tear almost came out,” she said with a laugh.Now, Keesha’s arms are decorated with the same images that her so...

Austin Convention Center to undergo 4 years of construction in expansion project

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The city of Austin announced this week it started the process of looking for an engineering firm to design the convention center expansion project, with the target to nearly double the amount of rentable space in the building. The project has been talked about for years, with the city conducting studies and analysis on the expansion of its downtown convention center, to meet the demands of a growing city. The city says it plans to start building closure, demolition, and construction activities in 2025 and will reopen the new and improved site in 2029, according to a news release. Impact of surrounding hotels and events This means there will be four years of no conventions and events at the center, and even more construction for a downtown area that is already riddled with cranes and construction projects. Nenad Praporski, the general manager of Fairmont Hotel Austin, looks at the situation as glass half full. His hotel is right across the street from the convention ...

Austin transit leaders point to public, legal support after AG opinion on Project Connect

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:16:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin transit leaders Monday said the strength of public and legal support will keep them moving ahead with Project Connect despite funding issues brought up in a opinion released Saturday by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. As KXAN reported, Attorney General Paxton's opinion highlighted two potential issues. One related to debt and tax structure. It pointed to the city’s intention to use the maintenance and operation tax to pay down debt. The attorney general concluded that the Texas tax code “does not authorize a municipality to “earmark” use of a voter-approved increase in its maintenance and operation property tax revenue for debt service.” MORE: Texas AG opinion questions Project Connect funding Another issue the legal opinion raised was how the Austin Transit Partnership, the agency set up to implement Project Connect, is funded by the tax. The opinion found, if brought to a court, a court would likely conclude that since the tax structure is not subj...