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Hong Kong democracy activist in Vancouver, B.C., as bounty issued for arrest

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

A democracy activist who’s in Vancouver, B.C., to promote his plan for a Hong Kong parliament in exile says he’s unafraid after the Chinese territory issued a bounty for his arrest over the proposal. Elmer Yuen nevertheless called on the Canadian government to abolish its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, in light of the $170,000 rewards offered for the arrests of Yuen and seven other activists in the United States, Britain, and Australia.Ottawa joined peers in condemning the move on Wednesday, with Global Affairs Canada sharing a message on Twitter that it is “gravely concerned” by Hong Kong seeking to apply its national security law outside the territory, saying it undermines democratic rights and freedoms.Yuen, 74, lives in the United States but is a frequent traveller to Canada. He was staying in Vancouver for several days to encourage people to support his goal of electing a Hong Kong parliament outside the territory and encourage the federal government...

Fire caused by fireworks kills one, injures four in East Texas

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

GILMER, Texas (AP) — A man was killed and four other people were hurt after officials say a fireworks accident caused a large fire during preparations for an Independence Day event in East Texas. It was one of at least two deaths and many injuries across the U.S. over a holiday that typically sees upward of 10,000 emergency room visits because of injuries blamed on pyrotechnics. Upshur County fire agencies, deputies and medical personnel responded to a fire at the Firehouse 9 Farm Event Venue in Gilmer, Texas, around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday following an explosion that happened during the setup for a fireworks event scheduled for later in the day, according to a statement from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office. Jared Scott Maddox, 58, who owned the venue, was found dead at the scene and four others were injured, the sheriff’s office said.Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office and officials from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating. In a st...

Iowa’s Republican governor calls a special legislative session to revive abortion restrictions

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday called a special legislative session to pursue new abortion restrictions after the state Supreme Court declined to reinstate a 2018 ban after about six weeks of pregnancy.The court was split 3-3 last month and did not issue a decision on the merits of the law, leaving open the possibility that the GOP-controlled Legislature would try to pass a similar ban. In the meantime, abortion remains legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.Lawmakers will meet on July 11. Most Republican-led states have significantly curbed abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. Separately, the Iowa Supreme Court in 2022 reversed an opinion that said the state constitution affirms a fundamental right to abortion. After those rulings, Reynolds declined to call a special session last year to enact new restrictions, instead choosing to work through the state courts to try to get the 2018 ban into effect. The law h...

UNESCO report on Wood Buffalo park shows urgency of problems, First Nation says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

An Alberta First Nation that first brought concerns about Canada’s largest national park to UNESCO says a report from the United Nations organization reveals a growing urgency to deal with those problems. Melody Lepine of the Mikisew Cree First Nation says the report reaffirms the threats that dams, climate change and oilsands development pose to Wood Buffalo National Park where her people practice treaty rights. Wood Buffalo is at risk not only from industrial development, but long-term effects from climate change and upstream dams that are shrinking water levels.Lepine says both the Alberta government and Ottawa have to bring in long-awaited measures such as a risk assessment for the oilsands tailings ponds, as well as continued funding for efforts to improve and increase water flows.The UNESCO report, released last week, says Wood Buffalo should keep its World Heritage status and that some of its attributes are improving.But it says half of the environmental objectives for ...

Philadelphia suspect left a will and was acting agitated days before shootings, prosecutors say

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The man accused in the fatal shooting spree in Philadelphia that left five people dead and four others wounded Monday night left a will at his house, and according to a roommate had acted agitated and wore a tactical vest around his house in the days before the shooting, prosecutors said Wednesday.Kimbrady Carriker was arraigned Wednesday morning on five counts of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons counts of possession without a license and carrying firearms in public, prosecutors said. The 40-year-old is accused of killing a man later found dead inside a house and then gunning down four others before surrendering to police.A 2-year-old boy and a 13-year-old youth were also wounded by gunfire and another 2-year-old boy and a woman were hit by shattered glass in the Monday night rampage that made the working-class area in southwest Philadelphia the site of the nation’s worst violence around the July Fourth holiday.Joanne Pescatore, supervisor...

Man who died after landslide in Quebec’s Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean region identified

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

MONTREAL — The Quebec coroner’s office has identified one of two people who died after a landslide in the province’s Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean region as Pascal Héon, 48.The identity of the second person has not yet been released.Police said Tuesday they found the bodies of the two people in the Éternité River.They said officers and volunteers had been searching around the town of Rivière-Éternité for a man and a woman in their 40s who were reported missing on Saturday after a storm triggered landslides and flooding.Meanwhile, town officials said today it was safe for residents of an evacuated area to return home.More than 50 residents were forced to leave their homes after Saturday’s storm.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2023.The Canadian Press

Up to $50K reward for information in armed robbery of USPS carrier on Far South Side

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

CHICAGO — The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man suspected in the armed robbery of a mail carrier. Authorities said the incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. on Friday, June 23 near the intersection of S. Seeley Avenue and W. 99th Street in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood. Illinois trooper fatally shoots man suspected in 2 shootings in Iowa The suspect, captured on area surveillance, was wearing dark clothing and a face covering. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAnyone with information is asked to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 and say Reference Case No. 4062292. All information will be kept confidential.

Police: Woman tailgating causes deadly crash in Northwest Indiana

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

WINFIELD, Ind. — A woman tailgating caused a deadly crash Tuesday afternoon in Northwest Indiana.Just after 4:35 p.m., authorities responded to the 7000 block of East 117th Avenue on the report of a head-on crash.Witnesses told the Lake County Sheriff's Office a Subaru SUV, driven by a 44-year-old Crown Point woman, was tailgating a Jeep when the vehicle veered over the center line in an attempt to pass.As the Subaru crossed, it collided head-on with a Kia sedan, driven by Grace Norris, 19, of Demotte. Norris was pronounced dead at the scene and two 13-year-old passengers, both from Lowell, were rushed to a hospital in Chicago. Woman dead, children seriously injured in Elmhurst head-on crash One of the teens is the sister of Norris, police said.Police did not say if the 44-year-old Crown Point woman was injured.

Man sentenced to life in prison for raping, impregnating 10-year-old girl who traveled out of state for abortion

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A man accused of raping and impregnating a 10-year-old girl will spend at least 25 years in prison for the crime.Gerson Fuentes, 28, pleaded to one count of rape of a child under 10 and one count of rape in Franklin County court Wednesday afternoon, a year after the girl’s out-of-state abortion made national headlines. Fuentes originally pleaded not guilty after being arrested last July. The prosecution and defense recommended a combined sentence of life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years, Franklin County Prosecutor Dan Meyer said at the hearing. Fuentes will be a lifetime registered sex offender upon release.Despite her inclinations, Judge Julie Lynch sentenced Fuentes to the recommended sentence "without comment," per the child's family's wishes. Robbery suspect shot by concealed carry holder on North Side The story gained national attention when, in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organizat...

Illinois State Museum returns nearly 40 sacred wooden artifacts to Kenya

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:40:42 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois State Museum have returned nearly 40 sacred artifacts to Kenya so they can go back to their rightful owners. Museum officials said in a statement Wednesday that they have completed transferring 37 wooden statutes known as vigango to the National Museums of Kenya so they can be returned to Mijikenda communities. The statutes are considered sacred and are believed to carry the spirits of deceased male Mijikenda elders. The Illinois State Museum said the statutes were removed from Mijikenda villages and sacred sites in the 1980s, acquired by art collectors and later transferred to the museum as part of its African collection. Museum staff discovered in 2006 that one of the statutes had been stolen and returned it to its owner.The Illinois State Museum's curator of anthropology, Brooke Morgan, plans to visit Kenya this month and meet with Mijikenda elders to learn more about efforts to protect vigango statutes and restore them to their communities.