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Man pleads not guilty to deadly Clairemont shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Julian Vargas, 19, faced a judge for the first time Monday, accused of murdering 22-year-old Cesar Lopez-Sandoval outside of the North Clairemont Recreation Center in February.Vargas pleaded not guilty to murder and a charge of vicarious gun use allegation.“The investigation so far has revealed that this defendant recruited, and groomed and induced a minor to the gang that ultimately led to the shooting,” Deputy District Attorney Melissa Mack said.According to the prosecutor, Vargas “recruited” the 14-year-old, who is also charged and in custody in connection with the case, and allegedly told him he had to earn his stripes to be part of the gang, which included bringing a gun to the park that Sunday.“Mr. Vargas not only induced the minor to commit the crime, he recruited into his gang, he told the minor he had to earn his position in the gang in order to further his status, he told the minor to bring the gun to the park that day and he basically in so many words told th...

Biden ends COVID national emergency after Congress acts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. The national emergency allowed the government to take sweeping steps to respond to the virus and support the country’s economic, health and welfare systems. Some of the emergency measures have already been successfully wound-down, while others are still being phased out. The public health emergency — it underpins tough immigration restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border — is set to expire on May 11.The White House issued a one-line statement Monday saying Biden had signed the measure behind closed doors, after having publicly opposed the resolution though not to the point of issuing a veto. More than 197 Democrats in the House voted against it when the GOP-controlled chamber passed it in February....

US House speaker attends rally in New Mexico swing district

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy attended a rally in southern New Mexico on Monday for former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell as the GOP tries to flip a congressional swing seat back to GOP control in 2024.Herrell lost her 2022 reelection bid to Democratic Congressman Gabe Vasquez in the majority-Hispanic district along the U.S. border with Mexico.The state’s Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces was the backdrop for Herrell’s announcement that she will seek the Republican nomination again, amid supportive appearances by state legislators.Republicans have nominated Herrell on three previous occasions to seek the 2nd District seat. She lost an open race in 2016 and returned in 2018 to unseat former Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small.Republicans are separately challenging the new outline of the 2nd District in proceedings before the New Mexico Supreme Court. Political boundaries were changed under a redistricting plan from Democratic lawmakers that...

Some US states stock abortion medications after court ruling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A growing number of states led by Democratic governors are stockpiling doses of drugs used in medication abortions, amid fears that a court ruling could restrict access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S.Massachusetts has purchased enough doses of the drug mifepristone — one of two drugs used in combination to end pregnancies — to last for more than a year, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said Monday. California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, the other drug used in abortion medication, Gov. Newsom, also a Democrat, announced.And in Washington state, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that the state purchased 30,000 doses of the generic version of mifepristone — which he said is enough to last the state’s residents three years. The shipment arrived in late March.“Abortion is still legal and accessible here in California and we won’t stand by as fundamental freedoms are stripped away,” Newso...

Boston heads to Fever as No. 1 pick in WNBA draft; Canadian Amihere selected eighth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Indiana Fever made the most of the first No. 1 draft pick in franchise history, selecting Aliyah Boston.The South Carolina star had a stellar college career, leading the Gamecocks to a national championship her junior year and losing only nine games total. She was a three-time Associated Press all-American and also the Player of the Year as a junior.“It’s really special, I’m thankful to God for putting me in this position,” said the 21-year-old Boston, from the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Everyone in Indiana, they saw something in me, I’m ready to get there and get to work.”The Fever had the worst record in the league last season, going 5-31.“Aliyah Boston will have an immediate impact on our franchise on and off the court,” Fever GM Lin Dunn said. ‘We are excited to pair her with Kelsey (Mitchell) and NaLyssa (Smith) as we reload the Indiana Fever. We are very impressed with Aliyah’s post skills as well as her natural leadership skills. This a great day fo...

US, Philippines hold largest war drills near disputed waters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The United States and the Philippines on Tuesday launch their largest combat exercises in decades that will involve live-fire drills, including a boat-sinking rocket assault in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait that will likely inflame China.The annual drills by the longtime treaty allies called Balikatan — Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder — will run up to April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel. It will be the latest display of American firepower in Asia, where Washington has repeatedly warned China over its increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed sea channel and against Taiwan.The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in a possible confrontation over Taiwan. That dovetails with efforts by the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea by boosting joint military exe...

CPD: Male in critical condition after Southwest Side shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

BURBANK, Ill. — A male victim is in critical condition after being shot in the head Monday evening on the far Southwest Side, according to Chicago police.Police said a male of unknown age was standing in a parking lot in the 7600 block of South Cicero Avenue around 5:30 p.m. when he was hit in the head by gunfire.The victim was then taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in critical condition. Fire crews battle extra-alarm fire in Bridgeport Police have no one in custody as area detectives continue to investigating.If you or someone you know has information that can help police make a breakthrough in the investigation of this incident, anonymous tips can be filed online at cpdtip.com.No other information is available at this time.

Chicago Sky select Traylor, Malashka in WNBA draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Sky added a couple pieces to their lineup ahead of the 2023 WNBA season Monday.Monday night, the WNBA hosted their annual draft ahead of the leagues 28th season.The Chicago Sky did not own a pick in the first round, but they made sure to make a splash when their name was called.With the 23rd pick in the second round, the Chicago Sky selected Kayana Traylor, from Martinsville High School and Virginia Tech.With the 23rd pick of the 2023 #WNBADraft, we select @kayana_traylor!#skytown pic.twitter.com/3YyQtipWsG— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) April 11, 2023 Traylor, the 5-foot-9 guard, started her collegiate career at Purdue University before she transferred to Virginia Tech for the 2022-23 season.She helped the number 1 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies to the NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four, before falling to the champion Louisiana State Tigers.Trayler averaged 9.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and three assists in 156 games during her three years of playing college baske...

What we know about those killed in Louisville bank shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDKY) — The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) confirmed six people are dead, including the shooter, and eight others injured after a shooting Monday morning at a downtown bank. Police said the incident started around 8:30 a.m. at the Old National Bank on East Main Street, and officers were on the scene within three minutes. Louisville bank employee who killed 5, injured 8 livestreamed mass shooting: police They exchanged gunfire with the shooter — later identified as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon — who died on the scene after being shot by officers, according to LMPD. Sturgeon had been livestreaming the attack, police said.LMPD identified the victims as:James Tutt, 64Joshua Barrick, 40Juliana Farmer, 45Thomas Elliot, 63Deanna Eckert, 57Tommy Elliott (Kentucky Public Pensions Authority)According to their LinkedIn pages, Tutt was a market executive, Barrick a senior vice president of commercial real estate banking, Farmer a loan analyst, and Elliot a senior vi...

White Sox legend Frank Thomas gets a big honor from Auburn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

AUBURN, AL — The latest honor in his decorated career in baseball came from where he first became a national name in the sport.In the process, he joined the elite among the athletes to ever play for Auburn University.White Sox legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas had a statue unveiled at the school in honor of his achievements on the diamond there. A steady rain fell during the ceremony, but that didn't dampen the mood of the occasion as "The Big Hurt" was joined by his wife, Megan, an his six children. "I want to thank the Auburn family for doing this for me," said Thomas in a ceremony this weekend. "I'm so humble, I'm thankful. God is good, and I'm so proud of this moment." The statue is outside Plainsman Park, where Thomas made a name for himself as a player for the Tigers from 1987-1989. At the school on a football scholarship, the first baseman was a three-time All-SEC selection with Auburn and was a consensus All-American with the Tigers in 1989.In the 1989 MLB Draft...