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Azerbaijan names a former oil exec to lead climate talks. Activists have concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

Azerbaijan’s ecology minister has been named to lead the United Nations’ annual climate talks later this year, prompting concern from some climate activists over his former ties to the state oil company in a major oil-producing nation.Mukhtar Babayev’s appointment was announced on X by the United Arab Emirates, which hosted the climate talks that just ended in December, and confirmed Friday by the United Nations. Officials in Azerbaijan did not immediately respond to messages seeking to confirm the appointment.Babayev, 56, has been his country’s minister for ecology and natural resources since 2018. Before that, he worked at Azerbaijan’s state oil company for more than two decades.Similar concerns dogged Sultan al-Jaber, the head of the UAE’s national oil company, as he presided over the talks in Dubai known as COP28. The COP president is responsible for running talks and getting nearly 200 countries to agree on a deal to help limit global warming...

San Quentin project’s $360 million price tag should be slashed, governor’s advisory group says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — An advisory council hand-picked by California Gov. Gavin Newsom recommended Friday that the governor slash by at least a third the cost of a $360 million project to remake the San Quentin State Prison, and use the saved money to improve living conditions at the facility.The Democratic governor last year announced plans to transform San Quentin, where the state performed executions, into a model for preparing people for life on the outside — a shift from the state’s decadeslong focus on punishment. The ambitious vision includes a plan to tear down an old furniture factory on the prison grounds and replace it with a building more reminiscent of a college campus, with a student union and classrooms. Lawmakers greenlit the project without knowing its details during budget negotiations last year, and also relinquished any formal oversight of the planning process.The 21-member advisory council, headed by Newsom political ally and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinber...

US fugitive accused of faking his death to avoid rape charge in Utah is extradited from Scotland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A U.S. fugitive known as Nicholas Rossi, who is accused of faking his own death to avoid a rape charge in Utah, has been extradited to the United States, British media reported Friday. Rossi, 36, whose legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian, is charged with sexually assaulting a former girlfriend in Orem, Utah, in 2008, according to the Utah County prosecutor’s office. He also faces multiple complaints against him in Rhode Island for alleged domestic violence.In response to an inquiry from The Associated Press about reports that Rossi had been returned to the U.S., Police Scotland would only confirm it assisted other law enforcement agencies to extradite a 36-year-old man. It was not immediately clear when Rossi left Scotland or where he was destined. Rossi’s run from the law took a bizarre turn when he was arrested in December 2021 after being recognized by someone at a Glasgow hospital while he was being treated for COVID-19. He insisted he was an Irish orphan name...

Accused Highland Park shooter no longer representing himself in trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

WAUKGEN, Ill. — The man accused of the mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade switched legal tactics on Friday.23-year-old Robert Crimo III reversed his course and filed a motion, saying he no longer wants to represent himself. He asked the judge to reappoint the public defenders he'd dismissed just last month.Crimo III, the accused gunman in the 2022 Highland Park massacre, is charged with murdering seven people and wounding dozens more. Trial for accused Highland Park shooter to begin in February; Crimo III to represent himself Judge Victoria Rossetti questioned the 23-year-old Friday morning, asking, "Do you still want to represent yourself in your upcoming trial?"Crimo III responded that he'd like the judge to reappoint his public defenders.Crimo III stunned the courtroom last month when he stated his decision to represent himself. He also invoked his right to a speedy trial. The judge set his court date to February 26, just six weeks away.

Suburban police issue warning over limited-edition Stanley Cup scams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

MORTON GROVE, Ill. — The Morton Grove Police Department has issued a warning to shoppers looking to purchase Stanley cups online.The warning comes after Stanley released a collaboration with Starbucks: a “Winter Pink" tumbler sold exclusively at Target — causing a frenzy that had the insulated cups flying off the shelves. Starbucks pink Stanley Quencher release causes chaos at Target Well, the police department has a warning for people who are looking for the coveted cups online: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."Beware of tricky websites using the brand’s popularity. Shady websites pretending to offer discounts on Stanley cups have been found to be scamming shoppers. If you purchase a cup through a shady website, your personal information may be compromised and your money...gone," the department stated in a post on Facebook.The police department shared the following tips to avoid online scams:Only make purchases through verified, trusted sellers.Watch ou...

About 87,000 massage guns recalled due to fire, burn risks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

(WHTM) – Around 87,000 massage guns sold at major nationwide retailers are being recalled, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced.The Homedics massagers — sold as Homedics Therapist Select Percussion Massagers — can potentially "overheat while charging," leading to possible fire or burns, according to a recall notice. As of Thursday, Homedics was aware of 17 instances of overheating, one of which resulted in a burned thumb.The massage guns, priced at around $100 each, were sold between September 2020 and November 2023 at retailers nationwide, including Macy's, BJ's, JCPenney, Lowe's and Home Depot. They were also sold online at many of the outlets' sites, as well as on Amazon.com.(Consumer Product Safety Commission)Only the massagers with the model number HHP-715, and only those manufactured in 2020, 2021 or 2022, are involved in the recall. Consumers can identify the manufacturing date via a sticker on the underside of the "barrel," which contains a four-digit...

7 weeks after train crash, CTA Yellow Line reopens early Friday morning; passengers express joy, relief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — After a nearly two-month disruption, the "Skokie Swift" is back on its tracks, albeit a little less swift.Seven weeks after a CTA Yellow Line train crashed into a piece of snow-removal equipment, sending more than a dozen people to the hospital, scheduled train service for the line — called the "Skokie Swift" because it runs between Dempster St. in Skokie and Howard St. on Chicago's North Side — resumed Friday at 4:45 a.m.While it was closed, Yellow Line passengers have been riding shuttle buses.CTA passenger Sharon Reed let out a celebratory, "Whoooo!" when asked by WGN on Friday morning at Skokie's Oakton stop how it feels to be back on the Yellow Line again."I'm so excited!" Reed said. "When they said the Yellow Line was back to running, I didn't know what to do."I said, 'Thank you, Lord!'"While the National Transportation Safety Board has yet to determine what caused the crash, CTA has still worked with the NTSB to put several interim safety enhancements in place....

Chicago Bears president Warren donates $1M to Lurie's cancer center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

CHICAGO -- The foundation run by Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren and his wife pledged one million dollars to Lurie Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Friday morning. "Whenever we can provide to soften the blow on any level, we're in," Greta Warren said.In 2023, the Warrens made a donation to help families and children with cancer diagnosis, making a similar donation to a hospital in Minnesota. "With both are upbeat people, we both are people with a heart of gratitude, and grateful. Every once in a while, I get a little sad about something some issue I may dealing with, I would open up my phone and read about the different families we were able to assist with these grants," Warren said ‘Thank you for revitalizing my hope in humanity’: Man rescued from truck days after crash posts emotional update The impact a cancer diagnosis is especially personal to the couple after Warren's sister died in 2014 of brain cancer. He says her dying wish to her brother was to do wh...

3 years after Capitol riot, almost 1,000 convictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

(The Hill) -- Ahead of the three-year anniversary of the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, about 1,000 rioters have either pleaded guilty or been convicted of crimes ranging from felonies such as seditious conspiracy and assaulting police officers to misdemeanors such as trespassing. More than 1,200 individuals have been charged with federal crimes over the insurrection. In what has become the biggest criminal investigation in American history, prosecutors are still searching for suspects in an effort that promises to continue to keep Washington's federal courthouses busy for months to come. Around 1,230 people have been hit with federal crimes. Some 730 have pleaded guilty, while approximately 170 people have been convicted on at least one charge at trials decided by a jury or judge, according to an Associated Press (AP) database. Only two defendants were cleared of all charges. Federal prosecutors are still looking for at least 80 suspects. They also want ...

Former U.S. Capitol police officer who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 is running for Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Harry Dunn, a former police officer who testified before lawmakers about defending the Capitol on Jan. 6 is running for Congress in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.Dunn made the announcement in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter saying, “Today, I’m running for Congress to stop Trump’s MAGA extremism & ensure it never happens again.”The announcement comes one day before the 3rd anniversary of the Capitol insurrection.The former U.S. Capitol police officer says he is running in the Democratic primary to replace Rep. John Sarbanes who is a Democrat that is not seeking reelection. Five state legislators are currently running to fill the spot.Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District stretches between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.Dunn testified before the Jan 6. Committee in a hearing held at the Capitol in July 2021. During that testimony, he told lawmakers he had to receive private counseling therapy for the emotional trauma he endured on Jan. ...