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The gunman who killed 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue is found eligible for the death penalty

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The gunman who killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 is eligible for the death penalty, a federal jury announced Thursday, setting the stage for further evidence and testimony on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison.The government is seeking capital punishment for Robert Bowers, who raged against Jewish people online before storming the Tree of Life synagogue with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons in the nation’s deadliest antisemitic attack. The jury agreed with prosecutors that Bowers — who spent six months planning the attack and has since expressed regret that he didn’t kill more people — had formed the requisite legal intent to kill.Bowers’ lawyers argued that his ability to form intent was impaired by mental illness and a delusional belief that he could stop a genocide of white people by killing Jews.The jurors found among other things that Bowers intended to kill, that substantial planning went into the attack, and that he ta...

Even the most populous places are pushing for US census corrections to boost funding

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

A misplaced naval ship in California. Overlooked college students in New York City. Missed inmates in Texas.These are some of the reasons why the two most populous states and the largest city in the U.S. filed last-minute requests for corrections to their 2020 census figures right before the deadline at the end of last month. California, Texas and New York City were joined by a dozen and a half other stragglers, including Illinois and New Orleans, that made down-to-the-deadline appeals over the numbers that help determine political power and the annual distribution of $2.8 trillion in federal funding.In total, nearly 200 requests for corrections were filed by local, state and tribal governments through two programs started by the U.S. Census Bureau to give governments opportunities to have their population totals reviewed and corrected if need be.If successful, any corrections will be applied only to future population estimates used for the rest of the decade in determining federal ...

Stretch of Dufferin Street closed for up to 2 months for emergency repairs

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

A stretch of a main Toronto west end thoroughfare is going to be shut down to drivers for the next couple of months for emergency bridge repairs.The City of Toronto says the southbound portion of the Dufferin Street Bridge over the Gardiner Expressway will be closed after crews discovered damage that needed repairs.The southbound lanes of Dufferin will be blocked off from Springhurst Avenue to British Columbia Road, the northbound lanes and pedestrian sidewalk will remain open. Southbound traffic will be diverted onto Springhurst.“The City will be installing variable message signs, adjusting traffic signals in the area and deploying paid duty officers if necessary to manage traffic,” reads a statement from the city.#TrafficAlertTO The southbound lane of the Dufferin Street Bridge is currently closed to vehicle traffic to facilitate emergency repair work on the bridge. SB traffic is being diverted along Springhurst Avenue. NB traffic and sidewalk remain open. pic.twitter....

Vondrousova tops Svitolina to become the first unseeded women’s finalist at Wimbledon in 60 years

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded women’s finalist at Wimbledon since Billie Jean King in 1963, eliminating Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday by reeling off seven consecutive games in one stretch and then holding on for the victory.Vondrousova is a 24-year-old left-hander from the Czech Republic who is ranked 43rd. She reached the second Grand Slam final of her career after getting that far as a teenager at the 2019 French Open.“I was crazy nervous,” said Vondrouova, who bowed her head and knelt at the baseline when the match was over. “I was nervous, actually, the whole match.”On Saturday, she will face No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka or No. 6 seed Ons Jabeur, the 2022 runner-up at Wimbledon.Ranked No. 76 and also unseeded, Svitolina returned to the tour from maternity leave just three months ago. She was trying to become the first woman from Ukraine to make it to the title match at a major tennis tournament and received loud support from t...

Messi mania engulfs Miami over the arrival of the Argentine soccer superstar

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — A hamburger and drink combination called the Lionel Messi. A huge sketch of the soccer star’s smiling face on a restaurant wall beside a viral meme from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. A beer with a pink label matching the color of the Inter Miami jersey he will wear.Wherever you turn in Miami these days something reminds you of the arrival of the Argentine soccer legend.There is no hiding the euphoria generated by Messi in Miami as he begins the new Major League Soccer phase of his career in one of the most Latino cities in the United States. But his arrival is also bringing a note of sadness as fans know that at age 36 he is nearing the end of his career.Messi announced on June 7 that he will play for Inter Miami in a move that is expected to revitalize soccer in the United States and South Florida with one of the sporting world’s best-known figures. More than 100,000 Argentines live in Miami, which will host World Cup matches in 2026.The seven-time winner of the Ballon ...

'Fast and Furious'-themed roller coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

(KTLA) – Universal Studios Hollywood will soon break ground on its newest "Fast and Furious"-themed roller coaster, park officials announced on Wednesday.Park officials said the new coaster will "engulf" guests in the "Fast and Furious" universe through “innovative and technological achievements never previously employed,” according to a press release.A view of the construction for Universal Studios Hollywood's new roller coaster. ( KTLA) Rumors about the park's new roller began swirling in October, when a screenshot of a geotechnical study submitted by the theme park was shared on Twitter.The study showed that officials planned for the ride’s track to begin in the upper lot, go over the Starway Escalator, descend toward the lower lot, and then back up again. Official says Carowinds coaster may have developed crack a week before it was noticed “When I saw the permit, I got excited because this was something that was only rumored, but then to see the permit, it shows that they are ...

Recipient of historic face transplant says he's doing well, still sees 'another person' in the mirror

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

(KTLA) – A Los Angeles man who underwent a historic face transplant after suffering extensive burns in a 2013 crash is recovering well and happy for a second chance at life.Robert Chelsea, 68, was driving home from church in 2013 when his car overheated, so he pulled over on the side of the freeway. While waiting for roadside assistance, a drunk driver crashed into his car, causing it to explode on impact. Chelsea suffered third-degree burns on over 50% of his body as a result.Chelsea underwent an extensive 16-hour surgery in July 2019, which, as he noted at the time, made him the oldest person and the first African American to get a face transplant.Robert Chelsea, a Los Angeles man who underwent a historic face transplant after suffering extensive burns in a 2013 crash, is recovering thanks to the surgeries providing him with a second chance at life. (KTLA)"After enduring more than 30 surgeries, three years of tests, physical and psychological evaluations, and a longer than usual w...

Food fighters: New Chicago-based U.S. Army Reserve unit provides meals, morale to soldiers

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

The United States Army Reserve is establishing a new unit outside of Chicago, but these soldiers won’t be carrying out battle plans, they’ll be following recipes. During a ceremony at the Army’s Fort Sheridan complex this week, officials established an entirely new unit: The 238th field feeding company — the first-ever feeding company based in the Midwest.“Fielding a new unit is very rare -- even in the active army -- so to be able to do it here at Ft. Sheridan in the reserves, is even more special,” said Jim Bland, the civilian aide to Secretary of the United States Army.Sergeant Crystal Melendez, 29, from Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood is one of 150 reservists selected to serve in the unit. “I like being around all the cooks,” Melendez said. “I like being around so many people, I’ve never been at an at where there are so many cooks – and everybody brings something different.”Bland said that that food is the backbone of any fighting force, and cited the example of the starvi...

Texas Department of Public Safety says it will keep patrolling despite Austin suspending partnership

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Interim City Manager Jesús Garza announced Wednesday that he has suspended the City's partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety with the approval of Mayor Kirk Watson. "I feel like we had a partnership that had promise to it," Watson said. "But when you can't defend certain actions, you have to, as I've said from the very beginning, you have to make changes."Watson defended DPS' presence in Austin when KXAN sat down with him Monday to discuss the partnership, a stark contrast from Wednesday's move to pull the program just two days later. A spokesperson for Texas DPS told KXAN on Wednesday night, "DPS will continue patrol operations in the city of Austin as part of its responsibility to protect and serve Texas," in the same capacity as outlined in the partnership. Mixed reactions as City of Austin suspends partnership with DPS The mayor said the tipping point was an incident where Watson said troopers pulled a gun on a 10-year-old boy. "Wel...

Roller coasters still awaiting assembly at COTA but overall expansion of F1 venue on track, execs say

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:36 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- Dozens of pieces of blue roller coaster sit neatly organized into rows in one of the vast parking lots at the Circuit of The Americas race track in Southeast Austin. While they await assembly, they offer a hint of how the long-planned COTALand amusement park could take shape and advance track executives' goal of becoming more of a year-round entertainment destination. COTA’s chairman talks about future expansion after 10 years of MotoGP in Austin COTA won't hit a previously announced goal of opening the full park in 2023 but track operators have opened some rides near turns 19 and 20. COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein this month said they would have liked to have started the amusement park long ago but blamed delays on "significant" disruptions to production and shipping.Pieces of a roller coaster sit waiting for assembly in a Circuit of The Americas parking lot in late June. (Photo: MIKE CHRISTEN / ABJ)Pieces of a roller coaster sit waiting...