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Howard Weaver, Pulitzer Prize winner with the Anchorage Daily News, dies at age 73

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Howard Weaver, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Anchorage Daily News, has died. He was 73.Weaver died late Thursday at home in California, his wife, Barbara Hodgin said in an email to The Associated Press on Friday. Weaver received treatment for pancreatic cancer for a year before choosing hospice care. He had “38 years of sobriety at his death,” she wrote. “He was public about his alcoholism and sobriety, hoping to help others recover.”He was a reporter and later editor for the Anchorage Daily News, which he helped lead to Pulitzer Prize wins in 1976 and 1989. He later moved to California and worked for McClatchy newspapers, rising to an executive role. He wrote a memoir about the newspaper war in the city between the Anchorage Daily News and the Anchorage Times, which ultimately was shuttered. In an excerpt, writing of his early years, he said: “My affection for the newsroom at the Anchorage Daily News was instantaneous and my devotion never fal...

A Tesla driver to pay $23K in restitution for a 2019 Los Angeles crash that killed 2 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Tesla driver will pay more than $23,000 in restitution for the deaths of two people during a 2019 car crash in a Los Angeles suburb, a decision announced the same day that the automaker recalled nearly all vehicles sold in the U.S.Wednesday’s court hearing wrapped up a case believed to be the first time in the U.S. prosecutors brought felony charges against a motorist who was using a partially automated driving system. It was among a series of deadly crashes investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that led to this week’s recall.The recall affects more than 2 million Tesla vehicles and will update software and fix a defective system that’s supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention when using Autopilot. It came after a two-year federal investigation into crashes that happened while the Autopilot partially automated driving system was in use.The Tesla driver in the Los Angeles case, Kevin Aziz Riad, pleaded no contest to...

A Georgia teacher is accused of threatening a student in a dispute over an Israeli flag

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AP) — A middle school teacher in Georgia was arrested after witnesses told a sheriff’s investigator he threatened to cut off the head of a student who objected to an Israeli flag in his classroom.Benjamin Reese, a teacher at Warner Robins Middle School, was taken into custody on Dec. 8 on charges of making terroristic threats and cruelty to children, according to Houston County jail records. He was released on bond two days later.A message to his school email address was not immediately returned. Calls to possible phone listings for Reese, 51, were also not immediately returned or went unanswered. Houston County District Attorney William Kendall said Reese had requested a public defender, but no attorney was listed for him.The student told a sheriff’s investigator she went into Reese’s classroom on Dec. 7 after spotting the flag and told him she found it offensive because Israelis were killing Palestinians. According to the student, Reese said h...

California men charged with running drugs to Australia, New Zealand disguised as car parts, noodles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Four California men have been charged with running a drug ring that sent hundreds of pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea disguised as shipments of everything from car parts to instant noodles, federal prosecutors announced Friday.Hoang Xuan Le, 42, of Tustin and Tri Cao Buinguyen, 38, of Garden Grove were arrested Thursday and pleaded not guilty on Friday, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Trung Buinguyen, 40, of Lakewood and Narongsak Champy, 28, of Long Beach are fugitives, prosecutors said.All are charged with conspiracy to export and distribute controlled substances while Le and Tri Buinguyen also are charged with distributing methamphatamine.They could face up to life in prison if convicted.Prosecutors contend that from at least 2017 to last year, the men shipped drugs overseas by air, sea and the U.S. Mail. The drugs were hidden in “commercial products such as instant noodle packets, car parts, em...

Judge blocks Arkansas law that took away board’s ability to fire state corrections secretary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas judge on Friday blocked a new law that took away the Board of Corrections’ authority over the state corrections secretary and other top officials, the latest in an escalating feud between the panel and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders over the prison system. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Patricia James granted the board’s request for a temporary restraining order the day after the panel filed a lawsuit and suspended Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri with pay. The board argued that the law violated the state’s constitution by usurping its authority and giving the governor hiring and firing authority over the corrections secretary. Sanders appointed Profiri to the post, and he was confirmed by the panel earlier this year. The move follows the Sanders’ administration’s plans to move forward with opening hundreds of new temporary prison beds that the board had not approved. Members of the board have said opening the temporary beds would j...

Federal judge rejects request from Oregon senators who boycotted Legislature seeking to run in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a request from Oregon Republican state senators who boycotted the Legislature to be allowed on the ballot after their terms end. U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken issued the decision Wednesday.State Sens. Dennis Linthicum, Brian Boquist and Cedric Hayden were among the plaintiffs who filed the federal lawsuit to challenge their disqualification from running for reelection under Measure 113. The voter-approved constitutional amendment, which passed by a wide margin last year, bars legislators from seeking reelection after 10 or more unexcused absences. Each of the three senators racked up more than 10 absences during a record six-week walkout that paralyzed the 2023 legislative session. The boycott stemmed from bills on abortion, transgender health care and guns.The lawmakers sought, among other things, a preliminary injunction to prevent the secretary of state’s office from enforcing their disqualification from the ballot. The off...

Chicago Bears Injury Report: Moore, Brisker questionable heading into Browns matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — After practice Friday, the Chicago Bears released their injury report heading into their Sunday matchup against the Cleveland Browns, with Jaquan Brisker and DJ Moore being the two most notable names present on the list.Moore and linebacker Dylan Cole were both listed as full participants at practice, while Brisker was listed as a limited participant. The Bears listed Brisker and Moore as questionable for when they travel to Cleveland, while Cole was listed as fully healthy and ready to go.Linebacker Noah Sewell and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown did not practice Friday, and were listed as "out" for their matchup against the Browns. Browns’ Garrett is set to chase Bears’ Fields at site of the quarterback’s rough NFL debut Moore suffered an ankle injury last week in Chicago's 28-13 win over the Detroit Lions. It was an injury that only caused him to miss a handful of plays before returning to the game, but the Bears top wideout was still held out of practic...

Illinois NAACP conference president suspended after racist remarks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

CHICAGO — The NAACP has suspended the Illinois conference president after she called migrants rapists and savages during a Zoom meeting in October.Illinois NAACP branch president Teresa Haley was recorded in October stating "These immigrants have come over here, they’ve been raping people, they’ve been breaking into homes, they are like savages, as well.”She made the comments after the DuPage County NAACP president Patrick Watson brought up the migrant crisis in Chicago. ORIGINAL: Calls for NAACP Illinois conference president to resign after racist remarks Following reports on the comments, Haley released a statement on Thursday apologizing for her remarks:“First and foremost, I express my sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt or offended by my comments.I love and value all members of our communities—including immigrants. I have worked tirelessly to advocate for the underserved and the voiceless. I remain focused on denouncing injustices, racism, and di...

FDA targets Chewy, other animal companies for selling unapproved antibiotics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

(The Hill) — Major animal product retailer Chewy and eight other companies violated federal law by selling unapproved animal antibiotics, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alleged Thursday.The FDA said the retailers sold unapproved medications containing penicillin and amoxicillin, which could lead to the evolution of drug-resistant "superbugs." The products in question were targeted at birds and fish, the FDA wrote in a letter to the companies.Drug-resistant superbugs could then pose a risk to human health, argued Tracey Forfa, the FDA veterinary medicine director. Christmas Scrooge: Man steals nutcrackers from North Carolina home "Inappropriate use of medically important antimicrobials contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance, which affects both human and animal health," Forfa said in a statement Thursday.Medications containing the antibiotics are only available via prescription. Impacted products include Aqua-Mox, Aqua-Zithro, Doxycycline and Fishbiotic.N...

Cicero man accused of fatally shooting woman on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:51 GMT

CHICAGO — Charges have been filed against a Cicero man accused of fatally shooting a 36-year-old woman on the city's South Side.Police say 39-year-old Francisco Antonio Miranda, a Cicero resident, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder. Travis Scott performance at United Center postponed hours before show According to Chicago police, the charges stem from a shooting that happened in the 7700 block of South Cicero Avenue that left a 36-year-old woman dead on Thursday, Dec. 7.Police say the Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force took Miranda into custody after he was located in the 4800 block of West Cermak Road, in Cicero, on Wednesday. Teen charged in connection with robberies on CTA train Miranda appeared in court on Thursday for a detention hearing.Authorities have not yet identified the woman killed and it is currently unclear what led to the shooting.