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2 Connecticut officers fired over treatment of man paralyzed in police van after 2022 arrest

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

The City of New Haven, Connecticut, fired two police officers Wednesday for what authorities called their reckless actions and lack of compassion toward Richard “Randy” Cox, who was injured and became paralyzed in the back of a police van after his arrest last year.City police commissioners voted to dismiss Jocelyn Lavandier and Luis Rivera for violating officer conduct rules on following the law, integrity, trustworthiness, courtesy and respect. The two officers and three others also face criminal charges.Four of the six commissioners voted in favor of the terminations while two abstained, which Commission Chair Evelise Ribeiro said was likely because they didn’t attend hearings on the matter. The body also postponed a vote on whether to fire two other officers involved in Cox’s detention. A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer for Lavandier and Rivera.Cox injured his neck on June 19, 2022, when the police van braked hard to avoid a collision with another vehi...

Richard Snyder, ‘warrior-king’ of publishing who presided over rise of Simon & Schuster, dead at 90

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Snyder, a visionary and imperious executive at Simon & Schuster who in bold-faced style presided over the publisher’s exponential rise during the second half of the 20th century and helped define an era of consolidation and growing corporate power, has died. He was 90.Snyder died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles, according to his son Matthew Snyder, who said he had been in failing health. “Dick Snyder led Simon & Schuster through some of its most storied and eventful years,” the company said Wednesday in a statement. “He built Simon & Schuster into one of the largest and most influential publishing companies in the world, known for headline-making nonfiction, bestselling fiction and timeless classics.”Snyder was among those who helped transform the industry. When he joined Simon & Schuster as a sales assistant in the early 1960s, publishing houses were mostly privately owned, some still run by their founders. By the time he was forced ...

Utah to hold election for retiring congressman’s seat in November

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on Wednesday that the election to replace resigning U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart will take place in the fall, expediting the timeline prescribed by state law to ensure the six-term Republican’s seat doesn’t remain vacant for more than a few months.Stewart informed Cox, also a Republican, that he plans to resign on Sept. 15. Cox issued a proclamation setting the primary election for Sept. 5 and the general election for Nov. 21.“This timeline will ensure a smooth and efficient transition with minimal disruption to our electoral process,” the governor said in a statement.Stewart, a U.S. Air Force veteran and author, was first elected in 2012. He was reelected in November and announced last week that he planned to resign to help care for his wife, who he said was ill. Though Stewart’s departure will mean one less Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, it is not expected to affect House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ability to ...

Air quality index rises to high-risk category Thursday as smoky air intesifies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

The air quality across the GTA is expected to worsen before it improves. The hazy air and smell of smoke that has been intensifying since Monday is expected to push the air quality index to one of its highest levels on Thursday. “Thursday and Thursday night we are looking at a 9 and an 8 in the forecast which is also in the high-risk category,” Trudy Kidd with Environment Canada tells CityNews. Most school boards across the GTA are heading the warnings. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) says Thursday’s outdoor activities, including athletic events and field trips, will be moved indoors or rescheduled. “We’ve taken steps over recent years, particularly since the the beginning of the pandemic, to upgrade the ventilation and the air quality within our buildings and that fortunately does pay off on days like these which I don’t recall ever happening before,” said TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird. Bird adds a decision on whether to move forward with outdo...

Against the odds, world’s most endangered porpoise resists extinction in Mexico’s Gulf of California

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Against all odds, the remaining handful of Mexico’s endangered vaquita porpoises are holding on in their only habitat in the Gulf of California, according to a new research expedition report released Wednesday.Experts on the expedition estimate they saw from 10 to 13 of the tiny, shy, elusive porpoises during nearly two weeks of sailing in the gulf last month.That is a similar number to those seen in the last such expedition in 2021. Because they are so small and elusive, many of the sightings through powerful binoculars are categorized as probable or likely. The animals also emit “clicks” that can be heard through acoustic monitoring devices.Experts from Mexico, the conservation group Sea Shepherd and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said they sighted at least one and probably two calves, as immature vaquitas are known, raising hopes for the survival of the world’s most endangered marine mammal. They said there may be more vaquitas out the...

Connecticut to adjourn largely bipartisan session in contrast to rancor in other states

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut’s Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed protections for abortion providers and gave more power to libraries facing book challenges — and they did it with Republican support.All but 13 Republicans voted for the $51 billion two-year state budget and a handful even voted for a major gun control bill that’s already being challenged in court.Bucking the partisan rancor seen in other legislatures this year, Connecticut lawmakers were poised Wednesday night to wrap up what’s been one of the most bipartisan legislative sessions in recent memory. And they’re crediting old fashioned relationship-building, a willingness for compromise, a healthy budget surplus and a strict adjournment deadline.“ Oregon hasn’t met in a month because the senators have just left the building. Think about that,” Democratic House Speaker Matthew Ritter said hours before Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont was scheduled to address lawmakers in a traditional midnight spee...

6 arrested in alleged scheme to fraudulently collect millions in COVID aid meant for renters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Six people from Washington, Arizona and Texas have been arrested and accused of fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars of COVID-19 aid from an assistance program meant for renters, federal prosecutors said. U.S. Attorney Nick Brown, Western District of Washington, on Wednesday announced the arrests and charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The six people are accused of filing hundreds of fraudulent applications seeking more than $6.8 million in government aid and receiving more than $3.3 million, The Seattle Times reported. Most of the alleged fraud was in Seattle’s King County, and focused on federal emergency rental assistance money available to prevent evictions, prosecutors said.Prosecutors allege the scheme also targeted unemployment systems in Washington, California, South Carolina, and Nevada.They are accused of spending the money on luxury cars, vacations, designer clothes, jewelry and plastic surgery.“The participants in this fraud were relentless i...

CPD: Man charged in connection to death of missing Logan Square woman

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been charged in connection to the death of Brittany Battaglia, a woman who went missing in Logan Square last Friday.According to the Chicago Police Department, 34-year-old Genesis Silva was charged Wednesday with one felony count of concealing homicidal death, and one misdemeanor count of obstructing a police officer in connection to an incident that happened in the 2000 block of North Kimball Avenue.On Monday night, CPD officers were seen going in and out of an apartment in the 2000 block of North Kimball Avenue, collecting evidence from a crime scene where a woman's body was discovered.Same day, AJ Battaglia — Brittany Battaglia's brother — posted a tweet saying that detectives told their family that Brittany was found deceased in Silva's apartment.On Tuesday, police said a person of interest related to the incident was in custody.CPD has yet to identify the body discovered in the apartment in the 2000 block of North Kimball Avenue.According to her brother, Bri...

Austin apartment issues 10 p.m. curfew, do residents have to follow it?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A southeast Austin apartment complex sent a notice to tenants that a curfew would be implemented from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The complex, Array Apartments, is located on Burton Road between Oltorf Street and East Riverside Drive. "During this period, it is mandatory for all residents to remain indoors and restrict their movements outside their homes, except for emergencies or authorized activities," the notice reads, in part. Kristie Broadaway, who lives there, was shocked to see this show up in her inbox. "We got a notice with no warning, that we have a mandatory curfew," she said. Kristie Broadaway said she tried to get answers about what prompted her apartment complex curfew, but to no avail.The notice states "this decision has been made in response to security concerns and potential public health and safety concerns. It is crucial for the safety and well-being of all residents that we adhere to these measures."While the word "mandatory" was used, the property manager...

Austin's crackdown on unlicensed short-term rentals loses steam due to legal questions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:33:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- There are thousands of unlicensed, short-term rentals, like Airbnb and Vrbo, in Austin, but the city said it's not focusing on a crackdown, anymore, due to legal questions. In September, city staff said there were about 11,000 short-term rentals (STRs) in Austin, but only 1,875 were licensed. In response, city council passed a resolution in December aimed at getting more of them in compliance. The resolution directed the city manager to change city code to make sure properties are licensed before they're posted on the company's platforms. It also directed the city manager to create an online database of licensed STRs. Former city council member Kathie Tovo sponsored the resolution, saying licensing helps the city track rentals better and make sure code is followed.But now, a city spokesperson said they're shifting focus. "The [Development Services Department] Code Division continues to process short term rental license applications. However, due to the evolving law ...