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Japan’s Kishida shuffles Cabinet and party posts to solidify power

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is shuffling his Cabinet and key party posts Wednesday in an apparent move to strengthen his position before a key party leadership vote next year.It’s the second Cabinet shuffle since Kishida took office in October 2021 when he promised fairer distribution of economic growth, measures to tackle Japan’s declining population and a stronger national defense. Russia’s war in Ukraine, rising energy prices and Japan’s soaring defense costs have created challenges in his tenure, keeping his support ratings at low levels.Kishida’s three-year term as Liberal Democratic Party president expires in September 2024, when he would seek a second term. His faction is only the fourth largest in the LDP, so he must stay on good terms with the others to maintain his position. He is expected to distribute Cabinet posts to reflect the balance of power, and nearly half of the positions will be shared between the two largest factio...

NYC pension funds and state of Oregon sue Fox over 2020 election coverage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s pension funds and the state of Oregon sued Fox Corporation on Tuesday, alleging the company harmed investors by allowing Fox News to broadcast falsehoods about the 2020 election that exposed the network to defamation lawsuits. The case, filed in Delaware, accuses the company of inviting defamation lawsuits through its amplification of conspiracy theories about the election, including a case Fox News agreed to settle for nearly $800 million with the voting machine company Dominion Voting Systems. “Fox’s board of directors has blatantly disregarded the need for journalistic standards and failed to put safeguards in place despite having a business model that invites defamation litigation,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who manages the city’s pension funds. A spokesperson for Fox Corporation declined to comment. New York City’s pension funds are long-term shareholders of Fox Corporation, with shares valued at $28.1 million ...

Arkansas governor seeks exemption on travel and security records, backs off other changes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Republicans in the Legislature on Tuesday backed off a widespread plan to restrict the public’s access to records about Sanders’ administration, but they said they will still seek limits on what can be released about the GOP governor’s travel and security.Republican lawmakers filed legislation exempting release of the travel and security records after an outcry over a proposal to significantly scale back the state’s Freedom of Information Act. A wide range of critics that included media groups, transparency advocates and some conservatives had complained the initial legislation would erode the 1967 law protecting the public’s access to government records and meetings.“The security of our governor and her family should be the top priority for us,” Senate President Bart Hester said at a news conference at the state Capitol with Senate Republicans.The legislation would allow the state to wal...

Police search for 2 men who allegedly burglarized Brighton Park restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

CHICAGO — A search is underway for two men who were caught on camera breaking into a family business in Brighton Park, according to police. Police issued a community alert about the August burglary which included a video of the offenders. Chicagoland libraries targeted by unsubstantiated bomb threats In the video, one of the offenders is seen wearing a grey hoodie, which features the logo of the band Nirvana, while the other is seen wearing a red hoodie and wearing a backpack. The two are accused of breaking into a family-owned seafood restaurant in the 3700 block of South Kedzie Avenue on August 12.The family who owns the restaurant told WGN News that the two broke a window to get inside and stole the cash register.  ‘This is crazy’: Investigation underway after string of car burglaries in South Loop Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to contact the Area One detectives at 312-747-8380.Those with information that could help detectives in their invest...

Chicagoland libraries targeted by unsubstantiated bomb threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Police were called to several libraries in the Chicago area on Tuesday in regard to bomb threats. Police continue to investigate, but officers say none of the threats were substantiated.  Chicago fire truck crashes into home on South Side; 2 displaced Threats in AuroraPolice in Aurora say officers are investigating reports of bomb threats at three Aurora libraries on Tuesday afternoon. Aurora police first notified the public about the threats in a tweet shared around 3 p.m. In a follow-up post, officers asked the public to avoid areas near the Santori Public Library in the 100 block of South River Street, areas near the Eola branch library in the 500 block of South Eola Road, and areas near the West branch library in the 200 block of South Constitution Drive, while they evacuated and shut down roadways. Police say each location has since reopened to the public. Police say the evacuations were ordered at all of the impacted libraries as a precautionary...

Boebert escorted out of Denver theater during 'Beetlejuice' performance: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

(The Hill) — Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) was escorted out of a Denver theater in the middle of a performance of the musical "Beetlejuice" Sunday night for allegedly “causing a disturbance,” according to a report in The Denver Post on Tuesday.A spokesperson for Boebert’s campaign office confirmed to The Denver Post that Boebert was escorted out of the theater, but denied some of the behavior alleged in an incident report that The Denver Post obtained from venue officials.The incident report, which did not include any names, said two patrons were asked to leave the theater about five minutes after the second act began of the touring Broadway musical “Beetlejuice.” It claimed the two patrons were vaping, singing, recording and “causing a disturbance.” ‘Pawn Stars’ star arrested for alleged DUI in Las Vegas: police report Boebert’s spokesperson, according to the Colorado newspaper, said the congresswoman denied vaping, but she admitted she took a photo during the performance and sai...

Brief shot of cool air to include the coolest daytime high temperature in three months Wednesday, but an overall mild pattern is taking shape much of the back half of September

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

Hurricane Lee has its sights set on the Northeastern U.S. by coming weekend with strong winds, heavy rainfall and high surfOVERALL WARMER THAN NORMAL PATTERN PREDICTED AS THE START OF ASTRONOMICAL FALL BEGINS NEXT WEEKFORECAST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON HIGHSFORECAST THURSDAY MORNING LOWSIS WARM WEATHER TOTALLY DONE WITH US? ABSOLUTELY NOTHURRICANE LEE2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season has produced 56 named storm days—more than the entire 2022 season and 8th most on record through September 12thYears with more named storm days: 1893, 1933, 1950, 1995, 2005, 2008, 2012MUCH NEEDED RAINFALL ACROSS A LARGE SWATH OF THE METRO AREACLICK TO ENLARGE

Missing Wisconsin woman located by Chicago police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

CHICAGO — A Wisconsin woman who went missing after leaving a car that was stuck in traffic along the Edens Expressway has been safely located, according to Chicago police. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Police did not provide further details on where she was located.

APD investigating Sept. 6 deadly crash in Del Valle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

DEL VALLE, Texas (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is investigating a crash in Del Valle that left one person dead last week, APD said in a news release Tuesday.Shortly before 9:15 p.m., Sept. 6, officers responded to a crash between an SUV and a pedestrian in the 3100 block of East SH 71 in the westbound lanes in Del Valle, according to police. The pedestrian, who remained unidentified as of Tuesday, died at the scene, the release said. One person killed in Wednesday night crash on Highway 71 in Del Valle The driver of the SUV remained on the scene and was later taken to the hospital to be evaluated for possible injuries, according to police. The driver was not impaired and was cooperating with the investigation, the release said.This incident is being investigated as Austin's 63rd fatal crash of 2023, which resulted in 66 fatalities for the year, according to police. Furthermore, on the date of this crash in 2022, 71 fatal crashes resulted in 73 deaths, the release said. ...

U.S. soccer remains perfect in St. Paul with 4-0 win over Oman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:20 GMT

Folarin Balogun — the latest hope to become the U.S. men’s national team’s top striker — scored in the first half of a 4-0 win over Oman in a friendly Tuesday at Allianz Field.Ballyhooed for his decision to pick the U.S. over England in May, Balogun has now scored two goals in 141 minutes across four appearances for the Americans.Balogun didn’t score in his 45-minute shift in the Americans’ 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in a friendly Saturday in St. Louis, but put a header off the post.During this international window, U.S., rated 11th by the FIFA world rankings, dispatched 73rd-ranked Oman and 74th-ranked Uzbekistan.In front of an announced crowd of 13,665, Balogun gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute when he finished a rebound from Sergino Dest’s long-range shot.Balogun appeared to have a second goal three minutes later, but Tim Weah was called for a handball in the build up.Brenden Aaronson’s free kick from roughly 25 yards out bounced through teammates, Oman defenders and...