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Biden pays tribute to Iranian women at Nowruz celebration

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden used a White House event to mark Persian New Year on Monday to pay tribute to Iranian women and girls who took to the streets of Iran to protest following the death last year of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and vowed to keep pressure on Tehran.Biden said he wished the Nowruz holiday, a nearly 4,000-year-old tradition known as the Festival of Fire that’s linked to the Zoroastrian religion, would be a moment of “hope for the women of Iran fighting for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”“The United States stands with those brave women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their conviction,” Biden said, describing the reception as the biggest White House Nowruz celebration to date. “We’re going to continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for their attacks against their people.”The United States, Europe and the United Kingdom have imposed a series of fresh sanctions on dozens of Iranian officials and organizations, ...

The maddest March ever? Underdogs head to the Sweet 16

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

We know you’re upset. Underdogs have blown up every bracket in the country.An upside of the upsets: perhaps the maddest March ever.Defending national champion Kansas and fellow No. 1 seed Purdue are gone — the Boilermakers with a slice of unwanted history. The Sweet 16 won’t have blue bloods Kentucky, Duke or North Carolina for only the second time since 1979.In are upstarts like Princeton, Florida Atlantic and a team picked to finish last in the Big 12 Conference.And, this being March, of course there’s Tom Izzo.The bracket has been nearly devoid of the buzzer-beaters that college hoops fans have been accustomed to, but the games have been close. There have been four games decided by one point, the most since there were six in 2017 and three short of the record last matched in 1998.SOUTH REGIONAlabama has looked every bit the No. 1 overall seed, blowing out Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Maryland despite turmoil swirling around the program.Waiting for Alabama in...

4 guilty of conspiracy in latest Oath Keepers Jan. 6 trial

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four people associated with the Oath Keepers were convicted on Monday of conspiracy and obstruction charges stemming from the attack on the U.S. Capitol in the latest trial involving members of the far-right antigovernment extremist group. A Washington D.C. jury found Sandra Parker, of Morrow, Ohio; Laura Steele, of Thomasville, North Carolina; William Isaacs, of Kissimmee, Florida and Connie Meggs, of Dunnellon, Florida guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other felony charges. In a rare loss for prosecutors, Sandra Parker’s husband, Bennie Parker, was acquitted of obstruction as well as one conspiracy charge, and a sixth defendant — Michael Greene, of Indianapolis, Indiana — was acquitted of two conspiracy charges. Jurors said they couldn’t reach a verdict on another conspiracy charge for Bennie Parker and the obstruction charge for Greene, so the judge instructed them to keep deliberating. All six defendants were convicted of a...

WH economic report: Money for child care would help growth

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is making the case for more government support for child care programs in an economic report being released Monday, drawing on extensive research to say additional spending would improve kids’ lives, increase the quality of early childhood schooling and enable more women to hold jobs.The analysis dovetails with President Joe Biden’s political messaging as ideological lines are being drawn for the 2024 election. Democrats have sought to put a greater focus on Republican lawmakers who have restricted access to abortions in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court decision and called for mandating that impoverished parents be employed in order to receive government aid.The administration is also making a fuller case that its policies on children and families are better for overall economic growth, not just in terms of social fairness. The White House Council of Economic Advisers put together the 28-page analysis on child care as part of ...

Attorneys make divergent closings in trial of Haitian mayor

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — An attorney for three Haitian men who claimed in a U.S. lawsuit that the former mayor of their small hometown subjected his political opponents to violence and terror called the defendant “a small, petty tyrant” during closing arguments Monday.But an attorney for the defendant spent his time poking holes in the testimony of witnesses and saying the plaintiffs were motivated by money when they brought the case against Jean Morose Viliena.The case against Viliena, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. who now lives in Malden, Massachusetts, shed light on the broader issue of political violence in the Caribbean nation and its ineffective judicial system.Bonnie Lau, who represents the plaintiffs, asked the jury during closings to award $35 million in compensatory and punitive damages.“We have the overwhelming weight of the evidence in our favor,” she said.Peter Haley, Viliena’s attorney, said testimony from witnesses in the civil suit being heard in U.S. Dist...

Sexual harassment complaint filed against DC mayor’s former chief of staff

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

A sexual harassment complaint has been filed against former D.C. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio, who abruptly left his post last week.“We represent an employee of the District of Columbia who came forward to report serious allegations of sexual harassment by former Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio,” the statement from attorneys Debra S. Katz and Kayla Morin said. “It is our understanding that this behavior is longstanding and our client is cooperating fully with the investigation, which Mayor Bowser initiated immediately.”The statement went on to say: “Our client is courageous. She came forward to ensure accountability and protect other women. Given the gravity of our client’s allegations – which involve unwelcome advances and sexual contact – we ask the media to respect her privacy. ”At a news conference earlier Monday, Bowser said an attorney in the Mayor’s ...

Hornets’ Ball anticipates being ready for training camp

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C (AP) — Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball said he anticipates being ready for training camp in September after suffering through an injury-plagued 2022-23 season in which he sprained his left ankle three times and fractured his right ankle, all of which limited him to 36 games.Whether he’ll consider wearing ankle braces moving forward remains to be seen.“It’s tough,” Ball said Monday. “I mean probably annoying just going through it, but I’m still alive and stuff like that, so you can’t really be too mad. Just go through the rehab, do that whole process and try to come out on top.”Ball, wearing a walking boot on his right foot and leaning on crutches, spoke to reporters for the first time since undergoing season-ending surgery on his broken right ankle on March 1.The Hornets had playoff expectations this season, but Miles Bridges’ legal troubles over the summer and a series of injuries to key players like Ball, Gordon Hayward, Cody Martin and Kelly Oubre Jr. wre...

Mountain lion attacks man in Colorado hot tub

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

NATHROP, Colo. (KDVR) -- A man was attacked by a mountain lion while sitting in an in-ground hot tub Saturday night, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.The attack happened around 8 p.m. at a home in a heavily wooded area near Nathrop, a town in Chaffee County.The man was sitting in a hot tub with his wife when he felt something grab his head. What are the rules of hunting mountain lions in Colorado? He and his wife began to scream and splash water at the lion. His wife also got a flashlight and shined it on the mountain lion.The commotion and the light caused the animal to retreat about 20 feet away from them. After they kept screaming at it, it moved to the top of a hill and began to watch them.The couple was able to get back into the house and clean the scratches on the man's head.When CPW officers arrived, they attempted to find the mountain lion but were unable to find tracks due to the freezing temperatures and frozen snow on the ground. Dentist searched ‘how to make ...

Former Palmetto Senior High teacher sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually harassing, abusing female students

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

It was sentencing day for a South Florida teacher who was convicted of crossing the line with a student. Jason Meyers, 47, had already been convicted for sexually harassing and abusing female students. Monday, the former Miami-Dade County Public Schools teacher was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 10 years of probation upon his release.The sentencing came just two months after Meyers was found guilty on three counts of engaging in sex with a minor. The inappropriate behavior happened all while he was a teacher at Miami Palmetto High School.“He used his classroom as a bedroom,” said a prosecutor. “He committed multiple crimes and the state will prove that to you.”The state was able to prove just that.Meyers, who was arrested back in 2016, decided not to take the stand during the trial. Instead, his wife testified on his behalf.Also testifying was one of Meyers’ victims, who said she was silenced by the disgraced teacher.“He told me that I wasn&...

‘Don’t hurt her – she’s my everything’: Authorities search for dog snatched off street in Beacon Hill

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:13:20 GMT

A search got underway in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood on Monday after witnesses say a dog was stolen right off of a sidewalk.Witnesses said someone grabbed a 10-year-old terrier, jumped into a car and took off while the anima’s dog walker was picking up another pet around noon on the corner of Walnut Street and Mount Vernon Street.The dog’s owner took to social media after this incident, asking for help in finding her animal and appealing to those responsible. “Whoever has her, please don’t hurt her,” Maura Howley said. The dog’s name is Rose McNugget. Howley said she weighs 11 pounds, describing her as “a little terrier mix.” “She’s very sweet,” Howley said. “She’s not aggressive. I’ll give you whatever you want. Just bring her back.”The dog walker, Dominic Mariano, said he had just picked up the dog and tied her to a fence. Rose was with three other dogs while the dog walker was just steps away picking up a fifth dog to add to the pack. Mariano said ...