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EXPLAINER: What are special counsels and what do they do?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

The appointment of a special counsel to oversee the Justice Department’s probe of Hunter Biden is bringing renewed attention on the role such prosecutors have played in modern American history.On Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware who has been probing the financial and business dealings of the president’s son, to oversee the department’s investigation. He said Weiss asked to be appointed to the position and told him that “in his judgment, his investigation has reached a stage at which he should continue his work,” now as special counsel.In January, Garland appointed Robert Hur, a former U.S. attorney in Maryland, to oversee the department’s investigation into how several batches of documents marked as classified ended up at Joe Biden’s Delaware home and at the offices of the president’s Washington think tank.And last year, Garland appointed former Justice Department public corruption prosecutor Jack Smith to lead in...

VP Kamala Harris back in Chicago Friday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

CHICAGO — The issue of gun violence is bringing Vice President Kamala Harris back to Chicago.Harris will address a gun safety conference at McCormick Place Friday afternoon.Officials said she'll discuss the administration's ongoing commitment to reducing gun violence. Illinois Supreme Court upholds state’s ban on semiautomatic weapons This is Harris' third visit to Chicago this summer.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Man who bought Michael Jordan rookie card with fake signature gets $34,000 refund: 'Tremendous relief'

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Sports card collector Ed Yakich was refunded more than $34,000 after he bid on and won an autographed Michael Jordan rookie card that wasn't actually signed by the NBA legend. Yakich, a Florida resident, had purchased the card through the PWCC auction house along with documentation that showed the card was authentic and certified by a firm called PSA/DNA.After receiving the card, he sent it off to that same firm for grading. They later called back, informing him the signature was fake.“In our opinion, the aforementioned signature is not authentic and did not pass PSA/DNA authentication," the grading company said. Nearly 70% of MLB players polled choose same city for possible expansion team “It stopped me in my tracks, and quite honestly ruined my weekend and put the last eight to 10 weeks of my life in a spindle, because it was quite a shock,” Yakich told Nexstar's WFLA.Sports card collector Ed Yakich paid $34,200 for a Michael Jordan rookie card that he later...

Crews respond to wildfire near SH 130 south of Lockhart in Caldwell County

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A grass fire sprang up Friday in Caldwell County, according to the Austin Fire Department, which said crews from Travis County were headed there to help fight it.The fire is near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. It's called the Boggy Creek Fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported. MAP: More than 2,500 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year AFD originally said the fire was 20 acres but said in an update it was 60 acres.Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Boggy Creek Fire in Caldwell County near State Highway 130 south of Lockhart. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)The agency also said forward progress had stopped and some Travis County resources that responded to a mutual aid request were being r...

2 teens arrested in shooting death of Austin 18-year-old

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 11, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A juvenile suspect and a 17-year-old were arrested after being accused of being involved in the death of an 18-year-old who was shot and killed during a robbery in southeast Austin Monday. According to the Austin Police Department, the 18-year-old, identified as Gregory Orork, was taken to St. David's Medical Center with life-threatening gunshot wounds Monday afternoon. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? APD officers arrived at the hospital and found Orork as he was being treated. Orork died at the hospital. Homicide detectives believe the shooting happened in the 5400 block of Freidrich Lane, and a friend took Orork to the hospital immediately after the shooting. The investigation revealed Orork was shot and killed during a robbery, APD said.The suspects were identified as Christian Alba, 17, and another man younger than that, who both left the scene in a vehicle. N...

Austin's 35-day streak of consecutive 100° days is the longest in recorded history

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is currently experiencing the longest stretch of triple-digit heat in recorded history.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has reached 100° or hotter every day since July 8.That means temperatures have reached the century mark for 35 days in a row. With records dating back to the 1890s, that's the longest stretch of triple-digit temperatures ever recorded in Austin. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The previous record of 27 days was set between July 17 and Aug. 12, 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade Meanwhile, a 13-day streak is underway at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, with temperatures hitting 100° or above every day since July 29.An 18-day streak earlier in July currently ranks ...

ERCOT extends weather watch a week as heat not expected to let up

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video shares tips for responding to heat-related illnesses.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has extended its latest weather watch yet again as summer heat persists in the state.Its watch originally went into effect Sunday and was expected to last until Monday. It then extended it that day to Friday and on Friday announced it would be in place until the following week on Aug. 18. How you can check Texas power grid conditions Weather watches don't mean the grid is in an emergency situation, but is an early alert for Texans to monitor grid conditions. It is a type of alert that is new this year and part of the group's efforts to keep Texans informed about the power grid. ERCOT said the grid is expected to be normal during these types of alerts.In its alert Friday, ERCOT said it extended the watch "due to ongoing forecasted higher temperatures, higher electrical demand and the potential for lower reserves."The KXAN First Warning Weathe...

60-year-old arrested in deadly southeast Austin shooting

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 11, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 60-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of a 54-year-old in southeast Austin Tuesday evening. APD investigating homicide in southeast Austin The shooting happened in the 7900 block of Lee Hill Drive, which is south of East Riverside Drive, off of Hoeke Lane. Austin Police Department officers responded to the scene around 6:30 p.m. after someone called 911 saying they found a person dead and the suspect was still at the location. APD identified the victim as Isaias Martinez, 54, and the suspect as Jorge Flores-Duran, 60. Flores-Duran was detained and interviewed by investigators. APD said during the interview, he admitted to shooting Martinez during an argument. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? Flores-Duran was arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder. He is currently being held at the Travis County jail.Anyone ...

Ono Hawaiian Plates brings island favorites to Twins and their opponents

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

It’s a little before 7:45 a.m. in the middle of July and Warren Seta has already been jamming inside the kitchen for a couple of hours.The co owner of Ono Hawaiian Plates knows he has a catering order for the Seattle Mariners that needs to be delivered at 11:30 a.m.The clipboard on the wall shows that the Mariners have ordered three trays of kalbi, two trays of barbecue chicken, one tray of macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, one tray of chicken katsu, fried rice, white rice, and a handful of other accompaniments.As if that’s not already enough work, Seta is also working on a special order for Mariners second baseman Kolton Wong, a Hawaii native who has gotten used to having some of his local favorites as an option in the visitor’s clubhouse at Target Field.These are the moments that bring Seta and his partner Jess Kelley the most joy.Warren Seta, left, and Jess Kelley, the owners of Ono Hawaiian Plates in the North Loop Galley in Minneapolis, hold a plate of Korean ribs on...

Clifton Park man charged with sexual abuse of a minor

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:57:02 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Clifton Park man has been arrested following a sexual abuse investigation, according to state police. Justin Pringle, 35, faces multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On August 10 at 7:42 p.m., troopers received a report of inappropriate contact between an adult male and a minor in Clifton Park. The investigation determined that earlier in the day, Pringle had reportedly provided consumable products containing cannabis to a child under the age of 14 in exchange for sexual contact. Pringle was arrested near his home and transported to SP Clifton Park for processing. He faces the following charges:ChargesSecond-degree sexual abuse Third-degree criminal sale of cannabis Endangering the welfare of a child Saratoga Springs Police charge man with sexual abuse Pringle was arraigned at the Clifton Park Town Court and released on his own recognizance.