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Wisconsin GOP leader downplays pressure to impeach state election administrator

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Republican Assembly leader on Tuesday downplayed pressure he’s receiving from former President Donald Trump and fellow GOP lawmakers to impeach the state’s nonpartisan elections administrator, saying such a vote is “unlikely” to happen.Some Republicans have been trying to oust state elections administrator Meagan Wolfe, who was in her position during the 2020 election narrowly lost by Trump in Wisconsin. The Senate voted last month to fire Wolfe but later admitted the vote was symbolic and had no legal effect.Five Assembly Republicans in September introduced 15 articles of impeachment targeting Wolfe, a move that could result in her removal from office if the Assembly passed it and the Senate voted to convict. The Republican president of the Senate has also called on Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to proceed with impeachment.A group led by election conspiracy theorists launched a six-figure television advertising campaign last month thr...

Lawsuit alleges ‘widespread’ abuse at shuttered youth facility operated by man commuted by Trump

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Eight former residents of a youth treatment center that was run by an Arkansas man whose bribery conviction was commuted by former President Donald Trump have filed a lawsuit claiming they were victims of “systematic and widespread” abuse at the now-shuttered facility.Attorneys for the former residents of the Lord’s Ranch said the lawsuit is the first of several to be filed in the coming weeks alleging abuse at the facility that closed in 2016 after owner Ted Suhl was convicted in a federal bribery scheme. Suhl’s conviction was commuted by Trump in 2019.“Men and women who owned, operated, and staffed the facility preyed on and abused the children housed on the remote facility in Warm Springs, Arkansas routinely and systematically,” the lawsuit filed Monday in federal court said.The lawsuit against Suhl and others claims the unnamed residents were victims of repeated sexual abuse and rape by an employee of the facility, describing the abuse in gra...

Nashville police chief confirms authenticity of leaked Covenant school shooter’s writings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville Police Chief John Drake says he’s “disturbed” over the unauthorized release of writings from the shooter who killed six people, including three children, at The Covenant School in March.Drake confirmed the authenticity of the writings in a statement late Monday evening. “This police department is extremely serious about the investigation to identify the person responsible,” Drake said.Earlier Monday, conservative commentator Steven Crowder released what he said were three images of Audrey Hale’s writings from the day of the March 27 shooting. The news quickly sparked calls for an investigation as local and state leaders initially declined to verify the authenticity of the writings. Meanwhile, Metro Nashville Police Department has stated that the photos were not “crime scene images.” The fight over the release of Hale’s writing has remained a long, drawn out battle for months. Ever since it was discovered that Hale, who was assigned...

A Utah woman who had leg amputated after dog attack has died, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (AP) — A 63-year-old Utah woman who had a leg amputated after being attacked by her son’s dogs in her yard in a Salt Lake City suburb last week has died.The woman, whose name has not been released, died Monday, Taylorsville Police Lt. J. Fowler said Tuesday.The woman called 911 on Oct. 31. Responding officers found her in her yard still surrounded by the adult male and female pit bulls and their five puppies.Officers used pepper spray to drive them away so they could get over the fence, according to police. The adult female dog then broke loose and police shot it, officers said. The remaining dogs were surrendered by the owner.The Associated Press

Nevada judge tosses teachers union-backed petition to put A’s stadium funding on 2024 ballot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A Nevada judge threw out a proposed ballot referendum backed by a statewide teachers union that would give voters the final say on whether to give $380 million in public funding for a proposed $1.5 billion Oakland Athletics stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.The Monday ruling from Carson City District Court Judge James Russell sided with two lobbyists affiliated with trade unions that favor the public financing for the A’s stadium. Russell sent the teachers union-backed Schools over Stadiums political action committee back to the drawing board in their attempts to thwart the public funding that the state Legislature approved this year.In an interview Tuesday, Schools over Stadiums spokesperson Alexander Marks said the organization’s leadership will likely both appeal the decision to the Nevada Supreme Court and refile the referendum petition.“While the decision is disappointing, it’s not uncommon. Educators overcome obstacles every day, especially in...

'Get the **** away from me': Man accused of groping woman shopping in Northwest Indiana Walmart

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

PORTAGE, Ill. — A man was charged after allegedly sexually battering a woman shopping at a Northwest Indiana Walmart.Just after 2 p.m. on Saturday, Portage officers were dispatched to the Walmart, located in the 6000 block of US Route 6, on the report of a woman being sexually assaulted inside the store.A woman told police she was in an aisle buying windshield wipers when a man, later identified as James Lunsford, 42, of West Virginia, allegedly grabbed her and her breast."Get the (expletive) away from me!" the woman told Lunsford during the incident, according to police documents.Surveillance footage provided by store employees showed Lunsford allegedly walking up to the woman and grabbing her from the rear, pulling her into his body, according to police. Group accused of stealing, selling $2M worth of scrap intended for Northwest Indiana steel mill Police allege that Lunsford changed his jacket and shoes he was wearing in the parking lot prior to being arrested.He was charged wi...

WATCH: Frantic deer crashes into Michigan lingerie store, causing chaos

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — It was a regular Saturday in November at Curvaceous Lingerie in Lansing, Michigan — until a deer ran through the front door of the store, leaving behind a lot of damage.In surveillance video shared with Nexstar's WLNS, which you can watch below, you can see the deer leap from the sidewalk (after narrowly missing a passing car) and through the store's front window. A woman standing near a display can also be seen running from the surprise guest. WATCH: Deer charges through crowded Wisconsin restaurant Clearly upset, the buck breaks through some mannequins before running around the store, destroying other lingerie display stands and two changing rooms. One person was trying on clothes when it entered the dressing room area, but luckily, the door to that changing room was closed. The apparently panicked deer ran around the lingerie store until it became trapped in a corner, trying to break out through a different window while sl...

Jury hears closing arguments Tuesday in APD officer's murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

Editor's note: The above video is from KXAN's coverage of this trial from Monday (Nov. 6, 2023). AUSTIN (KXAN) — Closing arguments began Tuesday afternoon in the murder trial for Austin Police Department Officer Christopher Taylor. The day prior, attorneys representing Taylor finished presenting their case after the state rested last week. Taylor is on trial for murder in the death of Michael Ramos. Prosecutors expect to wrap mid-week in APD officer’s murder trial Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during an incident with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex's parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.KXAN's Grace Reader will be in court Tuesday and providing live updates of the trial on social media platform X: Closing arguments are likely to happen today in the trial of APD Officer Christopher Taylor. I'm in the courtroom. Thread 🔽 pic.twitter.com/CS7C8x7apJ— Grace Reader (@GraceReaderTV) November 7, 2023 Shooting scene visitBefor...

Austin outlines funding costs, timeline for I-35 'Cap and Stitch' initiative

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a Tuesday work session, Austin City Council outlined some of the financial aspects of the proposed Our Future 35 plan, which envisions deck plazas poised to go on top of the Texas Department of Transportation's Interstate 35 expansion near downtown.City officials outlined Tuesday several sites where "caps" — or deck plazas that can support community and green spaces, pavilions, public art or cultural facilities — could exist over the lowered highway. Those include caps from Cesar Chavez to 4th streets; a cap from 4th to 7th streets; one over 11th and 12th streets; as well as a cap from 38th 1/2 Street to Airport Boulevard. AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION NEWS: Lawsuit filed against Austin’s revised Project Connect light rail plan A map rendering also outlines possible locations for University of Texas at Austin-spearheaded caps.City officials outlined Tuesday several sites where "caps" — or deck plazas that can support community and green spaces, pavilions, public art or ...

Expect holiday travel crowds: Nearly half of Americans planning a trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:13 GMT

Kelly Yamanouchi | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)ATLANTA — Nearly half of Americans plan to travel over the holidays this year, according to a new survey — meaning millions of travelers will be battling busy and congested roads and airports.The 48% of Americans planning a trip for Thanksgiving or the year-end holidays is up significantly from 31% last year, according to the survey released Wednesday by consulting firm Deloitte.Of those who are planning to travel over the holidays, more than 37% plan to fly, the survey results showed. Most are planning road trips.Just 11% of people were deterred from travel because of concerns about health risks, down from 18% last year.Instead, the top reason for people not to travel was money concerns, with 38% of those not taking a trip saying they cannot afford it.The results are based on a survey of 5,281 Americans Sept. 12-25, of which 2,531 respondents had plans to travel for the holidays.The rise of remote work during the COVID-19 pan...