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San Francisco prosecutors begin charging 80 protesters who blocked bridge while demanding cease-fire

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco prosecutors on Monday began charging 80 protesters who last month blocked traffic for hours on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge while demanding a cease-fire in Gaza.The protest came as San Francisco was hosting President Joe Biden and other world leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.Seventeen people appeared in court on Monday to face charges of false imprisonment, refusing to comply with a peace officer, unlawful public assembly, refusing to disperse and obstruction of street, sidewalk or other place open to public. Their arraignments were continued to February.Hundreds of demonstrators holding signs that read “Biden: Ceasefire Now” and “Free Free Palestine” and “Drop the Charges!” held a news conference outside the court before the arraignments of those charged began.Aisha Nizar, of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said she was among those who were arrested and charged but doesn’t plan to stop demonstrating.“We are mo...

Ruben Gallego is endorsed by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, his ex-wife, in bid for Arizona Senate seat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego on Monday endorsed her ex-husband, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, in his campaign to move up to the Senate.The mayor’s decision to publicly back her former husband, while not surprising, will help him blunt criticism for their divorce, which occurred weeks before the birth of their child.Gallego is the only major Democrat in a race that will help determine control of the U.S. Senate. Incumbent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a former Democrat who left the party a year ago, has not said whether she will seek a second term as an independent. Ruben and Kate Gallego are both Democrats who met as undergraduates at Harvard University. Kate, a New Mexico native, moved to Phoenix for a job on John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign in Arizona. Ruben, originally from Chicago, joined her after finishing a deployment to Iraq as a U.S. Marine. They were a power couple in local Democratic politics. A popular Phoenix bar even had a cocktail called “The Ruben a...

Trump’s lawyers ask full appeals court to review gag order restricting his speech in election case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for Donald Trump asked the full federal appeals court in Washington to review a gag order restricting the former president’s speech in the case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election.The request Monday follows a decision by a three-judge panel of the appeals court that upheld but narrowed a gag order that barred Trump from verbally attacking witnesses over their participation in the case and imposed other restrictions on what he may say.In requesting that the entire court take up the matter, Trump’s lawyers argued the panel’s decision earlier this month contradicted Supreme Court precedent and rulings from other appeals courts. They said a fresh consideration was needed “both to secure uniformity of this Court’s decisions and because of the question’s exceptional importance.”“This petition presents a question of exceptional importance: Whether a district court may gag the core political speech of the leading candidate for...

Florida deputy’s legal team says he didn’t have an obligation to stop Parkland school shooter

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida sheriff’s deputy is claiming he had no legal duty to confront the gunman who murdered 17 people and wounded 17 others at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School nearly six years ago, his attorney argued Monday.The legal team representing Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the victims’ families and survivors, even though the decision would likely be derided by the public.Attorney Michael Piper told Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips that under the law, his client cannot be sued for anything he did or didn’t do during the Feb. 14, 2018, massacre. He cited appellate court cases that say police officers don’t have a legal obligation to protect others from third-party harm and cannot be sued for decisions they make during a crisis.Piper said that while it might not be a popular decision, the judge must uphold the law and throw out the lawsuit, which seeks unspecif...

Passengers could get $75 for delays under Southwest settlement

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

(The Hill) -- Southwest Airlines passengers affected by the company's problems during a year ago could be given a $75 voucher for delays as part of the federal government's record $140 million settlement.The settlement, announced Monday by the Department of Transportation (DOT), will require Southwest to establish a $90 million compensation system to be used for passengers affected by "controllable cancellations and significant delays."As part of this new system, Southwest is required to give passengers a transferrable $75 voucher for future travel with the airline in the case that an "issue within Southwest's control" causes a passenger to arrive at their destination three hours or more after their original scheduled arrival time. "This industry-leading benefit will ensure that Southwest passengers impacted by any future significant disruptions will receive not only flight rebooking, hotels, and food during the delay, but also timely compensation from Southwest due to the inconveni...

Southwest fined record $140M over 2022 holiday meltdown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

(The Hill) -- Southwest Airlines settled a federal lawsuit over its holiday meltdown last December that caused thousands of flight cancellations and delays for millions of travelers for $140 million, the airline announced Monday. The agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOT) marks the largest penalty levied against an airline for violation of consumer protection laws, the government said. Southwest agreed to pay $35 million in cash to the DOT over three years, while the majority of the settlement — about $90 million — will go toward compensation of future passengers to avoid similar issues. In a consent order announcing the settlement, the DOT said it found Southwest "violated the law on numerous occasions," including failing to help stranded travelers. Passengers could get $75 for delays under Southwest settlement Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Monday he hopes the lawsuit provides an incentive for airlines to prevent similar travel debacles in the futur...

Chicago bringing back 'Name a Snowplow' contest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

CHICAGO — The City of Chicago is bringing back its "You Can Name a Snowplow" contest after the inaugural event last year.The contest has two phases. First, the city will gather names from the submissions, which are limited to one per person and 50 characters in length.When the submission period closes on Jan. 12, or when there's 20,000 submissions, whichever comes first, staff members of the Department of Streets and Sanitation will choose 50 finalists.Six finalists will be chosen. Then beginning on Jan. 22, residents can vote for their favorite. Previous: Chicago snowplow naming contest concludes: Seven winning names unveiled Due to a near-tie for sixth place, seven winning names were chosen last year.Mrs. O’Leary’s PlowDa PlowSalter PaytonSears PlowerSleet Home ChicagoHoly Plow!Jean Baptiste Point du ShovelLast year, the officially named snowplows enjoyed a mini-parade where those who originally submitted the winning names had a photo opportunity.“We were thrilled with the Chica...

Missing 26-year-old man located

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

CHICAGO — Police have located a missing 26-year-old man who went missing on Saturday.Police did not provide details on where or when the man was located.

Recording reveals Granite Shoals committee proposed euthanasia of feral cats

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

GRANITE SHOALS, Texas (KXAN) — The Hill Country Humane Society announced Friday it had discontinued its partnership with the City of Granite Shoals after recordings from a November city committee meeting captured members advocating for mass euthanasia of feral cats living in the community.The Hill Country Humane Society shared with KXAN an audio recording of the City of Granite Shoals' Wildlife Advisory Committee meeting from Nov. 6. During the meeting, members discussed ongoing issues with feral cat colonies in the city, with one member saying "the formation of feral cat colonies should be discouraged and trap, neuter and release programs should not be considered a long-term, viable option for the maintenance of feral cat colonies."Committee members said Nov. 6 there are approximately four feral cat colonies in the city, with roughly 400 cats in total.During the hour-and-a-half-long discussion Nov. 6, committee members discussed several options for managing the feral cat population...

LBJ graduate Andrew Mukuba transferring from Clemson to Texas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:47:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A former Austin high school football standout is returning home.Andrew Mukuba, an LBJ graduate and three-year starter at defensive back for Clemson, announced his transfer to Texas via social media Monday. Scores, stats for the 2023 Texas high school football state championships Mukuba will reunite with his high school coach Jahmal Fenner who is now on the Texas staff as the director of high school relations. Mukuba was named the 2021 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and to the Freshman All-America team that year. He made 149 tackles with 20 pass breakups in 35 games with the Tigers.Mukuba's recruiting journey to Clemson was unique. Head coach Dabo Swinney called him the team's first "COVID commit" after Mukuba enrolled in January 2021 having not met the coaching staff in person due to COVID protocols.Mukuba is Texas' second transfer commitment during the current transfer portal window. Houston receiver/returner Matthew Golden announced his commitment to Texas on S...