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Over $160 million in illegal narcotics offloaded by Coast Guard at Port Everglades

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

The Coast Guard made a big bust at Port Everglades.The crew of the USCGC Spencer (WMEC 905) offloaded approximately 4810 kilos of cocaine worth over $160.3 million in Port Everglades, Wednesday, the USCG said in a news release. Eight suspected smugglers were apprehended and face prosecution in federal court by the Department of Justice.https://twitter.com/USCGSoutheast/status/1633629333939003392?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EtweetThe USCG said the offloaded drugs were interdicted during three separate cases in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean by multiple crews, including: USCGC Spencer (WMEC 905)USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) with embarked USCG Law Enforcement Detachment 104Royal Netherlands Navy Ship HNLMS Holland (P840) with embarked USCG Law Enforcement Detachment 401 and a USCG Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron helicopter“Initially, a suspect vessel is detected and monitored by U.S. or allied military or law enforcement...

Third person dies after crowd crush at Rochester, New York, music venue

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

(CNN) — A third person has died as a result of the deadly crush of concertgoers at a Rochester, New York, event venue Sunday night, according to a news release from police obtained by CNN affiliate WHAM.The victim, identified as 35-year-old Aisha Stephens, was “the last remaining hospitalized victim” from the incident, the statement said, adding, “The investigation into the incident continues.”Officers initially responded to a report of shots fired around 11:05 p.m. inside the Main Street Armory, which was hosting a GloRilla concert, police said previously. Inside, officers found injured people but no evidence of a shooting.“The injuries appear to be as a result of a large crowd pushing towards the exits following accounts of individuals hearing what they believed to be gunshots,” Rochester police Lt. Nicholas Adams said previously.In addition to Stephens, Brandy Miller, 35, and Rhondesia Belton, 33, were also killed, per police. At lea...

‘Shocked’: EU Parliament removes Women’s Day video featuring anti-abortion rally

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

BRUSSELS — The European Parliament removed a video it posted online to mark International Women’s Day Wednesday that contained images of a rally against abortion.For a few seconds, the video showed an image of an anti-abortion protest in Croatia featuring a man holding a placard with the slogan: “Nine weeks from conception, it already sucks its thumb.” Directly overlaid on the footage of the pro-life rally was the phrase: “And this European Parliament is fighting hard for women’s rights.” Green Finnish MEP Alviina Alametsä wrote to POLITICO: “I am actually shocked. That is a such an embarrassing mistake from the European Parliament. Anti-abortion is definitely not the political line of this Parliament.”“There is no intention to support any of this content, and it was a mistake,” said a spokesperson for the European Parliament. Many European lawmakers have taken strong pro-choice stances on abortion. Malta is the only EU cou...

Where’s the evidence? Italy wants more before extraditing Qatargate-linked accountant

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

MILAN — Here we go again.Milan judges on Thursday postponed — yet again — a ruling on Belgium’s request to extradite Monica Bellini, an Italian accountant linked to the alleged bribery ring rocking the European Parliament.Their reason, according to Bellini’s lawyer: Belgium still hasn’t sent over enough evidence and they want to see more.“The judges reiterated their request for the Belgian authorities to send the relevant documents,” the lawyer, Franca De Candia, told POLITICO following the closed-door hearing, which only lasted a few minutes.It’s the second time Milan judges have kicked the can down the road, prompting raised eyebrows, sighs and disappointment among those eager for more intel about whether alleged bribes were laundered through Milan to Brussels. Bellini served as a Milan-based accountant for former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, the alleged ringleader of the Brussels bribery network. De Candia expressed her own frustration at the del...

New Hampshire Senate backs Medicaid expansion bill

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A unanimous New Hampshire Senate gave preliminary approval Thursday to continuing the state’s expanded Medicaid program and making it permanent.The 24-0 vote to send the bill to the Finance Committee highlighted the Legislature’s evolution on what initially was a tough sell when lawmakers first considered expanding health care coverage for low-income residents. Though it eventually passed with bipartisan support in 2014 and was reauthorized in subsequent years, Republicans were not always on board.Several senators acknowledged their changes of heart Thursday, saying they were wrong to believe the program would discourage participants from working. Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, described hearing from a woman who used the program temporarily when she was laid off during cancer treatment and a man who went on to start his own business after getting coverage for substance use disorder treatment.“This what I thought in the past: It was a program that would be di...

Amid Deluge, Some Sports Betting Ads May Be Breaking Rules

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

In addition to illegal bets that were accepted at all three in-person sportsbooks, investigators at the Mass. Gaming Commission are also reviewing advertisements from one of the mobile betting companies expected to launch Friday for potentially violating regulations.Three ads for FanDuel were flagged by Commissioner Eileen O’Brien for potential violations of advertising regulations and were reviewed by the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. One ad referenced iGaming, another suggested bettors could get “free bets,” and a third promoted the use of credit cards or prepaid cards to bet, which is illegal in Massachusetts. The Gaming Commission’s regulations also prohibit ads that imply sports betting is “free of risk.” “I want this brought up in front of us for some sort of action. To me, right out of the gates to have ‘free bets,’ iGaming, and implying you could use a credit or prepaid card, to me you have myriad of violations a...

T Checks Its First Item Off FTA’s Long To-Do List

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

One corrective action plan down, 37 to go. MBTA officials announced Thursday that the Federal Transit Administration last week approved the closeout of one of the 38 corrective action plans required to address the widespread problems investigators flagged, marking the first time that has happened since the FTA launched its safety management inspection last year. Federal overseers closed the book on the T’s failure to keep a Green Line “work train” used for power and track maintenance functional now that two such trains are back in action, said MBTA Chief of Quality, Compliance and Oversight Katie Choe. “Maintenance of way uses these trains to efficiently complete track and power repairs on the Green Line, and they have successfully put them back into maintenance service, so we are using these work trains now,” Choe said. Both trains are “at the end of their service life,” Choe said, and will be replaced by new vehicles that have already been...

Judge orders psychological evaluation for Francisco Torres, accused of terrorizing flight to Boston

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

Francisco Torres, the man accused of attempting to open a door on a plane from L.A. 45 minutes before it was scheduled to land in Boston, will undergo a psychological evaluation ahead of any further proceedings against his own wishes.U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith Dein ordered the psychological evaluation, and a commitment of a minimum of 30 days in an appropriate psychological facility, over Torres’ objection to any such evaluation. She also “strongly” urged him against his wishes to make a statement at his hearing in federal court in Boston’s Seaport Thursday afternoon.“The God, the Son and the Holy Spirit say that I should,” Torres said from his seat, adding that because such powerful forces wished it, that he must. But, after a quick conference with his attorney, he said that he would leave it up to Dein to make the decision for him to make a statement.“If it’s up to me then I will defer and not have you make a stateme...

Mike Pouncey fulfills dream, retires as a Miami Dolphin

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

Mike Pouncey has retired from the NFL, but the 33-year-old ex-Miami Dolphins center is still living the dream.Pouncey, who has lost 70 pounds in the last year and now weighs 228, signed a one-day contract with the Dolphins on Thursday for the purpose of retiring as a Dolphins player.“It means the world,” said Pouncey, a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his seven seasons (2011-17) with the Dolphins.“I always said I was going to be a Dolphin for life, and I meant that.”Pouncey, the Dolphins’ 2011 first-round pick whose career ended after the 2020 season, wore an aqua Dolphins alumni sports jacket while speaking Thursday. His son, Kayden, and Kayden’s mom, Chrissy, were there along with his twin brother, Maurkice.In the locker room, Pouncey was often smiling, upbeat and in good spirits.He was a go-to guy for the media because of his knowledge, talent, candor and sense of humor.He was a hole-opening beast as a center, leading the way for 1,000-yar...

Jets will release Braxton Berrios, agree to deal for Ravens safety Chuck Clark: source

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:07 GMT

As Aaron Rodgers watch rolls on Thursday, the Jets made a transaction to generate more salary cap space while also acquiring a much-needed veteran safety.The Jets will release wide receiver and returner Braxton Berrios after four seasons.Gang Green also agreed to send a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Ravens for safety Chuck Clark. Both transactions will be processed at the start of the new league year on March 15, according to sources.After having a career year in 2021, last season was anything but for Berrios. He struggled with drops, missed assignments and muffed returns.Berrios caught 18 passes for 145 yards and recorded two rushing touchdowns for the Jets last season. He also averaged 11.4 per punt return and 23.1 per kick return.In 2021, Berrios had a career-high 46 catches for 431 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged career-highs in punt (13.4) and kick returning (30.4) as he was a first-team All-Pro returner.Cutting Berrios will save the Jets $5 million in salary cap sp...