Boston DSA Is Moving to Expel One of its Success Stories. Here Are the Charges Against Mike Connolly, and His Defense.

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

Boston DSA Is Moving to Expel One of its Success Stories. Here Are the Charges Against Mike Connolly, and His Defense. In September 2016, building off the momentum of Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign, activists with the newly revitalized Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA, rallied behind one of their own and elected Mike Connolly to the Massachusetts statehouse, knocking off incumbent Tim Toomey Jr., a Bay State institution who’d been in the office since 1992.As a state representative, Connolly, known around the region as Big Mike, has become a leading voice in the fight over rent control, housing for all, and social housing, authoring landmark eviction and foreclosure moratorium legislation at the beginning of the pandemic. Connolly has been a DSA member for seven years; he helped found the local Our Revolution chapter after the first Sanders campaign, was Massachusetts co-chair of the 2020 campaign, and served as a Sanders delegate.Just last week, the Cape Cod chapter of DSA invited Connolly to address their group on his housing justice agenda. This week, however, newly elected leaders...

Gunman who killed 23 in racist attack at Texas Walmart sentenced to 90 life sentences, may still face death penalty

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

Gunman who killed 23 in racist attack at Texas Walmart sentenced to 90 life sentences, may still face death penalty EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Gunman who killed 23 in racist attack at Texas Walmart sentenced to 90 life sentences, may still face death penalty.Source

US forward Ricardo Pepi signs for PSV Eindhoven on 5-year deal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

US forward Ricardo Pepi signs for PSV Eindhoven on 5-year deal EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AP) — United States forward Ricardo Pepi signed for PSV Eindhoven on Friday, staying in the Dutch league where he impressed last season.PSV said the 20-year-old Pepi signed a five-year contract with the club which finished runner-up in the Eredivisie last season. The deal could keep Pepi in Eindhoven until the 2026 World Cup that the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico.Pepi is familiar with the league after scoring 12 times for Groningen, which was relegated, while on loan from German top-tier club Augsburg.“Ricardo possesses the qualities we look for in an attacker,” said PSV technical director Earnie Stewart, the former U.S. international. “He has proven to be a goal scorer in multiple positions, and he works extremely hard for it.”The transfer fee PSV will pay Augsburg was not stated. German media reported the fee was about 9 million euros ($10 million). Pepi moved to the Bundesliga in January 2022 after impressing with FC Dallas in Major League...

A gunman opens fire at a Lebanon mosque, killing one person and wounding several others

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

A gunman opens fire at a Lebanon mosque, killing one person and wounding several others BEIRUT (AP) — A gunman opened fire Friday at a mosque in eastern Lebanon, killing one person and wounding several others, the Lebanese army and state news agency said. The reason behind the shooting in the eastern town of Bar Elias was not immediately clear.The Lebanese army issued a statement saying that the armed man opened fire at a group of people as they were leaving the mosque, killing one of them. It added that as troops tried to detain the gunman, he opened fire at the force whose members fired back and wounded him. The army said he was being held in a hospital. The man killed was identified as Lebanese citizen Ali Shibli, a school teacher. The wounded are also Lebanese citizens, according to local media. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, a security official had said the victims were Syrians.Lebanon is home to more than 1 million Syrian refugees and anti-Syrian sentiments have been on the rise since Lebanon’s economic meltdown began in October 2019. The decline is ro...

No charges will be filed in altercation with Britney Spears, Victor Wembanyama, Las Vegas police say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

No charges will be filed in altercation with Britney Spears, Victor Wembanyama, Las Vegas police say LAS VEGAS (AP) — No charges will be filed following a brief investigation of the altercation involving pop star Britney Spears, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama and a member of the player’s security team, Las Vegas police said Friday.Spears said she was struck by a security guard as she tried to approach Wembanyama near a restaurant in a casino complex on Wednesday night. Wembanyama said a person — he later was told it was Spears — grabbed him from behind.Spears filed a police report, alleging battery. The Las Vegas Metro Police Department said its investigation is over and “no charges will be filed against the person involved.”___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

No charges will be filed in the altercation between Britney Spears and Victor Wembanyama’s security, police say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

No charges will be filed in the altercation between Britney Spears and Victor Wembanyama’s security, police say LAS VEGAS (AP) — No charges will be filed in the altercation between Britney Spears and Victor Wembanyama’s security, police say.Source

Anne Arundel Co. teacher charged with multiple sex crimes against two students

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

Anne Arundel Co. teacher charged with multiple sex crimes against two students An Anne Arundel County, Maryland, high school teacher was charged with multiple sex crimes including second-degree rape and sexual abuse of a minor against two students.Northeast High School teacher Karl Houston Walls, 27, was also charged with four counts of fourth-degree sex offense, three counts of second-degree assault, cause to ingest bodily fluids, prevented practice, sexual solicitation of a minor and dangerous weapon with intent to injure, police said.Authorities said that in May, two students alleged that Walls sent sexually explicit text messages along with photos and videos. Additionally, they accused the teacher of requesting child pornography and “allegedly had sexual contact” with them, police said.Some of these incidents happened on school property.In one situation outside school grounds, Walls held a knife against one of the students and asked if he should “use it,” police said.When Anne Arundel County Public Schools were notified of the alleg...

Olympic gold-medalist, former South Carolina assistant Nikki McCray-Penson dies at 51

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

Olympic gold-medalist, former South Carolina assistant Nikki McCray-Penson dies at 51 Two-time Olympic gold-medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51.McCray-Penson was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school on Friday confirmed her death. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. She joined Dawn Staley as an assistant coach at South Carolina from 2008-17. She was part of the Gamecocks’ first national championship in 2017.McCray-Penson won gold medals with the U.S. women’s basketball team at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. The 1996 team sparked the formation of the WNBA and ABL. She played in the ABL and won MVP honors in 1997 before heading over to the WNBA. McCray-Penson was a three-time All-Star in that league while playing for the Washington Mystics. She played eight seasons in the WNBA before retiring in 2006. She was an assistant coach at Western Kentucky for three seasons.McCray-Penson then became the head coach at Old Dominion for three seasons, going 24-6 in 2020. She spent one year at...

Beethoven and Brews, Crosscurrents, plus 7 things to do in Denver this weekend

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

Beethoven and Brews, Crosscurrents, plus 7 things to do in Denver this weekend DENVER (KDVR) -- This weekend is full of events in Denver celebrating arts, culture, reptiles, hot rods, beer and whiskey.It should be a warm weekend too, but you'll want to plan ahead for some afternoon storms on Friday and Saturday in true Denver fashion. Colorado farmers markets near you Here is a list of things to check out in the Denver metro this weekend. Some of them are free for all while others require tickets.Beethoven and Brews: Saturday at Denver Performing Arts ComplexThe Beethoven and Brews Fest will "bring together two beloved art forms, music and craft beer," according to president and CEO of the Colorado Symphony Mark Cantrell.There will be a pre-concert festival from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. featuring the Colorado Symphony Brass Quintet who will play while visitors experience a variety of hors d'oeuvres and handcrafted beers with fellow music and beer enthusiasts. Then, the Colorado Symphony will perform symphonies and overtures from Beethoven in the Boettcher Conc...

Dashcam footage captures police-involved shooting after dog charges at officer; 1 hospitalized after being bitten in Miami

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:36:30 GMT

Dashcam footage captures police-involved shooting after dog charges at officer; 1 hospitalized after being bitten in Miami Dashcam video showed the moment an officer fired several shots at two dogs after one charged at her. One woman was hospitalized after she was bitten by one of the dogs. Police arrived at the scene of the attack at Northwest Fourth Avenue near 65th Street, Friday morning. Neighbors heard the woman’s screams and rushed to help her. “And the guy behind her, he heard it too and they bit him,” said Emanuel Wooders, who saved the victim. Other neighbors saw the mauling. “They bit the hand, leg,” said a neighbor. The woman was bandaged up in an ambulance and was rushed to the hospital by fire rescue crews. Her condition is unknown. Meanwhile, officers attempted to corral the dogs as they waited for animal control.The dogs were then seen on dashcam footage charging at the officer who was forced to fire. 7News cameras captured evidence markers that were placed at the scene after shell-casings were found. It is unclear if any dog was struck.Neighbors were shake...