Pence says Trump and DeSantis do not understand broader importance of US military aid to Ukraine

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

Pence says Trump and DeSantis do not understand broader importance of US military aid to Ukraine SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis do not grasp the broader implications of their call for limited military assistance to Ukraine, former Vice President Mike Pence told The Associated Press in Iowa Wednesday. “With all due respect, I think the former president and the governor of Florida just don’t understand Americans’ national interest in supporting the Ukrainian military in repelling the Russian military in Ukraine,” Pence, who is competing with Trump and DeSantis for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said during the interview before a campaign event in Sioux City. Pence, who visited Ukraine last week, said, “Make no mistake, China is watching.”Pence, who has called for robust aid to the Ukrainian military, said the United States’ commitment to keeping Russia in check signals its willingness to also hold China’s military ambitions in check in Asia. Trump has said opposing Russia in its invas...

In search for accountability on mass shootings, Chicago lawyer charts new course: Suing gun manufacturers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

In search for accountability on mass shootings, Chicago lawyer charts new course: Suing gun manufacturers HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Eduardo Uvaldo, 69, was one of the seven people killed in the July 4, 2022 parade attack in Highland Park.  For his daughter, Nubia Hogan, it’s been a year of grieving, reflecting, and searching for solutions to the problem of mass shootings. “I think that they need to ban these weapons,” Hogan said. “They don’t need to be out there. Civilians don’t need it. These are weapons of war.”In the year since the parade attack, Congress has enacted little in the way of gun safety legislation. Last June, President Biden signed into law a series of minor changes to federal gun laws, the most significant aspect closes the so-called 'boyfriend loophole.'The 'Boyfriend Loophole' was a gap in American gun legislation that allowed abusive ex-romantic partners and stalkers with previous restraining orders or criminal convictions access to guns. Before Biden signed the bills, such individuals were prohibited from owning guns only if their victims were their spouse or cohabitant...

Michigan toddler missing since Sunday found dead: police

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

Michigan toddler missing since Sunday found dead: police LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) - After days of searching near freeways and wooded areas around Lansing, Michigan, police say they have found the body of 2-year-old Wynter Cole-Smith, who had been missing since Sunday.Cole-Smith was abducted Sunday night after her mother was stabbed and physically assaulted, police said earlier this week. A suspect, 26-year-old Rashad Maleek Trice of Detroit, was arraigned Wednesday on multiple charges, including assault with intent to murder and aggravated domestic violence. Trice, the woman's former boyfriend, has also been accused of kidnapping Cole-Smith. Authorities say Trice stole the woman's car, taking Cole-Smith with him, and drove from Lansing to metro Detroit. While Trice is in custody, police say the 2-year-old girl wasn't in the car when he was arrested. Missing 2-year-old Lansing girl found dead in Detroit During a Wednesday night press conference, Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee confirmed Cole-Smith's body was found near Coleman Young Ai...

APD: Latest average 911 hold time was roughly 3 minutes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

APD: Latest average 911 hold time was roughly 3 minutes AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department said the average hold time from June 25 though July 1 was 2 minutes and 53 seconds. APD also said call-takers answered 69.18% of calls in 15 seconds or less. ‘Felt like I was abandoned’: Family on hold with 911 after crash, calls ISD police instead APD 911 operator vacancies.The 911 call center continues to face staffing struggles. According to APD, there are currently 47 vacancies out of 104 operator positions.911 operators answer incoming 911 calls directly, versus dispatchers who communicate directly with police officers. In October, KXAN reported the call center had 49 vacancies. PREVIOUS: Austin Police Department dispatchers, 911 call-takers to get raises Last year, the city adjusted pay rates for Austin's emergency call center employees, so that they’d be in the top 25% of what those positions pay in other cities.There is also an $1,800 annual stipend for employees with a TCOLE Telecommunicator ...

Grant given to Dickey Museum to rebuild home of civil rights advocate a year after devastating fire

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

Grant given to Dickey Museum to rebuild home of civil rights advocate a year after devastating fire TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) -- Nearly a year to the date after a fire destroyed a historic landmark in Taylor, Texas, the organization in charge of it announced that it received a grant to help rebuild. The home of civil rights advocate Dr. James Lee Dickey burned down on July 10 last year. Dickey was a physician and civil rights advocate in Taylor. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. Historic home of civil rights advocate burns down in Taylor The Dickey Museum & Multipurpose Center announced Wednesday that the St. David's Foundation awarded a grant of $500,000 to help with the construction of a replica of Dickey's former home. According to a release from the museum, Preservation Texas, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to supporting historic preservation activities statewide, was invited by the foundation to serve as the fiscal sponsor for the grant award. Preservation Texas is working to secure new sources of funding while overseeing d...

Pablo López throws complete game shutout in dominant effort over Royals

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

Pablo López throws complete game shutout in dominant effort over Royals Twins pitchers began the day first in the majors in earned-run average, batting average against, WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) and quality starts, among other statistical categories.Starter Pablo López helped bolster those numbers with his best start as a Twin on Wednesday. López tossed a complete-game shutout, and he and Joe Ryan became the first Twins teammates to do so since 2011.López was masterful, collecting a career-high 12 strikeouts in the Twins’ 5-0 win over the Royals in the series finale at Target Field. It’s the first time he’s gone all nine in his six-year career.A seven-pitch eighth inning kept López’s hopes alive of completing the achievement and also marked the closest the Royals came to breaking the shutout. Kyle Isbel doubled with two outs, but Max Kepler’s diving catch robbed Matt Duffy of a hit that would have scored Isbel.All four hits López gave up came with a pair of outs in the inning — one each in the first three innings — and López never allowe...

Meters removed at Troy apartment complex after being damaged by falling bricks

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

Meters removed at Troy apartment complex after being damaged by falling bricks TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- National Grid crews removed 12 meters that were damaged during repair work at the Harbour Point Gardens apartment complex in Troy on Tuesday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! A brick wall came down on the meters while crews were removing a façade, which caused a small power outage. National Grid said the property owners will need to have an electrician make repairs before utility can safely restore service.Crews have spent the past few weeks removing loose bricks after city officials evacuated more than 100 tenants over concerns about the falling bricks.

A year after leg fracture, Nuggets guard Collin Gillespie is healthy and ready to go

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

A year after leg fracture, Nuggets guard Collin Gillespie is healthy and ready to go Every minute Collin Gillespie was on the practice court inside Ball Arena felt like a sigh of relief.The Nuggets guard hasn’t played in a live basketball game in a year due to a leg fracture, so the moments spent sprinting down the floor with Jamal Murray, guarding second-round pick Jalen Pickett and working on his 3-point stroke during summer league practices were a blessing.Nothing was guaranteed for Gillespie when Denver announced last July that he was out indefinitely after breaking his leg in a pickup game at his alma mater, Villanova. He was an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract and previously tore his MCL near the end of the Wildcats’ 2021 season. Yet the Nuggets kept Gillespie around, and now he is ready to finally suit up for Denver at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.“When I got injured, I was like ‘Man, this is not good,’” Gillespie said. “But it just tells you about the organization (and) what kind of people they are. It’s a special organization. I was extremely ...

Protestors call for deputies' firing after footage of rough arrest released by L.A. County Sheriff’s Department 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

Protestors call for deputies' firing after footage of rough arrest released by L.A. County Sheriff’s Department  A community was protesting Wednesday after body-worn camera footage of a use of force incident in Lancaster was released earlier this week by officials at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.  The hard-to-watch incident has triggered anger and condemnation. Demonstrators at the protest claim LASD deputies routinely mishandle minorities and that the deputies involved in this incident need to be fired.  The confrontation happened on June 24 when deputies from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station responded to the parking lot of a WinCo Foods store, located at 740 W. Ave. K 4, on reports of an “in-progress robbery.”   Footage from the body-worn cameras shows two deputies confronting a man accused of shoplifting from a WinCo Foods store in Lancaster. While deputies detained the man on the ground, his alleged accomplice can be seen filming with her cellphone.  A deputy approaches her and takes her down as the woman yells in protest, saying she did nothing. “Sto...

4 robbery suspects arrested after high-speed pursuit in San Bernardino County

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:31:45 GMT

4 robbery suspects arrested after high-speed pursuit in San Bernardino County Four robbery suspects were arrested after a high-speed pursuit in San Bernardino County on Wednesday.The suspects' vehicle, a white Tesla, was spotted on the 210 freeway and was wanted in connection to several robberies throughout Riverside, according to California Highway Patrol.When officers attempted to pull the suspects over, they refused to stop and sped off instead, leading CHP on a high-speed pursuit.During the chase, the suspects crashed into another vehicle, causing severe damage to the suspect vehicle’s front hood while ending the pursuit.Photos from the scene show the driver’s side hood, side mirrors and front tires were destroyed from the collision.Four robbery suspects in a Tesla were arrested after a high-speed pursuit in San Bernardino County on July 5, 2023. (California Highway Patrol)Four robbery suspects in a Tesla were arrested after a high-speed pursuit in San Bernardino County on July 5, 2023. (California Highway Patrol)Four robbery suspects in a Tesla were arre...