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Family of US couple kidnapped in Haiti plea for release

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Nikese Toussaint was at church, so she didn’t see the text message from her sister.All she knew at that point was that their brother and his wife, who live in the U.S., had landed safely in Haiti to visit ailing relatives and prepare for Rara, a colorful and boisterous festival born out of the dark days of slavery.It wasn’t until Toussaint got home and her sister followed up the unread text with a phone call that she learned her warnings had materialized: their brother, an accountant; his wife, a social worker; and another person were snatched off a public bus amid a surge in gang-related kidnappings.Toussaint took a deep breath. Not again, she thought.Seventeen years earlier, gangs had kidnapped two of her cousins in the capital of Port-au-Prince. They were eventually released but remain traumatized.This time, the gang that kidnapped her brother, wife and another person is demanding $200,000 — each.“How are we ever going to come up with that money?” Tou...

Family of girl killed by police during Kansas standoff sues

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — The family of a toddler who was fatally shot by a police officer during a standoff last year between her father and law enforcement has filed a federal lawsuit over her death.Kansas authorities have said that 2-year-old Clesslyn Crawford was shot by a Joplin, Missouri, police officer during a confrontation March 26, 2022, in Baxter Springs. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation had said Crawford’s 37-year-old father, Eli Crawford, shot and killed the girl’s mother, 27-year-old Taylor Dawn Shutte, and fired at officers for more than three hours before fatally shooting himself.The Wichita Eagle reports that the girl’s family sued the cities of Baxter Springs and Joplin along with Cherokee County and the unnamed officer who fired the shot that killed the toddler. The lawsuit said they were responsible for the girl’s death. Those cities and Cherokee County didn’t immediately respond to calls from the newspaper seeking comment on the...

In Trump probe, key witness as grand jury is back at work

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A pivotal figure in the hush money payment investigation of Donald Trump was seen Monday leaving the Manhattan building where a grand jury has been meeting for months, though there was still no word on when the panel might vote on a possible indictment of the former president.David Pecker, a longtime Trump friend and the former chief executive of the parent company of the National Enquirer, was also seen weeks ago at the same building, suggesting that his testimony could be key as prosecutors continue to push toward potential criminal charges of the ex-president.This was the first time the panel was hearing testimony in the Trump probe since last Monday, when a witness favorable to the ex-president appeared before the grand jury. The jurors did not meet at all on Wednesday, one of the days when they ordinarily convene, and heard other matters on Thursday.The grand jury is now back on Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anon...

Two final bodies pulled from rubble after Old Montreal fire, five bodies identified

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

MONTREAL — The bodies of the final two missing victims of a fire in Old Montreal were pulled from the rubble on Monday, as investigators shifted their attention to uncovering the causes of the deadly blaze.The total number of people killed in the March 16 fire sits at seven, and fire operations chief Martin Guilbault said there was no reason to believe anyone else was inside the charred building.“At this stage of the investigation, we can reaffirm that, apart from the seven people who were initially missing, we have no information indicating that additional victims are in the rubble,” he told reporter at the scene. “Our effort will now focus on finding the cause of the fire.”Montreal police Insp. David Shane on Monday identified four victims as An Wu, 31; Dania Zafar, 31; Saniya Khan, 31; and Nathan Sears, 35. Another victim — 76-year-old photographer Camille Maheux — was identified last week. The remains of the final two victims would be sent to a lab to be ...

Saskatchewan judge grants bail to sisters who say they were wrongfully convicted

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

YORKTON, Sask. — Two sisters who have spent nearly 30 years in prison for what they say are wrongful murder convictions hugged tightly after a Saskatchewan judge granted them bail. “I always knew in my heart we’d be free,” Odelia Quewezance, 51, said outside Yorkton Court of King’s Bench on Monday. Quewezance and her sister, Nerissa, 48, were convicted of second-degree murder in the 1993 stabbing death of 70-year-old farmer Anthony Dolff near Kamsack, Sask.The federal Justice Department started a review of their convictions last year, saying there may be a reasonable basis to conclude there was a miscarriage of justice.Defence lawyers asked for the Indigenous sisters to get a conditional release while the federal review continues.Justice Donald Layh granted their request, saying the Quewezance sisters raised sufficient “evidentiary matters that make their application of appropriate strength to support their release.”“I wish you the best on your ne...

Chicago firefighter accused of running prostitution business inside his condo

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

CHICAGO —  A Chicago firefighter is charged after allegedly promoting a prostitution business from his home on the city's Northwest Side.  Brendan Kennedy-Gasior, 37, allegedly ran an erotic massage business where he allowed sexual acts to be performed in exchange for money from May 2020 to August 2020, according to court documents obtained by WGN News. SEE ALSO | 4 CPD officers stripped of police powers amid investigation into gun seizures, source saysProsecutors allege that Kennedy-Gasior advised the female victim to get a burner phone to post ads on an adult website. Upon inquiries, Kennedy-Gasior would determine the price for services. Kennedy-Gasior would allegedly receive payments through cash or Zelle before the sex act was performed, court documents detailed.Witnesses who spoke to investigators admitted to going to the condo several times for erotic massage services. Investigators allegedly uncovered digital receipts, renewal of services and emails about setting up...

'How is Ramadan for Muslim inmates?:' Religious leader visits inmates during holy month

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — As Muslims around the world embrace the spiritual month of Ramadan, a North-suburban religious leader makes it a point to share grace with those spending the special time of year away from loved ones. “Mosques across the world are packed in these blessed nights. The community is standing shoulder to shoulder in prayer, breaking their fasts together, there is a lot of joy. But the Muslim community often forgets to ask, 'How is Ramadan for Muslim Inmates?'" Imām Azfar Uddin said.Imām Uddin, a religious guide to the Islamic Foundation North community in Libertyville, wants to provide Muslim inmates the community that they are often stripped of when they enter the system.He visits the Lake County Jail once a month to provide a Friday sermon to Muslim inmates. Once the pandemic hit, Imām Uddin was limited to only speaking to them through a glass wall — a barrier that turned to a bridge.“When I was first told about our new arrangements, I was upset. But I realized I was a...

WGN Poll: Vallas leading Johnson in Chicago Mayoral runoff election

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

CHICAGO (WGN) -- With eight days left before Chicago voters choose a new mayor, new WGN-TV/Emerson College/The Hill poll shows Paul Vallas holding a five-point lead over Brandon Johnson, 46% to 41%.Paul Vallas vs. Brandon JohnsonThe exclusive poll also found that 13% of likely voters are still undecided.   When undecided voters are asked which candidate they lean toward, and the vote is accounted for, Vallas’ lead increases to six points, 53% to 47%.    Your Local Election Headquarters To make up ground, Johnson would likely need a surge of younger voters casting their ballots before polls close on April 4.    Johnson, 47, a Cook County Commissioner and Chicago Teachers Union activist, is ahead among voters 49 and younger. He is backed by 58.2% of likely voters between the ages of 18 and 34, and 45.7% of voters 35 to 49-years-old.   But data from the Chicago Board of Elections shows that just over 18% of ballots cast on February 28 were cast by voters 18-3...

Cubs make a trade ahead of Opening Day

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

CHICAGO - One of the players the Cubs acquired ahead of the trade deadline in 2022 won't be around for the start of the 2023 season. That's because the club has made a trade ahead of Opening Day.The Cubs announce that they’ve traded infielder Zach McKinstry to the Tigers for pitcher Carlos Guzman, who was primarily a starter in the minors in 2022. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/hWLxZPmyNR— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) March 27, 2023Infielder Zach McKinstry is headed to the Tigers in exchange for minor league pitcher Carlos Guzman, who spent the entire 2022 season in the Detroit farm system. This deal comes as the Cubs are getting ready for their season opener against the Brewers on Thursday at Wrigley Field.McKinstry joined the Cubs in a trade with the Dodgers on June 30, 2022 for relief pitcher Chris Martin, who was added to help Los Angeles in the playoffs. In 47 games the rest of the season, the infielder played second base, third base, and shortstop, posting a slash line of .206...

Nashville shooting marks 13th US school shooting in 2023

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:20:53 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A deadly shooting at a small private Christian school in Nashville Monday morning marks the 13th school shooting in the U.S. so far in 2023. Three children and three adults were killed in the incident at The Covenant School in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville. Police said a 28-year-old woman shot all six before responding officers fatally shot her.According to metrics tracked by Education Week, more victims died in Monday’s school shooting in Nashville than any of the 13 school shootings that have happened in the U.S. this year. This latest tragedy comes less than a week after a school shooting in Colorado. On March 22, two school administrators were injured in a shooting at East High School in Denver. The suspect in that case, a 17-year-old, was being searched as he entered the school when he got hold of a weapon and began firing. He was later found by a SWAT team searching for the teen. 3 children, 3 adults killed by female shooter at Nashville school, ...