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Charles Manson cult follower Leslie Van Houten likely close to freedom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s governor announced Friday that he won’t ask the state Supreme Court to block parole for Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten, paving the way for her release after serving 53 years in prison for two infamous murders.In a brief statement, the governor’s office said it was unlikely that the state’s high court would consider an appeal of a lower court ruling that Van Houten should be released.Gov. Gavin Newsom is disappointed, the statement said.“More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal killings, the victims’ families still feel the impact,” the statement said.Van Houten, now in her 70s, is serving a life sentence for helping Manson and other followers in the 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary.Van Houten could be freed in about two weeks after the parole board reviews her record and processes paperwork for her release from the California Institution for Women in Corona, her attorney ...

Man on scooter shoots randomly in NYC, police say, killing an 86-year-old and wounding 2 others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — An 86-year-old New York City man was fatally shot and at least two others were seriously wounded by a man on a scooter who police say was shooting randomly at cars and pedestrians in Queens on Saturday.A person of interest was in custody, the New York Police Department said.The shootings began just before 11:30 a.m., when the 86-year-old was shot multiple times in the Richmond Hill area. He later died at a hospital.About a mile away and less than 10 minutes later, a 63-year-old man was shot in the shoulder and taken to a nearby hospital, where police said he was listed in serious but stable condition.A few minutes later, the shooter fired at a 61-year-old man, hitting him in the torso. He was in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.Police said there was another shooting nearby, but could not say if it was connected to the earlier shootings.With a person in custody, a police spokesperson said there was no immediate threat to the public.The spokesperso...

SIU investigating death of woman during gun call in Burlington

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

Ontario’s police watchdog says a 24-year-old woman has died after falling from a balcony in an apartment where police were responding to a call about a gun.The Special Investigations Unit says Halton Regional Police were called around 10 p.m. Friday evening about reports of a gun at an apartment on Ghent Avenue in Burlington.The agency says that after police knocked on the apartment door with no response, they received another call about a woman falling from a balcony.It says officers administered CPR to the woman while they waited for paramedics to arrive.The SIU says a 29-year-old man who was also in the apartment fell from the balcony as well, and is in critical condition.The SIU is automatically called in to investigate incidents involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.

Protests grow as Israel’s far-right government advances with its judicial overhaul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s anti-government protest movement gained new momentum on Saturday night as tens of thousands of people spilled into the streets of cities across the country to oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system.The grassroots movement has staged protests for over six months since Netanyahu’s government unveiled the overhaul plan. But in recent weeks, the protests had shown signs of weakening.Plans by the government to push forward with the overhaul next week in parliament, coupled with the firing of Tel Aviv’s police chief, who was accused of being too sympathetic to the protesters, appeared to breathe new life into Saturday’s demonstrations.Some 150,000 people thronged central Tel Aviv, with large rallies in Jerusalem and other major cities.Netanyahu’s allies have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at weakening what they say are th...

Megan Rapinoe says she’ll retire after the NWSL season and her 4th World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe is ready to retire after an illustrious career in which she won an Olympic gold medal, two World Cups and never shied away from using her platform to spotlight social issues.Rapinoe, 38, announced Saturday her fourth World Cup at the end of the month will be her last and she’ll officially retire with the OL Reign at the end of the National Women’s Soccer League season.She made the announcement on Twitter, saying she “never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape & change my life forever.”“It is with a deep sense of peace & gratitude that I have decided this will be my final season playing this beautiful game,” Rapinoe said.Rapinoe and the U.S. team are aiming for a third consecutive title when the Women’s World Cup kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. The U.S. plays Wales in a final tune-up match on Sunday in San Jose, California, before leaving for the World Cup.“I’ve been able ...

Man critically injured in east end stabbing; 1 man in custody

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

A man has suffered critical injuries after being stabbed in the city’s east end. Police were called to the area of Victoria Park and Van Horne Avenues just before 2 p.m. Saturday for reports someone had been stabbed in the plaza. When they arrived they found a man suffering from serious stab wounds. He was taken to a nearby trauma centre in life-threatening condition. Police say one man is in custody but have not released any further about the suspect.

Official says Carowinds coaster may have developed crack a week before it was noticed; theme park will not be fined

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WJZY) – Carowinds will not be fined after a crack was discovered in one of the North Carolina theme park's roller coasters, according to North Carolina Department of Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson.The ride, Fury 325, was shut down after a viral video showed the ride operating despite a huge crack in one of its support beams.The ride remains closed while the park awaits a new support column to be delivered next week.The North Carolina Department of Labor, meanwhile, has maintained a presence at Carowinds for days after seeing the video.Dobson said he's had an inspector at the park most of the week. Initially, the state agreed with the assessment from Carowinds that the crack started along the weld line of the support column."There's still an investigation going on," he added. "But best we can tell there was a crack in the weld that over perhaps a week or two-week period become severed."Speaking with the Associated Press, Dobson said it's possible the cracks were dev...

Six killed when small plane crashes, bursts into flames in field near Southern California airport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

MURRIETA, Calif. (AP) — Six people were killed when a small plane crashed and burst into flames in a field near a Southern California airport before dawn Saturday, authorities said. The crash of the Cessna C550 business jet occurred around 4:15 a.m. in Murrieta, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.It took firefighters more than an hour to extinguish the flames, which had engulfed the plane and charred about an acre of vegetation just north of French Valley Airport, said the Riverside County Fire Department. All six people on board died at the scene, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. The victims were not immediately identified. The plane had departed from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, the FAA said. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. It was the second fatal crash this week at the small county-owned airport in Murrieta, home to about 112,0...

Texas couple arrested after child makes outcry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) -- A Texas couple was arrested earlier this week after investigators said they allegedly sent sexual messages to a young family member that made her uncomfortable.Byron Hayes, 40, has been charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor and Indecency With a Child by Sexual Contact. Samantha Hayes, 33, has been charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor and Failure to Report. Both are from Stanton, Texas.According to court documents, on June 22, a Midland County Sheriff's Office investigator received a call from Greenwood ISD about a possible sexual assault after a concerned parent said she found text messages between her child and another child known by the pseudonym XX. In those text messages, XX described messages she'd received from Byron about his fantasy to have a "threesome" with the child and Samantha.In additional text messages sent from XX, she accused Byron of touching her inappropriately, buying her "thong" bikinis, stealing her panties, and...

Mississippi Kite is related to eagles, a famous invention, and hawks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:08 GMT

HOMER, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Louisiana has its share of cool, interesting birds, and even some mosquitos large enough to seem like small birds. But one factor some birders appreciate is how easy birds are to see in the Bayou state. It’s exciting to find herons and egrets along the edges of ponds and lakes because you don’t have to be an expert to find such large species, and the same goes for the little guys that come to your feeder.Adult Mississippi Kite feeds a cicada to its fledgling. Image by Vincent Fouchi, Jr. Observability counts a lot to everyday birders, and newer birders are often amazed when they see a rare glimpse of hawks or other raptors. Why? It’s because most raptors conceal themselves so well, even though they’re actually abundant throughout the state.But one exception when it comes to concealment is the Mississippi Kite, also known as Ictinia mississippiensis.Kites are most closely related to hawks and eagles, but the current number of 23 kite species around the world ...