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Shippers warned to steer clear of Iranian waters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Western-backed maritime forces in the Middle East warned shippers traveling through the strategic Strait of Hormuz to stay as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible to avoid being seized, a stark advisory amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S.A similar warning went out to shippers earlier this year ahead of Iran seizing two tankers traveling near the strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of the world’s oil passes.While Iran and the U.S. now near an apparent deal that would see billions of Iranian assets held in South Korea unfrozen in exchange for the release of five Iranian-Americans detained in Tehran, the warning issued this weekend shows that the tensions remain high at sea.Already, the U.S. is exploring plans to put armed troops on commercial ships in the strait to deter Iran amid a buildup of troops, ships and aircraft in the region.U.S. Navy Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, a spokesman for the Mideas...

6 new pitchers — including Jake Eder and Ky Bush — settling into minor-league locations after being traded to the Chicago White Sox

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

Jake Eder was heading out to shag fly balls when he heard his name on television.“I turned around and saw that and then got a bunch of calls from the Marlins, from the White Sox, telling me what was going on,” Eder said during a video conference Wednesday.The left-handed minor-league pitcher learned he had been traded from the Miami Marlins organization to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Jake Burger on Aug. 1.“The immediate reaction, I was just kind of fired up to join a new team and just pick up where I left off there,” Eder said.Eder was one of six pitchers the Sox acquired in moves by the Aug. 1 trade deadline. He joined right-hander Nick Nastrini and lefty Ky Bush at Double-A Birmingham.Nastrini, right-hander Jordan Leasure and veteran outfielder Trayce Thompson were acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitchers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly on July 28. Leasure is at Triple-A Charlotte.Bush and switch-hitting catcher Edgar Quero were the r...

‘Barbie’ has legs: Greta Gerwig’s film tops box office again and gives industry a midsummer surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Barbie” has legs. Director Greta Gerwig ‘s film phenomenon remained a runaway No. 1 at the box office in its fourth week, bringing in $33.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.The Margot Robbie-led and produced film from Warner Bros., still in 4,137 theaters, refused to drop off as most box-office toppers have this year, surpassing $500 million in North America overall a week after it crossed the $1 billion mark globally — a record for a female director.The second half of the “Barbenheimer” duo, “Oppenheimer,” returned to the No. 2 spot in its own fourth week after a week at No. 3 overall. The Christopher Nolan-directed film from Universal Pictures brought in $18.8 million from 3,761 locations for an overall domestic total of $264.3 million.The top pair had thin competition. The week’s only major wide release, Universal’s “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” finished fifth with a $6.5 million opening weekend.“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:...

2 Nigerian men extradited to US to face sexual extortion charges after death of Michigan teenager

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Two Nigerian men have been extradited to the U.S. after they were indicted for allegedly sexually extorting teenage boys and young men in Michigan and across the country, a prosecutor said Sunday. Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, of Lagos, Nigeria, are due to be arraigned Monday at the federal courthouse in Grand Rapids, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said. They are accused of running an international sextortion ring in which they posed as a woman and which resulted in the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Marquette, in the Upper Peninsula, from a self-inflicted gunshot on March 25, 2022.The two men each face single counts of conspiracy to sexually exploit minors, conspiracy to distribute child pornography and conspiracy to commit stalking through the internet. Samuel Ogoshi also faces single charges of sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death. The men were indicted in May.Sexu...

Police questioned over legality of Kansas newspaper raid in which computers, phones seized

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

MARION, Kan. (AP) — A small central Kansas police department is facing a firestorm of criticism after it raided the offices of a local newspaper and the home of its publisher and owner — a move deemed by several press freedom watchdogs as a blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution’s protection of a free press. The Marion County Record said in its own published reports that police raided the newspaper’s office on Friday, seizing the newspaper’s computers, phones and file server and the personal cellphones of staff, based on a search warrant. One Record reporter said one of her fingers was injured when Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody wrested her cellphone out of her hand, according to the report.Police simultaneously raided the home of Eric Meyer, the newspaper’s publisher and co-owner, seizing computers, his cellphone and the home’s internet router, Meyer said. Meyer’s 98-year-old mother — Record co-owner Joan Meyer who lives in the home with her son — collapsed and die...

Larry Snelling named CPD Superintendent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson has selected Larry Snelling to be Chicago's next top cop.After the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) confirmed its three candidates to be the Chicago Police Department's next superintendent back on July 13, a 30-day clock started ticking for Johnson, who had until Sunday to make the appointment.Here's some background information on the man in charge of helping revitalize one of the country's largest police forces. MORE COVERAGE: Community leaders hope Chicago’s next top cop is within CPD ranks Before his appointment, Snelling was operating as CPD's Deputy Chief of Counterterrorism, a position he was promoted to back in Oct. 2022 after the surprise resignation of Ernest Cato III.As deputy chief of counterterrorism, Snelling oversaw CPD's gang and narcotics units, as well as the department's SWAT teams.Snelling was also the architect behind CPD's use-of-force policy, implemented as a part of the consent decree under the...

Shots fired during party in Elgin leaves 3 wounded

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

ELGIN, Ill. — Three people were shot during a party early Sunday morning in Elgin, according to police.The shooting happened around 1:20 a.m. in the 1300 block of Inverness Drive. Person shot by bicyclist in Highland Park: Police According to the Elgin Police Department, shots were fired during a fight and three people, a boy and two men, were injured.All three of them were taken to local hospitals with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.The incident is still under investigation.Anyone with information is asked to reach out to police.Additional information hasn't been released at this time.

Chicago police investigate string of early-morning robberies on North, Northwest sides 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are offering a warning to residents after a string of early-morning armed robberies on the north and northwest sides of the city on Sunday.According to police, eight armed robberies took place between 4:19 a.m. and 6:05 a.m. In each of the incidents, a group of three to six individuals, armed with multiple firearms, robbed victims of their personal belongings. Man hospitalized after attempted carjacking, shooting in Loop Authorities say in most of the robberies, the offenders ordered the victims to provide passwords to their cell phones.Officers say the group consisted of men between the ages of 17 and 25 years of age and all were wearing dark-colored clothing and black ski masks at the time of the robberies.According to police, in each of the incidents, the group arrived at the location in a stolen vehicle. 5-year-old pedestrian hospitalized after Irving Park car crash, driver in custody Police provided the following timeline of the robberies which unfo...

Man found with gunshot wound in Roseland dies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has died after he was found shot in Roseland on Sunday morning, according to Chicago police.Offers say the man, who is believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, was found at around 11:46 a.m. in the 100 block of West 109th Place. Chicago police investigate string of early-morning robberies on North, Northwest sides The victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition where he was later pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the shooting, police say.Officers have not provided details on what led to the shooting and say and say nobody is currently in custody in connection to the homicide. Video shows postal carrier robbed at gunpoint on West Side Chicago police say Area Two detectives are now working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Travis County ESD No. 2 receives national accreditation for emergency training

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:50:39 GMT

Travis County, Texas (KXAN) — On Friday, Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 announced it had received a nationally recognized accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs for its EMS paramedic training program.ESD No. 2 said the accreditation was earned by meeting strict standards endorsed by leading organizations.“The men and women of Travis County ESD No. 2 provide the highest level of care to the community and this recognition is a testament to that,” Nick Perkins, Fire Chief for Travis County ESD No. 2, said. “It is critical for a community to have reliable, efficient and affordable emergency medical services. As the Pflugerville area continues to grow, we commit to continue to raise the bar and deliver the best quality care to the residents we serve.”The Emergency Services District also recently received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for satisfying nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presenta...