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Prospect of tax fraud could be key to Bragg’s strategy in Trump indictment: experts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

WASHINGTON — Court documents in the case against Donald Trump, unveiled Tuesday after the former president’s historic court appearance, have so far provided little clear insight into the prosecution’s underlying legal strategy. A single phrase in the statement of facts — “for tax purposes” — may offer an important clue.Trump and his operatives designed a hush-money scheme to protect his 2016 campaign against claims of extramarital sexual encounters, the documents allege — a plan that was carried out by former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. Trump now faces 34 counts of falsifying business records “to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election,” reads the statement of facts. It’s that “criminal conduct” that elevates what would otherwise be misdemeanor charges to the level of a felony. But neither the documents nor Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg have...

Only ‘silent’ praying allowed in Quebec schools as province moves to ban prayer rooms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

Quebec’s education minister said Wednesday it will soon be forbidden to have prayer rooms in the province’s public schools.Bernard Drainville told reporters in Quebec City he has learned of at least two Montreal-area schools that have permitted students to gather for prayer.Drainville said he would issue the directive to all school service centres, adding that prayer rooms in schools are not compatible with Quebec’s policy of official secularism.The minister, however, isn’t prohibiting prayer altogether, saying that students who want to pray should do so “discreetly” and “silently.” “There are all kinds of ways to pray,” Drainville said. “I can’t ban prayer. I ban prayer in classrooms. Now, if someone wants to pray silently, that’s their basic right.”Drainville’s position had hardened since Tuesday, when he said schools could not reserve rooms for a single religion and had to ensure prayer spac...

States and companies compete for billions to make hydrogen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

As fossil fuel emissions continue warming Earth’s atmosphere, the Biden administration is turning to hydrogen as an energy source for vehicles, manufacturing and generating electricity.It’s offering $8 billion to entice the nation’s industries, engineers and planners to figure out how to produce and deliver clean hydrogen. States and businesses are making final pitches Friday as they compete for a new program that will create regional networks, or “hubs,” of hydrogen producers, consumers and infrastructure. The aim is to accelerate the availability and use of the colorless, odorless gas that already powers some vehicles and trains. How can enough hydrogen be produced to meet demand — in ways that don’t worsen global warming? And how can it be moved efficiently to where users can get it? Such questions will be tackled by the hubs. Nearly every state has joined at least one proposed hub and many are working together, hoping to reap the economic development and jobs they would br...

Dealer pleads guilty in death of actor Michael K. Williams

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A Brooklyn drug dealer pleaded guilty Wednesday to providing “The Wire” actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death.Irvin Cartagena’s plea to a charge of conspiring to distribute drugs was entered in Manhattan federal court. Sentencing was set by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams for Aug. 18, when Cartagena will face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and the possibility of as many as 40 years.The famed actor, who also starred in films and other TV series including “Boardwalk Empire,” overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment in September 2021. Authorities said he died hours after buying the heroin from Cartagena on a Brooklyn sidewalk in a deal that was recorded by a security camera.Cartagena, 39, signed a plea agreement with prosecutors stipulating that the mix of heroin and fentanyl he sold Williams resulted in his death. His lawyer, Sean Maher, declined comment.U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who is not related to the...

Idaho to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Starting next year, anyone in Idaho who provides gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth could end up a convicted felon, after the state’s Republican governor signed legislation banning the treatment late Tuesday.At least one organization has already promised to sue over the new law. The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho announced Wednesday it was looking for potential plaintiffs for the lawsuit and asked anyone impacted by the legislation to reach out. Idaho is one of at least 13 states to enact a law restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors, and nearly two dozen more are considering similar bills. Under Idaho’s new law, physicians will face up to 10 years in prison if they provide hormones, puberty blockers or other gender-affirming care to people under age 18. Opponents of the legislation say it will likely increase suicide rates among teens, but proponents say the bill is necessary to “protect children” from medical or s...

Report details ‘staggering’ church sex abuse in Maryland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — More than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore sexually abused over 600 children over the past 80 years, according to a state report released Wednesday that accused church officials of decades of cover-ups.The report paints a damning picture of the archdiocese, which is the oldest Roman Catholic diocese in the country and spans much of Maryland. Some parishes, schools and congregations had more than one abuser at the same time — including St. Mark Parish in Catonsville, which had 11 abusers living and working there between 1964 and 2004. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office issued the report during Holy Week — considered the most sacred time of year in Christianity ahead of Easter Sunday — and said the number of victims is likely far higher. “The staggering pervasiveness of the abuse itself underscores the culpability of the Church hierarchy,” the report said. “The sheer number of abusers and victims, the depravity of the ab...

Chicago police looking for missing 64-year-old woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are asking for help finding a missing 64-year-old woman last seen late Monday night by her husband before he went to bed.Zofia Perkowska is described as being about 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 142 pounds, with gray hair and green eyes. SWAT responds to Trump Tower for domestic-related incident According to information from the Chicago Police Department, her husband last saw her around 10 p.m. Monday in the 5200 block of West Oakdale Avenue before he went to bed.When he woke up around noon on Tuesday, she was gone, Chicago police said. Southwest is letting a friend fly free, but you better hurry Perkowska may have a two-wheel cart with her and can't walk a long distance due to medical conditions, police said. Police said she is frequently in the area of West Diversey Avenue and North Laramie Avenue.Anyone with information is asked to call Area Five SVU detectives at 312-746-6554.

SWAT responds to Trump Tower for domestic-related incident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

CHICAGO — SWAT officers were called to Trump Tower Wednesday for a domestic-related incident.Just after 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, CPD was dispatched to the building, located in the 400 block of North Wabash.Authorities called in SWAT after they believed the incident was domestic-related. Police have since concluded the incident. Firefighter dies after Gold Coast high-rise blaze; second in last 2 days No injuries were reported, but one individual was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.A WGN News crew at the scene said residents were not being allowed back into the building at this time.One individual was taken into custody.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

Sunny, cooler and clear with a mild weekend ahead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

Powerful NON-STORM winds have raked the area amid plunging temps Wednesday afternoon. Gusts have hit 54 mph at Midway and 46 mph at O'Hare. And temps will have tumbled from a 2023 high of 72-deg Wed morning at O'Hare to 49-deg by 6pm.The past two days have seen 1.05" of rain at O'Hare and 0.57" at Midway—but more than 2" of rain has fallen the past several days at Arlington Heights and Riverwoods (2.07").  And t-storm gusts overnight and Wed morning reached 79 mph in Lee County, IL at Compton—and 66 mph at northwest Indiana's Valparaiso.Chillier weather's ahead in coming days—with lows tonight dropping to the low and mid 30s and highs Thursday of 54—a reading several deg below the "normal" high of 55 for this time of year.Winds will turn in off Lake Michigan Friday and Saturday restricting Friday highs to the upper 40s and cooling shoreline areas into Eastern Sunday—but with less impact each day.  While inland highs return to the 60s Saturday, lakeshore air temps are likely to be cl...

Hyde Park girls boxing program looks to change perceptions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

CHICAGO -- Girls are fighting outdated stereotypes, poor self confidence and preconceived ideas with a right hook at Saint Thomas School in Hyde Park."I just want every girl to know how much strength and power she has inside herself," says Box United Founder, Mary Kate Vanecko.Vanecko founded Box United in 2019, the only all girls boxing program in Chicago."Anytime someone looks at a young girl boxing really well it can instantly transform or change perceptions about what you think is possible in terms of how strong girls are or what you think girls can do," says Vanecko. ‘Let’s show them’: Elmhurst mother starts sports program for special needs children More than 350 girls have found new inner strength through the ten week boxing program, finding their power and voice through a set of pink gloves.A two punch approach, teaching fundamentals, followed by a second hit of self love. The second half of every session is dedicated to building mental health and wellness, through confiden...