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French opposition lawmakers reject the government’s key immigration bill without debating it

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French opposition lawmakers on Monday rejected an immigration bill without debating it, in a major blow to President Emmanuel Macron ’s government, which had championed the proposed law as one of its flagship measures. The government has yet to decide whether to keep pushing for the adoption of the bill intended to strengthen the country’s ability to expel foreigners considered undesirable or withdraw it.Members of all oppositions groups on the left and on the right voted a motion providing that the measure be rejected ahead of any debate at the National Assembly. The motion was adopted by 270 votes against 265. Macron’s centrist government doesn’t have a majority at parliament. The government can now choose to send the text to the Senate for it to continue its difficult legislative journey. It can also ask a commission composed of seven senators and seven lawmakers from the National Assembly to find a compromise on the bill that would still require approval from both h...

Man filmed wielding folding chair in riverfront brawl pleads guilty to misdemeanor

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A man filmed swinging a folding chair during an Alabama riverfront brawl this summer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge Monday. The guilty plea resolved the last of the charges brought in connection with the brawl. The man was ordered to perform community service and given a suspended sentence.The August riverfront melee in Montgomery drew national attention after bystanders filmed white boaters hitting a Black riverboat co-captain and then Black crew members and bystanders rushing to his defense. Video of the fight was shared widely online, sparking countless memes and parodies. Many of those memes focused on the folding chair swung by the Black man who pleaded guilty Monday. Montgomery police said the brawl began when the white boaters refused to move their pontoon boat so the city-owned Harriott II riverboat could dock in its designated space. The boat’s co-captain said he was attacked after moving the pontoon boat a few feet to make...

Kensington Palace releases video showing Princess of Wales and her kids packing gift bags for needy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales and her three children are shown packing gift bags for kids in need this holiday season in a new video highlighting the work of charities supporting young families during Britain’s cost-of-living crisis.Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5, run among shelves of donations selecting toys, clothes and books to fill bags for children their own age in the video released Monday by Kensington Palace. The video was filmed last month at The Baby Bank in Maidenhead, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the family’s home in Windsor, west of London.The use of food banks and so-called baby banks, which collect clothes, supplies and furniture for children in need, has grown in recent years as high inflation and government spending cuts have widened the gap between rich and poor in Britain.A report released Sunday by the Centre for Social Justice concluded that the gulf between mainstream society and those stuck in poverty would soon rival...

SmileDirectClub shuts down months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — SmileDirectClub is shutting down — just months after the struggling teeth-straightening company filed for bankruptcy protection. In a Friday announcement, SmileDirectClub said it had made an “incredibly difficult decision to wind down its global operations, effective immediately.”That leaves existing customers in limbo. SmileDirectClub’s aligner treatment through its telehealth platform is no longer available, the Nashville, Tennessee, company said while urging consumers to consult their local dentist for further treatment. Customer care support for the company has also ceased.Customer orders that haven’t shipped yet have been cancelled and “Lifetime Smile Guarantee” no longer exists, the company said. SmileDirectClub apologized for the inconvenience and said additional information about refund requests will arrive “once the bankruptcy process determines next steps and additional measures customers can take.”SmileDirectClub also said that Smile Pay custom...

The mother of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán is reported dead in Mexico

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The mother of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán has died in the northern state of Sinaloa, according to local media reports. Mexico’s president acknowledged her death Monday and offered his “respect” to the family.The head of Mexico’s state media agency, Jenaro Villamil, wrote in his social media accounts that Consuelo Loera died Sunday. He did not state a cause of death and was not immediately available for comment.Local media reported Loera died at a private hospital in Culiacán, Sinaloa, which is home to the cartel of the same name that her son helped to lead for about two decades before his arrest and extradition to the United States in 2017. The hospital declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.Neither of the lawyers who have represented the drug lord’s relatives in the past wished to comment to the AP on reports of Loera’s death, but one of them, José Luis González Meza, confirmed it to CNN and Telemundo.President Andrés M...

Fatal stabbing of Catholic priest in church rectory shocks small Nebraska community he served

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) — The fatal stabbing of a Catholic priest inside the church rectory where he lived has shocked members of the small eastern Nebraska parish he led for the past 11 years.The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell was attacked during a break-in early Sunday morning, and the 65-year-old died despite being rushed to a nearby hospital. Washington County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspected burglar in the rectory of St. John the Baptist church when they arrived six minutes after the priest called 911. “A lot of people learned about death of Father Gutsgell when they showed up for Mass and found the church circled with police crime tape,” church deacon Jerry Mapes told the Omaha World-Herald on Monday.On Sunday evening, the congregation held a vigil at the church in Fort Calhoun, a city of about 1,000 residents that’s 20 minutes north of Omaha.Kelly Tegels said she had just seen Gutgsell at Mass on Saturday night, so his death didn’t feel real yet. Services were cancelled i...

Bronze top hat missing from Abraham Lincoln statue in Kentucky

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Abraham Lincoln’s top hat is missing from a bronze sculpture along the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky.The sculptor, Ed Hamilton, posted photos of his artwork at Waterfront Park on Facebook on Saturday and said someone stole the hat from the sculpture.“They had to be strong and determined to pry bronze from a base, good grief!” his post said.Metro Louisville Police told news outlets that an online report has been filed with the department and they are asking anyone with information to call an anonymous tip line.The 12-foot (3.6-meter) statue of Lincoln seated on a rock looking out at the Ohio River was dedicated in 2009. The top hat had rested on a rock beside the former president, who was born in rural Kentucky.Park officials are reviewing video recordings to see if they can spot any suspicious activity, Hamilton told the Courier Journal. He said he hopes the hat is returned soon.The Associated Press

Trial for accused Highland Park shooter to begin in February; Crimo to represent himself

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A judge in Lake County set a trial date Monday for the man accused of the mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade.Proceedings are set to begin in February 2024 and Robert Crimo III is planning to represent himself.Crimo III, who prosecutors say opened fire on crowds of people watching the parade in 2022, is facing more than 100 charges, including dozens of first-degree murder and attempted murder charges.Seven people were killed, dozens were hurt and countless others were traumatized in the shooting.Crimo III pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held without bond. Father of Highland Park parade shooting suspect receives jail time, probation in guilty plea agreement Crimo's father, Robert Crimo Jr., is serving a 60-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to several counts of reckless conduct. He sponsored his son's application for a FOID card, which allowed him to by the firearms.This is a developing story. Check back for d...

GoFundMe page created for off-duty Chicago police officer dead in car crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. -- A GoFundMe page was created for the off-duty police officer who died in a car crash in Tinley Park Saturday. The Will County Coroner's Office identified the man as 34-year-oldd timothy M. Siwula of Chicago. Wauconda math teacher dies after being struck head-on by alleged intoxicated driver Police said the crash happened near the intersection of 179th Street and LaGrange Road early Saturday morning. Both drivers were transported to Silver Cross Hospital. Siwula was pronounced dead shortly after. The other driver was transported to Loyola University Medical Center for further treatment. A GoFundMe page was made to help pay for Siwula's funeral and memorial services."Tim left everyone heartbroken with his tragic passing. We miss you Tim, and we will continue to spread your kindness. Rest easy Bud. Watch over us," the page said.

Solis to testify in Ed Burke trial as prosecution plans to rest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:38 GMT

CHICAGO -- Prosecutors are using recordings made by ex-alderman turned FBI mole Danny Solis to make their case against the once powerful Ed Burke.Prosecutors decided months ago to not to put Solis on the stand. Burke's attorneys told the judge they will call Solis to the stand and plan to question him for hours about the recordings alone.Jurors have heard the conversation between Burke and Solis from the Spring of 2017.Prosecutors say "tuna" was business for Burke's private law firm from developers of the Old Post Office. "I think I've got some good news. I talked to Skydell today," Solis says in the recording. Burke responded."So, did we, uh, land the tuna? If we land the tuna, there certainly will be a day of accounting, you can count on that," Burke replied.Over the weekend, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed a motion to prevent Solis' testimony, arguing that the defense is simply calling Solis to discredit him.The defense said its questioning of Solis will add context to the secre...