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Insurer to pay nearly $5M to 3 of the 4 Alaska men whose convictions in a 1997 killing were vacated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

Three of the four Indigenous men who served 18 years in prison for a murder conviction that was ultimately vacated will receive a total of nearly $5 million in a settlement confirmed by the city of Fairbanks on Monday.The convictions of the so-called Fairbanks Four in the 1997 death of Fairbanks teenager John Hartman were vacated in 2015 after a key state witness recanted testimony and following a weeks-long hearing reexamining the case that raised the possibility others had killed Hartman. The men — George Frese, Eugene Vent, Marvin Roberts and Kevin Pease — argued that an agreement that led to their release in which they agreed not to sue was not legally binding because they were coerced. The men also maintained there was a history of discrimination against Alaska Natives by local police. Pease is Native American; Frese, Vent and Roberts are Athabascan Alaska Natives.The legal fight over whether the men could sue the city despite the agreement has gone on for years. In 2021, the U...

Captain found guilty of ‘seaman’s manslaughter’ in boat fire that killed 34 off California coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal jury on Monday found a scuba dive boat captain was criminally negligent in the deaths of 34 people killed in a fire aboard the vessel in 2019, the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history.The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles confirmed Jerry Boylan was found guilty of one count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer, a pre-Civil War statute colloquially known as seaman’s manslaughter that was designed to hold steamboat captains and crew responsible for maritime disasters. Boylan was the only person to face criminal charges connected to the fire.He could get 10 years behind bars. The verdict comes more than four years after the Sept. 2, 2019, tragedy, which prompted changes to maritime regulations, congressional reform and civil lawsuits. The Conception was anchored off the Channel Islands, 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Santa Barbara, when it caught fire before dawn on the final day of a three-day excursion, sinking less than 100...

Sudan’s military conflict is getting closer to South Sudan and Abyei, UN envoy warns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The “unprecedented” conflict between Sudan’s army and rival paramilitary force now in its seventh month is getting closer to South Sudan and the disputed Abyei region, the U.N. special envoy for the Horn of Africa warned Monday.Hanna Serwaa Tetteh pointed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Force’s recent seizures of the airport and oil field in Belila, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) southwest of the capital of Sudan’s West Kordofan State.She told the U.N. Security Council that the conflict “is profoundly affecting bilateral relations between Sudan and South Sudan, with significant humanitarian, security, economic and political consequences that are a matter of deep concern among the South Sudanese political leadership.”Sudan was plunged into chaos in mid-April when simmering tensions between the military and the RSF exploded into open warfare in the capital, Khartoum, and other areas across the East African nation.More than 9,000 people have been killed, a...

ACLU sues South Dakota over its vanity plate restrictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota announced Monday that it is suing South Dakota over a state law that restricts content on vanity plates.The ACLU said in a press release that it filed the lawsuit on behalf of Lyndon Hart, whose application for a plate that said “REZWEED” was initially denied by the South Dakota Motor Vehicle Division for allegedly being “in poor taste.” Hart runs a business called Rez Weed Indeed, which he uses to support the legal selling and use of marijuana on Native American reservations. Hart intended for the personalized license plate to refer to his business and its mission of promoting tribal sovereignty, the news release said. According to the complaint filed Friday, the state Department of Revenue denied Hart’s application in 2022. Under state law, the department has the authority to “refuse to issue any letter combination which carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency.” The department later ...

Chicago police officer wounded, suspect killed in shooting on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer was shot and wounded Monday on the city's South Side.The shooting happened just before 12 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Dante Avenue in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood.According to Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling, four officers of the 3rd District Tactical Team made an investigatory stop when the subject ran away. Officers briefly chased them on foot when shots were fired at the officers, Snelling said. Three of the officers returned fire. One officer was shot in the arm and taken to a hospital by fellow officers with non-life-threatening injuries, Snelling said. The person who was shot by officers was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and later died. 11-year-old girl shot while inside home on South Side All of the other officers involved were taken to a hospital for observation, Snelling said.A firearm was recovered at the scene, Snelling said.The officers were in uniform at the time of the stop and ...

Veteran's Voices: Largest Vietnam veterans parade held in Chicago in 1986

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

CHICAGO — A small band of Chicago veterans believed it's never too late to welcome home American soldiers from Vietnam.Little did they know, the project would affect thousands of veterans. Purple Heart returned to Illinois veteran’s family In 1986, Navy Pier served a much different purpose than it does today.It was the starting off point for a parade to honor Vietnam veterans and it would become known as the largest parade of its kind in the nation.It was held on June 13, 1986."It was kind of controlled chaos," Harold Beyne, one of the parade's co-organizers, said. "It was amazing we were able to pull it off with very little money. Chicagoland veterans take part in Habitat for Humanity build Beyne and Roger McGill were part of the small group.Inspired by New York's parade the year before, they believed Chicago could do one better. They had the backing of then Chicago Mayor Harold Washington."Without him, no parade," Beyne said. "I mean, he was behind us."Relying solely on invita...

Attacks on US troops in Middle East rise over the weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

(The Hill) -- U.S. troops were attacked again over the weekend across the Middle East amid Pentagon fears that Iranian-backed groups may seek to undermine the American presence alongside the Israel-Hamas war.The total number of attacks has now risen to 38, according to the Defense Department, including 20 in Iraq and 18 in Syria. That's up from 32 at the end of last week.Iranian-backed militant groups have launched drone and rocket attacks at U.S. bases, injuring several people but not killing anyone. US bolsters Middle East presence as attacks rise Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters the attacks are "harassing" troops while resulting in 45 injuries of varying degrees. That includes at least 24 servicemembers with traumatic brain injuries and the rest with minor injuries such as shrapnel wounds, rolled ankles or headaches.The rise in the overall number shows U.S. forces were attacked six times over the weekend alone, indicating that militant groups are not...

Iowa man charged with threatening Niles police, village officials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

NILES, Ill. — An Iowa man has been charged with threatening Village of Niles police, school resource officers and elected officials over a series of bizarre incidents amid the month of October.Adam T. Provost, 31, of Council Bluffs, Iowa faces multiple felony charges, including threatening a public official and disorderly conduct. According to police, Provost made a string of threats via posted mail, e-mail and telephone. Provost was taken into custody in Iowa on Oct. 16 in connection with Niles police's ongoing threats investigation.SEE ALSO: FBI-Chicago warns of charity fraud amid ongoing conflict between Israel, HamasAuthorities first learned of a threatening e-mail sent to a Village of Niles elected official on Oct. 6. Provost also allegedly made phone threats toward members of the Niles Police Department. Police said their investigation revealed the suspect was located in the area of Council Bluffs, Iowa.Days later, on Oct. 11, Niles police said the department received a threat...

FBI warns of charity fraud amid conflict between Israel and Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

CHICAGO (WGN) — The FBI is warning the public about scammers working to siphon off some of the donations people are giving during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.Robert Wheeler Jr., the special agent in charge of the FBI's Chicago Field Office, said criminals are using the tragedies unfolding in the Middle East to solicit fraudulent humanitarian donations. Instead of donating to charities, Wheeler said these criminals are using the money for their own expenses or to support criminal enterprises.What is charity fraud?According to the FBI, charity fraud, which is also known as "disaster fraud," can come in many different forms.  US bolsters Middle East presence as attacks rise Special agent Wheeler said some perpetrators taking part in these types of crimes may prey on victims within the local community by claiming to collect funds for victimized families abroad. Foreign terrorist organizations may also take part in these types of crimes by establishing fake chari...

2 in custody in connection with deadly south suburban shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:32 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — Police say two people are in custody in connection with a deadly shooting that unfolded in the south suburbs over the weekend.According to Worth Police, the shooting happened in the 6800 block of West 111th Street on Saturday afternoon. Chicago City Council committee holds hearing on Peoples Gas rate hike request Officers were called to the scene on reports of someone "in need of assistance," but when police arrived on the scene, they found a person who had been fatally shot. The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force then began an investigation into the deadly shooting.Officers say the next day, two people from Harvey, Ill., who police believe are linked to several armed robberies in Chicagoland and northwest Indiana, were taken into custody.Police say several firearms were recovered during their arrests, including a gun that officers believe was the weapon used in the fatal shooting. The weapon is now undergoing ballistics analysis. FBI-Chicago warns of cha...