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Biden cheers for Irish bonds, unity on St. Patrick’s Day

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sporting a green tie and shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day, President Joe Biden on Friday voiced his support for a recent economic accord affecting Ireland as he hosted the republic’s prime minister, a longstanding meetup scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic the past two years.While the annual Washington tradition is about celebrating the historic bonds of Ireland and the United States, Biden also took time to reflect on the approaching 25th anniversary of the U.S.-brokered Good Friday accord — the agreement that helped end sectarian violence that had raged for decades over the question of Northern Ireland unifying with Ireland or remaining part of the United Kingdom.The president also underscored a more recent agreement, known as the Windsor Framework, that aims to ease tensions over Northern Ireland’s trading status in the aftermath of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union and to maintain the quarter century-old peace accord.“It’s a vital...

Dems say many foreign gifts to Trump remain unaccounted for

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s White House has failed to report more than 100 gifts from foreign nations worth more than a quarter-million dollars, and federal officials have been unable to find a life-size painting of Trump given by the president of El Salvador as well as golf clubs from the prime minister of Japan, according to a report Friday from House Democrats.Among the unreported items are 16 gifts from Saudi Arabia worth more than $45,000 in all, including a dagger valued at up to $24,000, and 17 presents from India that include expensive cufflinks, a vase and a $4,600 model of the Taj Mahal, says the report from Democrats on the House Oversight Committee.Gifts above several hundred dollars that foreign officials give to the president, vice president and their families are required under the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act to be reported to the State Department. The report from House Democrats, citing State Department records, says the number of gifts reported by T...

3 police dead in Mexico City shootout with cartel gunmen

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Three police officers and one suspect were killed and seven suspected drug cartel members were arrested Friday following a dramatic running gun battle on the eastern edge of Mexico City. It was a glimpse into drug cartel violence that the nation’s capital rarely sees, but which has become frequent in northern and western parts of the country. Police said two officers were killed in a town just east of the capital early Friday when they approached a house where a kidnap and murder gang were believed to be hiding, according to police in the State of Mexico, which borders the capital. They said the suspects also were being sought for murders.Four kidnap victims were found in the house before the gunfire erupted. The initial gunfight occurred near the town of San Antonio La Isla, about 35 miles (50 kilometers) east of the capital.The suspects then fled in a vehicle into Mexico City, and continued shooting at pursuing officers, killing one capital police officer. The s...

State says Louisiana family must give up beloved pet nutria

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana couple has run afoul of state law by keeping a 22-pound nutria — a beady-eyed, orange-toothed, rat-tailed rodent commonly considered a wetlands-damaging pest — as a pet that frolics with their dog, snuggles in their arms and swims in the family pool. Denny and Myra Lacoste tell New Orleans news outlets they are devastated at the potential loss of “Neuty,” a pet they say they raised from infancy when its siblings were killed in traffic. The move by state Wildlife and Fisheries officials, who say it’s illegal to keep an orphaned or injured wild animal as a pet, has sparked a petition drive by those who want him to stay with the humans who raised him.The state Wildlife Department says the plan is to house Neuty at the Baton Rouge Zoo. But it’s unclear when that will happen. A statement from the department Friday said officials had gone to remove the pet from the Lacoste’s New Orleans-area residence Thursday. “The nutria...

Brampton investigating deaths of waterfowl, testing for bird flu

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

The City of Brampton is looking into the recent deaths of waterfowl and is testing the birds for Avian Influenza, known as bird flu.Officials say dead waterfowl were discovered in the areas of Professor’s Lake and Duncan Valley Foster South. The city said the cause of death remains undetermined, noting that Brampton Animal Services is monitoring the situation.Samples have been sent to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative to test for bird flu. If the dead birds test negative, a necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.The risk of Avian Influenza spreading to humans is extremely rare, and the city said there is no danger to the public at this time.The City of Brampton is out with tips on keeping pets safe, including keeping animals away from waterfowl or fecal matter and not feeding waterfowl. Officials also urge pet owners not to let cats wander outside and to keep dogs on a leash.A highly pathogenic type of H5N1 avian flu has been tearing through Canadian...

Palestinians: 1 killed by Israeli army fire in West Bank

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said troops shot a Palestinian who approached soldiers on Friday and pulled a knife near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian authorities said the man died of his wounds a short while later. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as Yazan Khaseeb, 23. The military said the man refused to identify himself and drew a knife, prompting the soldiers to open fire. It published a photo of the alleged knife on the ground.It was the latest bloodshed in the current round of violence, one of the worst between Israelis and Palestinians in years. The escalation began a year ago after a series of Palestinian attacks against Israelis that triggered near-nightly Israeli raids in the West Bank.Friday’s death brings the number of Palestinians killed since the start of the year to 85. Palestinian attacks against Israelis have killed 14 people in 2023.According to an Associated Press tally, about half of the Palestinians kil...

B.C. man arrested for allegedly wielding syringe with needle attached to toy arrow

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

NANAIMO — Police say they have arrested a man in Nanaimo, B.C., who was allegedly threatening people with a toy bow and arrow that had a syringe with a needle attached to the arrow’s tip. Mounties say they were called to the parking lot of the Port Place Mall in the Vancouver Island city on Monday after the man was reportedly threatening people with a stick and the toy bow and arrow.Police say the arrow “appeared to have” a hypodermic needle attached to the end, and the man was taken into custody after a brief foot chase and struggle with officers. RCMP say the 32-year-old man now faces charges of assaulting a police officer, uttering threats, resisting arrest and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public. Mounties say the man will remain in custody until he’s due back in court on March 28. The Canadian Press

Lawmaker pauses filibuster on agreement to debate trans bill

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

A lawmaker who has been holding up the work of the Nebraska Legislature for weeks to protest a bill that would ban gender-affirming therapies for minors has paused her persistent filibuster in a deal that will see lawmakers debate the bill next week. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, of Omaha, had been staging a filibuster of every single bill before the legislative body — even ones she supported — since late February to protest the bill. Introduced by a freshman lawmaker and supported by hard-right conservatives, the bill would outlaw gender-affirming therapies such as hormone treatments and gender-affirmation surgery for those 18 and younger. Cavanaugh launched her effort when the bill advanced out of committee, introducing amendment after amendment and spending as much time as Nebraska rules allowed on the microphone to hold bills hostage on the legislative floor. She said she would continue to do so through the end of the 90-day session.“I will burn the session to the ground over this bi...

Report: 'The Wire' star Lance Reddick dies at 60

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

Actor Lance Reddick, best known for his roles in "The Wire" and "John Wick" has died at the age of 60, according to TMZ.Reddick's body was found in his Los Angeles home Friday morning, TMZ said. Foul play is not suspected.Reddick played the well-regarded police executive Cedric Daniels from 2002 to 2008 in the hit HBO show "The Wire." Ticketmaster gives partial refund, lower fees to Cure fans after Robert Smith’s crusade He also played Charon in the John Wick movie franchise in addition to several film and television roles. Reddick was currently on a press tour for the fourth installment of the movie, TMZ said.Other notable roles Reddick had were Detective Johnny Basil in "Oz", Phillip Broyles in "Fringe" and he was in four episodes of "Lost."Reddick was born and raised in Baltimore, the setting of "The Wire."

Wisconsin residents bought $121M worth of Illinois weed in 2022

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:23:25 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Potheads in Wisconsin accounted for an estimated $36.1 million in tax revenue on marijuana purchased in Illinois, according to a new report.The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's report said more than half of cannabis sales in counties bordering Wisconsin were made by out-of-state residents.Wisconsin residents are estimated to have spent $121 million on weed in Illinois in 2022. Can I share weed in Illinois? Recreational marijuana is not legal in Wisconsin, but it is in each of its surrounding states. In total, thirty-seven U.S. states currently have some form of marijuana legalization."It should upset every Wisconsinite that our hard earned tax dollars are going across the border to Illinois. This is revenue that could be going toward Wisconsin’s public schools, transportation infrastructure, and public safety," Senate Minority Leader Melissa Asgard (D-Madison) said in a statement, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I...