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Texas prosecutor drops charges against 17 Austin police over tactics used during 2020 protests

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas prosecutor whose office oversaw indictments of more than 20 Austin police officers over tactics used during the 2020 protests that followed George Floyd’s killing said Monday he was dropping most of the cases and would ask the Justice Department to investigate instead. The announcement is a reversal for Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, a progressive who ran on promises to hold police accountable in the Texas capital. Garza, a Democrat, said his office would dismiss indictments against 17 officers but still move forward with prosecuting four others. The slate of felony charges were by far the most indictments of officers from a single U.S. police department over actions by law enforcement during nationwide protests in 2020 over racial injustice and police brutality. Some Austin police officers fired beanbag rounds in the crowd, critically injuring one teenager. “This has been a difficult chapter for Austin. I look forward to turning...

76ers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. scoffs at questions about legitimacy of his injury, calls hit-and-run serious

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kelly Oubre Jr. wanted to set the record straight — yes, a vehicle struck him as he walked near his home and the driver fled. Yes, he suffered a traumatic injury and no — he doesn’t care for anyone who questioned his account of what happened on that Philadelphia street last month.“This was and is a very traumatic situation for me and my family,” Oubre told reporters Monday at the 76ers’ complex in New Jersey. “So, I just wish that my life wasn’t like ‘The Truman Show’ where everybody kind of watched it and have their own opinion about my life.”Oubre was off to a strong start in his first season with the 76ers (16.3 points in eight games) when he said he was struck by a vehicle while walking near his home in Philadelphia’s Center City on Nov. 11. The 27-year-old was taken to a hospital in stable condition and was released a few hours later with a broken rib and injuries to his hip and right leg, police said at the time, adding that an investigation was...

Putin plans to visit UAE and Saudi Arabia this week, according to Russian media reports

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

President Vladimir Putin plans to visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week, Russian media outlets reported Monday.Putin will travel to the two countries for a working visit, during which he will meet the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, Russian state news agencies Tass and Ria Novosti said, citing the Shot Telegram channel and Russian news website Life.Putin will visit Saudi Arabia where his “negotiations will primarily be with the crown prince,” shortly after making a trip to the UAE, the Shot Telegram channel quoted presidential aide Yuri Ushakov as saying.The UAE is currently hosting the U.N. Climate Change Conference, but it is not clear if Putin will attend.“I hope that these will be very useful negotiations, which we consider extremely important,” Ushakov was quoted as saying by Life news. Neither state news agency appeared to be able to independently confirm the reports.Putin will be making the visit at a time when Russia wants to advance its ro...

Employee shot inside store in Gary

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

GARY, Ind. — A man was hospitalized after a shooting inside a store in Gary, Indiana, on Monday afternoon, police say.According to police, the shooting happened inside a Family Dollar in the 1400 block of West 25th Avenue.WGN SkyCam9 was over the scene around 3:30 p.m. when several police vehicles could be seen in the store's parking lot. 2 SIU students from Park Ridge, Des Plaines killed in head-on crash After arriving on the scene, officers say they found a 21-year-old man, who was an employee at the store, who had suffered a gunshot wound. The victim was then taken to the hospital.According to police, the person responsible had already fled the scene by the time they arrived, but police say the shooting stemmed from a personal altercation between the victim and the individual responsible.Police say no arrests have been made and an investigation is underway.Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Gary police Violent Crimes Division at 219-881-1210.

'Everyone loved him': Father of 3, limo company owner fatally shot in Austin

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man who emigrated from Jordan, started his own limo company, and a father of three was shot and killed by passengers while driving on the city's West Side Sunday evening.Funeral arrangements are underway after 39-year-old Muhammad Al Hajoj of Jefferson Park, a father to an infant, was fatally shot in Austin around 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 inside his black Cadillac.Al Hajoj was driving his black Cadillac near the 1700 block of North Lotus St. when shots were fired. Police said witnesses heard the gunfire and then saw individuals leave the Cadillac and flee the scene. Employee shot inside store in Gary Al Hajoj sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was transported to Loyola Hospital in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead.A handgun was recovered a few feet away from the vehicle where he was shot. No one is in custody. Police say an investigation is ongoing."He was everything to me. He was like a brother to me. His soul will be here in my heart," s...

Chicago resident accused of fatally shooting man in Roseland charged

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago resident accused of fatally shooting a man on the city's Far South Side in late April has been charged, police say. According to Chicago Police, Daeshawn Hill, a 21-year-old Roseland resident, has been charged with first-degree murder.Police say Hill allegedly shot and killed a 40-year-old man in the 100 block of West 113th Street just before 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 30. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Hill was taken into custody in Park Forest, Illinois, on Friday in the 400 block of Miami Street in Park Forest, Illinois, police say.Authorities have not identified the victim or provided details on what led to the fatal shooting.Hill appeared in court for a detention hearing on Sunday.

White House urges Congress to act quickly on Ukraine aid

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The White House sent an urgent message to Congress: time is running out and lawmakers need to approve more funding for Ukraine. White House officials say no approved funding before the end of the year will increase "the likelihood of Russian military victories.""A vote against supplemental funding for Ukraine will hurt Ukraine and help Russia," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.In a letter from White House Budget Chief Shalanda Young, she warned Congress that not taking action will threaten Ukraine's ability to fight."Congress has to act now to take up the president's supplemental request which advances our own national security and helps a democratic partner in Ukraine fight against Russian aggression," Sullivan said. How to watch the fourth Republican presidential debate As of November, the Department of Defense used 97 percent of the more than $60 billion set aside for Ukraine. The State Department has also used all of its nearly $5 billion in ...

Supreme Court appears divided over Purdue Pharma bankruptcy deal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

Supreme Court justices appeared divided over Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy deal Monday, questioning whether it can immunize the Sackler family from civil lawsuits for their role in the opioid crisis. Described by experts as among the most important corporate bankruptcy cases in decades, the dispute will dictate the fate of the years-in-the-making settlement and more broadly how companies can use bankruptcy to resolve mass injury claims. An overwhelming majority voted to approve Purdue Pharma’s settlement, but the Supreme Court on Monday wrestled with objections lodged by the Biden administration and a relatively small group of creditors concerning the liability releases for the Sacklers, who previously controlled the company.During a nearly two-hour argument that transcended ideological lines, several justices raised concerns about how the administration’s position would effectively unravel the settlement.Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted a 30-year history of bankruptcy courts ap...

Seasonably cool weather returns

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Lovely December weather blew into the area behind the recent cold front. Expect brisk nights and mild, sunny days early this week.Tuesday morning low temperatures dip into the 30s in many rural areas and suburbs.Forecast low temperatures Tuesday morningHigh temperatures for the next several days will be very comfortable, in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Breezy south winds return late this week ahead of a broad western storm, raising Friday's high temperatures locally to near 80 degrees.The next cold front brings only a slight chance of light rain when it arrives on Saturday. Rain totals locally are forecast to remain under 0.25" as an unusually dry start to an El Nino December continues for now. Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Stay up-to-date w...

Emergency responder describes fatal crash that killed 4 dead on SH 130 service road

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:55 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- KXAN is learning more about a deadly crash in southeastern Travis County Sunday afternoon that killed four people. It was the worst crash a state emergency services employee said they've ever seen. "I've responded to probably a couple of hundred crashes in my lifetime," the employee said. "This was by far the most serious. Absolutely horrendous scene." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 4 dead after multi-vehicle crash in southeast Travis County We're concealing the person's identity at their request. The crash happened near the State Highway 130 Northbound service road intersection with Maha Loop Road. The emergency services employee said numerous calls came in regarding a large commercial vehicle striking a sedan. "The van was catching fire with numerous occupants," they said. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a driver and four passengers had been driving east on Maha Loop Road at the same time a Peterbilt dump truck drove north. The two crashed...