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Rwanda frees Paul Rusesabagina of ‘Hotel Rwanda’ fame

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — Rwanda’s government has commuted the 25-year sentence of Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film “Hotel Rwanda” for saving hundreds of countrymen from genocide but was convicted of terrorism offenses years later in a widely criticized trial.Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told The Associated Press on Friday that the presidential order was issued after a request for clemency on behalf of Rusesabagina, a 68-year-old U.S. resident and Belgian citizen. Senior U.S. officials said Rusesabagina arrived late Friday at the home of the Qatari ambassador in the Rwandan capital of Kigali and was expected to leave the country in the coming days. Nineteen others also had their sentences commuted. Under Rwandan law, commutation doesn’t “extinguish” the conviction, Makolo added.“Rwanda notes the constructive role of the U.S. government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar,” she said. Presiden...

Powder, threat sent to Manhattan DA investigating Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A powdery substance was found Friday with a threatening letter in a mailroom at the offices of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the latest security scare as the prosecutor weighs a potential historic indictment of former President Donald Trump, authorities said.New York City police and environmental protection officials isolated and removed the suspicious letter, and testing “determined there was no dangerous substance,” Bragg spokesperson Danielle Filson said. The substance was sent to a city lab for further examination, police said.“Alvin, I am going to kill you,” the letter said, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation and did so on condition of anonymity.The discovery, in the same building where a grand jury is expected to resume work Monday, came amid increasingly hostile rhetoric from Trump, a Republican who is holding the first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign...

Allow unvaccinated Canadians to cross U.S. border, Poilievre asks President Joe Biden

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Friday he asked President Joe Biden to remove the U.S. government’s requirement that Canadians be vaccinated for COVID-19 before crossing the border.He told reporters after their meeting that American citizens are no longer required to have their shots and Canada allows unvaccinated Americans to visit. “There are millions of good, decent, honourable people who, through a personal medical decision, are discriminated against at the border,” Poilievre said. “I encouraged the president to lift those restrictions to allow them freedom of mobility.”Poilievre won the leadership of his party a little more than six months ago by mounting a vocal opposition to COVID-19 health restrictions, including mask and vaccine mandates, but he has since focused his message on cost-of-living issues. He met with Biden on Parliament Hill Friday during the president’s 27-hour visit to the Canadian capital, and later share...

2 face charges in death of Alaska man after online post

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Two southeast Alaska men face charges in the beating death of a man who was attacked because of a social media post, according to an investigator’s affidavit.Moses S. Blanchard, 22, and Blaise A. Dilts, 21, of Klawock, face charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and burglary in the death of 80-year-old Lincoln Peratrovich, according to the state’s online court records system. An attorney listed for Dilts did not return a message seeking comment. An attorney was not listed online for Blanchard.The investigation was being conducted by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation, which falls under the Alaska State Troopers. The city of Klawock on Prince of Wales Island has a police department but its lone officer died in January, the Ketchikan Daily News reported.An affidavit by Adam Hawkins, a bureau investigator, said troopers on Monday evening received a complaint that a man, later identified as Peratrovich, whistled and catcalled at a minor and follo...

Trudeau says he accepts MP’s choice to leave Liberal caucus amid meddling allegations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he accepts Han Dong’s decision to leave the Liberal caucus after an allegation he spoke to a Chinese diplomat about delaying the release of two Canadians.Trudeau sidestepped a question Friday about whether he believes the allegation, saying only that Canadians should watch Dong’s “strong” speech for themselves.He said at a news conference alongside U.S. President Joe Biden, who is visiting Ottawa, that he fully accepts Dong left the Liberal caucus “to vigorously contest these allegations.” Dong, a Toronto MP, announced he would sit as an Independent on Wednesday night, telling the House of Commons that he would defend himself against “absolutely untrue claims” regarding his alleged involvement in Chinese interference.Global News published a report that night, citing unnamed security sources who alleged that Dong spoke about Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who at that time had been detained...

Book thief in plot that duped famous authors avoids prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — It was the stuff of novels: For years, a con artist plagued the publishing industry, impersonating editors and agents to pull off hundreds of literary heists. But the manuscripts obtained from high-profile authors were never resold or leaked, rendering the thefts all the more perplexing.The Thursday sentencing of Filippo Bernardini in Manhattan federal court brought the saga to an end and, with it, finally some answers. After pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud in January, Bernardini was sentenced to time served, avoiding prison on a felony charge that carried up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of at least a year.Bernardini, now 30, impersonated hundreds of people over the course of the scheme that began around August 2016 and obtained more than a thousand manuscripts, including from high-profile authors like Margaret Atwood and Ethan Hawke, authorities have said.In an emotional, four-page letter to Judge Colleen McMahon submitted e...

Police connect with community in Park Ridge after recent robberies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

PARK RIDGE, Ill. — Park Ridge police officers are connecting with the community after a string of armed robberies in the parking lot of a Mariano's.Over the weekend, police announced the arrest of several people after the latest incident. Group commits four armed robberies in Rivers Casino, Park Ridge Mariano’s parking lots On Friday, officers from several police departments are coming together for a roll call in the parking lot after residents voiced their concerns about crime.The officers were from several agencies, including Park Ridge Police Department, the Cook County Sheriff's Office and the Des Plaines Police Department.The first armed robbery in Mariano's parking lot happened on March 10. Two men told police they were approached by three men in masks and robbed at gunpoint of their wallets and phones. Charges pending after 3 juveniles crash stolen vehicle on South Side On March 19, two people were walking to their car when they were approached by three people who got ou...

Bill would remove city protections for 'cedar fever' Ashe Juniper trees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A short bill filed by Texas Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Austin, would remove municipal protections for Ashe Juniper trees across Texas, a move that ecologists warn could have a serious impact on Central Texas.House Bill 2239 would amend a section of state law that currently only prevents municipalities from preventing the removal of diseased, dead or dangerous trees. Troxclair's bill simply adds the Ashe Juniper to the list. Why can’t we get rid of the trees that cause ‘cedar fever?’ "Just as Ashe Juniper pollen notoriously drifts across Texas each spring, restrictive local policies tend to spread unless stopped," Troxclair said. "Some Texans are already facing a complicated bureaucratic nightmare for just wanting to manage their own land. HB 2239 would let Texas’ private property owners make their own decisions about what grows on their property."Referring to the native plant as overabundant and "almost an invasive species," Troxclair hopes their removal cou...

Timberwolves’ offense has rhythm and movement. That needs to continue with the team’s stars

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

Minnesota went on a 19-4 run in the fourth frame Wednesday that put the Timberwolves in a position to hold off Atlanta late for a much-needed home victory. At the center of the run was a stout defense that made life uncomfortable for the Hawks and sparked a couple of transition opportunities.But not to be dismissed was an offense that routinely generated good looks. It did so through spacing, ball movement and decision-making. It helped the big-ball lineup of Kyle Anderson, Taurean Prince, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert that the Wolves had a clear objective: Attack Hawks point guard Trae Young. But it required execution.https://www.twincities.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Untitled-video-Made-with-Clipchamp-3.mp4For instance, when Prince was standing in the corner with Young on him, the wing found an opportunity to dart to the top of the floor. The ball then found him, and he attacked Atlanta’s point guard off the bounce. Prince got into the lane, drew help and immediatel...

Hastings school nutrition workers end seven-week strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:46 GMT

Food service workers in the Hastings school district will return to work on Thursday, more than seven weeks after striking over a wage dispute.The school district and SEIU Local 284 reached a tentative agreement Thursday night, which was ratified by the union’s 35 mostly part-time employees. The school board is expected to approve the deal Wednesday, along with a return-to-work agreement that will bring employees back the next day.The union said the agreement is better than the district’s final offer from early February. It includes $800 bonuses and increased wages for all members, they said, while maintaining the district’s health insurance contribution rather than reducing it, as was done for other bargaining units.“While this agreement does not reflect what we feel we are worth, our struggle for recognition and respect took a big step forward because of our solidarity,” food service worker Sara Rapp said in a news release.The strike began Feb. 7.The district in a statement said, ...