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Georgia’s election board leader who debunked unfounded 2020 election fraud claims is stepping down

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The retired federal judge leading Georgia’s State Election Board is resigning effective Friday from the panel, which sought under his tenure to debunk unfounded claims of election fraud stemming from the 2020 presidential vote.Gov. Brian Kemp made the announcement Monday that William “Bill” Duffey Jr. would be stepping down, although his resignation letter was dated July 18.Duffey wrote that he wanted to step down now that the board has transitioned to a freestanding agency under Georgia’s 2021 election law. It previously was chaired by the secretary of state.“Now that a new board structure is in place, it is important to name the next chair in sufficient time for that person to continue to prepare for the 2024 election cycle,” Duffey wrote.The board makes rules for state elections and recommends what should be done about people who break rules and laws.Duffey had only been appointed in June 2022, after a yearlong delay following the passage of the law.Und...

Haiti police probe killings of parishioners who were led by a pastor into gang territory

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The director of Haiti’s National Police vowed Monday to hold accountable those who encouraged hundreds of parishioners to take up machetes and sticks over the weekend to try and rid a community of gang members, only to be fatally shot by them. Police Chief Frantz Elbé said the group’s religious leader, identified as Marcorel Zidor, participated in the protest Saturday and was accompanied by unidentified people clad in olive green carrying assault rifles as they and the parishioners marched toward the community of Canaan.Elbé said the group drew gunfire from gang members, and that “multiple” people were killed and several kidnapped, though he did not provide numbers. He said police were trying to recover the bodies of those killed in Canaan, a community established north of the capital by survivors of the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake. The community is controlled by a powerful gang whose leader goes only by “Jeff,” and who is an ally of anot...

As worker actions continue nationwide, White House highlights how administration is helping unions

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As worker actions continue from Hollywood to Detroit, and new labor unions crop up at firms like Starbucks and Amazon, the White House on Monday was highlighting its effort to bolster worker organizing throughout the U.S.President Joe Biden is counting on critical labor support as he campaigns for a second term in office, holding his first re-election campaign rally at a Pennsylvania union hall in June, declaring: “I’m proud to be the most pro-union president in American history.” The White House and Treasury on Monday issued a joint analysis on what the administration sees as the importance of unions, and also the White House efforts to safeguard and bolster them. There is “evidence that unions strengthen the middle class and grow the economy” by raising wages of members and improving health care, retirement and predictable scheduling plan benefits, according to the analysis. “There have been recent signs of a reinvigorated labor movement, as union election ...

Poland is investigating disruptions to train traffic from unauthorized radio signals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish security authorities are investigating multiple cases of disruption to railway traffic, after unauthorized radio signals stopped several trains over the weekend. On some of the signals, the Russian national anthem could reportedly be heard in the background. Poland’s railway is the main transport route for international military support going to neighboring Ukraine, which is fighting Russia’s aggression. The network also transports Ukraine’s agricultural exports to markets further west. Two men in their 20s were arrested Sunday after they generated intercom signals that halted five passenger trains and one cargo train near Bialystok, in the northeast. Prosecutors have opened an investigation.Similar “radio-stop” signals briefly stopped some passenger and cargo trains in other regions across Poland over the weekend. In some cases, the Russian anthem could be heard over the intercom, Polish media reported. Authorities said there was no th...

Videos show how the Fargo shooter targeted officers, North Dakota attorney general says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More video recordings of an ambush of police officers in Fargo, North Dakota, show how the gunman cased the scene of a fender bender, waiting and watching for roughly four minutes as more officers arrived before opening fire. The additional videos — from officers’ body cameras, a police dashboard camera and a nearby business — were showed to The Associated Press and other media by North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley.“It’s fair to deduce from all of this that he is clearly targeting the police,” Wrigley told the AP. “He seemed to be waiting, and by waiting, doubled the number of police officers that were there,” but that “doesn’t speak to motive of why he did it,” the attorney general said.As the investigation wraps up, the FBI is helping to interview people who exchanged “unremarkable” amounts of money with gunman Mohamad Barakat before the July 14 shooting, Wrigley said.The attorney general has said Barakat appeared to be an example of the “...

Police ID man charged with 2nd-degree murder in Richmond Hill

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

York Regional Police identified a 35-year-old Toronto man charged with second-degree murder after a woman he was previously in a relationship with was found dead inside a Richmond Hill residence.Authorities were called to the home, located on Taylor Mills Drive South, just after 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 25, to check on the welfare of the residents.York Regional Police said officers found an adult male who required medical attention and was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.An adult female was located inside the home and pronounced dead at the scene.On Monday, police identified the suspect as 35-year-old Daniil Matin of Toronto. He’s facing a second-degree murder charge.Authorities confirmed that Matin and the victim knew each other and had been in a past relationship.Police said the woman’s identity is not being released at the family’s request.

Trump’s top aide Meadows testifies at hearing on bid to move Georgia election case to federal court

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Mark Meadows took the witness stand Monday at a hearing in Atlanta over whether the Trump White House chief of staff should be allowed to fight the Georgia indictment accusing him of participating in an illegal scheme to overturn the 2020 election in federal court rather than in a state court.Meadows, who was charged earlier this month along with former President Donald Trump and 17 other people, was questioned by both his lawyers and prosecutors — with a couple of Trump’s attorneys sitting in the courtroom listening in. Cross-examination was set to continue after a lunch break. After the defense finishes its case, it will be the prosecution’s turn to call witnesses.Meadows’ attorney George J. Terwilliger III asked him about his duties as Trump’s chief of staff and then walked him through the acts accused in the indictment to ask if he had done those as part of his job. For most of the acts listed, Meadows said he had performed them as part of his official duty....

Man, 20, fatally shot in head during attempted robbery on Far South Side

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

CHICAGO — A 20-year-old man was fatally shot during an attempted robbery on the city's Far South Side.The shooting happened around 12:15 a.m. Monday on the 1600 block of East 95th Street in the South Deering neighborhood. Police said the 20-year-old was approached by a male offender who was attempting to rob him.According to a witness, the 20-year-old tried to get away in his vehicle and was shot in the head by the offender. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Several carjackings, armed robberies within 2-hour span on Chicago’s North and West sides: police No one is in custody. Area Two Detectives are investigating.

Car thieves targeting unattended vehicles in parking lots and garages, CPD warns

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are warning locals about reoccurring car break-ins where unattended vehicles in parking lots and garages are the target.According to police, in each incident, dating back to Aug. 1, the suspect (s) entered the locked vehicles by breaking the driver or passenger side windows with an unknown object. Once inside, items were removed from the automobile. In one incident, a catalytic converter was removed from underneath the vehicle, police added.   Several carjackings, armed robberies within 2-hour span on Chicago’s North and West sides: police Chicago police listed the location, date, and times where incidents occurred: 600 block of South Financial Pl. on Aug. 1 at 10 A.M. 0-100 block of West Polk St. on Aug. 2 at 8 P.M.  800 block of South Wabash Ave. on Aug. 3 at 9:30 A.M. 800 block of South Wells St. on Aug. 6 at 8 P.M. 100 block of West 9th St. on Aug. 7 at 12:30 A.M. 600 block of South La Salle St. on Aug. 8 at 9:47 P.M.&nbs...

2,000 doses of naloxone donated to Cook County Sheriff's Office

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:15:51 GMT

CHICAGO — The Cook County Sheriff's Office will be able to provide a drug that reverses overdoses to first responders and community groups thanks to a recent donation.Two thousand doses of the life-saving drug naloxone were donated to the sheriff’s office in partnership with the Lawndale Christian Legal Center after one of their members recently revived a person at a West Side gas station. Matthew McFarland is a recovering addict who now dedicates his time to the Lawndale Legal Christian Center, helping people struggling with substance abuse disorder.  Will back-to-school season make the summer COVID surge worse? He has revived about 50 people with naloxone, dating back to his days of using heroin.Monday's donation was offered by Louisville-based US WorldMeds and is being given to the sheriff's office, which will then be distributed to community organizations that work firsthand with impacted people. “Naloxone is lifesaving,” Sheriff Tom Dart said. “Our staff has distributed more ...