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Gunman used social media to attack Jews before deadly Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, jurors learn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A gunman who killed 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue ranted incessantly on social media about his hatred of Jewish people before the 2018 attack, according to evidence introduced at his federal death penalty trial Tuesday.Prosecutors are trying to show Robert Bowers was motivated by extreme hostility toward Jews when he opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue during Sabbath services and committed the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.The 50-year-old truck driver is charged with 63 criminal counts, including hate crimes resulting in death and the obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. Some of the charges carry a potential death sentence.With the trial in its third week, testimony turned toward Bowers’ use of Gab — a social media platform popular with the far right — to advance his antisemitic views.Bowers’ Gab profile said “Jews are the children of Satan,” and he posted, liked or shared a stream of virulently antisemiti...

Grammys add new categories, including for pop dance recording and African music performance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — More change is afoot at the Grammys. The Recording Academy announced Tuesday that three new categories will be added to the awards show in 2024: best pop dance recording, best African music performance, and best alternative jazz album.In addition, two existing categories have been moved to the general field, which means that all Grammy voters can participate in selecting the winners: producer of the year, non-classical, and songwriter of the year, non-classical, the latter of which was first introduced this year.Previously, the general categories were made up solely of the “Big Four” awards: best new artist, as well as album, record, and song of the year. Grammy voters are eligible to vote in general categories, as well as up to ten categories across three genre fields — and are instructed only to vote in their area of expertise. The changes to those two categories reflect an evolving music industry, where songwriters and producers have become increasingly celebra...

Republicans to cut University of Wisconsin budget in ongoing fight over diversity and inclusion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican state lawmakers were poised Tuesday to cut funding for University of Wisconsin campuses as the GOP-controlled Legislature and school officials continue to clash over efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.The vote comes just days after Republicans refused to fund the university’s top building project priority — a new engineering facility on the flagship Madison campus.Tensions between Republicans who control the Legislature and the state’s university system are nothing new. But the fight this year centers on issues of free speech and UW’s work to advance diversity and racial equity.Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the state’s top Republican, said ahead of a meeting of the budget-writing committee on Tuesday that he wants it to cut all funding for diversity initiatives at UW. He estimated the cuts would total $32 million.“I hope we have the ability to eliminate that spending. The university should have already chosen to redirect it to ...

Police: assailant stabs 3 to death, steals van and runs down 3 in English city of Nottingham

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A knife-wielding assailant stabbed two college students to death in the streets of the English city of Nottingham and then fatally stabbed a middle-aged man, stole his van and ran down three pedestrians in a shocking early morning rampage Tuesday, police said. One man was hospitalized in critical condition from the hit-and-run.A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and police said they believe he acted alone. Nottinghamshire Police detectives were working with counterterrorism officers to try to establish a motive. “This is an horrific and tragic incident which has claimed the lives of three people,” Chief Constable Kate Meynell said.Two 19-year-old students from the University of Nottingham were among the dead. “We are shocked and devastated by the news,” the school said in an announcement.A graduation ball that had been scheduled Tuesday evening was canceled.The attack on the students occurred around dawn when the two were found dead on a road near stu...

Minibus slams into parked pickup truck killing 15 in southern Egypt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — A speeding minibus slammed into a pickup truck parked on the side of a desert road in southern Egypt on Tuesday, killing at least 15 people, authorities said.The fatal crash happened on the eastern bank of the Nile River near the town of al-Saff, roughly 34 miles (55 kilometers) south of the capital, Cairo, Egypt’s Interior Ministry said. Two women were also injured in the accident and later taken to hospital, it said.The minibus was speeding when the crash happened and the pickup truck driver, who survived the accident, was detained for questioning, according to the ministry’s statement. An investigation was underway to determine the causes and circumstances around the accident, it added.Fatal traffic accidents are frequent in the North African country. In May, a passenger bus slammed into a slow-moving truck on a highway in southwestern Egypt, killing 17 people. In February, six people were killed when a pickup truck and a minibus collided near Egypt’s eas...

WATCH LIVE | Chicago weather: Rain, Canadian wildfires, warmer temps ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

As we look ahead to the rest of this week and next, these are the weather headlines we're watching:Showers coverage to increase Tuesday afternoon and evening but unlikely to make a dent in the on-going drought. Canadian wildfire smoke aloft looks to return to Chicago skies later Wednesday and more showers in the forecast over Father's Day weekend. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here And a warmer weather pattern is set to descend next week as temps may flirt with 90 degrees on the back half.CLOUDS AND SHOWERS TO INCREASEA cut off low slowed by its entanglement in an upper level blocking pattern is set to sweep backside clouds and showers into the area. This will increase areal coverage across the Chicago area Tuesday afternoon and evening, then thin out again.CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE TO RETURN LATER WEDNESDAYFires continue to burn across Canada with their smoke plume evident on GOES weather satellite imagery. The retreat of smoke from area skies has been the product of ...

Southwest Airlines offering 40% off flights if you book by Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

Southwest Airlines is offering 40% off base fares for flights booked before Thursday for travel this fall.It's part of the airline's big birthday sale as it celebrates its 52nd year in business this week. 5 places to travel without a passport this summer The flights must be booked between now and 11:59 p.m. PST Thursday.According to Southwest, the flights have to be booked for travel between Aug. 15 and Dec. 14. The promo can't be used for travel between Nov.16-27.To get the discount, use the promo code 40OFF when you book.

Patrick Sharp gets a new job in the NHL

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the members of the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup champions in the 2010s is taking his next step in hockey with another organization. This time, Patrick Sharp is joining a front office. The former player and broadcaster for the Blackhawks is being hired by the Philadelphia Flyers as a special advisor to hockey operations. He'll start the job immediately and will report to their general manager Daniel Briere, with his focus being on the development of prospects in the Flyers organization. It's a return to Sharp's pro hockey roots as he was selected by the Flyers in the third round of the 2001 NHL Draft and played for the Flyers for two-and-a-half seasons before being traded to the Blackhawks in December 2005."In adding Patrick Sharp to our group, we are gaining an individual who has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to building an environment of winning at all levels," said Philadelphia president of hockey operations Keith Jones in a release from the team. "Patrick knows ...

Texas governor signs major patient safety bill into law, sparked by KXAN investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

Democratic Rep. Julie Johnson and Republican Sen. Bob Hall hold HB 1998. (Courtesy Rep. Julie Johnson)Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 13, 2023. Watch Matt Grant's investigation tonight on KXAN.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gov. Greg Abbott signed a major patient safety bill into law Tuesday, capping a bipartisan achievement that will reform the Texas Medical Board, protect patients from potentially dangerous doctors and, supporters say, save lives. "This bill will absolutely save lives," said Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch, who introduced HB 1998 in direct response to KXAN's "Still Practicing" investigations. "I'm thrilled we got this passed." READ THE BILL: HB 1998 was sparked by KXAN. Advocates say it will save lives. The new law addresses problems KXAN first uncovered. Five years after the infamous Texas surgeon, nicknamed "Dr. Death," was sentenced to life in prison, we wanted to see if anything in the state had changed. Our investigation...

Gov. Abbott signs bill eliminating mandatory vehicle inspections in Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:18 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN coverage after the Texas vehicle inspection bill passed the Texas House and Senate.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday signed a bill that will eliminate the annual vehicle inspection requirement for most vehicles in Texas. Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 3297 earlier this month, eliminating the inspections for vehicles in all but 17 Texas counties. DETAILS: Texas passes bill eliminating mandatory vehicle inspections Texans living in the most-populated counties will still have to appear annually for an emissions test. The 17 counties that require emissions inspections include those surrounding the major metro areas, other than San Antonio: Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Montgomery, Galveston, Williamson, Travis, Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Rockwall, Kaufman, Ellis, Johnson, Parker, and El Paso.In 2025, vehicle safety inspections will be replaced by an annual $7.50 fee — the same as the current inspection fee, but witho...