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Mexican gang said to apologize over deaths of Americans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Someone claiming to be the Mexican drug cartel allegedly responsible for the abduction of four Americans and the killing of two of them has condemned the violence and purportedly turned over its own members who were involved to authorities.In a letter obtained by The Associated Press through a Tamaulipas state law enforcement source, the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel allegedly responsible for abducting the Americans apologized to the residents of Matamoros, the Mexican woman who died in the shooting and the four Americans and their families.Drug cartels have been known to issue communiques to intimidate rivals and authorities, but also at times like these to do some public relations work to try to smooth over situations that could affect their business.“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline,” the letter reads...

Biden budget with deficit cuts, tax hikes won’t fly with GOP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As political gridlock puts the government at risk of defaulting, President Joe Biden on Thursday is making an opening offer with a budget plan that would cut deficits by $2.9 trillion over the next decade — a proposal that Republicans already intend to reject.It’s part of a broader attempt by the president to call out House Republicans who are demanding severe cuts to spending in return for lifting the government’s legal borrowing limit. But the GOP has no counteroffer so far, other than a flat “no” to a Biden blueprint with tax increases on the wealthy that could form the policy backbone of Biden’s yet-to-be-declared campaign for reelection in 2024.“We see this as a value statement,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday. “This is something that shows the American people that we take this very seriously when we think about the fiscal responsibility, when we think about how do we move forward.”Biden’s package of t...

Health data breach hitting Congress ‘could be extraordinary’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House leaders say the impact of a hack of health insurance marketplace used by members of Congress “could be extraordinary,” exposing sensitive personal data of lawmakers, their employees and families.DC Health Link, which runs the exchange, said an unspecified number of customers were affected and it was notifying them and working with law enforcement to quantify the damage. It said it was offering identity theft service to those affected and extending credit monitoring to all customers. Some 11,000 of the exchange’s more than 100,000 participants work in the House and Senate or are relatives.In a letter to the exchange’s director posted on Twitter, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the breach “significantly increase the risk that Members, staff and their families will experience identity theft, financial crimes, and physical threats.” They said the FBI had informed them that it was able to purchase the stolen data on the ...

In Kentucky GOP governor race, one rival aims at the center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — On stage for the first time as a statewide candidate in the Kentucky governor’s race, a small-town mayor stood out for his stands on abortion and other issues that could draw in centrist voters, even as leading rivals veered to the right.Republican Alan Keck cracked a joke when asked to define “woke,” and said he tries to avoid the term that’s become a culture-war rallying cry for social conservatives.It was one of several instances when Keck parted ways with a trio of his rivals during the first televised debate in the campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in Kentucky.Keck, 38, the mayor of Somerset in southern Kentucky, shared the stage Tuesday with Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and Auditor Mike Harmon. Former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft declined to participate. Seven other competitors in the May 16 GOP primary didn’t qualify, based on their fundraising and other criteria, the local...

WATCH: Funeral services underway for fallen Chicago Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer who was killed in the line of duty will be laid to rest Thursday.Officers from across the country are expected to be present for the funeral of Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso.32-year-old Andres Vasquez-Lasso, courtesy CPDA funeral procession will begin at 9:30 a.m., leaving from Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn, located at 4727 West 103rd Street. The processional will head to St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 7740 South Western Avenue, where a funeral mass service will be held.Expect rolling street closures today for the funeral of Chicago Police Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso, who was killed in the line of duty last week while responding to a domestic disturbance on Chicago’s South Side.There will be two processions today for the service. DETAILS: pic.twitter.com/I4JW9ZSPqP— Sarah Jindra (@SarahJindra) March 9, 2023The 19th Ward alderperson is asking the community to line the streets during the procession to honor the fallen offic...

YETI coolers recalled over injury risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

(WXIN) - More than 1 million YETI coolers are being recalled over a risk involving the magnet-lined closures.The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall involves the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler 1.0 and 2.0, Hopper M20 Soft Backpack Cooler and SideKick Dry Gear Case. The products have a main pocket closure lined with high-powered magnets enclosed in a heat-sealed plastic strip.Recalled YETI Hopper M30 1.0 – Soft Cooler in Charcoal color (Photo//CPSC)called YETI Hopper M20 Soft Backpack Cooler in Charcoal color (Photo//CPSC)Recalled YETI Hopper M30 2.0 -Soft Cooler in Charcoal color (Photo//CPSC)Recalled YETI SideKick Dry Gear Case in Charcoal color (Photo//CPSC)The recalled coolers were sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods, ACE Hardware, Academy Sports + Outdoors, YETI and other stores nationwide and online between March 2018 and January 2023. New federal safety standard protects children from small magnets The recall was initiated because the magnet-lined closures can fail and...

81,000 chairs sold at T.J.Maxx, HomeGoods recalled following reports of concussion, contusions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – An office chair sold at retailers owned by the TJX Companies, Inc., is being recalled amid reports that the back of the chair can detach while in use, posing a fall hazard.TJX is recalling approximately 81,700 of the office chairs, which were sold at U.S. locations of T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and Homesense between June 2019 and December 2022, according to a notice published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Roughly an additional 1,000 chairs are being recalled in Canada. Do you know the meaning of T.J.Maxx's color-coded price tags? The recalled chairs were sold in a variety of colors and materials. (CPSC)The office chairs, which featured a round cushioned seat and a contoured backrest, were sold in nearly a dozen different colors, as well as with a variety of upholstery materials. The defective chairs can also be identified by one of several style numbers included on the tag:  GT646, GT646A, GT646AA, GT646AB or GT646AABO. The words “ANJI GUOTAI Furn...

Dean’s A-List Interview: Kathryn Newton on 'Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards sits down with Kathryn Newton to talk about her role in the new upcoming Marvel movie ‘Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

GM offering buyouts to most salaried workers in US to cut costs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is offering buyouts to most of its U.S. salaried workforce and some global executives in an effort to trim costs as it makes the transition to electric vehicles.The Detroit automaker wouldn't say how many workers it is targeting, but confirmed that the move is aimed at accelerating attrition to meet a previously announced goal of $2 billion in cost cuts by the end of next year. GM has about 58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.The company says the offers also are designed to avoid any possible firings at a later date.Offers will go to white-collar workers with at least five years of service, and global executives with who have been with the company at least two years.U.S. salaried workers are being offered one month of pay for every year of service, up to 12 months. They'll also be offered health COBRA health care and part of the bonuses they would receive this year.The decision to offer buyouts comes at an uncertain time for the auto industry, which is i...

Rihanna sends flowers to senior ladies for 'amazing' Super Bowl reenactment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:27 GMT

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WJW) — A group of ladies at Arcadia Senior Living in Kentucky received quite the surprise over the weekend when a bouquet of flowers apparently arrived from a certain pop star.Turns out, Rihanna apparently saw the viral video of some of the Bowling Green retirement home residents reenacting a moment from her now-infamous 2023 Super Bowl halftime show."The moment we’ve hoped for, Rihanna has delivered," the retirement home said in a Facebook post, showing off white roses and a note that said, "You ladies dance was amazing. Love Roc Nation. Rihanna." Possible changes coming to Ohio’s medical marijuana program and not everyone is pleased The video, which showed about a dozen older ladies -- all dressed in white except one who wore red as Rihanna did in the show -- lip-syncing to the pop star’s “Rude Boy,” has garnered millions of views since being posted.Rihanna provided a high-flying halftime performance in Arizona. The nine-time Grammy Award winne...