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Migrants crossing dense Darien jungle at Colombia-Panama border find increasingly organized route

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

ACANDI, Colombia (AP) — Migrants who have hiked into the dense Darien jungle covering the Colombia-Panama border while the U.S. government moved to lift pandemic-related asylum restrictions have found an increasingly organized migration route.The majority who spoke with The Associated Press had not heard anything about the policy change, and the few who did had a very limited understanding.The Darien Gap is the most imposing physical barrier for migrants heading north until they reach the U.S. border. They must hike over steep mountains, endure torrential rain and ford swift running rivers. They are easy prey for bandits who rob and rape.But on the Colombian side of the border, locals have become increasingly organized in recent years as it became a major migration route.Migrants begin their crossing in Acandi, Colombia, where there is now a camp at the edge of the jungle. This week, hundreds of migrants, many carrying young children, waited there for their turn to start the walk, p...

House Republicans set to pass new asylum restrictions as Title 42 ends; Biden promises veto

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans were on track Thursday to pass a sweeping bill to build more U.S.-Mexico border wall and impose new restrictions on asylum seekers, creating a hard-line counter to President Joe Biden’s policies just as migrants are amassing along the border with the end of coronavirus pandemic restrictions.The bill has virtually no chance of becoming law. Democrats, who have a narrow hold on the Senate, have decried the aggressive measures in the bill as “cruel” and “anti-immigrant,” and Biden has already promised he would veto it.But the House GOP pointedly scheduled the vote for the same day as the expiration of Title 42, a public health emergency rule that allowed border authorities to quickly return many migrants who crossed the border illegally. Biden has conceded that the southern border will be “chaotic for a while” as migrants weigh whether to cross and U.S. officials use a new set of policies that aim to clamp down on illegal immigration whil...

‘Money, power, sex:’ Idaho prosecutors asks jury to convict slain kids’ mom in alleged doomsday plot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho prosecutors have spent the last four weeks painstakingly detailing their case against a woman accused of killing her two youngest children and a romantic rival in a bizarre doomsday-focused plot. On Thursday morning, Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood gave an impassioned speech to jurors, urging them to convict Lori Vallow Daybell for the deaths of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and her fifth husband’s previous wife Tammy Daybell. “Money, power and sex,” Wood told jurors, reprising the opening arguments they heard last month. “Beginning in October of 2018, Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell set in motion a series of events that led to three horrific murders in the state of Idaho.” Vallow Daybell wanted to be “unencumbered by obstacles,” Wood said, so that she could have what she truly desired: money, power and sex. “The plan that she set in motion must end today in the verdicts you render in this trial,” Wood said. Both defendants ha...

With Missouri ban on gender-affirming care likely, Kansas City Council to vote on sanctuary status

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Officials in Missouri’s largest city could vote Thursday on a resolution to declare it a sanctuary for people seeking or providing gender-affirming care, defying state lawmakers who voted a day earlier to ban such care for minors and restrict it for some adults.GOP Gov. Mike Parson is expected to sign the measure into law, joining at least 16 other states that have enacted similar laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors. Kansas City’s proposal is coming from a Democratic-leaning city in a state with a Republican governor and GOP-controlled Legislature. Similar action has been taken in places like Austin, Texas. The resolution also comes as a judge considers a proposed emergency rule from Republican state Attorney General Andrew Bailey that would require adults and children to undergo more than a year of therapy — and fulfill other requirements before they could receive gender-affirming treatment.A committee signed off Wednesday on t...

RioCan REIT saw strong Q1 retail occupancy levels, rent rates ticking up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

TORONTO — The chief executive of one of the country’s most prominent commercial landlords says retail occupancy levels and rent rates are ticking up even as many storefronts across Canada sit empty.Jonathan Gitlin of RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust says retail committed occupancy across his company’s portfolio edged up to 98 per cent in the first quarter of the year from 97.4 per cent in the same period a year ago.Rent per square for new leasing during the period ended March 31 was $28.57, down from $31.40 a year ago, but up from $24.10 in the prior quarter.The first quarter’s rent per square foot was even higher than the average net rent per square foot of $21.13 that it saw across the rest of its portfolio, he added.“These exceptional occupancy levels…continue to be driven by intense demand for RioCan’s quality retail space, the sort of retail space that simply put is in a short supply,” Gitlin said on a Thursday call with analysts.His remar...

Insolvencies in Canada in March up 28.3% year-over-year, report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

OTTAWA — The total number of insolvencies in Canada in March was up 28.3 per cent compared with the same month last year as both consumer and business insolvencies climbed higher.The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy says there were 12,203 insolvencies in March, up from 9,513 in March 2022.The tally was also up 28.1 per cent from 9,526 in February this year.The increase came as Canadians have faced higher interest rates and inflation which have driven up the cost of living and stretched household budgets. The number of consumer insolvencies in March amounted to 11,768, up from 9,195 in March 2022 and 9,222 in February 2023.Meanwhile, there were 435 business insolvencies in March, up from 318 in the same month last year and 304 in February this year.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2023.The Canadian Press

Boy, 14, charged with first-degree murder in shooting outside South Side fast food restaurant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A 14-year-old boy has been charged in the fatal shooting of a man outside a fast food restaurant on the city's South Side.Police said the teen faces one felony count of first-degree murder.The shooting happened around 9:40 p.m. Tuesday in the 2100 block of East 71st Place. Police said a man was arguing with the teen in front of a fast food restaurant, when the 14-year-old fired shots. Man fatally shot during argument outside fast food restaurant on South Side The man was transported to University of Chicago Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was pronounced dead.The teen was arrested about an hour after the shooting and was charged accordingly.

Leaders gather at interfaith breakfast to pray for mayor-elect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Fresh off a trip to Washington D.C., advocating for more dollars for the city, mayor-elect Brandon Johnson gathered with faith leaders to pray Thursday morning.Several hundred people were in attendance at the interfaith breakfast just days Brandon Johnson gets sworn in as Chicago's next mayor. Several religious leaders prayed for Johnson's leadership and unity for the city. "I pray that as we stand here, there is a difference between unity and uniformity," Imam Tariq El-Amin from Masjid Al-Taqwa said. ‘Blossom’ the cow thriving after Niles senior prank "I am confident today Chicago that the colors that wrap us and cover us in this moment will be enough to transform not just the city of Chicago but the entire world," Johnson said.After the mayor-elect spoke to the crowd, they surrounded him, stretching arms and prayed for his strength and to never give up. Johnson also announced more staffing decisions for key positions with a new incoming budget director and chief f...

Michael Jordan’s famed ‘Dream Team’ Olympic jacket heading to auction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

The jacket that Michael Jordan famously and grudgingly wore while receiving an Olympic gold medal has been in Brian McIntyre’s possession for more than three decades now.He figures the time is right to let someone else enjoy it.The red, white and blue Reebok jacket that Jordan — a Nike athlete — was forced to wear on the medal stand alongside the other members of USA Basketball’s first “Dream Team” at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics is headed to auction. Sotheby’s, which has the offering that will run through June 28, estimates that the jacket could fetch anywhere from $1 million to $3 million. WGN at 75: How Channel 9 covered Michael Jordan’s historic 1988 All-Star Weekend “I’ve enjoyed it and it’s just the right time to do this,” McIntyre said. “And it’s easier to do this than it is to leave things for my kids.”Jordan is aware of the decision to auction the jacket, McIntyre said.FILE - United States' Scottie Pippen, left, Michael Jorden, center, and Clyde Drexler rejoice, Aug. 8, 19...

Texas law enforcement entities show support after Cameron police officer killed on duty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:00 GMT

CAMERON, Texas (KXAN) -- Several Texas law enforcement entities have shown support for the Cameron Police Department after an officer was killed on duty late Wednesday night. According to the Milam County Sheriff's Office, it happened during a response to a report of a gunshot victim around 11 p.m. Wednesday. Cameron Police, the Milam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockdale Police and the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the incident. Cameron officer, suspect killed in shooting MCSO said the suspect opened fire on law enforcement personnel, and law enforcement fired back. The suspect was shot and killed, and a Cameron officer was wounded and taken to a hospital where they died.The last time a Cameron police officer was killed in the line of duty was 1935, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. Several law enforcement entities have taken to social media to show support for the Cameron Police Department. The Lago Vista Police Department offered thoughts and prayers in ...