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Georgia deputy shoots, kills man who spent 16 years in a South Florida prison on wrongful conviction

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

KINGSLAND, Ga. (AP) — A Black man who spent more than 16 years imprisoned in Florida on a wrongful conviction was fatally shot Monday by a sheriff’s deputy in Georgia during a traffic stop, authorities said.The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is reviewing the shooting, identified the man as Leonard Allen Cure, 53.Cure had been represented in his exoneration case by the Innocence Project of Florida. The group’s executive director, Seth Miller, said he was devastated by news of the death, which he heard from Cure’s family.“I can only imagine what it’s like to know your son is innocent and watch him be sentenced to life in prison, to be exonerated and … then be told that once he’s been freed, he’s been shot dead,” Miller said.The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said a Camden County deputy pulled over Cure as he drove along Interstate 95 near the Georgia-Florida line. He got out of the car at the deputy’s request and cooperated at first but became violent after he was told ...

Prosecutors seeking to recharge Actor Alec Baldwin in fatal shooting on movie set

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Special prosecutors said Tuesday they are seeking to recharge actor Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie in New Mexico two years ago.New Mexico-based prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said they’ll present evidence grand jury within the next two months, noting that “additional facts” have come to light in the October 2021 fatal shooting on the set of “Rust” during filming on the outskirts of Santa Fe.Baldwin, a coproducer of the film, was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal on the film’s set outside Santa Fe when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the gun fired.Special prosecutors in April initially dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin, saying at the time that they were informed the gun might have been modified before the ...

Hamas-run Health Ministry says Israeli airstrike on hospital kills hundreds

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Health Ministry run by Hamas said an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday hit a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter, killing hundreds. If confirmed, the attack would be by far the deadliest Israeli airstrike in five wars fought since 2008.The health ministry, which is run by Hamas, said at least 500 people had been killed. Photos purportedly from al-Ahli Hospital shared widely on social video showed fire engulfing the building, widespread damage and bodies scattered in the wreckage. The photos could not be independently verified.Several hospitals in Gaza City have become refuges for hundreds of people, hoping they would be spared bombardment after Israel ordered all residents of the city and surrounding areas to evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip.Hamas, which sparked the latest war with an attack last week that killed more than 1,400 Israelis, called Tuesday’s hospital strike “a horrific massacre.” It said i...

Disney attorneys want to question former administrator in lawsuit with DeSantis appointees

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Disney attorneys want to question a previous administrator of the governing district that provides municipal services to Walt Disney World as part of its defense against a state lawsuit brought by a board made up of appointees of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.Disney attorneys said in court papers Monday that they have subpoenaed John Classe, the former administrator of what was previously called the Reedy Creek Improvement District for 55 years until it was renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District earlier this year during a takeover by DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature. The takeover of the district, which was previously controlled by Disney allies, came after the company publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades.Following the takeover, Classe was replaced by DeSantis ally, Glen Gilzean.Classe was in charge of the district when the governing body signed agree...

Guinness World Records declares Pepper X as world’s new hottest chili pepper

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

(CNN) — The Carolina Reaper has met its match.Chili Pepper X has captured the spicy record as the world’s hottest, Guinness World Records announced on Monday.The new pepper rates an average of 2.69 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU), according to tests performed by Winthrop University in South Carolina, beating the previous record holder, Carolina Reaper, which averages 1.64 million SHU, according to Guinness World Records.The SHU scale to measure chili pepper heat was developed by American chemist Wilbur Scoville in 1912.By comparison, the average jalapeño pepper scores between 3,000 to 8,000 SHU, according to Guinness.Pepper X is grown by Ed Currie, founder of Puckerbutt Pepper Company in South Carolina. He also created the Carolina Reaper, which took the record in 2013.“Ed cultivated Pepper X on his farm for over 10 years, cross breeding it with some of his hottest peppers to increase its capsaicin content,” Guinness said on its website.Currie first presented Pepper X to...

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ review: Uneven but engrossing drama from Scorsese

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

Getting your arms all the way around “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a tricky endeavor.That isn’t only because of the film’s length — nearly three-and-a-half hours — although that’s certainly part of it.An epic Western crime drama based on real and entirely stomach-turning events from roughly a century ago, the latest film from acclaimed director Martin Scorsese could be seen as so many things. Among them: a treatise on greed and exploitation and a character study of the extremely flawed man at the center of the story, Ernest Burkhart.And while it excels at being neither of those, Scorsese’s chronicling of the so-called “Reign of Terror” experienced by the Osage nation — during which many of its members were systematically killed by those wishing to obtain the Native American group’s oil-related wealth — it nonetheless is a largely compelling and engaging cinematic experience.In theaters this week and bound for Apple TV+ at some point down the line, “Flower Moon” moves more fluidly ...

The new vaccines and you: Americans better armed than ever against the winter blechs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

Amy Maxmen | (TNS) KFF Health NewsLast year’s “triple-demic” marked the beginning of what may be a new normal: a confluence of respiratory infections — RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 — will surge as the weather cools each year.Like blizzards, the specific timing and severity of these outbreaks are hard to forecast. But their damage can be limited in more ways than ever before. More protective vaccines against influenza are on the horizon. And new vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, were approved this year, as were updated COVID vaccines. Although the first days of rollout for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines saw hiccups, with short supplies at some pharmacies and billing confusion with some insurers, the shots now are generally available at no cost.What’s more, after enduring the worst pandemic in a century, people are more attuned to protecting themselves and those around them. Wearing face masks and staying home when sick can stop the spread of most respiratory infe...

Belgian police kill Tunisian man suspected of shooting 3 Swedish soccer fans, killing 2 of them

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

By LORNE COOK, SYLVAIN PLAZY and RAF CASERT (Associated Press)BRUSSELS (AP) — Authorities in the Belgian capital shot and killed a Tunisian national on Tuesday hours after they say he gunned down three Swedish soccer fans, killing two of them, and posted a video online in which he claimed credit for the attack and said the Quran was “a red line for which he is ready to sacrifice himself.”Investigators are still trying to determine the motive for Monday night’s attack, which happened not far from where Belgium’s men’s soccer team was hosting Sweden in a European Championships qualifier. The match was suspended at halftime and the more than 35,000 fans were kept inside the stadium as a precaution while the attacker was at large.Amateur videos of the attack posted on social media showed a man wearing an orange fluorescent vest pull up on a scooter, take out a large weapon and open fire on people getting out of a taxi. He chased them into a building to gun them down. He was also filmed ...

JetBlue, Uber to offer free rides to passengers facing certain travel disruptions

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

Donald Wood | TravelPulse (TNS)Uber for Business and JetBlue announced a new partnership designed to benefit airline passengers impacted by qualifying travel disruptions.As part of the deal, JetBlue would offer complimentary Uber vouchers to its passengers who experience a qualified flight delay or cancellation, with the program currently available across the United States in every city where the carrier operates.Uber and JetBlue also revealed plans to expand the service internationally, beginning with major airports in Paris, London, and Amsterdam.“We always work to give our customers a great onboard experience and get them to their destination safely and on time,” JetBlue President and COO Joanna Geraghty said. “Sometimes travel doesn’t go as planned, and flights can get delayed or cancelled.”“In those cases, when the disruption is due to something in our control, our partnership with Uber for Business will make options for our customers more seamless,” Geraghty continued.For pass...

Shorthanded Patriots down eight starters at Tuesday’s practice

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:44:46 GMT

The New England Patriots have been crushed by injuries this season, and it doesn’t look like this week will bring much relief.Eight starters were missing from Tuesday’s practice, including four each from both the offense and defense.Left tackle Trent Brown, tight end Hunter Henry, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back Rhamondre Stevenson were missing from the offense, and cornerback Jonathan Jones, linebacker Josh Uche and defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Keion White were absent from the defense.Brown (chest), Smith-Schuster (concussion), Godchaux (ankle) and Uche (ankle) were all on the injury report last week, while the other four were banged up on Sunday in Las Vegas, with White leaving during the first defensive series after suffering an apparent head injury.It wasn’t all bad news for the Patriots. Cornerback Jack Jones, who has been sidelined since Week 1 with a hamstring injury, was back on the field, starting his 21-day clock to return to th...