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Hong Kong’s activist publisher to stand trial this week under Beijing’s crackdown on dissidents

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — The trial of Hong Kong’s most famous activist publisher who was arrested under China’s crackdown on dissidents will start Monday after being delayed for over a year.Jimmy Lai, 76, broke into the city’s once freewheeling media world about three decades ago, armed with the belief that delivering information is equal to protecting freedom. Now, his own freedom is at stake as he faces a possible life sentence if convicted under a national security law imposed by Beijing following the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Lai is charged with colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to publish seditious publications. The landmark case — tied to the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily that Lai founded — is seen by many as a trial for press freedom and a test for judicial independence in the former British colony, which was promised to have its Western-style civil liberties remain intact for 50 years after returning to ...

Large fire burns second residential construction site in three days in Denver suburb

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Firefighters in the Denver metro area responded to the second large fire at an Aurora construction site in three days on Saturday. Officials have not yet determined the cause for either fire and have not suggested that they were related, but both are under investigation. Saturday’s five-alarm fire was reported about 12:48 p.m., said Aurora Fire Rescue spokesperson Andrew Logan, at a large apartment building that was still under construction. Responding crews went to the top floor of the five-story building where the blaze was reported to have started, but the dangerous conditions soon forced crews from several different agencies to focus on fighting the flames from outside the structure. One firefighter suffered minor injuries, according to a department news release, but was not taken to a hospital and is recovering.No other buildings were damaged in the fire, Logan said, and firefighters were expected to remain on the scene through Saturday evening.Another fire ...

Jake Browning shines again for Bengals, rallying them to 27-24 overtime win over Vikings

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Trailing 17-3 late in the third quarter behind an offense that had struggled to move the ball, the Bengals needed Jake Browning to be nearly perfect — and he was.Browning led Cincinnati to three fourth-quarter touchdowns and directed the winning drive in overtime in his latest extraordinary performance since taking over for the injured Joe Burrow, and the Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 on Saturday to improve their position in the playoff race.Browning won his third straight start and improved to 3-1 since Burrow suffered a season-ending right wrist injury in a loss at Baltimore. This time, he threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and overtime, becoming the fourth QB in the past two years to throw for at least that many yards and two or more scores after three quarters.“I feel like I need a beer,” said Browning, who beat a team that cut him from its practice squad two years ago.Tee Higgins went high over a Vikings defender to catch a...

Group of teens charged after allegedly beating man and stealing his car in Loop parking garage

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Four teenage boys were taken into police custody and charged Saturday after beating a man and stealing his vehicle in a Loop parking garage, according to the Chicago Police Department.Here is a list of the suspects placed in police custody and their corresponding charges:14-year-old boy: One felony count of vehicular hijacking.15-year-old boy: One felony count of vehicular hijacking.15-year-old boy: One felony count of vehicular hijacking.16-year-old boy: One felony count of vehicular hijacking.CPD said a 52-year-old man was entering his vehicle in a parking garage in the 200 block of North LaSalle Street when at least four teenage boys approached and hit him in the head with an unknown object. The man fell to the ground and police said the teens continued to beat him, hitting him in the face and body, before they took his keys and fled the scene in his vehicle with his personal belongings. 16-year-old boy charged with 1st degree murder in double fatal shooting of 14-yea...

Police: 1 shot at Barton Creek Square mall

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person was shot at Barton Creek Square mall on Saturday afternoon, according to the Austin Police Department. The shooting happened near the AMC theater and The Cheesecake Factory. APD said officers responded to a shots fired call at 4:43 p.m. The victim was taken to the hospital with minor, non-life-threatening injuries, according to Austin-Travis County EMS. Two more people had minor injuries from evacuating the mall, but they were not taken to the hospital. APD said a suspect was not in custody as of 5:50 p.m. Police said this was not an active shooter situation and there was no threat to the public. Police said this is "an isolated incident," and an investigation is ongoing. The mall went on lockdown, but APD said mall announcements were made before 6 p.m. telling people they could leave the mall. In an update just before 7 p.m., police said the mall reopened except for the area near The Cheesecake Factory and movie theater.What witnesses saw, heardA mall emp...

State of Texas: 'Revenge tours' shape battles on Texas primary ballots

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The ballot is set for the 2024 Texas primary. Monday marked the deadline for candidates to file for the March 5 election. While every primary season has its share of heated campaigns, 2024 has something different in play: revenge. Two of the state's top Republican leaders are campaigning against incumbents from their own party. The outcome could bring significant change to the Texas House.Both Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have mounted what some call "revenge tours" in the runup to the primary. Abbott is endorsing candidates running against Republican House members who voted against his priority legislation for Education Savings Accounts, which allow parents to use public dollars to pay for private school. Paxton is endorsing candidates running against House Republicans who voted to impeach him.Those vendettas against certain members have put Abbott and Paxton on different sides in several races. There are at least 22 House races in which Ab...

St. Paul man sentenced to nearly four years in prison for firearms charge

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

A St. Paul man connected to a Maplewood shooting in 2022 was sentenced to 3.8 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, U.S. Attorney for Minnesota AndrewLuger announced this week.Court documents show on March 7, 2023, St. Paul police officers went looking for De’Voncea Lashoun Griffo, 25, who was a suspect in an investigation.De’Voncea Lashoun Griffo (Courtesy of Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)During their surveillance of the apartment building where Griffo lived, police said they saw him leave wearing a cross-body bag across his chest. He drove away in a Chevrolet Equinox and parked in a thrift store lot. Officers activated their emergency lights and conducted a felony stop.Officers said that before they approached the vehicle, Griffo took off his bag and put it behind the center console of the car.After he was arrested, officers obtained a search warrant and recovered the bag, which they said contained a .45-caliber Glock pistol with an extended m...

Vikings suffer heartbreaking loss to Bengals after failed Tush Pushes in overtime

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

CINCINNATI — On back-to-back plays in overtime, the Vikings turned to a Tush Push with quarterback Nick Mullens needing to gain just a few inches. They failed to convert the first down both times.Ultimately, that proved costly as the Vikings turned the ball over on downs, gifting the Cincinnati Bengals the ball back near midfield. A few plays later, the Vikings walked off the field with a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to the Bengals after Evan McPherson converted a 29-yard field goal.The frustration was palpable on the face of Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. He looked like he had gone a full 12 rounds with Mike Tyson as he stepped to the podium postgame.“I felt like we let one slip away,” O’Connell said. “We just didn’t capitalize on our last opportunity offensively.”Still, as much as the failed Tush Pushes late in the game served as the lasting image, and rightfully so, it shouldn’t be overlooked that Mullens turned the ball over twice...

Potential strike looms for Anheuser-Busch in 2024 after teamsters vote

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Anheuser-Busch could be dealing with a strike next year. On Saturday, teamsters authorized a plan to strike if A-B doesn't negotiate a new contract agreement by the end of February.Teamsters National Negotiating Committee announced Saturday that A-B teamsters nationwide voted 99% in support of a strike. The union is hopeful for a new deal that improves wages, protects jobs, and secures stronger health care and benefits. A current contract deal that covers 5,000 teamsters across 12 A-B breweries nationwide is set to expire Feb. 29, 2024. North St. Louis nursing home abruptly closes; Residents moved, workers without pay “Teamsters stand firm in our fight for the best contract at Anheuser-Busch, and this powerful strike vote proves it,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien via a news release. "Our members’ labor, talent, and sacrifice are what put Anheuser-Busch products on the shelf, and we are committed to getting a contract that rewards and recognizes thei...

Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid fined for comments after Bills-Chiefs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:30:57 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The specific amounts have yet to be reported, but ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio has confirmed that the NFL has fined both quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid for their comments aimed at the officiating after the loss to the Buffalo Bills.They were initially visibly and vocally upset right after the contest thinking the offensive offsides called against Kadarius Toney was unfair. Mahomes showed it on his face, yelling at the refs from the sideline and then followed that with more displeasure at the post-game podium.Reid called out the refs at the post-game presser saying "It's a bit embarrassing."A couple days later Mahomes expressed regret for the way he acted after the game. Reid admitted after looking at the film that Toney did not check with the ref before being lined up on the play that took back a Chiefs touchdown.