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3 teen girls plead guilty, get 20 years in carjacking, dragging death of 73-year-old woman

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Three teenage girls involved in the dragging death of a woman whose arm was severed during a carjacking in New Orleans last year pleaded guilty Monday to reduced charges and were sentenced to 20 years in prison. New Orleans news outlets report that the three were convicted of attempted manslaughter in the death of Linda Frickey, 73. A fourth suspect, a male who is now 18, still faces a second-degree murder charge, which carries a life sentence.All four had been slated for trial Monday. Jury selection for the lone remaining suspect, who prosecutors said was behind the wheel when Frickey died, got underway after the three girls’ guilty pleas were entered. The four ranged in age from 15 to 17 when they were charged as adults in the March 2022 killing. Authorities said Frickey died of blunt force injuries after she became entangled in a seatbelt as carjackers sped away with her car on the afternoon of March 21. She was dragged while neighbors watched helplessly....

Boston Bruins forward Lucic to be arraigned on assault charge after wife called police to their home

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic is scheduled to be arraigned on an assault charge in connection with his arrest this weekend after his wife called police to their home and said he tried to choke her.A Boston Police Department report released Monday said Lucic, a member of the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup championship team, appeared intoxicated when they arrived at his North End apartment early Saturday. According to the police report, Lucic was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery on a family member, which carries a maximum penalty of 2 1/2 years in prison; he is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.Lucic’s agent did not reply to an email seeking comment over the weekend, and did not immediately respond to text message seeking comment Monday.The police report said Brittany Lucic told police on the telephone that her husband tried to choke her. When officers arrived, she said Milan Lucic had pulled her hair but did not try to strangle her. She declined an offer ...

Las Vegas Grand Prix drives record betting at BetMGM for a Formula One race

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas Grand Prix, which Max Verstappen won Saturday night, blew past BetMGM betting handles for previous Formula One races.Trading manager Seamus Magee said BetMGM took three times the number of bets than any other previous F1 race.Westgate Las Vegas and Red Rock Resort reported on Saturday this race was the most-bet Formula One event at those sportsbooks.Formula One’s most expensive and hyped race that included the lure of drivers competing on the famed Las Vegas Strip drove the betting action.Verstappen, who has won three series championships in a row, took the lead with 13 laps left to win for an 18th time this season.One BetMGM bettor wagered $200,000 at minus-200 to win $100,000 when Verstappen cruised past the start/finish line. He opened at minus-350 at that sportsbook, and the number moved down throughout the week before finally reaching minus-185.Rather than try to find value, many bettors went for the near sure payoff with 28.7% of money goin...

Key Fed official sees possible ‘golden path’ toward lower inflation without a recession

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, suggested Monday that the economy appears to be on what he calls the “golden path,” another term for what economists call a “soft landing,” in which the Fed would curb inflation without causing a deep recession.“Any time we’ve had a serious cut to the inflation rate, it’s come with a major recession,” Goolsbee said in an interview with The Associated Press. “And so the golden path is a … bigger soft landing than conventional wisdom believes has ever been possible. I still think it is possible.”At the same time, he cautioned: “I haven’t moved so far as to say that that’s what my prediction is.”Goolsbee declined to comment on the likely future path for the Fed’s key short-term interest rate. Nor would he say what his thoughts were about the timing of an eventual cut in interest rates.But Goolsbee’s optimistic outlook for inflation underscores why analysts increasingly thi...

MUST-WATCH: A battle of the bands, and for love, in Toronto

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

Toronto’s taking centre stage in the MUST-WATCH this week! But will this new version of a Toronto classic win this battle, or could it go to the final season of a royal dynasty? Perhaps a return to the Hunger Games? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!The Crown (Season 6, Part 1)Where to watch: NetflixFirst up, it’s time to take a final bow with the British Royal Family!Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in the Crown, courtesy of Netflix.The final season of the Crown has begun! There’s only four episodes out now, but these four cover one of the biggest moments of royal history in the 20th century. Princess Diana (played by Elizabeth Debicki from Tenet) is now pursuing a relationship with Dodi Fayed (played by Khalid Abdalla from United 93), to the chagrin of her ex-husband’s family. But as we all know, the paparazzi never stop following her until it leads to a fiery tragedy. This show also stars Imelda Staunton (from Vera Drake), Dominic West (from...

Israel reveals signs of Hamas activity at Shifa, but a promised command center remains elusive

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Three weeks ago, the Israeli military unveiled a detailed 3D model of Gaza’s Shifa Hospital – showing a series of underground installations that it said was part of an elaborate Hamas command and control center under the territory’s largest health-care center.Days after taking control of the hospital, the military has yet to unveil this purported center. But it has released videos of weapons allegedly seized inside the hospital, a tunnel running through the complex and videos appearing to show Hamas militants dragging hostages through the hospital’s hallways. Israel says there will be much more to come.What Israel finds – or fails to find – could play a large part in its efforts to rally international support for its war against Hamas, launched on Oct. 7 in response to a bloody cross-border attack by the Islamic militant group.Here is a closer look at Israel’s raid on the Shifa Hospital.WHY DOES IT MATTER?Gaza’s hospitals have played a central role in the duel...

Canadian Chamber of Commerce forms AI council with members including Amazon, Google

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

OTTAWA — The Canadian Chamber of Commerce says it has formed a council aimed at shaping public policy around artificial intelligence.The chamber says the council will advocate for government policies to be centred on the responsible development, deployment and ethical use of AI in business. The 30-member Future of AI Council will be co-chaired by e-commerce giant Amazon and software business SAP Canada.Other members include Meta Platforms Inc., Google, BlackBerry Ltd., Cohere, Scotiabank and Microsoft.The chamber says the council will support government policies that establish AI as a positive economic driver, but also acknowledge the technology’s potential risks. Among its first tasks will be looking at Bill C-27, which the federal government plans to use to curtail some of the dangers AI could cause.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:BB, TSX:BNS)The Canadian Press

African cat injured, dies after escaping home in Vernon Hills: police

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

VERNON HILLS, Ill. -- An African serval cat is dead after escaping from its home in Vernon Hills Saturday, police said.According to police, police responded to a call of a cat on the loose that had chased and cornered a neighbor who had been walking her dog nearby.While trying to track the animal, officers identified it as a serval, wild cat species native to Africa. As the cat was located, the owners assisted police in capturing the cat and transporting it to their nearby home. It was concluded the cat had escaped while the owners were not home and that it was on the loose for three hours. Man found dead in garage fire on South Side ID’d In the process of transportation, the cat sustained multiple injuries and died as a result of it. No other animals or individuals were injured in the process.Chief Patrick L. Kreis said in a statement: “This is an unfortunate incident, and we extend our condolences to the animal’s owners for their loss. “The keeping of exotic pets in suburban env...

Illinois among states impacted by Listeria outbreak linked to peaches, nectarines and plums  

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

CHICAGO — The Center for Disease Control Prevention is warning Illinoisans about a Listeria outbreak across seven states that has claimed the life of one person and left 10 more hospitalized. According to the CDC, recalled fruit — peaches, nectarines and plums — distributed by HMC Farms is making people sick. HMC Farms recalled the fruits on Nov. 17. The fruit was sold in stores between May 1 and Nov. 15 in 2022 and 2023 after the FDA found the outbreak strain in a sample of their peaches.   More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Though the fruits are no longer available for purchase, the CDC warns the goods may still be in the homes of states affected. All recalled fruit must be thrown away, the CDC added.In addition to Illinois, other states affected by the Listeria outbreak include: Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, Kansas, Florida and California (where one death was reported). As of Monday, Nov. 20, only one Listeria-related illness was reported in Illinois. The Listeria o...

Man hit by car while crossing street in Des Plaines

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:23:30 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — A man was hospitalized on Sunday after he was hit by a car while crossing a street in Des Plaines, police say.According to Des Plaines police, a 24-year-old man was crossing the street in the 800 block of Elmhurst Road when he was struck by a blue Chevrolet Cruze that was headed northbound. Fallen Chicago firefighter laid to rest Monday Police say the pedestrian was walking westbound across the northbound lanes when he allegedly crossed in front of the vehicle, causing a collision.According to police, the pedestrian suffered serious injuries in the crash. Crews from the Des Plaines Fire Department were called to the scene and transported the man to the hospital. Glendale Heights officer kills wife in apparent murder-suicide Police did not provide details on whether the driver of the Chevrolet was injured in the crash and it is unclear if the pedestrian was walking in a crosswalk.Authorities have not yet identified anyone involved in the crash.