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A cyber breach delays poll worker training in Mississippi’s largest county before the statewide vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Election officials in Mississippi’s most populous county had to scramble to complete required poll worker training after an early September breach involving county computers. In Hinds County, such training is typically completed by early October before a November general election, according to Election Commissioner Shirley Varnado. Instead, office staff members worked right up to Thursday’s deadline to finish the training after Varnado said they were unable to access their computers for about three weeks.Mississippi has a general election Tuesday with key races such as governor and secretary of state — the state’s top election official.Hinds County is home to the capital city of Jackson. The county has some 167,000 registered voters and is a key source of Democratic votes. In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden won the county with 73% of the vote, while Republican Donald Trump received 57.5% statewide.Federal authorities were investigating after county computers wer...

Prosecutor questions Florida dentist’s claim he was extorted, not a murder-for-hire mastermind

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida dentist on trial in his ex-brother-in-law’s slaying testified Friday that he never explained to authorities that he was a victim of extortion — and not the mastermind behind a 2014 murder-for-hire plot — because no one asked him to reveal the truth.Prosecutors contend Charles Adelson paid to have Dan Markel killed after Adelson’s sister, Wendi, lost a bitter custody battle. Adelson claims investigators got it wrong, and while he knew shortly after the murder that his ex-girlfriend’s friends were the killers, he didn’t say anything because he thought his life was in danger. Nine years after Markel, a prominent Florida State University law professor, was shot by hitmen while sitting in his car outside his Tallahassee home, Adelson admitted when questioned by his lawyer Thursday that he paid the killers money after the fact, but said it was only because he was being threatened. The tie between Adelson and the killers was his ex...

2nd of four men who escaped from a central Georgia jail has been caught, sheriff’s office says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The second of four men who escaped from a central Georgia jail last month has been captured, authorities said.The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that a team of local, state and federal law enforcement officers arrested Marc Kerry Anderson, 25, just before 3 p.m. Friday at an apartment complex in Atlanta. The sheriff’s office did not provide any other information about the arrest.Sheriff David Davis said last month that Anderson, 52-year-old Joey Fournier, 29-year-old Chavis Demaryo Stokes and 37-year-old Johnifer Dernard Barnwell had escaped through a damaged window and a cut fence at the jail early Oct. 16. Stokes was captured Oct. 26, but the other two remained on the run.Also Friday, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals Service arrested a 32-year-old woman they said hindered Anderson’s capture. Tymesha Ceiarra Timley was arrested at 10 a.m. Friday and was booked into the Bibb County jail, where she was being held...

Matthew Perry Foundation established for late ‘Friends’ actor to help people with addiction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Less than a week after his death, a foundation has been established in the name of Matthew Perry to help people dealing with addiction. “In the spirit of Matthew Perry’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction, we embark on a journey to honor his legacy by establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation, guided by his own words and experiences, and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible,” said an inaugural statement establishing the Matthew Perry Foundation on Friday.The Emmy-nominated “Friends” star often spoke publicly about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. The foundation, which is now accepting donations, cited his desire to be remembered as someone who helped others with substance abuse even more than his sitcom stardom. The foundation will be maintained by the National Philanthropic Trust. No further details on the organization were immediately released. Perry was declared dead...

Mary Ellen Turpel Laford removed from Order of Canada after Indigenous ID questions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, a high-profile former judge embroiled in a controversy surrounding her claims to Indigenous identity, has been removed from the Order of Canada at her own request.A notice in Saturday’s Canada Gazette, the federal government’s official newspaper, says her appointment was terminated on Sept. 26 following her request and the Governor General’s approval.A social media post by the Indigenous Women’s Collective, which had called for her removal, says “stealing Indigenous intergenerational trauma and identities brings very real consequences” and the group thanks the Governor General for “correcting a wrong.”Turpel-Lafond was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2021.She has also returned honorary degrees from several universities, including Simon Fraser University, Brock, and two Vancouver Island schools, while McGill, Carleton and the University of Regina have rescinded awards granted to her.An investigation by the ...

South Dakota governor asks state Supreme Court about conflict of interest after lawmaker resigns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has requested guidance from the state’s Supreme Court about conflict-of-interest rules for lawmakers, several weeks after a South Dakota state lawmaker resigned and agreed to repay $500,000 in federal COVID-19 relief that she received for her day care business. Jessica Castleberry was a state senator when she received the COVID-19 stimulus funding. Doing so violated a state Supreme Court advisory warning state lawmakers that it is unconstitutional for them to accept federal pandemic funding.Noem, Attorney General Marty Jackley and two Republican lawmakers have sent letters to the court seeking clarity on what else is illegal, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported Thursday. According to the state Constitution, lawmakers are banned from entering into state contracts “directly or indirectly” during their term and for a year after they finish serving in office.In her letter, Noem raised specific questions about indirect contra...

$400K winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket sold at 7-Eleven in Palos Heights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. — Illinoisans, check your lottery tickets. You could be $400,000 richer. A jackpot-winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket worth $400,000 was sold at a 7-Eleven in southwest suburban Palos Heights on Thursday.The five winning numbers were: 5-10-19-27-30.So far in 2023, over 10.2 million winning Lucky Day Lotto tickets have been sold, with total prizes amounting to nearly $60 million for Illinois Lottery players.The 7-Eleven store will get a $4,000 selling bonus. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Lucky Day Lotto draws twice daily, at 12:40 p.m. and 9:22 p.m.

Chicago vet shot, killed in 2021 still under investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a person and vehicle of interest in the investigation of an Army veteran who was shot and killed in 2021.According to the CPD, the individual and vehicle in question are believed to be in connection to the shooting death of 29-year-old Darius Teague. Daylight saving 2023: Here’s what a sleep expert says about the time change Teague was shot and killed on the 1000 block of West 14th Place in Chicago’s University Village neighborhood just before midnight on Oct. 17, 2021.The vehicle is described as a black 2000-2006 GMS Yukon. The vehicle reportedly came directly from and returned to the area of the Chicago Housing Authorities ABLA Homes.Teague enlisted in the Army in 2014 and won several awards for his service, including a National Defense service medal.The investigation is still ongoing.Anyone with information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-747...

Anti-Cruelty Society to host waived fee event during ‘Fall in Love’ adoption push

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

CHICAGO — The Anti-Cruelty Society (ACS) is waiving fees to adopt animals during its ‘Fall in Love’ adoption push taking place this month.Officials from ACS say their shelters are currently over capacity and adoptions are at a record-breaking low, so those looking to take home a new furry friend can save a few extra bucks as fees for all animals at the shelters will be waived during the event. Former NU athletes share experience with racism, hazing for first time The waived fee event will take place from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11., at the River North Adoption Center and at the Everyday Adoption Center inside the PetSmart in the South Loop in Chicago.“We know that not everyone can adopt at this time, however, we hope that people will share this adoption promotion with their friends and family to help us find homes for these animals, Lydia Krupinski, the Vice President of Mission Impact at ACS, said in a press release sent out on Wednesday morning. “We are desperate for...

Who is 'Dollarita Steve'? SF software engineer goes viral after earthquake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:50 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (NEXSTAR) — It's been one rocking week for Steve Mazzari. It was just last Friday night when the 28 year-old San Francisco resident was having drinks with friends at a chain restaurant in Fisherman's Wharf when a 3.7-magnitude earthquake hit the Bay Area.Later that night, a chance encounter with Oakland news outlet KTVU Fox 2 led to Mazzari becoming an overnight viral sensation. Fresh from that evening's drinks, Mazzari agreed to do an interview about the quake."I was just slammin' Dollaritas up at the Applebee's with some friends and it was a big shake. It was only like, probably a couple of seconds. Everyone stopped talking. It was a big one," Mazzari told a KTVU crew. These are the most (and least) stolen cars as of 2023 For the uninitiated, Dollaritas are a popular limited-time promotion by Applebee's which offers $1 margaritas. This year's promotion ended Oct. 31. But thanks to Mazzari's interview, (including a sign-off that "Dollaritas are back!") the restaura...