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DeSantis’ campaign interactions with super PACs raised internal legal concerns, AP sources say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Ron DeSantis has visited each of Iowa’s 99 counties. He has the endorsement of the governor and boasts the largest get-out-the-vote operation in the state. And he has predicted victory in Iowa’s Jan. 15 caucuses.But as the Florida governor works to project strength in the Republican primary and cut into former President Donald Trump’s huge lead, DeSantis’ expansive political machine is facing a churn of leadership, stagnant polling numbers and new concerns about potential legal conflicts.Specifically, there has been concern in recent weeks among some within DeSantis’ operation that interactions between his campaign and his network of outside groups are blurring the lines of what’s legally permissible.Multiple people familiar with DeSantis’ political network said that he and his wife had expressed concerns about the messaging of Never Back Down, the largest super PAC supporting the governor’s campaign, in recent months as ...

What we know about the legal case of a Texas woman denied the right to an immediate abortion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

Last week, a Texas woman sued her home state for the right to obtain an abortion in a new kind of challenge to the bans that most Republican-controlled states have begun enforcing in the last year and a half since Roe v. Wade was overturned.The Texas Supreme Court denied Katie Cox’s request on Monday.But by then, her lawyers said, she had already traveled out of state for an abortion.Here’s what we know about her case.WHY DID COX SEEK AN ABORTION?The 31-year-old mother of two children — ages 3 and 1 — and her husband want additional children and they were glad to learn she was pregnant.But tests confirmed late last month that the baby she was carrying had a condition called trisomy 18, an extra chromosome that made it likely the baby would die in utero or shortly after birth.She had a hard pregnancy, with several trips to an emergency room. By the time she filed her lawsuit last week, she was 20 weeks pregnant.She said in court filings that delivering the baby at full te...

13 cold, stunned sea turtles from New England given holiday names as they rehab in Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — This Rudolph will not be leading his pals Blitzen, Dasher, Dancer, Vixen, Comet and Cupid through the Christmas Eve sky, but maybe he will lead them back out to sea one day. For now the seven Ridley’s sea turtles and six of their pals have been given holiday-themed names as they are treated at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. They were were among 52 sea turtles flown to Tampa last week from the New England Aquarium in Massachusetts. They were suffering from a condition known as cold stun from the frigid waters in New England, which make them hypothermic. “They float at the surface, they can’t eat, they can’t dive and eventually wash up on shore,” said Marika Weber, a vet technician at Loggerhead.She said the New England Aquarium was overwhelmed with more than 200 sea turtles experiencing cold stun. That’s why 52 were sent to Florida.In addition to the 13 sent to Juno Beach in Palm Beach County, 16 were taken to Clearwater Marine Aquariu...

New police videos show broader view of violent encounter between woman and North Carolina officers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

Police released video on Tuesday from an arrest in North Carolina last month showing that before an officer repeatedly punched a Black woman while others held her down, the woman struck an officer in the face and he responded by hitting her back and knocking her off her feet.The newly released videos provide a broader view of the Nov. 13 encounter at a Charlotte bus stop than the initial bystander videos that were posted on social media. One of those bystander videos showed four officers kneeling and holding the woman down as a fifth repeatedly struck her with a closed fist. As it was happening, bystanders shouted at the officers to stop. After a few seconds, the officers stood and led the woman to a squad SUV with her arms behind her back.After the arrest, the department said that the officer who repeatedly struck the woman on the ground had been “intentional” about how he hit her in order to get her to comply. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg officer, who had responded to that day as bac...

AP PHOTOS: Moon, asteroids and new rockets topped the world’s space news in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The moon, asteroids and brand new rockets topped the world’s space news in 2023. Elon Musk’s monster rocket made it to space on the second test flight before exploding again. India landed successfully on the moon, outdoing Russia, which crashed. And NASA brought back its first samples of an asteroid. These are just a few of 2023’s cosmic hits and misses. And there’s more to come in 2024.MOON MANIAThe moon was the hottest ticket in town, with landing attempts in 2023 by Russia, India and a private Japanese company. Only India prevailed, becoming the fourth country to do so. Two U.S. companies, China and the Japanese Space Agency are targeting touchdowns, some as early as January. NASA kicked off 2023 by introducing the four astronauts who are slated to fly around the moon in late 2024 — three from the U.S. and a Canadian. Another crew will actually land, but the timing is uncertain.ROCKET DEBUTSThe biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, SpaceX’s Star...

Palestinians expect a high vote in UN General Assembly demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Palestinians are expecting a high vote Tuesday for a U.N. General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza to demonstrate widespread global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month.After the United States vetoed a resolution in the Security Council on Friday demanding a humanitarian cease-fire, Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency session of the 193-member General Assembly to vote on a resolution making the same demand.Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding. But the assembly’s messages “are also very important” and reflect world opinion, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Monday.The General Assembly vote is expected to reflect the growing isolation of the United States as it refuses to join demands for a cease-fire. More than the United Nations or any other international organization, the United States is seen as the only entity capa...

Man charged with murder in stabbing of Nebraska priest who yelled ‘help me’ when deputy arrived

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prosecutors charged a man with first-degree murder Tuesday in the fatal stabbing of a Catholic priest, who authorities say was attacked during a break-in at the church rectory and called out “help me” before he died.Prosecutors also charged Kierre L. Williams, 43, Tuesday with burglary and two weapons charges in the case that rocked the small town of Fort Calhoun where the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell preached at St. John the Baptist Catholic church.An affidavit filed along with the charges details what deputies found when they arrived at the home minutes after Gutsgell called to report the break-in just after 5 a.m. Sunday.But the documents did not detail any motive for the attack except to say the killing was premeditated and done deliberately during a burglary. There is no mention of any connection between Williams and the 65-year-old priest.The affidavit said that after Gutgsell called 911 to report that a Black man was standing in his kitchen with a knife, ...

Emergency crews battle house fire in Schaumburg

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Emergency crews are working to extinguish a fire that broke out in Schaumburg on Tuesday afternoon. SkyCam9 was over the scene around 2:30 p.m. when white smoke could be seen billowing from what appeared to be a home or garage in the 1000 block of Irving Park Road. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Currently, it is unclear what started the fire or if anyone was injured.This is a developing story, stay with WGN News for the latest updates. 

Pandemic sparks Skokie man's mission back to art by educating about his heritage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — A Skokie man realized he's a talented artist during the pandemic and strives to educate about his native homeland of Africa through his charcoal drawings.As his first solo exhibition is underway, John Wangendo reflected to WGN News about the realization he could do this while uniquely educating on the cultures of Africa.Wangendo ended up in the Chicago area 25 years ago from Kenya.He was enjoying his life and has a career, but the boredom of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown unearthed a hidden talent — art and drawing."I'm an independent contractor so my workload really went down. I was just sitting in the house doing nothing — I don't think this would have happened if the lockdown didn't come," Wangendo said. "I knew in the back of my mind I liked drawing, but it was something I didn't think about."Wangendo's daughter pushed him back to art after she saw a couple of sketches he did "here or there."The last time Wangendo took it seriously was when he was 10. Startin...

Senate hearing brings Coast Guard Academy harassment cover-up to forefront

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:01 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee held a hearing about the alleged cover-up of whistleblower reports of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy.Caitlin E. Mauro attended the US Coast Guard Academy for one semester as a teenager before leaving. She told the subcommittee, “I was assaulted. I was groped in a room with 30 of my peers. And they watched and they laughed.”Four women spoke in front of the subcommittee about their personal experiences dealing with abuse, retaliation, and in some cases, alleged crimes against them.“My experiences are not isolated events,” Retired Lieutenant Melissa McCafferty, US Coast Guard, said.“We are always told that you just have to say no,” First Class Cadet Kyra Grace Holmstrup, an active service member, said as she recounted her own experience. “But no to him was an invitation to try again.”“The Academy, and the Coast Guard at large, is fraught with cronyism, power addicts and abusers.” Mauro asserted. ...