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Black lawmakers say Alabama GOP’s proposed new congressional map insults the Supreme Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Republicans advanced new congressional lines Wednesday, a proposed map that Black lawmakers called an insult after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the legislature to redraw districts to give Black voters a greater voice in elections. Republican majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate advanced separate plans that do not establish the second majority-Black district sought by plaintiffs who won the Supreme Court case but do increase the number of Black voters in one district. The GOP plans would increase the percentage of Black voters in the state’s 2nd congressional district from about 30% to 38% under the Senate proposal, or 42% under the House plan. Republicans said that complies with the court’s directive to provide a second district where Black voters can influence the outcome of congressional elections. Democrats said it is short of what the court ordered.“This is really a slap in the face, not only to Black Alabamians, but...

State Department sanctions 2 former Salvadoran leaders, dozens of officials in Central America

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The State Department announced Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on two former Salvadoran presidents and dozens of other officials and judges in Central America.The report said that those sanctioned “have knowingly engaged in actions that undermine democratic processes or institutions, significant corruption or obstruction of investigations” into corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.The extensive list, which also includes heads of banks, judges and high ranking officials, underscores the depth of corruption across the region.Chief among the names on the list was Mauricio Funes, president of El Salvador between 2009 and 2014 who was recently sentenced to prison for 14 years for negotiating with the gangs and six years for tax evasion. Funes’ successor, former president Salvador Sánchez Cerén, was also sanctioned for “significant corruption by laundering money” while he held the position as vice president.Corruption has been a hot but...

Chicago teen missing may be in need of medical attention

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing teenager who may be in need of medical attention.Kelis Carpenter, 14, was last seen near the 10300 block of South Torrence Avenue around 1 a.m. on Monday, July 17. CPD: 27-year-old woman missing from the Hermosa neighborhood Carpenter is described as 4-foot-10, weighing 115 pounds, with black braids, a nose piercing, and cuts on her arms and legs. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black pants. Carpenter takes medication for diabetes and may be in need of said medication.She's known to be seen in the area of Trumball Park Homes and the BP gas station at 10302 South Torrence Avenue.Anyone with information regarding Kelis Carpenter are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-747-8274.

South Side residents organize to protest property management order

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

CHICAGO — Dozens of residents who live in Beverly and surrounding neighborhoods gathered to call out the property management company that purchased their apartment buildings Wednesday, claiming they are pushing them out of their homes.Back in May, residents of six apartment buildings in Beverly began receiving notices that their properties had been sold to Levav Properties — and shortly thereafter — they said they began to receive non-renewal notices.The 120-plus residents of the property are predominantly Black, as well as being senior citizens and people with disabilities who said they have lived in their apartments for years."We will not let them break the solidarity of O'Shea Neighbors United," said Arieh Venick, a community organizer with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization. "It's time to negotiate."Residents are demanding a conversation at the table with Levav Properties management, in which they said they want help with relocation assistance and additional time beyond the 6...

City council members propose plan to eliminate sub-minimum wage for tipped workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

CHICAGO — City leaders proposed a plan that would eliminate what's known as a sub-minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers.The ordinance is one of the several key issues addressed during Wednesday's City Council meeting.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesCurrently, tipped workers are paid several dollars less than other minimum wage workers.Supporters are calling this "One Fair Wage." 26th Ward Ald. Jesse Fuentes and 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa introduced the ordinance.Basically, it would give restaurants two years to get all tipped workers up to the city's minimum wage — which is currently at $15.80 per hour, plus any tips they earn.However, negotiations on when restaurants would be required to hit the new minimum are ongoing."If we're talking about building a safer Chicago, if we're talking about building safer communities, than it starts with paying our young people livable wages," Fuentes said.Restaurants have been struggling to retain workers since the pandemic. S...

Police find 'possible burial site' tied to suspected 'serial killer' Raul Meza Jr.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN's previous coverage of authorities searching field in Pflugerville in connection with Raul Meza Jr investigation.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Search warrants provided new information about why investigators are searching a field in Pflugerville tied to the Raul Meza Jr. case. Meza is a suspected "serial killer." Here's what we know now: Why law enforcement are searching a field in PflugervilleAfter Meza was arrested in connection with the murders of Jesse Fraga and Gloria Lofton, Pflugerville police realized they had previously made contact with Meza on March 11, 2022. He was walking on the side of the road with blood on him, court documents say. According to the documents, an officer noted Meza "appeared as though he had been in a fight" and that he had "a bloody lip, and numerous scratches to his nose, his cheeks, and his hands. His jacket was torn and his pants were dirty, had two small rips, and one pant leg was pulled up over his boot." Police searc...

Fire near Jarrell spreads to 100 acres, 0% contained

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Officials are responding to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County Wednesday, the Williamson County Director of Communications confirmed to KXAN.Texas A&M Forest Service said it is responding for assistance on the estimated 100-acre fire. The forest service said it is 0% contained.The fire is in an area of Cobb Creek Road.Shortly after 6 p.m., officials said no one had been evacuated at this time.Fire crews responded to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County July 19, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Fire crews responded to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County July 19, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)The Jarrell Fire Department was leading the response, according to Williamson County. This developing story will be updated.

Hollywood plunges into all-out war on the heels of pandemic, streaming revolution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

NEW YORK — To get a sense of just how much animosity is flying around Hollywood these days, watch how Ron Perlman responded to a report that the studios aimed to prolong a strike long enough for writers to lose their homes.Perlman, the hulking, gravel-voiced actor of “Hellboy,” leaned into the camera in a since-deleted Instagram live video to vent his anger. “Listen to me, mother-(expletive),” Perlman said. “There’s a lot of ways to lose your house.”Three years after the pandemic brought Hollywood to a standstill, the film and TV industry has again ground to a halt. This time, though, the industry is engaged in a bitter battle over how streaming — after advancing rapidly during the pandemic — has upended the economics of entertainment.Having weathered plague, Hollywood is now fully at war in its own “Apocalypse Now” double feature. When tens of thousands Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists hit the picket lines last week, joining 11,000 Writers Gui...

Suspect arrested for investigation of first-degree murder in Denver stabbing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

A suspect arrested in a Denver homicide is being held for investigation of first-degree murder, police said.Lorenzo Navidad Hernandez, 51, was arrested Tuesday after officers were called at about 10 p.m. Monday to the 2900 block of West 19th Avenue, near Empower Field at Mile High, on a report of a man lying in front of a business. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.“The circumstances regarding what led to the deadly encounter are still under investigation,” police said in a Wednesday news release.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man faces murder charge in death of boy brought to Aurora hospital in 2017 with severe injuries Crime and Public Safety | A new look at an old clue helps investigators arrest the man accused of Gilgo Beach murders Crime and Public Safety | Man guilty in shooting death of former girlfriend, a homicide witness, in Denver Crime and Public Safety | Fatal stabbing in Aurora,...

South Africa says Putin will skip a Johannesburg summit next month because of his ICC arrest warrant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:24 GMT

By GERALD IMRAY (Associated Press)CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Vladimir Putin has agreed not to attend an economic summit in Johannesburg next month that will include China’s premier and other world leaders because of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for the Russian president, South African authorities said Wednesday.Russia and summit host South Africa reached a “mutual agreement” that Putin would not attend the Aug. 22-24 gathering, which brings together a bloc of developing economies known as BRICS, though he was initially invited, the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said.The development could be viewed as embarrassing for Putin, who is now expected to be the only leader of a country in the bloc not to attend.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Putin “has decided to take part” in the summit via video link, without confirming if he had intended to attend the summit.It ended months of specul...