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Hun Sen is the longest serving leader in Asia. He’s purged critics and is set to win Cambodian polls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodians go to the polls Sunday with incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen and his party all but assured a landslide victory thanks to the effective suppression and intimidation of any real opposition that critics say has made a farce of democracy in the Southeast Asian nation. The longest-serving leader in Asia, Hun Sen has steadily consolidated power with his strongarm tactics over the last 38 years. But, at age 70, he has suggested he will hand off the premiership during the upcoming five-year term to his oldest son, Hun Manet, perhaps as early as the first month after the elections. Hun Manet, 45, has a bachelor’s from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as well as a master’s from NYU and a Ph.D. from Bristol University in Britain. He is currently chief of Cambodia’s army.Despite his Western education, however, observers don’t expect any immediate shifts in policy from that of his father, who has steadily drawn Cambodia closer...

The fight over Alabama’s congressional redistricting now shifts back to federal court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Standing at an Alabama Statehouse microphone before lawmakers voted on new congressional districts, state Rep. Chris England said that change in the Deep South state has often happened only through federal court order.The Democratic lawmaker accused Republicans of repeating history and flouting a judicial mandate to create a second majority-Black district in the state or “something quite close to it.”“Alabama does what Alabama does. Ultimately, what we are hoping for, I guess, at some point, is that the federal court does what it always does to Alabama: Forces us to the right thing. Courts always have to come in and save us from ourselves,” said England, a Black lawmaker from Tuscaloosa. The fight over whether Alabama’s congressional map complies with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 now shifts back to federal court as state Republicans submit their new plan to the same three-judge panel that struck down the previous districts. The outcome could have conse...

Cicero sets up recovery center as town officials try to address flood problems

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

CICERO, Ill. — Thousands of residents in the western suburbs are still dealing with heavy flood damage from thunderstorms that struck Chicagoland earlier this month. Cicero, Berwyn and other local municipalities are trying to accelerate the help needed by local residents, but the shear number of flood report forms and other issues caused by the storm have proven difficult to handle.Numerous residents turned out Saturday at the Flooding Recovery Resource Center set up by town officials in Cicero, looking for help with just that—processing food report forms and getting their homes cleaned up. Suburban elementary school employee accused of distributing child pornography Angelina Hernandez, a single mother who lives in Cicero, described to WGN the challenge of dealing with the flooding that was experienced throughout the western suburban town in early July."I have to fix all of that, plus the smell," Hernandez said, referencing the state of her Cicero home. "I was just looking to see ...

Chicago police asks for help ID'ing homicide suspects

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are asking for help identifying three people in connection with a deadly shooting last month.On Saturday, the Chicago Police Department released photos and a video in connection with a June 14 homicide in the 7600 block of South Drexel. Car struck by Amtrak train after crossing railroad tracks on North Side: CFD The incident happened around 5:40 p.m.Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Macfarlane at 312-747-8271.Tips can also be submitted online.Tips submitted online can be submitted anonymously.

8 shootings take place from The Loop to West Pullman overnight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is dead, and four others are injured after two men opened fire on a group in in North Lawndale overnight. According to police, the men were standing in the 1600 block of North Spaulding Avenue around 12:19 a.m. when two men approached and fired shots at them.Police said a 40-year-old man sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was pronounced dead. 1 in grave condition after being pulled from water at North Avenue Beach in Chicago Another 40-year-old man was shot in the face and is in good condition. Another man was transported to Stroger Hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the neck and head. A 44-year-old man was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital with gunshot wounds to the body. He is listed in good condition. A 50-year-old man sustained a graze wound to the right arm and refused medical attention.There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.In another incident, a 16-year-old boy was found shot in the...

Owner of Highland Park deli heads to Ukraine to cook for families

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — The owner of Max's Deli in Highland Park is making his way to Ukraine to cook meals for families who were forced to flee their homes. "My superpower is being uncomfortable arriving in a country here I know nothing, nobody and learning the culture and logistics in the kitchen and being a chef," said Joey Morelli, the founder of Joey's Food Fight.He said he wants to cook for people and put a smile on their faces. Morelli launched his non-profit, 'Joey's Food Fight' to bring joy to children across the globe and he says his inspiration is Chef Jose Andres — who works with the frontlines with World Central Kitchen feeding communities in crisis. PetCon 2023 comes to Chicago, showcasing most famous pets in the world "I will meet him. When there's will, there's a way. I just want to cook with him. I'm going to," Morelli said.Morelli took his first trip to Cambodia working around the clock at an orphanage. His goal is to do ten missions in ten years. "Happiness, love...

Chicago holds Disability Pride Parade on Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

CHICAGO — Hundreds gathered on Saturday on Dearborn Street in downtown Chicago to kick off the longest-running Disability Pride Parade."That's why my energy is so amped up because I look forward to this parade every year just for all of us to come out and have like a big family reunion," Candace Coleman said. Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance Tour’ arrives to Chicago this weekend The celebration has been a staple in the community for nearly two decades. "Sara Triano started in in 2004," April Lawson, the parade media relations director said. "She took the $25,000 she was awarded from the American Disabilities Act. She decided to celebrate the lives of the disability community by having an actual parade."The parade is meant to give greater insight and awareness about how people define disabilities."Showing up here today saying 'I'm a person with a disability' is about changing the culture about disability," Emily Blum said. Paradegoers said this commemoration also symbolizes that people with ...

Weekend cool front brings spotty storms and wind shift

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A "cool front" has arrived in Central Texas, bringing only a wind shift (winds out of the northeast) and no temperature changes. This front should serve as the forcing mechanism for very isolated storms and showers to form along this evening, tonight and Sunday. 10% rain or storm chances continue into this evening with most areas remaining dry. Our main concern for any isolated storms would be briefly gusty winds and lightning. Most of us get no rain.Tonight, we'll maintain low spotty storm or shower chances, but a partly cloudy sky will be overhead as low temperatures drop into the upper 70s by morning.We'll have another mostly sunny and mostly dry day on Sunday, but spotty storms and showers may form again during the afternoon and evening.Sunday storm potentialIt will stay hot on Sunday with highs up to 106º, which could be the hottest of the week.Heat Advisory for SundayBy Monday and beyond, high pressure strengthens and builds eastward slightly. This will serve ...

Arrests made in two recent deadly shootings in St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Police recently arrested suspects in connection with two St. Louis recent deadly shootings investigated as homicides. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department announced the arrests of Mohammed Abdi and Tiffany Richardson on Saturday. Protests over Francis Howell plan to allow anti-racism resolution to expire Prosecutors have charged Abdi with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He is accused of fatally shooting Jametric Steele on July 7 in the parking lot of a QuikTrip on Gravois Road. Prosecutors have charged Richardson with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon (shooting from a vehicle) and two counts of armed criminal action. She is accused of shooting two and killing a 52-year-old man, identified as George Robins, in the 1300 block of Shawmut Place. Homicide detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are handling both investigations.

New playground in south St. Louis honors boy after tragedy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Saturday marked the grand opening of a south St. Louis playground named for a church member who passed away when he was just 12 years old. Community members cut a ribbon to introduce "Logan's Playground," in honor of "Logan Zielinski, who was killed in a car accident in 2021. Protests over Francis Howell plan to allow anti-racism resolution to expire Zielinski was a member of the St. Johns United Church of Christ. Those close to him say the playground was built because he did not want anyone to be alone.The church got some assistance from the group Unlimited Play in raising money for the construction. The playground is located by the church in the 11000 block of St. John Church Road. The church says the playground is an inclusive facility and welcomes anyone.