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Biden and his 2024 campaign: Waiting for some big decisions

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has all but announced he’s running for reelection, but key questions about the 2024 campaign are unresolved: Who will manage it? Where will it be based? When will he finally make it official?Advisers have long said he planned to wait until after March, when the year’s first fundraising period wraps up. That was an effort to help manage expectations because many donors who gave generously to Democratic causes during last fall’s elections were looking for a break. But an announcement isn’t imminent even now, aides insist, and probably won’t come until at least after Biden returns from an expected trip to Ireland in mid-April.Working on his own timeline could counter Biden’s low approval ratings and questions about his age — the 80-year-old would turn 86 before the end of a second term. It also means Biden won’t be hurried by pressure from former President Donald Trump, who’s already announced his 2024 campaign, ...

Sikh, Christian die in targeted killings in Pakistan’s NW

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani Sikh businessman and a Christian cleaner were shot dead by unknown assailants in separate incidents in the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said Saturday.Gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on Sikh shop owner Dayal Singh when he was in his grocery store and fled the scene, said police officer Haroon Rasheed. He said an investigation was underway.Rasheed said police have found evidence from surveillance camera footage and will soon be able to identify the gunmen.Ranveer Singh, a representative of Pakistan’s minority Sikh community, said the businessman had no problems with anyone. He said Sikhs are feeling insecure as 11 members of their community have been killed in recent years.The minister for information and religious minorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Peshawar is located, assured Sikhs the culprits will be arrested and there will be steps to protect minorities. Feroze Jamal Shah Kakakhel also announced compensation of 500,00...

Shipbuilder Austal executives accused of inflating earnings

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Three current and former former executives of a shipbuilder that constructs vessels for the U.S. Navy have been indicted on accounting fraud charges accusing them of falsely inflating the company’s reported earnings, federal prosecutors said.Craig Perciavalle, 52, Joseph Runkel, 54, and William Adams, 63, all of Mobile, Alabama, where Austal USA LLC is based, are accused of misleading shareholders and investors. They are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud affecting a financial institution, five counts of wire fraud, and two counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release Friday. Court records were not immediately available to show if the men had attorneys to comment on their behalf. Austal USA LLC is a subsidiary of Australia-based Austal Limited and builds littoral combat ships for the Navy. The ships are designed to operate in shallow coastal water...

Pakistani army says 4 troops killed by Iran-based militants

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A militant attack from across the border with Iran left four Pakistani soldiers dead Saturday in southwestern Baluchistan province, the army said.The soldiers were part of a routine border patrol operating along the Pakistan-Iran border when the militants struck in the Jalgai sector of Kech district, the military said in a statement. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.The army said necessary contact was being established with Iranian officials for “effective action against terrorists” to prevent such incidents in the future. It identified the casualties as Sher Ahmed, Muhammad Asghar, Muhammad Irfan and Abdur Rasheed.On Friday, a Pakistani soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with militants in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the army said. There was no immediate of responsibility for that attack, either.In January, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the killing of four security officials along the border ...

1 dead, 28 injured after roof collapses at Belvidere theater amid strong storms

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

BELVIEVERE Ill. — One person is dead and 28 people were injured after the Appollo Theater collapsed during a concert amid the violent storm and winds that tore through the Midwest. Belvidere Fire Chief Shawn Schadle said there were 260 people inside during the Apollo Theater around 7:55 p.m. when the roof collapsed. Police say five people suffered severe injuries, 18 suffered moderate injuries and five others with minor injuries. Police say Whiteland took ‘direct hit’ during severe weather and tornadoes; middle school set up as shelter Police say others were transported to hospitals by personal vehicles. Illinois Gov. J.B Pritzker tweeted: “My administration is closely monitoring the roof collapse at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere tonight. I’ve been in touch with officials for updates and to direct any available resources we can. As we learn more, please follow the guidance of all local authorities.”Secondary investigations are underway and no res...

Police say Whiteland took 'direct hit' during severe weather and tornadoes; middle school set up as shelter

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

UPDATE: The new relief area is Greenwood Middle School. The location has moved from Whiteland High School. ------------------------------------------------------------------WHITELAND, Ind. -- Police say the town of Whiteland took a "direct hit" as severe weather and tornadoes swept through central Indiana late Friday night into early Saturday morning.The Whiteland Police Department said the southern part of the town sustained significant damage. As a result, power and communication were limited. "If you need help and can not get out via voice, please utilize the text to 911," the department said on Twitter.Johnson County Emergency Management confirmed a tornado touched down east of Whiteland Road. Some businesses and homes were flattened, the agency said.Photo via Megan MoorePhoto via Megan MoorePhoto via Megan MoorePhoto via Megan MoorePhoto via Megan MoorePhoto via Megan MoorePhoto via Megan MoorePhoto via Megan MoorePhoto via Megan MoorePhoto via Megan MoorePhotos and videos show...

Pope Francis leaves hospital; 'Still alive,' he quips

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

ROME (AP) — A chipper-sounding Pope Francis was discharged Saturday from the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis, quipping to journalists before being driven away that he's “still alive.” Francis, 86, was hospitalized at Gemelli Polyclinic on Wednesday following his weekly public audience in St. Peter's Square after reportedly experiencing breathing difficulties. The pontiff received antibiotics administered intravenously during his stay, the Vatican said. In a sign of his improved health, the Vatican released details of Francis' Holy Week schedule. It said he would preside at this weekend's Palm Sunday Mass and at Easter Mass on April 9, both held in St. Peter's Square and expected to draw tens of thousands of faithful. A Vatican cardinal will be at the altar to celebrate both Masses, a recent practice due to the pontiff having a troublesome knee issue. But Francis is scheduled to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass, which this year will be held in a juvenile prison in Rome....

Appeals court overturns murder conviction for man accused of killing Hadiya Pendleton

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

CHICAGO — An Illinois appeals court on Friday overturned the murder conviction and ordered a new trial for the man accused of shooting and killing 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton in 2013 in Chicago’s Kenwood neighborhood.In 2018, Micheail Ward was found guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm after a jury concluded he fired the deadly shot that struck the teen in the back. He was sentenced to a total of 84 years in prison.Cook County’s Assistant Public Defender and Ward’s attorney, Julie Koehler, said it has been four years since he began the process of appealing his conviction.“We said that we have been playing the long game. We knew that there was a very good opportunity for this to be reversed on appeal,” said Koehler. “We will now have the opportunity to fight this case fairly on a second trial.”On Friday, the Illinois Appellate Court ruled in favor of Ward, overturning the conviction, and remanding the case back to the lower court.Hadiya was killed a li...

Illinois bill introduced to protect drivers from wrongfully issued automated tickets

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- A new bill has been introduced to protect Illinois drivers from wrongfully issued automated tickets.A Barrington couple said they hit a dead end with city officials trying to address their concern.After reaching out to the Department of Finance, they looked into the issue, and the violation was revoked. But this instance got the attention of state lawmakers.Steve Stallings and his wife, Celeste, are relieved their red light violation has been revoked.The Stallings received a $100 red light violation in the mail back in November. But the car in the picture isn't theirs, as the camera misread the plate.They sad they tried to contact the city for months, but never heard anything. ORIGINAL: City of Chicago forces suburban couple to pay red light violation that isn’t theirs "It is abysmal that it takes a news outlet such as yours to run a story and contact these elected officials or these employees in order to get them to do the right thing," Illinois Senator Dan McConc...

Saturday Forecast: Wind advisory until 1p.m., cloudy and low 40s

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:33:52 GMT

Saturday's forecast is looking mainly cloudy, rain/snow showers, windy, decreasing clouds, NNW 15-25 with gusts of 35 mph with a high of 41 degrees. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy early and clearing. N 10-20 mph. Low: 28 Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Sunday is looking mostly sunny and windy. Milder temps. Southwest winds of 10-20 mphHighs near 60 Extended outlook calls for more clouds to return on Monday with highs in the upper 50s and a chance of showers/t'storms late. Full forecast details at the WGN Weather CenterTuesday some low 60s with showers/thunderstorms. Sunnier and cooler on Wednesday with highs in the seasonal mid 50s. Near 50 and sunny on Thursday. Cloudy on Friday with highs near 50