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Biden's son Hunter pleads not guilty to 2 tax crimes after agreement with prosecutors falls through

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two tax crimes after a deal with federal prosecutors unraveled during a court hearing following the judge's concerns over the agreement. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018, and he was expected to plead guilty after he made an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation. That deal is now on hold. But during the hearing Wednesday, there was a dispute in court over whether the initial agreement gave him protection against any future charges. U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, raised concerns about the language of the deal. Biden had also been charged with possession of a firearm by a person who is a known drug user, a felony. He had a Colt Cobra .38 Special for 11 days in Oct...

Bears TE Cole Kmet is getting a contract extension

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — It looks like a native of the Chicago area is going to play for his hometown team for a few more years.The Bears have signed Cole Kmet to a contract extension on the first day of training camp practice at Halas Hall. Per Adam Schefter and Field Yates of ESPN, the extension is four years for $50 million.This comes as the Lake Barrington native and former St. Viator High School standout was approaching the final year of his rookie contract he signed in 2020, when the Bears selected him in the second round out of Notre Dame. This represents the first contract extension that has been given out by new general manager Ryan Poles. "Just amazing. This whole thing, just from the beginning, has been a dream come true, getting drafted here first and being able to get an extension done and agree to terms on that, is amazing," said Kmet on Wednesday. "Looking forward to it and looking forward to things to come with it, many playoff appearances and Super Bowls to come."Kmet ha...

Palos Park police officer saves drowning man while vacationing in Arizona

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

PALOS PARK, Ill. — A Palos Park police officer is being hailed a hero for his life-saving actions thousands of miles away. Palos Park Officer Ryan Franczak. (Photo courtesy of Palos Park PD)Palos Park Police Officer Ryan Franczak was water tubing on the Gila and Salt River in Avondale, Arizona in early July, when he observed what appeared to be a man falling off his tube and into the river.SEE ALSO: CPD officer jumps into Lake Michigan, rescues drowning womanWhen the man did not resurface, Officer Franczak jumped off his tube, dived into the water, and began his search. Officer Franczak eventually located the drowning man, pulling him up from the water to the shoreline.Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk commended Officer Franczak's brave act, saying, “Officer Ryan Franczak’s heroic actions truly represent the mission and values of the Palos Park Police Department and the mantra shared among all police officers that we are never truly off duty.”READ MORE: Chicago-area native bei...

UFO hearing: Lawmakers hear testimony on alleged secret program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (NewsNation) — The U.S. House Oversight Committee heard from three witnesses Wednesday morning after a whistleblower filed a complaint claiming the U.S. has been concealing evidence of non-human aircraft. David Grusch, an Air Force veteran and former member of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, first brought his claims in a complaint to Congress and detailed his accusations exclusively to NewsNation last month. During the hearing, Grusch claimed people had been harmed in government coverups of UFO technology. “Do you have any personal knowledge of people who have been harmed or injured in efforts to cover or conceal these extraterrestrial technology?” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Ky., asked Grusch“Yes, personally,” replied Grusch.When Burchett followed up the question with another about whether Grusch believed people had been "murdered," the witness was more evasive and said he wanted "to be careful" with that question and that he had "directed people with that kn...

Atlantic Ocean currents system could collapse this century from climate change: study

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

(The Hill) – A major Atlantic current could collapse by the middle of the century as a result of climate change, prompting extreme cold in Europe and sea level rise along the eastern coast of the U.S., according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.Researchers from the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute used statistical modeling and over a century of ocean temperature data to predict that, under current greenhouse gas emissions, the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) will collapse between 2025 and 2095.The AMOC is essential to moving warmer water from the tropics through the Gulf Stream and into the North Atlantic Ocean, both delivering cold water off North America and warming the coast of northern Europe. In addition to causing an Ice Age in Europe, its collapse could also significantly cut precipitation in the central and western U.S., the latter of which has already suffered from a once-in-a-millennium drought.  Cli...

Naked woman fires gun at cars on California bridge: CHP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – A naked woman armed with a gun and knife on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge created traffic gridlock for evening rush-hour commuters on Tuesday.The incident began at 4:38 p.m., officials said. Bay Bridge drivers called 911 to report that a woman, who was "completely naked," had fired a gun into the air, and at several cars. She also threatened random victims with a knife, and attempted to get into cars on the bridge, investigators told Nexstar's KRON. Video shows carjacking suspects careen down stairs during attempted getaway The incident prompted the California Highway Patrol to close eastbound lanes on Interstate 80 near the toll plaza, as well as the I-80 connector ramp to I-880 in Oakland. Officers ultimately found the woman walking on the bridge just before 6 p.m. and ordered her to drop her weapons. She was apprehended and taken by ambulance to a local hospital for medical and psychiatric evaluations, according to the CHP. No injuries were reporte...

Florida woman missing after yacht catches fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A woman is missing after a yacht caught fire early Wednesday morning in the Florida Keys.The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said the 70-foot Viking yacht caught fire around 12:10 a.m. at the Peary Hotel & Marina on Stock Island. A 51-year-old woman from St. Petersburg was nowhere to be found in the aftermath of the fire, authorities said. Deputies said two men, ages 58 and 21, were also on the boat when the fire started. They were both airlifted to a trauma center in Miami. Another family of four that was on board was able to escape the boat uninjured. Teenage girl sets fire to Hilton sofa following fight with mom, Ocala police say The group was in the Florida Keys for lobster mini-season, the sheriff's office said. The two-day season started Wednesday.The Monroe County Fire Rescue said the boat was fully engulfed when they arrived at the scene. They battled the fire for about three hours.The sheriff's office said its dive team and TowBoat U.S. cre...

Travis County to get new department set on easing access to 'effective legal representation'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Travis County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to create a new holistic defense Community Legal Services (CSL) department.The court said it voted to approve the job description for the county executive for the new CLS department and created a new county executive for Data, Policy and Performance Management from the former Justice & Public Safety Department.“Tuesday’s action is a significant step towards a more fair and equitable criminal legal system - driving action to implement counsel at first appearance, supporting growth of public defender’s office, and implementing and improving diversion efforts,” the court said.Travis County officials said the approval came after a months-long process that engaged the community to receive feedback and develop the descriptions, responsibilities and offices managed by the newly approved positions."It is essential for everyone in Travis County to have access to a criminal justice system that prioritizes ef...

Council member pushes for prompt response from city manager over no AC in AFD vehicles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An Austin City Council member is pressing for a prompt response from the city over a lack of air conditioning in more than 20 Austin Fire Department vehicles. Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, who represents District 6, said in a social media post more than 20 fire trucks in Austin lack AC, putting firefighters at risk. Central Texas has been experiencing record-breaking heat this summer and is currently experiencing its seventh-longest streak of triple-digit heat in recorded history. Austin’s streak of consecutive 100° days is the 7th-longest in recorded history Kelly submitted a memorandum to Interim City Manager Jesús Garza, asking him to address the issue immediately. She said in the memo that the lack of AC in the trucks "poses significant health and safety risks to our brave firefighters and jeopardizes the department's ability to respond effectively to emergencies. This is not only a concern for the firefighters but also poses a risk to public safety." The m...

Gophers AD Mark Coyle: “I have not heard” allegations of culture problems under P.J. Fleck

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:57:01 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS — Online outlet Front Office Sports reported Wednesday that several former Gophers football players have described an environment of “intimidation and toxicity” within P.J. Fleck’s program.Athletics Director Mark Coyle issued a statement to the Pioneer Press in response to an article written by A.J. Perez.“I always encourage all of our student-athletes, including every member of our football team, to reach out to me directly if they encounter any issues,” Coyle said. “To date, I have not heard from a single football student-athlete about the allegations raised in the reporter’s email.”Perez’s piece granted anonymity to scholarship players and staff members.Fleck and three Gopher players will speak at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday.You’re welcome?Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said Wednesday at Big Ten Media Days that his current coaching staff is the “best” of his whole career. Schiano, in part, the Gophers to thank.Schiano hired away former U offensive coordinat...