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A top Maine Republican leader, a lobsterman, survives boat capsize from giant wave ahead of Lee

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

Like most lobstermen, the Maine House Republican leader scrambled to complete his work ahead of the remnants of Hurricane Lee. Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham was rushing home from sea when a giant wave rose up, seemingly from nowhere, and towered over his boat.Moments later, he and fellow fishermen Alex Polk found themselves plunged into the cold North Atlantic as they witnessed a horrifying sight: The sturdy 40-foot (12-meter) vessel built for offshore fishing had flipped over, its propeller still turning and its diesel engine belching black smoke.“This boat was turned upside down in a nanosecond like a bathtub toy,” Faulkingham recounted.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Coast Guard had warned mariners at noon Friday that they needed to immediately begin making plans to avoid the onrushing storm — just about when Faulkingham was turning to home at Winter Harbor, a few miles (kilometers) east of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.Suffering a black e...

Attorneys for man charged with killing 2 teenage Indiana girls argue they died in ritual sacrifice

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

DELPHI, Ind. (AP) — Attorneys for a northern Indiana man charged with killing two teenage girls contend in court documents filed Monday that their client had nothing to do with the crimes and that the girls actually died as part of a ritual sacrifice.Attorneys Andrew Baldwin and Brad Rozzi, who represent Richard Allen of Delphi, said in a 136-page document that 13-year-old Abigail Williams and 14-year-old Liberty German were killed by members of a pagan Norse religion and white nationalist group known as Odinists.They also requested a hearing to present evidence that the search warrant for Allen’s house was based on faulty probable cause and should be suppressed.“Members of a pagan Norse religion, called Odinism, hijacked by white nationalists, ritualistically sacrificed Abigail Williams and Liberty German,” the attorneys state said in the filing.”(N)othing, absolutely nothing, links Richard Allen to Odinism or any religious cult,” they wrote.The attorneys claim that two group...

Prince William sees oyster reef restoration project on NYC visit for environmental summit

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Prince William got a first-hand look at the waters of New York City on Monday on a visit to an oyster reef restoration project, after arriving in the United States for an environmental summit connected to a global competition for solutions to climate change challenges.William was taken to Governors Island in New York Harbor to see the efforts of the Billion Oyster Project. The organization is trying to rebuild the oyster reefs that were once abundant in New York waters, and which can help with water filtration and to protect against storm damage.On Tuesday, William is scheduled to speak at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit. He founded the prize, which looks for ways to address the problems created by climate change, and is announcing a second group of finalists.The summit is taking place during New York Climate Week and the 78th convening of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.The Associated Press

GOP gubernatorial candidate signals support for rape, incest exceptions to Kentucky abortion law

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron appeared to soften his hardline opposition to abortion on Monday, telling a Kentucky radio station that he would support amending the state’s abortion ban to add exceptions allowing for the termination of pregnancies caused by rape or incest.Cameron, the state’s attorney general, has steadfastly supported the current Kentucky law banning all abortions except when carried out to save a pregnant woman’s life or to prevent a disabling injury.But during an interview with WHAS-AM, Cameron signaled that if elected governor he would be willing to sign legislation providing abortion exceptions for instances of rape and incest.“There’s no question about that,” the GOP challenger said.Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s campaign accused Cameron of trying to hide his well-established “extreme views” on the abortion issue.“Throughout his time in office, even before this campaign began, Daniel Cameron has made it clear...

No cash bail now in effect in Illinois

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

CHICAGO -- After years of debate in the legislature and a nine-month delay due to litigation, no cash bail is now in effect. Some politicians are celebrating while others sound the alarm.Hours after Illinois became the first U.S. state to remove cash bail as a condition of pre-trial release Monday morning, supporters took a victory lap.   No cash bail starts in Illinois: Here’s what you need to know Starting Monday, police must issue citations for suspects accused of low-level misdemeanors. Those individuals will be given a court date and released.For more serious crimes, where a suspect is arrested and remains in police custody, a decision about pre-trial release will go to the court. Conditions for release are set in an initial hearing. Then, the prosecutor can request a defendant remain in jail. Witnesses are allowed and the victim will be notified. The judge will issue a ruling after listening to arguments from the prosecutor and defense attorney....

'Rain was everywhere': South Suburban residents cleaning up after heavy rains, damaging floods

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

CHICAGO — Some residents across Chicago's south suburbs spent the day cleaning up after heavy rains led to flooding on Sunday.More than 24 hours after the heavy rains fell and flooded parts of the south suburbs, standing water in the street remains. Now residents are facing damage to garage doors and a lot of debris is left behind on sidewalks and roads.Calumet City was a suburb that was hit hard on Sunday. Around 8 to 10 inches of rain fell, leaving behind damage that will take some residents weeks, if not months, to clean up."Rain was everywhere man. I don’t know how it was coming, I just knew it was coming down, and it was a lot," homeowner Craig Williams said. Parts of Chicago, suburbs deal with flooding after morning showers The Calumet City resident says he was just getting home when the intense rain began to fall, overwhelming sewers and sending feet of water into the streets, damaging garages and flooding basements."The sump pump went out. It was working fine and then all ...

13-year-old accused of robbing man at gunpoint facing felony charge

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

CHICAGO — A 13-year-old boy accused of robbing a man at gunpoint is facing a felony charge after his arrest on Sunday, according to Chicago police.Police say the teen boy was arrested just before 2:30 p.m. in the city's Austin neighborhood, only minutes after he allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint in the same area. According to police, the robbery happened in Austin, in the 5700 block of West Huron Street. Officers say the 59-year-old man was allegedly held up by the teen, who then stole property from the man. Police search for suspect after shooting Bolingbrook leaves man hospitalized Officers say the teen is now facing a felony charge of robbery with a firearm.Police provided details about the teen's arrest in a news release sent out on Monday morning.Police have not identified the juvenile or the victim involved.

VIDEO: Hundreds of migrants atop train arrive in Juarez

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) -- Hundreds of migrants arrived atop a train at the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday.Video shows dozens of migrants atop each of the covered box hoppers as the train arrives in south Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.Since Saturday, hundreds of migrants have been gathering in Juarez and lining up along the border wall in hopes of surrendering to U.S. Border Patrol agents.U.S. Border Patrol officials told Border Report that there are at least 500 migrants directly south of the border wall, adding that those people crossed the border illegally to get there. The center of the Rio Grande is the international boundary. Border agents say most of the migrants are from Venezuela and include adult males and family units, and will be taken to a U.S. Border Patrol processing facility and processed accordingly. Migrants overwhelming resources in Arizona, congressman says The U.S. Border Patrol has repeatedly warned that mig...

Debris found during search for missing F-35 fighter jet in South Carolina

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Debris has been found during the search for a military jet that apparently crashed after the pilot safely ejected over the weekend. The debris field from the missing F-35 was found in the Indiantown area of South Carolina, officials with Joint Base Charleston have confirmed to Nexstar's WCBD.“Members of the community should avoid the area as the recovery team secures the debris field,” a statement from Joint Base Charleston reads. “The mishap is currently under investigation, and we are unable to provide additional details to preserve the integrity of the investigative process. We would like to thank all of our mission partners, as well as local, county, and state authorities, for their dedication and support throughout the search and as we transition to the recovery phase.” Marines issue stand-down order amid search for missing F-35 The search began Sunday after a pilot was found on South Kenwood Drive in North Charleston after safely ejecting from the passing pl...

Here's what’s in Republicans’ proposed deal to prevent a shutdown

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:36:47 GMT

House GOP leaders are pushing a new proposal that would prevent a government shutdown later this month, but opposition in the Senate and even in the Republican Conference threatens chances of passage. The plan, unveiled Sunday night, would push the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline by another month, buying time for negotiators in both chambers to hash out a larger deal on how to fund the government for most of next year. But it comes with a host of sweeteners designed to attract support from conservatives while laying the groundwork for a potential clash with Democrats in the upper chamber — if the House GOP can pass it.A dozen conservatives have already said they are planning to vote "no" or leaning that way. In the narrow House GOP majority, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) can lose only a handful of Republican votes.Here’s a rundown of what’s in the latest agreement: Extends shutdown deadline by a monthLawmakers have until the end of the month to pass legislation to prevent w...