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Albania’s ex-Prime Minister Berisha put under house arrest while investigated for corruption

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — An Albanian court on Saturday ordered house arrest for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the opposition Democratic Party and is being investigated for possible corruption.Judge Irena Gjoka of the First Instance Special Court on Corruption and Organized Crime, which covers cases involving senior officials and politicians, accepted prosecutors’ request to put Berisha, 79, under house arrest after he violated the previous restrictive measures of reporting every two weeks. He was also barred from traveling abroad.His lawyer, Genc Gjokutaj, said the court also barred Berisha from communicating with people other than his family who lives with him, and considered the order a violation of law. Depriving Berisha of communication may become a wider political issue because he’s the leader of the main opposition party.Gjokutaj said he would appeal the court order. It is not clear how police officers would monitor Berisha at his apartment in downtown Tira...

US seizes more illegal e-cigarettes, but thousands of new ones are launching

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials are seizing more shipments of unauthorized electronic cigarettes at U.S. ports, but thousands of new flavored products continue pouring into the country from China, according to government and industry data reviewed by The Associated Press.The figures underscore the chaotic state of the nation’s $7 billion vaping market and raise questions about how the U.S. government can stop the flow of fruit-flavored disposable e-cigarettes used by 1 in 10 American teens and adolescents.More than 11,500 unique vaping products are being sold in U.S. stores, up 27% from 9,000 products in June, according to tightly held industry data from analytics firm Circana.“FDA whacks one product and then the manufacturers get around it and the kids get around it,” said Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, a Stanford University psychologist who develops anti-vaping educational materials. “It’s too easy to change your product a little bit and just relaunch it.”Halpern-Felsher says she is ...

6-month-old baby dies after hit-and-run crash on South Side: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago police are searching for the driver that ran away from the scene of hit-and-run crash. It is unknown whether the crash caused the death of a six-moth-old baby girl.According to police, the driver of a chevy was travelling westbound on 63rd Street near the 6300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue around 9:42 p.m. when it ran a red light and struck a ford SUV in the intersection. The vehicles struck two other vehicles and a male and female in the chevy fled on foot and are not in custody. Police seek information after 1 injured in Irving Park hit-and-run A man and woman in the ford were transported by the CFD to the University of Chicago Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The baby in the ford was being taken by her parents to Comers Children Hospital with breathing difficulties when the accident occurred. The baby was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead. It is unknown if the accident caused the child's death. There is currently no one ...

Ending the year with bright and warm conditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The final weekend of 2023 brings bright and warm weather. The first week of 2024 starts cold.Afternoon highs today will warm to the upper 60s to low 70s. Warming southwest winds this afternoon will aid in the warm up.Tomorrow will be warmer with many highs in the low to mid 70s. Once again, a warming southwest wind leads to the unseasonably warm afternoon.Ending the year warm to starting the new year coldA cold front moves north to south late Sunday night into the first few hours of Monday. The front will clear the area before the sun comes up Monday. It leaves a brisk north wind that will keep temperatures in the 50s during the afternoon.New Year's Eve night will be clear. Midnight temperatures will be in the low 50s.Midnight on New Year's EveIn fact, all of our highs next week will be in the 50s. Mornings will be colder with mainly 30. The coldest morning will be Thursday when minimums will drop to the low to mid 30s.2023 will end with 26.83". This is more nine in...

Justin Fields knows there’s a typical timeline in the NFL. The Chicago Bears QB thinks he’s ‘just at the start.’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

Two years, eight months and one day ago, Chicagoan Carlos Nelson walked across the NFL draft stage, shook Commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand, removed his mask and announced the pick.With the 11th selection, the Chicago Bears were taking Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.Masked-up Bears fans at the first in-person draft after the emergence of COVID-19 cheered, and NFL Network analysts heaped praise.“This is an exciting moment here for the Chicago Bears,” analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “This is a team that has a pretty good defense in place. They just didn’t have any juice. There was no excitement on this offense. … He’s going to give this Chicago Bears team something they don’t have, and it’s going to be a lot more fun to watch.”Charles Davis cued up the comparison: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Davis cited the body and arm, the ability to move around and extend plays, the adaptability and toughness.After decades...

The chilliest start to last weekend of 2023 gives way to sunny Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Clouds have gradually cleared overnight and it's a cold start to the last weekend of 2023. The good news is that today will be a sunny day with highs above normal, in the upper half of the 40s. Clouds increase overnight and lows once again fall to around freezing. Sunday will be cold and brisk, with a mix of clouds and some sun. We could even have a few spotty flurries as well. New Year's Day will be quiet, with highs around 40. Slight rain chances return Thursday.

Paula Abdul sues 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe for sexual assault

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit Friday accusing Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her while she was working on “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”Lythgoe is best known as the executive producer of the hit reality competition shows — he produced "American Idol" from 2002 to 2014 and "So You Think You Can Dance" from 2005 to 2014.According to Variety, Abdul claimed in the early years of working on “American Idol,” Lythgoe had sexually assaulted her and again in 2014 when she was working on “So You Think You Can Dance.”During the first alleged assault, Abdul claims Lythgoe shoved her against the wall of an elevator before grabbing her genitals and breasts, and shoving his tongue down her throat. She pushed him away and when the elevator doors opened, she ran out and called her representatives for help.LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 27: Paula Abdul (L) and Nigel Lythgoe arrive at the Dizzy Feet Foundation's 3rd Annual Celebration of Dance Gala held at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on ...

Prep roundup: San Ramon Valley goes for gold again at Damien, Salesian loses thriller and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

Boys basketballSan Ramon Valley 67, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 62San Ramon Valley will be going for its second consecutive Gold Division championship at the Classic at Damien on Saturday night after defeating SPXSM. SRV’s opponent was ranked No. 25 in the country by MaxPreps. The Wolves will play Dixie-Utah in the final. “Could not be more proud of them!,” San Ramon Valley coach Brian Botteen wrote in an email to the Bay Area News Group. Luke Issak finished with 19 points, and senior big Seamus Deely had a double-double for the second straight game with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Jack Moxley put in 12 points as the third scoring option for the Wolves, which beat Ironwood in last season’s final at Damien. “When we went to Gridley we saw areas we had to improve upon in order to play with the best,” Botteen said. “They have really dedicated themselves to moving without the ball, getting assists and giving a complete team effort!”St. John Bosco 68, No. 2 Salesian 66Salesian pushed ...

Big 2023 Bay Area crime and public safety stories that will impact 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

The close of 2023 caps a year in which Bay Area crime and public safety issues repeatedly surfaced to the top of news cycles and the public consciousness. Some events have been broad in reach and visibility, others primarily local — but with sweeping implications for 2024. Here are some of the highest-profile crime, court and public safety stories we’ll be watching in the new year. Antioch police corruptionThis year saw the conclusion of a sweeping, 18-month investigation into Antioch and Pittsburg police officers that resulted in federal and state charges against 14 current and former department employees.The worst accusations were leveled against three — Devon Wenger, Morteza Amiri, Eric Rombough — who were charged with civil rights violations via the use of dogs and less-than-lethal weapons.The investigation began with tips that several officers were fraudulently obtaining college degrees to receive incentive pay from both cities. When FBI agents seized An...

Mathews: Democracy will struggle to survive the world’s 2024 elections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:03:46 GMT

2024 will be the biggest election year in history. About 4.2 billion people, or more than half of humanity, live in countries with upcoming elections.Can democracy survive it?That question may sound cynical. But, in the 21st century, romantic ideas of democracy are dying. The latest global reports show democracy contracting across every world region. And elections rarely renew faith in democracy. Authoritarian rulers use them to consolidate power. They inspire frustration, divide societies and spark violence.Elections can also make democracies vulnerable to outside attack. On my recent visit to Taiwan, which holds presidential elections Jan. 13, Vincent Chao of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party told me that the election itself was a form of national security against China, which insists it will reunify with the island nation — by force if necessary. “Democracy is our best defense,” Chao said.But democracy also makes Taiwan vulnerable. The Chinese government and its proxi...