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3 arrested in $380,000 GTA cheque fraud investigation targeting vulnerable residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

Three people have been charged concerning a fraudulent cheque ring operation that involved a loss of around $380,000.Peel Regional Police said in March 2023, fraud investigators were contacted by a major financial institution about a cheque-related scam.Authorities identified a group responsible for the alleged crimes and determined that the suspects were responsible for approximately $380,000 of fraudulent cheque acts.Police said the investigation also revealed that the suspects were targeting “vulnerable sectors of the population” in committing these frauds. Related: Man arrested for impersonating police officer, defrauding elderly woman of thousands of dollars On Friday, Dec. 8, three people were arrested. They were identified as 41-year-old Varinder Kumar of Brampton, 30-year-old Sukvir Singh of Brampton and 26-year-old Sandeep Sogi of Toronto.Kumar is facing five counts of fraud over $5,000, four counts of uttering forged documents and three counts ...

Two Nashville churches, wrecked by tornados years apart, lean on each other in storms’ wake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After a March 2020 tornado destroyed the Rev. Jacques Boyd’s Nashville church, his friend, the Rev. Vincent Johnson, lent him space to worship in. Nearly four years later, Boyd has offered to return the favor for the exact same reason.“Whatever we have is available to them,” said Boyd, who leads Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, two days after a tornado ripped through Community Baptist Church. “We’re walking hand-in-hand with them as sister churches and as pastors being friends, being present with them however that presence looks.”Although the tornado struck early Saturday evening, Community Baptist was full of people attending an appreciation banquet for Pastor Johnson and his wife Donella Johnson. In a video message to the congregation posted on the church’s Facebook page Sunday, Donella Johnson said several members needed emergency surgery. Their injuries included broken hips and femurs.One of the people injured was George Presley, who suffered a hea...

Wisconsin’s Democratic attorney general vows to defend potential 2024 Trump victory in court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Democratic attorney general vowed Monday to defend a potential Donald Trump victory in the swing state next year, saying he’s confident that the state’s election systems work.Trump, a Republican, refused to concede that Democrat Joe Biden won Wisconsin in 2020. Multiple court challenges and a partial recount ultimately confirmed Biden’s victory. Attorney General Josh Kaul defended the results in court.Kaul told The Associated Press on Monday that the legal challenges over the 2020 election showed that Wisconsin’s election systems accurately reflect the will of the voters. Asked if he would defend the 2024 results even if they show that Trump won the state, Kaul said: “We’re going to defend the results regardless of who wins the election. What is paramount is the will of the voters prevails.”The Associated Press

New York pledges $1B on chip research and development in Albany in bid for jobs, federal grants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state will spend $1 billion to expand research into chip technology in Albany, the state’s capital, with the goal of turning the region into a global center of semiconductor research and manufacturing, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday.She said the investment will bolster New York’s case for federal grants under the CHIPS and Science Act, which will provide more than $52 billion for semiconductor research and manufacturing. It’s part of a long-term plan wrest control of the industry away from competitors, particularly China.“There’s a race for global domination. That’s why we’re here,” Hochul, a Democrat, said at a news conference where she was joined by chip industry leaders and both of New York’s U.S. senators. “And I’m here to announce that New York state will win that race.”The plan will eventually create 700 new jobs and includes the purchase of a next-generation lithography machine for making computer chips, the officials said in...

Trial for accused Highland Park shooter to begin in February; Crimo III to represent himself

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A judge in Lake County set a trial date Monday for early next year for the man accused of the mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade, who now plans to represent himself.Robert Crimo III requested his right to a speedy trial Monday, so proceedings are set to begin in February 2024 after the trial date had been tentatively set for 2025. Also Monday, Crimo III dismissed his defense attorneys, telling 19th Judicial Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti that he'll represent himself at next year's trial. Crimo III, who prosecutors say opened fire on crowds of people watching the parade in 2022, is facing more than 100 charges, including dozens of first-degree murder and attempted murder charges.Seven people were killed, dozens were hurt and countless others were traumatized in the shooting.Crimo III pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently being held without bond.On Monday, he made his request in a Lake County courtroom to move up his trial date...

'A Call from Gaza': Chicagoland businesses, schools strike to call attention to thousands of Palestinian deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

CHICAGO -- Over 200 businesses and schools in the Chicagoland area have shut down Monday to call attention to the thousands of Palestinians killed in the ongoing conflict with Israel over the past two months. Businesses in the Chicagoland area and across the country have gone on strike to call attention to Palestinians killed in Gaza, the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine said. Nearly 18,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israeli bombings on Oct. 7, mostly being women and Children, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Around 1,200 Israelis were killed in the initial attack carried out by Hamas, which was reported to have been known by Israel as much as a year in advance, the New York Times said. According to Aljazeera, people have been urged to skip work and school -- with seven schools in the Chicagoland area following along.Schools participating in the strike:Aqsa SchoolAl Majd SchoolAlajyal SchoolKindi AcademyMultaqa AcademyIQ TutoringAltayseer...

Border funding talks stalled in Congress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - With less than a week to go until lawmakers leave Washington, there is still no border security deal.Democrats and republicans are scrambling to come up with a border security solution both sides can agree on because without a border deal, the fate of billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine and Israel remains in limbo.Senators are racing to reach a deal securing military aid for Ukraine and Israel while also overhauling U.S.  immigration policy.“I think this is one of the most dangerous moments that I've ever faced in American politics,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).Senate republicans are demanding tougher border security policies in exchange for their support for President Joe Biden’s $106 billion supplemental funding request that includes aid for Ukraine and Israel.The lead republican negotiator, Oklahoma Senator James Lankford, said that republicans want sweeping policy changes to limit the surge of migrants crossing into the U.S.“We want to be able to...

Holiday crowds at airports, on highways expected to be even bigger than last year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

(AP) -- More Americans are expected to fly or drive far from home over Christmas than did last year, putting a cap on a busy year for travel.Auto club AAA forecast Monday that 115.2 million people will go 50 miles or more from home during the 10 days between Dec. 23 and New Year's Day. That's 2.2% more than AAA predicted during the comparable stretch last year.“That desire to get away is stronger than we have seen in a very long time,” said AAA spokeswoman Aixa Diaz. “People are willing to adjust their budgets in other areas of their life, but they want to keep traveling." Deadlines start soon to ship holiday packages via USPS, FedEx and UPS The AAA predicts that the holiday season will still fall 3% short of record travel in 2019, the last Christmas before COVID-19 hit the United States.Air travel in the U.S. has already rebounded, surpassing 2019 levels.The number of travelers going through U.S. airport checkpoints is up 12.4% over last year and 1.4% higher than in 2019, accordi...

'1 in 100,000': Rare elk spotted in Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) – Colorado Parks and Wildlife spotted a rare kind of elk during a big game classification flight last week.CPW is conducting classification flights now through February across the state for big-game species. The flights allow CPW researchers to generate population estimates and assess young animal recruitment within a population.  Why Coloradans might see low-flying helicopters this winter During a flight earlier this week, Montrose-area CPW wildlife biologist Evan Phillips spotted a rare piebald cow elk in a herd.What makes a piebald cow elk rare?The piebald trait is not common in elk like it is in horses or dogs. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, piebald is defined as something of different colors, especially spotted or blotched with black and white.Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist Evan Phillips spotted a rare piebald cow elk during a big game classification flight this week. According to CPW, the piebald trait only occurs in about 1 out of eve...

Man accused of molesting child while tutoring at Austin ISD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested on charges of indecency with a child after volunteering as a tutor with the district this semester, according to Austin Independent School District officials.The district said Isaiah Xavier Smith was a college readiness tutor between September and October at Akins High School this semester. But was cut off from accessing the campus on Oct. 25 after a high school student told a school police officer they were sexually assaulted by Smith. Man walks with long rifle in front of Austin schools, ‘terrorized’ students and parents The child told their parents Smith sexually assaulted them during a tutoring session at the school, according to an arrest affidavit. The child also told police Smith previously offered to purchase shoes and underwear and to give them money.KXAN has contacted Smith’s attorney Monday but has not yet heard back.“We are doing everything we can to understand how this incident occurred to prevent situations like this in the future,”...