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Alleged Mexican drug cartel hitman pleads guilty to charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — An accused hitman for a Mexican drug cartel pleaded guilty on Thursday to federal charges, ending a nearly 20-year-old investigation involving dozens of defendants.Juan Francisco Sillas-Rocha, of Tijuana, Mexico, pleaded guilty to three charges in a hearing before Chief Judge Peter Welte in Fargo, North Dakota, including conspiracy to commit murder in furtherance of the continuing criminal enterprise.He is expected to be sentenced in early 2024; he faces life in prison and millions of dollars in fines, KFGO reported.His attorney, Matthew Lombard, did not immediately respond to phone or email messages from The Associated Press for comment on Sillas-Rocha’s guilty plea.Authorities have said Sillas-Rocha was a top lieutenant for the Arellano Felix cartel, which for decades smuggled cocaine, marijuana and other drugs into the United States. The Felix cartel was a longtime competitor of the Sinaloa cartel led by notorious drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.Si...

Wildlife officials search for a wayward sea otter harassing surfers, kayakers off California coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Wildlife officials were trying to capture a wayward sea otter Thursday that has been wrestling surfboards away from surfers and aggressively approaching kayakers off the coast of Santa Cruz, California.The 5-year-old female otter has shown aggression toward people for several weeks and poses a public safety risk, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement. Video and photographs shared on social media show the marine mammal getting on top of different surfboards — on at least one occasion biting and tearing chunks off a board — and aggressively approaching surfers.A team of wildlife experts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium were working to capture and rehome the animal, the service said. “While there have been no confirmed reports of injury, due to the highly unusual behavior of this otter, kayakers, surfers, and others recreating in the area should not approach the otter or encourage the ott...

Oklahoma murder conviction reversed due to sexual relationship between judge, prosecutor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma appeals court on Thursday threw out a first-degree murder conviction because of a sexual relationship between the judge and a prosecutor in the case.In a 3-2 decision, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a new trial for defendant Robert Leon Hashagen III, who was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder in 2021. Hashagen’s attorneys later appealed after new evidence emerged of an undisclosed sexual relationship between the trial court judge, Timothy Henderson, and one of the prosecutors in the case.The majority opinion found that “the undisclosed relationship violated Hashagen’s due process rights.” Henderson resigned in March 2021 after three female attorneys came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Henderson was never charged and has described the sexual involvement with two of the women as consensual.“My rulings were fair and supported by the evidence and facts presented...

What to know about the harrowing Ukraine war doc ’20 Days in Mariupol’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Theatergoers in select cities will soon be able to watch “20 Days in Mariupol,” the visceral documentary on Russia’s early assault on the Ukrainian city.The 94-minute film is a joint production by The Associated Press and PBS “Frontline” and has been met with critical acclaim and an audience award at the Sundance Film Festival. AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov directed the movie from 30 hours of footage he and other AP journalists shot in Mariupol in the opening days of the war.Chernov and AP colleagues Evgeniy Maloletka, a photographer, and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko were the last international journalists in the city before escaping.“I thought I should do something more. I should do something more with that 30 hours of footage to tell a bigger story and more context to show the audience of the scale,” Chernov has said.As the film begins its theatrical rollout, here are details on how it came together and where you can watch it.WHERE CAN I WATCH ‘20 DAYS...

4 confirmed tornadoes after Wednesday night's storms: National Weather Service

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

CHICAGO — The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday a total of four tornadoes after Wednesday night’s storms, with three touchdowns occurring in Elgin and one in Oswego.The first Elgin tornado had a maximum intensity EF-1 and maximum wind speed of 100 mph. The track roughly started east of Rt. 47 and ended near the railroad tracks west of Villa Olivia Golf Course.The NWS says the second tornado in Elgin had a max intensity of EF-0 with max wind speed of 85 mph. The tornado began close to McDonald Road and ended along Hopps Road.A NWS team confirmed a third tornado after grounds were surveyed from Burr Ridge to Stickney. A EF-1 with max winds near 110 mph was identified.The fourth tornado confirmed by NWS was reportedly an EF-0 with a maximum wind speed of 85 mph in northeastern Oswego and eastern Boulder Hill Wednesday evening. Severe weather leaves damage around Chicago area Elgin was just one of the several communities hit by severe weather Wednesday night. NWS teams are e...

Will 2025 be the time for Wrigley Field to get another All-Star Game?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Once again, there is hope that the Midsummer Classic can return to the "Friendly Confines" after a lengthy time away. During his meeting with the press in Seattle, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred once again said that Wrigley Field is a candidate to host the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. The Cubs will be up against the Blue Jays (Rogers Centre), Braves (Truist Field), and Orioles (Camden Yards) hoping to host the best in the league at their ballparks. If that happens, it would end quite a drought for the 109-year-old ballpark.(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)How long has it been?The Cubs last hosted an MLB All-Star Game on July 10, 1990, on a rainy night at Wrigley Field, marking the third time that the ballpark hosted the Midsummer Classic. It also was the site of the 1947 & 1962 All-Star Games, with the 1990 contest marking its return after 28 years. At the moment, the Cubs are on a minimum 35-year All-Star Game drought, since 2025 is the next available opening. In the f...

RECALL: Frigidaire washer-dryer combo may pose fire risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Several thousand Frigidaire washer-dryer combo machines that were sold across the U.S. are being recalled over fire hazard concerns. Electrolux Group, which manufactures Frigidaire products, says there have already been 23 reports of fires and one report of smoke inhalation injury.The company says a felt seal on the dryer drum can potentially fold inward, causing lint accumulation and fire. Frontier Airlines’ unlimited flight passes on sale for $299 The recalled products are the following Frigidaire Gas Laundry Centers:Model numbersSerial numbersFFLG4033QWX4E44114739 through 4E81603034FFLG4033QTX4E44308482 through 4E81603380These machines were sold in both white and titanium colors, the company explains. Customers should be able to locate "Frigidaire" under the dryer door and serial numbers on white stickers inside the dryer door.Several thousand Frigidaire washer-dryer combo machines that were sold across the U.S. are being recalled over fire hazard concerns (Courtesy...

40 human skulls seized from Kentucky apartment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WKRN) — Approximately 40 human skulls were found among bones and body parts inside a Kentucky apartment. The discovery was made as FBI agents served a search warrant Tuesday in connection with the investigation into stolen human remains that were trafficked from Harvard Medical School’s morgue.James Nott, who lives in the apartment, was arrested after the discovery. Federal investigators initially received a tip that there were possibly human remains at another home, that of Jeremy Pauley in Pennsylvania. After officers found human remains -- including organs and skin -- the FBI determined Pauley was buying the remains through Facebook from a woman who worked at a mortuary in Little Rock, Arkansas. Illinois woman living with broken needle in her spine PayPal transactions reveal she sold Pauley various human remains including hearts, brains, lungs, and two fetal specimens.William Nott (Courtesy: Oldham County Detention Center) Pauley provided investigators with in...

Abbott orders additional troopers to Austin 1 day after city suspends APD/DPS partnership

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered an additional 30 Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to Austin, according to a spokesperson with DPS.The order comes one day after the City of Austin said it would be suspending the partnership between the Austin Police Department and DPS. RELATED: Texas Department of Public Safety says it will keep patrolling despite Austin suspending partnership The additional troopers would bring the total number to 130, not including the troopers that work the Capitol.DPS said overall, there would be 80 of the original troopers that began patrolling at the beginning of the partnership, the 20 Criminal Investigations Division officers that were also deployed as part of the partnership, and now the new 30 troopers.

Llano County brush fire grows to 100 acres, at least 10 agencies responding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:50 GMT

LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A brush fire that began burning at a ranch Thursday afternoon has now grown to scorch 100 acres. The Llano County Office of Emergency Management posted on its Facebook page that at least 10 agencies are now responding to the fire located near East Hwy. 71 and County Road 307. Crews also have CR 307 shut down right now due to the ongoing response. Initially, first responders told KXAN the fire began on a ranch property. As of 2 p.m., the growing fire caused no evacuations. Air support from the Texas Forest Service is currently assisting with the fire, according to the Llano County Office of Emergency Management.At last check, there are no structures currently in danger, according to Llano officials.As of July 10, Llano County had a burn ban in place.