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A look at known Iranian-Americans held by Iran as the US seeks a prisoner release deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

Iran has transferred five Iranian-Americans from prison to house arrest, part of a possible deal over billions of dollars of Iranian assets frozen in South Korea. Three of the five prisoners have been previously identified while two others have not been named publicly. Those identified include:SIAMAK NAMAZISiamak Namazi, an energy executive, was arrested in 2015. He had been an advocate of closer ties between Iran and the West.Iran sentenced both Namazi and his father, Baquer Namazi, to 10 years in the country’s notorious Evin Prison on what the U.S. and U.N. say are trumped-up spying charges.Baquer was placed under house arrest for medical reasons in 2018 but prevented from leaving Iran despite his family’s pleas that he travel to receive emergency heart surgery after suffering multiple hospitalizations. He ultimately left Iran in October 2022. Siamak is the longest-held Iranian-American held in Tehran. He appealed to President Joe Biden in an essay in The New York Times in June 20...

Woman faces fraud charges over claim to $70M lottery ticket

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

Ontario Provincial Police say they have arrested a women who allegedly made a fake claim for a $70-million Lotto Max ticket.Police say they cannot confirm that the woman was seeking the prize for a $70-million unclaimed lottery ticket sold in Toronto’s east-end in June 2022.The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation say that ticket was officially declared unclaimed today, making it the largest unclaimed prize in Canadian lottery history.OLG says nearly 2,700 people made claims for the prize, but none were identified as the legitimate holder of the winning ticket.OPP say its investigation into the 33-year-old woman was initiated by information provided by OLG, ultimately leading to her being charged with attempting fraud over $5,000, forgery and uttering a forged document.Police say she is scheduled to appear before a North Bay court at a later date, but could not comment further on her alleged offences.

'Continuing his legacy': Mother of slain 9-year-old hosting 4th annual back-to-school drive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

CHICAGO — To honor the life of her 9-year-old boy, a Chicago mother has been busy collecting donations for her foundation's annual back-to-school drive.Jalisa Ford started the 1 Jar Foundation shortly after her son Janari Ricks was shot and killed on July 31, 2020 while playing outside in Cabrini Green."He was outgoing and played basketball, loved the Golden State Warriors," Ford told WGN News. "He loved school and friends — if he had a dollar he was trying to figure out how to split it with friends."A 39-year-old man was charged with his murder the following week.Since then, Ford has made it her mission to honor Janari by giving back to others, especially families impacted by gun violence."It's a must that I continue that legacy in honor of him," Ford said. "He was my only child."The 1 Jar Foundation, which recently established an office at 542 W. Hobbie Street, hopes to expand in the coming years to provide mental health resources and gun violence prevention.In the meantime, Ford ...

Bruce Springsteen returns to Wrigley Field for 2-show run

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

CHICAGO — Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band kicked off their two-show run in Chicago Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.The concert was a three-hour mix of newer songs, along with some classics.The band has one more performance at Wrigley on Friday, Aug. 11. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the concert is scheduled to begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.After Chicago, which is the first stop of their 2023 North American tour, Springsteen will head to Philadelphia. The tour will end in December in San Francisco. This is the second stop for Springsteen and the E Street Band at Wrigley Field as they performed at the stadium on September of 2012 as part of the “Wrecking Ball” tour.

Underserved woman to get access to free mammograms and Pap smears

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

MAYWOOD, Ill. -- Uninsured and underinsured women will have the opportunity to receive free cervical and breast cancer screenings. Loyola Medicine is hosting their eighth annual 'See, Test and Treat' event August 19 to provide preventative care for women who may not have access to it. A Loyola Medicine spokesperson said underinsured and uninsured women between the ages of 30 and 64 can receive free cervical cancer screenings with same day results. After a rain delay, Elmhurst Youth Baseball looks to clinch Little League World Series spot Thursday All uninsured and underinsured women between 40 and 64 are eligible to receive free mammograms with results within three to five days. At last year's event, 59 uninsured women received screenings -- some for the first time. “It is so important that women get screened early for breast and cervical cancer because catching these cancers in their early stages can literally save their lives — both of these cancers are easier to treat earlier o...

'Crush-type injuries:' Body of man found under trailer ramp in Vernon Hills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

UNINCORPORATED VERNON HILLS, Ill. -- The body of a 53-year-old man was found underneath a trailer ramp with 'crush-like injuries' in Unincorporated Vernon Hills Thursday morning.Officers were dispatched to the 24800 block of North Milwaukee venue for a report of a person down.According to Lake County Sheriff's Office, the man, from Unincorporated Libertyville, was found underneath the trailer ramp, deceased. Man, 21, found beaten to death in Gage Park home ID’d Police investigation states that the man arrived earlier in the day to remove an excavator from a trailer so the trailer can be taken to a worksite. He likely used the bucket on the excavator and chains to raise the trailer ramps which weighs about 300 pounds, police said. Police state that while walking to latch the ramps to the trailer, the chain likely slipped, causing the chain to free from the ramps, causing it to fall and landing on top of the man. Police said foul play does not seem to be a factor in the incident an...

Prosecutors propose January trial date in Trump 2020 election case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

(The Hill) -- Special counsel Jack Smith’s office has proposed a January trial date for former President Donald Trump’s criminal case stemming from his efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election.Prosecutors on Thursday proposed a Jan. 2, 2024, trial start and indicated they expect it will take no longer than four to six weeks to present their evidence.“This trial date, and the proposed schedule outlined below, would give the defendant time to review the discovery in this case and prepare a defense, and would allow the Court and parties to fully litigate any pre-trial legal issues,” Molly Gaston and Thomas Windom, two lead prosecutors in the case, wrote in court filings.“Most importantly, a January 2 trial date would vindicate the public’s strong interest in a speedy trial—an interest guaranteed by the Constitution and federal law in all cases, but of particular significance here, where the defendant, a former president, is charged with conspiring to overturn the legitimate r...

Target recalling over 2 million candles due to multiple hazards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

(WHTM) – Target is recalling millions of candles over concerns that the jars can break while in use, leading to burns and lacerations.The recall involves 2.2 million Threshold Candles, sold exclusively at Target from February 2020 through July 2023, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced in an alert posted Thursday. Over 60 varieties of Threshold Candles are involved, including 5.5-ounce one-wick candles and the 20-ounce three-wick candles in multiple scents.Only one injury has been reported thus far, though Target has received 19 reports of the candles breaking or cracking while in use. Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 92,000 vehicles over fire risk The following item numbers have been recalled:Product nameItem number20oz 3-Wick Jar Pineapple Sage & Sugarcane - Threshold™054-09-005620oz 3-Wick Jar Berry Lemonade & Melon - Threshold™054-09-020020oz 3-Wick Jar White Gardenia & Jasmine - Threshold™054-09-026620oz 3-Wick Jar Charcoal & Black Teakwood - T...

Bomb squad, police, FBI investigating object in Cedar Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 10, 2023CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) -- The FBI, Austin Police Department bomb squad, and Cedar Park Police Department are investigating a scene in Cedar Park. ‘Sad tragedy’: 3 people recovered from hole in Bastrop County corn field CPPD posted on social media that its officers were assisting the FBI and APD bomb squad with an investigation at 335 Cypress Creek Road. That address is connected with the Cypress Gardens apartment complex.The post said some residents have been temporarily evacuated out of an abundance of caution as the bomb squad examines an object at the scene.Police are asking people to avoid the area as the investigation is ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

1 arrested after St. David's parking garage explosion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department has arrested a suspect linked to a parking garage explosion at St. David's Medical Center Wednesday evening.Police announced Thursday afternoon Raymond Luke Garner, 38, had been arrested and taken into custody. Garner is charged with a third-degree felony of components of explosives, officials said in a social media post. APD officials added the incident remains under investigation in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.During a news briefing Wednesday evening, APD said the call came in at 5:23 p.m. at St. David's Medical Center.On Thursday, officials with St. David's Medical Center on East 32nd Street confirmed the facility had resumed normal operations following a vehicle explosion in a parking garage Wednesday night.St. David's Medical Center's CEO Todd Steward said in a statement the hospital was no longer on diversion s...