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Newsom signs laws to fast-track housing on churches’ lands, streamline housing permitting process

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Religious institutions and nonprofit colleges in California will be allowed to turn their parking lots and other properties into low-income housing under a new law aimed at combating the ongoing homeless crisis.The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday, rezones land owned by nonprofit colleges and religious institutions, such as churches, mosques, and synagogues, to allow for affordable housing. Starting in 2024, they can bypass most local permitting and environmental review rules that can be costly and lengthy. The law is set to sunset in 2036. California is home to nearly a third of all homeless people in the U.S. The crisis has sparked a movement among religious institutions, dubbed “yes in God’s backyard,” or “YIGBY,” in cities across the state, with a number of projects already in the works.But churches and colleges often face big hurdles trying to convert their surplus land and underutilized parking lots into housing because their land is not zon...

After delays, California unveils first site of state tiny home project to relieve homelessness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — An abandoned office park in Sacramento will be the site of the first group of 1,200 tiny homes to be built in four cities to address California’s homelessness crisis, the governor’s office announced Wednesday after being criticized for the project experiencing multiple delays.Gov. Gavin Newsom is under pressure to make good on his promise to show he’s tackling the issue. In March, the Democratic governor announced a plan to gift several California cities hundreds of tiny homes by the fall to create space to help clear homeless encampments that have sprung up across the state’s major cities. The $30 million project would create homes, some as small as 120 square feet (11 square meters), that can be assembled in 90 minutes and cost a fraction of what it takes to build permanent housing. More than 171,000 homeless people live in California, making up about 30% of the nation’s homeless population. The state has spent roughly $30 billion in the last ...

3 people wanted in alleged assault investigation near Broadview station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

Toronto police are looking for three suspects, two men and a woman, as well as an outstanding suspect who are wanted in an aggravated assault investigation.On Oct. 8, at approximately 8:16 a.m., police responded to a call for an assault in the Broadview Avenue and Pretoria Avenue area.Allegedly two men and two women entered a residential apartment unit, and once inside attacked the people in the unit. Two victims sustained serious, but not life threatening injuries.Toronto police have identified three of the four suspects. Patrick Allan Dunn, 38, Jahmal Justin Brown, 29, and Michelle Leeann Matheson, 36, all of Toronto, are wanted for two counts of forcible confinement, five counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of threatening bodily harm, threatening death and two counts of aggravated assault.Investigators ask for the public’s assistance identifying the outstanding fourth suspect. She is described as 5’4″, slim to medium build, with red hair, wearing a pink ...

Woman accused of falsely reporting she was abducted after seeing child on road seeks to avoid jail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama woman accused of falsely telling police she was abducted after stopping to check on a toddler wandering along the highway is appealing her municipal court conviction in an effort to avoid a yearlong jail sentence sought by prosecutors. A municipal judge on Wednesday found Carlee Russell, 26, guilty of misdemeanor charges of false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident. The guilty judgement came after Russell’s attorneys agreed to “stipulate and appeal” the case — a legal maneuver to move the case to circuit court where proceedings will start anew.Russell’s summer disappearance — and her story of being abducted after stopping her car to check on the child — captivated the nation before police called it a hoax. Flanked by her family and attorneys, Russell made her first court appearance Wednesday amid a heavy media presence, news outlets reported. Defense attorney Richard Jaffe said in a telephone interview they do not...

New York officer fatally shoots man in fencing mask who charged police with 2 swords, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

ELWOOD, N.Y. (AP) — A police officer fatally shot a man who charged at authorities with two swords on Long Island, New York, and the police commissioner said Wednesday that the shooting appeared to be justified.Alan Weber, 54, was pronounced dead at a hospital after Tuesday night’s shooting in Elwood.Police responded to a 911 call reporting a man acting violently inside a home. Weber was screaming and breaking items when officers arrived and refused to come outside, police said in a statement.The Suffolk County officers entered and Weber confronted them with the swords while wearing a fencing mask, Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said, adding that Weber did not obey commands to drop the swords and an officer shot a stun gun at him but it had no effect.Weber then charged, and one officer fired several shots, Harrison said. The officer’s name was not released.“I feel the officers had no other choice but to use what they had to use to stop the threat,” Harrison said.Nei...

10 family members of CPD officer killed in Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

CHICAGO -- A Chicago police officer, who was born in Gaza before moving to Chicago in the 1990's, learned Monday morning that nearly a dozen of his family members had been killed.Chicago Police Department's Mohammad Darabaih told WGN-TV that on Monday his cousin called him saying that 10 of his relatives were killed in Gaza. Among them, his brother-in-law's sister, husband, and their children."My sister and husband and the whole family got bombed and they’re all dead," Darabaih said. "Her son, a 7-year-old boy, (is) on life support. Her daughter, 6-years-old, passed away. (They) pulled her out of the rubble on site."Darabaih said that he was told on Monday that two surviving children, two-year-old twins, are now orphaned and two other children are still alive, but severely wounded."I condemn killing of innocent people." Darabaih said. "We need peace, both sides need to seek peace." For more coverage of the Israel and Hamas Conflict, click here Hamas, the militant group that contro...

New CPD K9 & Equine Memorial Plaza honors fallen service animals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

CHICAGO — Along the Lakefront just across from Soldier Field at the Gold Star Families Memorial Park marks the newest addition to those who have died in the name of public service. The K9 & Equine Memorial Plaza is a tribute to service animals who have paid the ultimate sacrifice."The addition of the K9 & Equine Plaza Memorial Plaza provides our officers with a place and opportunity to also honor their animal partners and the work that they do in service to this city," said Sandra Wortham with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. MORE FROM PATRICK ELWOOD: Impact culinary program helps aspiring chefs – with help from the best in ChicagoThree horses and eight dogs dating back to 1936 and a horse named Teddy killed in a traffic crash are among the animal officers memorialized.Phil Cline is the executive director of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, which is the steward of the park.  “Just a stone's throw from here are the names of 600 police officers who made that ulti...

Biden calls Hamas attacks in Israel the deadliest day for Jews since Holocaust

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday condemned the weekend attack by Hamas militants on Israel as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust as the number of U.S. citizens killed in the fighting ticked up to at least 22.“This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty — not just hate, but pure cruelty — against the Jewish people,” Biden told Jewish leaders gathered at the White House.Beyond the 22 known to have been killed, the State Department said at least 17 more Americans remain unaccounted for in a war that has already claimed more than 2,200 lives on both sides. A “handful” of U.S. citizens are among the estimated 150 hostages captured by Hamas militants during their shocking weekend assault on Israel, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday. What is Hamas and who leads it? Signs of U.S. support for Israel were seen across the administration, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveling there for meetings, Biden denouncing antisemit...

Felony dropped after man who found bag of cash, claimed finders-keepers pays back town

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

(AP) — A Connecticut man who found a bag containing nearly $5,000 in cash outside a bank and claimed “finders-keepers” had a criminal charge against him dropped Wednesday after he gave the money back.Robert Withington, 57, went to Bridgeport Superior Court for a scheduled court hearing, and a state prosecutor informed Withington's lawyer the felony larceny charge was being dropped.Withington found the bank bag containing $4,761 on May 30 outside a bank in his hometown of Trumbull, near Bridgeport. It turned out the money belonged to the Trumbull tax collector's office, and a town employee had dropped the bag while walking to the bank to deposit the money, police said.Police said the bag had the bank's name on the outside, and there were deposit slips inside indicating the money belonged to the town, authorities said. A police officer had escorted the town employee to the bank, but neither one noticed the bag being dropped, police said.Withington, a dog trainer, happened to be near t...

Police release sketch of person of interest in VT rail trail shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:58:36 GMT

CASTLETON, Vt. (NEWS10) -- Vermont State Police released a composite sketch of a person of interest in the shooting death of Honoree Fleming, 77, on the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail in Castleton. The sketch is based on testimony from multiple witnesses.Police said the person of interest is a white male believed to be in his 20s. He's about 5'10" tall with short red hair. He was last seen wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack. Investigators said he should be considered armed and dangerous. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Do not confront this person. Do not try to do anything on your own. Contact the police, mayor's agency, 911, the tip line, and then pass that information on."Fleming was fatally shot on Thursday, Oct. 5. Police continue to ask anyone who saw something or has any information to come forward. Tips can be reportedly anonymously on the Vermont State Police website or by calling (802) 773-9101.