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Amid infighting among Putin’s lieutenants, head of mercenary force appears to take a step too far

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

By The Associated PressFor months, the outspoken millionaire head of the Wagner private military contractor bombarded Russia’s military leaders with expletive-ridden insults in a rift that has weakened the country’s forces amid the war in Ukraine.On Friday, Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared to take a step too far.He accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of ordering a rocket strike on the field camps for his mercenary troops, with a huge number of casualties, and said he would move to punish him.That’s when Russian authorities struck back, with the country’s top counterterrorism organization launching a criminal inquiry against Prigozhin on charges of fomenting an “armed rebellion” over threats to oust Shoigu.It was a startling turn of events in Moscow: After more than two decades of rigidly controlled rule by President Vladimir Putin, the worst infighting spilled out in the open among his top lieutenants. And it came as the war in Ukraine reached the 16...

Burlington police officer cleared of wrongdoing in 2022 fatal shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

A Burlington Police officer was cleared of wrongdoing when she shot a man to death as he allegedly ran at her with a knife in her hand last year.Burlington Police Officer Aurise Miedico underwent a three-day inquest into her killing of Paul Courtemanche, 42, on Jan. 23, 2022.Woburn District Court Judge Shelby M. Smith heard testimony from 10 witnesses and reviewed 60 exhibits during the inquest beginning Jan. 11 before finding that “a reasonable, prudent person would not find that the actions of Officer Miedico make her criminally responsible for the tragic death of Mr. Courtemanche, or that she is otherwise criminally responsible.”Courtemanche, 42, called 911 from a Burlington apartment building slightly after noon that day and told police that he had a knife and was having some issues. He would remain on the phone even as Burlington firefighters and police Officers Robert Reyes and Aurise Miedico were dispatched to the building. The call was labeled a “Q5,” meaning “a subject is m...

Toronto vintage store owner calls for better support for Instagram businesses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

A Toronto vintage clothing store owner says Instagram isn’t doing enough to support the thousands of businesses that use the platform as their digital and often sole storefront.Kez Garber, the founder of Papa Love Vintage, says their Instagram account was abruptly shutdown at the beginning of June — their busiest month of the year.“This is my business month, this is Pride month,” they tell CityNews.“A lot of my clientele are queer but all allies and everyone else really wants to put their money into supporting queer-owned businesses during Pride month. Between the holidays and Pride month — Pride month is my biggest one.”While Garber does have a studio in the city, it’s not public facing, and all their promotions, marketing and a majority of sales take place through Instagram.Apart from loss of revenue, they also had a significant amount of content planned for the month which has been put on the back burner.“We just did our biggest pho...

Police in California aren’t immune from certain misconduct lawsuits, high court rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Police in California are not immune from civil lawsuits for misconduct that happens while they investigate crimes, the state Supreme Court ruled this week, overruling a precedent made by lower courts that had helped protect law enforcement from litigation for decades.The justices unanimously rejected on Thursday an argument by Riverside County that its sheriff’s deputies couldn’t be sued for leaving a man’s naked body lying in plain sight for eight hours while officers investigated his killing. California law protects police from being sued for any harm that happens during a prosecution process — even if the officer acted “maliciously and without probable cause.” Now, the Supreme Court says police can be sued for misconduct during investigations.The ruling cites previous case law that defined investigatory actions as those before charges are filed.“The potential for factual overlap between investigations and prosecutions does not justify t...

Titan owner OceanGate has options for court protection, law professor says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The owner of a small submersible that imploded and killed five people on its way to the wreck of the Titanic has legal avenues to seek court protection from costly litigation, a maritime law professor at Louisiana’s Tulane University said Friday.Martin Davies said OceanGate Expeditions has the option to file an application through a maritime limitation of liability act. If the application is successful, a court would cap the amount of money the company would have to pay out if it was successfully sued by family members of the five people who died on the Titan.“Whenever it comes up in a personal injury context like this, everybody’s appalled to discover the ship owners can limit liability,” Davies said in an interview.The Titan travelled beneath the surface of the North Atlantic on Sunday, about 700 kilometres off the southeast coast of Newfoundland. It lost contact with surface ships about one hour and 45 minutes into its descent towa...

Wagner leader calls for rebellion against Russian defense chief, Kremlin orders his arrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The owner of the Wagner private military contractor escalated his direct challenge to the Kremlin on Friday, calling for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defense minister. The security services reacted immediately by opening a criminal investigation into Yevgeny Prigozhin.Prigozhin posted a series of angry video and audio recordings in which he accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of ordering a rocket strike Friday on Wagner’s field camps in Ukraine, where his troops are fighting on behalf of Russia. Prigozhin said his troops would now punish Shoigu in an armed rebellion and urged the army not to offer resistance. “This is not a military coup, but a march of justice,” Prigozhin declared.The Defense Ministry denied carrying out the rocket attack. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee, which is part of the Federal Security Services, or FSB, said he would be investigated on charges of calling for an armed rebellion. The state news agency Tass sa...

Body of 3rd climber killed in Washington state avalanche has been recovered

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) — The body of the third and final climber killed last winter in an avalanche on Washington’s Colchuck Peak has been recovered, officials said.A hiker on Thursday found the body of Yun Park, a 66-year-old man from Palisades Park, New Jersey, and reported it to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. A helicopter rescue team recovered the body Friday.Park and two other climbers were killed Feb. 19 as they ascended a steep, snow-packed gulley on the 8,705-foot (2,653-meter) Colchuck Peak, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) east of Seattle, amid risky avalanche conditions. A fourth member of the party suffered only minor injuries when caught up in the avalanche and was able to hike down.One of the victims, Seong Cho, 54, a Korean citizen residing in West Hartford, Connecticut, was located days later. The body of of 60-year-old Jeannie Lee, of Bayside, New York, was recovered in late May.The three were part of a New York-based climbing club, officials said at the time of...

What you need to know about the 2023 Chicago Pride Parade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

CHICAGO — Nearly a million people are expected in Lakeview on Sunday for the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade.If you're planning to attend the parade, here's what you should know. WGN-TV to air ‘Pride: Stories of Chicago’s Very Own’ Where and when is the 2023 Chicago Pride Parade?The pride parade starts at noon on Sunday, June 25.The parade will start near Montrose and Broadway in the city's Uptown neighborhood and finish on near Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park.What other pride events are happening this weekend in Chicago?Starting Friday night, Pride in the Park will be held on Saturday and Sunday in Grant Park.The event will feature LGBTQ+ performers, artists, vendors and more.Tickets for the event are on sale now.What is the Chicago Police Department doing to keep people safe?On Friday, the Chicago Police Department held a press conference to discuss some of the preparations underway.CPD Interim Superintendent Fred Waller stopped at several businesses in North...

Skilling: Showers possible this weekend, but high temps ahead for Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

The Chicago area has its best shot at some rain Saturday night and a portion of Sunday and Monday in 3 weeks. T-storms are to erupt as moisture sweeps into the area.The storms are to occur in clusters with rain-free periods between them. Downpours and gusty winds are possible with the heaviest storms—but the breaks in precipitation means Sunday isn't to be a total washout.  Though model forecasts of rainfall are always dicey in the warm season given the varied rainfalls which occur with precipitation this time of year, particularly when it involves t-storms---the machine rain projections offer guidance on the precipitation trend which may occur. And our in-house examination of TOTAL MODEL RAIN ESTIMATES between Saturday night and Monday evening suggests amounts could range from as little at 0.25" to as much as 1.40".  Approach those numbers with care because t-storms are capable of intense local downpours which can exceed model guidance. But we're in drought. Rai...

Most pools now open across Chicago after surge of lifeguard applicants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:10:56 GMT

CHICAGO — City pools are now open for the season and are fully staffed with lifeguards, thanks to a significant hiring effort. And some people couldn’t wait to jump in. Swimming was back at the Armour Square Pool on Friday, to the delight of locals like Mary Mitchell. "There’s nothing like being outdoors in the summer and just being able to swim your laps," Mitchell said. Need a summer job? Chicago Park District is hiring City pools opened on Friday, June 23, for the season fully staffed with lifeguards, thanks to a significant hiring effort. (Photo/WGN)The Chicago Park District manages more than 70 pools, most of which are outdoors. But staffing issues over the past couple of years have drained some of the summer fun. "Our kids learned how to swim in this pool," said Debbie Kodzoman, who lives nearby. "These things are very important to communities."Community members came together to raise their concerns with city officials, saying that Armour Square’s pool hasn’t been open for ...