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Texas AG Ken Paxton was acquitted at his impeachment trial. He still faces legal troubles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — For years, the powers and protections that come with being Texas’ top lawyer have helped Ken Paxton fend off ethics complains, criminal charges and an FBI investigation.With the Texas Senate’s Saturday vote to acquit Paxton of corruption charges at his impeachment trial the Republican has once again demonstrated his rare political resilience. And he retains the shield of the attorney general’s office in legal battles still to come.After being cleared, Paxton, 60, thanked his lawyers for “exposing the absurdity” of the “false allegations” against him, and he promised to resume doing legal battle with the administration of President Joe Biden.“The weaponization of the impeachment process to settle political differences is not only wrong, it is immoral and corrupt,” he said in a statement. “Now that this shameful process is over, my work to defend our constitutional rights will resume.”Back in office, Paxton nonetheless still faces serious risk on three ...

Anchorage scrambles to find enough housing for the homeless before the Alaska winter sets in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson gained national attention this summer when he proposed buying one-way airfare out of Alaska’s largest city for anyone without housing who wanted to leave before winter.Now, with the first snow just weeks away, those free tickets are nowhere in sight and the city is scrambling to pull together a grab bag of housing options for its more than 3,000 unsheltered residents. The city’s mass shelter in a sports arena closed after complaints from neighbors about bad behavior and bickering between the city’s liberal Assembly and conservative mayor killed hopes for a new permanent shelter and navigation center to take its place.The Anchorage Assembly just approved $4 million in funds and will vote on additional elements of an emergency plan next week. City leaders — who estimate they still need to find up to 450 winter beds — say they are confident they have enough emergency housing ready, but the mood on the streets is grim. “A lot o...

Republican Texas AG Ken Paxton is acquitted of corruption charges at historic impeachment trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted Saturday of all charges at a historic impeachment trial that divided Republicans over whether to remove a powerful defender of former President Donald Trump after years of scandal and criminal charges.The verdict reaffirmed Paxton’s durability in America’s biggest red state and is a broader victory for Texas’ hard right after an extraordinary trial that put on display fractures within the GOP nationally heading into the 2024 elections. In the end, Paxton was fully cleared by Senate Republicans, who serve alongside his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton.Angela Paxton was not allowed to vote. But she attended all two weeks of the trial, including the reading of the verdict, when all but two of her fellow Republican senators consistently voted to acquit her husband on 16 impeachment articles that accused him of misconduct, bribery and corruption.Ken Paxton, who was absent for most of the proceedings, did not attend the ve...

Comedian Russell Brand denies allegations of sexual assault published by 3 UK news organizations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

Three British news organizations reported Saturday that comedian and social influencer Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse based on allegations from four women who knew him over a seven-year period at the height of his fame.Brand denied the allegations and said that all of his relationships have been consensual.The Sunday Times, The Times of London and Channel 4’s “Dispatches” said that one woman alleged she had been raped, while three others accused him of sexual assault. One of the women also said he had been physically and emotionally abusive.The women said that they only felt ready to tell their stories after being approached by reporters, with some citing Brand’s newfound prominence as an online wellness influencer as a factor in their decision to speak.Before the stories were published, Brand posted a video online denying the allegations, which had been outlined in two “extremely disturbing letters” from a “mainstream media” television company and ...

3 people shot in Chicago Lawn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

CHICAGO — Three people were shot Friday night on Chicago's Near West Side, according to police.The shooting was reported around 8:30 p.m. in the 7100 block of South Western Avenue. Man, 41, charged after 2 men stabbed on North Side: CPD According to the Chicago Police Department, all three people, two women and a man, are in good condition.The details surrounding the shooting are still under investigation, but Chicago police said they were shot at from a distance by two men.No one has been arrested yet in connection with the shooting.Anyone with information is asked to call Area One detectives.

2 officers injured after being hit by wooden stick in Little Village

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

CHICAGO — Two Chicago police officers were injured after they tried to subdue someone early Saturday morning in Little Village.The incident happened around 1 a.m. in the 2500 block of South Homan Avenue. 14-year-old boy fatally shot after Hillcrest HS football game ID’d: Police One of the officers was hit with a heavy wooden stick, according to the Chicago Police Department.Both officers who were injured were taken to a hospital and are in good condition, police said.Charges are pending against two people who were taken into custody.

Russell Brand denies sexual assault allegations published by UK news organizations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

LONDON (AP) – Three British news organizations reported Saturday that comedian and social influencer Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse based on allegations from four women who knew him over a seven-year period at the height of his fame.Brand denied the allegations and said that all of his relationships have been consensual.The Sunday Times, The Times of London and Channel 4’s “Dispatches” said that one woman alleged she had been raped, while three others accused him of sexual assault. One of the women also said he had been physically and emotionally abusive.The women said that they only felt ready to tell their stories after being approached by reporters, with some citing Brand’s newfound prominence as an online wellness influencer as a factor in their decision to speak. Ashton Kutcher steps down from anti-child sex abuse group after Danny Masterson pushback Before the stories were published, Brand posted a video online denying the allegations, which...

How to pick a pumpkin that won’t rot on your porch (at least not right away)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Nothing dampens the mood of an early autumn afternoon like finding out your pumpkins are prematurely rotting on the porch.Well, that, or finding out you’re running low on limited-edition pumpkin-spice-scented trash bags. That’s a real bummer too.Picking out a hardy pumpkin isn’t exactly rocket science, but there are a few steps that folks can take to ensure a longer-lasting gourd, according to Dr. Rebecca Nelson Brown, the chair of Plant Sciences and Entomology at the University of Rhode Island.“The key here is that you want the pumpkin to be as fresh as possible. And that means buying a locally grown pumpkin, and not one from the supermarket that has been picked a month before showing up at the store.” Scary movies set to hit theaters ahead of Halloween Brown, who runs URI’s crops program and teaches its field production classes, has plenty of experience in pumpkins. She even spearheaded the university’s “Project Pumpkin,” which was designed to solve problems faced by...

Charley Walters: Winless Vikings could be on the verge of a rebuild

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

After the Minnesota Vikings’ inglorious 0-2 start this season, some concerned rooters are describing the team’s state as one of “panic” heading into its next game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 24 in Minneapolis.PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings fumbles the ball as he is hit by Josh Sweat #94 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 14, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)A better, more appropriate word than “panic’ might be “resignation.”The Vikings, one keen observer reasoned, should come to terms with who they are. Should the team lose to the Chargers, the organization probably has to seriously consider a sort of rebuild, much the same as the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears have done.—The Vikings could gut the whole team, which would be painful for at least a couple years. The other option would be to trade players this season ...

Saratoga Book Festival returning in October

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:28 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Friends of the Saratoga Public Library announced they will be presenting the third annual Saratoga Book Festival. The event will run from October 12 through October 15. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Saratoga Book Festival will offer a literary marketplace, workshops, presentations and engaging conversations, all held across nine venues in Saratoga. More than 60 authors will be featured, and the festival will also include a local author showcase. “Home to Yaddo, two colleges, three bookstores and a vibrant community of passionate bookreaders and writers, Saratoga Springs is the perfect setting to celebrate reading and the powerof books to open minds and hearts,” said festival founder and co-chair Ellen Beal. “During thismoment, when community ties are strained, intolerance is on the rise, and book reading on thedecline, the Saratoga Book Festival gathers authors and readers together for ...