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New gun law has blocked over 500 firearms from being bought by young people, attorney general says

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 500 gun purchases have been blocked since a new gun law requiring stricter background checks for young people went into effect in 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Friday, the day after a school shooting in Iowa left a sixth-grader dead.The bipartisan law passed in June 2022 was the most sweeping gun legislation in decades and requires extra checks for any gun purchases by people under age 21. Those denied a gun purchase include a person convicted of rape, a suspect in an attempted murder case and someone who had been involuntarily committed for mental-health treatment, according to the Justice Department. President Joe Biden applauded the news, calling it an important milestone.“Simply put: this legislation is saving lives,” Biden said in a statement where he also called for additional measures such as universal background checks and a ban on firearms often referred to as assault weapons. The Democratic president said he was “proud to have take...

Illinois man charged in Fourth of July parade shooting rehires lawyers weeks after dismissing them

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — The man charged with killing seven people at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago asked to again be represented by public defenders after firing them last month and insisting on handling his own case.Robert Crimo III is charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder — three counts for each person killed — as well as 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery. Dozens of people were wounded in the 2022 shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, including a 8-year-old who was left partially paralyzed. Last month, 23-year-old Crimo told a judge he wished to represent himself at his trial, and asked to move his court date up by a year, to February of this year rather than next.Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti asked Crimo several times if he understood the possible penalties — including consecutive life sentences — if a jury finds him guilty, and then she granted both requests. In response to the judge’s questions, Crimo acknowledged h...

Canada’s first conflict of interest and ethic commissioner, Mary Dawson, dies

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

OTTAWA — Former conflict of interest and ethics commissioner Mary Dawson has died.The commissioner’s office posted a statement on its website today announcing it is saddened to learn of Dawson’s death on Dec.24.Dawson was nominated to the role in 2007 by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper and she served until 2018.Before that she had a lengthy career as a federal bureaucrat, including as the associate deputy minister of the Justice Department.During her tenure at that department she helped draft major pieces of legislation including the Access to Information Act, the Privacy Act, the Canada Health Act and the Official Languages Act.During her time as ethics commissioner Dawson made many rulings, but among her last was her explosive report that found Prime Minister Justin Trudeau violated conflict of interest rules by accepting a vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island in the Bahamas in 2016.The statement from the ethics commissioner’s office ...

Stars converge in Palm Springs to celebrate year’s best films, Emma Stone’s career

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Emma Stone reflected on her career highlights and Meryl Streep praised Billie Eilish and “Barbie” with saving the movie industry Thursday during one of the first stops of Hollywood’s awards season.Stone, Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cillian Murphy were among the A-listers who descended on the desert for the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s annual opening gala. Stars were in an upbeat, and generally grateful, mood at the gala after a tumultuous year for their industry that included two strikes and rapid changes to the theatrical and streaming landscape.Stone, who snagged a best actress nomination for Sunday’s Golden Globes for her performance in “Poor Things,” accepted the career achievement award, which was presented by her co-stars Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe.“I’m grateful that I get to keep trying new things and for the opportunity to make choices when it comes to work because I know how rare and fleeting it can be to choose what you want ...

Calgary teens arrested in terrorism-related cases in court for appearance, hearing

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

CALGARY — A 16-year-old boy who was arrested in Calgary as part of an ongoing national security investigation made a brief court appearance this morning with his lawyer and his father.The teen, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was the fourth Calgarian to be arrested since last June.A 20-year-old and two other boys, who are 15 and 17, were previously arrested as part of the same investigation, which is linked to terrorism-related posts on TikTok and other social media sites.An Ottawa teenager was also arrested in mid-December and charged in connection with an alleged plot against that city’s Jewish community.The 15-year-old Calgary boy who was arrested in October is to have a peace bond hearing this afternoon.Under a provision of the Criminal Code, the Crown can ask for conditions to be placed on the youth provided there are reasonable grounds he may commit a terrorism offence.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.The C...

The new FAFSA is meant to make applying for college aid easier, but not everyone can access it yet

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A new online application designed to make applying for federal student aid easier went live this week, but not everyone has been able to access it.That’s led to worry and frustration for students like Simea Turner of Arlington, Texas, who will be a college freshman in the fall. Turner has been trying to access the application known as the FAFSA since Sunday, but she hasn’t been able to get past the first question.“I’m nervous because I really need this money,” said Turner, a first-time applicant who expects to receive a significant amount of aid.The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, typically opens at the beginning of October, but it was delayed three months due to the launch of the new application. Then, a few days before Sunday’s launch date, the Department of Education announced that a soft launch would continue until all of the bugs in the new application are fixed. As of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the department had received over hal...

Snow likely late Friday; Tracking potential for more significant system next week

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago area could see two rounds of snow over the next few days, the second of which could be significant.First — a light snowLight snow moves into the area Friday night. We could see a few spot snow showers Friday evening but most of the accumulating snow will reach us closer to midnight and linger into Saturday morning. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here We’re expecting light accumulation with most of the area between a half and inch and an inch and a half.The new snow could lead to slick conditions Saturday morning. Then a lullThe rest of the day on Saturday and into Sunday we'll see periods of light snow showers across the area.Sunday clouds will linger and most of Monday. Winter storm is forecast to hit Northeast, Mid-Atlantic with heavy snow, dangerous ice Significant storm in the forecast for TuesdayA rather significant storm system will impact the Midwest late Monday into Tuesday, moving out early Wednesday.Confidence is growing on the track...

Chicago Bears president Warren donates $1M to Lurie Children's cancer center

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

CHICAGO -- The foundation run by Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren and his wife pledged one million dollars to Lurie Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Friday morning. "Whenever we can provide to soften the blow on any level, we're in," Greta Warren said.In 2023, the Warrens made a donation to help families and children with cancer diagnosis, making a similar donation to a hospital in Minnesota. "With both are upbeat people, we both are people with a heart of gratitude, and grateful. Every once in a while, I get a little sad about something some issue I may dealing with, I would open up my phone and read about the different families we were able to assist with these grants," Warren said ‘Thank you for revitalizing my hope in humanity’: Man rescued from truck days after crash posts emotional update The impact a cancer diagnosis is especially personal to the couple after Warren's sister died in 2014 of brain cancer. He says her dying wish to her brother was to do wh...

Raskin, Dems hold press conference about Jan. 6th attacks

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Rep. Jamie Raskin (D- Md.) organized a press conference, with fellow Democrats and various activist organizations, aimed at reminding the public of events that took place almost three years ago.Raskin began, “Donald Trump is out there saying that he will issue a pardon to the more than 700 people who were convicted of participation in the violent insurrection against the Union.”Rep. Glenn Ivey (D- Md.) recounted watching the events unfold while he was still in private practice, “January 6th was a wakeup call. But today, three years later, we need a true call to action to address this.”“Those people were not patriots. Those people were not hostages. Those people were not peaceful,” Sgt. Aquilino Gonell characterized the rioters. Gonell was a U.S. Capitol police officer when the attack happened and experienced it first-hand.President and CEO of People For the American Way advocacy group Svante Myrick stressed the importance of safety in the upcoming 2024 Preside...

Austin Free Week 2024 kicks off. Here's the lineup

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:56:04 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin's annual "Free Week" is kicking off its 21st year in the Red River Cultural District Friday night. Free Week is an admission-free winter music festival that features dozens of local music performances in downtown Austin. The annual festival offers residents and visitors an opportunity to explore some of the city's well-known venues and see live music free of charge. The festival is meant to help support local venues and musicians during historically slower winter months, according to the Red River Cultural District, which organizes the festivals. Free Week offers paid performance opportunities curated in cooperation with each participating venue.The festival runs Friday, Jan. 5 and Saturday, Jan. 6 this year. Below is the venue and artist lineup for the 2024 fest:Venues:13th FloorBarbarellaCheer Up CharliesChess ClubCreek & CaveElysiumEmpire Control Room & GarageFla...