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Judges aiming to give Black voters more influence in Alabama set to redraw congressional districts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge said Tuesday that the court will soon adopt new congressional districts for Alabama, choosing among proposals aimed at giving Black voters a greater opportunity to influence election outcomes in the Deep South state. U.S. District Judge Stanley Marcus, noting a ruling will be issued “shortly,” said the three-judge panel is aware of the time constraints posed by elections next year when the state’s seven U.S. House seats will be on the ballot. The court could rule as early as this week. The panel is stepping in to adopt new district boundaries after ruling that the Republican-controlled Alabama Legislature failed to remedy a Voting Rights Act violation when lawmakers adopted new lines this summer. The judges said the state-drawn plan — which had one majority Black district out of seven in a state that is 27% Black — illegally diluted the political power of Black residents. The judges last month wrote that they were “deeply troubled” that ...

Homeless 25-year-old Topeka man arrested in rape and killing of 5-year-old girl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

A homeless Kansas man has been arrested in the rape and killing of a 5-year-old girl, authorities said Tuesday. Officers responded just before 6 p.m. Monday to a medical call at a Topeka gas station and found a fire crew attempting to save Zoey Felix, police said in a news release. She was rushed to a hospital and later pronounced dead. Investigators identified a 25-year-old man as a suspect and booked him into jail Tuesday morning on suspicion of first-degree murder and rape. His bond is set at $2 million and no attorney is listed for him, said Timothy Phelps, deputy director of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. No formal charges were immediately filed, court records show. The news release said that the man was known to Zoey, but police spokesperson Rosie Nichols said she couldn’t provide additional details on how. She also declined to release information on the girl’s cause of death. Heather Hollingsworth, The Associated Press

Gun evidence is focus at the trial of a man accused of killing New Hampshire couple on hiking trail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A man charged with shooting a New Hampshire couple to death on a hiking trail last year spent months hiding from police — but over a probation violation from Utah, not the killings — and an analysis of shell casings and bullets found in the area could not conclude that his gun fired the shots, his attorney said at the start of his trial Tuesday. “They got the wrong man,” Caroline Smith said during opening statements in the trial of Logan Clegg in Concord. She said he had no connection to the couple and was not the killer. Clegg, 27, who was living in a tent near the trail at the time, is charged with second-degree murder counts of knowingly and recklessly causing the deaths of Stephen and Djeswende Reid by shooting them multiple times. The newly retired couple were killed shortly after going for a walk on the trail near their Concord apartment on April 18, 2022. Their bodies, found several days later, were dragged into the woods and covered with leaves, sticks a...

South African cabinet minister and 3 other lawmakers cleared of corruption in parliamentary probe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A South African cabinet minister and three other lawmakers from the ruling African National Congress party were cleared of corruption Tuesday by a parliamentary ethics committee.Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi and lawmakers Cedric Frolick, Mosebenzi Zwane and Winnie Ngwenya were implicated following a commission of inquiry into allegations of large-scale corruption under former President Jacob Zuma, who was South Africa’s leader from 2009-18.The four lawmakers had been under investigation since last year over separate allegations.Nxesi was accused of receiving money from a company connected to well-known South African businessman and government contractor Edwin Sodi.Sodi’s relationship with and payments to prominent ANC figures came under scrutiny at the commission of inquiry. He is reportedly under investigation by the anti-corruption Special Investigating Unit over another government contract.The Zondo Commission of Inquiry ra...

House sets up final vote on ousting McCarthy: live coverage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

The House is set to decide Tuesday whether to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), a vote that hasn't taken place in more than 100 years.Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) followed through on his promises and moved Monday to force a vote on a motion to vacate. On Tuesday afternoon, the chamber voted 208-218 on a motion to table Gaetz’s resolution to oust McCarthy, setting the stage for a vote on whether McCarthy should remain in the top spot.In the narrow GOP majority, McCarthy's fate could hinge on what Democrats decide.Follow along with live updates below.

Bally's Casino, a first for Chicago, celebrates official launch in River North

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago's first casino formally celebrated its launch Tuesday morning with a ribbon-cutting, marking a new era for the city. Bally's opened to the public on Sept. 9, calling the Medinah Temple in River North its new temporary home.  Bally’s Casino temporary location officially opens The city's first casino features almost 800 slot machines and nearly 60 table games across three floors. The gaming revenue taxes will support the city's police and fire pension funds. More than 700 permanent jobs have been created for casino operations. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was on hand to mark the occasion. "This project is going to secure Chicago's fiscally strong and vibrant future," Johnson said. "I am greatly looking forward to the creation of jobs and opportunities, rising tourism and the economic boost that the temporary and permanent casinos can bring." Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Bally's expects to operate at the Medinah Temple for three years while it builds...

With Lionel Messi's status in doubt, Chicago Fire FC has make good for fans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the biggest regular season matches in club history could be without the star attraction - and Chicago Fire FC is quite aware of that. With Inter Miami CF's Lionel Messi dealing with an unspecified leg injury that's left his status for Wednesday's match at Soldier Field up in the air, the club has released a statement about how they plan to make good for fans if the superstar doesn't play. Regardless of whether Messi plays or not, the Fire are offering a $250 credit towards memberships (season tickets) for the 2024 season at Soldier Field or a $50 account credit to buyers of single-game tickets to Wednesday's match. Ticket prices from the club rose once Messi joined Inter Miami CF in July, keeping up with the trend of other clubs in MLS when they host the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner who is generally considered the greatest player in the game of soccer.The club announced on Monday evening that the match has sold out, with over 61,000 tickets being distributed. In th...

San Marcos police identify homicide suspect, ask for help locating him

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

Note: the above video shows KXAN's previous coverage identifying the victim in the homicide. SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) -- The San Marcos Police Department has released the identity of the suspect involved in a homicide over the weekend and is asking for the public's help locating him. Police identified Ray Robert Saenz Jr.,18, as the suspect in the Saturday death of 41-year-old Nathaniel Hudson. PREVIOUS: San Marcos police identify homicide victim SMPD said Saenz may be armed, and investigators consider him dangerous.Police identified Ray Robert Saenz Jr.,18, as the suspect in the Saturday death of 41-year-old Nathaniel Hudson. (San Marcos Police Department photo) Early Saturday morning, SMPD responded to an apartment complex on Highway 123 for a call that shots had been fired and a person died. When officers arrived, they found Hudson dead in an apartment unit. CPR and other lifesaving measures were conducted by medical personnel but ultimately Hudson was pronounced dead. Police ...

2023 Austin ice storm debris could fill Q2 Stadium 4 times over, city report finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for Oct. 3, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The ice storm that coated the greater Austin area in late January and early February was responsible for more than 170,000 tons of storm debris -- enough to fill Q2 Stadium more than four times over, an after-action report from Austin Resource Recovery revealed.The "historic" winter storm resulted in approximately 0.71 inches of freezing rain and ice accumulation, the most in city history. Thousands of Austinites went without power as a result of storm damages, which included downed trees and tree limbs, wires and poles.Improvement opportunities for storm debris collectionIn ARR's after-action report, it noted the department had debris collection and monitoring contracts in place and ready to go prior to the onset of the winter storm. Some temporary debris collection sites had also been identified in advance of the storm, with plans and supplies in place to help prepare equipment f...

It's not just Tesla: Elon Musk's other companies look to hire dozens in Central Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:57 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- Elon Musk’s business empire continues to ramp up operations across Central Texas.Aside from Tesla, Musk’s other companies include space and rocket pioneer SpaceX, tunneling startup The Boring Company and brain implant startup Neuralink Corp. Combined, the companies are hiring for more than 100 positions in a variety of fields and are building or leasing space across the metro.In Bastrop County, shell companies tied to Musk own close to 450 acres along FM 1209, where SpaceX and The Boring Co. are operating, according to past Austin Business Journal reporting. The two have erected thousands of square feet of industrial space and are expected to eventually employ hundreds of people on land east of the Tesla factory — if they don’t already.SpaceX plans to make accessories for Starlink, a satellite-based internet service. By press time, it had more than 90 Bastrop-based job postings on its website. The Boring Co. is testing machines that could tunnel t...