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Ukraine’s parliament advances bill seen as targeting Orthodox church with historic ties to Moscow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

Ukraine’s parliament voted overwhelmingly Thursday to advance legislation seen as effectively banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its ties to Moscow, despite the church’s insistence that it is fully independent and supportive of Ukraine’s fight against Russian invaders.The Verkhovna Rada, or parliament, voted 267-15 on the measure, which requires further voting before it gets finalized and reaches the desk of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The legislation would prohibit the activities of religious organizations “that are affiliated with the centers of influence of a religious organization, the management center of which is located outside of Ukraine in a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine.”That is seen as directly targeting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, one of two rival Orthodox bodies in the country, where a majority of citizens identify as Orthodox. The UOC has historically been affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate. It declar...

The Supreme Court refuses to speed the drawing of a new congressional map in Louisiana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an emergency appeal from Black voters in Louisiana to speed the process of drawing new congressional districts in the state.The justices declined to overrule a federal appeals court, which last month blocked a district judge’s plan to hold hearings for a new map with a second majority-Black congressional district for use in the 2024 elections.The appeals court said U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick was moving too fast and must give the state more time to consider a new map.Civil rights groups had hoped a new map for Louisiana would follow quickly after the Supreme Court rebuffed attempts by Alabama officials to avoid creating a second district where Black voters make up a substantial portion of the electorate.Dick and judges in Alabama had ruled that congressional maps drawn by Republican-led legislatures after the 2020 census and used in last year’s elections likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diminishing Black voti...

US Navy warship in Red Sea intercepts three missiles heading north out of Yemen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. Navy warship took out three missiles that had been fired from Yemen and were heading north, U.S. officials said Thursday.The officials said the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, was in the Red Sea and intercepted the three missiles. It wasn’t immediately certain if they were aimed at Israel. One of the officials said the U.S. does not believe the missiles were aimed at the ship.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations not yet announced.Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Last week, in Yemen’s Sanaa, which is held by the Houthi rebels still at war with a Saudi-led coalition, demonstrators crowded the streets waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags. The rebels’ slogan long has been, “God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse of the Jews; victory to Islam.”Last week, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the rebel group’s leader, warned the United States against i...

A 19-year-old was charged in the death of a fellow Mississippi college student

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A 19-year-old has been arrested and charged with killing a fellow college student in Mississippi on Sunday.Joshua Brown of Columbia, Mississippi, was arrested Wednesday in the death of 21-year-old Jaylen Burns. Brown was charged with murder and illegal possession of a firearm on school property, arrest affidavits show.The shooting was reported late Sunday at an apartment complex on the campus in Mississippi’s capital city. Jackson State University said Burns was an industrial technology major from Chicago.Brown is a student at Jones College in Ellisville, about 85 miles (136 kilometers) away from Jackson. He was initially arrested by Jones College Campus police and was then turned over to authorities in Jackson, according to a news release. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones told WLBT-TV that Brown is being held at the Raymond Detention Center in Hinds County. Reached by phone Thursday, the Hinds County Public Defender’s Office said an attorney had no...

Judge probes eight-month wait in federal minister’s owl protection recommendation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

VANCOUVER — A Federal Court judge says he’s “wrestling” with why the minister responsible for protecting the northern spotted owl waited eight months to recommend an emergency protection order to cabinet with only one wild-born bird remaining.Judge Yvan Roy questioned Crown counsel Aileen Jones during a hearing in Vancouver today, asking why federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault made his recommendation to cabinet in late September despite saying he would take that action in January. Jones replied that the delay was necessary because the Canadian Species at Risk Act should be interpreted “in a way that the minister can make an informed recommendation to cabinet.”She said Guilbeault has the obligation to engage with the province on any order that would restrict logging on spotted owl habitat in the Fraser Canyon, noting that the government needed to determine the proper “scope” of a potential emergency order to ensure the species̵...

Ontario woman wanted for attempted murder stabbed victim multiple times: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

Peel Regional Police say a woman is wanted for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a female victim multiple times in Mississauga.Authorities responded to a stabbing call in the area of McLaughlin Road and Eglinton Avenue West on Wednesday.Peel paramedics located one woman with significant injuries due to multiple stab wounds. The victim was taken to a local hospital, and her injuries were later considered non-life-threatening.A female suspect was identified as 38-year-old Marjja Gjunaj, who police said fled the area after the violent incident.Gjunaj is wanted for attempted murder. She is described as five-foot-five, 160 pounds, with a light complexion and medium-length brown hair. Police said she was last seen wearing a black winter coat.Officers are urging members of the public not to approach the suspect if seen and to contact 9-1-1 immediately.

Kansas is poised to boost legislators’ pay by $28,000 in 2025, nearly doubling it

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is poised to nearly double its lawmakers’ pay in 2025 in hopes of attracting more diverse members, only months after the Legislature boosted the salaries of other state officials.A commission created by the Republican-controlled Legislature to study lawmakers’ pay on Thursday approved a proposal to increase the compensation for rank-and-file members by nearly $28,000 a year, a 93% increase to nearly $58,000. Legislative leaders, who receive extra pay, would see proportionally larger dollar increases, so that the Senate president and House speaker would be paid more than $85,000 a year, up from the current $44,000.The commission’s plan will take effect unless both legislative chambers vote to reject it by Feb. 7, a month after lawmakers convene their 2024 session.Under the plan, Kansas lawmakers would be paid better than their counterparts in a majority of states — not only neighbors like Iowa and Missouri, but also more populous ones like...

Illinois' No.1 'hidden gem' for fall foliage not far from Chicago, according to survey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

CHICAGO — Where is the best place to see fall foliage in Illinois that you might not know about?According to one survey, it's less than two hours from Chicago.Per a survey by Mixbook, a photo book brand, Starved Rock State Park is the No. 1 "hidden gem" to see leaves change in the state and 24th overall in the United States. They surveyed 3,000 people asking what "under-the-radar" destinations they'd visit around the country for fall foliage. 36 October festivals and events happening across Chicagoland Located in LaSalle County near Oglesby and Utica, about 90 miles west of Chicago, Starved Rock was designated a state park in 1911 and features 18 canyons and 13 miles of trails along the Illinois River. Open the entire year with a lodge located on-site, it offers opportunities for hiking, camping boating, fishing, and hunting on the grounds. Other places in Illinois featured in Mixbook's survey of "hidden gems" for fall foliage include No. 66 - Castle Rock State Park - Ogle CountyN...

'Unexpected turn of events': Attorneys for Delphi murder suspect withdraw from case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. — The attorneys representing Delphi murder suspect Richard Allen have withdrawn from the case, a judge announced Thursday afternoon.Allen, who is charged with two counts of murder in the February 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German near the Monon High Bridge in Delphi, was scheduled to make an appearance in Allen County court at 2 p.m. Thursday.However, Allen was not present around 2:30 p.m. when Special Judge Fran Gull began the court proceedings after a half-hour delay in what the judge called an "unexpected turn of events." After apologizing for the delay, Judge Gull said that the reason for Allen's absence was that his attorneys, Andrew Baldwin and Bradley Rozzi, had withdrawn from the case. Thus, Allen was already being transported back to Westville Correctional Facility due to a lack of counsel. He remains in the custody of the Indiana Department of Correction.During Thursday's court proceedings, which lasted les...

Bad Bunny bringing his 'Most Wanted' tour to Chicago's United Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:54 GMT

CHICAGO — Global music sensation Bad Bunny is coming to Chicago's United Center next spring. As part of his 'Most Wanted Tour,' the 29-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer will take the stage over three nights on March 28-30. While tickets have yet to go on sale, registration is now open through Sunday. Registration does not guarantee tickets, however. According to Ticketmaster, the move aims to: Help block bots and scalpersGet more tickets for real people who want to attend the showReduce resale (only 5-10% of tickets using registration are resold vs 20-30% of others)SEE ALSO: October concert calendar: 10 of the best Chicago showsAnnounced stops for Bad Bunny's North American tour include New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Houston, Atlanta, Miami and more. The "Chambea" artist last performed in the Chicago area in 2022, headlining three sold-out shows in March 2022 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.