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Unsealed court records offer new detail on old sex abuse allegations against Jeffrey Epstein

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Amid great hype, a court began to release a new batch of previously secret court documents late Wednesday related to Jeffrey Epstein, the jet-setting financier who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.Social media has been rife in recent weeks with posts speculating that the documents would include a list of rich and powerful men who were Epstein’s “clients” or “co-conspirators.”There was no such list. The initial collection of around 40 documents made public largely contained material that had been released previously, or exhaustively been covered in nearly two decades’ worth of newspaper stories, TV documentaries, interviews, books about the Epstein scandal.Still, the records — which included transcripts of interviews with some of Epstein’s victims — included reminders that Epstein surrounded himself with famous and powerful figures, including a few who have also been accused of misconduct.They included mentions of Epstein’s past f...

US calls for urgent UN action on attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States called on the U.N. Security Council Wednesday to take urgent action against Yemen’s Houthi rebels for attacking ships in the key Red Sea trade route and warned their longtime financier Iran that it has a choice to make about continuing to provide support to the rebels.U.S. deputy ambassador Christopher Lu told an emergency council meeting that the Houthis have carried out more than 20 attacks since Nov. 19 — and despite losing 10 fighters in a confrontation with U.S. forces after trying unsuccessfully to board a cargo ship on Sunday, the rebel group announced Wednesday morning they had targeted another container ship.The Houthis, who have been engaged in a civil war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2014, have said they launched the attacks on ships in the Red Sea with the aim of ending Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip triggered by the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel....

New Mexico regulators reject utility’s effort to recoup some investments in coal and nuclear plants

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Regulators rejected on Wednesday an effort by New Mexico’s largest electric utility to recoup from customers millions of dollars of investments made in a coal-fired power plant in the northwestern corner of the state and a nuclear power plant in neighboring Arizona. The Public Regulation Commission’s decision means Public Service Co. of New Mexico customers will not have to bear some costs associated with PNM’s stake in the Four Corners Power Plant near Farmington or in the Palo Verde Generating Station outside of Phoenix. Commissioners said those investments were not prudent.Overall, residential customers will see a decrease in rates instead of the 9.7% increase that the utility was seeking.The commission said in a statement that PNM still will be able to collect a reasonable return on its investments while providing reliable service to more than 500,000 customers around the state.PNM filed a request for its first rate hike in years in late 2022, sayi...

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear calls for unity in GOP-leaning Kentucky to uplift economy, education

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear reached across the partisan divide Wednesday night to urge a unified effort with Republican lawmakers to uplift education, health care and the economy, saying Kentucky has an opportunity to assert itself as an “economic and a moral leader.”Beshear, who raised his national profile by winning reelection last year in the GOP-leaning state, renewed his pitch for higher salaries for teachers, state-backed pre-K education for every 4-year-old, increased funding for roads and bridges and efforts to meet the state’s health needs.Touting a record pace of economic development, the governor said Kentucky has an unprecedented opportunity to build a top 10 economy offering the security of good-paying jobs. Noting that he’s now term-limited, the governor said it’s a chance to set politics aside. It’s an acknowledgement that he needs support from GOP legislative supermajorities to pass his priorities.“This is our chance to ...

New Mexico considers setback requirements for oil wells

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A bill to ban oil and gas production within a mile (1.6 kilometers) of schools and day care centers across New Mexico is among the first published proposals as the state legislature prepares for a 30-day session that could bring an overhaul to fundamental oil and gas regulations.Regulators in the No. 2 U.S. state for oil production are considering reforms including setback requirements aimed at protecting children from pollution, amid pressure from environmental advocacy groups to bolster pollution controls and fulfill constitutional obligations to regulate the industry.Published Wednesday, a bill introduced by Democratic state Rep. Debra Sariñana of Albuquerque in coordination with environmental advocacy groups would halt approval of new drilling permits within a mile of school facilities, starting in July of this year, and halt most oil and natural gas operations in those zones by 2028.Gov. Lujan Grisham has directed the New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural...

Nevada judge attacked by defendant during sentencing in Vegas courtroom scene captured on video

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Nevada judge was attacked Wednesday by a defendant in a felony battery case who leaped over a defense table and the judge’s bench, landing atop her and sparking a bloody brawl involving court officials and attorneys, officials and witnesses said.In a violent scene captured by courtroom video, Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus fell back from her seat against a wall and suffered some injuries, according to a statement from the state’s Eighth Judicial District Court.But officials said Holthus was not hospitalized after the attack, which occurred about 11 a.m. at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas.The courtroom marshal was injured as he came to the judge’s aid and was hospitalized for treatment of a bleeding gash on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder, according to court officials and witnesses. The defendant, Deobra Delone Redden, 30, was wrestled to the floor behind the judge’s bench by several court and jail officer...

13-year-old gamer becomes the first to beat the ‘unbeatable’ Tetris – by breaking it

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The falling-block video game Tetris has met its match in 13-year-old Willis Gibson, who has become the first player to officially “beat” the original Nintendo version of the game — by breaking it.Technically, Willis — aka “blue scuti” in the gaming world — made it to what gamers call a “kill screen,” a point where the Tetris code glitches, crashing the game. That might not sound like much of a victory to anyone thinking that only high scores count, but it’s a highly coveted achievement in the world of video games, where records involve pushing hardware and software to their limits. And beyond.It’s also a very big deal for players of Tetris, which many had long considered unbeatable. That’s partly because the game doesn’t have a scripted ending; those four-block shapes just keep falling no matter how good you get at stacking them into disappearing rows. Top players continued to find ways to extend their winning streaks by staying in the ga...

The Supreme Court is expected to determine whether Trump can keep running for president. Here's why

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to determine whether former President Donald Trump can keep running for the White House.Trump on Wednesday appealed a ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court that he's ineligible for the presidency because he violated a rarely used constitutional prohibition on those who hold office having “engaged in insurrection.” On Tuesday, he appealed a similar ruling from Maine's Democratic secretary of state, but it's the Colorado appeal that's most significant.That's because the nation's highest court has never before ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, adopted in 1868 to prevent Confederates from regaining their former government posts. Whatever the Supreme Court decides applies to Colorado will apply to all other 49 states, including Maine.Trump remains on the ballot in both states until the appeals are done.WHAT IS SECTION 3?The provision is only two sentences and seems relatively straightforward.Section 3 reads: “No Person shall be a ...

Activists participate in police use-of-force training

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) -- Chas Moore, head of the Austin Justice Coalition, an activist group, attended a training exercise with the Texas Municipal Police Association Wednesday. The Austin Justice Coalition has a history of being highly critical about local police use of force cases, including the 2020 shooting death of Michael Ramos - which an Austin police officer still faces a murder charge for. The training consisted of three simulations where Moore role played as an officer in a police response scenario. One scenario involved a response to a call for a man acting suspiciously at a park; the man was armed with a knife in his pocket, unbeknownst to the responding officer. The next scenario was a traffic stop, and the final scenario involved an unarmed man experiencing a mental health episode who wouldn't fully obey police orders to stay back. "I think it's good to come get perspective. So as much as I have views and opinions about law enforcement, It's like 'Ok well let me put myse...

Rudy Gobert’s nice gesture leads to big thank you

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:26:46 GMT

Rudy Gobert surprised Target Center ushers and arena workers with a holiday present again this season.For the second straight year, the Timberwolves center gifted everyone who works at the arena with $50 inside a handwritten card.The Target Center employees expressed their gratitude this week in the form of a massive-sized card — fit for a 7-footer — littered with personalized thank yous from many of the staff members. Gobert received the card Tuesday.“It’s amazing. Really appreciate everything they do every day. You don’t want people to think they’ve been taken for granted. They’ve always been nice to me, my family, my teammates, everybody,” Gobert said. “So just wanted to show them a little love, a little appreciation. I know it always comes a long way, especially for Christmas. And all of these people have families and kids, so it always makes me happy to do.”Kat’s coat driveIn what’s become a community staple event, Karl-Anthony Towns co...