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Chauvin murder conviction upheld in George Floyd killing

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday upheld former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s second-degree murder conviction in the killing of George Floyd, and his 22 1/2-year sentence remains in place.Chauvin’s attorney had asked the appeals court to throw out the ex-officer’s convictions for a long list of reasons, including the massive pretrial publicity. He also argued that legal and procedural errors deprived Chauvin of a fair trial. But the three-judge panel sided with prosecutors who said Chauvin got a fair trial and just sentence.Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin, who is white, used his knee to pin the Black man’s neck to the ground for 9 1/2 minutes. A bystander video captured Floyd’s fading cries of “I can’t breathe.” Floyd’s death touched off protests around the world, some of which turned violent, and forced a national reckoning with police brutality and racism.“Police officers undoubtedly have a challenging, difficult, and so...

Driver arrested in Etobicoke hit-and-run that killed 69-year-old woman

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

Toronto police have arrested a driver suspected in a deadly hit-and-run in Etobicoke over the weekend.Officers say a woman was struck around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday in the area of Bloor Street West and Aberfoyle Crescent.The victim, a 69-year-old woman, was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition where she was pronounced dead.Police allege a red Toyota Prius involved in the crash did not remain at the scene.On Monday, police confirmed the suspect had been arrested and their car was impounded. It’s unclear if the suspect turned themselves in or they were tracked down by investigators.Toronto police are expected to provide an update on Monday.

See the EVs eligible for tax credits – and why most aren’t

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Ten electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles will be eligible for a $7,500 U.S. tax credit, while another seven could get $3,750 under new federal rules that go into effect on Tuesday.But under the Treasury Department rules and other provisions of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, most of the more than 60 electric or plug-in hybrids on sale in the U.S. won’t get any tax credits. That could slow acceptance of electric vehicles and could delay reaching President Joe Biden’s ambitious goal that half of new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. run on electricity by 2030.The new rules, which govern how much battery minerals and parts can come from countries that don’t have free trade agreements with the U.S., bumped nine vehicles off the tax credit eligibility list that went into effect Jan. 1.The 10 vehicles eligible for the full $7,500 credit are Tesla’s Model 3 Performance model, the Tesla Model Y, Ford’s F-150 Lightning pickup, the Chry...

Review: Don Winslow writes mob war epic inspired by Homer

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

“City of Dreams,” by Don Winslow (William Morrow)“City of Dreams” is the middle book in a planned trilogy that began when a stunning woman emerged from the surf at a Rhode Island beach in last year’s “City on Fire” and sparked a war between the state’s Irish and Italian crime families.Now, as the latest installment opens, Danny Ryan leads what’s left of the defeated Irish mob on an epic, cross-country journey in search of a new home and a measure of safety from the Italian gangsters, the Rhode Island State Police, FBI agents and a growing number of other pursuers dead set on putting them in the ground.“Ryan’s not sure where they are going,” author Don Winslow writes, “just that they have to get the hell out of Rhode Island.”If the story reminds readers of Homer’s “The Iliad” and Virgil’s “Aeneid,” in which jealousy over a beauty named Helen sparked a war between the Greeks and the Trojans, it should. Winslow peppers his yarn with allusions and quotes from the epic Greek poems, casti...

10 car models qualify for full revamped EV tax credit under Democrats’ climate law

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

(The Hill) -- Ten car models qualify for full electric vehicle tax credits for consumers under the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, according to a list released on Monday. The climate, tax and healthcare law lifted a cap on how many vehicles can qualify for the EV tax credits, but also added new stipulations on which vehicles qualify. For a new vehicle, a consumer can get a $3,750 credit if a portion of the car’s battery components were made in North America and another $3,750 if a portion of the battery’s minerals were mined or processed in countries with which the U.S. has a free trade agreement. With those stipulations slated to take effect on Tuesday, the Biden administration on Monday made a list of vehicles that qualify for some or all of the credit.  Air National Guardsman faces charges after applying to RentAHitman.com, feds say Sixteen models qualify for at least some of the credit, with 10 qualifying for the full credit. Included in those 10 is Tesla’...

McDonald's making these 4 changes to its burgers by 2024, company says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Your Big Mac taste a little different lately? McDonald's said it's been tweaking the way they make their signatures burgers in about a dozen large cities, and plans to roll out the changes nationwide.The changes are subtle, but McDonald's said Monday they've resulted in the company's "best burgers ever."It starts with new buns, that McDonald's said are "softer" and "pillowy" before they are toasted until they're golden. McDonald’s debuts two new desserts — but most Americans will never taste one of them Slathered on those buns will be more Big Mac sauce, the proprietary special sauce the company first developed in 1968 (though the recipe has been tweaked a few times over the decades). McDonald's is also going to start adding onion to patties while they're on the grill. The caramelized onions should have a sweeter flavor, rather than the sharp taste of a raw onion.For those who like a slice of American on their burgers, the recent improvements also mean "perfectly melt...

Dean's A-List Interviews: Jake Gyllenhaal "Guy Ritchie's The Covenant"

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

Dean talks to Jake Gyllenhaal on his role in the new film as U.S. army Sergeant along with his co-star, Danish actor Dar Salim who plays an Afghan interpreter who goes to great lengths to save his Seargent's life in a dangerous mission while stationed in Afghanistan.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Top 20 richest people in Illinois — they're all billionaires

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

The first billionaire ever is thought to be Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller back in 1916, or perhaps Henry Ford in 1925.Fast forward some 100 years to 2021: As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage, a record-breaking 660 people became billionaires globally, growing the previous year's number by 30%. Chicago suburbs’ most expensive home for sale While the U.S. is home to the most billionaires out of any other country, Americans are somewhat split in their feelings on the billionaire class. According to Pew Research Center data, people in the U.S. became somewhat more critical of billionaires between 2020 and 2021.Although support for individual billionaires like Bill Gates is relatively strong, many Americans view the ultra-rich—as a group rather than as individuals—negatively. Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is projected to become the world's first trillionaire by 2026.The U.S.'s wealthiest billionaires are mostly concentrated within just a couple of industries: financ...

AUS: Long lines at airport due to TSA scanner installation, high traffic

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Long lines at Austin's airport this weekend into Monday were due to increased traffic and the installation of new TSA scanners, a spokesperson for the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport said. The scanners will be able to view carry-on bags in 3D, meaning travelers can leave everything in their bags, including food and electronics larger than a cell phone, according to a previous press release from AUS. RELATED: New TSA scanners being added at AUS An airport spokesperson said these upgrades will ultimately make getting through security faster. A look at the airport midday Monday. AUS says it will be a busy day for air travel as people clear out from MotoGP (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez)A look at the airport midday Monday. AUS says it will be a busy day for air travel as people clear out from MotoGP (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez)A look at the airport midday Monday. AUS says it will be a busy day for air travel as people clear out from MotoGP (KXAN photo/Frank Martine...

Looming decision over Austin ISD special education appeal expected today

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:00:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Independent School District leaders will announce late Monday afternoon whether it will appeal the state appointment of a conservator management team to oversee its special education operations.The Austin school district has been under investigation by the Texas Education Agency since 2021 for repeatedly missing state and federal deadlines to evaluate students suspected of needing special education services.The agency heightened its intervention on March 31 – announcing its plan to add a state-appointed management team to oversee the district special education operations.The district has since held multiple meetings with parents and stakeholders explaining the impact of a more severe intervention from the state. But school officials have not disclosed whether it will appeal the decision. Court records: AISD behind on more than 800 special education evaluations If the district decided to appeal, it would have to write a letter to the TEA for an informal revie...