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Class-action lawsuit alleges unsafe conditions at migrant detention facility in New Mexico

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A new class-action lawsuit alleges that U.S. immigration authorities disregarded signs of unsanitary and unsafe conditions at a detention center in New Mexico to ensure the facility would continue to receive public funding and remain open.The lawsuit announced Wednesday by a coalition of migrants’ rights advocates was filed on behalf of four Venezuelans ranging in age from 26 to 40 who have sought asylum in the U.S. and say they were denied medical care, access to working showers and adequate food at the Torrance County Detention Facility, all while being pressed into cleaning duties, sometimes without compensation.The detention center in the rural town of Estancia, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) from the Mexico border, is contracted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to accommodate at least 505 adult male migrants at any time, though actual populations fluctuate.Advocates have repeatedly alleged in recent years that the the facility has inadequate ...

Police investigate vandalism at US Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s Texas office over Israel-Hamas war

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Texas police said Thursday they are investigating messages spray-painted on U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s office that condemn the Republican’s support for Israel in the war with Hamas.De La Cruz is a first-term congresswoman whose district is on the U.S.-Mexico border. Spokesperson Ryan Saylor said the district office was vandalized twice this week with messages that included “Monica murders” and “Israel kills Jews too.” The majority of both parties have historically stood firmly on the side of Israel, although divisions have emerged in the Democratic Party about the U.S. response to the war. In a statement, De La Cruz said the vandalism would not silence her support for Israel. The McAllen Police Department said it was made aware of the vandalism on Tuesday and that the investigation is ongoing. The Associated Press

Justice Department asks to join lawsuits over abortion travel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday said Alabama cannot use conspiracy laws to prosecute people and groups who help women leave the state to obtain an abortion.The Justice Department filed a statement of interest in consolidated lawsuits against Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall seeking to block him from using conspiracy statutes to prosecute people who help Alabama women travel to obtain an abortion. Marshall has not prosecuted anyone for providing such assistance, but he has made statements saying that his office would “look at” groups that provide help.Alabama is one of several states where abortion is almost entirely illegal after after the U.S. Supreme Court, in a decision known as Dobbs, handed authority on abortion law to the states. Alabama bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape and incest. The only exemption is if it’s needed because pregnancy seriously threatens the pregnant patient’s health.The Justice Depa...

Canada investigating ‘threats’ to Air India, say transport minister and RCMP

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s transport minister and the RCMP say an investigation is underway into what they call “threats” against Air India, after an online video warned people not to fly on the airline on Nov. 19.Pablo Rodriguez says in a social media post that the government takes any threat to aviation “extremely seriously.”He says Canada and its security partners are investigating the “recent threats circulating online,” and his press secretary confirms Rodriguez was referring to comments about Air India.RCMP spokeswoman Kristine Kelly says police are collaborating with domestic and international partners and “industry stakeholders” in an investigation into the threat against Air India flights.The original remarks about Air India were made by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S.-based organizer of unofficial referendums on Sikh independence, including recent votes in Surrey, B.C. Pannun says in a video, delivered in a mix of Punjabi and En...

President Biden speaks at Stellantis plant in Illinois in support of labor unions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

CHICAGO — President Joe Biden visited Illinois on Thursday to celebrate the reopening of a suburban auto plant while highlighting his support of labor unions. Biden, the first sitting President to join a picket line, praised the tentative deal between the United Auto Workers Union and the three major US automakers. As part of the deal, a Stellantis plant will re-open in Belvidere, returning more than a thousand jobs to the community. The visit further highlighted Biden's support of organized labor as he prepares for the 2024 election. “The entire UAW proved what I already believed: Wall Street didn't build America, the middle class built America and unions built the middle class,” Biden said.  Stellantis closed its Belvidere assembly plant back in March. A resolution was struck following a 46-day strike of UAW members, however.“What saved Belvidere was UAW workers all over the country willing to do whatever it takes,” said national UAW president Shawn Fain.  Five takeaways from th...

Younger veterans feel uncomfortable when told thank you for service: Poll

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

(The Hill) — A majority of younger veterans said they feel uncomfortable when they are told “thank you for your service,” a new poll found.Ahead of Veterans Day on Saturday, a survey found disparities between young military members and their older counterparts in how they prefer to be recognized for their service.Among younger military members and veterans — age 18 to 29 — 70 percent said they feel uncomfortable or awkward when they are thanked for their service. Only 24 percent of older members, 65 years and up, say the same, the Endeavor Analytics and YouGov poll found. Winners and losers from the third Republican debate “This data shows that military service members and our veterans want Americans to go beyond small talk to connect with them on a deeper level, including learning more about their service, honoring each veteran’s service in ways in which they feel comfortable talking about it,” Robert F. Whittle Jr., retired Army major general and United Services Automobile Assoc...

Chicago City Council passes ordinance giving employees 10 paid days off

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council has passed the paid leave ordinance with a 36-12 vote.It will require employers to provide a total 10 days of paid time off for employees. It includes five sick days and five vacation days. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Some opponents said the ordinance could create significant financial strain on small businesses.This story will be updated.

Burbank man accused of assaulting officers with wasp spray during Capitol riot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Two men in Indiana and Illinois were arrested this week and accused of separately assaulting peace officers with a flagpole and wasp spray during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.Troy Allen Koen, 53, of Brownsburg, Indiana, faces federal felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, destruction of government property and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, the District of Columbia U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.Koen also faces four additional misdemeanor charges in connection with the riot. Former Trump State Department official convicted for attacking police during Capitol riot No attorney was listed for Koen in federal court records, and he declined to comment when reached by phone Thursday evening. He was arrested Thursday in Indianapolis and was expected to make an appearance in the Southern District Court of Indiana that day, the attorney's offi...

Florida-bound flight took off with missing window panes, U.K. investigators report

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- A plane flying from England to Orlando was forced to turn around when crew members discovered multiple window panes were missing. According to a report from the United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), several passengers on the Oct. 4 flight noticed it was "noisier and colder than they were used to" after taking off from London's Stansted Airport. Universal Orlando reports ‘technical difficulties’ as guests complain of closed rides The 11 crew members and nine passengers on board the plane were identified as "employees of the tour operator or aircraft operating company," according to the AAIB report, and were seated near the over-wing exits. A man walked to the back of the plane and discovered "the window seal was flapping in the airflow and the windowpane appeared to have slipped down."The crew member described the noise to investigators as "loud enough to damage your hearing" as the plane reached 14,000 feet. After inspecting the windows,...

Austin could soon have another sister city — in Thailand

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is taking steps to establish a new sister city in Thailand, with a kickoff event planned for this weekend.Mayor Kirk Watson and provincial governor of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Nirat Phongsittithaworn, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding at Austin City Hall Sunday, launching a sister cities initiative.A visiting delegation from Thailand will join Thai Ambassador to the United States, Tanee Sangrat, and U.S. Consul General in Chiang Mai, Lisa Buzenas, at the signing ceremony. A kickoff event will follow at Wat Buddhananachat, a Buddhist temple just southeast of Austin.Austin currently has 13 sister cities, in countries including Mexico, Peru, Australia, France, the United Kingdom and India. There are also three 'friendship cities' — in Cambodia, France and Mexico — that are in the process of becoming sister cities.The interactive map below shows all of Austin's sister and friendship cities."I am honored to support the launch of this new Austin-Chiang Mai Sister...