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US closes 2 rail crossings in Texas so agents can help process migrants

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

U.S. authorities temporarily shut down two railroad border crossings in Texas on Monday to shift officers to helping process migrants, drawing warnings from rail operators that the temporary closures would hamper trade ahead of Christmas. The decision by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to suspend operations at rail crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso adds another tension point over immigration amid a struggle in Washington between the White House and Senate negotiators to reach a deal on border security.At the same time, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott was preparing to sign a new law that would give police sweeping new powers to arrest migrants on illegal entry and empower local judges to order them to leave the country. “After observing a recent resurgence of smuggling organizations moving migrants through Mexico via freight trains, CBP is taking additional actions to surge personnel and address this concerning development, including in partnership with Mexican authorities,” t...

‘Zone of Interest’ wins Toronto Film Critics Association award for best film of 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

TORONTO — Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” has been named best picture of the year by the Toronto Film Critics Association. Glazer also won the best director award for his surrealistic film about a Nazi commandant who tries to build an ideal life for his family next to the Auschwitz concentration camp.Toronto critics gave the outstanding lead performance awards to Sandra Huller for “Anatomy of a Fall” and Lily Gladstone for “Killers of the Flower Moon” — the first year that TFCA eliminated gender-based voting for acting categories.The outstanding supporting performance winners were Ryan Gosling for “Barbie” and Da’Vine Joy Randolph for “The Holdovers.”The award for outstanding performance in a Canadian film, a new category, went to Glenn Howerton for his turn as Research in Motion CEO Jim Balsillie in “BlackBerry.”The finalists for the Rogers Best Canadian Film award are “BlackBerry,...

Largest nursing home in St. Louis closes suddenly, forcing out 170 residents

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The largest skilled nursing facility in St. Louis has closed suddenly, forcing about 170 residents to be bused to other care centers. Many left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.The abrupt shutdown of Northview Village Nursing Home on Friday came after workers learned they might not be paid and walked out, confusing residents and their relatives. Many family members gathered through the day Saturday outside the facility on the city’s north side. Some didn’t immediately know where their loved ones were taken.Alvin Cooper of East St. Louis, Illinois, was preparing Monday to fill out a missing person’s report on his 35-year-old son. Alvin Cooper Jr. has lived at Northview Village for several months while recovering from a gunshot wound to the head and a drug addiction.“They don’t know where he is,” Alvin Cooper said. “I’ve burnt two tanks of gas going back and forth to that nursing home trying to find out what’s going on. I don’t know if he’s s...

San Francisco prosecutors begin charging 80 protesters who blocked bridge while demanding cease-fire

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco prosecutors on Monday began charging 80 protesters who last month blocked traffic for hours on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge while demanding a cease-fire in Gaza.The protest came as San Francisco was hosting President Joe Biden and other world leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.Seventeen people appeared in court on Monday to face charges of false imprisonment, refusing to comply with a peace officer, unlawful public assembly, refusing to disperse and obstruction of street, sidewalk or other place open to public. Their arraignments were continued to February.Hundreds of demonstrators holding signs that read “Biden: Ceasefire Now” and “Free Free Palestine” and “Drop the Charges!” held a news conference outside the court before the arraignments of those charged began.Aisha Nizar, of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said she was among those who were arrested and charged but doesn’t plan to stop demonstrating.“We are mo...

Ruben Gallego is endorsed by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, his ex-wife, in bid for Arizona Senate seat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego on Monday endorsed her ex-husband, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, in his campaign to move up to the Senate.The mayor’s decision to publicly back her former husband, while not surprising, will help him blunt criticism for their divorce, which occurred weeks before the birth of their child.Gallego is the only major Democrat in a race that will help determine control of the U.S. Senate. Incumbent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a former Democrat who left the party a year ago, has not said whether she will seek a second term as an independent. Ruben and Kate Gallego are both Democrats who met as undergraduates at Harvard University. Kate, a New Mexico native, moved to Phoenix for a job on John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign in Arizona. Ruben, originally from Chicago, joined her after finishing a deployment to Iraq as a U.S. Marine. They were a power couple in local Democratic politics. A popular Phoenix bar even had a cocktail called “The Ruben a...

Trump’s lawyers ask full appeals court to review gag order restricting his speech in election case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for Donald Trump asked the full federal appeals court in Washington to review a gag order restricting the former president’s speech in the case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election.The request Monday follows a decision by a three-judge panel of the appeals court that upheld but narrowed a gag order that barred Trump from verbally attacking witnesses over their participation in the case and imposed other restrictions on what he may say.In requesting that the entire court take up the matter, Trump’s lawyers argued the panel’s decision earlier this month contradicted Supreme Court precedent and rulings from other appeals courts. They said a fresh consideration was needed “both to secure uniformity of this Court’s decisions and because of the question’s exceptional importance.”“This petition presents a question of exceptional importance: Whether a district court may gag the core political speech of the leading candidate for...

Florida deputy’s legal team says he didn’t have an obligation to stop Parkland school shooter

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida sheriff’s deputy is claiming he had no legal duty to confront the gunman who murdered 17 people and wounded 17 others at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School nearly six years ago, his attorney argued Monday.The legal team representing Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the victims’ families and survivors, even though the decision would likely be derided by the public.Attorney Michael Piper told Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips that under the law, his client cannot be sued for anything he did or didn’t do during the Feb. 14, 2018, massacre. He cited appellate court cases that say police officers don’t have a legal obligation to protect others from third-party harm and cannot be sued for decisions they make during a crisis.Piper said that while it might not be a popular decision, the judge must uphold the law and throw out the lawsuit, which seeks unspecif...

Passengers could get $75 for delays under Southwest settlement

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

(The Hill) -- Southwest Airlines passengers affected by the company's problems during a year ago could be given a $75 voucher for delays as part of the federal government's record $140 million settlement.The settlement, announced Monday by the Department of Transportation (DOT), will require Southwest to establish a $90 million compensation system to be used for passengers affected by "controllable cancellations and significant delays."As part of this new system, Southwest is required to give passengers a transferrable $75 voucher for future travel with the airline in the case that an "issue within Southwest's control" causes a passenger to arrive at their destination three hours or more after their original scheduled arrival time. "This industry-leading benefit will ensure that Southwest passengers impacted by any future significant disruptions will receive not only flight rebooking, hotels, and food during the delay, but also timely compensation from Southwest due to the inconveni...

Southwest fined record $140M over 2022 holiday meltdown

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

(The Hill) -- Southwest Airlines settled a federal lawsuit over its holiday meltdown last December that caused thousands of flight cancellations and delays for millions of travelers for $140 million, the airline announced Monday. The agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOT) marks the largest penalty levied against an airline for violation of consumer protection laws, the government said. Southwest agreed to pay $35 million in cash to the DOT over three years, while the majority of the settlement — about $90 million — will go toward compensation of future passengers to avoid similar issues. In a consent order announcing the settlement, the DOT said it found Southwest "violated the law on numerous occasions," including failing to help stranded travelers. Passengers could get $75 for delays under Southwest settlement Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Monday he hopes the lawsuit provides an incentive for airlines to prevent similar travel debacles in the futur...

Chicago bringing back 'Name a Snowplow' contest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:41 GMT

CHICAGO — The City of Chicago is bringing back its "You Can Name a Snowplow" contest after the inaugural event last year.The contest has two phases. First, the city will gather names from the submissions, which are limited to one per person and 50 characters in length.When the submission period closes on Jan. 12, or when there's 20,000 submissions, whichever comes first, staff members of the Department of Streets and Sanitation will choose 50 finalists.Six finalists will be chosen. Then beginning on Jan. 22, residents can vote for their favorite. Previous: Chicago snowplow naming contest concludes: Seven winning names unveiled Due to a near-tie for sixth place, seven winning names were chosen last year.Mrs. O’Leary’s PlowDa PlowSalter PaytonSears PlowerSleet Home ChicagoHoly Plow!Jean Baptiste Point du ShovelLast year, the officially named snowplows enjoyed a mini-parade where those who originally submitted the winning names had a photo opportunity.“We were thrilled with the Chica...