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Trump makes video appearance in New York criminal case, trial date set for March primary season

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

By MICHAEL R. SISAK (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump threw up his hands in frustration Tuesday as a judge scheduled his criminal trial for March 25, putting the former president and current candidate in a Manhattan courtroom in the heat of next year’s presidential primary season.Trump, appearing by video conference at a pretrial hearing in the hush-money case, glowered at the camera as Judge Juan Manuel Merchan advised him to cancel all other obligations for the duration of the trial, which could last several weeks.Trump, wearing a blue suit against a backdrop of American flags at his Florida estate, then turned to a lawyer by his side — their brief discussion inaudible on the video feed — before sitting with his arms folded for the remainder of the hearing.Trump said little during the hearing, but lashed out afterward on social media, writing: “Just had New York County Supreme Court hearing where I believe my First Amendment Rights, ̵...

Tylor Megill to start series opener vs. Cubs after Kodai Senga’s outing gets pushed back due to rest

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

CHICAGO — The Mets are making a pitching tweak to start a six-game road trip against the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies. Right-hander Kodai Senga is being pushed back by one day to allow for extra rest for his next two starts.Senga was set to pitch the series opener Tuesday at Wrigley Field, with Tylor Megill and Carlos Carrasco to follow in the second and third games of the series, but they flipped Senga and Megill.Megill (5-2. 3.88) will now face left-hander Drew Smyly (4-1, 2.86) on Tuesday and Senga (4-2, 3.77) will face former Mets’ right-hander and Long Island native Marcus Stroman (3-4, 3.05) on Wednesday. Carrasco (0-2, 8.68) will finish the series against former Yankees righty Jameson Taillon (0-3, 8.10) on Thursday.Extra rest has been the norm for the Japanese rookie as the Mets have tried to get him acclimated to the North American game. In the Nippon Professional Baseball League, pitchers typically only pitch once a week instead of every fifth day and ...

Giants’ DC Don ‘Wink’ Martindale receives NFL lifetime achievement award

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

Wink Martindale returns to the Giants for a second season with some new hardware.The respected defensive coordinator was named one of three winners of the Professional Football Writers of America’s 2023 Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award, a lifetime achievement and recognition for distinguished NFL assistant coaches.The late Bobb McKittrick and recently retired Pittsburgh Steelers D-line coach John Mitchell also were honored.Martindale, 60, has sought a head coaching opportunity in recent years, interviewing for the Giants’ vacancy in Jan. 2020 and advancing deep into the Indianapolis Colts’ search this past winter.But Brian Daboll was fortunate one year ago to land Martindale as his DC after Pat Graham bolted to Las Vegas, and then to see the Colts hire Eagles OC Shane Steichen this offseason instead.Martindale, an Ohio native and former college assistant and coordinator through 2003, broke into the NFL in 2004 as the Oakland Raiders’ linebackers coach...

Missouri man accused of deliberately crashing U-Haul truck into security barrier near White House

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — A Missouri man rented a U-Haul truck Monday evening and then crashed it into a security barrier across from the White House just a few hours later, authorities said Tuesday. The box truck’s driver smashed into the barrier near the north side of Lafayette Square on Monday around 10 p.m., the Secret Service said in a statement. He was identified as 19-year-old Sai Varshith Kandula, of Chesterfield, Missouri, a St. Louis suburb.No one was injured in the crash. After the crash, Kandula exited the truck with a Nazi flag and started shouting as Park Police and Secret Service officers approached him, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. When he was questioned by investigators, Kandula said he was there to take over the government and wanted to kill President Joe Biden, the people said. The people were not authorized to publicly discuss specific details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on...

1 dead, 1 wounded in downtown shooting near Central Library

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- One person was killed and another wounded in a downtown shooting Tuesday afternoon, according to San Diego police.Officers were dispatched to the scene on K Street and Eleventh Avenue near the San Diego Central Library around 12:15 p.m.Police have not disclosed the condition of the wounded victim or if there is a suspect in the incident at this time. It is not known if there are any additional victims in the shooting. South Bay elementary school secured after firearm found in student’s backpack There are street closures near the library. Police are asking the public to avoid the area.According to Public Library officials, the Central branch will be closed for the remainder of the day and all scheduled events for today have been cancelled.There is no information yet about how the E3 Civic High School, which is located inside the library, has been impacted by the investigation.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Here's the scoop: Salt & Straw opening new store in San Diego

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, as a new location of the inventive scoop shop Salt & Straw is opening in San Diego this week.The store is set to open in the Westfield UTC mall on Friday, making it the third location of the Portland-based ice cream brand in America's Finest City.To celebrate, Salt & Straw's head ice cream innovator and co-founder, Tyler Malek, teamed up with San Diego chef and Top Chef contestant, Brian Malarkey, to whip up a special flavor that will be available exclusively during opening weekend: roasted beets & goat cheese. These California campsites among best in the Pacific US: The Dyrt The flavor, which first debuted in Salt & Straw's 2018 Guest Chef Collaboration Series, features beet ice cream ribboned with a roasted beet and apple jam and swirled together with chevre goat cheese gelato. The ice cream, served topped with candied walnuts, will be available in limited quantities for the grand opening while suppl...

2 boys charged in series of east end armed robberies

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

Toronto police have charged two boys, aged 15 and 17, after a series of armed convenience store robberies in the city’s east end.Investigators say the robberies took place between Sunday, April 9, 2023, and Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in The Beaches, Cliffcrest and Blake-Jones neighbourhoods.In each incident, police say two suspects entered a convenience store while concealing their identities with masks. One of the suspects would pull out a gun, and police say the second would sometimes wield a knife.The pair would approach an employee and make demands for cash, fleeing with money each time.In one incident, police say an employee was assaulted, suffering non-life-threatening injuries that were treated at a hospital.Police identified the two teen suspects and arrested one of them on May 18 after executing search warrants related to the probe.Later the same day, police say the second suspect turned himself in at 55 Division.They are both facing numerous charges, including robbery wit...

Woman charged in drunk driving killing of bride in South Carolina seeks bond

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Defense attorneys are seeking bond for an alleged drunken driver who police say slammed into newlyweds riding along a South Carolina beach road, killing the bride.Jamie Komoroski’s attorneys filed a motion last week that says she poses no flight risk or danger to the community, news outlets reported. It requested bond be set at $100,000 with conditions that include attending an inpatient rehabilitation program, remaining supervised by her mother and having no access to a vehicle or alcohol.Komoroski, 25, was charged with vehicular homicide and three counts of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury in the April 28 crash at Folly Beach that killed Samantha Miller, 34, and injured the groom, Aric Hutchinson. A toxicology report showed Komoroski had a blood alcohol level of 0.261 and authorities have said she was driving well over twice the speed limit when she slammed into the back of a golf cart as it left the wedding reception.“The personal characteristics ...

As abortion battle shifts, Planned Parenthood to boost regional affiliate funds, cut national staff

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

Planned Parenthood is shifting funding to its state affiliates and cutting national office staff to reflect a changed landscape in both how abortion is provided and how battles over access are playing out.The group, a major provider of abortion and other health services and also an advocate for abortion access, told its staff on Monday that layoff notices would go out in June. It provided The Associated Press with an overview Tuesday.The changes are to kick in on July 1, just over a year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that provided a right to abortion across the country. Since then, most Republican-controlled states have banned or restricted abortion, and most Democrat-controlled states have made moves to protect access.“We are in a moment when I just believe that Planned Parenthood needs to change, too,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of the two arms of the organization: the political Planned Parenthood Action Fund ...

4-year-old child is ‘OK’ after being dropped from high border wall in San Diego

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:06:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A 4-year-old child was dropped into the United States from a high border wall with Mexico in a surveillance video that captures a routine — and highly risky — occurrence.“Remarkably, the child is ok!” Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz tweeted in his caption to the agency’s one-minute, 37-second video, which was posted on Twitter on Monday. “Do not trust smugglers!”The jerky, black-and-white images appear to show the child and one adult being aided by another adult over the wall, which rises as high 30 feet (9.1 meters) between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California. Ortiz said agents heard gunfire while tending to the child.The child came with two adults, all of whom were in Border Patrol custody, agency spokesman Michael Scappechio said Tuesday. It had not been confirmed if the adults were the child’s parents or what nationality they were. It was also unclear if they would be released in the United States to pursue immigration cases or deported.A...