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Today: January 22, 2025
Today: January 22, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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Political

Exonerated member of 'Central Park Five' wins primary, nearly assuring seat on NYC Council

Yusef Salaam, one of the exonerated “Central Park Five,” has won the Democratic primary, all but assuring him a seat on the New York City Council. It’s an improbable feat for a political novice who was wrongly accused, convicted and imprisoned as a teenager for the rape and beating of a white jogger in Central Park. Salaam’s primary win is for the seat representing Central Harlem on the City Council. The Associated Press refrained from calling the race on election night but additional votes released Wednesday showed him to be the clear winner. “I am here

Exonerated member of 'Central Park Five' wins primary, nearly assuring seat on NYC Council
Health

Ohio abortion rights backers submit nearly double needed signatures for fall ballot measure

Groups hoping to enshrine abortion rights in Ohio’s constitution delivered nearly double the number of signatures needed to place an amendment on the fall statewide ballot, aiming to signal sweeping widespread support for an issue that still faces the threat of needing a significantly increased victory margin. Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights said they dropped off more than 700,000 petition signatures on Wednesday to Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office in downtown Columbus. LaRose now will work with local election boards to determine that at least 413,446 are valid, which would get the proposal

Ohio abortion rights backers submit nearly double needed signatures for fall ballot measure
World

Wisconsin's Democratic governor scales back Republican tax cut, signs state budget

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed off on a two-year spending plan Wednesday after dramatically scaling back the size of a Republican income tax cut that would have moved the state closer to a flat rate. Evers, a Democrat, also used his partial veto power to increase funding for K-12 public schools for more than 400 years unless undone by a future Legislature and governor. The move will increase how much revenue schools can raise per student by $325 a year until 2425. Evers, a former state education secretary and teacher, had proposed allowing revenue limits to

Wisconsin's Democratic governor scales back Republican tax cut, signs state budget
World

Vegas Golden Knights are the first team to get the Stanley Cup engraved before their summer parties

The Vegas Golden Knights already made history winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history, doing so in their sixth NHL season. Now they’re making some more with hockey’s hallowed trophy. The Golden Knights are the first team to have the Cup fully engraved with every champion’s name before the traditional summer of owners, staff, coaches and players each getting a day to celebrate with it. Keeper of the Cup Phil Pritchard and the Hockey Hall of Fame would love if this starts a trend. “Hopefully a tradition has begun!” Pritchard tweeted. The decision by Vegas’ front

Vegas Golden Knights are the first team to get the Stanley Cup engraved before their summer parties
Political

Powder found in White House's West Wing lobby tests positive for cocaine

A white powder discovered in a lobby area of the White House’s West Wing that prompted a brief evacuation Sunday evening tested positive for cocaine in a laboratory analysis, three people familiar with the matter said Wednesday. Officials who found the powder in a small plastic envelope in the heavily trafficked part of the White House initially suspected illegal drugs, but they ran tests to ensure that the powder was not a more dangerous substance. Investigators have not yet identified who brought the cocaine into the White House, according to the three people, who were not authorized

Powder found in White House's West Wing lobby tests positive for cocaine
World

Yankees pitcher Cordero is suspended for the rest of the season under MLB's domestic violence policy

Yankees pitcher Jimmy Cordero was suspended for the rest of the season by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Wednesday for violating the sport’s domestic violence policy. MLB said the 31-year-old right-hander accepted the suspension and will miss the season’s final 76 games and the postseason. Cordero was 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in one start and 30 relief appearances and has a $720,000 salary, the major league minimum. He missed the 2021 season after Tommy John surgery while with the Chicago White Sox organization and spent 2022 with the Yankees’ Triple-A team at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees

Yankees pitcher Cordero is suspended for the rest of the season under MLB's domestic violence policy
Arts

Accuser says Kevin Spacey grope wasn't a caress: ‘It was like a cobra ... angry’

A man who said Kevin Spacey made crude and racially offensive remarks before forcefully grabbing his genitals said he kept the degrading incident boxed up inside for more than a decade because he feared no one would believe his word against that of an Oscar-winning “golden boy.” “I was a keeper of his secret for a long time,” the man said as he finally unburdened himself by telling his story to a policeman in a video interview played Wednesday for jurors in Spacey’s sexual assault trial in a London court. The man was older and more emotionally

Accuser says Kevin Spacey grope wasn't a caress: ‘It was like a cobra ... angry’
World

Quran burnings have Sweden torn between free speech and respecting minorities

A Quran burning and a string of requests to approve the destruction of more holy books have left Sweden torn between its commitment to free speech and its respect for religious minorities. The clash of fundamental principles has complicated Sweden’s desire to join NATO, an expansion that gained urgency after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but needs the approval of all current members. Turkey has blocked Swedish accession since last year, citing reasons including anti-Turkish and anti-Islamic protests in Stockholm. Then, last week, an Iraqi Christian immigrant burned Islam’s holy book outside a Stockholm mosque during the major

Quran burnings have Sweden torn between free speech and respecting minorities
Political

After secret documents leak, Pentagon plans tighter controls to protect classified information

The Pentagon on Wednesday announced plans to tighten protection for classified information following the explosive leaks of hundreds of intelligence documents that were accessed through security gaps at a Massachusetts Air National Guard base. Airman 1st Class Jack Texeira, 21, is accused of leaking the highly classified military documents in a chatroom on Discord, a social media platform that started as a hangout for gamers. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a memo released Wednesday, ordered all of the department’s secured rooms where classified information is stored and accessed to be brought into compliance with intelligence community standards

After secret documents leak, Pentagon plans tighter controls to protect classified information
World

Federal Reserve minutes: Some officials wanted to raise interest rates last month

Some Federal Reserve officials pushed to raise the Fed’s key interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point at their meeting last month to intensify their fight against high inflation, though the central bank ultimately decided to forgo a rate hike. In a sign of growing division among the policymakers, some officials favored a quarter-point increase or said they “could have supported such a proposal,” according to the minutes of the June 13-14 meeting released Wednesday. In the end, the 11 voting members of the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee agreed unanimously to skip a hike after 10

Federal Reserve minutes: Some officials wanted to raise interest rates last month
World

Canada's government to stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram after Meta says it will block news

Canada’s government said Wednesday it would stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram, in response to Meta’s decision to block access to news content on their social platforms as part of a temporary test. Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government’s decision at a news conference. Canada’s move is the latest episode in a dispute that started after Trudeau’s administration proposed a bill that would require technology companies to pay publishers for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online. Meta promised at the time to block Canadian news content on its Facebook and

Canada's government to stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram after Meta says it will block news
World

Missing 2-year-old girl is found dead in an overgrown Detroit alley, ending a massive search

A missing 2-year-old Michigan girl who disappeared during an attack on her mother was found dead nearly 100 miles (161 kilometers) away in Detroit, three days after she vanished. Wynter Cole Smith’s body was discovered Wednesday evening by FBI agents in an overgrown alley in a neighborhood on the east side of Detroit, ending a massive search along a major interstate between the city and the state capital. “I am deeply saddened to report that the search for Wynter Cole Smith has come to an end,” said Lansing police Chief Ellery Sosebee. “This investigation has moved

Missing 2-year-old girl is found dead in an overgrown Detroit alley, ending a massive search
Political

Trump posted what he said was Obama's address, prosecutors say. An armed man was soon arrested there

Former President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform what he claimed was the home address of former President Barack Obama on the same day that a man with guns in his van was arrested near the property, federal prosecutors said Wednesday in revealing new details about the case. Taylor Taranto, 37, who prosecutors say participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, kept two firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition inside a van he had driven cross-country and had been living in, according to a Justice Department motion that seeks to

Trump posted what he said was Obama's address, prosecutors say. An armed man was soon arrested there
Health

Ohio man guilty of raping a 9-year-old who traveled for legal abortion gets life sentence

A man accused of raping and impregnating a 9-year-old Ohio girl, who had to travel out of state for an abortion, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of rape. Gerson Fuentes, 28, was sentenced to life in prison but, as part of his plea deal, will be eligible to seek probation after serving 25 to 30 years. He will also have to register as a sex offender. The case became a flashpoint in the national discussion about access to the procedure since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The girl, who turned 10 before having

Ohio man guilty of raping a 9-year-old who traveled for legal abortion gets life sentence
Political

Republicans sue over rejection of party nominee to election board in Georgia's most populous county

The Republican Party in Georgia’s most populous county is suing local elected officials over the rejection of one of the party’s nominees to serve on the county election board, saying he was being punished for trying to clean up voter rolls. In the lawsuit filed Friday, the Fulton County Republican Party asks a judge to order the county Board of Commissioners to appoint Jason Frazier to the county Board of Elections and Registration. Fulton County, which includes most of the city of Atlanta, is a Democratic stronghold. Frazier has recently filed challenges to the eligibility of thousands

Republicans sue over rejection of party nominee to election board in Georgia's most populous county
Political

Republicans sue over rejection of party nominee to election board in Georgia's most populous county

The Republican Party in Georgia’s most populous county is suing local elected officials over the rejection of one of the party’s nominees to serve on the county election board, saying he was being punished for trying to clean up voter rolls. In the lawsuit filed Friday, the Fulton County Republican Party asks a judge to order the county Board of Commissioners to appoint Jason Frazier to the county Board of Elections and Registration. Fulton County, which includes most of the city of Atlanta, is a Democratic stronghold. Frazier has recently filed challenges to the eligibility of thousands

Republicans sue over rejection of party nominee to election board in Georgia's most populous county
World

Russian journalist sustained a brain injury and fractures during a brutal beating in Chechnya

A prominent Russian investigative reporter has received a brain injury and multiple fractures when she and a lawyer accompanying her were brutally beaten by unidentified assailants in the Russian province of Chechnya, her newspaper said Wednesday. Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov were attacked Tuesday soon after they arrived in Chechnya to attend the trial of the mother of two Chechen dissidents. Just outside the airport, their vehicle was blocked by three cars and a dozen unidentified masked attackers, who beat them with clubs and put guns to their heads. Milashina and Nemova were

Russian journalist sustained a brain injury and fractures during a brutal beating in Chechnya
World

FIA wonders how it can deny General Motors a spot on Formula One grid, president tells AP

The FIA has received “more than five” expressions of interest from teams interested in joining Formula One, the president of the governing body told The Associated Press on Wednesday, with a decision on expansion expected by the end of the month. The bid that stands out most to Mohammed Ben Sulayem is from Andretti Global and General Motors — a supportive sign that Michael Andretti may indeed get the F1 team he’s been chasing for more than two years. “People have to understand we are here to promote motorsport and we are here to be fair. The Expressions of Interest

FIA wonders how it can deny General Motors a spot on Formula One grid, president tells AP
Health

Iowa's Republican governor calls a special legislative session to revive abortion restrictions

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday day called a special legislative session to pursue new abortion restrictions after the state Supreme Court declined to reinstate a 2018 ban after about six weeks of pregnancy. The court was split 3-3 last month and did not issue a decision on the merits of the law, leaving open the possibility that the GOP-controlled Legislature would try to pass a similar ban. In the meantime, abortion remains legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Lawmakers will meet on July 11. Most Republican-led states have significantly curbed abortion

Iowa's Republican governor calls a special legislative session to revive abortion restrictions
World

Is MLB's pitch clock leading to better defense? Some players and coaches think so

The pitch clock may be bothering players as they step to the plate, but they like it a whole lot better once they put on their gloves and take the field. While the rule changes put in place this year to speed up the pace of play have garnered plenty of attention for how they’ve affected hitters and pitchers, some players and managers say the new guidelines also are positively impacting defense. The pitch clock in particular — an idea meant to make it easier for fans to stay focused on the field — may be keeping

Is MLB's pitch clock leading to better defense? Some players and coaches think so
World

Suspect in Ukraine detonates explosives at a courthouse, killing himself and wounding 2 officers

A criminal suspect died Tuesday when he detonated explosives inside a court building in the Ukrainian capital, and two police officers were wounded, officials said. The suspect, Ihor Humeniuk, detonated an explosive device inside the Shevchenkivskyi District Court, as he made an abortive attempt to escape, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko told reporters. It wasn’t immediately clear how Humeniuk received the explosives and managed to bring them inside the court building. The two wounded officers belong to a special police unit. Humeniuk has been in custody for eight years on charges of throwing a grenade during a

Suspect in Ukraine detonates explosives at a courthouse, killing himself and wounding 2 officers
Political

North Carolina governor vetoes trio of LGBTQ+ restrictions in ongoing fight with GOP supermajority

North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed Wednesday a trio of bills aimed at LGBTQ+ youth that would ban gender-affirming health care for minors, restrict transgender participation in school sports and limit classroom instruction about gender identity and sexuality. While LGBTQ+ rights advocates say Cooper’s attempt to block the bills demonstrates his support amid what they view as unrelenting attacks from the General Assembly, his veto stamp carries little weight now that Republicans hold narrow veto-proof majorities in both chambers. His vetoes are not expected to survive override attempts. Cooper denounced the measures as “a triple

North Carolina governor vetoes trio of LGBTQ+ restrictions in ongoing fight with GOP supermajority
World

LA County sheriff's department calls video of deputy tackling woman 'disturbing,' opens inquiry

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says a bystander’s cellphone footage showing a deputy violently tackling a woman while she filmed her husband being handcuffed and then pepper-spraying her in the face is “ disturbing,” and community groups on Wednesday called for the department’s new sheriff to hold his agency accountable. The June 24 incident in the city of Lancaster follows several cases that have drawn scrutiny to the department amid allegations of excessive use of force by its deputies. It’s also testing the reform efforts of the new sheriff, Robert Luna, a former Long Beach

LA County sheriff's department calls video of deputy tackling woman 'disturbing,' opens inquiry
Political

Rep. Adam Schiff, censured by GOP-led House, raises $8.1 million for his California Senate race

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff’s Senate campaign said Wednesday that the California Democrat had raised $8.1 million over the past three months, a period that includes his recent censure by the Republican-led House. His team said that was a record for a Senate campaign for the April-through-June quarter of a year in which an election is not taking place. The 2024 race is to fill the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Schiff rose to national prominence as the lead prosecutor in then-President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial and has long been recognized as a prolific

Rep. Adam Schiff, censured by GOP-led House, raises $8.1 million for his California Senate race
World

JetBlue is dumping its partnership with American Airlines to salvage its purchase of Spirit

JetBlue says it won’t appeal a judge’s ruling against its partnership with American Airlines, effectively dropping the deal in an effort to salvage its purchase of Spirit Airlines. JetBlue Airways said Wednesday that it wind down the deal with American in New York and Boston in the coming months and “turn even more focus” on its proposed $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit. The U.S. Justice Department sued to block both the JetBlue-American deal and JetBlue’s purchase of Spirit on grounds that they would hurt competition. The government said consumers would suffer if Spirit — the nation’s biggest discount airline —

JetBlue is dumping its partnership with American Airlines to salvage its purchase of Spirit

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