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Today: January 23, 2025
Today: January 23, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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Political

Army colonel gets $975,000 in sex assault case against former Joint Chiefs vice chairman

A retired Army colonel has reached a court settlement of nearly $1 million in a sexual assault lawsuit against Air Force Gen. John Hyten, who served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The settlement with the U.S. government ends more than four years of investigations, reviews and congressional digging into the matter, which delayed — but ultimately did not defeat — Hyten’s nomination for vice chairman in 2019. He served two years and did not seek a second term. Army Col. Kathryn Spletstoser, who served as Hyten’s aide in 2017, filed the lawsuit, and

Army colonel gets $975,000 in sex assault case against former Joint Chiefs vice chairman
World

Judge rules man accused of trying to open jet's door, attacking crew, not competent for trial

A man charged with attacking a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon and attempting to open an airliner’s emergency door on a cross-country flight in March is not currently competent to stand trial, a federal judge ruled. Magistrate Judge Judith Dein, basing her decision on a mental health evaluation of Francisco Severo Torres and her own observations in court, determined Wednesday that further treatment is warranted, according to court records. “The Court hereby finds … that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he

Judge rules man accused of trying to open jet's door, attacking crew, not competent for trial
World

Chicago's Shedd Aquarium welcomes its first rockhopper penguin chick in 8 years

It’s bright and early at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium and the penguin population’s newest member is ready for a wellness check. A fuzzy brown southern rockhopper chick is gently plopped onto a scale in an exam room and Shedd’s penguin team members are happy with the results. So, it seems, is the chick, who waves its flippers in the air and stretches out its neck. “You’re doing the happy flaps!” says senior trainer Katy Roxbury, who offers the chick bits of herring. The first southern rockhopper penguin hatched at Shedd in eight years came out of its shell

Chicago's Shedd Aquarium welcomes its first rockhopper penguin chick in 8 years
World

Vermont braces for more rain in wake of historic flooding

Vermont prepared for the next round of storms — and possibly a tornado — as people took advantage of calm weather Thursday to clean up from historic flooding that damaged thousands of homes, businesses and roads, and left some residents stranded. As floodwaters receded, the good news was that there were no new rescue missions, dams were holding up and more roads reopened. The bad news was that strong thunderstorms were expected to move into parts of the state by Thursday night, which could cause more flash flooding, Gov. Phil Scott said at a news conference. Conditions could spawn a

Vermont braces for more rain in wake of historic flooding
Political

Virginia's Youngkin surpasses previous governors' annual fundraising records in a single quarter

Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s main fundraising apparatus will soon report raising $5.75 million in this year’s second quarter, a sum that surpasses what any previous governor of the state has raised over an entire year, according to the group’s accounting. The haul will bring to $8.5 million the total Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia political action committee has raised in the first six months of 2023, according to details provided to The Associated Press ahead of a Monday reporting deadline. And it will leave Spirit of Virginia with $6 million in cash on hand just over

Virginia's Youngkin surpasses previous governors' annual fundraising records in a single quarter
Health

Families and doctors sue Texas over its new ban on transgender care for minors

A group of Texas families and doctors have filed a lawsuit in state court seeking to block the state’s new law that bans gender-affirming care for minors, arguing it violates parental rights and discriminates against transgender teens. At least 20 states have adopted laws to ban some gender-affirming care for minors. Half of those laws are not in effect, either because they were passed so recently that they haven’t yet kicked in or, in the case of Arkansas, Indiana and Kentucky, because enforcement has been put on hold by courts. A judge in June also blocked

Families and doctors sue Texas over its new ban on transgender care for minors
World

Biden administration suspends satellite monitoring of Colombian coca crops as cocaine surges

The Biden administration has quietly ditched a key gauge used for decades to measure success in the war on drugs, suspending satellite monitoring of coca crops in Colombia as cocaine production surges in South America. A State Department spokesperson said the move was “temporary” but gave no timeframe for data collection to resume or explain why it was suspended in the first place. It was also unclear whether satellite surveys would continue in Peru and Bolivia, which together account for about half of coca production in the Andean region. The move, first reported by Colombia’s El Tiempo

Biden administration suspends satellite monitoring of Colombian coca crops as cocaine surges
World

Andrew Tate sues his accusers in human trafficking case

Controversial social media personality Andrew Tate and his brother are suing a Florida woman, saying she falsely accused them of imprisoning her in Romania, leading to their arrest there on human trafficking charges. The widely followed former professional kickboxer and his brother, Tristan, are seeking at least $5 million in the lawsuit, which was filed in Palm Beach County against the woman, her parents, another woman who lived at the Tates’ Bucharest estate and a male friend of the woman. The Tates say the five conspired to falsely accuse them of human trafficking and rape,

Andrew Tate sues his accusers in human trafficking case
Political

US climate envoy John Kerry spars in heated exchanges with House Republicans ahead of Beijing trip

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry defended his negotiations with China — and angrily rebuffed what he called a “stupid” lie that he routinely travels by private jet — during a grilling by House Republicans on Thursday before he sets out on his next climate mission to Beijing. Kerry leaves Sunday for meetings with his counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, the first extensive face-to-face climate discussions between the world’s two worst climate polluters after a nearly yearlong hiatus. The questioning in Thursday’s hearing by the Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee’s oversight subcommittee underscored the risks for Kerry that rising tensions

US climate envoy John Kerry spars in heated exchanges with House Republicans ahead of Beijing trip
World

Jets agree to 4-year, $96 million contract extension with All-Pro Quinnen Williams, AP source says

All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and the New York Jets agreed Thursday to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Williams is now the second-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL behind only the Rams’ Aaron Donald, who is making $31.7 million per year. The deal for Williams includes $66 million in guaranteed salary, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce terms of the contract. The guarantee is the largest in Jets history, surpassing the $51 million linebacker C.J.

Jets agree to 4-year, $96 million contract extension with All-Pro Quinnen Williams, AP source says
World

Got Sriracha? The price for a bottle of Huy Fong's iconic hot sauce gets spicy with supplies short

It’s not just you. Sriracha is hard to come by these days — at least for one popular brand. The shortage of Huy Fong Foods’ Sriracha, the beloved red hot sauce packaged in those green-capped bottles, isn’t new — with the company pointing to a scarcity of chile pepper supply for several years now. And as frustrated fans continue to face store shelves missing the Huy Fong name, third-party resellers are punching up prices. Huy Fong Sriracha, which used to go for under $5 or $10 a bottle, is now selling for shocking amounts in some

Got Sriracha? The price for a bottle of Huy Fong's iconic hot sauce gets spicy with supplies short
Science

Virgin Galactic plans its next commercial flight to the edge of space for August

Virgin Galactic is aiming for early August for its next flight to the edge of space, a trip that is expected to include the first of many ticket holders who have been waiting years for their chance at weightlessness aboard the company’s rocket-powered plane. The company announced Thursday that the window for the commercial flight from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico will open Aug. 10. The short up-and-down flight will be streamed live on Virgin Galactic’s website. Virgin Galactic confirmed that three private passengers will be on the flight. The plane has room for six

Virgin Galactic plans its next commercial flight to the edge of space for August
World

Phone of man who killed 3 at Indiana mall had Hitler photos, `extremely graphic' videos of killings

The cellphone of a 20-year-old man who fatally shot three people last year at an Indianapolis-area mall contained photos of Adolf Hitler, Nazi propaganda, firearms and “extremely graphic” videos of previous mass killings, police said Thursday. Police said the FBI found nothing on the phone about the mall or plans for last year’s mass shooting, but it contained what appeared to be a suicide note Jonathan Douglas Sapirman had written more than two years before the attack. Greenwood police said the FBI was able in May to unlock the phone, which Sapirman dropped into a mall toilet

Phone of man who killed 3 at Indiana mall had Hitler photos, `extremely graphic' videos of killings
World

Tentative deal reached in nearly 2-week port strike on Canada's west coast

A tentative deal was reached Thursday between employers and workers in a strike that has halted shipments in and out of ports in Canada’s west coast region of British Columbia for nearly two weeks. A statement from the BC Maritime Employers Association said it had reached a tentative agreement with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The strike by 7,400 members of the union began July 1 and shut down more than 30 west coast ports, including Canada’s largest, the Port of Vancouver. The tentative deal comes after federal Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan ordered a

Tentative deal reached in nearly 2-week port strike on Canada's west coast
Science

Meteorologists say Earth sizzled to a global heat record in June and July has been getting hotter

An already warming Earth steamed to its hottest June on record, smashing the old global mark by nearly a quarter of a degree (0.13 degrees Celsius), with global oceans setting temperature records for the third straight month, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday. June’s 61.79 degrees (16.55 degrees Celsius) global average was 1.89 degrees (1.05 degrees Celsius) above the 20th Century average, the first time globally a summer month was more than a degree Celsius hotter than normal, according to NOAA. Other weather monitoring systems, such as NASA, Berkeley Earth and Europe’s Copernicus, had already called last

Meteorologists say Earth sizzled to a global heat record in June and July has been getting hotter
World

Las Vegas police officer's brother testifies against him, says they rehearsed for $73k casino heist

At first, Josiah Rogers said he thought his older brother, a Las Vegas police officer, was joking when he brought up the idea of robbing a casino. But then the conversation took a turn, and soon they were putting a plan together for a heist in November 2021, he said. Rogers revealed details of the extensive planning that went into the robbery when he took the stand Thursday and testified for several hours against his brother, Caleb Rogers, who was on trial this week over a trio of casino heists in late 2021 and early 2022.

Las Vegas police officer's brother testifies against him, says they rehearsed for $73k casino heist
Political

US eyes massive ramp-up in diplomatic personnel and spending at new Pacific island embassies

The State Department says it plans a massive increase in diplomatic personnel and spending for facilities at new U.S. embassies in the Pacific islands as the Biden administration forges ahead with efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the region. In a notice sent to Congress this week, the department said it envisions hiring up to 40 staffers over the next five years for each of four recently opened or soon-to-be-opened embassies in the Pacific. Those include an embassy in Honiara, Solomon Islands, that opened in January; an embassy in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, that opened in May and

US eyes massive ramp-up in diplomatic personnel and spending at new Pacific island embassies
World

Ben An opens with 61 at Scottish Open with hope for more links golf

Byeong Hun An played well enough in the Scottish Open on Thursday that he had reason to hope he can stick around for more links golf next week. An ran off four straight birdies early in his round at The Renaissance Club and closed with a 25-foot birdie putt on the tough par-3 ninth hole for a 9-under 61, giving him a two-shot lead over Davis Riley. An had his best score on the PGA Tour — the Scottish Open is co-sanctioned with the European tour — and it came at just the right time. This

Ben An opens with 61 at Scottish Open with hope for more links golf
Political

Former police chief who defended himself at trial is convicted of conspiracy in Jan. 6 riot

A former California police chief was convicted on Thursday of joining the riot at the U.S. Capitol with a hatchet in his backpack and plotting to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory. A judge in Washington’s federal court heard testimony without a jury before convicting Alan Hostetter, a right-wing activist and vocal critic of COVID-19 restrictions who defended himself at his bench trial with help from a standby attorney. Hostetter used his closing arguments to spin conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. He falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen from

Former police chief who defended himself at trial is convicted of conspiracy in Jan. 6 riot
Political

Pentagon says cluster munitions have arrived in Ukraine

Cluster munitions provided by the United States have now arrived in Ukraine, the Pentagon said Thursday. The munitions — which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets — are seen by the U.S. as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines. U.S. leaders debated the thorny issue for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision last week. U.S. leaders have said the U.S. will send a version of the munition that has a reduced “dud rate,” meaning

Pentagon says cluster munitions have arrived in Ukraine
Arts

Usher's ex-wife wants to drain Georgia's largest lake, where a boater fatally struck her son

The ex-wife of R&B singer Usher is calling to drain Georgia’s largest lake, where her son was fatally injured 11 years ago. Fashion designer Tameka Foster has collected more than 2,500 signatures for her online petition imploring officials to “drain, clean, and restore” Lake Sidney Lanier, to allow for safety improvements and the removal of hazardous debris and other obstructions. Kile Glover, her 11-year-old son with Bounce TV founder Ryan Glover, died in July 2012 after a personal watercraft struck the boy as he floated in an inner tube on the lake. “Draining, cleaning, and restoring Lake

Usher's ex-wife wants to drain Georgia's largest lake, where a boater fatally struck her son
World

Legal headaches could just be starting at Northwestern, WVU with Fitzgerald, Huggins, experts say

The legal headaches could only be starting for Pat Fitzgerald and Bob Huggins — and their schools. Fitzgerald was fired this week as Northwestern’s football coach following hazing allegations —- but after the school had first announced a two-week suspension. West Virginia said Huggins had resigned after the Hall of Fame basketball coach’s arrest last month on a drunken-driving charge — but he now says he made no such decision. Attorneys are looking to sort it all out, a process that requires a precise review of their contracts, but industry observers are stunned by the awkward-at-best handling of two high-profile

Legal headaches could just be starting at Northwestern, WVU with Fitzgerald, Huggins, experts say
World

ICC prosecutor says he is investigating alleged new war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region

The International Criminal Court prosecutor said Thursday he is investigating alleged new war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s western Darfur region during the current conflict that has killed and displaced thousands. Karim Khan told the U.N. Security Council that fighting between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces has spilled into Darfur where war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed back in 2003. He said the country is now “in peril of allowing history to repeat itself,” Khan said. In 2005, the Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC

ICC prosecutor says he is investigating alleged new war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region
World

Nigerian leader plans $10 monthly handout to poor households after gas subsidy ends

Nigeria’s new President Bola Tinubu has announced his government’s plan to pay $10 a month to poor households to ease the growing hardship caused by the scrapping of subsidies on gasoline. In a letter to the Nigerian Senate, which was read during Thursday’s sitting, Tinubu said 12 million households will benefit from the handout for a period of six months. The government plans to fund it through an $800 million World Bank loan for which Tinubu is seeking legislators’ approval. “It is expected that the program will stimulate economic activities in the informal sector and improve

Nigerian leader plans $10 monthly handout to poor households after gas subsidy ends
Political

Arizona Democrats file complaint against No Labels over donor secrecy

The Arizona Democratic Party is looking to force new political party No Labels to disclose its donors or lose its status as a political party, an escalation of Democrats’ efforts to block a group they worry will boost Donald Trump’s chances of returning to the White House. Arizona Democrats filed a complaint Thursday with Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat who angered some in his party earlier this year when he formally recognized No Labels as a political party in the state. The complaint asks Fontes to suspend the nascent party until it discloses its donors.

Arizona Democrats file complaint against No Labels over donor secrecy

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