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Trial scheduled in 2024 for movie armorer in fatal shooting of cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge has set a 2024 starting date for the trial of movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal on the set of a Western film.State district court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Monday scheduled the trial to run from Feb. 21 through March 6 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The first day begins with jury selection.Gutierrez-Reed has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal on the set of “Rust” on Oct. 21, 2021.An attorney for Gutierrez-Reed has described the fatal shooting as a tragic accident and says the film’s armorer committed no crime. Gutierrez-Reed is currently the sole criminal defendant. Prosecutors are weighing whether to refile a charge against Baldwin after receiving a new analysis of the gun fired at Hutchins. Special prosecutors dismissed an involuntar...

Weekend bull-running in Mexico sends 2 men to the hospital with serious injuries

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two men remained in the hospital Monday for serious wounds suffered at a weekend bull-running event in central Mexico that saw about 20 people injured, officials reported. The government of the central state of Tlaxcala said in a statement late Sunday that a 31-year-old was gored in the abdomen and a 28-year-old had a horn wound in a leg. Both were listed in “serious” condition. A total of about 20 people were hurt during the traditional event, which was held Saturday in the city of Huamantla, the statement said. Most were treated at the scene or decided to seek treatment on their own. Six were hospitalized, with four being released after recovering. Video of the event shows one bull goring a young man, lifting him into the air and tossing him to the ground. The man appears to lie unconscious on the ground as the bull steps on him. The event is attended by thousands of people, most of whom stand behind metal barriers or atop walls as bulls run through the streets....

House Republicans subpoena IRS and FBI agents involved in Hunter Biden case

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Monday subpoenaed several FBI and IRS agents involved in the federal investigation into Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden as the party weighs whether to open an impeachment inquiry into the president this fall.Leaders of the House Judiciary and Ways and Means committees demanded testimony from four agents who worked on the yearslong Justice Department case into President Joe Biden’s youngest son and his tax and business dealings. “Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they may lead, and our subpoenas compelling testimony from Biden administration officials are crucial to understanding how the president’s son received special treatment from federal prosecutors and who was the ultimate decision maker in the case,” Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jason Smith of Missouri said in a statement. Both men, along with Oversight chairman James Comer, joined forces in June to open an investigation into what they have claimed is widespread, improper interf...

MacKenzie Scott gave 17 nonprofits $97 million in the first half of 2023

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

MacKenzie Scott’s quest to give the bulk of her wealth to charity continues.So far this year, 17 nonprofits have announced they’ve received unrestricted donations from Scott through her Yield Giving fund, according to a Chronicle of Philanthropy tally. The gifts total $97 million and range from $1 million to $15 million. Nearly half went to charities focused on early-childhood education and early-childhood development. Scott has now given more than $14.1 billion to at least 1,621 charities since 2020.To encourage people to focus on the charities rather than on her, Scott has stopped announcing her donations as she had in the past. Now she leaves it up to the charities to decide whether to publicize her gifts. Given the scale of her giving in previous years, it is likely the 17 announced contributions represent only a portion of what she has actually donated so far this year.Charity leaders say they appreciate Scott’s decision to let nonprofits choose whether to publicize the gifts b...

Donald Trump's bond is set at $200,000 in Georgia case over efforts to overturn 2020 election

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

Donald Trump's bond has been set at $200,000 in the Georgia case accusing the former president of illegally scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss, according to court papers filed Monday. The bond agreement, outlined in a document signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Trump's defense attorneys, also bars Trump from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case — including on social media.The order says Trump cannot make any “direct or indirect threat of any nature” against witnesses or co-defendants. It explicitly includes “posts on social media or reposts of posts made by another individual on social media.” He is also prohibited from communicating in any way about the facts of the case with any co-defendant or witness, except through attorneys.The order sets Trump's bond for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations — or RICO — charge at $80,000, and adds $10,000 for each of the 12 other counts he is facing. Willis has set a deadlin...

Illinois lottery player wins largest-ever Fast Play jackpot

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

ILLINOIS — The Illinois Lottery's Fast Play winning jackpot record has been broken for a third time this year, and through the same game.One iLottery player won $1,248,040 Monday morning by playing Twenty 20s; a progressive jackpot game which begins with a $50,000 prize and grows with each ticket sold statewide until the jackpot is won. https://wgntv.com/news/wynonna-judd-announces-rosemont-stop-on-back-to-wy-tour/ This win bested an April prize of $1,000,056, which in turn bested a February win of $979,168.Fast Play games can be purchased in person at participating retail locations or online through the Illinois Lottery's website or mobile app.Fast Play was first introduced by the Illinois Lottery in Sept. 2020. At that time games had to be purchased in person. However they expanded to online play less than two years ago on Nov. 15, 2021.Currently there are 20 Fast Play games offered at various price points and game play.

15-year-old struck by semi wheel while changing tire in Northwest Indiana dies

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — A 15-year-old boy struck by a semi-truck's disengaged wheel while he was changing a tire on I-80/94 in Northwest Indiana died Friday.On Tuesday, authorities responded to eastbound lanes of the interstate near mile marker 0.4, close to the state line, on the report of a person struck by an object.The boy, later identified as William Bell, was on the shoulder helping change a tire with four other people. At the same time, a semi-truck traveling eastbound had a wheel disengage from the rear tandem due to a mechanical issue. Previous: Teen, 15, struck by disengaged wheel from semi in NW Indiana The tire, still attached to the rim, struck the barrier wall and then Bell. He was transported in serious condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center. He died of his injuries on Friday.The four other people sustained non life-threatening injuries.

CPD: Man diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar missing since last week

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing 28-year-old man who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.Deon Allen, 28, was last seen by his brother, Donnell, on Wednesday, Aug 16. GoFundMe created for brothers killed while shielding three-year-old cousin from gunfire in Glenview Allen is described as 5-foot-9, weighing 250 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was reportedly last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black jogging pants, and red timberland boots.Allen reportedly has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He was reported missing by his grandmother, Doris Bozeman.Anyone with information regarding Deon Allen's whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-746-8251.

Indiana’s near-total abortion ban set to take effect as state Supreme Court denies rehearing

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s near-total abortion ban is set to take effect within days after the Indiana Supreme Court on Monday denied a rehearing in the case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana.The denial of the rehearing means the ban will take effect once a June 30 ruling upholding the ban is certified, a procedural step expected to take just days, court spokesperson Kathryn Dolan said in an email to news media.The state’s highest court ruled June 30 that the abortion ban doesn’t violate the Indiana constitution. That removed a major hurdle to enforcing the ban Republicans approved last summer ahead of a wave of restrictions by conservative states in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.SEE ALSO: Battle over abortion access moves from Indiana to IllinoisIn a 4-1 decision Monday, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its order that Planned Parenthood and other health care providers “cannot show a reasonable likelihood of success” with their challenge to the abo...

Another group of former Northwestern writes a letter on recent controversies

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — For the second time in less than a week, a group of former Northwestern athletes has put their thoughts about the recent controversies concerning the athletic program in writing.This time, it's focused on two key leaders of the university.In a letter obtained by WGN News, over 80 former Wildcats' student-athletes expressed their displeasure with the way that head football coach Pat Fitzgerald, believing the decision lacked due process. The longtime coach of the program was fired on July 10 when more serious allegations of hazing surfaced after the completion of an investigation into whistleblower claims by former Illinois inspector general Maggie Hickey. Initially, Fitzgerald was suspended for two weeks without pay in July by President Michael Schill, but was fired four days later when more revelations surfaced."We write to express our deep dismay concerning President Michael Schill and Vice President of Athletics Derrick Gragg’s decisions and rhetoric regarding the...