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Man who ambushed Fargo officers likely had bigger and bloodier attack in mind, attorney general says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The heavily armed man who ambushed Fargo police officers investigating a fender bender last week likely had a bigger and bloodier attack in mind, with at least two fairs taking place at the time in and around North Dakota’s largest city, authorities said Friday.Mohamad Barakat killed one officer and wounded two others and a bystander before a fourth officer shot and killed him, ending the July 14 attack.Over the past five years, Barakat, 37, searched the internet for terms including “kill fast,” “explosive ammo,” “incendiary rounds,” and “mass shooting events,” state Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Friday during a news conference in Fargo, a city of about 125,000 people. But perhaps the most chilling search was for “area events where there are crowds,” which on July 13 brought up a news article with the headline, ”Thousands enjoy first day of Downtown Fargo Street Fair.”Had Officer Zach Robinson not killed Barakat, authorities said they shudder to t...

Capitol riot defendant gets probation after rare setback for prosecutors at Oath Keepers trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A security operations leader for the far-right Oath Keepers group — whose acquittal of conspiracy charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot marked a rare setback for prosecutors — was sentenced Friday to two years of probation. Michael Greene, of Indianapolis, was convicted on a misdemeanor trespassing offense after a trial in March, but cleared of more serious charges after telling jurors on the witness stand that he was not a member and didn’t tell anyone to go into the Capitol. Prosecutors had sought one year behind bars for Greene, but U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sided with defense attorneys who argued for probation. He noted that Greene did not enter the building or have extensive participation in the group’s online chats, which grew increasingly violent before the riot. “We frankly don’t have a great deal of insight into what his political views were or what he thought about the election outcome,” Mehta said. Prosecutors described Greene as a “...

Colorado deputy won’t be charged for Tasing a man who was then hit and killed on interstate

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado deputy who deployed a Taser on a man who was then hit and killed by an SUV on Interstate 25 won’t face criminal charges, prosecutors said Friday.While Larimer County Deputy Lorenzo Lujan’s decision to use the Taser on Brent Thompson after he ran away as the deputy tried to arrest him in February showed “poor judgment” and possibly the need for more training, 8th District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin said it was not likely a jury would find Lujan criminally negligent and convict him.According to McLaughlin’s letter summarizing the investigation into Thompson’s death, Thompson pulled off at an I-25 exit after Lujan turned on his patrol car’s lights. But after Lujan told Thompson he was under arrest, he ran down an embankment toward the highway.Body camera footage showed Thompson was getting onto the interstate from the shoulder when Lujan deployed the Taser, and another officer said he saw Thompson fall in the northbound side of the roadw...

The Kansas Highway Patrol’s ‘Two-Step’ tactic tramples motorists’ rights, a judge rules

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A tactic known as the “Kansas Two-Step” that’s been used by the state Highway Patrol for years to detain out-of-state motorists long enough to find a reason to search their vehicles for illegal drugs violates motorists’ constitutional right against unreasonable searches, a federal judge declared Friday.Senior U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil also notified the patrol that she is ready to impose changes in its policing practices and appoint a special master to audit its work for at least four years. The changes would include a requirement that troopers specifically inform motorists they stop that they have the right to reject a search or to revoke consent for one at any time — when under the “Two-Step,” patrol officers avoid telling motorists they are free to go.Vratil issued a scathing, 79-page order in two separate lawsuits filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of three motorists and two passengers traveling in 2017, 2018 and 2019 fr...

Racist text scandal at Northern California police department at center of court hearing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

MARTINEZ, Calif. (AP) — A court hearing to determine whether Northern California police officers who traded racist text messages violated a state law aimed at eliminating racism in the criminal justice system began Friday, with up to eight officers expected to take the stand to speak about the scandal that has roiled the city in the San Francisco Bay Area.Defense attorneys for four men charged with murder and attempted murder in a 2021 shooting subpoenaed the officers to testify about heavily redacted text messages made public in April by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office. The attorneys were expected to argue before Judge David Goldstein that their clients, two of them mentioned in the text messages, were unfairly targeted based on their race. The state’s Racial Justice Act prohibits the state from pursuing or securing criminal convictions or sentences on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin.Seventeen Antioch police officers have been named for sending te...

Seattle climate activists roost in old cedar tree to prevent it from being cut down for new housing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — With ropes, a harness, a hammock and a bucket pulley system, masked activists in Seattle have taken residence in the branches of an old, thick cedar tree to prevent it from being cut down to make way for new homes.The protest on a private lot is the latest episode highlighting tensions behind tree policy in Seattle as climate change increases temperatures and urban canopy decreases.The Western red cedar, dubbed “Luma,” is about 80 feet (24.4 meters) tall, with two trunks that are each about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in diameter.Its age is not known, but activists have estimated it could be as much as 200 years old. The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is seeking to have the tree preserved for its archaeological significance, saying that Native Americans shaped its branches generations ago to distinguish it as a trail marker.The protesters have declined to give their names, citing concerns about retaliation.“We have to win this tree. We have to win because Luma is setting the tone fo...

French police investigate violent home robbery of PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French police are investigating a violent armed robbery that targeted Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at his home.The Paris prosecutor’s office said the player was robbed early Friday. The prosecutor’s office and the French capital’s police force refused to release details about the attack that French media said took place in the early hours of the morning in his Paris home.A police investigation has been opened on possible armed robbery, kidnapping and aggravated violence charges, the prosecutor’s office said.Le Parisien newspaper, quoting an unnamed police source, reported that four people broke into his apartment in Paris’ upmarket 8th district at about 3 a.m. It said Donnarumma and his partner were tied up and he was slightly injured. Both were treated in hospital for shock, it said.The attackers made off with valuables estimated to be worth about half a million euros (dollars), including watches, jewelry and other l...

FBI looking for 2 people who robbed bank in Addison

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

ADDISON, Ill. — For the second time this week, the FBI is asking for help identifying two people who robbed a BMO Harris bank in the western suburbs.On Friday, the FBI said two men, both armed with handguns, robbed the bank around 9 a.m. in the 1300 block of West Lake Street in Addison. FBI: Naperville bank robbed by 2 male suspects One man is described as being about 5 feet 7-8 inches tall and was wearing black pants, hooded sweatshirt and face covering, with grey gloves, white shoes and a handgun with a long barrel and extended magazine, according to the FBI.The other man is described as being about 6 feet 2 inches tall and was wearing black pants, hooded Adidas sweatshirt with white stripes down the arm and face covering, with white gloves and shoes and a handgun with a green laser.No injuries were reported and the alleged bank robbers haven't been arrested yet.Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 312-421-6700 or online.Tips can be reported anonymously.

Skilling: Warm, cloudy weekend ahead with possible rain patches

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

The week's ended with beautiful summer weather----warm, comfortable and with the return of cooling lake breezes along Lake Michigan. Dew points and humidities were comfortable.  The official O'Hare high is likely to end up a 83-deg.Temps across the Greater Chicago area have ranged from 84 at Barrington and Elwood on the warm side of the ledger—to 68 at East Chicago, 69 Wilmette Harbor, 71 at Calumet Harbor and 72 at Kenosha, WI and Winthrop Harbor due to lake breeze cooling..The air quality's been good down here at ground level though another colorful sunset lies ahead thanks to northwesterly upper winds which continue to push Canadian wildfire smoke into the area aloft.  That's something modeled to continue over the weekend—so some more colorful sunrises and sunsets can be expected Saturday and Sunday.  It will be interesting to see if the scattered coverage t-storms predicted Saturday and Sunday mix some of the smoke down to the surface. That's happened before and actually ma...

Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac sets sail for the 114th time

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:45 GMT

CHICAGO -- The 114th Running of the Race to Mackinaw kicked off Friday afternoon. The 114th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinaw has always attracted competitive racers from 45 states.With over 2,000 racers coming from New York, Michigan, Minnesota, other parts of the United States, and even some coming to the Windy City from 16 countries.   Chicago captain to set sail on Race to Mackinac A big challenge this year for racers are weather conditions, lighter winds, as well as biting flies.   The cruising division getting underway Friday evening, but the racing division beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday.The racers departing in 10 minute intervals in a journey, they can take anywhere from two to four days to sail to Mackinac Island, Michigan.