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Man sues NYC after he spent 27 years in prison, then was cleared in subway token clerk killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who was recently cleared in the gruesome, fiery 1995 killing of a subway token booth clerk sued New York City and two detectives on Monday, saying that “a wanton and reckless” law enforcement culture subjected him to decades of wrongful imprisonment that left grave psychological damage. Thomas Malik, who is seeking at least $50 million, is one of three men who spent decades in prison before prosecutors last year disavowed all three convictions in the death of Harry Kaufman. “Malik seeks redress for the official misconduct that caused him to spend nearly 27 years in prison, and the mental and physical injuries he sustained while incarcerated,” lawyers Ronald Kuby and Rhidaya Trivedi wrote in the lawsuit. The city Law Department said it would review Malik’s suit. His former co-defendants, Vincent Ellerbe and James Irons, also have sought compensation. Kaufman, 50, was set ablaze during an attempted robbery as he worked an overnight shift in a Brooklyn...

Police say person took loaded gun into Ibrahim Ali murder trial: lawyer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

VANCOUVER — A lawyer for Ibrahim Ali in his first-degree murder trial says police told him a person close to the proceeding brought a handgun into the Vancouver courtroom on Friday with “intent to kill.”Kevin McCullough says police told him the Glock firearm was loaded.He says he and his wife were called to the Victoria Police Department on Sunday, where officers informed them of the incident.The trial concluded Friday after a B.C. Supreme Court jury convicted Ali of killing the 13-year-old girl in a Burnaby, B.C., park in 2017. The girl’s name cannot be reported because of a publication ban.Neither Victoria Police nor Vancouver Police immediately responded to questions about the alleged incident in the B.C. Supreme Court, while a spokesman for the BC Prosecution Service declined to comment.McCullough had asked on Friday that the proceedings be moved to a secure courtroom in light of what he said was a “litany of death threats” against defence lawyers a...

Sarah McLachlan maps 30-date tour to mark anniversary of ‘Fumbling Towards Ecstasy’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

Sarah McLachlan is making a trek across North America to mark 30 years of “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.” The Halifax-born singer-songwriter has announced a 30-date tour that will celebrate three decades of her third album, known for its singles “Possession,” “Hold On,” and fan favourite “Ice Cream.”McLachlan plans to play the 1993 record in its entirety along with some of her other best-known songs.The tour includes two stops in Canada, one at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage on June 19 and the other at Montreal’s Bell Place on June 20.Grammy-nominated Montreal singer Allison Russell will offer support for the Toronto stop, while Feist is billed as the special guest for the Montreal show and all other North American dates.Public tickets will be available on Friday through Live Nation with one dollar from each sale going towards the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, a non-profit mentorship program with sites in Edmonton, Vancouver and ...

Police to update investigation on Kenneth Law, man accused of selling lethal substance to at-risk people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

Peel Regional Police will provide an update on the investigation of Kenneth Law, a man accused of selling sodium nitrite and deadly substances to people at risk of suicide.Peel Regional Police said Tuesday’s press conference will be held at 10 a.m. regarding “the investigation into the sale of lethal substances to individuals at risk of self-harm.”The 57-year-old Mississauga man faces 14 charges of counselling or aiding suicide across several different GTA regions, including Toronto, York Region, Durham, London, Ont., Thunder Bay and Waterloo. Law was previously charged with two counts of counselling and aiding suicide in Peel.To date, police have not released the identity of any of the victims but say they range in age from 16 to 36.New Zealand authorities investigating deaths that may be linked to LawThe investigation into Law began earlier in 2023 as a result of a sudden death where the victim was believed to have consumed sodium nitrite. Peel Regional Police sa...

Canadians with family in Gaza urge feds to expand immigration measures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

Canadians with family in Gaza and the Ontario NDP are urging the federal government to expand the criteria for refugees to include the extended families of Canadian citizens. NDP Leader Marit Stiles introduced a motion to urge the implementation of ‘Special Immigration Measures,’ which was previously enacted during a crisis situations in Ukraine and Afghanistan.Canadians like Rana, Nora and Nesma are among those advocating for a sponsorship program that expands the eligibility criteria to also include parents, siblings, grandparents, nieces, and nephews. The federal government tells CityNews the only non-Canadian eligible family members include spouses or common law partners of Canadian citizens or permanent residents and their dependent children. “We are also facilitating immediate reunification of eligible family members who are not accompanied by a Canadian or a permanent resident in Gaza,” read their statement.Nesma, who lives in the GTA, said multiple me...

The US is restricting visas for nearly 300 Guatemalan lawmakers, others for ‘undermining democracy’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — The Biden administration announced on Monday that it would impose visa restrictions on nearly 300 Guatemalan lawmakers, private sector leaders and their families it accuses of “undermining democracy and the rule of law.”Guatemala faces mounting criticism by world leaders and watchdogs accusing it of attempts to block progressive president-elect Bernardo Arévalo from taking office in January.The victory of Arévalo and his Seed Movement party is seen as a threat to those who have long wielded power in Guatemala. The anti-corruption crusader has been a target for months, with arrests of party members, raids and repeated requests to lift his immunity so prosecutors can investigate him directly.The State Department in a statement condemned “ongoing anti-democratic actions” by prosecutors and other actors and noted “intent to delegitimize Guatemala’s free and fair elections and prevent the peaceful transition of power.”The State Department did not provide The Associated...

Stickney Police Department seeks missing minor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

STICKNEY, Ill. — The Stickney Police Department is requesting assistance in locating a missing minor who was last seen early Sunday morning.According to the Stickney Police Department Facebook page, Noelia Brito was last seen leaving her house at around midnight on Sunday, Dec. 10.If anyone has seen Noelia or has information about her, call 911 immediately or contact the Stickney Police Department at 708-788-2131.

Chicagoland businesses, schools strike to call attention to thousands of Palestinian deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

CHICAGO -- Over 200 businesses and schools in the Chicagoland area have shut down Monday to call attention to the thousands of Palestinians killed in the ongoing conflict with Israel over the past two months. Businesses in the Chicagoland area and across the country have gone on strike to call attention to Palestinians killed in Gaza, the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine said. Nearly 18,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israeli bombings on Oct. 7, mostly being women and Children, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Around 1,200 Israelis were killed in the initial attack carried out by Hamas, which was reported to have been known by Israel as much as a year in advance, the New York Times said. According to Aljazeera, people have been urged to skip work and school -- with seven schools in the Chicagoland area following along.Schools participating in the strike:Aqsa SchoolAl Majd SchoolAlajyal SchoolKindi AcademyMultaqa AcademyIQ TutoringAltayseer Scho...

Spring Valley convenience store owners watch as lottery player wins $1M on scratch-off ticket

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

SPRING VALLEY, Ill. — A $20 holiday-themed scratch-off ticket has turned an Illinois Lottery player into a millionaire.According to the Illinois Lottery, the Merry Multiplier ticket was sold at Happy’s Super Service Convenience Store in the 100 block of East Dakota Street in Spring Valley, and the store's owners say they watched as the big winner scratched their way to riches.“Next thing we know, the customer is jumping up and down and screaming, so we knew it had to be a big winning ticket. It was a pretty exciting moment,” said Lisa West, who owns the store with her husband Fred. Illinois Lottery: Stories of millionaires made overnight The store's owners say Spring Valley, located about 90 miles from Chicago, only has about 5,500 residents, so the million-dollar win is pretty significant.“There’s not a lot of action going on here, so someone winning a million bucks playing the Lottery is pretty big news around and we’re so excited that it happened at our store,” West said.The re...

Stassi costs White Sox $740,000 minimum in 2024, with Braves sending Chicago $6.26 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:37 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The Atlanta Braves are sending $6.26 million to the White Sox along with Max Stassi, covering all of what the catcher is owed next year except for the $740,000 major league minimum salary.Stassi was traded to the White Sox on Saturday, one day after the catcher was acquired by the Braves in a deal with the Los Angeles Angels.Chicago will send Atlanta a player to be named or $100,000.Stassi, 32, did not play this season. He strained his left hip in spring training, and the team said on Sept. 9 that while he was capable of resuming baseball activities, he would miss the rest of the season because of a serious family medical issue. Former NHL player, coach Tony Granato diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma He is owed a $7 million salary for next season as part of a $17.5 million, three-year contract he signed with the Angels in March 2022. His deal calls for a $7.5 million team option for 2025 with a $500,000 buyout.Stassi has a .212 career average with 41 home...