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Far-right influencer convicted in voter suppression scheme

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A self-styled far-right propagandist from Florida was convicted Friday of charges alleging that he conspired to deprive individuals of their right to vote in the 2016 presidential election.Douglass Mackey, 33, of West Palm Beach, Florida, was convicted in Brooklyn federal court before Judge Ann M. Donnelly after a one-week trial. On the internet, he was known as “Ricky Vaughn.”In 2016, Mackey had about 58,000 Twitter followers and was ranked by the MIT Media Lab as the 107th-most important influencer of the then-upcoming presidential election, prosecutors said. He had described himself as an “American nationalist” who regularly retweeted Trump and promoted conspiracy theories about voter fraud by Democrats.Mackey, who was arrested in January 2021, could face up to 10 years in prison. His sentencing is set for Aug. 16. His lawyer, Andrew Frisch, said in an email that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan will have multiple reasons to choose from to vacate...

Mug shot as a political boost? Some politicians have tried

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A celebrity and insatiable publicity hound long before he was president, Donald Trump has been photographed countless times. But never like this. Now that a New York grand jury has voted to indict him for his role in the payment of hush money to a porn actor, Trump will have to appear at district attorney headquarters in Manhattan to be booked, fingerprinted and get a mug shot taken. The former president, the first ever to be indicted, is expected to surrender to authorities early next week.New York law discourages the release of mug shots in most cases, though they have leaked in the past. Less clear is whether Trump would seek to have the picture released himself, for political or other reasons. Within minutes of word of his indictment breaking, his 2024 presidential campaign was sending fundraising messages off the news. Some Trump aides have floated the idea of holding a post-booking press conference — a political trail blazed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry when he s...

Change of venue sought for woman in dismemberment killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The new attorney for a woman accused of killing and dismembering a man in Green Bay is seeking a change of venue in the case.Christopher Froelich, who represents Taylor Schabusiness, filed the motion Thursday, saying “a fair and impartial trial cannot be had in Brown County … due to substantial pre-trial publicity and other factors.”Froelich is asking the court to change the location of the trial or to bring jurors in from another county.Schabusiness, 25, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and third-degree sexual assault in the killing of Shad Thyrion, 25, in February 2022.Authorities say she strangled Thyrion at a home in Green Bay, sexually abused him and dismembered his body, leaving parts of him throughout the house and in a vehicle.Schabusiness has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. She is being held on a $2 million cash bond.Prosecutors have not yet replied to the motion. A j...

Fetterman leaves Walter Reed with depression ‘in remission’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman has left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after six weeks of inpatient treatment for clinical depression, with plans to return to the Senate when the chamber resumes session in mid-April, his office said Friday. In a statement, Fetterman’s office said he is back home in Braddock, in western Pennsylvania, with his depression “in remission” and gave details on his treatment including that his depression was treated with medication and that he is wearing hearing aids for hearing loss.Fetterman, who has a wife and three school-age children, said he is happy to be home.“I’m excited to be the father and husband I want to be, and the senator Pennsylvania deserves. Pennsylvanians have always had my back, and I will always have theirs,” said Fetterman said. “I am extremely grateful to the incredible team at Walter Reed. The care they provided changed my life.”Fetterman will return to the Senate the week of April ...

Florida House votes to expand ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida could expand what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” law that limits discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools under a bill the House approved Friday along party lines.The bill, which passed on a 77-35 vote, would ban discussion on those issues through eighth grade, a year after lawmakers received national attention for banning those discussions through third grade. The bill also would prohibit school staffers or students from being required to refer to people by pronouns that don’t correspond to the person’s sex. The measure was among several the House passed that still need Senate approval before going to Gov. Ron DeSantis, including bills that would change the start time for middle and high school students, ban sports fans from running onto a field in celebration, and require all Florida courthouses to designate private lactation places.But the education bill that expands what Republicans call parental rights in e...

VIDEO: Iowa State students met with hail before Friday classes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

CHICAGO -- As the Chicagoland area prepares for severe weather on Friday, massive storms are brewing over at least 15 states in the Midwest and southern United States.Meteorologists are urging people on Friday to brace for dangerous weather including tornadoes, saying the conditions are similar to those a week ago that unleashed a devastating twister that killed at least 21 people in Mississippi.More than 85 million people were under weather advisories Friday as the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center forecast an unusually large outbreak of thunderstorms with the potential to cause hail, damaging wind gusts and strong tornadoes that could move for long distances over the ground. Live Chicago severe weather: Tornado watch, storms through Friday night The area at greatest risk for storms on Friday follows a large stretch of the Mississippi River from Wisconsin all the way to Mississippi, with rare high-risk advisories centered around Memphis; and between Davenport, Io...

PHOTOS: Tornado causes damage across central Arkansas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK/AP) – A tornado swept through central Arkansas Friday evening, leaving roofs torn off buildings, trees down and thousands of power outages.Possible tornado damage at Burns Park west of North Little RockPossible tornado damage at Burns Park west of North Little RockPossible tornado damage at Burns Park west of North Little RockTrees down as storms pass through Breckenridge VillageTrees down as storms pass through Breckenridge VillageTrees down as storms pass through Breckenridge VillageTrees down as storms pass through Breckenridge VillageBuildings are damaged and trees are down after storm passes through the intersection of Cantrell Road and Mississippi Street.Trees are down after storm passes through the intersection of Cantrell Road and Mississippi Street.Trees are down after storm passes through the intersection of Cantrell Road and Mississippi Street.Trees are down after storm passes through the intersection of Cantrell Road and Mississippi Street.Trees a...

Trump indictment: What we know and what happens next

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

Former President Trump’s indictment by a Manhattan grand jury has sent the political and legal worlds into a frenzy.Here’s what we know so far about the case against Trump and what could happen next as the country awaits the former president's arraignment.Surprise jury vote on ThursdayA Manhattan grand jury voted Thursday to indict Trump on criminal charges for his role in organizing hush money payments made to an adult film star during his 2016 campaign.The indictment, which remains under seal, follows an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) that centered on a $130,000 payment fixer Michael Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.The indictment required support from a majority of the grand jury, which typically is made up of 16 or 23 people and hears evidence in secret. The timing of Thursday’s announcement came as something of a surprise. The grand jury had not met as scheduled on multiple occasions the past two we...

Transgender Day of Visibility still vital as legislative threats loom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- This year's Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), an event that celebrates the international transgender community, comes during a time of heightened legislative attacks against the transgender community. Despite the political rhetoric, local leaders in the transgender community still see this year's TDOV as a time for joy.TDOV occurs annually on March 31. It was created by Michigan transgender activist Rachel Crandall in 2009 to balance out the somber Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a celebratory day for transgender people around the world to show joy, progress and resilience. For Jessica Parker, visibility is a benefit to transgender people who aren't out yet. Seeing "out" transgender people helped her start her gender transition while living in a small Texas town. "I try to be visible in a small town for other people, for other queer, gender nonconforming or trans people to know that they can be who they are and live authentically," Parker said. "I do feel ...

Man arrested in Austin after 2 die in Elgin shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:35 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 31, 2023.ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) — The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested a man believed to be connected with a double homicide in Elgin, according to an Elgin Police Department release.Terrence Wayne Lewis, 35, was arrested Friday around noon in southeast Austin on Fairway Street, the release said. He will be charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, and booked into Bastrop County jail. Elgin Police ID 2 victims in double homicide, suspect remains at large KXAN is working to find attorney information for Lewis. We will update this story if we receive a response.Late Monday night, Elgin police officers responded to 817 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to a report of shots fired, a previous release said.When officers arrived on the scene, they found two victims with gunshot wounds, according to police. They died at the scene.The victims were ...