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An American billionaire says he’ll stop funding the think tank behind Israel’s judicial overhaul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — An American billionaire and major donor to a Jerusalem think tank backing the Israeli government’s divisive judicial overhaul said on Friday that he would stop giving to the conservative group.The decision by Arthur Dantchik, a 65-year-old libertarian multibillionaire from New York, to cut funding to the Kohelet Policy Forum reflects the scope of the unrelenting protest movement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to weaken the Supreme Court.“I believe what is most critical at this time is for Israel to focus on healing and national unity,” Dantchik said in a statement shared with The Associated Press announcing his move to halt funding. “Throughout my life, I have supported a diverse array of organizations that promote individual liberties and economic freedoms for all people.”The protests have raged in Israel for seven months, exposing deep-seated social tensions and thrusting the country into a crisis over the future of its democra...

Vehicles set alight in Cape Town amid commuter chaos caused by minibus taxi strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Vehicles were set on fire in the South African city of Cape Town on Friday after a dispute between taxi drivers and local authorities earlier in the week sparked days of disorder.South African media reported that the driver of a city bus was shot and wounded in the unrest. Police didn’t confirm that.But there have been “several incidents of public violence,” police said, and buses, trucks and private vehicles were set alight in a number of areas in and on the outskirts of South Africa’s second-largest city.Cape Town police spokesman Col. Andre Traut said that officers were on high alert for more trouble over the weekend.Drivers of minibus taxis — South Africa’s main means of transport for city commuters — had announced a weeklong city-wide strike in Cape Town on Thursday in response to what they described as heavy-handed tactics by police and city authorities. The drivers claim they have had their vehicles impounded for minor of...

How rogue Mississippi officers tried to cover up their torture of 2 Black men

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Men who had sworn an oath to protect and serve were huddled on the back porch of a Mississippi home as Michael Corey Jenkins lay on the floor, blood gushing from his mutilated tongue where one of the police officers shoved a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.The roughly 90-minute period of terror preceding the shooting began late on Jan. 24 after a white neighbor called Rankin County Deputy Brett McAlpin and complained that two Black men were staying with a white woman inside a Braxton home. McAlpin tipped off Deputy Christian Dedmon, who texted a group of white deputies who called themselves “The Goon Squad,” a moniker they adopted because of their willingness to use excessive force. “Are y’all available for a mission?” Dedmon asked. They were. A little more than six months after the racist attack on Jenkins and his friend Eddie Terrell Parker, six former officers pleaded guilty on Thursday.The officers included Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Bre...

Ukraine says its drones damaged a Russian warship, showing Kyiv’s growing naval capability

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine said its sea drones struck a major Russian port Friday and damaged a warship in an attack that underlined Kyiv’s growing capabilities as the Black Sea becomes an increasingly important battleground in the war.The strike on Novorossiysk — which halted maritime traffic for a few hours — marks the first time a commercial Russian port has been targeted in the nearly 18-month-old conflict. The Black Sea port — which hosts a naval base, shipbuilding yards and an oil terminal and is key for exports — lies about 110 kilometers (about 60 nautical miles) east of Crimea, where Russia’s Defense Ministry said it thwarted another attack overnight. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the country’s navy carried out the attack that damaged Olenegorsky Gornyak, a landing vessel of the Russian navy, according to an official with the security service. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give the information to...

'Beat the Nun' driving contest returns at Kennedy Golf Invitational

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

CHICAGO — For the sixth year, St. Coletta's "Beat the Nun" driving contest is returning to the annual Kennedy Golf Invitational.Sister Maryann Dosen is returning Aug. 21 to benefit St. Coletta — which is a non-profit that provides educational, residential and vocational training services to more than 300 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.“God gave me the gift of hitting the golf ball long and straight, so I’m going to use it to help benefit others,” Sister Dosen said.For $25, golfers can see if they have what it takes to “Beat the Nun.”Those who out drive are entered in a raffle to win a Bettinardi putter.Tickets to participate in the day-long Kennedy Invitational are $600 for a single golfer or $2,400 for a foursome.

Man cheated Home Depot out of $300K with door-return scam, prosecutors say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Connecticut man was given nearly $300,000 in fraudulent Home Depot credit by walking into stores in several states, taking expensive doors, and then returning them without a receipt, federal prosecutors allege.Alexandre Henrique Costa-Mota, 26, of West Hartford, Connecticut, was detained without bail after a judge entered not-guilty pleas on his behalf this week in a Rhode Island federal court. Costa-Mota is facing charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the U.S. attorney's office in Providence said in a statement Wednesday.An email seeking comment was left with Costa-Mota's attorney. How much does the average Costco shopper spend per visit? Costco reveals the answer Costa-Mota dressed to appear like a contractor and entered the stores empty-handed, prosecutors allege in court documents. He would then load a door or several doors, worth hundreds of dollars each, onto a lumber cart, then take them to the service department and return the...

Why the Mega Millions jackpot winner won't actually get $1.25 billion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Ahead of Friday's drawing, the Mega Millions jackpot has reached an estimated $1.25 billion, one of the largest grand prizes in the game's history — and in the nation. This jackpot has been brewing since April, when a $20 million prize was won by a ticket sold in Syracuse, New York, just four days after a $483 million Mega Millions jackpot was hit by a ticket sold in Queens.At an advertised $1.25 billion, the jackpot ranks as the fourth-largest Mega Millions jackpot and the sixth-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. How are Mega Millions jackpots calculated? Yet, if you or anyone else is lucky enough to win the jackpot, it's safe to say you won't be a billionaire. There are a few reasons for that. Annuity vs. lump sumFirst is the game's structure. Both Mega Millions and Powerball, the most widely-played lottery draw games in the U.S., list two different values for their jackpots. The first is the big, estimated number, which is referred to as the annuity value, and...

APD identifies man who died after crashing motorcycle into wall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 4, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the Austin Police Department identified a man who died after a crash in northwest Austin Sunday afternoon.Police said 39-year-old Brandon L. Robinson was on a motorcycle when he crashed into a wall. APD said Robinson died at the scene.According to a release, APD officers responded to a single-vehicle crash at the US 183 NB to SH 45 EB Ramp at 1:19 p.m. MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2023? APD said this incident was being investigated as Austin's 55th fatal crash of 2023, which has resulted in 58 fatalities for the year.

Teen pleads guilty in Albany gun case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Mechanicville teen pleaded guilty in a gun case dating back to May 2022. Tyler Burns, 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the Albany County District Attorney, Burns illegally possessed a firearm on May 15, 2022, near 459 Hudson Avenue in Albany. The DA's office says he had the intent to use it against another person. Burns is scheduled for sentencing on October 5. He's expected to receive a determinate term of nine years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.

AMA Cocina being revived in downtown Albany

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:31:26 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- After originally closing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AMA Cocina is opening back up. The Mexican restaurant is located at 4-6 Sheridan Avenue in downtown Albany. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Tisean Daniels, a managing partner for AMA Cocina, said that the menu didn't translate well to takeout during the pandemic shutdown, which is why they decided to close. Daniels used to be a manager at The Point in Albany, which closed at the end of 2022.AMA Cocina is owned by BMT Hospitality, which owns several other restaurants in the area including Cafe Madison, Junior's, Madison Pour House, and Albany Ale & Oyster. BMT is owned by Brian Viglucci, Mike Viglucci, and Tony Lounello. An inside look at the Capital Region’s first cat cafe "They're confident in the downtown area that now is a good time to open it up," said Daniels. "There's not really any Mexican food in this part of Albany."AMA Cocina...