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Manhattan DA’s office slams House GOP inquiry, says it was motivated by Trump creating ‘false expectation’ of imminent arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

(CNN) — The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused House Republicans of launching an “an unprecedent inquiry into a pending local prosecution,” while defending the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s alleged hush money payments to an adult film actress during the 2016 campaign.In a new letter to Republican lawmakers who earlier this week had sought information about the probe, Leslie Dubeck, the general counsel for the district attorney’s office, told the GOP House committee leaders that they lacked a “legitimate basis for congressional inquiry” and she noted that their requests for information “only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene.”Dubeck called the Republicans’ claims that the probe was politically motivated “unfounded.”She added that, “regardless, the proper...

New Hampshire House tables parental rights bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The latest effort to codify parental rights in state law failed in the New Hampshire House on Wednesday, but the issue is far from settled.Many states with Republican-controlled legislatures have enacted “parents bill of rights” or similar measures fueled by some parents’ frustration with schools that boiled over during the coronavirus pandemic. The New Hampshire House tabled a bill Wednesday after it narrowly failed to pass. But it has yet to act, however, on a Senate-passed bill that opponents say poses an even greater danger to transgender youth.The Senate version would require school officials, when asked by parents, to disclose that a child is using a different name or being referred to as being a different gender. The House version lacks that provision but specifies that teachers and other school officials could be disciplined for encouraging children to withhold information from parents. Opponents argue both would harm vulnerable...

Former police detective convicted of killing wife

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A former Massachusetts police detective has been convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death nearly five years ago of his wife, which was originally ruled a suicide.Former Westfield Detective Brian Fanion was sentenced Wednesday in Hampden Superior Court to a mandatory term of life in prison after being found guilty by a jury of killing Amy Fanion, 51, in May 2018.The prosecutor said Brian Fanion was having an affair and did not want to share his pension with his wife. Authorities said in court that the detective used his work computer to look up the effect of divorce on a pension, and also made internet searches about gunshot residue, which were not related to any investigations he was involved in.“Mr. Fanion’s behavior was calculating and shockingly cruel,” Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement. “I commend the members of the jury who saw through his defense and held him accountable. This result illustrates that no matter...

Grand jury in Trump probe of hush money payment to Stormy Daniels set to reconvene Thursday but no indictment vote expected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

Molly Crane-Newman | (TNS) New York Daily NewsThe Manhattan grand jury hearing evidence against Donald Trump is due to return to court Thursday, two sources told the Daily News — but the panel is not expected to hear evidence in the investigation into Trump’s hush money deal with porn star Stormy Daniels, according to a report.That means the vote on whether to indict Trump will not land until at least next week, according to Business Insider.It wasn’t clear whether the grand jurors will hear about anything related to Trump Thursday. Investigative grand juries like the 23-person panel hearing the hush money case — which a source told The News will meet at noon — sit longer than regular ones.They may be hearing about multiple unrelated investigations by the DA’s office, which take longer to explain and require more witnesses.The recent testimony of Michael Cohen, who said he thought he was the final witness, and a lawyer representing Trump’s interests, Robert Costello, has fueled spec...

Stocks roar, recover nearly all of steep loss from prior day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

By STAN CHOE (AP Business Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are rallying Thursday to recover almost all of their steep loss from a day before, when markets tumbled into the close. The S&P 500 was 1.6% higher in morning trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 412 points, or 1.3%, at 32,442, as of 10:54 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 2.3% higher. A day earlier, stocks fell sharply after the Federal Reserve indicated that while the end may be near for its market-rattling hikes to interest rates, it still doesn’t expect to cut rates this year. Markets lost momentum after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that, along with an insistence that it could keep raising rates if inflation stays high. But traders on Thursday were still largely betting the Fed will cut rates later this year. Such cuts can act like steroids for markets, juicing prices for stocks, bonds and other investments. They would relax the pressure on the economy, but they could also give i...

Police block off area around Princess of Wales Theatre due to ‘suspicious package’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

Toronto police have blocked off an area around the Princess of Wales Theatre downtown after a suspicious package was found late-morning on Thursday.The Emergency Disposal Unit was called in just before 11 a.m. to the area of King Street West and John Street.Police say the package was located outside “between buildings.”The intersections of Pearl and Dundas streets, as well as Pearl and John streets, have been shut down.Police tell CityNews they are considering evacuating nearby buildings as a precaution.

12-year-old boy charged in attempted stabbing, robbery in Pickering

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

A 12-year-old is facing several charges after he allegedly tried to stab and rob people on separate occasions in Pickering.Officers responded to a fight in the area of Kingston and Liverpool roads around 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday.Police allege a male suspect was armed with a knife and was trying to stab another male. The suspect was arrested at the scene and officers seized a knife and brass knuckles from him.The victim escaped with minor injuries.After further investigation, it was revealed the same suspect tried to rob someone at knifepoint a day earlier.In Monday’s incident, police allege the suspect tried to steal a computer from a male near Pickering Town Centre. Security was able to intervene and the suspect fled the area.The victim was not injured.Durham Regional Police have charged a 12-year-old boy from Pickering and charged him with assault with a weapon, carrying concealed weapons, weapons dangerous, and robbery.Anyone with additional information is being asked to contac...

‘Vulnerable’ man escapes explosion, fire at Richmond Hill home, hasn’t been seen since

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

Police are searching for a “vulnerable” 21-year-old man who was last seen leaving his home in Richmond Hill after an explosion and fire earlier this week.Fire crews in York Region were called to the home on Deerwood Crescent near Bloomington Road and Bathurst Street just before 1 p.m. on Monday.According to York Regional Police, Daniel Popov was seen leaving his home at 12:50 p.m., which is around the same time the explosion and subsequent fire occurred.Police believe he was the only person at the residence when the fire broke out.“Daniel was witnessed in the area following the incident, but he did not return to the house and has not contacted his family since the incident,” police stated in a release.Investigators don’t believe Popov was injured in the fire, but police and his family are concerned for his well-being.Popov (pictured below) is six-feet tall, 170 pounds, and has short blond hair. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a grey jac...

Manhattan DA rejects GOP demand for info on Trump case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Manhattan district attorney investigating Donald Trump rebuffed House Republicans’ request Thursday for documents and testimony about the case, dismissing it as an “unprecedented inquiry” with no legitimate basis.In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the general counsel for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg slammed the congressional request as “an unlawful incursion into New York’s sovereignty.” “The Letter only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene,” Leslie Dubeck wrote in the letter. “Neither fact is a legitimate basis for congressional inquiry.”The Republican chairmen of three House committees on Monday sent a letter to Bragg seeking information about his actions in the Trump case. The Republicans criticized the grand jury investigation as an “unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority.” The chairmen requested testimony as well as do...

Mozambicans vow to keep marching for deceased protest rapper

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:41 GMT

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Mozambican fans of deceased protest rapper Azagaia have vowed to keep marching in his honor, even though police violently dispersed demonstrations in Maputo and other cities last week.Peaceful demonstrations will go ahead with or without police authorization, said David Fardo, an organiser of the marches. He did not say when or where new marches would take place.Thousands assembled in cities across Mozambique last week to pay tribute to Azagaia, a rare outspoken government critic who died on March 9 at the age of 38. Although the assemblies were peaceful police fired tear gas and arrested some marchers.In the capital, Maputo, at least 19 people were injured, two of them seriously. One of those injured lost an eye after a tear gas canister struck his face, according to local reports. Police also beat an unarmed man lying on the ground before dragging him into a police car, according to march organizers and a video circulating online.Across Mozambique, 36 peo...