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US releases ally of Venezuela's president in swap for jailed Americans: AP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — The Biden administration has released a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a swap for jailed Americans, The Associated Press has learned.Alex Saab, who was arrested on a U.S. warrant for money laundering in 2020, was released from custody Wednesday. In exchange, Maduro will free some, if not all, of the roughly dozen U.S. citizens who remain imprisoned in Venezuela, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.The White House declined to comment on the specifics of the deal, but National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said nothing was more important to President Joe Biden than the safety and security of Americans overseas. “Sometimes that means you’ve got make some difficult decisions,” he said.On Friday and again on Monday, two docket entries were filed under seal in the long-dormant criminal case out of federal court in Miami, an indication that a be...

Ryan Gosling reimagines his 'Barbie' power ballad 'I'm Just Ken' for Christmas, shares new EP

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — She's Barbie. He's just Ken. And now, it's Christmas.On Wednesday, Ryan Gosling — the Ken to Margot Robbie's “Barbie” in the film — released the “I'm Just Ken” EP alongside collaborators Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. It features the original Grammy-nominated, ‘80s-style power ballad from the movie, also titled “I’m Just Ken,” as well as three remixes: the stripped down “I’m Just Ken (In My Feelings Acoustic),” the dance floor ready “I’m Just Ken (Purple Disco Machine Remix),” and the festive “I’m Just Ken (Merry Kristmas Barbie).”The later was released with an official music video, where Gosling, Wyatt and Ronson are seen working on the holiday remix of the song in a studio drenched in Christmas lights with an impressive live band, bantering with one another. At one point, a goofy Gosling puts on a pair of sunglasses to get into character, telling Ronson he's doing so because "the world can have Ken's voice but only Barbie can have his eyes.”The trio are joined by a ...

IL Secretary of State reveals 2023 license plate 'naughty list'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

CHICAGO — Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has rejected more than 300 personalized license plate requests due to profanity, offensive language or illegibility.“I appreciate the creativity and pride Illinoisans take in choosing their own customized license plates, but they must meet the standards of good taste and decency,” Giannoulias said. “We keep an eye out for anything tawdry, lewd or offensive, all of which are rejected and placed on our permanent rejection list.”According to the secretary of state's office, some of the rejected plate requests this year include terms like: MILFS, WOOPASS, POOPSY, DZNUTZ and IOWASUX.In a video shared to YouTube Wednesday, Giannoulias read a few of them out loud.The office received 54,768 requests for vanity and personalized plates this year. The ever-growing rejection list stands at more than 7,674 license plate combinations deemed offensive or difficult to read.

WATCH: Marine surprises son during school assembly in Connecticut

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A third-grader at a Wallingford, Connecticut, elementary school got an early Christmas surprise on Tuesday when his father returned home from Marine training.Marcel Black thought his early morning assembly at Mary Fritz Elementary School was about upcoming events. Principal Eric Carbone said he was going to show a video from Marcel's dad during the assembly, but it seemed to malfunction.That's because the Marine, who is stationed in California for training, was actually there in person. "Once I got a closer look, I realized that was my dad, so I ran up to him and hugged him," Marcel said.Black will head back to California in January. For now, he's soaking up the time with his family."I hadn't seen him in a long time," Pfc. Clayton Black said. "He's my motivation to push through my training.""I really want to catch up on some father-son things we haven't done in a while," Marcel Black said.

Seattle Hospital sues after Texas Attorney General asks for handover of patient records

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Seattle Children's Hospital filed a lawsuit in Travis County District Court on Dec. 7 against the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG), after that agency requested documents related to gender transition policies and any such care provided to Texas children. However, hospital claims that the OAG lacks jurisdiction to demand such records from the hospital, and that Washington's "Shield Law" protects it from requests made by states that "restrict or criminalize reproductive and gender-affirming care." OutLaw: Helping or hurting trans kids? Health care fight continues after law "The Shield Law prohibits Washington-based entities such as Seattle Children's from '[c]omply[ing] with subpoena, warrant, court order, or other civil or criminal legal process for records, information, facilities, or assistance related to protected health care services that are lawful in the state of Washington,'" the lawsuit stated.KXAN reached out to the OAG multiple times prior t...

Texas woman delivers over 500 letters from Santa to neighborhood kids

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

BUDA, Texas (KXAN) — Santa Claus might be based out of the North Pole, but he has a satellite operation right here in Central Texas.For five years, Buda resident Holly Place Durham has brought the spirit of the holidays to life for children in the Sunfield subdivision. Each holiday season, children drop off letters to Santa along with Christmas wish lists at a mailbox in front of Durham's house. For five years, Buda resident Holly Place Durham has brought the spirit of the holidays to life for children in the Sunfield subdivision. Each holiday season, children drop off letters to Santa along with Christmas wish lists at a mailbox in front of Durham's house. (Courtesy: Holly Place Durham)For five years, Buda resident Holly Place Durham has brought the spirit of the holidays to life for children in the Sunfield subdivision. Each holiday season, children drop off letters to Santa along with Christmas wish lists at a mailbox in front of Durham's house. (Courtesy: Holly Place Durham)Durh...

Jury acquits Hastings woman accused of siphoning mother’s trust fund

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

A Dakota County jury has acquitted a Hastings woman who was accused of using her elderly mother’s bank accounts for her own personal expenses while acting as her power of attorney and sole trustee.Mary Rose Polley Schommer, 55, was found not guilty last week of all five counts of felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult that prosecutors filed in March 2022.“We’re grateful the jury looked at the evidence and recognized that Mary didn’t commit any crimes,” her attorney, Kevin Riach, said Wednesday. “She took good care of her mom. This is far from a financial exploitation case.”Meanwhile, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena said in a statement she was “disappointed” with the verdict, while adding “it was a difficult case and I respect the verdict that was reached.”The charges accused Schommer of using just over $173,000 from her mother’s trust for her own personal expenses between October 2016 and April 2020. Schommer was power of attorney for and sole...

The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 16: Sidelined stars ruin many playoff dreams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

A whole lot of fantasy football mavens rolled into the playoffs riding the coattails of the NFL’s fastest man, the Cheetah, Tyreek Hill.Miami’s star wideout was having an MVP level season, taking aim at being the first receiver in NFL history to reach 2,000 yards. And his fantasy backers were laughing all the way to the bank.Until the Week 15 playoff opener … when the Dolphins’ speedster was sidelined by an ankle injury. The Fins didn’t need him to dispatch the lowly New York Jets 30-0, but fantasy teams certainly did. We thought we could hear some of the wailing in the background all day Sunday while watching RedZone.Injuries happen. Just ask anybody who drafted Aaron Rodgers … or Joe Burrow … or Kirk Cousins … or Nick Chubb … or J.K. Dobbins …Fantasy playoff injuries seem crueler. And there are a bunch of them. We’ll break down the most significant Week 16 absences, and we’ll offer some last-second waivers options you might be able to grab to save your postseason.Running backs – B...

Bronx man pleads guilty to bank fraud, identity theft

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Bronx man accused of using fake identifications to defraud bank branches in the Capital Region pled guilty in court on Wednesday. Antonio Vargas, 58, faces a maximum term of 30 years in prison for bank fraud and a mandatory term of two years for aggravated identity theft. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Vargas admitted to using counterfeit passports and driver's licenses at Trustco Bank, Pioneer Bank, Broadview Federal Credit Union, Adirondack Trust Bank, and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company. The IDs had his photograph but contained the names and other personal information of customers at the banks.He reportedly withdrew $58,000 from multiple accounts in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties. He was taken into custody on July 13 by the Saratoga Springs Police Department.In addition to time in prison, a bank fraud conviction carries a maximum fine of up to $1 million. Vargas is expected...

Fultonville man pleads guilty to third-degree arson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:46 GMT

FULTONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Fultonville man accused of setting his own home on fire in June pleaded guilty to third-degree arson. Michael Bell, 37, faces a maximum of five to fifteen years in prison. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Bell was arrested following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire. Multiple agencies, including the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the cause of the fire and unveiled evidence that led to the filing of charges against Bell. Bell's family was not home at the time of the fire, but at least one pet perished. Sentencing is scheduled for March 14, 2024.