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Brazil’s Bolsonaro accused by ex-aide’s lawyer of ordering sale of jewelry given as official gift

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Then Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ordered an aide to sell undeclared luxury jewelry received as a gift and funnel the money to him, a lawyer for the aide charged Friday.Cezar Bittencourt, who represents Bolsonaro’s former right-hand man, Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, said his client had recounted receiving those orders from Bolsonaro shortly before the president left office at the end of last year.The claim was initially reported in an interview published Friday by the Brazilian magazine Veja, and Bittencourt confirmed his comments in a phone call with The Associated Press. Bittencourt said that in December 2022, Cid asked about a Rolex watch the president was given by government of Saudi Arabia in 2019. Bolsonaro replied that Cid should “deal with it,” which eventually led to the aide selling two watches in the U.S. and handing the money to Bolsonaro, the attorney said.A week ago, Brazil’s Federal Police charged that Bolsonaro received cash from the nearly...

Guatemala court permanently blocks suspension of Seed Movement party ahead of Sunday’s election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Two days before Guatemala’s presidential runoff election, the Supreme Court of Justice granted a permanent injunction Friday to the party of progressive candidate Bernardo Arévalo, blocking a lower court’s order suspending the party’s legal status.Court spokesman Rudy Esquivel said it ordered the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to disregard the lower court’s ruling, which came last month at the request of prosecutors who said they were investigating how the party had gathered the necessary signatures to register years earlier. The high court had earlier blocked the suspension with a temporary injunction at the request of Arévalo’s Seed Movement.The new ruling can be appealed to Guatemala’s highest tribunal, the Constitutional Court.Guatemalan electoral law forbids the suspension of a party during the electoral process. The original suspension was granted after the first round of voting June 25 in which Arévalo won a spot in Sunday’s runoff against former first...

US judge sides with Nevada regulators in fight over Utah bus firm’s intrastate v. interstate routes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A U.S. judge has denied a Utah bus company’s bid to block Nevada regulation of routes that run primarily between Reno and Las Vegas but briefly cross into California, siding with regulators who say their ability to ensure the safety of buses in Nevada is in the public’s best interest. Salt Lake Express filed a lawsuit in May against the Nevada Transportation Authority and sought a temporary restraining order prohibiting state oversight of what the company insists is interstate travel not subject to state regulation.The lawsuit said Nevada “declared war” on its interstate travel services earlier this year, seizing one of its mini-buses and leaving 20 passengers stranded with no ride.Nevada transportation officials argued Salt Lake Express was engaged in an illegal scheme to evade state regulation by making quick trips to a stop with no customers at a California campground just west of Reno during treks to Las Vegas.U.S. District Judge Robert C. Jones den...

'Dine with Maui': Austinites can eat at this list of restaurants for a good cause

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austinites can eat at multiple restaurants and know a portion of proceeds from sales will go to the Maui Food Bank to help aid victims after the deadly wildfire in Maui, according to the Austin Food Adventures website.'Dine With Maui' is what the website is calling the initiative, which will happen Saturday."Our hearts are heavy for the citizens of Maui. We are working together with our favorite restaurants in Austin, TX to organize Dine with Maui. On Saturday, August 19th, a percentage of sales from each of the businesses listed below will go directly to the @mauifoodbank," the website said. Residents who fled deadly Maui fire ask for time to grieve and slower rebuild View the Dine with Maui participants below:Shoyu Sugar (North Austin, Hawaiian Food 11- 8pm, Food Truck) Merry Monarch Creamery (North Austin, Ice cream, 12 -2 pm, 5:30- 9 PM, Food Truck) Kome (North Austin, Sushi and Japanese Comfort eats, 11-10 pm, Restaurant)JewBoy Burger...

Driver who caused fatal crash while on FaceTime call sentenced to 6-month jail term

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

A driver who admitted to being on a FaceTime call when he slammed into the back of a car on the Crosstown Highway in Richfield — killing a 23-year-old Mendota Heights woman — has been sentenced to six months in jail and three years of probation.Darrin Dorral Gregory Jr., 31, of Minneapolis, was sentenced in Hennepin County District Court on Thursday in connection with the April 15, 2021, crash that killed Alice Jane Tibbetts, a St. Paul Academy and St. Olaf College graduate who was ingrained in the local theater scene as an actress and violinist.Darrin Dorral Gregory Jr.(Courtesy of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)Gregory pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide in June after reaching an agreement with prosecutors. Judge Juan Hoyos followed the agreement, staying a four-year prison term and ordering him to participate in 23 safe driving panels or programs and talk to youth about the dangers of distracted driving.An 11-year Army veteran, Gregory was a cade...

Jennings mayor counters hostile workplace allegations amid employee resignations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

JENNINGS, Mo. - The mayor of Jennings is firing back against allegations of a hostile working environment after several employees resigned hours apart. Mayor Gary Johnson addressed the accusations Friday morning, shortly before an emergency city council meeting initially scheduled for the afternoon. "I inherited this. So, the false accusations are false," said Johnson during a morning news conference. But at 5 p.m. Friday, Johnson stood at the doors of city hall and told the public there was no meeting.  NOAA releases fall weather predictions for Missouri Entry was allowed after some council members insisted proper notification for the meeting was given. A majority of the council voted in favor of the three agenda items listed as new business, essentially overturning previous actions related to firings and hirings that some council members say were done improperly, and extending offers to re-hire.Earlier in the day, Johnson denied allegations that he was to blame for a t...

You Paid For It: City-owned tree sparks fear and action in south St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Residents all over the St. Louis area are fearful of the effects of trees in a storm. We’ve all seen videos of trees falling on houses and cars and tragically, in some cases, people.Residents living on Neosho Street in South St. Louis were frightened about the city-owned tree on their block, which they say looked in danger of falling in a storm. ‘Stop work’ order triggers $7K bill in Jennings as resignations stack up They recently called the You Paid For It team after they had trouble getting through to the Forestry Department for St. Louis City. Now, that tree is down.  ”I think you coming here made it apparent that the tree could have caused a lot of damage," said Lauren Price to FOX 2's Elliott Davis. "I’m kind of like, what did it take to get it done this fast. You had to come here, and then they did it. Kind of makes me wonder about the rest of the city. Is that what it takes for trees to come down?”Sharon Rice is glad for the change too. "I was so happy when I c...

Suspect arrested in fatal shooting in Denver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

A suspect has been arrested in a fatal Denver shooting, police said.Travis Lurenzo Beasley, 40, is being held for investigation of first-degree murder in connection to an August 12 shooting in the 1300 block of East 23rd Avenue, according to the Denver Police Department.The victim was shot in the chest and a man was seen leaving the scene of the shooting on a motorcycle, according to an arrest warrant affidavit in the case. A nearby resident was awakened by people arguing and a shot fired. The neighbor told investigators two people lived at the residence where the shooting took place, the victim and a man who drives a motorcycle. Shown a photograph of Beasley, the neighbor identified him as the motorcycle rider.Police have obtained surveillance video as part of the ongoing investigation. 

Westminster police release body camera footage of fatal police shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

Westminster police on Friday released an officer’s body camera video from a fatal police shooting.On July 25, Officer N. Adams, on routine patrol, contacted a woman driving a silver SUV that was stopped in the east turn lane on West 88th Avenue, near Lamar Street, according to Westminster Police Department news release. The SUV was facing westbound, in the wrong direction.The woman, who was not identified in the news release, was the only person in the vehicle.Body Camera Footage – 88th/Lamarhttps://t.co/5ihkatptbA— Westminster Police (@WestminsterPD) August 18, 2023At first, the woman didn’t roll down her window when Adams approached the SUV, body camera footage reveals. When she did roll down the window, the woman was unresponsive to Adams’ questions.“After several attempts to speak with the driver, she produced a handgun,” the release said. “Adams attempted to grab the driver’s arm and then disengaged, drew his gun and fired a...

Wildfires on Colorado’s Western Slope have burned over 10,000 acres

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:28 GMT

About a dozen wildfires are burning in Colorado, with most on the Western Slope, where more than 10,000 combined acres have been torched.Little Mesa fireThe Little Mesa fire, about 15 miles southwest of Delta in the Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area, has burned 3,677 acres, about 5.7 square miles, according to fire officials. The fire, sparked by lightning July 31, is burning through piñon, juniper, sagebrush and grass. More than 60 firefighters are working on the fire, which is 30% contained.No evacuations have been ordered because of the fire.Quartz Ridge fireThe Quartz Ridge fire, about 13 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, has burned 1,475 acres, and there is no containment on the fire, fire officials said on InciWeb on Friday. The fire started on Aug. 5 by a lightning strike. More than 130 firefighters are working on the fire, and there are no current evacuations.The wildfire is burning in steep terrain in the South San Juan Wilderness.Bear Creek fireThe Bear Creek...