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Colombian congressional panel sets probe into president over alleged campaign finance misdeeds

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

BOGOTA.Colombia (AP) — A Colombian congressional committee on Wednesday ordered a preliminary investigation into President Gustavo Petro over allegations of crimes in the financing of his election campaign.The Commission of Investigation and Accusation, which has judicial functions in dealing with complaints against the president, said it ordered the probe after analyzing information provided by prosecutors following revelations of alleged irregular campaign contributions involving Petro’s son.Colombia’s presidents have immunity from being investigated by the prosecutor’s office.Prosecutors initially charged Petro’s son, Nicolás Petro, with receiving unjustified money — cash that was not from his earnings as a deputy from Atlántico. During their invesigation, prosecutors say, they found that a portion of those irregular funds allegedly went to his father’s 2022 presidential campaign.The son at first pledged to cooperate in the investigation but then backed ou...

Mayor Brandon Johnson faces rising pressure to address migrant crisis following failed Brighton Park site

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

CHICAGO — Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson fielded several questions regarding the ongoing migrant crisis."We have a real irresponsible, inhumane practice that's coming from the border," Johnson said. "And what I've said from the beginning, we have to create some structure and order and calm in this crisis, and my leadership has done just that."But after the plans for a migrant tent camp at 38th and California failed, there were still concerns about how much that work would cost taxpayers.When asked about nearly one million dollars spent on the Brighton Park site, Mayor Johnson said that money was used to clean up the site."Remediation, remediation that was needed, the work force, all of that, the contracts to remediate and the workforce," Johnson said.But there was confusion over who will foot the bill for a $29 million contract with a company called GardaWorld to construct and run the migrant shelter. City Council rejects ruling on police discipline, approv...

Kid Rock says he's done boycotting Bud Light: 'I think they got the message'

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- Kid Rock told Tucker Carlson in a recent interview that he was done boycotting Bud Light and said the company has learned its lesson. "They deserved a black eye, and they got one," Rock told Carlson. "Do I want to hold their head under water and drown them because they made a mistake? No, I think they got the message."Bud Light faced backlash over a brief partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney earlier this year. Mulvaney in April shared a sponsored post to her Instagram page promoting Bud Light’s annual March Madness sweepstakes. Kid Rock spotted apparently drinking Bud Light after calling for boycott Some right-wing celebrities, media personalities and politicians responded to Mulvaney’s post by uploading videos of themselves destroying cases of Bud Light to social media and calling for a nationwide boycott of the beer.Rock, who had also called for a boycott, said in his recent interview with Carlson that the punishment Anheuser-Busch has re...

Should some books be removed from school libraries? LTISD parents weigh in

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Students and parents spent Wednesday night sharing their thoughts on banning and removing books in Lake Travis ISD."Books do not hurt impressionable minds," said Lake Travis High School student Carter Davis as he spoke to the school board.During a November school board meeting the district discussed new library policies and the removal of some books."The board did vote to remove several books from the shelves and also move one book from the middle to the high school so they have effectively banned these books by removing access to students," said LTISD parent Anna Lindsey, who also spoke at Wednesdays meeting.Lindsey was one of many parents that spoke out about banning or removing books from LTISD libraries."We are also seeing a new library policy being proposed that may make it easier to challenge books and get them off of shelves," Lindsey said. How new Texas law restricting some books stacks up nationwide Jennifer Fleck was also at Wednesday's meeting, her ...

Williamson County celebrates $1M light project, looks ahead to park changes

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Local leaders and community members celebrated the completion of $1.1 million in lighting improvements at the Southwest Williamson County Regional Park Tuesday evening.Williamson County Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey greeted the crowd of city and county leaders, as well as the families of youth athletes that play at the park's sports facilities.She said the lighting project upgraded lights at the park's football, softball, soccer fields, and tennis and basketball courts to LED lights.She said the switch to LED lights will provide less light pollution and allow the county to save money to run the lights."We were able to replace 320 fixtures with only 196 fixtures and in doing so, save on electricity, save on energy which will cost the taxpayers less," Covey said.Williamson County said the $1.1 million used for the lighting project came from its Capital Improvement Fund.Williamson County voters approve $59 million in park improvementsThis is just the lat...

Community mascot discussion for Averill Park schools

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

AVERILL PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) – On Wednesday, the Averill Park Central School District took the next steps to create its new mascot before the Board of Education deadline. Grace Faragon is a senior at the high school and said students have already been meeting to discuss how to include the community in the decision. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! “Throughout our meetings within our student government, you know it’s all the same opinion over and over again,” Faragon said.However, the district offered an opportunity for students and community members to brainstorm ideas.High School Principal Heath Quiles said the school wanted to have student leaders connect with people throughout the community.“To get their thoughts and ideas about how we can do this well and do this right the first time,” he said.And students like John Galvin were excited to hear them.“It was really productive to get their input and new perspective on the issue,” Galvin ...

Neighbors, local leaders react to proposed south city drone patrols

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A Washington, D.C.-based filmmaker’s plan to survey a south St. Louis neighborhood with drones outfitted with lights and loudspeakers is getting mixed reactions from neighbors and city leaders.The idea behind the test run is to see if the drones deter crime. But some people feel it’s an invasion of privacy and an overreach. South St. Louis residents Morgan Downes and Dean Kneels agree.“My initial thoughts are it’s kind of dystopian and makes me a little nervous about privacy,” Downes said. “I know that criminal activity is pretty frequent in this neighborhood, so I could see the potential of it being somewhat helpful, but I do have the privacy concerns.”Kneels said he does not feel comfortable with the idea and doesn’t understand why this filmmaker chose his neighborhood.“I mean, what does this guy in D.C. have to do with Gravois Park in St. Louis?” Kneels said. 15-year-old charged as adult in fatal carjacking from January The two don’t feel comfortable with the techno...

Public Safety Director 'without a doubt' has faith in jail commissioner

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis official charged with public safety defended the city's jail and the person leading the facility during a committee meeting.St. Louis Department of Public Safety Director Charles Coyle admits drugs are getting smuggled into the City Justice Center."Whether it's from a staff member, whether it's from a third-party contractor, whether it's from an attorney, whether it's from somebody coming in to visit the detainee, however it's getting in, it's getting in," Coyle said.Coyle took dozens of questions for about an hour from the city's Public Safety Committee while each alderman expressed concern about drugs getting into the facility and the number of deaths and suspected overdoses.Coyle said NARCAN, a nasal spray that can reverse a drug overdose, has been used 117 times this year. The director said that number is subjective and doesn't necessarily mean there's an overdose."If the person goes to the hospital and survives, it is their choice whether a toxicology ...

Blues fans react to firing of Craig Berube

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

ST. LOUIS – While it's too soon to tell if a turnover of the puck or leadership behind the bench will result in winning ways for the St. Louis Blues, one thing is for certain: Coach Craig Berube was one of a kind.“I heard about it last night before I went to bed, and I was shocked,” Tom Maurer, owner of Bobby's Place, said. “I loved Craig Berube and I think everybody in our place felt the same way. The guy brought us a Stanley Cup, and he was rough and tough, and he was a coach that we all left in the city.”In Valley Park, the larger-than-life coach shares something in common with Bobby Plager and Bobby's Place Bar and Grill. Video shows police and other vehicle run stop signs before crash “We are well-known as a hockey bar, and we are where Bobby Plager used to plant himself at the end of the bar when he was still with us, and we bleed blue,” Maurer said.While it was common to see former Blues great Bobby Plager at this location, on the wall hangs a picture of The Chief and the t...

Vandal destroys holiday display in House Springs

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:21:03 GMT

HOUSE SPRINGS, Mo. – A vandal destroyed a preservation area in House Springs overnight. Veteran Danny Tuggle had set the area up, hoping to share the Christmas spirit with his community."Vandalized the whole place," he said.Tuggle spent a month preparing for hundreds of people gathering at Christmastime."It was beautiful. I was so proud that it had come to life. Then walk in this morning," he said.Tuggle spends every day at the preservation area bringing it back to life. It's been three years of work and said the biggest disappointment came overnight. "I had two reindeer. They threw one in the pond over there that's buried over there and one right here," said Tuggle. "The vandals took the flag down, threw it in the lake and put a bandana where the flag normally would be. That's a sick person." 15-year-old charged as adult in fatal carjacking from January Tuggle said a man came through the area, slashing inflatable Christmas decorations, stealing extension cords, and throwing a tra...