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Texas shooter’s ‘RWDS’ patch linked to far-right extremists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

The shooter who killed eight people at a Dallas-area mall was wearing a patch that read “RWDS” — short for “Right Wing Death Squad” — a phrase that has been embraced in recent years by far-right extremists who glorify violence against their political enemies.Authorities have not said what they believe might have motivated 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, who was killed by a police officer who happened to be near the mall Saturday when Garcia opened fire. Social media accounts authorities believe were used by Mauricio Garcia also appear to have expressed interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, according to an official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they could not discuss details of the investigation publicly. The official cautioned that the investigation is in the early stages. Here is a look at the term “Right Wing Death Squad” and how it became a popular symbol among violent extremists: WHAT’S THE HISTORY OF THE TERM?The “RWDS” acronym...

Police search for suspect in school shooting near Las Vegas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities were searching Monday afternoon for the person who shot and injured an adult at a middle school in suburban Las Vegas.Law enforcement officials said during an afternoon news briefing that they had not identified a suspect but consider it an isolated incident with no further threat to the school.“This was not an active shooter,” Capt. Noel Roberts of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said during the briefing outside Ed Von Tobel Middle School.No students were injured in the shooting, which happened just before 12:40 p.m.In a letter sent to parents shortly after the shooting, the school’s principal said all students were safe in their classrooms after one person was struck by gunfire on campus but outside the school building.The middle school, located about a 15-minute drive northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, was placed on lockdown for about an hour while police cleared the campus.The person who was shot was taken to a hospital, although po...

High temperatures in B.C. pose ‘threat of new wildfires,’ wildfire service warns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

Rain and cooler temperatures in northeastern British Columbia will help suppression efforts for two out-of-control wildfires, but high temperatures forecast for later this week may pose a new threat, says a BC Wildfire Service spokesman. Cliff Chapman, the director of wildfire operations, told a news conference Monday that the area has not received enough precipitation to “knock that hazard down.”“The challenge with the return to above-seasonal temperatures is that it won’t only challenge us on the current fires, it’s the threat of new wildfires being started as well,” he said.Evacuation orders or alerts remain in place for much of the areas surrounding the Red Creek and Boundary Lake fires, about 1,300 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.In its latest update, the B.C. Wildfire Service reported the Boundary Lake fire was an estimated 5,900 hectares. The fire at Red Creek sits at 2,800 hectares.The fires are burning on either side of the city of Fort...

Mexican high court overturns reforms rushed through Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Supreme Court voted Monday to overturn a pair of electoral law reforms favored by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador because Congress rushed them through to a vote without debate, or even time to read them. The 9-2 vote threatens López Obrador’s habit of demanding legislators approve bills they often received just a few hours or even minutes before, often late at night or in the early morning hours. Justice Jorge Pardo said of one of the laws approved last year, “there were not even three hours between the time the bill was sent (to congress) and the time it was voted on.”The Constitution requires congress to consider and debate any laws it passes. In one case, justices argued that changes were made to the text of one of the bills without telling the legislators before they voted on it.The laws struck down on Monday involved electoral rules limiting partisan activity by politicians who hold public offices. López Obrador had sought to loosen limits on w...

Alabama sets execution as state resumes lethal injections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Supreme Court has authorized the execution of an inmate this summer as the state attempts to resume lethal injection s following a series of troubled executions. The Alabama Supreme Court last week issued a death warrant for James Barber, 54, authorizing the state to carry out his execution sometime after June 2. It is the first execution scheduled in the state after Gov. Kay Ivey paused executions last year to conduct an internal review. The exact date of the execution will be determined later, under new rules established during the review.“According to the Alabama Supreme Court’s order, the execution time frame set by the governor must begin sometime after Friday, June 2, 2023, and Governor Ivey will work with the Alabama Department of Corrections to establish this time frame,” Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola wrote in an email. Barber was convicted of the 2001 beating death of 75-year-old Dorothy Epps. Prosecutors said Barber, a handyman who knew E...

Afroman hosting 2024 presidential campaign show in Lombard

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

LOMBARD, Ill. -- Another celebrity has thrown their name into the 2024 presidential race.Rapper Afroman announced his 2024 presidential campaign during his concert in Poplar Bluff, Missouri in Dec. 2020, TMZ reported. He will hold a campaign concert at Brauer House in Lombard on July 7.The rapper said he plans on running against former President Donald Trump, current President Joe Biden, and "whomever may run for president in 2024." ‘Tiger King’ announces 2024 presidential bid Afroman would not be the first rapper to run for president.Chicago-native Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, announced his presidential campaign in 2020. According to The Hill, Ye said he also asked former President Donald Trump to be his running mate in 2024.But, former President Trump announced his own presidential campaign for 2024 on Nov 15, 2022. Here’s who is running for president in 2024 Afroman became widely known after his Grammy Award-nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance for his 2002 hit "Beca...

Wife of Utah man killed in tragic accident discovers pregnancy only hours later, family says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

SANTAQUIN, Utah (KTVX) -- Just hours after a young father was killed in a tragic accident when a truck rolled on top of him at his Santaquin, Utah home, his wife discovered she was pregnant, family members say. Jonathan Rodriguez, a 23-year-old father, and his 47-year-old mother were reportedly cleaning up the yard of the home Saturday, May 6, when police say the Rodriguez's child climbed into the vehicle and pulled on the gear shift. PREVIOUS STORY: Santaquin man run over, killed after son accidentally changes gears of truck The gear was reportedly broken and able to move despite the truck’s engine being off, and the truck rolled backward onto Rodriguez and his mother.The grandmother was reportedly airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries. Officers performed life-saving measures on Rodriguez, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.After the incident, his wife, Daisy Rodriguez, found out she is pregnant with their third child, according to her sister Sara Munoz.Munoz orga...

Popular US breeds that have never won the Westminster Dog Show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

Which dog training tools are best?IN THIS ARTICLE:Acme Plastic Dog WhistleCool Runners Agility Weave PolesPacific Play Tents TunnelThe Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the preeminent authority on what makes a good dog. There have been 115 winners so far. Of those winners, none have come from the three most popular breeds in America: French bulldog, Labrador retriever or golden retriever. Widening the popularity to the top 20 breeds sees only eight with a trophy, including bulldogs and beagles. If you want to be the one to break the streak, you need the right tools and the right rewards for your future Best in Show.State of the ShowThat isn’t to say there isn’t much hope for the top three dog breeds. In fact, a French bulldog named Winston was the runner-up last year. Afterward, he took the top prize at the National Dog Show. According to NewsNation, Winston is among the most-awarded show dogs. He’s even a favorite to take home Best in Show this year.Best dog training whistlesAcme...

Ray Liotta's cause of death revealed 1 year later: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

(WJW) — It's been nearly a year since Ray Liotta, best known for his roles in "Goodfellas" and "Field of Dreams," died unexpectedly in his sleep while in the Dominican Republic. Initially, the 67-year-old's cause of death wasn't released. But now, documents obtained by TMZ from officials in the Dominican Republic listed the reason for Liotta's death as respiratory and heart issues. Ray Liotta dies at 67: reports The actor, who was in the Dominican Republic filming the thriller "Dangerous Waters," was found May 26, 2022. At the time, the death was not considered suspicious in nature. Documents obtained by TMZ said he had a condition called atherosclerosis, which is a build-up of cholesterol plaque in the arteries leading to blood flow problems. Following his death, the actor's daughter Karsen Liotta took to Instagram saying, “Those who knew him, loved him. You are the best Dad anyone could ask for. I love you. Thank you for everything.”Liotta was bo...

Hays CISD 'heartbroken' after elementary student passes away

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - A Camino Real Elementary school student died on April 28, according to Hays CISD. In a Facebook message posted Monday, the district said it is heartbroken for the family of the young boy, Jonathan Velazquez. They said he was a first-grader. Hays CISD linked the family's GoFundMe page to help with memorial and funeral expenses. A woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she lives in the same subdivision as the family. She said Jonathan drowned in the subdivision's pool. "We were in mourning. I mean, it hits so close to home. It was in the community pool, right next door where there were a lot of people present," she said.The neighbor said she attended a vigil for the family last Thursday where dozens came to give their condolences. "The family needs more support. They need financial support. They need emotional support," she said.The Hays County Sheriff's Office said it received a call of an unresponsive 7-year-old who was found in the community pool at...