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JPMorgan Chase defends lawsuit by blaming US Virgin Islands for Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — JPMorgan Chase defended itself on Tuesday against a lawsuit by the U.S. Virgin Islands accusing it of empowering Jeffrey Epstein to abuse teenage girls by arguing in court papers that it was the islands, not the bank, that enabled the financier to commit his crimes.Lawyers for the bank said in the Manhattan federal court filing that the government of the Virgin Islands was complicit, letting high ranking officials be bought off by Epstein and actively working with him while “reaping the benefits of his wealth.”“He gave them money, advice, influence, and favors. In exchange, they shielded and even rewarded him,” providing lucrative tax breaks worth millions of dollars, they wrote.Most troubling, they said, was that officials from the islands “protected Epstein, fostering the perfect conditions for Epstein’s criminal conduct to continue undetected.” The lawyers added: “For two decades, and for long after JPMC exited Epstein as a client, the entity that most directly fa...

2 killed, others hurt in severe storms north of Houston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

CONROE, Texas (AP) — Two people were killed and several others were hurt Tuesday afternoon when a home that was under construction collapsed as strong storms hit north of Houston in the Conroe area. A home under construction in the Ladera Creek area fell sometime after 3 p.m., news outlets reported. Two workers were killed and seven injured victims were taken to a hospital, according to Conroe Assistant Fire Chief Mike Legoudes. The conditions of the injured workers weren’t known. Conroe Fire Chief Ken Kreger stopped short of saying that the collapse was caused by the storms, but said that his department got the call just after the storms passed. The series of storms prompted warnings in the area of incoming tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Storm damage was also reported north of Conroe in Huntsville.More than 18,000 customers were without power as of Tuesday evening in Montgomery County, where Conroe is located, as well as in neighboring Walker County, where Huntsville is locate...

More than half of N.W.T. wildfires so far this season caused by humans: officials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

HAY RIVER, N.W.T. — Officials in the Northwest Territories say more than half of the wildfires in the territory this year were started by people. A total of 15 wildfires have burned 161 square kilometres across the territory so far this season, eight of which are suspected to have been caused by humans.Wildlife information officer Mike Westwick said usually between eight and 20 per cent of wildfires in the territory are human-caused each season. Nine fires are actively burning in the N.W.T., including an out-of-control wildfire about 32 square kilometres in size on the K’atl’odeeche First Nation that is believed to have been human-caused. About 3,500 people from the reserve and nearby town of Hay River remain displaced after evacuation orders were issued May 14. The First Nation said 18 buildings have been damaged on the reserve while no damage has been reported in Hay River.“This kind of incident can happen to any of us in our communities, which are susceptible to...

Concern about Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano changes with the wind

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

AMECAMECA, Mexico (AP) — Concern about the Popocatepetl volcano changes with the wind. While east of the mountain residents swept streets and didn’t remove their masks on Tuesday, here to the west, they casually watched the gas and ash plume emerging from its crater.The 17,797-foot (5,425-meter) mountain just 45 miles (about 70 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City and known affectionately as “El Popo,” has been belching for days, dusting towns and crops in Puebla in a super-fine ash.“When nothing is happening we worry,” said a cheerful Viridiana Alba, who has been selling flowers in Amecameca’s central plaza for 25 years. “El Popo,” as the volcano is affectionately known, rises directly across from her stand.“We know that right now it’s releasing smoke, that’s freeing the energy that it holds,” she said. Ash still rests on the awning that shades her plants from when the wind blew her way last weekend. The town was shaken by the volcano’s tremors, but as long as the ash remains light...

South Korean supplier plans $40 million auto parts plant in Georgia near new Hyundai complex

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) — A South Korean company will build a $40 million factory in coastal Georgia to make heating and cooling systems near a Hyundai Motor Group auto assembly plant.Hanon Systems announced Tuesday that it would build the plant in Statesboro, with plans to hire at least 160 new employees.Hanon Systems is the eighth major supplier to locate in the region after Hyundai said in 2022 that it would build a $5.5 billion plant to assemble electric vehicles and batteries in Ellabell, Georgia. The site could grow to 8,100 employees and is slated to begin producing vehicles in 2025.Hanon Systems and seven other suppliers have since pledged to invest more than $2 billion and hire 4,800 people.“Today’s announcement aligns with our strategy to support the industry shift toward electrification while growing our North America footprint,” Hanon Systems CEO Ming Sun said in a statement.Like a number of South Korean suppliers, Hanon Systems already supplies a Hyundai assembly pla...

New Mexico homelessness spikes as housing costs surge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A tally of the homeless population in New Mexico shows an abrupt jump in the number of people living without permanent housing or with no shelter at all, according to the legislative agency focused on budgeting and accountability.A spot-count commissioned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on a winter night in January identified about 3,850 homeless people, 48% more than a year earlier, a report released Tuesday found.The count reflected many more unsheltered people — mostly in Albuquerque, where authorities are grappling with encampments on sidewalks and riverside parks.The change interrupts a gradual, decade-long decline in homelessness in New Mexico, which has the highest poverty rate in the western U.S., according to the nonpartisan research agency.“Poverty rates are high, labor participation is low. There is high substance abuse rates,” Kathleen Gygi, a program evaluator, told a legislative panel at the state Capitol. “These are all th...

Citing migrant influx, New York mayor asks court to suspend long-standing ‘right to shelter’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s mayor asked a judge Tuesday to temporarily set aside its long-standing “right to shelter” mandate, saying it could no longer meet its legal obligation to house every homeless person because of the arrival of tens of thousands of international migrants.The right to shelter has been in place for more than four decades in the city, after a court in 1981 required the city to provide temporary shelter for every homeless person who asks for it. Other big U.S. cities don’t have such a rule.But with the arrival of 70,000 asylum seekers since last spring, many of whom crossed into the U.S. from Mexico, the city has been challenged to find room for everyone in need of a temporary roof and bed.“It is in the best interest of everyone, including those seeking to come to the United States, to be upfront that New York City cannot single-handedly provide care to everyone crossing our border,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.“Being dishone...

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Vaughan, critical injuries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

York Regional Police say a man in his early 20s has been rushed to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries after he was struck by a vehicle in Vaughan on Tuesday night.Emergency crews were called to the scene near Major Mackenzie Drive West and Islington Avenue at around 6:11 p.m.Police say the driver remained on scene. Major Mackenzie Drive is closed between Islington and Pine Valley Drive. Police expect the closure to remain in place for several hours. MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION W ROAD CLOSURE:Major Mackenzie Dr W closed from Islington Ave to Pine Valley Drive, Vaughan– Vehicle and pedestrian involved– Pedestrian with serious injuries– Road will be closed for an extended period– Update to be provided when road reopened— YRP Duty Office (@YRPDutyOffice) May 23, 2023

Tinley Park mayor vows stricter protocols after flash mob incident involving 400 teens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Days after Tinley Park police canceled the final day of the Armed Forces Weekend Carnival due to safety concerns stemming from a flash mob incident on Saturday, the city's mayor says stricter protocols are imminent. Tinley Park Mayor Michael GlotzIn a statement Tuesday, Michael Glotz addressed the May 20 event, which saw 400 teenagers converge at the carnival in response to a social media post. According to Glotz, the teens aimed to cause "general chaos by starting fights with each other and running through the crowd."Glotz added: "In addition to scaring a lot of families and young children who were trying to enjoy a fun night out, the incident resulted in a police officer being injured and our police department issuing citations to several out-of-town teenagers for fighting in public."Police on Saturday issued five citations. Most offenders were released to their parents and guardians. Glotz praised the quick response of police, adding that officers kept the sit...

CPD: Armed group commits 6 robberies at gas stations in 2-plus hours

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:16 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department sent out a community alert Tuesday after a group of males committed at least a half-dozen robberies at gas stations across the City in the span of little more than two hours.Police said a group of Black males in an older model white Toyota Camry committed at least six armed robberies at gas stations in Austin, the Lower West Side, Avondale, Humboldt Park and North Lawndale from 3:51 a.m. to 6:02 a.m. Tuesday.In each instance, the unknown offenders approach victims at gas stations and demand personal property at gunpoint.Police describe those in the group as being 16-25 years old, 5'6" to 5'8" tall, wearing black ski masks and clothing, and displaying a black handgun. Police: Woman arrested, charged after punching student at middle school Incident Times and Locations1100 block of North Cicero Avenue on May 23nd, 2023 at 3:51 a.m.300 block of South Cicero Avenue on May 23nd, 2023 at 3:54 a.m.1900 block of West Cermak Road on May 23nd, 2023 at ...