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New sanctions from the US and Britain target Hamas officials who help manage its financial network

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Wednesday announced new war-related of sanctions against Hamas, targeting eight officials and representatives who help manage the militant group’s financial network.The penalties, coordinated with Britain, are the Treasury Department’s latest response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas against Israel. The sanctions block access to U.S. property and bank accounts and prevent those designated from doing business with Americans.The list included individuals based in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Turkey. Among them was Ismail Barhum, who the Treasury Department said in a statement was a member of the Gaza Strip Political Bureau and has worked with Hamas Finance Minister Zaher Jabarin, also under sanction, to aggregate money from global fundraising into the organization’s finance accounts.Brian Nelson, the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Hamas exploits “seemingly permissive jurisdictions...

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Reneé Rapp has always known what she wants – and isn’t afraid to say no

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For a 23-year-old, Reneé Rapp has had a lot of practice telling powerful people no. Her first time came at 19, when Tina Fey and Lorne Michaels offered her one of the lead roles in the national touring production of the “Mean Girls” musical. Practically speaking, Rapp was hardly in a position to turn it down. She needed money to make the move from her hometown in North Carolina to New York permanent as she sought to realize her dreams of becoming a pop star.Though she admitted the decision was, “in a way, difficult,” she was sure she could land something better, citing her upbringing, work ethic and financial security all as factors in that confidence.“I was also really fortunate to have that delusion of like, ‘Yeah, I’m doing that,’” she said. “I really do have a certain level of trust in myself when it comes to work that I’m going to figure it out.”And it wasn’t long before she did. A few months later, Fey and Michaels came back to Rapp with an offer to pl...

Trump’s lawyers tell an appeals court that federal prosecutors are trying to rush his election case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for Donald Trump told a federal appeals court on Wednesday that it should not speed up its consideration of whether the former president is immune from prosecution, accusing federal prosecutors of trying to rush his 2020 election subversion case through before next year’s presidential election.“The prosecution has one goal in this case: To unlawfully attempt to try, convict, and sentence President Trump before an election in which he is likely to defeat President Biden,” defense lawyers wrote Wednesday. “This represents a blatant attempt to interfere with the 2024 presidential election and to disenfranchise the tens of millions of voters who support President Trump’s candidacy.”The issue is of paramount significance to both sides given the potential for a protracted appeal to delay a trial beyond its currently scheduled start date of March 4. Trump faces charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, and he has d...

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Charles Melton thinks it’s good it took years to make it in Hollywood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fame didn’t come overnight for Charles Melton.The 32-year-old “May December” star, currently reaping praise and racking up awards and nominations for his scene-stealing performance alongside acclaimed Hollywood veterans Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, has dutifully been chipping away at his resume since he moved to Los Angeles more than a decade ago.“I was walking dogs and working Chinese takeout seven years ago,” Melton recalled of his early days trying to make it as an actor.But his role in “May December” — which has already snagged him several accolades heading into awards season, including outstanding supporting performance at the Gotham Awards — has notched him a spot as one of The Associated Press’ Breakthrough Entertainers of 2023.And while his story isn’t one of instant success, he believes the maturity he gained along the way was instrumental in giving him the chops necessary to make his characters believable, particularly in the debatably campy Todd ...

AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Lily Gladstone is standing on the cusp of history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Lily Gladstone is named after her great-grandmother.The elder Lily bore many similarities to Gladstone’s character in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Mollie Burkhart. Both women, born 10 years apart in the late 19th century, were traditional in nature, well-loved by their Native communities and devout Catholics.Growing up between Seattle and the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, Gladstone was familiar with the stories of older generations of Native women — of their encounters with a fast-modernizing America and the brutal attempts to extract resources from tribal lands.The Osage murders of the early 20th century, a reign of terror in which the Osage were targeted for the headrights to their oil-rich land, took place many miles away, in Oklahoma. But as a tragedy about the sinister exploitation of Native people, “Killers of the Flower Moon” told a tale Gladstone knew intimately.“I carry my family’s legacy. And I’m expected to carry my family lega...

Father of Highland Park parade shooting suspect, Robert Crimo Jr., released from jail Wednesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The father of the man accused in the Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting has been released from jail.Robert Crimo Jr. is charged with seven counts of felony reckless conduct. Prosecutors allege that Crimo Jr. was criminally reckless at the time that he helped procure a FOID card for his son Robert Crimo III.After reaching a deal to plead guilty last month, Crimo Jr. was sentenced to 60 days in the Lake County Jail and two years probation with 100 hours of public service.  According to Lake County Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli, Crimo Jr. was released from jail Wednesday morning. He served less than a month. Trial for accused Highland Park shooter to begin in February; Crimo III to represent himself On Monday, a judge in Lake County set a trial date for February 2024 for Crimo III, who now plans to represent himself.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Person shot at Blue Line station near Medical District

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

CHICAGO — A person was shot Wednesday morning at the Western Blue Line station near the Medical District.SkyCam9 was over the scene at around 7:45 a.m. showing multiple squad cars at the station, located in the 400 block of South Western.The Chicago Fire Department transported a person with a gunshot wound. Trains are bypassing the station at the time.No other details are available. WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

TSA explains the right way to travel with a gun

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- Transportation Security Administration representatives say they're seeing an uptick in people incorrectly packing their guns for travel. Travelers are not supposed to bring guns to the TSA security checkpoint. However, officials are seeing more people doing just that. When traveling with a firearm, passengers have to take certain precautions. Gun safety instructor sees dramatic drop in students after Florida law takes effect Guns must be packed in a hard-sided case that's padded on the inside, said Mark Howell, a TSA regional spokesperson. "When you're traveling with a firearm, the most important thing you need to do is you need to make sure it's completely unloaded," he said. That means no magazines or rounds chambered. TSA representatives demonstrate the right way to travel with a gun, which is shown in a padded gun case. (WFLA)Everything must be put safely inside the case, except for ammunition. Howell said the ammunition needs to be stored securely and s...

Inside the Investigations: Round Rock ISD board donations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each week the in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team will get a spotlight on KXAN Live.A conversation will happen Wednesday morning with investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree to break down one of this week’s top stories. People can watch the live stream discussion in this story and on the KXAN News Facebook page starting at about 9 a.m. Inside the Investigations: Texas crime victims fund The story they're talking about this week is:Two Round Rock Independent School District board members are facing calls to return thousands of campaign dollars they received from a political group, following news of the former president of the group meeting with a widely known white supremacist, antisemitic podcaster.Join Kelly Wiley and Will DuPree every Wednesday morning for a live recap of the latest headlines and in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team.

Austin Fire responds to 'large' gas leak in West Campus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Fire Department said Tuesday afternoon that crews responded to a “large” gas leak at 23rd Street and San Gabriel Street in West Campus. AFD said in an X post that the AFD Special Operations units are on the scene with Texas Gas to stop the leak. The Austin Fire Department asked people to avoid the area until the situation is resolved.