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Mexico halts deportations and migrant transfers citing lack of funds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The head of Mexico’s immigration agency has ordered the suspension of migrant deportations and transfers due to a lack of funds amid a record-setting year for migration through the country’s territory.The suspensions were outlined in an agency memo dated Dec. 1 from director Francisco Garduño, whose authenticity was confirmed to the Associated Press by an agency official who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it.Mexico’s finance ministry suspended payments to the National Immigration Institute in November due to end-of-year budget adjustments, according to the memo. Citing budget constraints “and the lack of liquidity to cover commitments,” Garduño ordered a halt to various agency activities, most notably the “assisted returns,” a government euphemism to describe deportations, and “ground transportation for transfer of irregular migrants.”Mexico’s government had been frequently moving migrants from points north near the U.S. bord...

Thousands protest Indigenous policies of New Zealand government as lawmakers are sworn in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Thousands of protesters rallied against the New Zealand government’s Indigenous policies on Tuesday as the Parliament convened for the first time since October elections.Demonstrations in the capital, Wellington, and in about a dozen other New Zealand cities and towns were organized by the minor Maori Party, which advocates for the rights of Indigenous New Zealanders who are known as Maori.Protesters demonstrated peacefully outside Parliament against what they described as the “anti-Maori” policies of the newly elected conservative-led coalition government.Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi said the new policies of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s administration would take New Zealand “back to the 1800s.”“Our protest this morning was an activation of our people,” Waititi said.The National Party-led government promises to review the Treaty of Waitangi and implement potential changes to how that foundation document signed by British colonists and Mao...

YouTuber who staged California plane crash gets 6 months in prison for obstructing investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An influencer who staged a California plane crash to make a YouTube video of himself parachuting to safety was sentenced Monday to six months in federal prison for obstructing the investigation by destroying the wreckage, the U.S. Justice Department.Trevor Daniel Jacob, 30, an experienced pilot and skydiver, pleaded guilty in June to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation.The video titled “I Crashed My Airplane” appeared in December 2021 and purported to show Jacob’s small plane have engine failure over the mountainous Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County. Already wearing a parachute, he jumped out with a selfie stick camera in hand.His jump and the aircraft’s plunge were recorded by cameras mounted on the plane’s wing and tail and by the camera he carried. After landing, he hiked to the crash site and recovered video from the onboard cameras, the government said.According to the plea agreement, J...

Alicia Keys’ semi-autobiographical stage musical ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ moves to Broadway in spring

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway audiences will soon be hearing the hit songs of Alicia Keys — not far from where the multiple-Grammy-winner grew up.“Hell’s Kitchen,” the semi-autobiographical musical by the singer-songwriter, is making the move uptown from off-Broadway to the Shubert Theatre this spring.“I loved going to the theater and I was inspired by it and the songwriting and the expression and the beauty and the way you could be transported,” she tells The Associated Press. “But I never really put it together that maybe one day I would be able to have a debut on Broadway.” Performances begin March 28 with an opening set for April 20. Tickets are on sale Dec. 11. No casting news was revealed but Maleah Joi Moon was the lead off-Broadway.The musical features Keys’ best-known hits: “Fallin’,” “No One,” “Girl on Fire,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” and, of course, “Empire State of Mind,” as well as four new songs.The coming-of-age story about a gifted teenager is by playwright Kristoffer D...

In Chicago's food scene, secret to phenomenal food might not always be the location

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago has one of the hottest food scenes in the country, and while many associated this scene with the West Loop or River North, foodies in the know, say you can find some of the most delicious and exciting foods in the neighborhoods.David Manilow has been following this city’s food scene for years. He created the Emmy-award-winning TV show “Check Please,” which can still be seen in other markets. He now works for Crain’s Chicago Business.“You can explore to find (spots) in neighborhoods, and some of them are in little strip malls and some are on streets that you don’t normally go to,” Manilow said. “I think there’s more and more people that will just go, because Chicago is just this great city of neighborhoods, and through social media, you will find out a place you’ll just want go.”One of those restaurants could be Atelier, which opened last February and is located on the North Side at the former site of Michelin-star restaurant Elizabeth. If you blink, you’ll mis...

Emergency responder describes fatal crash that killed 4 on SH 130 service road

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- KXAN is learning more about a deadly crash in southeastern Travis County Sunday afternoon that killed four people. It was the worst crash a state emergency services employee said they've ever seen. "I've responded to probably a couple of hundred crashes in my lifetime," the employee said. "This was by far the most serious. Absolutely horrendous scene." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 4 dead after multi-vehicle crash in southeast Travis County We're concealing the person's identity at their request. The crash happened near the State Highway 130 Northbound service road intersection with Maha Loop Road. The emergency services employee said numerous calls came in regarding a large commercial vehicle striking a sedan. "The sedan was catching fire with numerous occupants," they said. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a driver and four passengers had been driving east on Maha Loop Road at the same time a Peterbilt dump truck drove north. The two crash...

Austin city manager's office proposes alternatives for HOME initiative, memo says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin's attempt to allow for more housing options is already getting some new recommendations, which includes proposed changes to the land development code to include incentives for increasing living spaces, according to a City of Austin memo.The Austin City Manager's office released the memo on recommended tweaks ahead of this week's Austin City Council meeting.Austin City Manager HOME memoDownloadHOME, an acronym for Home Options for Middle-income Empowerment, is a series of proposed changes to Austin’s land development code — and other incentives for creating or preserving housing. It has several elements to it, and there are expected to be additional phases moving forward. What is the HOME initiative? What to know about Austin’s latest push for more housing The memo includes changes to front yard setback and how far back a home has to be from the curb and offers flexibility for anyone wanting to change their lot to add up to two additional housing spaces.The ...

Authorities say Khalil Azad accidentally drowned after fleeing Robbinsdale traffic stop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

No law enforcement officers will face criminal charges in the death of a man who fled a traffic stop in Robbinsdale. The death was ruled an accidental drowning, prosecutors said Monday.Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement that her office found no evidence of inappropriate behavior by law enforcement in the death of 24-year-old Khalil Azad, whose body was found last July on the shore of Crystal Lake. His body was discovered two days after he fled on foot from police who stopped him near the lake on suspicion of drunken driving. He eluded a ground and air search.Black Lives Matter of Minnesota released a statement in February saying Azad’s family believed he was bitten by police dogs and beaten by officers. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension then reviewed the case at the request of the Robbinsdale Police Department.Moriarty said the BCA’s investigation established that Azad’s death was a “tragic accidental drowning.”“The BCA uncovered no evidence that ...

Long Lake man charged with murder in fatal shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

LONG LAKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Hamilton County man has been charged after a shooting. Patrick Skerrett, 65, was charged with one count of murder in the second degree.The shooting took place around 2:40 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. Police said Patrick was in a verbal altercation with Terrance Skerrett, 64, of Lewis, when Patrick fired a gun. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Terrance was pronounced dead at the scene, and an autopsy determined the cause of death to be shotgun and gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen. His death was ruled a homicide.Patrick is in the Hamilton County Jail without bail. The investigation is ongoing.

Hundreds usher in the holiday season at the NYS Tree Lighting Ceremony

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — After being postponed a day due to Sunday’s rainy weather, the New York State Tree Lighting ceremony went off with a bang on Monday night! First, there was a special performance by the Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club to help kick off the festivities. Then hundreds were looking up as fireworks lit up the sky while Christmas music played- ushering in the holiday season. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “I thought it was absolutely beautiful,” one spectator said. “And it was wonderful to see the Governor. The tree is absolutely gorgeous. The fireworks are beautiful as usual.”Governor Kathy Hochul wasn’t the only one who appeared; the News10 morning crew flipped the switch to light up the tree. This year’s tree donor was the Stack family from Waterford, who were excited to see their tree lit up in the plaza.The family says this will now be their new annual holiday tradition. Jeanette Moy, Commissioner of th...