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Judge wants to know why men tied to Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot were moved to federal prisons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — A judge wants to know why two men convicted of secondary roles in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have been transferred to federal prisons out of state. Paul Bellar and Joe Morrison are entitled to appeal their convictions following a trial on state charges in Jackson County in 2022. But their lawyers said it’s extremely hard to work with them hundreds of miles away.They said the distance interferes with a right to have access to Michigan courts.The transfer is “mind-boggling” and “appalling,” said Michael Faraone, who represents Morrison.“Whatever we may say about this case, however we may feel about it, I think we can agree we’re not dealing with al-Qaida,” Faraone told a judge Friday, referring to the Middle East terrorist group.Bellar, Morrison and Pete Musico were found guilty of providing material support for a terrorist act and other charges. They had no direct role in the kidnapping conspiracy but had held gun training with leader Adam Fo...

An Israeli ministry, in a ‘concept paper,’ proposes transferring Gaza civilians to Egypt’s Sinai

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli government ministry has drafted a wartime proposal to transfer the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million people to Egypt’s Sinai peninsula, drawing condemnation from the Palestinians and worsening tensions with Cairo. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office played down the report compiled by the Intelligence Ministry as a hypothetical exercise — a “concept paper.” But its conclusions deepened long-standing Egyptian fears that Israel wants to make Gaza into Egypt’s problem, and revived for Palestinians memories of their greatest trauma — the uprooting of hundreds of thousands of people who fled or were forced from their homes during the fighting surrounding Israel’s creation in 1948. “We are against transfer to any place, in any form, and we consider it a red line that we will not allow to be crossed,” Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said of the report. “What happened in 1948 will not be allo...

Democratic Gov. Beshear downplays party labels in campaigning for 2nd term in GOP-leaning Kentucky

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear downplayed party labels while campaigning Monday for a second term in Republican-leaning Kentucky, touting his role in creating jobs, improving roads and leading recovery from a series of disasters as rising above partisan politics. Starting the last full week of campaigning before his Nov. 7 showdown against GOP challenger Daniel Cameron, the governor promoted his plans for teacher pay raises and state-supported pre-K for 4-year-olds in Kentucky.As he addressed a standing room-only crowd at a Richmond brewery, Beshear made his pitch that he is the best candidate for fulfilling basic needs regardless of party affiliation, while praising the state’s resilience after a string of disasters.“Together, we’ve been through a pandemic, flooding, tornadoes, two wind storms, two ice storms, the polar plunge and now the hottest summer on record,” Beshear said. “Yet still we are here today moving forward at a speed and in a direction we ha...

Remembering Matthew Perry's visit to Wrigley Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

CHICAGO — After his death at the age of 54 this weekend, many people are remembering favorite moments from the life of actor Matthew Perry. That includes a visit by the "Friends" star to the "Friendly Confines" over a decade ago. The late Matthew Perry, who has died at the age of 54, took part in @KerryWood’s “Woody’s Wiffle Ball Classic” at Wrigley Field in August 2013 to benefit the former Cubs’ pitchers foundation along with other celebrities..Here’s his Facebook post from that day..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/5hSGxss3lM— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 29, 2023Perry was one of the celebrities who was invited to a wiffle ball tournament to support the foundation of former Cubs' pitcher Kerry Wood on August 10, 2013. https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/fans-friends-co-stars-react-to-matthew-perrys-sudden-death/?nxsparam=1 The actor posted a picture of himself at Wrigley Field before the start of the event on Facebook writing "Not Bad. Wrigley Field."Dubbed "Woody'...

AFD responding to 'fully involved' 2-story structure fire in Rollingwood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.ROLLINGWOOD, Texas (KXAN) -- The Austin Fire Department is battling a two-story structure fire in Rollingwood, the agency said on social media.Austin Fire Department crews responded to a two-story residential structure fire in Rollingwood on Monday | Courtesy AFDAustin Fire Department crews responded to a two-story residential structure fire in Rollingwood on Monday | Courtesy AFDAustin Fire Department crews responded to a two-story residential structure fire in Rollingwood on Monday | Courtesy AFDAustin Fire Department crews responded to a two-story residential structure fire in Rollingwood on Monday | Courtesy AFDShortly after 2 p.m., AFD responded to the 2900 block of Pickwick Lane for a "fully-involved" fire, which was described as a "residential structure with multiple exposures." Drivers are urged to avoid the area at this time, AFD said.This is a developing story. Check back for u...

Kaitlin Armstrong trial: Cameras only allowed for opening, closing statements

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The judge presiding over the murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong is allowing media to film opening statements and closing arguments, but not witness testimony, according to a court bailiff. Armstrong is accused of shooting and killing professional cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson in May 2022. TIMELINE: Ahead of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial, a look back at pro-cyclist murder case Jury selection began Monday in Armstrong's trial. Cameras are never allowed inside the courtroom for jury selection to protect the identity of jurors. Judge Brenda Kennedy is presiding over Armstrong's trial, according to a Travis County court coordinator. KXAN reached out to the judge Monday morning to ask about her decision-making process regarding when cameras are and are not allowed during the trial. We will update this story when we hear back from her. Decisions are up to each individual judge. Retired Travis County judge Charlie Baird said when it comes to making decisions about whether...

Prosecutors expect to wrap mid-week in APD officer's murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Prosecutors have told a judge they are nearly finished presenting their case against Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who is on trial for murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Taylor's attorneys are expected to take over as early as Tuesday. Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during an incident with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.Previous coverage of this trial: APD Officer Christopher Taylor’s statement read during murder trialMedical Examiner walks through autopsy of Mike Ramos in APD officer’s murder trialAPD officers testify in fellow officer’s murder trial‘I would take that back’: Woman who called 911 testifies in APD officer’s murder trialWitness video shown in first day of APD officer murder caseOpening statements wrap up in murder trial involving APD officerJury selected ...

With 1st CFP rankings out Tuesday, Sarkisian is focused on what the Longhorns can control

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The first College Football Playoff committee rankings come out Tuesday, giving everyone an opening glance at the teams that are in shape to qualify and which teams have work to do. Texas, 7-1 and ranked No. 7 in the AP Top 25, will more than likely be a team with more work to do to crack the top four spots, but there's still plenty of football left to be played. Confident and relaxed, Maalik Murphy steps in to lead the Texas Longhorns offense "It's still pretty early to me," Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I haven't shied away from this — we have a pretty good football team. We're a versatile team, and we started our backup quarterback against a 5-2 team and won 35-6, and we get another opportunity this weekend to play with a backup. Not every team out there has endured what we've had to."There seems to be a consensus among poll voters on who the top four teams are, at least right now. Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Florida State have been mainstays ...

Creed announces summer tour with 3 Texas stops

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.(KXAN) — 1990s rock band Creed is making a comeback.Creed announced Monday it is reuniting for the band's first North American tour in over 12 years.Creed posted a video on social media to announce the tour with the caption: "It’s time to ROCK. The wait is over!"The "Summer of 99 Tour" is set to begin in April 2024 with two cruise concerts departing from Florida.The tour comes to Texas in September 2024, stopping in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.Creed Texas tour stopsSept. 11: Dallas | Dos Equis PavilionSept. 13: San Antonio | Front Bank CenterSept. 14: Houston | The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Creed is bringing along several of its 90s and 2000s rock band friends as special guests, including 3 Doors Down, Daughtry, Switchfoot and Finger Eleven. Special guests vary by tour stop.Creed reached the height of its popularity in the early 2000s with hit singles like "Higher," "With Arms ...

U.S. Bank renews downtown Minneapolis lease while shuttering Richfield hub. What’s in store for St. Paul?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:54 GMT

U.S. Bank has renewed its lease at its downtown Minneapolis headquarters, the 32-story U.S. Bancorp Center at 800 Nicollet Mall. At the same time, the commercial banking giant has chosen not to renew a major lease at Meridian Crossing in Richfield, underscoring widespread fears of office consolidation in the era of remote work. The Richfield location spans some 340,000 square feet.“Part of the goal here is to have more employees co-located with people they work with,” said Jeff Shelman, a U.S. Bank spokesman, on Monday, noting no corporate positions would be eliminated in the shuffle. “Most of the 1,400 employees in Richfield will go to Excelsior Crossing in Hopkins. Some will move to downtown Minneapolis.”What’s that mean for St. Paul, where U.S. Bank has a sizable presence in three separate facilities?The crystal ball isn’t so clear, as the company’s lease at U.S. Bank Center, 101 E. Fifth St., doesn’t expire until October 2024.While...