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Sam Bankman-Fried plans to testify at his New York fraud trial, his lawyer says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried plans to testify at his fraud trial, his lawyer told a federal judge on Wednesday, a day before the defense is set to counter testimony from former executives who say the cryptocurrency executive stole billions of dollars from his customers and investors over several years.Attorney Mark Cohen told Judge Lewis A. Kaplan that he planned to call three witnesses “and then our client is also going to be testifying” after prosecutors rest early Thursday.Cohen made the comment during a phone and video conference in Manhattan federal court after the judge told him: “It’s time to tell me what defense case, if any, you’re going to put on.”The judge told him that he didn’t have to say yet whether Bankman-Fried would testify, but Cohen volunteered that he would.Even so, prosecutors and the judge later discussed the possibility that closing arguments could occur early next week if Bankman-Fried changes his mind and doesn’t take the stand....

2 London police officers have been dismissed over a stop and search of a Black athlete couple

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Two of London’s Metropolitan Police officers were dismissed from the force on Wednesday after a disciplinary panel concluded that they committed gross misconduct over the stop and search of two Black athletes. Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos, both professional sprinters, complained to the police watchdog that they were racially profiled by a group of police officers on July 4, 2020. The couple were driving home in London with their 3-month-old infant son in the back seat when police followed their car and pulled them over outside their home. The athletes were handcuffed and searched on suspicion of having drugs and weapons, but nothing was found.The disciplinary panel heard the officers said they followed the athletes’ vehicle because of Dos Santos’ “appalling” and “suspicious” driving, and that they were doing their duty when they conducted the stop and search.But the panel concluded that two of the officers, Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks, lied about sm...

Domino's giving away free pizzas for student loan borrowers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

CHICAGO — Domino's announced Wednesday that they are giving away free pizzas as student loan repayments resume.The company has launched a page on their website where student loan borrowers can apply for a free medium two-topping pizza.If codes are available on that day, Domino’s will send customers an email with the free pizza code — which they can redeem on their next online carryout or delivery order placed within the next 30 days.The promotion will last until $1 million worth of free pizza has been claimed. Culver’s opens up Wrigleyville location Student loan payments restarted this month after the Biden administration paused them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

House Republican tells reporter to 'shut up' for asking Johnson about overturning 2020 election

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

(The Hill) – Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) was among a group of Republican lawmakers who shouted at a reporter after she asked Vice Conference Chair Mike Johnson (R-La.) about his alleged involvement in attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.ABC News Reporter Rachel Scott was attempting to ask Johnson about his stance on the issue during a press conference Tuesday evening after he became the latest Speaker nominee.Johnson was surrounded by various members of the House GOP, who began to laugh and shout as Scott was asking her question. Foxx, one of the members near Johnson, yelled “shut up.”Foxx has been known for frequently scolding reporters and staff for being on or near members-only elevators in Capitol buildings. She recently told a group of reporters to “get away from the damned elevator.”In the video, captured by C-SPAN, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said “oh god” in response to the question. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) laughed. Many o...

The most frequently banned book in prison is about ramen

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

(The Hill) – Tens of thousands of books have been banned or restricted in U.S. prisons, according to a new report by PEN America, a free speech organization that has been tracking book bans in the country. On Wednesday, the organization released “Reading Between the Bars: An In-Depth Look at Prison Censorship,” which examines how prisons choose which books to take away from prisoners, with some titles getting thrown into the garbage by staffers. “The extent of prison book banning is alarming and an attack on the written word itself,” said Moira Marquis, senior manager of PEN America’s Freewrite Project and lead author of the report. “Censorship should not be a knee jerk tactic by authorities to address other prison concerns, such as spurious claims that books are a conduit for drugs. Yet we are witnessing vast amounts of time, effort and money expended in order to stop people from reading. This censorship must end.”  The group based its report on freedom of infor...

Las Vegas teens accused in deadly crime spree appear to laugh in courtroom, smile at victim's family

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Two Las Vegas teens facing murder charges in connection with the death of a bicyclist appeared in court this week as a judge set their trial date.A grand jury indicted Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16, on Tuesday morning. The two are accused of stealing at least three cars, burglarizing a home, hitting another car on the road, and striking two bicyclists in separate incidents during an hours-long crime spree in August. A 72-year-old man survived the first hit-and-run. The other man — retired California police chief Andreas Probst, 64 — did not survive. In court on Tuesday, Ayala and Keys appeared to smile at the widow and daughter of Probst."They started trying to intimidate us, mad-dog us," Taylor Probst, the victim's daughter, said. "These guys, they did not respect the court whatsoever."The teens also appeared to communicate with each other and, at times, cover their faces. Video from inside the courtroom appears to show them laughing at one point. New vi...

Austin ISD places 6 schools in 'secure' due to threat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Independent School District said no one was allowed to leave or enter buildings on six area campuses Wednesday morning after the schools were placed on "Secure."The district told KXAN that Austin High School, O. Henry Middle School, Kealing Middle School, Rosedale School, Hill Elementary School and Casis Elementary School went into Secure after receiving emails containing a threat to the schools. Report: Politics drives school district leaders away According to the district, secure means all activities continue inside, but no one may leave or enter school buildings. This means families and visitors will not be permitted to enter or leave the school. The district said secure is "substantively" different than a Lockdown because lockdown implies an active threat inside the building. The district said it immediately contacted Austin ISD police who are investigating. Out of an abundance of caution, the district said it would keep the schools in secure until o...

No one beats the Texas Longhorns, in terms of making money

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

AUSTIN (ABJ) -- In the Lone Star State, college football isn't just a sport; it's a way of life. Texas boasts a proud football tradition with universities investing huge sums to build and maintain competitive teams. According to data from the Department of Education, it's evident that the deep pockets of Texas universities play a crucial role in their football programs.These revenue figures are from the 2021-2022 season, the most recent applicable data available from the Education Department. It's important to remember that college sports were in their first seasons in the wake of the pandemic and that these figures are likely diminished due to the limitations of those seasons. Still, the wealthiest programs remain dominant.The data for this story comes from the U.S. Department of Education website, which you can see here.Read the full story online at the Austin Business Journal.

Which roads will be closed for UT game, Austin Film Festival?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- This weekend marks a busy one for downtown Austin, with the Austin Film Festival running from Thursday through Nov. 2, the Viva la Vida Fest and Parade on Saturday and the Texas Longhorns facing off Saturday afternoon against Brigham Young University.Here's what you need to know about planned road closures and traffic impacts in downtown Austin this weekend. Check out KXAN's real-time traffic maps throughout the area Austin Film FestivalNow in its 30th year, the Austin Film Festival "furthers the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and all artists who use written and visual language to tell a story," according to AFF's website.The weeklong festival kicks off Thursday and runs through Nov. 2. Throughout that week, Congress Avenue's northbound right lane will be closed from Seventh Street to Eight Street each day from 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.Viva la Vida Festival and ParadeThe Mexic-Arte Museum will commemorate the...

Pilot charged with trying to crash plane appears to have ties to University of North Dakota

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:59:12 GMT

GRAND FORKS — An off-duty pilot from California who allegedly tried to crash a plane with 80 passengers on board appears to have ties to University of North Dakota (UND), a university that in recent years has recognized the importance of mental health care for pilots.Joseph David Emerson, 44, appears to be a UND alumnus, according to Grand Forks Herald graduation and dean’s list archives, as well as David Dodds, UND communications director.Dodds confirmed that a Joseph David Emerson attended UND from 1997 to 2001, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration in aviation management, but he said “any connection by this individual to the incident … would have to be confirmed by proper authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration.”Herald archives show Joseph Emerson on the dean’s list in a report published in March 2000, as well as the graduation of Joseph Emerson, of Cheney, Washington, in a list published on July 1, 2001.On Sunday, Oct. 22, Horizon Air Flight 2...