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Biden supports Sweden’s NATO bid, hosting prime minister at the White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden welcomed Sweden’s prime minister to the White House on Wednesday in a show of solidarity as the United States ramps up pressure for the Nordic nation’s entry into NATO ahead of the alliance’s summit next week.Biden said it was very important for Sweden to join, something that’s been held up by objections from Turkey and Hungary. NATO requires the unanimous approval of all members to expand. “You are a valued, valued friend,” the president said to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during brief public remarks in the Oval Office.Kristersson responded by saying that “we highly appreciate your strong support” for joining NATO.The two leaders were also expected to discuss security cooperation, Russia’s war in Ukraine and matters involving China during their private meeting. Sweden and neighbor Finland ended their longstanding policy of military nonalignment after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Both applied for NATO...

The wealthy should give more to charity, say people who stopped donating, according to a new poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

A new poll of Americans found that nearly half of those who stopped giving to charity over the past five years said they did so because they thought wealthier people could afford to give more — and should. Others said they simply could not afford to give.The survey of more than 2,100 adults across the United States, released by the Better Business Bureau’s Give.org, adds to research on the shrinking number of households that contribute to charity each year, dropping from 66% in 2000 to 49.6% in 2018. The impact of the decline became even more clear when a Giving USA report revealed donations from individuals dropped by 13.4% after inflation and led to one of the steepest declines in contributions in recent decades.Art Taylor, CEO of BBB’s Give.org, says that many nonprofits have attracted wealthy donors to their causes, and that is turning off people of more modest means who don’t think their gifts are needed.Taylor says he worries about that trend because he says an overreliance on...

Woman arrested for Toronto retail robberies, threatening people with syringe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

A woman is facing several charges related to a series of Toronto retail robberies from late 2021 to 2023, during which she allegedly threatened various employees with a syringe.Toronto police responded to five robbery calls in the following areas: Church Street and Carlton Street, Jane Street and Wilson Avenue, Carlaw Avenue and Gerrard Street East, Parliament Street and Winchester Street and Broadview Avenue and Danforth Avenue.It’s alleged that in each incident, a woman would enter a store, select items and place them into bags. Police said she would start to exit the store without paying for the items. If employees approached her, she would produce a syringe and threaten them.No injuries were reported.On July 4, 2023, police arrested 32-year-old Amelia Marie Atwell of no fixed address. She’s been charged with five counts of robbery with an offensive weapon, disguise with intent and three counts of failing to comply with a release order.She appeared in court on July 5,...

Trump posted what he said was Obama’s address, prosecutors say. An armed man was soon arrested there

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform what he claimed was the home address of former President Barack Obama on the same day that a man with guns in his van was arrested near the property, federal prosecutors said Wednesday in revealing new details about the case.Taylor Taranto, 37, who prosecutors say participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, kept two firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition inside a van he had driven cross-country and had been living in, according to a Justice Department motion that seeks to keep him behind bars. On the day of his June 29 arrest, prosecutors said, Taranto reposted a Truth Social post from Trump containing what Trump claimed was Obama’s home address. In a post on Telegram, Taranto wrote: “We got these losers surrounded! See you in hell, Podesta’s and Obama’s.” That’s a reference to John Podesta, the former chair of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Democratic presidential campaign. Taranto als...

Help arrives to battle wildfire in Washington state near Columbia River Gorge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

UNDERWOOD, Wash. (AP) — Authorities have more than doubled the number of people battling a wildfire that has burned structures and forced the evacuation of homes in southwestern Washington near the Columbia River Gorge. The blaze that began Sunday in the unincorporated area of Underwood across from Hood River, Oregon, had burned about 546 acres (221 hectares) and was 5% contained as of Wednesday, according to a post on an interagency Facebook page backed by the state Department of Natural Resources.Nearly 375 people are fighting the fire, with more on the way including an elite firefighting crew to work in challenging terrain on the fire’s western edge, according to the post. The National Weather Service’s red flag warning remained for the area through 11 p.m. Wednesday, with hot, dry and unstable conditions that could cause the fire to spread rapidly.Fire activity increased Tuesday afternoon on the western edge of the fire, with helicopters and air tankers helping keep ...

Son of jailed Belarusian presidential hopeful handed 8-year sentence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The son of a jailed Belarusian presidential hopeful was convicted and sentenced Wednesday on charges that he and other activists rejected as trumped up.The Minsk District Court sentenced Eduard Babaryka, 34, to eight years in prison for “organizing mass riots” and “inciting hatred” — accusations that he denied. “I have not committed a single crime I am accused of,” said Babaryka, who has been in custody since his arrest more than three years ago. “The investigation did not find a single piece of evidence of my guilt.”He is the son of Viktar Babaryka, an aspiring presidential candidate who sought to challenge Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in a 2020 election but was denied registration for the race and later handed a 14-year prison sentence.The condition of the older Babaryka hasn’t been known for over two months, and his supporters suspect he was beaten and put in a prison hospital.The August 2020 vote that handed a sixth te...

1 dead, others injured as gunfire erupts at Fourth of July gathering in Englewood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Five people were shot, one fatally, early Wednesday in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. According to Chicago police, a group was gathering in the 5600 block of South Ada Street Tuesday for what neighbors said was a Fourth of July block party.Police said shots were fired around 4:45 a.m. Wednesday and five people were struck. According to police, a 35-year-old man was shot in the chest and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. A 21-year-old man was beaten and sustained injuries to his head. He remains in critical condition, following an update from Chicago police. Additionally, police said, a 23-year-old man was struck in the abdomen and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. A 27-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital in stable condition.A 21-year-old woman was struck in the leg and taken to the hospital where she was stabilized. A 29-year-old man was stuck in the foot and leg and taken to the hospital where he was stabilized. ...

Woman dead, children seriously injured in Elmhurst head-on crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

ELMHURST, Ill. — A woman died and two children were seriously injured following a head-on crash Wednesday morning in Elmhurst.Just after 5:05 a.m., authorities responded to the call of a serious crash on St. Charles Road near Hill Avenue. At the scene officers located a Chevrolet SUV and an Audi SUV both with significant front-end damage.The driver of the Chevy, a woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl were transported from the SUV with serious injuries.The driver the Audi, another woman, was transported with serious injuries.Police believe the Chevrolet SUV was traveling eastbound on St. Charles Road when it drifted over the center line and struck the Audi.The road was closed until 11:30 a.m.

West Town man missing more than a week may need medical aid, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police seek the public's help locating a missing 26-year-old man who may require medical attention. Police on Wednesday said Regan Lucas, of Chicago's West Town neighborhood, has been missing since June 26. He was last seen in the 1900 block of W. Race wearing blue jeans and a short sleeve purple paisley shirt. Lucas, who may also frequent the 1st Police District, stands 5"7', weighs 125 pounds, and has green eyes and black hair. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAnyone with information on Lucas's whereabouts can call (312) 744-8266.

CPD, OEMC, city agencies hold news conference on partnership for safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Over 50 people were shot in Chicago over the July Fourth weekend, police said.Chicago police said 57 people were shot from 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.Eight people died in those shootings. A ninth person died from blunt force trauma.The Chicago Police Department, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications and the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety plan to hold a news conference Wednesday at 1 p.m. to “highlight the citywide partnership.”Video of the full news conference will be available shortly.