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Belarus’ authoritarian leader tightens control over the country’s religious groups

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a law into effect that significantly tightens control over various religious denominations and organizations.The law, published on the presidential website this week, mandates that all denominations and religious groups reapply for state registration, which authorities reserve the right to refuse.It’s the latest step in Lukashenko’s a crackdown on dissent, which intensified after a disputed presidential election in 2020 gave the authoritarian leader a sixth term in office. The government arrested more than 35,000 protesters in demonstrations that denounced the vote as rigged, and thousands of them were beaten in custody. Many were forced to leave the country to escape prosecution.Since 2022, involvement in unregistered organizations became a criminal offense, punishable by up to two years in prison.According to official data in 2023, a total of 3,417 religious groups were registered in Belarus, a c...

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake shakes a wide area of Southern California, no injuries reported

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A light but widely felt earthquake shook Southern California on Friday. There were no immediate reports of damage to buildings, other infrastructure or injuries.The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 4.1 quake struck at 10:55 a.m. and was centered about a mile (1 kilometer) northwest of Lytle Creek, in the San Gabriel Mountains about 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles.Such a quake is typically not strong enough to cause significant damage. Michael Guardado, who works at the front desk of the U.S. Forest Service’s Lytle Creek Ranger Station, said the “building shook hard.”Officials were working to determine the earthquake’s impact on the area and Guardado said he had heard that “a lot of rocks” had fallen onto Lytle Creek Road.Cari Torguson, a bartender at Melody’s Place in Lytle Creek, said she felt “a hard boom and a shake” from the earthquake.“It wasn’t very long but it was scary,” she told The Associated Press.A decorative glass mushro...

17-year-old and 19-year-old arrested in North York home invasion, car theft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

A 17-year-old and 19-year-old are facing charges for their alleged involvement in a home invasion and car theft in North York, Toronto police said. Officers were called to a home in the Yonge Street and Florence Avenue area at around 4 a.m. on Dec. 21 for reports of break-and-enter.It’s alleged that five suspects approached the residence, and two of them forcibly entered the home through a back patio. Related: 5 Toronto teens between ages of 14 and 16 busted in Markham carjacking probe Illegally parked vehicle led police to Toronto carjacking, home invasion suspect Once inside, police said the two suspects demanded the homeowner’s car keys and threatened the victim with a can of pepper spray. The suspects fled the residence with the victim’s vehicle. No injuries were reported.Authorities were able to identify the two suspects in collaboration with the Provincial Car Jacking Task Force.On Friday, police said a 17-year-old male youth f...

'Meaningful step': Paid Leave Ordinance begins in Cook County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

CHICAGO — Employees in Cook County will now have more flexibility to take time off.President Toni Preckwinkle joined Cook County elected officials and several others in a press conference Friday morning to share information on the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance.The new ordinance allows workers to earn up to 40 hours of paid leave, instead of just sick time, over a 12-month period. Employees will accrue one hour of leave for every 40 hours worked. It went into effect on Jan. 1.The ordinance mirrors the state's Paid Leave for All Workers Act, which also went into effect on Jan. 1.Just like the state's act, the Paid Leave Ordinance does not distinguish between part-time, full-time or seasonal employees. "It's a meaningful step towards fostering a healthier work-life balance," Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada said. Illinois workers can begin earning time off under Paid Leave for All Workers Act starting Jan. 1 In Chicago, the city council amended the Paid Leave and Paid...

Suburban police issue warning over limited-edition Stanley cup scams

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

MORTON GROVE, Ill. — The Morton Grove Police Department has issued a warning to shoppers looking to purchase Stanley cups online.The warning comes after Stanley released a collaboration with Starbucks: a “Winter Pink" tumbler sold exclusively at Target — causing a frenzy that had the insulated cups flying off the shelves. Starbucks pink Stanley Quencher release causes chaos at Target Well, the police department has a warning for people who are looking for the coveted cups online: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."Beware of tricky websites using the brand’s popularity. Shady websites pretending to offer discounts on Stanley cups have been found to be scamming shoppers. If you purchase a cup through a shady website, your personal information may be compromised and your money...gone," the department stated in a post on Facebook.The police department shared the following tips to avoid online scams:Only make purchases through verified, trusted sellers.Watch ou...

3 years after Capitol riot, almost 1,000 convictions; Gov. Pritzker issues statement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

(The Hill) — Ahead of the three-year anniversary of the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, about 1,000 rioters have either pleaded guilty or been convicted of crimes ranging from felonies such as seditious conspiracy and assaulting police officers to misdemeanors such as trespassing. More than 1,200 individuals have been charged with federal crimes over the insurrection. In what has become the biggest criminal investigation in American history, prosecutors are still searching for suspects in an effort that promises to continue to keep Washington's federal courthouses busy for months to come. Around 1,230 people have been hit with federal crimes. Some 730 have pleaded guilty, while approximately 170 people have been convicted on at least one charge at trials decided by a jury or judge, according to an Associated Press (AP) database. Only two defendants were cleared of all charges. Federal prosecutors are still looking for at least 80 suspects. They also want to kn...

Wayne LaPierre resigns as NRA head

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

National Rifle Association (NRA) head Wayne LaPierre will resign from the organization at the end of the month, the group announced Friday.LaPierre’s resignation, first reported by Fox News, comes as the organization defends itself in a New York civil suit alleging he and other executives spent millions of the group’s funds on luxury vacations and other perks.“With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA,” LaPierre said in a statement. “I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.”The 74-year-old cited health concerns for his resignation, which will take effect Jan. 31. LaPierre has helmed the NRA for more than three decades, leading it through triumph as it gained political clout, controversy after innumerable mass shootings and downfall as the group has run i...

Chicago Public Library offering free COVID-19 tests as CPS students head back to classrooms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

CHICAGO — As CPS students and staff return back to school Monday, the Chicago Public Library is offering free COVID-19 tests.The announcement was made Friday, saying the free rapid take-home tests are available for pick-up at any Chicago Public Library.FULL LIST HEREThe library encourages taking a test before returning back to classrooms.This comes as some Chicago area hospitals are requiring masks again as respiratory infections are on the rise. Some Chicago area hospitals requiring masks again as respiratory infections rising According to Cook County Health Department (CCHD) officials, data for the week ending on Dec. 23 showed emergency department visits with flu diagnoses had surpassed the number for COVID-19, but overall COVID-19 admissions to Cook County hospitals remained higher than general flu admissions.

Trump says DeSantis should 'get on a plane and go back to Florida today'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

(The Hill) -- Former President Donald Trump told fellow GOP presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) on Friday that he should “get on a plane and go back to Florida." Each has planned events this weekend in Iowa to campaign ahead of the caucuses.“Ron DeSanctimonious has one minor flaw against the Democrats — He has ZERO personality. If I didn’t endorse him, he would have finished, during the Primary, at 3%,” Trump posted to his Truth Social site. “NO LOYALTY! Bobblehead is now in third place, Jeff Roe has taken all of his money and quit, and he should get on a plane and go back to Florida today.”Trump’s comments come the morning after DeSantis participated in a town hall event hosted by CNN in Des Moines. DeSantis poked Trump several times throughout the event.Roe, whom Trump mentioned in his post, was a top strategist for the super PAC linked to DeSantis and left his position last month after a report detailed the inner workings of the super PAC. Wayne LaPierre resigns ...

Hybrid record store, tap room opens in Lisle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:56 GMT

LISLE, Ill. — A new hybrid record store and tap room has opened up in Lisle.Crooked Arm Vinyl & Tap, located at 6450 College Road in the College Square Shopping Center, boasts a collection of 13,000 vinyl records and eight taps.The store is an extension of J&B Music, a music lesson academy and instrument shop in Joliet."We know craft beer and vinyl each have their respective passionate communities, so bringing them together under one roof just made a lot of sense to me, and we think it will make a lot of sense to our guests too," said owner Joe Lottino.A grand opening celebration is being held Friday and Saturday."We’re welcoming to all: audiophiles, vinyl first-timers, Swifties and everyone in between," Lottino said. ‘Having fun with it’: Meet the Chicago-style hot dog croissant by Daisies, The Wieners Circle The store currently has eight local beers on tap with two coming soon.Crooked Arm Vinyl and Tap is open noon to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.