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1 of 3 Washington officers charged in death of Black man Manuel Ellis testifies in his own defense

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — One of the three police officers charged with killing Manuel Ellis, a Black man whose death in 2020 as he pleaded for air became a touchstone for racial justice protesters in the Pacific Northwest, took the witness stand in his own defense Monday, saying he lamented Ellis’ passing but wouldn’t have done anything differently.The testimony from Tacoma police officer Matthew Collins came as the more than two-month trial draws toward closing arguments.Collins, 40, and Christopher Burbank, 38, have been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, while Timothy Rankine, 34, is charged with manslaughter. All three officers have pleaded not guilty, are free on bail and remain on paid leave with the Tacoma Police Department.Ellis was shocked with a Taser, beaten and restrained face down on a Tacoma sidewalk, with police on top of him, as he pleaded for breath. The Pierce County medical examiner ruled Ellis’ death a homicide caused by oxygen deprivatio...

Home explodes in Virginia after suspect fires flare gun, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WDVM) -- Police in Virginia are investigating an explosion at a house where a man allegedly discharged a flare gun inside the residence. The Arlington County Police Department said officers were trying to serve a search warrant at the home in Arlington, a suburb of Washington, D.C., on Monday. The suspect fired several shots inside the home and an explosion happened, according to authorities. A massive boom was heard in the area just after 8:20 p.m. Power was knocked out in the immediate area and flames could be seen shooting in the air from a nearby street. Stretchers were also seen near the house.Some officers had minor injuries but did not need to go to a hospital for treatment. Police are still investigating the explosion.The Associated Press contributed to this story.

George Santos movie in the works at HBO

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

(The Hill) -- HBO is set to produce a movie Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who was just expelled from Congress after a damning ethics report. Deadline reported on Monday that the network has optioned the rights to author Mark Chiusano’s new book on the disgraced politician. Chiusano’s book, "The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos," was published last week.  Santos’s first post-Congress gig: Selling videos on Cameo  Former “Veep” and “Succession” producer Franck Rich and Mike Makowsky, writer-producer of HBO award-winning film “Bad Education,” will executive produce the Santos’ film project with Chiusano serving as a consulting producer, per Deadline.  The unnamed film, now under development, will focus on the meteoric rise of Santos, who won his state’s 3rd Congressional District in last November’s midterm elections. Santos became a national name after damning reports that he invented much of his biography...

Poll: Trump leads Republican field, DeSantis the second choice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

NewsNation will host the fourth Republican primary debate on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. E.T. The debate will be aired and streamed live on all NewsNation platforms. Not sure how to find us on your TV? Use our ChannelFinder app. If you have a question for the candidates, submit it here. (NewsNation) — Former President Donald Trump is the frontrunner for the GOP nomination and holds a 50-point lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, according to a new NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll released Monday.Trump was the top choice for 60% of Republicans surveyed, followed by DeSantis at 11%, Haley (10%), biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (6%) and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 3%.The former president's lead is even wider on the most important issue for voters. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans (64%) think Trump is the best candidate for the economy versus 8% who feel the same way about DeSantis and 7.5% who...

HHSC tackles Medicaid, SNAP backlog with '6 Days of Merry Service' OT raffle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With many low-income and vulnerable Texans waiting months to get Medicaid and federal food assistance, state officials are now encouraging employees to work 15 hours or more in overtime this week with a "Holiday Blitz(en)" dubbed the "6 Days of Merry Service Challenge," according to an internal memo provided to KXAN."I don't know whether to call it a joke or a desperation tactic," said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, whose office obtained the letter.The holiday overtime drive comes weeks after officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture met with leaders from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for a "technical assistance visit" to talk about reducing the backlog for federal food benefit through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). HHSC whistleblower employees say people are waiting around 200 days for help many consider a lifeline.Right now, it's taking "around 120" days for applications just to get looked at, according to the memo. ...

Appeals court temporarily stops feds from cutting Texas' border razor wire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Monday granted a temporary administrative stay in response to Texas' request to stop U.S. Border Patrol and other federal border agents from cutting and removing the state's border barriers along the Rio Grande. Death, Denial, and a Region Under Siege — Part One The three judges ruled unanimously, and the federal government has until Friday evening to appeal, according to the order.In response to Monday's administrative order, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said, “This is an important step supporting Texas’s right to protect our citizens from Biden’s doctrine of open borders at any cost.” “I am pleased the court recognized the extent of the federal government’s blatant and disturbing efforts to subvert law and order at our state’s border with Mexico,” Paxton said in a statement.Miles of concertina wire, and shipping containers, have been put on the Rio Grande by the State of Texas in Eagle...

Twins in ‘early feeling-out phase’ at Winter Meetings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

NASHVILLE — The Boston Red Sox hired away Justin Willard, the Twins’ pitching coordinator, marking the biggest news for the Twins on a slow-moving first day of baseball’s Winter Meetings.Neither the trade nor free-agency markets have picked up much this offseason, leading to a relatively quiet day for the Twins on Monday.The Twins have yet to add a major-league player to their roster this offseason, though they have lost some — free-agent pitchers Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda and Emilio Pagán have already signed elsewhere — but when they do, it’s very possible that their most impactful acquisitions come via trade rather than free agency.“It’s probably the market we’ve always been pretty active in,” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. “… Obviously we made some significant trades last year. I think it’s always going to be a factor for us. Ultimately a little different than maybe some of the free agents this year, for sure.”The Twins have a number of needs to add...

Byron Buxton healing well, Twins optimistic about his return to center field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

NASHVILLE — Byron Buxton made his way to the Twin Cities last week for an important check-up, seven weeks out from a surgical procedure to excise the plica in his troublesome right knee. Dr. Christopher Camp was there, as was Twins head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta and major-league strength and conditioning coach Aaron Rhodes.Their thoughts?“They felt like he was moving around about as well as they had seen him move around in a long time, which was great,” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. “He was doing some things that he couldn’t really do last year at different times in terms of how he was moving.”Indeed, the news on the star center fielder — and yes, the Twins are expecting Buxton to play his natural position again come next season — sounded about as positive as it could be at this time of year.Camp, Falvey said, told Buxton that he was fully cleared from the surgery — his second in as many years on the right knee — and was ready to move on to the next...

Woman killed in Sunday night rollover crash on I-35W in Burnsville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

A 55-year-old woman was killed Sunday night when the Toyota Highlander she was driving veered off Interstate 35W in Burnsville and rolled over, Minnesota State Patrol said.According to the State Patrol, shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday, Leslie Ann Fitzgerald Doll’s Highlander went off southbound I-35W at Southcross Drive in Burnsville. The SUV rolled down an embankment and came to a stop upside down.Doll was pronounced dead at the scene.Her hometown wasn’t immediately reported by the State Patrol. The crash remains under investigation.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Roseau pair stole electricity to run bitcoin farm, suit alleges Crime & Public Safety | Motorist killed in St. Paul crash, 2 injured following brief State Patrol pursuit on I-94 Crime & Public Safety | Copper thefts darken St. Paul streets … and now also hamper telephone service Crime & Public Safety | Mahtomedi hockey player ...

Catholic Central volleyball honors player who died while on vacation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:14 GMT

LANSINGBURGH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Troy teenager who died while swimming at the beach in Florida was honored Monday night at her high school's volleyball game. Danielle Marceline died in December 2022 while her family was on vacation. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Marceline's school, Catholic Central, retired her jersey number at their game against Lansingburgh. Money raised from Monday's event also went to the scholarship fund in her honor.