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The Biden administration guaranteed attorney access for all migrant screenings. Most don’t have it

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — As the Biden administration prepared to launch speedy asylum screenings at Border Patrol holding facilities this spring , authorities pledged a key difference from a Trump-era version of the policy: Migrants would be guaranteed access to legal counsel.Nearly three months and thousands of screenings later, the promise of attorney access appears largely unfulfilled, based on advocacy group reports and interviews with people directly involved, some of whom spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the effort publicly. A coterie of involved attorneys estimate that perhaps 100 migrants have secured formal representation, and only hundreds more have received informal advice through one-time phone calls ahead of the expedited screenings.Jones Day, one of the world’s largest law firms, has partnered with the administration to provide free legal advice to migrants. Its phone bank handled 460 informal phone consultatio...

Indiana Jones’ box office destiny? A lukewarm $60 million debut in North America

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

Indiana Jones, and executives at the Walt Disney Co. and Lucasfilm, made a somewhat dispiriting discovery this weekend. Moviegoers didn’t rush to the theater in significant numbers to see “ Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and say goodbye to Harrison Ford as the iconic archaeologist.The film, reportedly budgeted north of $250 million, came in on the lower end of projections with $60 million in ticket sales from 4,600 North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. Including $70 million from international showings in 52 markets, “Dial of Destiny” celebrated a $130 million global opening. It easily earned the No. 1 title but was not the high-rolling sendoff for one of modern cinema’s most iconic actor/character pairings that anyone hoped. Disney is projecting that it will make $82 million domestically through the fourth of July holiday and $152 million globally.“Dial of Destiny” is the long-delayed fifth installment in the Steven Spielberg/George Lucas...

Quebec wildfires: Environment Canada lifts smog warnings across the province

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

MONTREAL — Environment Canada has lifted smog warnings that have been in place across large swaths of Quebec for several days.In parts of northwestern Quebec, including the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, smog warnings have been downgraded to air quality alerts. Air quality alerts are also in place in much of northern Quebec, including areas along James Bay and parts of the far north.Quebec’s wildfire prevention agency says 139 new fires were reported on Saturday, with 95 per cent of those started by lightning strikes.Of the fires that remain active in the province, it says only three are considered out of control.The agency, SOPFEU, says it has contained a large fire burning near Lebel-sur-Quévillon, a northern Quebec city that was evacuated twice in June. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2023. The Canadian Press

Illinois businessman convicted of price-gouging N95 masks during early weeks of pandemic

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A Illinois businessman has been convicted of price-gouging in connection with the sale of N95 masks during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Krikor Topouzian, 62, of Winnetka, was convicted Thursday in federal court in Chicago following a bench trial, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. He could face up to a year in prison when he’s sentenced Oct. 10. Topouzian owned a health supply company in Skokie, Illinois, according to prosecutors. He purchased about 80,000 N95 masks in March and April of 2020 for about $5 per mask and then sold them for about $20 per mask, prosecutors said. He boasted about making as much as $80,000 per day and $1 million in a matter of weeks, prosecutors said. The masks has been labeled “scarce materials” during the pandemic as part of the Defense Production Act. Topouzian’s attorneys, listed in online court records as Thomas More Leinenweber and Matthew John McQuaid, didn’t immediately respond to an email Sunday seeking comment...

3 of 9 enter pleas in burglary ring in theft of art, sports memorabilia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Three of nine people have pleaded guilty to federal charges in a burglary ring that authorities in northeastern Pennsylvania say stole art, sports memorabilia and other items from museums and other institutions over two decades.Ralph Parry, 45, and Francesco “Frank” Tassiello, 50, pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork and interstate transportation of stolen property, The (Scranton) Times-Tribune reported. Daryl Rinker, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit concealment and disposal of major artwork and interstate transportation of stolen property, the paper reported. Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced charges in June against nine Lackawanna County residents in 18 heists from art, historical and sports museums and other institutions in six states between 1999 and 2019.The thefts included Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock art taken from the Everhart Museum in Scranton and a Jasp...

LIVE BLOG: Day 2 of NASCAR in Chicago: Opening delayed due to weather

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

Organizers are hoping the weather cooperates Sunday for Day 2 of NASCAR in Chicago.Torrential downpours have caused flooding issues throughout Chicago Sunday morning. Latest forecast updates here. Gates were scheduled to open at 9 a.m. but officials tweeted that it would be delayed due to weather. They opened at 10:15 a.m.Below are real-time updates on the course and timeline for Sunday11:07 a.m. — After the delayed start, the NASCAR Xfinity Series is in a "holding pattern" due to standing water on the course.#UPDATE via NASCAR: "Due to standing water on the street course, the resumption of the race is currently in a holding pattern."— Courtney Spinelli (@CourtSpinelliTV) July 2, 202310:35 a.m. — The Loop 121 race was scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. on lap number 26. Organizers said it will now start at 10:45 a.m.#UPDATE on #NASCARChicago per spokesperson: “Due to the threat of severe weather this morning, the opening of gates to the Chicago Street Race will be delay...

Schaumburg Boomers offer fun for the whole family

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The Schaumburg Boomers games offer fun for the whole family."We are a MLB partner league which means our players can be picked up by any MLB organization," Michael Larson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, said. "We're not directly tied to a specific one, but we do fall under the MLB umbrella."Special theme nights, post-game events and promotions fill their schedule."We have a big game coming up on July 3, tomorrow night, with post game fireworks, an extended show," Larson said. "And then on July 4 another game on 6 p.m. The first thousand fans get a grill spatula, extra large show, so we hope fans come out!" The team plays at the Wintrust Field located at 1999 S Springinsguth in Schaumburg.More information on their website.

There's a wrong way to eat a hot dog, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Americans are expected to eat roughly 150 million hot dogs on July 4th — and many of those Americans will be doing it wrong, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC), a trade association established by the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) in 1994, has long celebrated all varieties of hot dogs and condiments. But there’s one topping the NHDSC just can’t tolerate, and the council is making its feelings known ahead of Independence Day.“No matter how you top it, any hot dog is delicious,” said NHDSC President Eric Mittenthal in a 2021 press release. “Well, except for [hot dogs] with ketchup. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council etiquette guide says only children should eat their hot dogs with ketchup.” Pepsi is launching a condiment made specifically for hot dogs Mittenthal’s remarks concerning ketchup appear to reflect a long-held belief among members of the NHDSC, too. In a 2008 video produced by the o...

Man, 65, and his dog attacked by a bear in Connecticut

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

LITCHFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — A 65-year-old man was attacked by a bear while attempting to help his dog in Litchfield, Connecticut, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.  DEEP’s investigation showed that the attack happened at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Saturday after the bear entered the man’s porch. Authorities say the bear was looking into the birdfeeders on the porch when a dog began to chase it. That's when the bear attacked the dog, according to DEEP. The man then intervened and was also attacked by the bear. Both the homeowner and his dog were taken to medical facilities for their injuries. The man's wife, Andrea Monschein, described the bear as a female black bear. Video: Crack found in North Carolina roller coaster, ride closed until further notice She told Nexstar's WTNH she has seen the bear in her backyard and around the neighborhood before.“It happened so fast, it was only like 60 seconds," she said. “Cooper [their dog] attacked her. When ...

Loons mad at referee, but Adrian Heath, Michael Boxall set for suspensions

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:28:32 GMT

Allianz Field on Saturday resembled that famous “Oprah” episode, except instead of giving away cars, cards were being handed out left and right.“You get a card! And you get a card!”MLS referee Lukasz Szpala continually reached into his pocket, and the yellow card he kept pulling out will hurt Minnesota United long after its 4-1 victory over Portland Timbers.The cautions issued to manager Adrian Heath and center back Michael Boxall mean both key pieces reached card accumulation and will be suspended for next weekend’s match against Austin FC.Boxall was booked for dissent over a foul call in the 16th minute of the game; it came amid a flurry of four cards issued to four Loons players in the opening 34 minutes.The Loons were whistled for nine fouls to the Timbers’ seven on Saturday. Minnesota United was issued five yellow cards to Portland’s one. After one foul call, both Boxall and Hassani Dotson threw up their hands in dismay.Heath was booked in th...