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New York City should be held in contempt over conditions in Rikers Island jail, federal monitor says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A court-appointed monitor is urging a judge to begin contempt proceedings against New York City over conditions at the troubled Rikers Island jail complex, setting the stage for a potential federal takeover of the jail system in the nation’s most populous city.In a report filed Monday in Manhattan federal court, the monitor said the city had failed to comply with a series of court orders that aimed to curb violence and mismanagement inside Rikers Island.The report comes less than a month after a federal judge indicated that she would consider placing the jail in receivership, an extraordinary intervention that would end New York City’s control over one of the nation’s largest and most famous jails. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has vigorously opposed a federal takeover. The judge’s decision could come as soon as next month.In a nearly 300-page report, the court-appointed monitor described a “disturbing level of regression” since the city agreed to follow an ac...

After Bayern Munich links, Kane will hold talks with new Spurs boss Postecoglou

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

After links to Bayern Munich, Harry Kane returns to work at Tottenham this week for preseason training. The uncertainty around the England captain’s future at Spurs, however, is not going away.New Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou held his first news conference on Monday since joining from Celtic and was immediately asked about Kane, who enters the final year of his contract at the London club.“I haven’t had any assurances (about his future) and I wouldn’t expect any assurances,” the Australian manager said. “He’s one of the premier strikers in the world and I want him involved.”Postecoglou, known for being a blunt speaker, plans to hold a meeting with Kane this week.“My conversation with him will be about how we can make this club successful and I’ve got no doubts that’s what he wants as well,” Postecoglou said. “What I want is to introduce myself to Harry and give him my vision of the football club and get a sense from him on what he thinks the club needs to do to be succ...

Rally held for encampment residents as city seeks evictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

Mutual Aid Katarokwi-Kingston held a rally in solidarity with unhoused residents in the Belle Park encampment on Monday morning just as the City of Kingston prepared to submit an application to the Superior Court of Justice to permanently remove them. The crowd and speakers at the rally outside of Kingston’s Courthouse expressed their frustration that the city is choosing to pursue a court injunction, a process that could be lengthy, cost the city upwards of $100,000, and wind up ultimately unsuccessful if similar proceedings in the Region of Waterloo set any kind of precedent.The City of Kingston previously did not confirm how much it expected to spend on it’s application, now represented by lawyers at Toronto firm Lenczner Slaght LLP, but said there are a number of circumstances that make the situation in Kingston different than that of Waterloo.“Among other distinguishing factors, there have been serious incidents occurring at the Belle Park encampment, which po...

Colorado pilot charged for illegal helicopter landing at Grand Teton National Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado man is facing federal charges for landing a helicopter in Grand Teton National Park.Helicopter pilot Peter Smith, of Gunnison, faces two misdemeanors in the incident, according to the National Park Service."The unauthorized landing of helicopters is prohibited on the lands and waters within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park in order to protect wildlife and other natural resources and to preserve the visitor experience," the NPS said in a release.Smith is accused of illegally landing his helicopter at Moran Bay, on the west shore of Jackson Lake, on the afternoon of Saturday, June 24. The National Park Service said a Colorado man illegally landed his helicopter in Grand Teton National Park. (Credit: National Park Service)The helicopter landed in an area inaccessible except by boat or by hiking at least 10 miles round trip. Park rangers who heard about the landing reached the site at the foot of the craggy Teton Range by boat.When park rangers arri...

Turkey has agreed to back Sweden’s NATO bid, alliance chief says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

(CNN) — NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that Turkey has agreed to back Sweden’s bid to join the military alliance – a major development on the eve of the NATO summit.The announcement epresents a stunning about-face from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who had earlier on Monday suggested Sweden could only join the alliance after his country is accepted into the European Union. Erdoğan has stood in the path of Sweden joining NATO for more than a year over a multitude of concerns.Speaking at a news conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, following a meeting with Erdoğan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Stoltenberg said that the Turkish president “has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible, and work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification.”Erdoğan dropping his opposition marks a major step forward, but does not mean that Sweden will immediately become the next member of the al...

Emergency crews respond to crash at entrance to City Square Tunnel off Tobin Bridge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

Emergency crews responded in Boston on Monday after a crash at the entrance to the City Square Tunnel coming off the Tobin Bridge. A 7NEWS camera captured the aftermath of the crash, in which a truck hit the jersey barrier in the center of the road. A separate photo shared with 7NEWS showed the truck cab stuck in the air, on top of the barrier.In addition to state police, fire crews were also spotted on scene shortly before 5:30 p.m. At least one lane in the area was closed after the crash, causing a traffic backup. A tow truck was brought to the scene and crews were spotted working to haul the crashed truck away before 6:30 p.m. No further information was immediately available.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Aretha Franklin’s sons clash over her wishes in trial over dual wills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

By ED WHITE (Associated Press)PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — Two sons of the late singer Aretha Franklin gave opposing opinions Monday about the Queen of Soul’s final wishes, testifying in an unusual trial that will determine whether a 2014 handwritten document found in couch cushions will lead her estate.Franklin died in 2018 at age 76 without a formal, typewritten will, and five years later her legacy still is tied up in a suburban Detroit court after a niece found different sets of handwritten papers at her home.The issue for a jury: Does a 2014 document count as a will under Michigan law? If so, it could trump a 2010 handwritten will that was found in a locked cabinet at the same time. The older version, however, was notarized and repeatedly signed by Franklin. Ted White II, a son who played guitar during his mother’s performances, favors the 2010 document.“With all the time I spent working with her administratively … every other document that she ever signe...

Red Sox load up on shortstops during MLB Draft’s second day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

The Red Sox may have have snapped their streak of selecting high school shortstops in the first round, but if their draft so far has been any indication they’re still placing a heavy emphasis on the position.Three of Boston’s first four selections on Monday were shortstops, and overall the club has drafted four in total over the first two days of the 2023 MLB Draft.Antonio Anderson, out of North Atlanta High in Georgia, was Boston’s third-round pick at No. 83 overall. The 6-foot-3 shortstop was ranked as the No. 68 prospect in the draft by Baseball America and is considered a polished left-handed hitter with good plate discipline and power potential.Anderson was followed by Matt Duffy, a right-handed pitcher from Canisius College, in the fourth round at No. 115. Duffy is the reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year who posted a 4.13 ERA with 119 strikeouts and 28 walks in 80.2 innings this past season.Boston then made back-to-back picks at No...

Landslide tears apart luxury homes on Southern California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, Calif. (AP) — A landslide tore apart luxury homes on Southern California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula on Monday, leaving a confused jumble of collapsed roofs, shattered walls, tilted chimneys and decks dangling over an adjacent canyon.The slide in the Los Angeles County city of Rolling Hills Estates began Saturday when cracks began appearing in structures and the ground. Twelve homes were red-tagged as unsafe, and residents were given just 20 minutes to evacuate.The pace of destruction increased through the weekend and into Monday.“It is moving quickly,” said Janice Hahn, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, who represents the area. “You can actually hear the snap, crackle and pop every minute when you’re there as each home is shifting, is moving.”It was initially believed that all of the red-tagged homes were sliding, but Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis clarified Monday afternoon that 10 were actively ...

2023 MLB draft, Day 2 tracker: Orioles continue run on college players, select six more pitchers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:19 GMT

After drafting Vanderbilt outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. in the first round of the MLB draft Sunday night, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias detailed the confidence he has in the organization’s scouting of college players.“We pour a ton of data analysis resources into college statistics and college data,” Elias said, “so anytime we can take an elite college player, we feel good about the work that’s gone into that.”But Bradfield was just the beginning of the Orioles’ run on college players. Each of Baltimore’s first 12 selections were college players, including North Carolina outfielder-third baseman Mac Horvath and Florida State right-hander Jackson Baumeister on Day 1 and nine more on Day 2.Baumeister’s selection was somewhat of a surprise considering the Elias regime’s preference to pick position players early in drafts. At No. 63 overall, Baumeister became the first pitcher Baltimore has ...