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How could the US ban TikTok?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

(The Hill) - Lawmakers are sounding alarms over TikTok and putting forward proposals that aim to ban the video-sharing app, but there’s no clear consensus over what path forward the U.S. government may pursue. In addition to a litany of technical issues over how to enforce a ban on a social media platform, the unprecedented nature of the situation poses obstacles that complicate attempts to block the app, which is owned by China-based parent company ByteDance. The nitty-gritty: How could a TikTok ban be enforced?The growing political pressure, with calls to ban the app on both sides of the aisle but more broadly from Republicans, is rooted in allegations that TikTok poses national security threats. The company has strongly pushed back on the allegations. Can the president do it himself?Former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden, right. (AP Photo/File)To ban the app in the U.S., the president could try to do so through an executive order — which is the cou...

WATCH LIVE | Chicago man exonerated after spending 28 years in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

CHICAGO — A 46-year-old man has had his wrongful conviction of double murder officially overturned after spending 28 years behind bars.David Wright was first arrested in Aug. 1994 for killing his friends Tyrone Rockett and Robert Smith, according to a release from his attorneys. It goes on to state, in "his petition for post-conviction relief, no physical evidence linked him to the murders, nor did any eyewitness witness identify him as being the perpetrator. Instead, in a story that has become all too common, Mr. Wright was convicted based on statements – a false “confession” – he signed following a grueling, abusive 14-hour interrogation by Chicago Police Detectives James Cassidy, Kenneth Boudreau, and John Halloran." Several 7-Elevens robbed across Chicago in last 3 days WGN plans to livestream a press conference following his official exoneration hearing within this story. More details of his case will be added later today.

Driver shows 'Get Out of Jail Free' card to deputy at traffic stop: 'Points for the effort and humor'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

(WFLA) – When a sheriff’s deputy asked to see some identification during a traffic stop outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday, he wasn’t expecting a Monopoly Chance card.“[On Friday, March 24,] a deputy did a traffic stop, and the driver handed him this card, along with his driver’s license,” the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post, including a picture of the pink Monopoly “Get Out of Jail Free” card.Captain Andrew Mahowald, of the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office, told Nexstar the driver had been stopped after one of the department’s deputies spotted him for speeding through Franconia Township just before he produced the card. Do speeding ticket quotas really exist? The deputy and the team behind the CCSO’s Facebook account later had a big laugh about it.“Unfortunately the state of Minnesota does not recognize this as a valid document,” the Facebook post continued. “Points for the effort and humor though!”Despite not recognizing the “document,” C...

19-year-old hospitalized after bullying incident in Georgia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) – Hundreds of people showed up at a vigil on Monday night in front of the Brunswick hospital in Glynn County, Georgia, where 19-year-old Trent Lehrkamp is recovering after an apparent bullying incident left him in the ICU last week.Lehrkamp has been in the hospital for over a week, having been dropped off by three people he called friends last Tuesday. The teen was found to be heavily intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of .464, or more than five times the legal limit in Georgia, police said.Upon arrival, the teen was only taking six breaths per minute, and needed to be placed on a ventilator. He was also covered in spray paint and urine, according to a police report from the Glynn County Police Department. The three teens who dropped Lehrkamp off left their names on a piece of paper and left in a white Jeep. Suspected catalytic converter thief crushed to death at car lot Lehrkamp's father, Mark Lehrkamp, told Glynn County Police officers about two oth...

APD dispatcher leads officers to crime scene, homicide victim using background noise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A dispatcher with the Austin Police Department was able to lead officers to the scene of a homicide by using the sound of the officer’s voices becoming louder on a 911 call, according to a Travis County murder affidavit.On March 22, Austin police officers responded to a shooting call at an apartment complex in the 5800 block of Techni Center Drive.“Austin 9-1-1 received a call from a female screaming ‘I've been shot!’" the affidavit said. RELATED: Woman dies in east Austin shooting According to records, the dispatcher tried to get information from the caller but could only hear the woman, later identified as 27-year-old Shahre-ka Mays, making noises and a possible fire alarm in the background. Records said Mays stopped answering any of her questions and the line went silent.“[An] APD Officer arrived on scene and searched for [Mays] through the apartment complex by checking door to door,” the affidavit said. “APD Dispatch was able to guide the patrol officers on sce...

Magnolia moving HQ into old Waco newspaper building

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

WACO, Texas (FOX44) -- Magnolia, the remodeling and design business based in Waco made famous by its founders Chip and Joanna Gaines, will soon celebrate the opening of a new headquarters.Magnolia says it is 'dedicated to investing in the Downtown Waco community,' and is 'thrilled' to be moving its new headquarters in the former building where the Waco Tribune-Herald was printed.The 110,000-square-foot building was built in 1950 and includes an All Hands Meeting area which can accommodate 200 people, according to a release from Magnolia. The building also has a coffee bar with a mezzanine and a lounge, two break rooms and 20 conference areas.There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Thursday to celebrate the opening of its new headquarters. The event will take place at 9 a.m. at 900 Franklin Avenue.The ceremony will include special appearances from Magnolia founders Chip and Joanna Gaines - as well as Waco Mayor Dillon Meek. The ceremony will take place exclusively outside. The r...

Gophers gain commitment from Pepperdine point guard Mike Mitchell

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

The Gophers men’s basketball program went full circle in the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday.The U received a commitment from Pepperdine transfer point guard Mike Mitchell Jr., per On3Sports, while last year’s primary ball handler, Ta’Lon Cooper, said he will transfer to South Carolina.Mitchell, a 6-foot-2 point guard from San Jose, Calif., averaged 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds in 31 games last season. He appears to have two years of eligibility remaining.Mitchell shot 43 percent from field-goal range, 44 percent from 3 and 76 percent from the free-throw line last season. Pepperdine and Minnesota finished with 9-22 records last season.Mitchell was West Coast Conference all-freshman team in 2021-22 with 9.1 points, 4.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 32 games.Cooper, of Spartanburg, S.C., will head home to the Gamecocks after one year with Minnesota. When Cooper left Morehead State before the 2022-23 season, he initially said he might not use both of his two remaining years of eligibility...

Should St. Paul residents spray paint potholes to alert drivers? City says no.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

As a fearsome pothole season emerges from historic snowfalls, some St. Paul residents have considered marking potholes with spray paint to alert passing drivers.“Can citizens buy neon-colored spray paint to mark the potholes and make them more visible? So no one will forget them. If nothing else, the holes might become more decorative,” wrote Kathy S. of St. Paul, in a contribution to the Pioneer Press’ Sunday Bulletin Board column.Writes another reader, in an email, “Can citizens/city of (St. Paul) spray paint around potholes to alert other drivers?”St. Paul Public Works Director Sean Kershaw said this week that the markings, if they’re obvious from a distance at all, would likely do more to confuse drivers and endanger the well-intentioned spray painters than spare a vehicle alignment. Untrained volunteers crouched in the street, marking holes as they see fit, could easily be run over.“It’s dangerous and not helpful,” said Kershaw, i...

Police investigate fatal crash in Rhinebeck

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

RHINEBECK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Police are investigating a fatal crash involving a stolen vehicle on Route 9 that occurred on Tuesday morning. Jonathan A. Keich, 49, of Ford, New Jersey, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police investigations determined that Keich was traveling northbound on Route 9 when he was struck head-on by a 2015 Toyota 4Runner traveling south. The Toyota 4Runner was confirmed to be stolen from Connecticut. The driver, a 14-year-old juvenile, was transported to the Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. They were remanded to a secure detention facility pending further investigation/charges.Police say the Toyota 4Runner is one of several vehicles reported stolen from the northern Dutchess County/Eastern Connecticut areas on March 27 and 28. Investigations into the thefts are ongoing. Police believe the thefts are the work of an organized group. ...

One dead in Catskill house fire, explosion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:25:55 GMT

CATSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Multiple fire departments and rescue services responded to a house fire and explosion at 193 Main Street in Catskill earlier Wednesday morning. The Catskill Fire Company Inc. says an explosion caused by oxygen tanks at the location lead to a partial collapse of the building. According to the Catskill Fire Chief, one person died as a result of the fire. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Catskill FireCatskill FireCatskill FireImage via Catskill Fire CompanyImage via Catskill Fire CompanyCatskill FireAround 6:24 a.m., a heavily involved structure fire was reported on lower Main Street in Catskill. Firefighters say the fire had reached all three floors in the rear upon arrival. Firefighters tried to enact a rescue and advise others that the fire was going to potentially cut them off and trap them inside. One firefighter escaped by jumping from a second-story window to the lower roof. Fair Haven structu...