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Illinois appeals court to hear arguments on Jussie Smollett request to toss convictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Jussie Smollett’s drawn out legal saga begins anew Tuesday when an Illinois appeals court will hear oral arguments that the former “Empire” actor’s convictions for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police should be tossed.If the appeal before the Chicago-based First District Appellate Court fails, Smollett would have to finish a 150-day stint in jail that his trial judge ordered during his 2022 sentencing. Smollett spent just six days in jail before his release pending the outcome of the appeal. A ruling is expected to take several weeks. Among a long list of arguments in the 76-page written appeal from Smollett’s lawyers is that his 2021 trial violated his Fifth Amendment protections against double jeopardy — being punished for the same crime twice. It says he already performed community service and forfeited a $10,000 bond as part of a 2019 deal with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to drop ...

Hillary Clinton is stepping over the White House threshold in yet another role

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — During her husband’s 1992 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton observed that “our lives are a mixture of different roles” and said most people are trying to find the right balance.“For me, that balance is family, work and service,” she said.Clinton juggled those roles — and more — during eight years as first lady in the White House. She’s returning Tuesday for her first public appearance in the building since the Obama years to indulge her love for the arts.In her White House years, she was a wife, a mother and the nation’s hostess, but also a wronged spouse, the head of a national health care task force and on the cover of Vogue. In later years, she stepped over the White House threshold as a visiting senator and Cabinet member, but never in the long-sought role of Madam President.Early on as first lady, she held a rare news conference where she was grilled about the Clintons’ past real estate dealings, declaring that she had been “rezoned” out of he...

It’s Google versus the US in the biggest antitrust trial in decades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Google will confront a threat to its dominant search engine beginning Tuesday when federal regulators launch an attempt to dismantle its internet empire in the biggest U.S. antitrust trial in a quarter century.Over the next 10 weeks, federal lawyers and state attorneys general will try to prove Google rigged the market in its favor by locking its search engine in as the default choice in a plethora of places and devices. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta likely won’t issue a ruling until early next year. If he decides Google broke the law, another trial will decide what steps should be taken to rein in the Mountain View, California-based company. Top executives at Google and its corporate parent Alphabet Inc., as well as those from other powerful technology companies are expected to testify. Among them is likely to be Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, who succeeded Google co-founder Larry Page four years ago. Court documents also suggest that Eddy Cue, a high ranking ...

The ‘science of reading’ swept reforms into classrooms nationwide. What about math?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

For much of her teaching career, Carrie Stark relied on math games to engage her students, assuming they would pick up concepts like multiplication by seeing them in action. The kids had fun, but the lessons never stuck.A few years ago she shifted her approach, turning to more direct explanation after finding a website on a set of evidence-based practices known as the science of math.“I could see how the game related to multiplication, but the kids weren’t making those connections,” said Stark, a math teacher in the suburbs of Kansas City. “You have to explicitly teach the content.”As American schools work to turn around math scores that plunged during the pandemic, some researchers are pushing for more attention to a set of research-based practices for teaching math. The movement has passionate backers, but is still in its infancy, especially compared with the phonics-based “science of reading” that has inspired changes in how classrooms across the country approach literacy. ...

Aerosmith reschedules upcoming Toronto show after Steven Tyler suffers vocal injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

Rock band Aerosmith is postponing a concert in Toronto scheduled for Tuesday Sept. 12 after singer Steven Tyler suffered vocal cord damage at a weekend performance.Tyler says in a statement on Aerosmith’s account on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he’s heartbroken to postpone the show and is on doctor’s orders to not sing for the next 30 days.The statement says Tyler sustained vocal cord damage during a show on Saturday, which was in Elmont, New York, that led to subsequent bleeding.The Toronto show at Scotiabank Arena is rescheduled for Feb. 21, 2024.The venue is encouraging ticketholders to hold onto their tickets, as they will be honoured for the February date.Tyler says the band intends to come back and give the performance that fans deserve.This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 11, 2023.The Canadian Press<!– Photo: 2023091200090-64ffe25211327e11e452c7b8jpeg.jpg, Caption: Rock band Aerosmith is postponing a concert in Toron...

Castro Valley carjacking suspects arrested following chase, crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

CASTRO VALLEY – An 18-year-old Oakland man and three male juveniles were arrested in connection with a carjacking and vehicle pursuit Sunday night in Castro Valley, according to authorities.The victim was sitting inside his 2007 BMW M3 in the 25000 block of Crestfield Circle around 8:45 p.m. when three of the suspects approached him, brandished a firearm and demanded his car, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.Fearing for his safety, the victim relinquished his car to the suspects, according to authorities.Deputies located and tried to stop the BMW near 105th Avenue and Edes Avenue in Oakland. The sheriff’s office said the driver did not yield and fled northbound on 105th Avenue.Deputies pursued the suspects a little over five miles before handing the chase off to an Oakland police helicopter.The suspects “continued to drive at a high rate of speed” and finally crashed into an unoccupied parked vehicle on 50th Avenue near Bancroft Avenue, according to authori...

Aaron Rodgers suffers left Achilles injury in his first series for N.Y. Jets; ‘It’s not good’ says Saleh

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers’ debut with the New York Jets lasted just four snaps.And now the four-time MVP and a shell-shocked fanbase will have to see how long he might be sidelined.Rodgers injured his left Achilles tendon when he was sacked by Buffalo’s Leonard Floyd and fell awkwardly on the leg during Monday night’s 22-16 overtime win over the Bills.EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets is helped off the field after an injury during the first quarter of the NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on September 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Coach Robert Saleh confirmed the injury after the game and said the 39-year-old quarterback would have a MRI on Tuesday.“It’s not good,” a somber Saleh said.The team said during the game that X-rays were negative.After a 26-yard run by Breece Hall on the Jets’ opening play, Rodgers threw his first pass away aft...

Anchor Brewing group provides update on future of brewery after raising $90K

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

(KRON) -- A group of Anchor Brewing Company employees trying to save the brewery is set to start talking to investors, they said Monday. A GoFundMe for the iconic San Francisco brewery has raised more than $90,000 as of Monday. After 127 years, Anchor Brewing stopped production in July due to financial struggles. Unionized employees then banded together in an effort to purchase the brewery and save it from closing. "We are one week into this fundraiser and WOW!! We reached our $50,000 goal in just a few days and the number continues to grow. The amount of support in just 7 days really speaks to how much San Francisco wants Anchor Brewing, and its 127 year legacy, to continue to stay in San Francisco!" Anchor SF Cooperative said in an update Monday. Oakland ex-police chief Anne Kirkpatrick considered for New Orleans top cop The funds that have been raised will help the group pay the bills for the organizations and legal team that has been helping it. It is now set to embark on "Ph...

Jets lose Aaron Rodgers to an Achilles tendon injury, then rally to stun Bills 22-16 in overtime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game with an Achilles tendon injury just four plays into his debut for the New York Jets, who rallied behind their defense and stunned the Buffalo Bills 22-16 in overtime on Monday night when rookie Xavier Gipson returned a punt 65 yards for the winning score.New York’s aggressive defense forced four turnovers from Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who was picked off three times by Jordan Whitehead in a wild and often ugly season opener. While the Jets concluded their night with coach Robert Saleh joining a celebratory mob in the end zone, the injury to Rodgers cast a pall over their season.Saleh said after the game that the injury was to Rodgers’ Achilles tendon and that the 39-year-old quarterback would have an MRI on Tuesday.“It’s not good,” a somber Saleh said.With the game tied, Micheal Clemons forced a fumble by Allen that was recovered by Quinnen Williams, setting up Greg Zuerlein’s third fiel...

Heim launches grand slam, Carter hits 1st career home run as the Rangers beat the Blue Jays 10-4

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:27 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Jonah Heim hit his third career grand slam, Evan Carter launched his first major league homer and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-4 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series that could help decide the AL wild-card race.Texas (79-64) closed within a half-game of Toronto (80-64) in the wild-card standings. The Blue Jays entered one game ahead of Seattle for the second American League wild card.“Every game from here on out is important,” Heim said. “No matter who we’re playing or where we’re at, each and every game matters. We’re going to take them one game at a time and do everything we can to get the win.”The Rangers won their third straight, their longest streak since a season-high eight-game run in early August. They reached their highest victory total since winning 95 games in 2016. Texas hasn’t finished with a winning record in any of the six seasons since.Toronto’s Cavan Biggio hit a solo home run, his ninth, and drove in two, but the Blu...