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Ex-Puerto Rico boxer Félix Verdejo found guilty on two charges tied to death of his pregnant lover

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Former Puerto Rican boxer Félix Verdejo was found guilty Friday on two charges related to the death of his 27-year-old pregnant lover.The verdict came after a 25-week trial in which the jury heard gruesome details about the April 2021 killing of Keishla Rodríguez that shocked the U.S. territory.The jury convicted Verdejo on the charge of kidnapping that leads to a death and one count of causing the death of an unborn child. The 12 jurors could not reach unanimous verdicts on the charge of intercepting and stealing vehicle with the consequence of causing a death or the charge of carrying a weapon to commit a violent crime.U.S. District Judge Pedro Delgado Hernandez set a Nov. 3 sentencing session, at which Verdejo could face a penalty of up to life in prison.Federal prosecutors relied on the testimony of more than 30 people, including key witness Luis Antonio Cádiz, a friend of Verdejo who also was charged in the case. He pleaded guilty last year after re...

Metro workers across GTA reject tentative deal, set to begin strike action

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

TORONTO — Grocery store workers at 27 Metro locations in the Greater Toronto Area have rejected a tentative deal and are set to begin strike action on Saturday.Unifor says in a statement that front-line grocery workers at 27 Metro stores will begin strike action on Saturday at 12:01 a.m., with picket lines forming at the stores at 8 a.m.The union says the strike action comes after members of Unifor Local 414 voted to reject a tentative collective agreement reached last week.Local 414 represents some 3,700 workers across the GTA.Unifor says stores affected by the strike will include those in Toronto, Brantford, Orangeville, Milton, Oakville, Brampton, North York, Islington, Willowdale, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Newmarket and Scarborough.Metro Ontario Inc. a subsidiary of Metro Inc., said in a statement that it is “extremely disappointed” that employees at the 27 locations rejected the agreement even though the union bargaining committee unanimously recommended it to its mem...

Typhoon Doksuri is downgraded to tropical storm status as it leaves southern China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Typhoon Doksuri weakened into a tropical storm late Friday night after bringing heavy winds and rain that left more than a million people without power in southern China.After making landfall Friday morning in southern Fujian province, where at least 400,000 people were evacuated, the storm flooded streets and toppled electric transmission towers in the province. Over a million households were left without power, according to the state-backed Xiamen Evening News. The typhoon was downgraded to a tropical storm at 11 p.m. Friday night, China’s state-owned broadcaster CCTV announced.Businesses and summer school classes had been ordered suspended and the public was urged to stay indoors. In the city of Quanzhou by China’s southern coast, authorities reported some 50 individuals sustained minor injuries. Residents shared photos on social media showing downed trees with roots fully out of the ground Saturday morning. Earlier in the week, the storm grazed past T...

Mega Millions draws numbers for $940 million jackpot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

The numbers were drawn Friday night for an estimated $940 million Mega Millions jackpot.The numbers drawn for the nationwide lottery game were: 5, 10, 28, 52, 63 and the gold ball 18.It was not immediately known if anyone matched all six numbers and won the big prize. No one has managed that feat since April 18, making 28 straight drawings without a big winner.The jackpot is now the eighth-largest ever in the U.S.The latest drawing comes a little over a week after someone in Los Angeles won a $1.08 billion Powerball prize ranked as the sixth-largest in U.S. history. The winner has not yet been revealed.Lottery jackpots grow so large because the odds of winning are so small. For Mega Millions, the odds of winning the grand prize are about 1 in 302.6 million.The $940 million prize would be for a sole winner who chooses to be paid through an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years. Jackpot winners almost always opt for a lump sum payment, which for Friday night’s drawing would be a...

GTA Metro grocery workers to strike after rejecting tentative deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

Over 3,700 workers at Metro grocery stores across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will be hitting the picket lines Saturday morning.Metro stores impacted by the strike include Toronto, Brantford, Orangeville, Milton, Oakville, Brampton, North York, Islington, Willowdale, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Newmarket, and Scarborough.The 27 Metro stores will be closed for the duration of the strike, but pharmacies will remain open and continue to care for patients in the impacted locations.Unifor Local 414 represents 3,700 Metro workers who are full and part-time store clerks in all departments, including cashiers, as well as department managers, pharmacy, and Starbucks staff.Members of Unifor Local 414 had been voting this week on a tentative deal reached earlier this month. A series of regional votes were scheduled throughout the week, with the final one taking place Friday night.RELATED: Metro workers at 27 stores across GTA reach tentative agreement, avoid a strikeWorkers were told that a str...

Chicago police looking for missing 14-year-old girl who may be with unknown people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are asking for help finding a missing 14-year-old girl last seen July 21.Leila Arreola is described as being about 4 feet 8 inches tall, weighing about 80 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesShe was last seen near the 2300 block of North Central Park.According to information from the Chicago Police Department, a group of unknown people may be harboring Arreola at an unknown spot.Anyone with information is asked to call Area Five SVU detectives at 312-746-6554.

Powerhouse t-storms erupt Friday night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

These thunderstorms were unleashing lightning punctuated, flooding downpours in the wake of Friday’s steamy 80-degree dew points and triple-digit heat indices“NNE” winds to bring weekend heat and humidity reliefSTORMS EXPLODED RAPIDLY AND DRAMATICALLY IN THE HOT, HUMID, UNSTABLE AIR LATE FRIDAYThe color enhanced satellite animation shows the cold cloud tops expanding and the storm develop vertically.The TRUE COLOR visible evening satellite animation shows the towering thunderheads casting shadows on the surrounding terrain as the sun sets.SOURCE: Courtesy of College of DuPageATMOSPHERIC RUNDOWNFor Friday, July 28, 2023Here in Chicago, our observational guru and veteran National Weather Service Chicago observer Frank Wachowski reports O’HARE picked up 0.29” overnight and MIDWAY checks in with 0.35” at the South Side siteSome heavier 24-hour rainfalls in and near the following communities here in Illinois and Indiana from volunteer CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborate Rain, Hail and Snow N...

U.S. Capitol Police to open Texas field office, citing rising threats against members of Congress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- In response to increasing threats against members of Congress, the U.S. Capitol Police plans to open regional field offices across the country, including in Texas.Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger announced the plans at a joint oversight hearing of the Capitol Police Board, describing a 300% increase in threats to members of Congress over the past seven years.In addition to an office in Texas, the agency plans to open field offices in Milwaukee and Boston, Manger told the committee Wednesday. A Texas location has not yet been determined, a department spokesperson said.The Capitol Police department, which is responsible for protecting Congress and its members, opened its first field offices in Florida and California after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. The offices have helped his officers respond to threats more quickly and efficiently, Manger said.“Due to the increased threat environment, o...

Witt’s walk-off grand slam sends Twins to crushing loss in K.C.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

After the way he had tormented them all day, there was no one the Twins would have wanted to see at the plate less than Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr with the game on the line Friday night in Kansas City, Mo.KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JULY 28: Pitcher Brady Singer #51 of the Kansas City Royals steps on first base before runner Matt Wallner #38 of the Minnesota Twins for an out during the 6th inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on July 28, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)He proved exactly why.The Twins were one out from a loss in the ninth inning. They were three outs from a win in the 10th.And then Witt took over. The Royals’ shortstop hit a walk-off grand slam off Twins closer Jhoan Duran in the 10th inning, sending them to a crushing 8-5 loss in the series opener at Kauffman Stadium.That was part of a 4-for-5 night for the shortstop, who drove in six of the Royals’ eight runs. Witt’s grand slam capped off ...

St. Paul man gets 12-year federal prison sentence for fentanyl trafficking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:47 GMT

A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for fentanyl trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.Keonee Nasier Shaffer-Frazier, 23, was part of a drug trafficking ring between 2021 and 2022 that distributed “M30” or “MBox” fentanyl pills across the metro area, selling as many as 1,000 at a time, according to the criminal complaint.During a seizure in March 2022 that led to his arrest, law enforcement officials confiscated from Shaffer-Frazier and his associates some 57,000 fentanyl pills, $83,000 cash, body armor and firearms. In addition, they found two loaded semiautomatic handguns in his Audi vehicle. He was charged and released on bail.In September 2022, he was arrested again after a short foot chase, and authorities found more than $7,000 cash on him. During a search of his new vehicle, an Audi Q7, they found a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol loaded with an extended magazine.Because of a prior felony, Shaffer-F...