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Department of Justice finds U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins ethical breaches

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

A bombshell DOJ report alleges U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins improperly used her position by influencing the Suffolk DA’s race and broke agency rules by attending a fundraiser last summer.The report calls her out for attempting to tip the scales in last year’s Suffolk District Attorney race — where the Boston Globe ran stories she leaked to them before the primary. The Herald received similar information and refused to publish before the primary, according to the report.“We found Rollins’s conduct described throughout this report violated federal regulations, numerous DOJ policies, her Ethics Agreement, and applicable law, and fell far short of the standards of professionalism and judgment that the Department should expect of any employee, much less a U.S. Attorney,” the report issued by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General today concluded.The report adds: “We also concluded that Rollins falsely testified under oath during h...

Sorry, Lakers: Rui Hachimura is not the answer to stopping Nuggets star Nikola Jokic

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

The Lakers emerged from their Game 1 loss with reasons to feel semi-good about their circumstances.But let’s not get crazy with the narrative that they’ve discovered the adjustment to upset the Nuggets. Because no, Rui Hachimura is not the Nikola Jokic stopper.We’re fully confident Jokic will figure this out.Here’s what led to this question: Jokic was a monster through three quarters of Denver’s 132-126 victory Tuesday night, then disappeared when Hachimura drew the assignment in the fourth. Hachimura, a 6-8 power forward, was strong enough to keep Jokic from backing down and imposing his will. It allowed Anthony Davis, who guarded Jokic for most of the previous possessions, to roam as an effective help defender.“I think it was a good plan, and I think the second half, we did a pretty good job on him,” Hachimura said.First, there’s a good chance Jokic was physically spent by the fourth quarter. He logged 42 minutes, tying a season-high...

Gaslamp Promenade project blocking traffic on 5th Ave. moves forward

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

SAN DIEGO — The City San Diego is taking steps to become more pedestrian friendly.City crews have completed the infrastructure necessary to transform the heart of downtown in the hopes of attracting more residents and visitors. The next time you come down to the iconic Gaslamp Quarter, it may look a little different.City crews have turned Fifth Avenue into a walkable promenade.Several crosswalks from Broadway up to K Street have been equipped with the ability to install steel bollards that will close off 5th Avenue to vehicle traffic.City crews will install the barriers daily starting at noon and they will stay up to block through traffic until 2 a.m.The city has been working in partnership with the Gaslamp Association to create a safe, vibrant and walkable space for San Diegans and visitors.“We want to keep that momentum going and that’s why the city council in April, with the leadership of Council Member Stephen Whitburn, officially designated Fifth Avenue as a slow street, a...

Unclaimed money: See if you're eligible for refunds from City of San Diego

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- More than $830,000 is ready to be claimed for those who are owed checks due to refunds or vendor payments from the City of San Diego, officials said.A total of $833,165, with check amounts ranging from $1 to $80,600, can be returned to over 900 people and businesses, according to the City’s Unclaimed Monies Report.File a claim or review the Unclaimed Monies Report to see if you are owed a refund or payment.Printed and completed claims can be mailed to:City of San Diego, Department of Finance Unclaimed Monies Claim Processing 202 C St. – Mail Station 7A  San Diego, CA 92101 The City says it occasionally receives checks that are undeliverable by the U.S. Postal Service. If those checks remain uncashed after six months, they become unclaimed monies.“Many of the people on the Unclaimed Monies Report may not be aware, and an unexpected check from the City of San Diego may help their financial situation,” said Roma Nichols, Disbursements Manager with ...

Woman assaulted after car vandalized in bizarre turn of events

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A woman was assaulted by a man directly after her car was vandalized by the same individual in Valencia Park on Tuesday night, authorities said.According to the San Diego Police Department, the woman, 23, was driving a 2023 Nissan Altima eastbound on the 300 block of Thrush Street when she pulled over to allow an ambulance to pass shortly before 10:40 p.m. Police conduct homicide investigation at Campland on the Bay While stopped in the area, a man vandalized the rear of the woman's vehicle, authorities said. The woman then reportedly exited her car to inspect the damage.At the same time, a 23-year-old man driving 2005 Chevrolet Malibu was also traveling eastbound on the 300 block of Thrush Street when his vehicle was also vandalized by the same suspect when coming to a stop near the Nissan, SDPD explained. Authorities say the suspect struck the woman then attempted to flee the scene. According to SDPD, the woman sustained a fractured femur and a large laceration to ...

Europe OKs plan to tally cost of Moscow’s war in Ukraine with eye toward future reparations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — More than 40 nations agreed Wednesday to set up a system to tally the damage Russia has inflicted on Ukraine in the hope of getting reparations, adding to the international legal challenges the Kremlin is facing. The register of damages, which will allow Ukrainian victims of war to catalog the harm they have suffered, found a plethora of support among the 46-nation Council of Europe summit in Iceland. Participants also discussed the details of a potential future tribunal where Russia would face charges for waging war.“This Reykjavik summit shows clearly that Putin has failed with his calculations – he wanted to divide Europe and has achieved the opposite,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “We stand closer together in Europe than ever before.”While leaders were at the waterside venue on the far-flung island nation for two days, the United Nations’ top court announced it would hold hearings next month in a case between Russia and Ukraine. Kyiv claims Mosco...

Pakistani police surround Imran Khan’s home, claim former leader is hiding suspects in recent riots

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Police surrounded the home of former Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, claiming he was sheltering dozens of people allegedly involved in violent protests over his recent detention.The police deployment was likely to anger Khan’s many followers and raised concerns about more clashes between them and the security forces. Last week, Khan supporters had attacked public property and military installations after he was dragged out of a courtroom and detained.The popular opposition leader was released over the weekend and returned to his home in an upscale district of Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest city and the capital of the Punjab region.On Wednesday, Khan took to Twitter after 200 police officers surrounded the house, and a prison van appeared on the scene.“Probably my last tweet before my next arrest,” Khan tweeted. “ Police have surrounded my house.”Earlier on Wednesday, Amir Mir, a spokesman for the Punjab provincial gover...

Biden ‘confident’ there will be no US debt default

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he is confident the U.S. will avoid an unprecedented and catastrophic debt default, saying talks with congressional Republicans have been productive as he prepared to leave for a global summit in Japan. “I’m confident that we’ll get the agreement on the budget and America will not default,” Biden said from the Roosevelt Room of the White House. He said he and lawmakers will come together “because there’s no alternative.”Biden’s remarks came just before he departed Washington for the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, and one day after he convened a second Oval Office meeting with congressional leaders to determine how to avert debt default.The president and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tasked a handful of negotiators to try and close out a final deal, with negotiations beginning late Tuesday. Those people include Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president; legislative affairs director Louisa Te...

Ecuador’s president ends impeachment proceedings against him by dissolving National Assembly

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — President Guillermo Lasso escalated Ecuador’s political crisis Wednesday by dissolving the National Assembly just as it was forging ahead with impeachment proceedings to remove him from office on embezzlement allegations.In disbanding the assembly, Lasso made first use of the Ecuador presidency’s nuclear option under the constitution in conflicts with the legislative branch, turning his country into the latest in Latin America where rival constitutional powers come to a head.The conservative president, who has denied wrongdoing, can now govern for up to six months by decree under the oversight of Ecuador’s top court. While Lasso appeared to have the support of the country’s armed forces, his move swiftly drew pushback from critics who said his ouster had been imminent.In a televised message, Lasso accused the National Assembly of focusing “on destabilizing the government.” He called his move “democratic” and described it as a way to give Ecuadorians “the power ...

Supreme Court won’t put Illinois gun law on hold while court challenge continues

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Wednesday that Illinois can, for now, keep in place a new law that bars the sale of certain semi-automatic guns and large-capacity magazines.The high court denied an emergency request from people challenging the law, which bans so-called assault weapons. The law’s opponents had asked the court to put the law on hold while a court challenge continues. The court did not comment and no justice publicly dissented.The high court’s action comes at a time when gun violence has been heavily in the news. Since the beginning of the year, 115 people have died in 22 mass killings — an average of one mass killing a week, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University. The database counts killings involving four or more fatalities, not including the perpetrator. Just recently, on May 6, a man armed with an AR-15 style rifle and other firearms fatally shot eight people, including three ...