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Panama launches operation in Darien jungle targeting organized crime and migrant smugglers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

NICANOR, Panama (AP) — Panama launched a security operation along its shared border with Colombia on Friday to combat criminal gangs and migrant smugglers involved in record-setting migration through the perilous Darien Gap this year.Security officials said the “Shield” campaign is part of an agreement reached with the governments of Colombia and the United States in April to stop the flow of migrants through the border’s jungle-clad mountains.At a naval air base in Panama’s far east Darien province, rifle-toting border police outfitted in camouflage were conducting drills Friday on the tarmac in front of helicopters previously donated by the U.S. government.Panama will dedicate some 1,200 immigration agents, border police and members of the naval air service to what it said will be an air, land and sea effort. The targets will not be the hundreds of migrants traversing the dense jungle each day, but the organized criminal groups that prey on and profit from them on both sides...

As end of session nears, Louisiana lawmakers advance controversial LGBTQ+-related bills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As Louisiana’s legislative session nears adjournment, lawmakers in the Republican-dominated legislature pushed forward controversial LGBTQ+-related bills, including advancing a resurrected ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths Friday.Despite the state Constitution requiring lawmakers to focus on fiscal and budgetary matters this session, several bills that opponents say target the LGBTQ+- community — similar to GOP-authored legislation passed in statehouses across the country this legislative season — have become a contentious part of this year’s culture-divide debates in Louisiana’s Capitol.One bill, which has received statewide and national attention, would prohibit hormone treatments, gender-affirming surgery and puberty-blocking drugs for transgender minors in Louisiana. So far, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors, and all three of Louisiana’s bordering states have enacted ...

8 construction workers injured as building partially collapses during concrete mishap in New Haven

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A building under construction partially collapsed Friday in New Haven, Connecticut, when a concrete pour went awry, injuring eight workers, including two critically, city officials said, adding there were no fatalities.City firefighters and other authorities were called to Lafayette Street shortly after 12:30 p.m.“Our units responded immediately within minutes and found several persons in varying degrees of injury, from broken bones to three that were partially buried under the rubble,” Fire Chief John Alston Jr. said during a news conference.Firefighters used ladders and ropes to get to the victims through sharp, broken rebar and other debris, witnesses and officials said. Some victims were hoisted out of the deep hole in rescue baskets attached to ropes, while others were pulled out of the side of the building.“We heard a crash and we jumped up,” said Danean Doheny, a medical assistant who was working on the fourth floor of a neighboring building and witnessed t...

Biden to say default 'crisis averted' in Oval Office address on debt ceiling deal Friday evening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden planned to highlight a “crisis averted" in his inaugural speech to the nation from the Oval Office Friday evening, as he prepared to sign a budget agreement that eliminates the potential for a first-ever government default that would have sent shock waves through the U.S. and global economies.The bipartisan measure was approved by the Senate late Thursday night after passing the House in yet another late session the night before. Biden is expected to sign it at the White House on Saturday with just two days to spare until the Treasury Department has warned the U.S. wouldn't be able to meet its obligations.The agreement was hashed out by Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, giving Republicans some of their demanded federal spending cuts but holding the line on major Democratic priorities. It raises the debt limit until 2025 — after the 2024 presidential election — and gives legislators budget targets for the next two years, in hopes of assurin...

Suburban husband accused of shooting estranged wife caught in New Mexico: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A Zion man on the run after allegedly shooting his estranged wife and another man amid a domestic dispute is now in police custody, authorities said Friday. According to Waukegan police, 42-year-old Tomas Tapia was taken into custody in New Mexico. He is now awaiting extradition back to Illinois for the double shooting. Police considered Tapia 'armed and dangerous' amid warnings that the alleged shooter was on the run. Police said in an update Friday that Tapia was traveling with an unknown companion. When stopped in New Mexico, Tapia approached police and informed them he was wanted in connection with a double shooting in Waukegan. Aurora man sentenced to 100 years for breaking into woman’s home, sexually assaulting her Law enforcement officials confirmed Tapia's claim to be true and he was arrested. On May 24, police responded to the 1300 block of Bridge Drive and located two gunshot victims in the parking lot.Tapia's wife suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach...

Skilling: Warm, dry weekend ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

Chicago records a 4th consecutive day in the 90s—and the 7th consecutive day of ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS FridayEast winds off Lake Michigan set up another day with a BIG TEMP SPREAD from the lakeshore to inland areas. At mid-afternoon Friday, temps ranged from 96 at Oswego and 95 at Warrenville and Plainfield to 66 at the Wilmette Harbor buoy, 68 at Waukegan Harbor and 73 on the Lake Forest shoreline.  That's a spread of as much as 29-deg.Air quality issues continued Friday with the Illinois EPA issuing an AIR QUALITY ALERT due to elevated ozone and particulate levels.We're back to a dry weather situation.  NO RAIN OR T-STORMS in the Chicago area Friday.  That had been expected. Isolated storms formed over western Illinois---well west of the Chicago area. Drying has occurred with dew points, a measure of atmospheric moisture, way down—as low as the upper 40s Friday afternoon versus the muggy 60s Wed and Thursday.Thursday's rains were selective and, while heavy at ...

Aurora man sentenced to 100 years for breaking into woman's home, sexually assaulting her

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. -- A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for breaking into a woman's home, sexually assaulting her, and then forcing her to drive him to her bank to withdraw money from her account in 2018.According to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, the Naperville Police Department responded to reports of a home invasion at 7:15 a.m. on March 23, 2018. SWAT responds to man on rooftop of Humboldt Park building Further investigation showed that Thaddeus Jones, 26, formerly of Aurora, had broken into the woman’s home, sexually assaulted her, then forced her into her car which he then drove to her bank to withdraw money for him out of her account.Jones then returned to the woman’s home with her at which time the woman was able to escape.Jones then fled the scene in the woman’s car. Within hours, Jones was located at a motel in Naperville and taken into custody. He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time. Wood Dale man ...

'Jail is not the answer': Leaders to discuss mental health diversion program details

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — For the last several years, Joy Jiles' 39-year-old son, Miguel, has cycled in and out of jail. He has schizophrenia and his mom worries without more readily available mental health resources, the cycle is going to continue. "I love my son so they're gonna call me, I'm gonna do everything that I can in my power to try and help him but I just feel like other things need to be done," Jiles said. Her son is in jail right now, expected to be released over the next few months. Joy Jiles holds up a photo of her 39-year-old son, Miguel, who is in the Travis County Jail. Miguel suffers from a severe mental health illness (KXAN photo/Grace Reader)Next week, Travis County leaders are working on providing resources for people like Miguel. Travis County is in the beginning stages of creating a mental health diversion program and diversion center so that instead of going to jail, some people who have committed non-violent offenses would get mental health and substance use care ins...

Does the 'drag ban bill' target transgender Texans?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A bill that bans "sexually oriented performances" in the presence of minors passed during Texas' 88th legislative session. As the bill moved forward, transgender Texans voiced concerns that the bill might target them for non-explicit performances or for merely existing in public spaces. Lambda Legal South Central Regional Director Shelly Skeen spoke on these fears, and said that this bill does not apply to transgender people going about their lives."I don't want people to feel like they can't walk around and do their daily lives, if they're trans, if they're non-binary or they don't conform with old-school gender roles," Skeen said. "I want people to feel like they can still do what they would normally do. I don't want people to be scared by this bill."Skeen did leave open the possibility that law enforcement could overreach or use it to selectively target marginalized people."People who are trans are targeted, people who are Black and trans are even more targeted,"...

Live: Biden expected to address bipartisan debt ceiling deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden on Friday will address the debt ceiling deal that he negotiated with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy that sailed through Congress with bipartisan support. The deal will suspend the debt limit for two years, while also putting in new work requirements for older Americans receiving food assistance. It also boosts funding for veterans and defense and approves a natural gas pipeline going from West Virginia to Virginia. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the plan cuts the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next decade. Biden is expected to speak at 7 p.m. EDT from the East Coast. NewsNation will livestream the address here. When will you need to start repaying your student loans? The House passed the debt ceiling bill with more than 300 supporting votes, most of which came from Democrats.But some progressive Democrats and independents are not celebrating. In a tweet, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wa...