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Man who shot Fargo officers searched internet for ‘kill fast’ and for crowded area events, AG says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The man who shot three Fargo, North Dakota, police officers and a civilian, killing one of the officers before an officer killed him, searched internet for terms including “explosive ammo” and “kill fast,” as well as for what crowded area events might be happening, authorities said Friday.Mohamad Barakat also used a “binary trigger” that allowed him to fire rapidly during the July 14 attack, state Attorney General Drew Wrigley said at a news conference. Wrigley said the .223-caliber rifle that Barakat used during the ambush sounded like an automatic weapon because of how quickly it fired.Barakat killed one officer and wounded two others and a civilian before the fourth officer at the scene shot and killed him. Wrigley says the wounded officers fell in quick succession. Police were investigating a routine collision on a busy Fargo street when the heavily armed Barakat opened fire on them before they could react.Wrigley said he believes the violence could have been ...

Texas A&M University president resigns after Black journalist’s hiring at campus unravels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M University announced Friday that its president has resigned after a Black journalist’s celebrated hiring at one of the nation’s largest campuses unraveled following pushback over her diversity and inclusion work.President Katherine Banks said in a resignation letter that she would retire immediately, because “negative press has become a distraction” at the nearly 70,000-student campus in College Station.Her exit comes as Republican lawmakers across the U.S. are targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs on college campus. That includes Texas, where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill in June that dismantles program offices at public colleges. The A&M System said in a statement that Banks told faculty leaders this week that she took responsibility for the “flawed hiring process” of Kathleen McElroy, a former New York Times editor who had been selected to revive the school’s journalism department. The statement sai...

RCMP officer charged with foreign interference

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

A retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer was charged on Friday with obtaining information for China and other foreign-interference related charges.Sixty-year-old William Majcher of Hong Kong, appeared by videoconference at the Longueuil courthouse on Friday. He faces two charges: preparatory acts on behalf of a foreign entity and conspiracy.“According to the investigation, Mr. Majcher used his knowledge and vast network of contacts in Canada to obtain information or services that would have benefited the People’s Republic of China,” reads a press release issued by the RCMP.The man “would have contributed to the Chinese government’s efforts to identify and intimidate an individual outside the framework of Canadian law”, according to the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) investigation, which had begun in 2021.

Retired RCMP officer charged with helping Beijing intimidation campaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

OTTAWA — The RCMP says it has charged one of its former members in a case of alleged foreign interference. William Majcher is accused of helping the Chinese government identify and intimidate a person. Police say he is from Hong Kong and used his network of Canadian contacts to get intelligence or services that benefited the People’s Republic of China. They say a national security investigation into Majcher’s suspicious activities began in the fall of 2021.The 60-year-old retired officer is charged with conspiracy and preparatory acts for the benefit of a foreign entity. Police have not said who was the target of Beijing’s alleged intimidation campaign. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2023.The Canadian Press

Harris targets Florida rules on Black history pushed by DeSantis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is making a last-minute trip to Florida on Friday to tackle changes to the state’s education standards that critics say play down the horror of slavery. It’s the latest example of how Harris has been the White House point person for addressing cultural issues such as race, schooling and abortion that are championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate. The Florida Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a revised Black history curriculum that matches legislation that DeSantis said is necessary to prevent liberal indoctrination.The new curriculum includes instruction on how slaves benefited from skills that they learned. It also focuses more in early grades on achievements of African Americans rather than the injustices they faced through slavery and segregation.Harris already addressed the decision on Thursday in Indianapolis, where she spoke at the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority national convention.Sh...

Lawn-free front yards are in — here's why

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Benefits of having a lawn-free front yardLawn-free front yards are becoming increasingly popular, especially as a means of combating drought. They’re environmentally friendly, requiring less water and resources such as lawn mowers and pesticides to keep them going. A well-designed, lawn-free front yard can boost curb appeal while saving you the time, money and stress of maintaining real grass.Shop this article: Midwest Hearth Decorative Polished White Stones, Emsco Group Landscape Rock and Pet Grow PG1-4 Artificial Grass RugLawn-free front yard ideasGrow ground cover plantsGround cover plants creep and spread attractively; they can act as a colorful statement or soften the appearance of a lawn-free yard. They grow no more than 3 feet above the ground and are easy to care for, hindering weed growth and even improving the health of garden soil. Add garden plo...

Map shows which areas of Illinois, Indiana will be underwater in 2050

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Residents of the northeastern U.S. saw firsthand this summer the devastation flooding can cause in a community. Unfortunately, scientists predict flooding will only become more common as the years go on. A map created by Climate Central, an organization of scientists and journalists focused on studying the impacts of climate change, shows what the future may hold for coastal communities as sea level rises.In the first map (below), we set the projections to include sea level rise and typical annual flooding (weather that can be expected every year). We set the map to include what would happen with "unchecked pollution" between now and 2050. That setting most closely matches the current path we're on, Climate Central said. What U.S. cities will look like with sea level rise, according to scientific projections For luck, we set the bar to "medium," which reflects the middle range of possibilities predicted by scientists. While Manhattan is largely spared under these...

Capital Region Restaurant Rundown: July 17-21

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The restaurant industry is ever-changing with restaurants opening, closing, relocating, or just doing their thing. Here’s a recap of the latest Capital Region restaurant news, July 17 through 21. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hill Creek Tavern opening in BrunswickHill Creek Tavern is set to open in the former Brunswick BBQ & Brew space. Owners Ashley and Kevin Sweet are hoping to open in early to mid August.Capital Region Chick-fil-A locations ready to openNEWS10's Skylar Eagle got a sneak peak at the new Chick-fil-A location in North Greenbush before its grand opening.Bakery opening up storefront in CambridgeRenee Zellars started Sage’s Heavenly Baked Goods in September 2021 as a home food processor. Now, she’s opening up a storefront in Cambridge.Traffic advisory for Clifton Park Chick-fil-A openingWith the grand opening of Chick-fil-A in Clifton Park and North Greenbush on Thursday, heavy t...

Police on scene of reported shooting in Queensbury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- There is a large police presence on Pershing Road in Queensbury. Details are limited at this time, but NEWS10 has confirmed it was reported as a shooting. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Warren County Sheriff's Office is the lead agency with the New York State Police assisting. Stick with NEWS10 for updates.

Three arrested in Corinth on drug charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:27 GMT

CORINTH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Three people from Corinth have been arrested following a narcotics investigation, according to police. Derrick Compton, 52, Jessica Westervelt, 38, and Jennifer Westervelt, 38, are all facing multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On July 20, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit executed a search warrant at a residence in the Woodcrest Mobile Home Park in Corinth after an extensive drug trafficking investigation was conducted in Saratoga County. As a result of the search, scales, packaging material, quantities of crack cocaine, suboxone and hydrocodone were located and seized from the home. Compton and the Westervelts were then taken into custody. They face the following charges:ChargesDerrick ComptonTwo counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance First-degree criminal nuisanceSeventh-degree cri...