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Authorities in New York say they’ve made largest-ever seizure of knock-off goods – more than $1B

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal authorities in on Wednesday announced the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods, consisting of handbags, shoes and other luxury merchandise valued at more than $1 billion.Two people were charged with trafficking the knock-offs from a New York City storage unit and other locations from January through October, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. Photographs released by prosecutors showed shelves stacked with counterfeit wallets and bags in one location and handbags hanging from hooks from floor to ceiling in another. “The seizures announced today consist of merchandise with over a billion dollars in estimated retail value, the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. The two men charged could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The Associated Press

Toronto man wanted in sexual assault offered to drive victim to place of worship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

Toronto police say a man is wanted for allegedly sexually assaulting a victim in the parking lot of a place of worship. Authorities were called to the Dufferin Street and Rogers Road area in St. Clair West Village just before 3:30 p.m. on November 8. It’s reported that the suspect offered to drive the victim to a place of worship, and when they arrived, he sexually assaulted them in the parking lot.Police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Marlon Gowdie of Toronto, who is wanted for sexual assault.He’s described as approximately five-foot-six with a slim build and short black hair. His photo has been released.

Nevada’s attorney general is investigating fake electors in 2020 for Trump, AP source says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada’s attorney general is investigating six Republican electors who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential election, a person with knowledge of the case said Wednesday.It was not immediately clear if the ongoing probe was a criminal or civil matter. But the probe adds to official scrutiny of fake electors in several swing states won by President Joe Biden in 2020, including investigations in Georgia, Michigan and Arizona. Fake electors were charged in Georgia and Michigan, and Trump faces charges both in Georgia and in a federal investigation of his conduct related to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Politico and NBC News first reported the existence of the investigation. Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat, did not respond Wednesday to messages. He has said in the past that his office was...

Justin Torres and Ned Blackhawk are among the winners of National Book Awards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Torres’ novel “Blackouts” has won the National Book Award for fiction. On Wednesday night, the nonfiction prize was awarded to Ned Blackhawk’s “The Rediscovery of America” and young people’s literature was won by Dan Santat’s “A First Time for Everything.” Craig Santos Perez’s “from incorporated territory (åmot)” was cited for best poetry, and Stênio Gardel’s “The Words That Remain,” translated from Portuguese by Bruna Dantas Lobato, won for literature in translation. Oprah Winfrey gave an emotional keynote address during the dinner ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street, and honorary medals were presented to poet Rita Dove and to Paul Yamazaki, a longtime bookseller at San Francisco’s famed City Lights store.Winners in the five competitive categories each received $10,000.Hillel Italie, The Associated Press

Suspect asked Toronto taxi driver if he was Muslim before assault: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

Toronto police are attempting to identify a suspect wanted in a hate-motivated assault after they allegedly asked a taxi driver if he was Muslim before spraying him in the face with an unknown substance. Authorities were called to the Front Street and Yonge Street area just before 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Related: 3 teens arrested after suspected hate-motivated ‘violent attack’ in downtown Toronto It’s alleged that a taxi cab driver was in the area when he approached the suspect, rolled down his window, and asked if he needed a ride.Police said the suspect asked the driver if he was Muslim. He then sprayed the victim in the face with an unknown substance.A spokesperson tells police the victim was taken to a hospital and had his eyes flushed out. The suspect is a white man between 20 and 30 years old, six feet tall, and last seen wearing a black coat and black pants.

WGN Exclusive: Migrants, crime, investment in people: Brandon Johnson's first 6 months as mayor 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

CHICAGO —  At public events and press conferences Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks directly to his base. There’s no filter. He does not modify messaging for reporters or those who don’t side with political ideology. This teacher turned activist turned politician is unapologetic about his agenda: the working class and people of color.Johnson, middle child, son of a preacher, resident of the West Side was elected 57th mayor of Chicago promising bold progressivism. Six months on the job, items off his wish list have either been introduced or won final approval at City Council. But intractable problems like the busing of migrants to Chicago from the Southern border and crime have dominated headlines since his swearing in. Related: City Council overwhelmingly approves Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget “As I’ve said repeatedly, I don’t know if there’s ever been a mayor that understand the trauma that violence causes in communities than someone like me who is living in one of those communi...

Block Club Chicago journalist dead, father critical after house fire in Brighton Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

CHICAGO — A journalist who worked to cover the City's Southwest Side is dead, and her father is in the intensive care unit after a fire consumed their Brighton Park home last week.Family members told WGN News the Villaseñor family gathered in front of their house Friday evening as flames spread throughout the building, except for 31-year-old Rocio Villaseñor, who was asleep in her bedroom in the attic.Rocio's sister, Marisol Villaseñor, said her brother and father ran toward a strong noise when the fire erupted."They all heard a loud explosion in the back of the home," Marisol Villaseñor said. "As soon as they opened the door, a ball of black smoke came in and all they saw were flames ... My dad ran directly into the flames."Unfortunately, 69-year-old Crecencio Villaseñor couldn't reach his daughter and hours later, the family found out Rocio did not survive the fire. After first responders arrived at the fire, Crecencio Villaseñor was taken to a local hospital in critical condition...

Fulton County DA seeks to revoke bond for Trump Georgia co-defendant  

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

(The Hill) -- Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) is seeking to revoke the bond allowing a defendant in the Georgia racketeering case involving former President Trump to remain free ahead of trial. Willis's office cited defendant Harison Floyd's social media posts in a Wednesday court filing, argueing they were in violation of the bond agreement he signed as a condition of release. The posts, Willis asserted, are an effort to “intimidate codefendants and witnesses, to communicate directly and indirectly with codefendants and witnesses and to otherwise obstruct the administration of justice.” “Since his release from custody, the Defendant has engaged in numerous intentional and flagrant violations of the conditions of release ordered by the Court,” Willis’s motion states.  Lawyer of Georgia defendant in Trump election case admits to leaking witness video Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee will ultimately decide whether to approve the request.Floyd, a l...

These are the worst cities for package theft in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

(NewsNation) — The Seattle metro area is the worst region for package theft in the country as porch pirates continue to plague communities across the U.S., according to a new report. That ranking comes from SafeWise's 6th Annual Package Theft Report, which found thieves stole an estimated 119 million packages nationwide over the past year — a 5% increase from the year prior. After coming in second in 2022, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area now tops the list of U.S. metros for worst package theft. The Emerald City is followed by Memphis, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California; Birmingham-Hoover, Alabama; and Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado. How to protect your packages from porch pirates for $300 SafeWise, an online guide to safety and security products, determines its rankings using a combination of FBI larceny-theft statistics and Google Trends data.The new report comes during a holiday shopping season where U.S. shoppers are expected to spend more than $270 billion online...

$331M project proposed in Hutto, city waits to approve water services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:38 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — A 113-acre mixed-use development project is underway in Hutto, but it needs help from the City of Hutto to supply water and wastewater services before the process can get the go ahead.At a Nov. 2 city council meeting, Kevin O'Neil with Fidelis Realty gave a presentation on the mixed-use development project.He said the project is slated to bring three logistics centers, retail options, including prospective grocery stores, 600 units of multi-family housing and a hotel or multi-specialty medical space to the area."We'd have 9.8 million of annual revenue within the greater community which we think is a really substantial number," O'Neil said.The proposed site is off SH 130 and Chris Kelley Boulevard just outside of Hutto. In the presentation, O'Neil said the company would like to enter into a three-party partnership with the City of Hutto and Municipal Utility District #22.This is because the project lies partially in MUD #22 and in Hutto. In order for the develop...