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Prominent Hong Kong democracy activists partially win bid to quash convictions over 2019 protest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Seven of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy advocates had part of their convictions quashed Monday over their roles in one of the biggest pro-democracy protests in 2019. Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper; Martin Lee, the founding chairman of the city’s Democratic Party; and five former pro-democracy lawmakers, including barrister Margaret Ng, had been found guilty of organizing and participating an unauthorized assembly.Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Kwok-hung and Cyd Ho were jailed between eight to 18 months. Martin Lee, an octogenarian nicknamed the city’s “Father of Democracy,” Ng and Albert Ho were given suspended jail sentences.Their convictions two years ago and their sentences were widely seen as another blow to the city’s flagging democracy movement under an unprecedented crackdown by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities. Judge Andrew Macrae said he and other judges of the Court of Appeal unanimously quashed their convictions ov...

Lioness shot dead after escaping from farm in South Korea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A lioness escaped from a farm in South Korea, touching off an emergency search before it was killed by a hunter Monday, officials said.The owner of the farm in the southeastern county of Goryeong reported the escape after finding her cage empty. Authorities quickly sent police officers, emergency workers and civilian hunters to the area, Goryeong police said.People were banned from entering a mountain area where the lioness was believed to have moved before one of the hunters killed her near the farm where it had lived, according to county officials.There were no reports of the lioness attacking anyone. The lioness had last been seen in her cage when she was fed Sunday night and it wasn’t known when she escaped.The farm has no other lions or lionesses and mostly raises beef cattle. The farm’s owner told investigators the lioness had been handed over when the farm was purchased last year, Goryeong police said.It wasn’t immediately known if the farm’s p...

WATCH: Video tribute on 45-year anniversary of Tom Skilling's first day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

CHICAGO — It's the 45th anniversary of Tom Skilling's very first day at WGN!Take a trip back in time with us to Aug. 13, 1978 for Tom's first appearance on TV in Chicago! Weather: Skilling's 7-day Forecast Tom is still forecasting weather at the same building here at Chicago's Very Own, although he's now doing it with significantly different technology.

Parliament of the World's Religions set to take place in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

CHICAGO — Religious and spiritual leaders from more than 200 different faiths and traditions around the globe are meeting in Chicago this week for the Parliament of the World's Religions conference.Starting Monday morning, 6,500-plus leaders from faith, civic and grassroots backgrounds representing more than 80 countries will convene at McCormick Place's Lakeside Center, where a keynote speech will be given by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson."It's definitely the largest interfaith gathering in the world," said Stephen Avino, executive director for the conference. "Our theme this year is a call to conscience—defending freedom and human rights, and all people of faith, no faith and different ideologies could get behind that."Since the conference's inception at the Chicago's World Fair in 1893, the organization has focused on bringing a diverse group of people together who are committed to justice, peace and sustainability.When the group gathers this week, Avino said they will brainstorm...

North Dakota teen recovering from Grand Canyon plummet

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

Wyatt Kaufman was on the lip of the Grand Canyon when he moved over to let others get a look at the chasm.That’s when he slipped and fell.He doesn’t remember anything after that until he woke up in an ambulance hours later.The 13-year-old from Casselton, N.D., told KPNX-TV, an Arizona TV station, that he understands it took about two hours for rescue crews to reach him and lift him to an area where he could be placed in an ambulance.The fall happened Tuesday, and Wyatt spent the next several days in a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada.On Saturday, the hospital released Wyatt, and his father, Brian Kaufman, let well-wishers know via Facebook posts that Wyatt was heading back to North Dakota.Wyatt told KPNX-TV he was on a ledge on the North Rim of the canyon when he moved out of the way to allow other visitors a good view of the natural wonder. He said he lost his hold on a rock and toppled off the ledge.According to the KPNX-TV report, Wyatt’s injuries included nine bro...

Minnesota DNR offers tips as wild rice season approaches

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

As the Aug. 15 wild rice season opening date approaches, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds harvesters that rice stands must be ripe before they can be legally harvested.Wild rice harvesters going out during the upcoming season will find generally good conditions throughout most of Minnesota.“Unusually warm days this spring got plant growth off to a fast start and generally dry weather has meant many rice waters weren’t impacted by rainstorms,” said Ricky Lien, Minnesota DNR wetland habitat team supervisor. “Overall rice stands are looking pretty good, though rice stands on some lakes are better than others.”Those considering harvesting need to know the regulations that help protect wild rice stands for future years. Harvesters are allowed to take ripe wild rice each year during the harvesting season that runs between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30, but Minnesota’s green rice law makes it illegal to harvest unripe or “green” rice, even within the dates of the harvest season...

Mother of 2 seeks remedy for long-busted AC unit at apartment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis Housing Authority tenant contacted our You Paid For It team to get relief at their apartment following the recent heat wave.Jamie Hassan tells FOX 2 that temperatures in her apartment on South 14th Street shot into the upper 80s after her central air conditioner went out. Despite Hassan’s pleas, the building owners have seemingly dragged their feet to fix the AC.Taxpayers pay $1,000 a month for the unit for Hassan and her two children. Your tax dollars are covering air conditioning for an apartment without it.“AC units have not been working since three years now,” Hassan said. “These are central air units and each time I contact my property manager, she saying that we’re waiting on a bid, but obviously there’s plenty of contractors out here, but this has been extremely too long to be living in these conditions.” Safety questions arise as unidentified man drowns at familiar scene Hassan has old window units that don’t cool the entire apartment.“My feeling is...

St. Louis native narrowly escapes Lahiana fires, fears her father-in-law died

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Joy Richter a 1995 Pattonville High School grad and has lived in Hawaii for more than 20 years. Her husband is a Ritenour High School alum and works as a property manager on the islands.On Tuesday, the place they've called home went up in flames, along with the rest of Lahaina, in the deadliest United States wildfire in a century.Joy evacuated her home on Tuesday, along with her 80-year-old father-in-law and her dog. The only escape from the flames was toward the ocean."I couldn't see my own hand,” Joy told FOX 2 in a phone interview. “I prayed to God, ‘Please give me a fresh breath of air.’"As she fought for every breath through the flames, a search and rescue team was able to get to Joy. By then, she had been separated from her father-in-law and her dog due to the heavy smoke. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News ...

West Hollywood bar to hold fundraiser for victims of deadly Maui wildfires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

A West Hollywood bar and restaurant with close connections to Maui is holding a fundraiser later this week to help employees at its sister location in Lahaina who lost everything, including their jobs, in the devastating wildfires. Matt Robb, co-owner of the Dirty Monkey in Lahaina and the Naughty Pig in West Hollywood, lives on Maui. He told KTLA that while he was fortunate enough that his home survived the fast-moving fires, many of his employees barely escaped the flames with their lives. “There’s no amount of help that’s too much right now,” Robb said.  As of Sunday afternoon, the death toll from the fires has risen to 93 with officials estimating that some 4,500 people are in need of shelter. Officials in Hawaii added that nearly 2,200 structures in West Maui were destroyed, including the entire town of Lahaina.  “There is not a building standing. It is a war zone. It looks like we’ve been napalmed,” Robb explained." The people that are with me lost everything out of ...

Kids get ultimate back-to-school package in South L.A.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:09 GMT

A lucky group of 30 kids were selected by their school districts to receive the ultimate back to school package on Sunday in an event hosted by the East Side Riders Bike Club and the Hey Leche Foundation in Huntington Park.  Attendees from Compton, Watts, Willbrook and the Huntington Park communities turned out for the event, with families receiving a laptop, $100 grocery gift card and kids getting a free backpack, new shoes and a haircut.  “This is just a small drop in the bucket of what we’re trying to do here today. These families deserve so much more,” John Jones III, president and founder of the East Side Riders Bike Club, told KTLA. “We’re teaming up with Hey Leche Foundation for our fourth annual back to school giveaway.”  Jones added that the pandemic set everyone in the community back and that it’s been a tough economic time for families.  “It set us further back than we already were and it’s going to take us longer climb out of it than other communities,” he...