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Guatemala prosecutors pursue president-elect and student protesters over campus takeover

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan prosecutors said Thursday they will seek to strip President-elect Bernardo Arévalo and several members of his party of their immunity for allegedly making social media posts that encouraged students to take over a public university in 2022.Cultural Heritage prosecutor Ángel Saúl Sánchez announced the move aimed at Arévalo and members of his Seed Movement at a news conference while federal agents executed search warrants and sought to arrest more than 30 student members of the party.It was only the latest legal salvo against Arévalo, an anti-corruption crusader who shocked the nation by winning the presidential election in August. The United States government, Organization of American States and other outside observers have suggested the legal attacks are an attempt to keep Arévalo from taking power in January.Attorney General Consuelo Porras and outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei have denied political motivations.Since Arévalo won a spot in the ...

Judge allows Ja Morant’s lawyers to argue he acted in self-defense in lawsuit about fight with teen

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Lawyers for Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant are allowed to argue that he was acting in self-defense as part of a lawsuit accusing him of assaulting a teenager during a pickup basketball game at the NBA star’s house, a judge ruled Thursday.Circuit Court Judge Carol Chumney set a Dec. 11 hearing where lawyers for Morant and 18-year-old Joshua Holloway will discuss whether Morant is immune from liability under Tennessee law for hitting Holloway during a game at the All-Star player’s Memphis-area home in July 2022. Morant’s lawyers have acknowledged he punched Holloway one time after Holloway threw a basketball at Morant and the ball hit Morant in the chin. In a July 26 motion, the player’s lawyers said he should be immune from liability under the state’s “stand your ground” law, which allows people who feel threatened at their homes to act with force in certain situations. The law is used in criminal cases, but Chumney’s ruling clears the way for Mor...

Man who attacked Pelosi's husband convicted of federal assault and attempted kidnapping charges

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A jury on Thursday convicted the man who broke into former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home seeking to hold her hostage and attacked her husband with a hammer of federal charges of attempted kidnapping and assault.The jury deliberated for about eight hours before finding David DePape guilty of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. DePape, who faces up to 50 years in prison, did not react as the verdict was read.The attack on then-82-year-old Paul Pelosi that was captured on police body camera video just days before last year’s midterm elections sent shockwaves through the political world.DePape, 43, admitted during trial testimony that he broke into the Pelosis’ home on Oct. 28, 2022, intending to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him. He also admitted to bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer after San Francisco poli...

Pandas could return to US, according to China's president

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Chinese President Xi Jinping says China will send new pandas to the United States. President Xi made the announcement during a speech with business leaders on Wednesday night following his face-to-face meeting with President Joe Biden in California.“We are ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians so as to deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples,” Xi said.President Xi did not say exactly when or where in the U.S. pandas would be sent, but appeared to hint that the next pair of pandas could come to California.The announcement comes just over a week after three giant pandas were sent from Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo back to China. Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji were loaded onto a Boeing 777, dubbed the FedEx “Panda Express,” at Dulles International Airport on November 8.Iconic giant pandas have been living at the National Zoo for more than 50 y...

Sound of GAF Energy's $100M factory operating north of Austin like 'music,' exec says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (Austin Business Journal) -- When Ralph Robinett stands inside the new 450,000-square-foot GAF Energy LLC manufacturing site in Georgetown, the sound of humans and machinery making parts for the solar roofing industry is "music to his ears."About 15 months ago, the site was a greenfield. But last month, GAF obtained a certificate of occupancy for what is now a $100 million facility at 110 SE Inner Loop. About 75 employees have been coming to work seven days a week, 12 hours a day as they prepare to start shipping the first solar shingles produced at the site by the end of the year."Every factory has a heartbeat. It has a little bit of an arrhythmia the first few days. But after a couple of weeks, you can start to feel it and see it," said Robinett, who is the company's senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain. "It's feeling very real now, which is great to see after coming together over the last 14, 15 months."More than a year after federal...

'Blessing Box' helping the homeless in Glens Falls

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Near Glens Falls High School, a box stands on Sherman Avenue. Inside, visitors will find cans of soup, packs of tissues, and even some books - all to go to whoever needs them. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Blessing Box at the Cavalry's Family Life Center church has been in place since early September. It was put there by Navaeh Howe, a Lake George High School student who put the box together as a Silver Award Girl Scouts project."I chose to do the Blessing Box to help the community, because the Silver Award is based on helping the community without getting money," said Howe. "I asked Hannaford and Home Depot and Lowe's, and they donated all of the wood. I just thought of the idea to help the homeless and those in poverty."Howe cited research showing that homelessness in the Glens Falls area has risen as much as 35% since the COVID-19 pandemic - making a resource for the unhoused an obvious cho...

Saratoga firefighters and police to play charity hockey game

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The annual holiday hockey classic is back! On Saturday, the Saratoga Springs firefighters will take on the police in a charity hockey game at the Weibel Ice Rink. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The game is scheduled to begin around 7 p.m. Admission to the game is free with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy. Donations will support the Franklin Community Center's Holiday Assistance Program and help provide children in Saratoga Springs with presents on Christmas morning. There will be an in-game raffle to raise additional funds for the community center.Last year, over $1,000 was raised, and more than 700 toys were collected. Toys can also be donated at collection boxes at the Saratoga Springs firehouses, the police department, and Kings Tavern on Union Ave. MACSC hosts 17th Annual Thanksgiving Distribution This weekend marks the fifth time the two teams have faced off. The event is hosted ...

Outdoor retailer REI Co-op to open in Crossgates Mall

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op is set to open a new location in Crossgates Mall. According to the company, the store is set to open in the fall of 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! REI Co-op sells apparel, gear and accessories for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing, snow sports, and more. You can check out their products on the REI website.In Crossgates, the store will be about 25,000-square-feet and feature a full-service bike, ski, and snowboard shop, as well as online pick-up in-store and curbside pick-up. REI expects to hire 50 employees for the Crossgates store. If interested, you can apply on the REI website. Superior Merchandise Company reopening in Troy “We’ve long recognized the opportunity to serve REI members and the broader outdoor community in the Capital Region,” said Sonny Russell, REI regional director. “We’re grateful for the loyalty of our m...

Jury convicts man for illegally photographing a woman in the shower

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Loudonville man was convicted for illegally photographing a woman in a shower at the Warrensburg Travel Park and Riverfront Campground. A Warren County Jury found Mark L. Siciliano, 46, guilty of three counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The incident occurred on August 6, 2022. The victim's boyfriend reportedly discovered and confronted Siciliano and forced him to delete the picture. Siciliano was arrested by New York State Police shortly afterward.Sentencing is scheduled for January 3, 2024. Siciliano was remanded to the Warren County Jail.

300 new jobs are heading to Maryland Heights

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:20:00 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — Hoffmann Brothers, a heating and cooling company, is set to bring 300 new jobs to the St. Louis metro area with its expansion in Maryland Heights.With over 40 years of service in the St. Louis metro area, Hoffmann Brothers is a company that supplies service to residential and commercial customers for heating, air conditioning, and more. The company's latest expansion in Maryland Heights, involving an investment of nearly $6 million, has been completed. The expanded 20,000-square-foot location now accommodates the company's marketing, finance, accounting, customer experience, information technology, and inside sales teams.These teams will support Hoffmann Brothers' operations in both St. Louis and Nashville, where the company established its first location in 2020. The newly created jobs as part of this expansion will offer wages well above the county and city averages.In addition to its growth initiatives, Hoffmann Brothers has actively engaged with the St. L...