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Cook County prosecutors announce all charges dropped against Francisco Benitez

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — Tuesday marked the end of a decades-long ordeal for Francisco Benitez, a man falsely convicted of a 1989 fatal shooting of two teen boys. "It feels great," said Francisco 'Frankie' Benitez. "The judge—the state dropped charges and I’m done. [I'm] Free."Cook County prosecutors announced they will be dropping all charges against Benitez, who spent more than three decades behind bars for a crime testimonial evidence shows he didn't commit."Last year, we presented a hearing which showed that two new eyewitnesses, which were never known to him, identified the true perpetrators of this case," said Josh Tepfer, one of Benitez's attorneys. "We put on that evidence, and it was clear that they prosecuted and arrested the wrong person."Benitez was convicted of fatally shooting two 14-year-old boys in 1991, when he was just 18 years old, but throughout his incarceration, he maintained his innocence."What makes it so sad is that Francisco told everyone the moment he was arres...

The Hollywood writers strike ends after guild leaders approve contract with studios

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leaders of the screenwriters union declared their nearly five-month-old strike over Tuesday after board members approved a contract agreement with studios, bringing Hollywood at least partly back from a historic halt in production.The governing boards of the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America and their joint negotiating committee all voted to accept the deal, and afterward declared that the strike would be over and writers would be free to work starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.Late-night talk shows — the first to go dark when writers walked out on May 2 — are likely the first shows that will resume. Video shows Jack-In-The-Box employee open fire on family in drive-thru The writers still have to vote to ratify the contract themselves, but lifting the strike will allow them to work during that process, the Writers Guild told members in an email.After Tuesday's board votes, the contracts were released to the writers, who had...

Wedding hall fire kills at least 100 people, injures 150 more in northern Iraq

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — A fire at a wedding hall in northern Iraq killed at least 100 people and injured 150 others, authorities said Wednesday.The fire happened in Iraq's Nineveh province in its Hamdaniya area, authorities said. That's a predominantly Christian area just outside of the northern city of Mosul, some 335 kilometers (205 miles) northwest of the capital, Baghdad.Television footage showed charred debris inside of the wedding hall as a man shouted at firefighters.Health Ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr gave the casualty figure via the state-run Iraqi News Agency.“All efforts are being made to provide relief to those affected by the unfortunate accident,” al-Badr said.Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an investigation into the fire and asked the country's Interior and Health officials to provide relief, his office said in a statement online.Najim al-Jubouri, the provincial governor of Nineveh, said some of the injured had been transferred to regional hospitals. He cauti...

California enacts first gun and ammunition tax in the country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

(KTXL) — California Governor Gavin Newsom signed several firearms and ammunition-related bills into law on Tuesday, including one to tax guns and ammunition and another that places more rules on people seeking a concealed carry weapons permit. The federal government already taxes the sale of guns and ammunition at either 10% or 11%, depending on the type of gun. With the signing of AB 28 on Tuesday, California will now add an 11% excise tax on the purchase of guns and ammunition, an amount that the bill's author states is lower than the excise tax on marijuana sales. This makes California the only state with a separate tax on guns and ammunition, according to the gun control advocacy group Brady.The money will pay for security improvements at public schools and a variety of gun violence prevention programs, including those geared toward young people in gangs. The money from the federal tax, which has been in place for more than 100 years, pays for wildlife conservation and hunter ed...

Sweet and Spicy: McDonald's releasing 2 limited-time dipping sauces

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

(KTLA) — Fans of sweet heat will want to make a stop at McDonald's next month when the fast food behemoth unveils two new limited-time dipping sauces.On Oct. 9, McDonald's will release two new sauces, each offering a sweet and spicy promise, but each with its own sweet and spicy flavor profile.Promotional image of McDonald's Mambo Sauce and Sweet & Spicy Jam, which are set to debut for a limited time on Oct. 9, 2023. The first sauce is a breakfast-inspired "Sweet & Spicy Jam Sauce," which is a thick red pepper sauce with a "tongue-numbing Szechuan peppercorn kick" with an acidic finish courtesy of apple cider vinegar.McDonald's corporate chefs recommend pairing the sauce with a McMuffin, McNuggets or a McCrispy chicken sandwich.The second sauce is a spin on a regional favorite inspired by a beloved sauce in the Washington D.C. area. "Mambo Sauce" is tomato-based, with sweet, spicy and vinegar notes.Chefs recommend pairing that sauce with a Quarter Pounder with cheese, hash b...

One-third of Texas foster care caseworkers left their jobs last year as the agency continued putting kids in hotels

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

(Texas Tribune) — Lucy, a caseworker for Texas’ child welfare agency, sat in her car outside a major-chain hotel, readying for her work shift. She flipped through the pages of her blue Bible, the size of her palm, trying to find the compassion and will to go inside.While much of the state was about to end the workday or thinking about dinner, Lucy would keep an eye on two kids in the foster care system.Lucy recited Bible passages to herself as she made her way to the hotel room where the kids were staying. Her shift this evening would run until 8 p.m. Other weeks, they go until midnight or even 4 a.m.“I'm literally praying that the kiddo is asleep so there's no issues,” said Lucy, who would only speak to The Texas Tribune if her full name wasn’t used, out of fear of retaliation from the state agency. “If you're working before 8 a.m., you're not going to be able to get ahold of anybody to help you.”Children whose home environments are determined to be unsafe or abusive end up in the ...

Adam Wainwright says he has thrown his final pitch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eight days after winning his 200th game, 42-year-old Adam Wainwright said Tuesday he has thrown his final pitch.“I’ve thought a lot about it the last few days, but I’m in a really good place mentally,” the St. Louis Cardinals right-hander said ahead of his team’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. “No regrets about anything I ever did, no second thoughts of, am I making the right decision on pitching or retiring. I’m at peace with all of it in this spot that I’ve never been.“I’ve literally left everything I had out there, for real.”Wainwright, a three-time All-Star, pitched all 18 of his seasons with the Cardinals, who won the 2006 World Series in his second year. He threw seven innings of four-hit ball in winning his final start, a 1-0 victory Sept. 18 over the Brewers in St. Louis. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News ...

Woman shot at Family Dollar in Old North St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS – One person is in custody following a shooting at a Family Dollar store that hospitalized a woman.The shooting took place just before 4:10 p.m. at the Family Dollar on North Florissant Avenue near St. Louis Avenue, in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood.Police claim the victim, a 30-year-old woman, suffered a gunshot wound to her face. She was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition.

Hollywood writers strike comes to an end, union leaders announce

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

The Writers Guild of America announced Tuesday afternoon that the strike is officially coming to an end on Wednesday.  “The WGA reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. Today, our Negotiating Committee, WGAW Board, and WGAE Council all voted unanimously to recommend the agreement. The strike ends at 12:01 am.,” the WGA posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.  Leaders of Hollywood’s writers union declared their nearly five-month-old strike over Tuesday after board members approved a contract agreement with studios. The governing boards of the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America both voted to accept the deal, and afterward declared that the strike would be over and writers would be free to work starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The writers still have to vote to ratify the contract themselves, but lifting the strike will allow them to work during that process, the Writers Guild told members in an email. Hollywood act...

Wrongfully convicted man released after spending 28 years behind bars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:59 GMT

A man convicted of robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault has been released from prison after 28 years after it was determined he was wrongfully convicted, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.Last week, the conviction of Gerardo Cabanillas was vacated after evidence was reexamined by the DA's Office Conviction Integrity Unit. In a press release issued Tuesday afternoon, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón called Cabanillas' imprisonment a "grave injustice."“Upon thorough reexamination of the evidence and a comprehensive review of the case by my office’s Conviction Integrity Unit, it has become abundantly clear that a serious error was made," Gascón said. "I extend my deepest apologies to Mr. Cabanillas for the miscarriage of justice and the failure of our criminal legal system."Gerardo Cabanillas shakes hands with District Attorney George Gascón following a press conference in which the DA announced his release from prison on Sept. 26, 2023...