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Today in History: April 24, hostage rescue mission fails

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

Today in History Today is Monday, April 24, the 114th day of 2023. There are 251 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On April 24, 1962, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology achieved the first satellite relay of a television signal, between Camp Parks, California, and Westford, Massachusetts. On this date: In 1877, federal troops were ordered out of New Orleans, ending the North’s post-Civil War rule in the South. In 1915, in what’s considered the start of the Armenian genocide, the Ottoman Empire began rounding up Armenian political and cultural leaders in Constantinople. In 1960, rioting erupted in Biloxi, Mississippi, after Black protesters staging a “wade-in” at a whites-only beach were attacked by a crowd of hostile whites. In 1961, in the wake of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, the White House issued a statement saying that President John F. Kennedy “bears sole responsibility for the events of the past few days.” In 1967, Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir...

NBA sets schedule for Celtics’ potential second-round series vs. 76ers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

The Celtics still need to take care of business by winning one more game against the Hawks, but barring a complete disaster, they’ll face the rival 76ers in the second round.With their Game 4 victory in Atlanta on Sunday night, the C’s took a 3-1 series lead and they can close out the series in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Boston. The 76ers, who completed a sweep over the Nets on Saturday, are already waiting for them. If and when the Celtics clinch a berth in the second round, the NBA already has the schedule set for a Boston-Philadelphia series. There are two potential schedules, one for if the Celtics beat the Hawks in five games and one pending a series victory in six or seven games.Here are the schedules:If the Celtics beat the Hawks in five games:Game 1: 76ers at Celtics – Saturday, April 29Game 2: 76ers at Celtics – Monday, May 1Game 3: Celtics at 76ers – Friday, May 5Game 4: Celtics at 76ers – Sunday, May 7Game 5: 76ers at Celtics – Tuesday, May 9Game 6: Celtics at 76ers – Thu...

Morgan Wallen cancels Ole Miss show after losing his voice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Thousands of country music fans were awaiting singer Morgan Wallen when he suddenly canceled his performance Sunday night at Vaught Hemingway Stadium.WTVA-TV reported video boards inside the Ole Miss football stadium showed a message saying the “Thought You Should Know” singer had lost his voice and was unable to perform, adding that people would be refunded their money where they bought the tickets.Some people expressed anger on social media because the announcement of the cancellation came after the opening acts had performed.While Wallen is one of country music’s biggest stars, he’s no stranger to controversy. He was caught on camera in 2021 outside a home in Nashville, Tennessee, yelling profanities and a racial slur. He apologized at the time but was suspended indefinitely from his label and his music was pulled by radio stations and streaming services.The year before, Wallen was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct after gett...

Trial to begin in 2018 killing of 11 at Pittsburgh synagogue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jury selection will begin Monday in the federal death penalty trial of a truck driver accused of shooting to death 11 Jewish worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.Robert G. Bowers, who is from the Pittsburgh suburb of Baldwin, faces 63 counts in the Oct. 27, 2018, attack at the Tree of Life synagogue while members of three Jewish congregations were holding Sabbath activities in the building. The charges include 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death and 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death. If convicted, Bowers, 50, could get the death sentence. He offered to plead guilty in return for a life sentence, but federal prosecutors turned him down. His lawyers also recently said he has schizophrenia and structural and functional brain impairments.During the trial, prosecutors are expected to tell jurors about incriminatory statements he allegedly made to investigators, an online ...

Florida gov in Japan ahead of expected US presidential bid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Japan on Monday to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other officials as part of his four-nation trade mission seen as an attempt by the expected Republican presidential candidate to improve his diplomatic profile.During their meeting Monday at the Prime Minister’s Office, Kishida told DeSantis that reinforcement of Japan-U.S. ties is key to ensuring the peace, stability and prosperity of the international society, and the two exchanged views on regional issues, according to a Japanese Foreign Ministry statement.DeSantis is considered the biggest challenger to former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election. He is expected to announce his candidacy in early May. He has already been meeting with Republican officials and aggressively touring battleground states in the U.S.DeSantis’ trip, announced Thursday, also includes South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom. ...

Ed Sheeran hit, Marvin Gaye classic soul of copyright trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury selection and opening statements are set to begin Monday in a trial that mashes up Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” with Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” The heirs of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer of the 1973 soul classic, sued Sheeran, alleging the English pop star’s hit 2014 tune has “striking similarities” to “Let’s Get It On” and “overt common elements” that violate their copyright.The lawsuit filed in 2017 has finally made it to a trial that is expected to last a week in the Manhattan federal courtroom of 95-year-old Judge Louis L. Stanton.Sheeran, 32, is among the witnesses expected to testify.“Let’s Get It On” is the quintessential, sexy slow jam that’s been heard in countless films and commercials and garnered hundreds of millions of streams, spins and radio plays over the past 50 years. “Thinking Out Loud,” which won a Grammy for song of the year, is a much more marital take on love and sex.While the jury ...

Westlake Community gathers to help victims of fatal collision that left teen dead, 3 others injured 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

Hundreds of people in the Westlake community came together for a fundraiser on Sunday to support the families impacted by the tragic collision that claimed the life of Westlake High School freshman Wesley Welling and injured three others.The benefit featured a silent auction, live music, and activities to help support and raise funds for the families struggling after the devastating crash. All the proceeds from the event will go to the affected students’ families. “It has warmed my heart to know how many people know about this event and how many people are planning on attending because we are small,“ said Alissa Morton, the fundraiser organizer. “Westlake is a small community, but we are resilient and we are compassionate and tonight is proof of that.” The fundraiser came in response to the fatal car collision outside of Westlake High School Last Tuesday, when 24-year-old Austin Eis plowed into a group of teens in what officials believe was an intentional act.Wesley Wellin...

Woman facing kidnapping charges after stealing van in Sherman Oaks with 93-year-old man inside

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

A 38-year-old woman was arrested and is facing charges of kidnapping after stealing a vehicle with a 93-year-old man inside, authorities announced Thursday.  The incident unfolded on April 20, just after 9 a.m., when a driver for a medical transportation company parked the van near the 15000 block of La Maida Street in Sherman Oaks with the 93-year-old passenger seated inside the vehicle and then exited the van to pick up another passenger, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department.  That’s when police say the suspect, now identified as Lindsey Gordonellyson, got in the driver’s seat of the van and drove away with the elderly male occupant.  Officers with the Van Nuys Patrol Division were able to locate the vehicle with the help of LAPD’s Air Support Unit.  “The officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle; however, the suspect failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated,” the news release stated. “During the pursuit, the suspec...

Supporters hold rally in Oakland for DA Pamela Price

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) -- The new Alameda County District Attorney has barely been in office for 100 days. Some are already calling for Pamela Price's resignation.Many others continue to support the embattled district attorney. There was a rally outside of the Alameda County Courthouse Sunday. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price addresses controversy since she took office Price says she was anticipating backlash because she planned to make big changes to the way the office handles cases. She still feels like she’s doing the right thing for the community.More than a hundred people gathered on the stairs of the Alameda County Superior Courthouse steps waving signs in support of Price."I stand before you as the first non-appointed, non-anointed district attorney in Alameda County in over 100 years," she said.Price ran on a platform of criminal justice reform. There were several previously incarcerated individuals who attended the rally.But Price says she will also stand up ...

EU schemes up sweeteners to woo countries away from Russia and China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:27 GMT

The EU is plotting how to win friends and influence people — in other countries. Earlier this week, EU officials circulated a confidential briefing, obtained by POLITICO, that details several individualized plans to win back — or not lose — four key “priority countries” that sit on the edge of the Western-led alliance trying to isolate Russia, arm Ukraine and constrain China.The countries: Brazil, Chile, Nigeria and Kazakhstan.The document indicates where — and how — the EU thinks it can make progress in each one. There is the expected invocation of possible trade agreements, but the document goes well beyond that, suggesting tailored offers the EU can make on energy, migration, economic development or security coordination. The focus is distinctly on carrots, not sticks. The unstated goal: To get more friends and build a next-generation economy without cozying up to autocrats. Indeed, Russia and China loom over the entire document, with several anxious mentions of th...