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Judge peppers lawyers in prelude to trial of New York’s business fraud lawsuit against Trump

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge peppered Donald Trump’s lawyers with questions Friday as they tried to persuade the court to throw out a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general accusing the former president and his company of deceiving banks, insurers and others by exaggerating his wealth.At times, Judge Arthur Engoron argued with Trump attorney Christopher Kise. In one case the judge ended a back-and-forth by simply saying, “Disagree.”Later, the judge pounded his fist on the top of his bench in disagreement with Kise’s interpretation of one law, opining the intent of that law is, “You cannot make false statements.”The hearing served as prelude to a trial that could begin as soon as Oct. 2.A lawyer for New York Attorney General Letitia James also tried to persuade Engoron to hand down a summary judgment on the lawsuit’s most significant claim — that Trump committed fraud by inflating property values and exaggerating his net worth by as much as $3.6 billion ...

Judge overseeing case to remove Trump from ballot agrees to order banning threats and intimidation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado judge overseeing the first significant lawsuit to bar former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential ballot on Friday issued a protective order prohibiting threats and intimidation in the case, saying the safety of those involved — including herself and her staff — was necessary as the groundbreaking litigation moves forward. “I 100% understand everybody’s concerns for the parties, the lawyers, and frankly myself and my staff based on what we’ve seen in other cases,” District Judge Sarah B. Wallace said as she agreed to the protective order.The order prohibits parties in the case from making threatening or intimidating statements. Scott Gessler, a former Colorado secretary of state representing Trump in the case, opposed it. He said a protective order was unnecessary because threats and intimidation already are prohibited by law.It was sought by lawyers for the liberal group Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Wash...

Dallas mayor switches parties, making the city the nation’s largest with a GOP mayor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced Friday that he is switching to the Republican Party, making the city the largest in the U.S. to be led by a GOP mayor. Although mayoral offices in Texas are nonpartisan, the switch is a boost for Texas Republicans who have been losing ground around the state’s major cities for more than a decade. Johnson was elected mayor in 2019 after serving more than a decade as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives.Making the announcement in an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Johnson said he was never a favorite of Democrats in the Capitol and called on mayors to champion “law and order” and fiscal conservatism. “This is hardly a red wave. But it is clear that the nation and its cities have reached a time for choosing,” Johnson wrote. “And the overwhelming majority of Americans who call our cities home deserve to have real choices—not ‘progressive’ echo chambers—at city hall.”Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott quickly...

Ravens have a chance to improve to 3-0 when they host Indianapolis; Richardson ruled out for Colts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — The last time the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts met, it was a prime-time showcase for Lamar Jackson and Jonathan Taylor.Only one of those two stars is available this week when the teams face each other again.For a while, Jackson’s contract dispute with the Ravens was one of the NFL’s biggest offseason stories, but once Baltimore and its quarterback resolved that with a new five-year deal, the Colts and Taylor took center stage. Indianapolis didn’t agree on a contract with its standout running back, and Taylor — who had offseason ankle surgery — began the season on the physically unable to perform list.The Colts (1-1) also enter Sunday’s matchup at Baltimore (2-0) with an injury at quarterback after rookie Anthony Richardson was ruled out Friday because of a concussion. Gardner Minshew replaced him in a win over Houston last week.“That’s what you sign up for, you know?” Minshew said earlier in the week. “Happy to get out ...

Giorgio Napolitano, former Italian president and 1st ex-Communist in that post, has died at 98

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

ROME (AP) — Giorgio Napolitano, the first former Communist to rise to Italy’s presidency and the first person to be elected twice to the mostly ceremonial post, died on Friday, the presidential palace said. He was 98. A statement issued Friday night by the presidential palace confirmed Italian news reports of the death of Napolitano, who had been ailing in a Rome hospital for weeks. The current president, Sergio Mattarella, in a message hailed his predecessor as head of state, saying that Napolitano’s life “mirrored a large part of (Italy’s) history in the second half of the 20th century, with its dramas, its complexity, its goals, its hopes.”As a prominent member of what had long been the largest Communist party in the West, Napolitano had advocated positions that often veered from party orthodoxy. He sought dialogue with Italian and European socialists to end his party’s isolation, and he was an early backer of European integration. Turin daily La Stampa once wrote of ...

Jordan Smith cards 7-under 64 to take 3-shot lead after 2nd round of French Open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) — English golfer Jordan Smith coped well with the windy conditions to post a 7-under 64 and take a three-shot lead after the second round of the French Open on Friday.Smith began the day with five consecutive birdies and added four more on the back nine, but his charge was held back by two bogeys. He heads into Saturday’s third round with a 12-under total of 130.“Just hit some awesome iron shots. The challenge was mainly the wind. A lot of time it was crosswind, so you’re trying to figure out if it’s helping or hurting,” said the 30-year-old Smith, who has two career wins on the European Tour. “I’ve just been putting lovely. A lot of drills and a lot of time on the putting green. The greens (here) are soft so you can go straight for the pins.”Ewen Ferguson’s 67 moved him up to second place, while last year’s runner-up Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark is among a group of six players sitting a further two strokes bac...

¿Hacia dónde se dirige la tormenta tropical Ophelia y qué lugares de EE.UU. impactaría?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

(CNN Español) – La tormenta tropical Ophelia se formó este viernes frente a las costas de Carolina del Norte y se espera que toque tierra en ese estado en la mañana de este sábado, según el Centro Nacional de Huracanes (NHC, por sus siglas en inglés).La tormenta se ubica a 405 kilómetros al este de Charleston, Carolina del Suro, y a 320 kilómetros de Cape Hatteras, carolina del Norte, según el aviso de las 11 a.m. del NHC de este viernes.Se emitió un aviso de marejada ciclónica para “Ocracoke Inlet hasta Duck, Carolina del Norte, el Potomac de Marejada Ciclónica al sur de Colonial Beach, y sectores del oeste de Albemarle Sound”, indicó el NHC. Este aviso tiene una duración de 36 horas.Trayectoria de Ophelia en vivo: dónde está en tiempo real y a dónde se dirigeEl Centro Nacional de Huracanes detalló los lugares donde está vigente un aviso de tormenta tropical:Cape Fear, Carolina del Norte hasta Fenwick Island, DelawareAlbemarle y Pamlico SoundsMarea Potomac al sur de Cobb IslandChes...

Zelenskyy speaks before Canadian Parliament in his campaign to shore up support for Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Canada on Friday to stay with his country to victory as he went to the Canadian Parliament seeking to bolster support from Western allies for Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion. Zelenskyy flew into Canada’s capital late on Thursday after meetings with President Joe Biden and lawmakers in Washington. He spoke at the United Nations’ annual meeting on Wednesday.“Moscow must lose once and for all. And it will lose,” Zelenskyy said during his address in Parliament. Zelenskyy said Canada has always been on the “bright side of history” in fighting previous wars and said it has helped saved thousands of lives in this war with aid. He also thanked thanked Canadians for financial support and for making Ukrainians fleeing war feel at home in Canada. Zelenskyy repeatedly thanked Canada and received a number of standing ovations from dignitaries and parliamentarians.Zelenskyy linked the suffering of Ukrainians...

Revelan la causa de muerte de Angus Cloud, el actor de “Euphoria”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

OAKLAND, California – El actor Angus Cloud murió en julio por una sobredosis accidental de cocaína, fentanilo y otras sustancias, dijo una oficina forense del norte de California.La causa de la muerte de Cloud fue “intoxicación aguda” debido a los “efectos combinados de metanfetamina, cocaína, fentanilo y benzodiazepinas”, dijo el jueves la Oficina Forense del Condado de Alameda.La oficina confirmó que la sobredosis fue un accidente. Muere Jimmy Buffett, legendario cantante de “Margaritaville”, a sus 76 años Joven actor Angus Cloud muere una semana después de enterrar a su padre El actor fue declarado muerto en la casa de sus padres el 31 de julio en Oakland. Tenía 25 años.Cloud interpretó al traficante de drogas Fezco “Fez” O’Neill en la serie de HBO “Euphoria”.En un comunicado enviado tras su deceso, su familia dijo que Cloud había tenido dificultades por la reciente muerte de su padre.“El único consuelo que tenemos es sab...

‘I had to remind myself that I was alive’: Paramedic who survived BSFR helicopter crash in Pompano Beach shares ordeal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:17:25 GMT

Weeks after a he crawled to safety, a South Florida paramedic is describing the moments when the helicopter he was on fell from the sky and crashed into an apartment complex, killing two people. On Aug. 28, a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue helicopter caught fire, lost control and plummeted into a Pompano Beach apartment building, killing a BSFR Battalion Chief and a woman who lived at the complex. Speaking with 7News, Mikael Chaguaceda said he was taking off from Pompano Beach Airpark when he and his crew heard a large explosion. The 31-year-old said he smelled smoke on board the chopper.The helicopters they were on had been replaced weeks before by a Louisiana-based company. After smelling the smoke, Chaguaceda said, they immediately attempted to turn back, but they heard a second explosion, which caused the chopper to lose altitude. According to Chaguaceda, fallen BSFR Battalion Chief Terryson Jackson, who was on board the helicopter, looked him in the eye and reassured him that eve...