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US: Chinese agents paid bribes in plot to disrupt anti-communist Falun Gong movement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. authorities have arrested two suspected Chinese government agents in connection with an alleged plot by Beijing to disrupt and ultimately topple the exiled anti-communist Falun Gong spiritual movement.John Chen and Lin Feng were charged in an indictment unsealed Friday with scheming to revoke a New York-based Falun Gong organization’s tax-exempt status and paying bribes to a undercover officer posing as a U.S. tax agent.The undercover officer recorded multiple conversations with Chen, and investigators obtained a wire tap to record phone calls in which Chen and Feng discussed instructions they purportedly received from Chinese government officials, prosecutors said.In one recording, prosecutors said, Chen referred to Chinese government officials as akin to “blood brothers” and, in another, he said Beijing would be “very generous” in rewarding the undercover officer’s help cracking down on Falun Gong’s non-profit status.Chen, a 70-year-old U.S. citize...

Videos, 911 calls capture frantic response to deadly New Mexico rampage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of frantic calls poured in to dispatchers about a barrage of gunfire and bloodied victims along a busy street during this month’s deadly shooting in Farmington, prompting authorities to rush to the chaotic scene not knowing what was in store.Breathless with guns drawn, officers rushed toward the gunman. More shots popped off, and an officer yelled, “Subject down! Cease fire, cease fire!” Another officer who had been shot in the leg was put in a patrol car and taken to a nearby hospital.The minutes that followed were a scramble as authorities searched the neighborhood for a possible second shooter, while other officers huddled to figure out how far the crime scene stretched and which vehicles had been hit by gunfire.Hours of police body and dash camera videos released Friday along with hundreds of dispatch recordings paint a vivid picture of the May 15 shooting that rocked the northwestern New Mexico community. Three women were killed and six o...

AAA projects Memorial Day weekend travel to be one of the busiest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

CHICAGO — This Memorial Day weekend is projected to be one of the busiest for travel in decades.According to AAA, more than 42 million Americans are expected to travel over the holiday weekend. That's an increase of 7% compared to last year. FAA: Memorial Day air travel to peak Thursday. Here’s what you can do to prepare. While Thursday was expected to be the best air travel day, Friday is expected to be the busiest day on the roads, according to the FAA and INRIX.INRIX tracks transportation data and projects.AAA is projecting this Memorial Day weekend will be the third busiest since 2000 when the company started tracking holiday travel.Fuel prices are lower than they were last year for Memorial Day, so some people are willing to do longer road trips.Booking data from AA shows one of the top tourist destinations this year is New York City.Experts said those who plan to drive this weekend should plan to avoid driving during peak hours and use alternative routes when possible.

At least the Cubs avoided a no-hitter on another bad day at Wrigley Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

CHICAGO — The biggest moment for the Cubs on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field was when they managed to avoid some team history.Christopher Morel stepped to the plate to lead off the eighth inning against Eduardo Salazar and got a base hit. That was significant because it was the first of the game for the Cubs, who'd been no-hit and shutdown for seven frames, with Hunter Greene pitching six of them. It brought out a loud cheer from the fans at Wrigley Field, but it was the only thing they would be able to root for during another terrible day for the team. For the second day in a row, the Cubs were blown out, this time 9-0 by the Reds to start the first of a four-game series. Couple with a sizable defeat to the Mets on Thursday, the Cubs have been outscored 19-1 in their last two games. Justin Steele, who's been a solid starter in the first two months of the year, was off his game as he allowed Cincinnati six runs, five of which were earned, on ten hits over 3 2/3 innings. Meanwhile,...

Help plant flags for military veterans in Des Plaines on Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — 'Operation Flags for Vets' is seeking the public's help to honor local veterans.Organizers are looking for volunteers to plant flags at nearly 4,000 graves at All Saints Cemetery on River Road. A meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. Flag planting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Flags-In Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery honors fallen servicemembers Individuals and groups are welcome. 'Operation Flags for Vets' was founded eight years ago by a Des Plaines police officer whose father and grandfather were both veterans. 

WATCH: WGN Films presents 'Sanctuary of Sin'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

WGN Films presents “Sanctuary of Sin,” a look at a little-known religious order and the role it played in the Catholic church sex abuse crisis. We reveal how the Servants of the Paraclete started, how it grew and where it is today.A 30 minute special will air on Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m. Central Time on WGN-TV; the WGN+ TV streaming app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV; online at WGNTV.com/Live and the WGN News mobile app.  WGN Films Presents 'Sanctuary of Sin'Part 1: Clergy sex abuse survivor shares storyPart 2: How a religious order became a sanctuary for pedophile priestsPart 3: Changes proposed for Servants of the ParacleteAn encore presentation will also be seen Saturday, June 3 at 4:30pm Central Time on all WGN-TV platforms.

Indy 500: A family tradition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS – When it comes to capturing the Mairet family’s love for racing, it’s not only in the pictures… it’s in their blood.“It’s been the family tradition since we were kids,” said Douglas (Doug) Mairet.Doug, who attended his first Indy 500 in 1974, is on the road to seeing his 49th race.“You catch that bug, and you want to come back every year,” said Doug.Just ask his father, David (Dave).“I’ve been to 70 races. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, it will be 71,” Dave said with a laugh. From no-rules party to EDM concert, how the Snake Pit became IMS recruiting tool for younger crowd For Dave, he was bit by the racing bug as a kid after World War II. That’s when his father, who he described as a “racing fanatic”, took him to his first 500.“He took me when I was 10 years old,” he said. “That was the start, 1946, right after they opened the track up.”Despite missing a few races over the years, trips from their Wisconsin home to the Speedway became the road map of what’s now a M...

Man guilty of Loop bank robbery sentenced to 9 years in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

Reginald DeberryCHICAGO — A Chicago man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for robbing a downtown bank while out on court-supervised release in 2019.Reginald Deberry, 60, and Iesha Batchelor, 31, confessed to robbing a Fifth Third Bank branch in Chicago’s Loop on November 22, 2019. Prosecutors said Deberry stood watch near the bank's entrance while Batchelor approached the teller and stated, “I want all the money… no one will get hurt.”  U.S. cities reporting fewer killings hope crime strategies promote peace this summer Iesha BatchelorThe clerk complied and Deberry and Batchelor made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Deberry was on probation for two prior federal bank robbery convictions at the time of the robbery. Batchelor also pleaded guilty to a bank robbery charge and was ordered to serve one year in prison.

Rain increasingly likely for Memorial Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Mostly cloudy skies of the afternoon will slowly clear into the evening.Tonight plan on a partly cloudy to mostly clear sky with lows in the upper 60s. It should stay dry tonight and reasonably pleasant for any Friday evening plans.Tonight's forecastSaturday will look and feel similar to today with sun giving way to increasing clouds later in the day. While rain chances aren't zero on Saturday, they're less than 10% with most areas staying dry.Slightly higher rain and storm chances (10%) return Sunday afternoon and evening, but in general Sunday looks dry as well with sun and clouds again.An upper-level disturbance heads to Central Texas as we head into Memorial Day with rain chances now increasing to 50%. Some leftover rain and storms are possible into Tuesday.Holiday weekend forecastRainfall amounts look to range from 0.25"-1.00" Monday and Tuesday, but localized higher amounts could cause isolated flooding concerns.Flash Flood Risk on Memorial DayThe Weather Pred...

APD looking for a suspect involved in an aggravated assault at the Domain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department needs the public’s help finding Shawn Baptista, 43, who has been arrested twice for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon – both incidents occurring at or near the Domain Shopping Center in North Austin. On April 2, APD arrested Baptista for an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly using a knife during an assault in the Domain Shopping Center area. On April 6, Baptista was released from custody on a $12,000 bond, per APD.Then, on April 12, Austin detectives say Baptista committed another aggravated assault. This time, Baptista reportedly threatened someone with a gun, per APD.Three days later, on April 15, Baptista was at the Domain again, where people observed him playing loud, vulgar music inside a department store, per APD. A department store employee asked Baptista to lower the music volume, which made him upset. An employee then asked Baptista to leave the store. The following day, on April 16, Baptista re...