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Former NBA star Dwight Howard denies sexual assault lawsuit filed by Georgia man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Dwight Howard has denied accusations by a Georgia man who says he was sexually assaulted by the former NBA star and another person.Stephen Harper filed a state civil suit against Howard in July, alleging assault and battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.In a response filed this week by his attorney, Howard described the 2021 encounter at his home in the Atlanta suburbs as consensual and requested that the case be dismissed.Harper’s lawsuit says he met Howard through Instagram and they exchanged explicit text messages before arranging to meet at Howard’s home on July 19, 2021.While on his way to the Gwinnett County residence, Harper says Howard texted him to ask if another man or woman could join their planned sexual encounter. Harper says he told Howard he was not interested.Once at Howard’s home, Harper claims they were joined by a man dressed as a woman who identified only as “Kitty.” Harper says he tried to r...

White House wants more than $23 billion from Congress to respond to natural disasters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is asking lawmakers for more than $23 billion in emergency funding to help the government respond to the tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters that have ripped through the U.S. this year.That request is part of a broader package being sent to Capitol Hill Wednesday that asks for additional investments in child care programs and broadband expansion. And that’s on top of the separate, nearly $106 billion request the Biden administration made last week for aid to Ukraine and Israel, as well as other national security priorities.The White House says the request for additional disaster relief – parsed out among the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies that cover housing, transportation and agriculture needs – is based on estimates from communities that have been hit by disasters this year, such as the August wildfires in Hawaii, hurricanes in Florida and flooding in California and Vermont, among other extr...

Police seize 5 guns, including 3D printed handgun, during raid in King Township

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

A King Township man is facing numerous charges after a raid at a rural property netted five illegal guns, including a 3D printed handgun, police say.Officers executed a warrant at the home on Highway 9 between 11th Concession and 15th Sideroad on October 20, 2023.Police say they also seized a silencer, ammunition and high-capacity magazines.George Zagouris, 51, of King, is facing fifteen total charges.Police say the investigation is ongoing.“York Regional Police recognizes the devastating impact that illegal guns have on the communities we serve,” police said in a release. “Our members are committed to combatting this type of crime and taking illegal guns off our streets through the Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy.”

Police identify man found dead in Nebraska apartment building chimney

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Police in Norfolk, Nebraska, have identified a man whose body was found inside an apartment building chimney, but they’re still not sure about the circumstances that led to his death.The victim was 29-year-old Zachariah Andrews of Norfolk, the Norfolk Daily News reported Wednesday. His body was found Oct. 19.Police Capt. Michael Bauer said Andrews was identified by scars, marks, tattoos and an identification card found with his body.Andrews was last seen alive on Sept. 15. Police received a call on Sept. 16 from a tenant of the apartment building who said he heard a man yelling for help. By the time officers arrived, the yelling had stopped, and officers couldn’t locate anyone.On Sept. 20, a parking warning was placed on Andrews’ vehicle that was parked nearby. A missing-person report was taken on Oct. 3, Bauer said.Police have said they believe the death was an accident, but an investigation is ongoing.The Associated Press

Bud Light to return as the UFC’s official beer next year as it recovers from a conservative backlash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bud Light is set to return as the official beer of the UFC in the U.S. next year as the brand tries to recover from a conservative backlash to a promotion with a transgender influencer.Under a new multiyear marketing deal between the promoter of mixed martial arts fights and Bud Light maker Anheuser-Busch, the brewer will become the UFC’s “Official Beer Partner” in the U.S. starting Jan. 1, the two companies announced. Outside the U.S., AB InBev, the parent of Anheuser-Busch, will be UFC’s official global partner.Financial details of the deal were not disclosed — but, citing a person familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that the global agreement marks the UFC’s largest sponsorship ever, surpassing a $175 million fight-kit deal signed with Crypto.com back in 2021.A UFC spokesperson declined to comment on the financial terms of the partnership. Anheuser-Busch did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.This isn’t the f...

Swastika found carved into playground equipment at Downers Grove school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago elementary school district has asked police for extra patrols after a swastika was found carved into a piece of playground equipment early Tuesday.Superintendent Kevin Russell of Downers Grove Grade School District 58 sent parents a letter confirming a swastika was found on the playground at Lester Elementary School. He called the finding “deeply disturbing."“The swastika serves as the most notorious symbol of hate and antisemitism and has no place in our community,” Russell wrote. ‘He was my best friend’: Mother recuperates after 6-year-old boy killed in attack police call a hate crime He said the swastika was reported to Downers Grove Police and has since been removed.“We have no evidence that this symbol was made by a Lester student," Russell wrote. “Further, we do not believe that any Lester student saw the symbol. This likely occurred after school when the students had left for the evening.”The discovery occurred amid a rise in an...

While Justin Fields is still unlikely to play, another Bears starter is nearing a return

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Once again, it's looking more and more like the Bears will be starting their backup quarterback this Sunday.But as Justin Fields remains doubtful for the game against the Chargers, an offensive starter who has been out for over a month is getting closer to a return.Offensive tackle Braxton Jones has been designated to return from injured reserve, opening up his 21-day window to return to the active roster. He was limited in Wednesday's practice as the Bears prepare for their eighth game of the year against Los Angeles, with no timeline given for a potential lineup return.Defensive lineman Khalid Kareem was also removed from IR after dealing with a hip injury and was a full participant on Wednesday. Jones was placed on IR after the Week 2 game against the Bucs with a neck injury, taking out one of the more reliable members of an offensive line that's been in flux the last two years. In his rookie season of 2022, Jones made every start at tackled and did so for the...

Proof of ID to visit adult websites? Ohio is latest state pushing for the requirement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Adult websites would require users to verify their age by submitting a copy of a government-issued ID card before accessing sexually explicit material if a bill advancing through the Ohio Statehouse is signed into law.House Bill 295, known as the "Innocence Act," has been proposed to prohibit anyone under age 18 from viewing sexually explicit material and require pornographic websites to enforce age verification. Users in Ohio would authenticate their identity by uploading a photo of their ID card or another personal document, like proof of a mortgage or employment. If enacted, sexually explicit websites would be charged with a third-degree felony for failing to verify the age of a person accessing the adult content. A minor attempting to access sexually explicit material by falsifying their identity would be charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor.  Florida asks Supreme Court to freeze ruling blocking drag show law’s enforcement The act would also p...

Thieves steal 4 school buses in the Bronx: NYPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) — Police on Tuesday released images of several suspects who allegedly stole school buses in the Bronx.The males broke through a locked fence and entered a gated area on Blondell Avenue around midnight Tuesday, police said. They took three mini school buses and drove them to an unknown location, according to police. ‘Takes your dream away’: Over $100K worth of merchandise stolen after SUV crashes into shoe store A law enforcement source said the keys were in the buses.The NYPD released surveillance photos of two of the suspects. Investigators believe there are three or four people involved with the thefts. No arrests had been made, as of Wednesday morning.(Credit: NYPD)(Credit: NYPD)Police said they believe the same suspects also stole a fourth mini school bus from the same lot over the weekend. The buses have not been recovered. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the N...

Retail theft is the worst in these 10 US cities, study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:59:59 GMT

(KTXL) — Retail crime has been on the rise in the U.S., forcing some major retailers to even close locations in response. A new report shows some U.S. cities have been especially hard-hit by organized retail crime.The National Retail Federation (NRF) — the world's largest retail trade association, according to its website — recently released its 2023 Retail Security Survey. The report contains insights from 177 retail brands, which accounted for $1.6 trillion of annual retail sales in 2022 and represent more than 97,000 retail locations across the U.S. Overall, retailers that participated in the survey reported that inventory loss — called shrink — clocked in at an average rate of 1.6 % last year, representing $112.1 billion in losses. That’s up from 1.4% the previous year. The greatest portion of shrink — 65% — came from external theft, including products taken during organized shoplifting incidents. The 50 ‘rattiest cities’ in the US, as ranked by Orkin For the purposes of the 2...