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Former US ambassador accused of spying for Cuba for decades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Justice Department announced on Monday that a former U.S. diplomat has been charged with secretly spying for Cuban intelligence. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Victor Manuel Rocha, who previously served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, acted illegally as an agent of foreign government.A complaint alleges that Rocha acted as a covert agent of the Cuban government for over 40 years.“This action exposes one of the highest reaching and longest lasting infiltrations of the U.S. government by a foreign agent,” Garland said.The 73-year-old worked at the State Department and held several senior positions between 1981 and 2002. He also served as an advisor to the Commander of the U.S. Southern Command.Starting last year, the FBI arranged a series of undercover encounters with Rocha in downtown Miami.“He told the undercover that his efforts to infiltrate the United States government were ‘meticulous’ and ‘very disciplined.’ And he repeatedly bragged about ...

Protesters plead for justice as Supreme Court hears oral argument in Purdue bankruptcy case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – “Sacklers lie! People die!” protesters could be heard chanting outside the Supreme Court, as the justices heard oral arguments in the case of Harrington v Purdue Pharma L.P. Monday morning.“I came today because I lost my son, Eddie, in Philadelphia in 2001,” protester Edward Bisch said. “All the parents want justice.”Whether the protesters will get the ruling they want remains to be seen. The case centers around the deal reached in 2021 regarding Purdue Pharma’s and the Sackler family’s role in the opioid crisis that has plagued America. How to watch the fourth Republican presidential debate “The Sacklers want all the benefits of bankruptcy without being in bankruptcy,” Bisch asserted. “Well, my dead son does not release them, and I don’t release them!”In exchange for giving up ownership of drug manufacturer Purdue Pharma and for contributing up to $6 billion to fight the crisis, members of the wealthy Sackler family, who haven’t declared bankruptcy, would b...

District attorney drops 17 police officer indictments tied to 2020 protests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video at the top of this story shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Monday, Dec. 4, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Indictments against 17 Austin Police officers tied to protests in 2020 will be dismissed, according to a joint release from the Travis County District Attorney's office and the City of Austin. Those officers will be allowed back on duty. PREVIOUS: 18 indicted APD officers have bonded out so far A total of 21 Austin police officers were indicted after May 2020 protests in downtown Austin following the deaths of George Floyd and Michael Ramos. A release from the Travis County District Attorney's Office and the City of Austin said they will move forward with four of those cases. In exchange, the City and DA's office announced they submitted a letter to the Department of Justice asking for a review of the police department's actions during those protests. It's not immediately clear if the DOJ will do that review. “We expect the Department of Justice will take our...

Are you my owner? Emus spotted in Leander neighborhood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A Leander couple is searching for the owner of an injured emu they rescued after it was spotted in their neighborhood near RM 1431 and Big Sandy Creek.Hailey and Ross Copland said their tiny neighborhood's email chain burst with activity around Thanksgiving when several neighbors chimed in that five or six emus had been spotted nearby. The Coplands initially didn't think much of it, until Ross was with their two children at their neighbor's house and spotted an emu near the creek."[Ross] calls me and he's like, 'the emu is over here!'" Hailey recounted. "There're actually an emu. So sure enough, we went down there."Up close, the emu had several small bites and injuries. Ross and Hailey opted to try and corral the animal and guide it back to their farm, where they could safely enclose the animal until they got in contact with its owner."We looked up on Google real quick, 'how do you hold an emu,' because every bird or animal....likes to be held in a different ...

Texas mom of victim from Santa Fe school shooting launches bid for Congress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

SANTA FE, Texas (Nexstar) — Rhonda Hart, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Santa Fe High School, announced Fridays she is running for Congress.Hart said she was already keen on political involvement, but her activism took a turn after the death of her daughter at the hands of a teenaged gunman who used his father's firearms. Since that tragedy, Hart has been focused on getting safe gun storage laws passed at the state and federal level.The Democrat plans to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, R-Friendswood, who has held the deep red, Galveston-area seat since 2013. The Weber campaign welcomed Hart into the race, in a statement from a campaign spokesperson."We respect everyone's right to participate in the political arena," the statement said. "Randy remains focused on his proven record of championing conservative values and fighting for the issues that impact Texas and our community."Hart has had some success in Congress, when the U.S. House passed the Ki...

Williamson Co. EMS said 'data event' affected personal information of patients

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- On Monday, Williamson County EMS said a "data event" may have affected patients' "privacy of personal information," according to a county news release.On Aug. 10, EMS Management and Consultants, Inc. (EMS|MC) mailed notice letters to patients for a transition of their accounts as the new billing vendor for Williamson County EMS. However, during the mailing process, officials said the letter was mailed "as the ambulance point of pickup rather than the home address of the patient."EMS|MC notified Williamson County EMS and is working closely to notify those who were affected, the release said. The mis-mailed letters included patients' name, medical account number, incident number, date of transport and the balance due.Furthermore, officials encourages people affected to "remain vigilant against incident of identity theft."You can read the full notice of the data event here.

Chicago Tribune’s Holiday Cookie Contest 2023: Get the winning recipes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

After almost four decades, Chicago Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest bakers continue to submit delicious, yet sometimes surprisingly simple recipes that readers turn to year after year.The winners of this year’s 37th annual contest are no different, and they stunned a cadre of guest judges to boot. Below, find recipes for Graham Cracker Praline, the first-place winner from Kathy Evertsberg of Winnetka; Chewy Sesame Chocolate Chunk Cookies from second-place winner and Chicagoan Clarissa Frayn; and our third-place winner, Coconut Tassies from Mary Kim of Chicago. To learn more about how they created these recipes, read the story here.[ Get the book: 25 years of award-winning Holiday Cookie Contest recipes ]Happy baking!First place: Graham Cracker PralineGraham Cracker Pralines, the first place winner in the Chicago Tribune holiday cookie contest Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)These cookies bring back memories of baking with my grandmother Grace Vander Ley while gr...

Rise in RSV cases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--- New York State is seeing an increase in RSV---a respiratory virus, that typically resembles the common cold.According to New Your State Department of Health data, RSV started increasing at a faster rate than COVID in late October.Dr. Nosa Aigbe Lebarty of CentralMed Urgent Care said the concern is the number of people getting it."Before it used to be mostly only kids, but now it’s everyone," said Lebarty." Both adults, children, as well as geriatric patients. So everybody—- no one is immune to RSV at all."RSV can turn into pneumonia which could be life threatening for babies, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. Dr. James McDonald, New York State’s Health Commissioner, urges those who can get the vaccine, to get it."One thing I’d remind my peers who are 60 and older and have an underlying medical condition— look at the RSV vaccine for you," said McDonald. One thing we did in New York that is different than in any other state, as far as I kno...

Man sentenced for May robbery in Saratoga Springs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Juan Munguia, 34, was sentenced to two to four years incarceration on Monday. Munguia had previously pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery for an incident in Saratoga Springs. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Saratoga Springs Police responded to a reported robbery in the area of Lake Avenue and Pavilion Row on May 14. Investigations determined that a suspect had approached the victim from behind and forcibly took property.The suspect then fled on a bike. Police were able to identify Munguia and took him into custody.

Pittsfield remembers airman killed in Japan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:20 GMT

PITTSFIELD, M.A. (NEWS10) — A local high school football player who joined the military and passed away overseas, is now being remembered and honored by the people of Pittsfield. Old Glory flew half staff at Taconic High School,  just days after 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt. Jake Galliher died in an Osprey training mission off the coast of Japan. Pittsfield native Air Force member killed in Osprey crash near Japan The airman graduated from the school in 2017, where he played as a running and defensive back for the Braves football team. Pittsfield fire captain Jim Ziter served as Galliher’s coach during his formative years. He’s got nothing but fond memories now.“A great kid. A Leader. A quiet leader, great mentor to the young kids. When he got older hard on and off the field", said Ziter. Ziter says Galliher's leadership skills made him the perfect person to serve his country, making his young death all the more tragic.“It’s… devastating to see…especially when…I’ve coached him...