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As US sports bets boom, internet gambling is slow to expand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — While two-thirds of the country now offers legal sports betting, only six states offer online casino gambling, confounding industry hopes that the rapid growth of sports betting would also bring internet casino wagering along with it.Speaking Wednesday at the East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City, industry executives and legislators from gambling states offered various explanations for why internet gambling has yet to expand beyond a handful of eastern states.Internet gambling is legal in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; Nevada offers online poker but not casino games.By contrast, 33 states plus Washington, D.C. offer legal sports betting.“It’s a mystery to me why we have 30 or so states that have sports wagering, and only six that allow I-gaming,” said Lloyd Levenson, an attorney who represents many Atlantic City casino companies. “You have to scratch your head as to why.”Shawn Fluharty, the minority...

Judge: House GOP can question ex-prosecutor about Trump case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge will let House Republicans question a former Manhattan prosecutor about the criminal case against former President Donald Trump, ruling Wednesday that there is no legal basis to block the House Judiciary Committee’s subpoena.U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil rejected Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s request for a temporary restraining order and injunction, finding that committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, issued the subpoena to former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz with valid legislative purpose.Vyskocil, a Trump appointee, issued the ruling hours after a hearing in which she peppered lawyers on both sides with questions, asking them to parse thorny issues of sovereignty, separation of powers and Congressional oversight arising from the historic indictment.Acknowledging the “political dogfights” surrounding the case, the judge said in her ruling that she “does not endorse either side’s agenda.” She encouraged both sides to spea...

Charismatic Betis captain Joaquín Sánchez set to retire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Charismatic Real Betis captain Joaquín Sánchez announced Wednesday he will retire at the end of the season.The 41-year-old midfielder, known just as much for his comic vein as for his well-rounded game, announced his decision through a video posted on social media.He said it was finally time to “hang up my boots, my art.”Carrying a playful demeanor throughout his career, Joaquín will retire after 23 seasons, most of them with boyhood club Betis. He also played for Málaga, Valencia and Fiorentina in Italy.Joaquín needs to play in eight of Betis’ final nine Spanish league matches to break the record of most league appearances, a mark currently held by former Spain and Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta, who played 622 league games. Joaquín sits on 615.Joaquín had contemplated retiring last season but eventually returned for a final year after Betis won the Copa del Rey.He also helped Betis win the Copa title in 2005 and was with Valencia when it won the Copa i...

US judge orders Peru ex-leader detained for extradition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A U.S. judge on Wednesday ordered former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Manrique to surrender to federal agents after an appeals court denied his latest motion to stop his extradition back to Peru, where he faces charges he accepted millions of dollars in bribes.Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson in San Francisco ordered Toledo, who has been under house arrest, to turn himself in Friday to U.S. Marshal agents in San Jose. Toledo will be placed in a San Mateo County jail while he awaits extradition to his native country, where authorities say he accepted bribes as part of a mammoth corruption scandal in which four of Peru’s ex-presidents have been implicated. Toledo denies the charges.Federal prosecutors have said Peruvian officials will travel to California to pick up Toledo and fly him back to Peru. When that will happen was not immediately known. Hixson’s order comes after the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday denied Toledo’s lates...

2nd abortion regulation bill vetoed by Kansas governor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ governor has vetoed legislation that would mandate clinics to tell patients that a medication abortion can be interrupted using an unproven drug regimen. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill Wednesday, again pushing back state GOP efforts to restrict abortion despite a decisive statewide vote affirming abortion rights last year.The governor’s action marked the second time this month that she vetoed an anti-abortion bill approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature. Last week, she rejected a measure that could subject doctors to criminal charges and lawsuits if they are accused of not providing enough care for infants delivered alive during certain abortion procedures, even if they are expected to die within seconds outside the womb because of a severe medical issue.The vetoes mean that abortion access and providers in Kansas remain far less restricted for now compared to other states with GOP-controlled legislatures that have banned or se...

Proud Boy says he took riot shield for protection on Jan. 6

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Proud Boy far-right extremist group member whose smashing out of a window at the U.S. Capitol allowed some of the first Jan. 6 rioters to enter the building testified Wednesday that he acted alone. Dominic Pezzola is one of five Proud Boys facing seditious conspiracy and other charges in one of the most high-profile trials to emerge from the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. He’s the second defendant to take the stand, a potentially risky legal move as the long-running trial inches to a close. Video captured Pezzola using a riot shield taken from a Capitol Police officer to smash out the glass after another rioter threw a piece of wood through it. In another selfie video, Pezzola has a “victory smoke” cigar as he says “I knew we could take this (expletive) if we just tried hard enough.” The flooring contractor from Rochester, New York, testified that he got “caught up in the craziness” on Jan. 6. He denied tearing the riot shield from a police officer’s arms himse...

Man sues police over 'less-lethal' shotgun wound that required surgery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) -- A man wounded by so-called "less-lethal" shotgun rounds that he claims caused lasting damage has filed a lawsuit against the Aurora Police Department.Lawyers filed the complaint on behalf of Shawn Meredith in the June 28, 2021, incident. The lawsuit claims officers conducted a warrantless arrest and said Meredith "suffered severe injuries as a result" of their actions, which caused long-term effects on his health.The lawsuit was filed by Daniel D. Williams of Hutchinson, Black and Cook, LLC, and Darren O'Connor of Darren O'Connor, LLC. The attorneys obtained body camera video of the incident and also posted an edited version showing parts of the encounter. Man found shot in car, remains in critical condition The incident began with a domestic violence call at a hotel, according to a 2021 report from the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office, which cleared the involved officers of criminal charges. An Aurora Police sergeant and two officers responded arou...

Denver weather: Snow timing, totals Wednesday night

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather will stay wet and cool Wednesday night as scattered rain and snow showers push across the Front Range. Weather tonight: From rain to snowThere will be scattered rain showers across the Front Range Wednesday afternoon with gusty winds. By sunset, some of the rain showers will transition over to snow as temperatures cool into the 30s. Snow showers will be spotty so not everyone will see snowfall Wednesday night but areas that do will likely see totals stay less than an inch with wet roadways. Snowfall will move out around midnight for the lower elevations. The mountains will see between 1 and 6 inches of snowfall by Thursday night depending on elevation and location. Weather tomorrow: Mountain snowTemperatures will hit the low 50s in Denver on Thursday with breezy afternoon winds. The Front Range and plains will stay dry.Colorado's mountains will see scattered snow showers throughout the day. Looking ahead: Rain showersDenver will see another chance fo...

Students at Mary Bethune Elementary go shoe shopping provided by Rita Case’s program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

Some generous people in our community stepped up to help less fortunate children. The students were smiling from head to toe. The children got an essential tool for a successful school year: new shoes.“We are here to fit and to match brand new athletic shoes for the kids,” said Rita Case, president and CEO of Rick Case Automotive.It was shoe shopping day at Mary Bethune Elementary in Hollywood.“Research says that over 90% of all kids with brand new shoes feel more confident, attend school more regularly, do more activities,” Case said.Automotive mogul Case helped the kids pick out some great kicks. She started a new program that provides brand new name-brand sneakers to students experiencing homelessness.The children expressed their gratitude. “I wanna say, shout out to my mom. I wouldn’t be here without her, and I got good shoes,” said Oren, a fourth grader. Every child got new kicks and socks. Some of them for the first time.“Some pe...

MDPD officer shot by ex-girlfriend returns to South Florida to continue treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:39 GMT

A South Florida officer is in the fight of his life after a shooting nearly killed him. Surrounded by family and men and women in blue, Miami-Dade Police Officer Damian Colon arrived back in Miami Wednesday to continue recovering at theLynn Rehabilitation Center.“It hits you right in the heart, that’s what it’s all about,” said MDPD director Alfredo Ramirez Back in November, authorities said Colon’s ex-girlfriend shot him while he was off duty and outside his family’s Hialeah home.Investigators charged Yessenia Sanchez with first-degree attempted murder.“Domestic violence effects everybody, effects everyone,” Ramirez said, “you can be a police officer, you can be a doctor, a government official. It knows no boundaries, and this is what happens. That’s why if you are going through that, you know someone who’s going through that, you need to report it.”Colon spent several months at a hospital in Atlanta, but on We...