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Cop City Indictments Threaten Press Freedom Too

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr speaks during a news conference to discuss the recent indictment of 61 defendants in Fulton County on Sept. 5, 2023.Photo: Natrice Miller/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via APThe disturbing indictment of 61 people who protested the Georgia police training facility commonly referred to as “Cop City” lays bare everything that is wrong with RICO laws and the prosecutors who abuse them. Even the author of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law, on which the Georgia law is based, agrees that it’s meant to fight organized crime, not stifle dissent.The implications of the indictment for press freedom may seem like an afterthought considering everything else that is terrible about it. Its working theory is essentially that whenever some members of a protest movement commit crimes, everyone involved in the movement is responsible for the “conspiracy,” no matter how tenuous their connection to the alleged offense. It seeks to criminal...

Tonga’s Fekitoa looking forward to ‘our toughest game’ against Ireland and seeing old friends

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Five teams — even new guys Chile — will have played twice at the Rugby World Cup by the time Tonga makes its bow on Saturday.Malakai Fekitoa doesn’t mind.The New Zealand World Cup winner who jumped on the eligibility law changes to play for Tonga, his country of birth, said on Monday their late start has enlightened them on how teams have handled the opening weekend.“(Waiting has been) good for us as we can see what’s going on and have a feel how the competition is going before we get into our work,” he said.And his impression? “Mixed performances, maybe nerves. A lot of teams did not want to lose so we’ve not seen them taking risks. The next round will be different.”One of the teams that has already got its jerseys dirty is Tonga’s first opponent — Ireland. The No. 1-ranked test side posted a 14th consecutive win last Saturday when it hung Romania out to dry by 82-8.“We are playing against the best team in the world right now,” Fekitoa sai...

S Javon Bullard of top-ranked Georgia sits out practice with an ankle injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia safety Javon Bullard did not practice Monday after injuring his left ankle in a weekend victory over Ball State.Coach Kirby Smart said he’s not sure if Bullard will be able to play when the top-ranked Bulldogs (2-0) host South Carolina State in their Southeastern Conference opener on Saturday.Receiver Ladd McConkey also remains day to day after missing the first two games with a lingering back issue.Bullard is a key member of the Georgia defense. Last season, he was defensive MVP in both the semifinals and final of the College Football Playoff as the Bulldogs won their second straight national title. This year, he was a second-teamer on The Associated Press preseason All-American team.“As far as where he is, probably won’t know till Wednesday’s practice whether he’s able to go or not,” Smart said. “We’ve had guys in that position with that similar injury being able to play. But I really have no clue till we get further in the week.&...

Falcons coach Arthur Smith brushes off dismal passing stats following opening win over Panthers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Arthur Smith wanted to relish his first winning record in his three seasons as the Atlanta Falcons’ coach.In his news conference following Sunday’s 24-10 season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers, Smith wasn’t interested in a question which began by noting that his quarterback, Desmond Ridder, had more catches than his No. 1 wide receiver, Drake London.On the game’s first snap, Ridder caught the deflection of his pass for a loss of 6 yards. Ridder threw for only 115 yards and London had no catches with only one target.It was not a great showing for Atlanta’s passing game, but the running game led by rookie Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier and the bolstered defense led by Jessie Bates were enough to beat the Panthers.Smith brushed off the question about Ridder and London.“Let the fantasy guys worry about that,” Smith said. “We’ve got to clean some things up. We can all be better in our spacing and the targets is the most misunderstood...

Marine Capitol rioter gets 1 hour of community service for each of 279 Marine Civil War casualties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

FILE - Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Law enforcement officials say, Taylor Taranto, a man wanted for crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has been arrested in the Washington neighborhood where former President Barack Obama lives. Taranto was seen a few blocks from the former president's home, and he fled even though he was chased by U.S. Secret Service agents. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)(AP/Jose Luis Magana) FILE - Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Law enforcement officials say, Taylor Taranto, a man wanted for crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has been arrested in...

Jones replaces Scally on US soccer roster, Horvath to start in goal vs. Oman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — New England defender DeJuan Jones replaced Joe Scally on the United States roster for Tuesday night’s exhibition against Oman at St. Paul, Minnesota.The U.S. Soccer Federation said Monday that Scally left the team for family reasons. Scally was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in a friendly.Jones, 26, made his U.S. debut in January and has six international appearances.The U.S. also will be without goalkeeper Matt Turner, who returned to Britain for the birth of a daughter. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said Ethan Horvath will be the starting keeper and Drake Callender will be the backup.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Juntos por el Cambio se impuso en las elecciones para gobernador en la provincia de Santa Fe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

(CNN Español) — La coalición opositora Juntos por el Cambio se impuso en las elecciones para gobernador de Santa Fe, el tercer distrito con más electores en Argentina.Según el escrutinio provisorio, Maximiliano Pullaro obtuvo el 58,4% de los votos, mientras que el peronista Marcelo Lewandowski logró el 30,8% y el candidato de Viva la Libertad, Edelvino Bodoira, el 6,4%.Esta victoria de la oposición, que se presentó en la provincia como Unidos para Cambiar Santa Fe, volvió a reunir a los viejos rivales de primarias en Juntos por el Cambio a nivel nacional: Patricia Bullrich y Horacio Rodríguez Larreta. Ambos compartieron escenario para celebrar el resultado, pero el liderazgo de Bullrich, por ser la candidata a presidenta de la coalición, fue notorio. De hecho, Pullaro, quien había sido apoyado por Rodríguez Larreta cuando era precandidato presidencial en Juntos por el Cambio convocó a sus seguidores a votar por ella en las elecciones generales del 22 de octubre.Esta fue la ter...

Reddick rides a fast car and good fortune into the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Tyler Reddick knows you need to have speed to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship. Denny Hamlin knows just as well that you need to have breaks go your way.Reddick had both going for him Sunday at Kansas Speedway, taking advantage of a late caution and four fresh tires to breeze by six other drivers in the final two laps for the win. It ensured that Reddick would be in the round of 12 of the playoffs for the first time, taking almost all the pressure off the No. 45 team heading to next week’s cutoff race at Bristol.“We have enough speed, we should be able to make it through this first round, and winning certainly helps,” Reddick said. “Going into the round of 12, we can pick up just a little, and then as we go we can keep amping it up.”Hamlin, on the other hand, had a bit of bad luck Sunday. Bubba Wallace and Martin Truex Jr. had a whole lot of it.Hamlin looked as if he would cruise to a record fifth Kansas win as he dominated the last 35 laps. But wh...

2 brothers fatally shot in SW Miami-Dade abandoned home; family pleads for answers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

A shooting at an abandoned house in Southwest Miami-Dade has led to the deaths of two individuals. The Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), Homicide Bureau, is actively seeking the community’s assistance in identifying and locating the suspect(s) responsible for this heinous crime.On Saturday, at approximately 5:22 p.m., officers responded to reports of gunfire at 10214 SW 175 St. When law enforcement arrived, they found the bodies of the two brothers, later identified as 19-year-old Alexis Martinez Marquez and 16-year-old Osvaldo Martinez Marquez, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel who arrived at the scene confirmed the fatalities. Ring camera video from a resident who lives in the area showed a red car speeding away, moments after the shooting occurred. Hours later, yelling could be heard on the video footage while neighbors stood outside their homes to determine where the commotion was coming from. While investigators remain without any...

FLPD seeks help from public in locating 73-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:35 GMT

Fort Lauderdale police are seeking assistance from the public to locate a 73-year-old woman.Sharon Hill was last seen Monday morning around 10:30 a.m. in the 300 block of NW 1st Avenue. She was dressed in a multi-colored dress, a jean jacket and flip flops at the time of her disappearance. She is 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 170 pounds, and suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.Authorities are urging anyone with information about Sharon Hill’s whereabouts to contact the police immediately.