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Fate of former RCMP official accused of leaking secrets now in hands of jury

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

OTTAWA — The fate of Cameron Jay Ortis, a former RCMP official accused of leaking secrets, is now in the hands of a jury.The 12 jurors retired today to consider a verdict after Justice Robert Maranger finished instructing them on how to approach their task.Ortis, 51, has testified he offered secret material to investigative targets in a bid to get them to use an online encryption service secretly set up by an allied intelligence agency to spy on adversaries. He has pleaded not guilty to violating the Security of Information Act by revealing secrets to three individuals in 2015 and trying to do so in a fourth instance, as well as breach of trust and a computer-related offence.The Crown argues Ortis lacked authority to disclose classified material and that he was not doing so as part of an undercover operation.The defence contends Ortis did not betray Canada, but was rather acting on a “clear and grave threat.”This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, ...

New York lawmaker accused of rape in lawsuit filed under state’s expiring Adult Survivors Act

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A state lawmaker from Brooklyn has been accused in a lawsuit of raping a woman early in his legislative career when he went to her home to discuss disaster relief efforts for Haiti. The lawsuit, filed Friday, accuses Sen. Kevin Parker of assaulting her in 2004, during his first term. The woman said she had been working with Parker to coordinate the delivery of items and donations to Haiti after a devastating flood that affected the country and other neighboring Caribbean Islands.The suit was filed under the Adult Survivors Act, a special state law that created a year-long suspension of the usual time limit for accusers to sue. The law is set to expire after Thanksgiving.A spokesperson for Parker, a Democrat, did not immediately comment when asked about the lawsuit.A spokesperson for the Senate’s top Democrat, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, said the allegations were “extremely disturbing and we take them very seriously.”“We will take appropria...

Leader of Dutch far-right populist party hit on head in attack 2 days before general election

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The leader of a far-right Dutch populist party was assaulted Monday at an event in the northern city of Groningen two days before the Netherlands holds a general election.Thierry Baudet, leader of Forum for Democracy, was taken to a hospital in the city, the party said in a message on X, formerly Twitter.“It looks like everything will all be alright,” the party said. It later said Baudet was treated by a trauma surgeon after being hit on the back of the head and next to his eye with a beer bottle. It said a security guard also was injured.Video on social media showed Baudet in a bar when his attacker lunged at him. Baudet was quickly taken away and the attacker overpowered.Police spokesman Thijs de Jong said a person was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack. He said the motive was under investigation.“What we can say at the moment is that Mr. Baudet was hit on the head, possibly with an object,” De Jong said. He said he could not give furt...

Book Review: San Diego private eye tangles with FBI and Russian mob in fast-paced ‘Odyssey’s End’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

Author Matt Coyle has put San Diego private eye Rick Cahill through a lot in his fine series of crime novels. Rick has accumulated sinister enemies on both sides of the law. He’s been shot and beaten so many times that his body is laced with scars. And he’s in the early stages of CTE, a degenerative brain disease that unleashes fits of rage and may soon kill him.His wife, convinced that Rick’s work — and Rick himself —are too dangerous, has left him, taking their 20-month-old daughter with her.As “Odyssey’s End,” the 10th book in the series, opens, Rick is considering another line of work but fears he’s too much of an adrenaline junkie to give it up. Still, he can’t quit just yet — not until he can tuck enough money aside to secure his little girl’s future.Such is his state of mind when two old enemies suddenly reappear. Sergei Volkov, a homicidal Russian mob boss who has reasons to want Rick dead, has just been released from federal prison. And Peter Stone, Rick’s longtime nemesis,...

72-year-old man fatally shot in Logan Square after celebrating grandson's birthday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

CHICAGO — A 72-year-old man fatally shot in the city's Logan Square neighborhood was among those killed in gun violence in Chicago over the weekend.The man was identified as 72-year-old Cesar Patiño.The shooting happened around 9:55 p.m. Sunday in the 3900 block of West Fullerton. Police said Patiño was walking to his car after his grandson's birthday party when he was struck by gunfire.He was shot in the chest and transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Patiño was married to his wife for more than 50 years and was a father to five children.  According to police, further investigation revealed the offender may have been traveling in a white SUV at the time of the shooting.No one is in custody. Area Five Detectives are investigating. Two 14-year-old boys found shot to death in alley on South Side The 72-year-old man is among the latest victims of weekend gun violence in Chicago.On Saturday, two 14-year-old boys were found shot to death in an ...

Ed Burke trial focus shifts to Field Museum Monday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

CHICAGO — The Ed Burke trial continues Monday with a focus on the Field Museum.The prosecution is expected to call witnesses to show that Burke allegedly attempted to "shake down" the museum for a personal favor surrounding his goddaughter.The former Chicago alderman is charged with 14 counts of racketeering, bribery and extortion and one of the four alleged schemes involved the Field Museum.Burke allegedly wanted his goddaughter to be considered for an internship at the museum and she did not get the position.Afterward, prosecutors allege an irate Burke threatened to use his influence to block the museum's plan for a ticket fee increase. Even though the increase would have gone through the park district and not the city council, prosecutors said his clout essentially gave him the broad veto power over financial issues.Burke's attorneys argued that "it's not a crime to be angry" as jurors are expected to hear Burke on tape "read the riot act" to Field Museum employees.His attorneys ...

Arizona national park catches 'unicorn' on game camera

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – In a manner of speaking, a “unicorn” was caught wandering a national park in Arizona during last month’s full moon.Officials at the Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona shared a picture of the one-horned animal — which they identified as a young male elk — because its singular antler resembled a horn more than anything onlookers might usually associate with an elk.“The full moon brings out the park’s unicorns,” a representative for the Petrified Forest wrote on Facebook, along with two photos of the animal.A game camera at the Petrified Forest National Park captured an image of a uniquely-antlered elk during October's full moon. (Petrified Forest National Park)A game camera at the Petrified Forest National Park captured an image of a uniquely-antlered elk during October's full moon. (Petrified Forest National Park)The funny sight, they said, was likely due to the young elk losing one of its early antlers — the first sets of which usually emerge as “sing...

Man, woman found dead in apparent Homer Glen murder-suicide

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

HOMER GLEN, Ill. — A man and a woman were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide Sunday evening in Homer Glen.Officers responded to the 13600 block of Shannon Drive on the report of shots fired just after 5:45 p.m.A 911 caller stated she heard arguing which was followed by the sound of gunshots.At the scene, a man and a woman were found dead in the kitchen. Police believe the incident was a murder-suicide and was isolated.The Village of Homer Glen identified the woman, Jacquelyn Huff, as a village employee."With extreme sadness, the Village of Homer Glen shares the loss of employee and friend, Jacquelyn Huff, in an isolated incident on Sunday," the village said. "This is all the information available at this time. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Out of respect to Jacquelyn, Village Offices will be closed today, November 20th and will resume regular business hours on Tuesday."The identity of the man and further information regarding the shooting is ...

Leaving Illinois: The top destinations for people who left last year

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — While more than 228,000 people moved into Illinois last year, more than 344,000 packed up their things and left the state, according to recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Just four states lost more residents than Illinois: California (817,700), New York (545,600), Texas (494,000), and Florida (489,900).It was the latter, Florida, that received the largest amount of ex-Illinoisans. Census estimates show more than 35,200 left the Prairie State for the Sunshine State last year. Another 31,000 headed east to Indiana, and about 27,300 went north to Wisconsin. It’s the first El Niño winter in 5 years. What will be different? Illinois' other neighbors also received quite a few new residents, according to the Census report:Iowa: 16,500Missouri: 20,600Kentucky: 6,800Others sought out warmer states. About 25,200 went to Texas while 24,500 went to California. The least popular destinations for those on the move, according to Census estimates, were primarily to t...

This Illinois city is growing, but these 7 are shrinking: analysis

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:59:20 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Does it feel like there are more people in your city than there were a few years ago? Depending on where you live, that might actually be the case — 228,000 people did move into Illinois last year.SmartAsset, a financial tech company, has released a list of the fastest-growing cities with populations over 100,000 in the United States. That growth was based on the population difference reported by the U.S. Census between 2017 and 2022 for the 344 largest cities.Southwestern cities, many of them desert suburbs, dominated the top of the list, SmartAsset found. The 50 ‘rattiest cities’ in the US, as ranked by Orkin While you may think a city like Los Angeles or New York City would be at the top, it was Buckeye, Arizona, that has seen the largest growth since 2017. Located roughly 35 miles west of the heart of Phoenix, Buckeye's population grew by roughly 48%, going from about 68,000 to 105,500 in 2022.Enterprise, Nevada, grew by 46% and Goodyear, Arizona surged by 27%, rou...