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Texas prosecutor drops most charges against Austin police over tactics used during 2020 protests

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas prosecutor whose office oversaw indictments of more than 20 police officers in Austin over tactics used during the 2020 protests that followed George Floyd’s killing said Monday he was dropping most of the cases and would ask the Justice Department to investigate instead. The announcement is a reversal for Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, a progressive who ran on promises to hold police accountable in the Texas capital. Garza, a Democrat, said his office would dismiss indictments against 17 officers but still move forward with prosecuting four others. He announced the decision in a statement made with Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat who was not in office at the time of the protests. “This has been a difficult chapter for Austin. I look forward to turning the page. These announcements will allow police officers, whose lives were upended by the indictments, to return to their services to our community,” Watson said. The slate of...

Stock market today: Wall Street loses ground ahead of key reports on the job market

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

Wall Street gave back some of its recent gains Monday as stocks finished lower ahead of some key reports this week on the job market that might provide more insight into the Federal Reserve’s thinking about interest rates. The S&P 500 closed 0.5% lower. The benchmark index was coming off its best month in more than a year, and reached its highest level since March 2022 on Friday.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.8%.Treasury yields rose broadly, putting some pressure on stocks. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which influences mortgage rates, climbed to 4.25% from 4.21% late Friday.Technology and communication services companies were the biggest weights on the market. Microsoft fell 1.4%, Nvidia dropped 2.7%, Meta Platforms slid 1.5% and Netflix lost 2.5%.Alaska Air Group slumped 14.2% after announcing it will buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1 billion in cash plus the assumption of debt. The deal would test the Biden administration a...

Erie loses 5 police officers after misconduct complaint

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — An internal complaint of Erie police officer misconduct that allegedly happened on Oct. 10 resulted in a shake-up among the ranks.According to the Erie Police Department, Nov. 20 was the last day of employment for two sergeants, and Nov. 21 was the last day of employment for a third sergeant and an officer.A fourth sergeant also was reassigned as an officer on Nov. 21 but then resigned the next day.Erie Police Chief Lee Mathis said in a video response that none of the misconduct from Oct. 10 was criminal, but he said it "did not reflect the values of our department and could have been damaging to our work environment." Shelter-in-place lifted following suspicious activity in Aurora "In such personnel matters, I cannot divulge details, but one thing I can say is our police department would never condone, tolerate or dismiss the behavior of these officers," Mathis said. "An internal investigation was conducted and appropriate disciplinary measures have been taken aga...

Caraveo's tranquilizer bill heads to Biden's desk

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The animal tranquilizer xylazine, also known as "tranq," is becoming more prevalent in the U.S.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says deadly opioid deaths involving the sedative rose by 276% between 2019-22.A new bill in Congress requires the federal government to do more research into the drug, and there's a Colorado connection: The measure is cosponsored by first-year U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo.Caraveo's first bill is heading to President Joe Biden's desk, awaiting his signature to become law. She hopes the measure will slow the number of overdose deaths in Colorado and beyond."What this bill does is that it looks at what the next wave of drugs is," Caraveo said. "We've all heard about fentanyl. There is a new drug on the market called xylazine, which is a horse tranquilizer. Not supposed to be used for human use, but it's being added into the drug supply, and it's contributing to the almost 2,000 overdose deaths that we have in Colorado every single yea...

Greeley Police continue searching for SUV that hit and killed cyclist

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) -- Late Monday afternoon, Greeley police were back at the scene where a bicyclist was hit and killed in the middle of the night.An adult male died after being hit in the middle of a street.A man, who asked not to be identified, said he saw the cyclist get hit.“He drove out on the bicycle, and he got right in front of traffic,” he said. Police investigating ‘suspicious incident’ in Commerce City The Colorado Bureau of Investigation sent out a Medina Alert on social media saying a black Jeep Grand Cherokee hit the cyclist and then took off. Greeley police later sent a release with a photo of a maroon Jeep saying it was a similar color.Quentin Gonzales works at a store nearby that captured surveillance video from a distance of the man being hit.“You can see that the vehicle was going way faster than it should have been,” Gonzales said.The cyclist died after being hit across from a grassy area where FOX31 is told many people gather both during the day and night.T...

EMTs testify in trial for 2 paramedics accused in death of Elijah McClain

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

BRIGHTON, Colo. (KDVR) -- A pair of EMTs testified Monday during the trial of their two co-workers who are charged in the death of Elijah McClain.Daniel DeJesus and Austin Bradley were both EMTs on the night of Aug. 24, 2019, when McClain was stopped by police while walking home from a convenience store. Prosecutors say paramedics ignored Elijah McClain’s distress after stop and killed him with overdose Neither was charged in the case, but both were working alongside Lt. Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper, the two paramedics accused of giving the 23-year-old a fatal dose of ketamine. "I've had the privilege of working with Cooper for a year or so at that point. Very good medic," DeJesus testified, before prosecutors quickly objected to character testimony that might portray Cooper in a positive light.Cooper's defense attorney, Shana Beggan, wanted the jury to consider what paramedics knew at the time based on information they were given by police officers on the scene.Beggan: Based...

Miami Police give drivers gift cards during traffic stops

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

Miami Police are giving drivers a traffic stop surprise ahead of the holidays.On Monday afternoon, officers pulled over people across the city. But instead of issuing citations, officers, as well as the chief, handed out $100 gift cards.“As we stop motorists, recognize them and letting them know, ‘Hey, listen, you did x violation, however, we’re spreading some joy and giving some positive reinforcement,'” said Miami Police Chief Manny Morales. “I don’t know how to react right now, I’m like shocked,” said Sophia Gonzales. “All I did was make a right, and I saw a hand to pull over, and I’m like what did i do? But, you know, things happen for a reason.”The department teamed up with iHeart Radio and said that they put together this event to give back to the community they serve and to spread some holiday cheer.

Thieves make off with $900k in cash, jewelry from NW Miami-Dade business; 2 subjects detained

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

A heist captured on camera has left the owner of C4G Jewelers counting the cost after two, possibly three, individuals backed a flatbed tow truck into the business, making away with a safe containing approximately $900,000 in cash and jewelry.Surveillance footage revealed the thieves inside the establishment, skillfully using a tow truck to hook a line around the safe before pulling it through the front door. The meticulously planned robbery unfolded on the 7500 block of Miami Gardens Drive.A blue and white van was also involved in the crime. The perpetrators reportedly initiated their scheme by breaking into a neighboring nail salon around 2 a.m. on Monday. Over the next four hours, they diligently worked to breach the wall connecting the two businesses, gaining access to C4G Jewelers, a cash-for-gold establishment.The store’s owner, Oscar Zegarra, only learned of the incident at 9 a.m. when contacted by the police, as the alarm system reportedly failed to alert him. Zegarra ...

Lula invites Putin to Brazil, sidesteps on war crimes arrest

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

BERLIN — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Monday that he will invite Vladimir Putin to G20 and BRICS summits in Brazil next year, but added it would be up to the judiciary to decide whether the Russian president is arrested if he decides to show up.Putin faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes committed in Ukraine, which earlier this year deterred him from travelling to a G20 meeting in India and a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in South Africa.But Lula said he would welcome the Russian leader if he decided to attend the next G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024 as well as the next BRICS summit, which Brazil may also host next year.“Putin is invited to attend the G20 and the BRICS summit in Brazil,” Lula told reporters in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.“Whether he goes or not, he faces prosecution. He has to assess the consequences,” Lula went on, adding it was unclear wheth...

Boston police looking for group wanted for attacking people in Mission Hill

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:26:51 GMT

Boston police asked for the public’s help Monday in efforts to identify a group of teens accused of attacking people at random in Mission Hill. Police shared photos and descriptions of several suspects linked to the attacks.A Boston police report provided additional information about one attack on a young man with special needs who had been sitting outside a TGI Fridays location in Roxbury on Friday night.Police said the victim had a difficult time remembering the incident but told investigators at least three teens started punching and kicking him as he was sitting by himself. Police continued, saying security video showed six teens attacking the victim without provocation, kicking him in the head area with shoes on. The victim was left bleeding from his ear, according to police, and had dried bloodstains on his clothes when authorities reached him. Police said the victim also had large welts on his head and visible shoe impressions on his face and forehead. Bos...