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Crypto scam organization disrupted through seizure of nearly $9M

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

(KRON) – The seizure of nearly $9 million worth of Tether, a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar, was traced to cryptocurrency addresses allegedly associated with an organization that exploited over 70 victims through romance scams and cryptocurrency confidence scams, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.“The department hopes this recovery of assets will bring some closure and a sense of justice to the over 70 victims affected by this series of scams. This seizure should also serve as a reminder to cybercriminals that, although the current landscape of the cryptocurrency ecosystem may seem like an ideal way to launder ill-gotten gains, law enforcement will continue to develop the expertise needed to follow the money and seize it back for victims,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  Wife and lover who allegedly conspired to kill her husband arrested for murder in Hayward According to court docume...

Democratic division blocks effort to end Michigan’s 24-hour wait for an abortion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Democrats, who early this year had built on the state’s recent reputation for safeguarding abortion rights, have stalled on the once-assured effort due to dissent within the state legislative caucus in recent months.Two key pieces of legislation that would have repealed a 24-hour wait period required for patients receiving an abortion and also allowed state Medicaid dollars to pay for abortions were left out of a package signed Tuesday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The scaled back package of bills known as the Reproductive Health Act will repeal regulations aimed at abortion providers, known as TRAP laws, that critics had said were designed to close abortion providers. It will also ensure that students at Michigan public universities can access information about all their reproductive health options and repeals a law that forced patients to buy a separate insurance rider for abortion. But the absence of more substantial policy changes appeared to detract f...

Pitcher Osvaldo Bido gets $750,000 deal from Oakland A’s after Pittsburgh Pirates let him go

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Right-hander Osvaldo Bido agreed to a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics after he was let go by the Pittsburgh Pirates.Bido gets a $750,000 salary while in the major leagues — $10,000 above the minimum — and a $200,000 salary while in the minors under the deal announced Monday.The 28-year-old right-hander was 2-5 with a 5.86 ERA in nine starts and seven relief appearances this year for the Pirates, striking out 48 and walking 21 in 50 2/3 innings. He made his big league debut on June 14.Bido went 3-4 with a 4.16 ERA in 10 starts and nine relief appearances for Triple-A Indianapolis.He became a free agent Friday when the Pirates declined to offer a 2024 contract.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/Source

Austria defender Stefan Lainer back in training after successful cancer treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AP) — Austria defender Stefan Lainer has made an emotional return to training with his club Borussia Moenchengladbach four months after he was diagnosed with cancer.The 31-year-old Lainer was “grinning from ear to ear” as he joined up with the Gladbach team for training Tuesday, the club said.Lainer had been diagnosed with lymphoma in July and “has successfully completed the therapy that he has been undertaking over the past few months,” Gladbach said in a statement, adding: “The illness could be cured.”After fitness tests Monday, Lainer’s return to training with the rest of the team Tuesday is the start of what Gladbach called a gradual return to team duties.“You can see how much he’s missed it,” teammate Julian Weigl said. “Everyone knows how much of a fighter Stevie is. He’s incredibly important to the team, even just as a person.”The right-back, who can also play in midfield, has appeared 38 times for Austria, including at...

Woman sentenced to 25 years after pleading guilty in case of boy found dead in suitcase in Indiana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

SALEM, Ind. (AP) — A Louisiana woman was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in prison for her involvement in the death of a 5-year-old Atlanta boy whose body was found last year in a suitcase in rural southern Indiana.A Washington County judge sentenced Dawn Elaine Coleman, 41, of Shreveport, Louisiana, to 30 years with five years suspended to probation. She had pleaded guilty to a Level 1 felony charge of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Cairo Ammar Jordan’s death.Coleman must serve more than 18 years under Indiana code, which requires those convicted of Level 1 felonies to serve 75% of their sentence, the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office said.Cairo’s body was found inside a suitcase in a wooded area about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of Louisville, Kentucky, in April 2022. An autopsy found that he died from vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, Indiana State Police said. Investigators said Cairo had died about a week or less before a mushro...

Man accused of killing 3 in simmering Colorado property dispute was recently accused of locking gate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A man was on the run Tuesday after police say he fatally shot three people and critically wounded a fourth over a years-long property dispute over the use of an easement on the suspect’s property in rural Colorado, authorities said. The shooting Monday afternoon happened on one of the victim’s property a week after an area landowner asked that the suspect be held in contempt of a June 2022 court order. It had that allowed them to cross the suspect’s property to access their land in the southern part of the state about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Colorado Springs.The suspect had also been accused of locking a gate and posting sign near the gate that said “the owner of this property is armed,” said Kevin Flesch, an attorney for one of the defendants who lost his easement access. It was unknown if the contempt of court motion was filed by the shooting victims because their names had not been released. Easements are legal rights to cross someone...

Shooting that wounded 4 in Ohio is the second to occur at a Walmart in 24 hours

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (AP) — A gunman opened fire Monday evening inside a Walmart in Ohio and wounded four people before killing himself — the second shooting in 24 hours to take place at a store operated by the retail giant.The attack at the Walmart in Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton, just days before Thanksgiving injured four shoppers: three women and a man. Police said three were in stable condition and one woman in critical but stable condition on Tuesday afternoon at area hospitals.Authorities declined to release the identities of the victims, including their races, saying they had not ruled out that the attack was racially motivated.“Tragedy struck our beloved community Monday evening, and, in the face of adversity, the strength of our community shines through,” Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone said during a Tuesday news conference. Walmart said it was working closely with investigators to try to determine why the shooter, identified as 20-year-old Benjamin Charles Jones, of Dayt...

The White House is concerned Iran may provide ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House voiced concern Tuesday that Iran may provide Russia with ballistic missiles for use in its war against Ukraine, a development that likely would be disastrous for the Ukrainian people, a U.S. national security official said. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby noted that Iran already has been providing Russia with unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, guided aerial bombs and artillery ammunition, and may be preparing “to go a step further in its support for Russia.”Kirby highlighted a September meeting in which Iran hosted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to show off a range of ballistic missile systems, sparking U.S. concern.“We are therefore concerned that Iran is considering providing Russia with ballistic missiles now for use in Ukraine,” Kirby told reporters during a conference call. “In return for that support, Russia has been offering Tehran unprecedented defense cooperation, including on missiles, electronics and air defense...

Comoros upsets Ghana 1-0 in World Cup qualifying. Senegal settles for draw in Togo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

BUTARE, Rwanda (AP) — Ghana lost to Comoros 1-0 in one of several surprise results in 2026 World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.France-born Myziane Maolida scored just before halftime in the archipelago nation’s capital of Moroni and Comoros held on to record another upset of Ghana. Comoros now leads African qualifying Group I. Senegal and Cameroon settled for draws. Sadio Mané and Senegal drew 0-0 at Togo. Cameroon was held 1-1 in Libya.Rwanda handed South Africa a surprise 2-0 defeat in difficult conditions. The home team adapted better to Huye Stadium’s waterlogged pitch.Innocent Nshuti held off a defender and slotted into the far corner to open the scoring in the 12th minute. Gilbert Mugisha then took advantage of a defensive mixup in the penalty area to double the lead after 28 minutes.Lesotho was held to a 0-0 draw by Benin in South Africa in the other Group C game, leaving Rwanda atop the group with four points from two matches. South Africa is second on three points w...

Trump, liberal group appeal Colorado ballot ruling in insurrection challenge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:26:28 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Both a liberal group that sought to disqualify Donald Trump and the former president himself on Monday night appealed a judge's ruling that Trump “engaged in insurrection” on Jan. 6, 2021, but can stay on the state's primary ballot.The appeals were filed with the Colorado Supreme Court. The ruling by Colorado District Court Judge Sarah Wallace on Friday — which said Trump is not covered by the constitution’s ban on insurrectionists holding office — was the latest in a series of defeats for the effort to end Trump's candidacy with Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.The constitutional provision has only been used a handful of times since the years after the Civil War. It was created to prevent former Confederates from returning to government positions. Judge rules Trump can appear on Colorado 2024 Republican primary ballot The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filing on behalf of a group of Republ...