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Guard who was fired over anti-Muslim meme is reinstated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut prison guard who was fired in 2021, several years after posting what was determined by the state to be an anti-Muslim meme on Facebook, has been reinstated to his job.An arbitrator ruled in February that Anthony Marlak’s termination was an excessive response by the state Department of Correction and reduced the punishment to a 25-day suspension. Marlak, who served as a correctional officer for 14 years, returned to his job at the Garner Correctional Institution in March, he told The Associated Press on Thursday.The Connecticut Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations had called for the firing of Marlak two years ago citing a meme he posted on Facebook in 2017, which it said depicted five apparently Muslim men hanging from nooses with the caption, “Islamic Wind Chimes.”Marlak, an Air Force veteran, has acknowledged that he posted the meme, but said the caption on his post read “ISIS Wind Chimes” and was meant to target the ...

At least 25 people abducted by gunmen in western Cameroon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — At least 25 people were abducted during a week of attacks by armed men in western Cameroon, local officials said Thursday.The kidnappings by gang members took place in several villages in Ako district along the Nigerian border, Patrick Kernyuy Tah, the top official in Ako, said. “Several hundred people fled the attacks by unidentified gunmen in Abafum, Akwancha and Abutu villages,” he said. The government has deployed the military to rescue those abducted and help the injured, he said.Local residents have been calling on Cameroon authorities to increase security in the area, as armed gangs operate on both sides of the border. While it’s unclear who is responsible for the abductions, officials believe it could be ethnic Fulani herders from Nigeria, a largely Muslim semi-nomadic group who regularly cross into Cameroon with their cattle and clash with farmers.The Central African nation has been plagued by fighting since English-speaking separatists ...

What responsibility do social media platforms have in filtering AI-generated content?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

With the rise of artificial intelligence(AI)-generated images and videos going viral on social media, it opens up a discussion of how much responsibility the companies that run these platforms should carry when their users get duped.Recent AI-generated images of the Pope wearing a puffy white coat and a AI-generated video of an interview between popular podcaster Joe Rogan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are just some examples where users have believed them to be reality.AI expert Ritish Kotak said there is a role these platforms must play to ensure that type of information or content is not sued for nefarious purposes.“Clearly there’s parody accounts and then stuff that’s used for fun. But, on the flip side, is that this opens up a whole discussion around ‘Did that person actually consent to it?’ If they’re in the public eye, what is the extent of even parody accounts that can be used because can it be used to pull or trick somebody into thinki...

Lake County Sherrif's Office K9 'Zeus' gifted bullet-proof vest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — Lake County Sherrif's Office K9 Zeus will now report to duty with extra protection, thanks to a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the four-legged responders. Zeus will have a bullet protective vest, donated by 'Vested Interests in K9s Inc.' and sponsored by Barbara Napolitano from Oak Brook, IL.The vest will be embroidered with 'Gifted by B. Napolitano.''Vested Interests in K9s, Inc.' is a charity non-profit organization whose whole mission is to provide body armor and forms of would protection for dogs of law enforcement. The organization has provided over 5,043 vests to K9s in the country with an estimated 30,000 law enforcement dogs in all 50 states. Bulls’ position in the play-in tournament is set For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978

Ocasio-Cortez calls for Thomas impeachment after report of undisclosed gifts from GOP donor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

(The Hill) -- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is calling for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to be impeached following a report that he accepted luxurious gifts from a billionaire Republican donor for decades.For years, Thomas took luxury trips and outings on yachts and private jets owned by Dallas businessman Harlan Crow, according to an investigation by ProPublica. Thomas did not disclose the travel, the investigation found. Crow has donated lavishly to Republican candidates.Ocasio-Cortez blasted the alleged actions as an “almost cartoonish” level of corruption.“This is beyond party or partisanship,” Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter. “This degree of corruption is shocking — almost cartoonish. Thomas must be impeached.”The New York congresswoman also said the report of Thomas’s alleged misconduct reflects negatively on Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. “Barring some dramatic change, this is what the Roberts court will be known for: rank corruption, erosion of...

TikTok challenge? 10 Massachusetts kids taken to hospital after student distributes hot gum, official say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

ORANGE, Mass. (WWLP) -- At least 10 kids were taken to the hospital after an incident at a Massachusetts school in which gum containing "pepper" was handed out to students during recess. Police warned of a possible connection to a TikTok challenge.According to Dr. Elizabeth Teahan-Zielinski, superintendent of the Orange School District, a Dexter Park school student purchased the gum -- called Trouble Bubble -- online and offered it to several students. It contained products that when ingested, caused digestive issues and burning in the mouth and esophagus. Students who just touched the gum were also reporting skin reactions such as eye irritation."I've been a bus driver for over 20 years and have never seen anything like this," said Kelly Graves, a bus driver for the Orange School District. "More of the bus drivers talking about it because when they pulled up to the school to see all the emergency vehicles, it was quite alarming." Do not feed wild turkey spotted in Ludlow The Oran...

FBI broke into wrong hotel room during training exercise, detained uninvolved guest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

BOSTON (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after federal agents broke into the wrong hotel room during a training exercise Tuesday night.In a statement released Wednesday, the FBI Boston Division explained that agents with the U.S. Department of Defense were conducting a training exercise at a hotel in Boston "to simulate a situation their personnel might encounter in a deployed environment."However, the federal agents went to the wrong hotel room."Based on inaccurate information, they were mistakenly sent to the wrong room and detained an individual, not the intended role player," the statement reads. Woman suspected of poisoning husband with drain cleaner No one was injured, and the Boston Police Department responded to the hotel and confirmed the federal agents were conducting a training exercise."Safety is always a priority of the FBI, and our law enforcement partners," the statement continues. "We take these incidents very seriously."The FBI Boston Division and the U.S. De...

PHOTOS: Viewers share images from storms moving through Central Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Storms began moving through Central Texas Wednesday evening and are expected to continue through Friday.KXAN viewers shared some of their photos from the weather event, which included hail and flashes of lightning.Lightning strike photo taken in Manor, Texas on Thursday, April 6 at 12:47 a.m. (Credit: Gary Russell)Pea sized hail in BertramPhoto taken in Dale, Texas Wednesday nightHail photo from the Wednesday night storm (Credit: Alexis Moyer)Photo taken over the elementary school in La Grange (Credit: Sharon Novak)Photo of hail form Wednesday night storm in Dale, TexasAs of Thursday, the KXAN First Warning Weather team forecasted most would get between 1″-3″ of rain by the time the systems move through early Saturday, although some spots in our eastern counties could get between 3-5″ rain.Send KXAN your photos through [email protected]

Former AUS executive director had conflict of interest with previous employer, report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The former Austin-Bergstrom International Airport executive director acted on a conflict of interest when she approved invoices worth $550,000 from her previous employer while working with the City, an investigative report from the Austin Office of the City Auditor states.Jacqueline Yaft resigned from her role with the airport at the beginning of March 2023.The report states Yaft didn't tell her supervisor about the conflict, violating city code. The report also states she met alone with her former employer at least seven times and sent 13 emails when she was the only airport employee in the original exchange.AUS told KXAN "The Department of Aviation is aware of the audit investigation report" and referred us to the City for comment. KXAN has reached out to the City and will update this story when we receive a response.Yaft worked for a consulting firm that had a contract with the City prior to her employment with the airport, according to the report."As a result, a ...

All eyes on education in crucial day at Texas legislature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:22 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- In a split-screen legislative affair expected to last late into Thursday night, Texas lawmakers are set to vote on a pair of proposals that may spell out the future of Gov. Greg Abbott's ambitious plans for education.In the Senate, Abbott's "Parental Bill of Rights" is set to pass. That's what top Republicans are dubbing Senate Bill 8, a novel bill for Texas' public education system that would create "education savings accounts" (ESAs).Through those accounts, the state would spend half a billion dollars over the next two years to subsidize some families' educational costs. Parents who wish to transfer their children from public school to private school would be eligible to receive $8,000 from the state to do so.Abbott has traveled around the state advocating for the "school choice" initiative, expending significant personal capital and betting the session on the issue.That bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on a partisan 10-2 vote. It will pass on ...