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Since JFK assassination, no US president has visited Dallas’ Dealey Plaza

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

By Todd J. Gillman, The Dallas Morning NewsWASHINGTON — In the six decades since President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, the United States has had 11 presidents. If any of them visited Dealey Plaza or even drove through the triple underpass, there’s no record of it.For whatever reasons — be it superstition or coincidence — every presidential motorcade since Nov. 22, 1963, has steered clear of the site where a sniper ended Kennedy’s life.Presidents have made dozens of visits to Dallas in the past 60 years. Many got very close to Dealey Plaza without driving through it.“It seems to me it would have gotten some attention,” said Dallas historian Darwin Payne.No such headlines exist.Gerald Ford led a parade in an open-top car barely a quarter-mile away, flanked by nervous Secret Service agents.Barack Obama came within 1,000 feet, heading for the Omni hotel the night before the George W. Bush library opened in 2013. That motorcade exited the freeway onto Commerce St. but turn...

Bridge Over Troubled Waters steps up as number of homeless children rises in Boston

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

Dozens of homeless children from across Boston escaped the damp weather and enjoyed a nice, warm Thanksgiving meal, turning a gloomy day into a festive one.The holiday season is the biggest challenge at Bridge Over Troubled Waters , said Elisabeth Jackson, president and CEO of the nonprofit, which provides a full continuum of services to homeless, runaway and at-risk youth.As holiday decorations go up, young people are reminded that they “don’t have a safe and warm place, a loving home or families that they are missing during this time,” Jackson told the Herald.Jackson’s organization strives to create holiday cheer by holding meals such as Wednesday’s lunch featuring turkey and other Thanksgiving staples and other celebrations throughout the joyful season.Bridge is also counting on the greater community to step up to make its children feel seen and comforted. Jackson is calling on the public to donate gifts, holiday bundles and gift cards “to make their holiday special.”“This is the...

Border crossings closed after vehicle explosion on bridge connecting New York and Canada

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

By The Associated PressNIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A vehicle exploded at a checkpoint on the American side of a U.S.-Canada bridge in Niagara Falls Wednesday, prompting the closing of four border crossings in the area, authorities said.There was no immediate information on whether anyone was injured or on the cause of the explosion.“This is obviously a very serious situation in Niagara Falls,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Parliament, as he excused himself from Question Period in the House of Commons to be briefed further.“We are taking this extraordinary seriously,” he added.The blast happened on the U.S. side of the Rainbow Bridge, which connects the two countries across the Niagara River. Three other bridges between western New York and Ontario were quickly closed as a precaution, and the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport began security checks on all cars and told passengers to expect additional screenings.Trudeau said that “additional measures” were being con...

Two reported dead after 'vehicle explosion' at Rainbow Bridge between U.S. and Canada

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) – All four international border crossings between the United States and Canada in Western New York were closed Wednesday due to a “vehicle explosion” at the Rainbow Bridge.CBS News reports two people were killed in the incident. Citing a senior U.S. official, CBS added a car traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into a pylon at the bridge crossing, which was followed by the explosion. CNN also reported two people inside the vehicle had died.The City of Niagara Falls said the incident involved a vehicle attempting to enter the U.S. The FBI Buffalo Field Office termed the incident an explosion."The FBI Buffalo Field Office is investigating a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, a border crossing between the U.S. and Canada in Niagara Falls," the FBI's Buffalo office wrote in a statement shared to social media. "The FBI is coordinating with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation. As this situation is very...

Humanitarians want more aid for Gaza, access to hostages under Israel-Hamas truce. And more time

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — International aid groups say they are ready to deliver thousands of truckloads of food, water and other supplies to besieged Gaza if a temporary cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war takes hold as hoped on Thursday.Some hailed an important first step, but many said Wednesday that a four-day truce isn’t enough to meet overwhelming needs after seven weeks of fighting have displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians now living in miserable conditions.Key details of the accord announced Wednesday remain unclear, including the mechanics of getting more aid to desperate civilians and escorting the first group of Israeli hostages out of Gaza where they have been held since Hamas’ Oct. 7 rampage in Israel.Aid groups say a key ambition is to get help to northern Gaza, which has been largely inaccessible and where nearly all hospitals stopped working during a blistering air and ground offensive by Israeli forces.“The entire humanitarian sector is ready to scale up once ev...

Closing arguments in Vatican trial seek to expose problems in the city state’s legal system

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Lawyers for a once-powerful cardinal accused Vatican prosecutors of being “prisoner to their completely shattered theory” on Wednesday in the latest round of closing arguments of a trial that has raised fundamental questions about the rule of law in the city state.Despite attempts to demonize Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the two-year trial hasn’t proved any of the prosecutors’ allegations of embezzlement, abuse of office or witness tampering against him, said attorneys Maria Concetta Marzo and Fabio Viglione.“The cardinal is innocent,” they said in a statement. “Thanks to the hearings, we were able to ascertain that none of the accusations had any foundation and that prosecutors were prisoner to their completely shattered theory.”Becciu is on trial along with nine others in a sprawling case that is focused on the Vatican’s 350 million-euro investment in a London property but also includes two other tangents. Prosecutors have accused the 10 of a host of financial...

Police, Senate investigating threat over carbon pricing bill: Senate leader

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

OTTAWA — Two members of the Independent Senators Group say police and Senate security are investigating a threat that forced one of them to leave her home last weekend, following a social-media post that blasted members of the upper chamber for their position on a carbon pricing bill for farmers.Sen. Raymonde Saint-Germain rose on a point of privilege on Tuesday alleging that she and Sen. Bernadette Clement were intimidated and bullied by other senators in the chamber after Clement moved to adjourn debate on the bill on Nov. 9.Clement says she and her staff were also subjected to a barrage of disturbing calls after a Conservative MP posted what she calls a “wanted” poster online with photos and phone numbers for herself and Sen. Chantal Petitclerc, encouraging people to call them to ask why they were shutting down debate on the bill.Clement says one very angry man called and threatened to come to her home in Cornwall, Ont., which prompted her to leave after discussions w...

More victims come forward in sexual assault case against Richmond Hill physiotherapist

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

A physiotherapist in York Region is facing additional charges in an ongoing sexual assault investigation after more victims came forward.Authorities received information about a possible sexual assault on Oct. 23, 2023, in Richmond Hill. York Regional Police said a victim alleged they were sexually assaulted during an appointment at a clinic in the Yonge Street and Centre Street area.The accused was identified as 53-year-old Iraj Daneshvar of Richmond Hill. On Oct. 30, he was charged with one count of sexual assault. On Wednesday, police said other victims came forward and reported being sexually assaulted by the suspect under similar circumstances. The accused is now facing two additional sexual assault charges. In a news release, a police spokesperson said investigators believe there may be more victims who have not yet come forward. They are urging them to contact authorities as soon as possible.

Track coach pleads guilty in federal court to tricking women into sending him nude photos

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A former college track and field coach accused of setting up sham social media and email accounts in an attempt to trick women into sending him nude or semi-nude photos of themselves pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston, prosecutors said Tuesday.Steve Waithe, 30, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and one count of computer fraud, prosecutors said.Waithe also pleaded guilty to cyberstalking one victim through text messages and direct messages sent via social media, as well as by hacking into her Snapchat account, prosecutors said.A lawyer for Waithe did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.Sentencing is scheduled for March 6, 2024. Waithe was originally arrested in April.Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy called Waithe’s behavior despicable.“For almost a year, he manipulated, exploited and in one case stalked young women across the county hiding behind a web of a...

FBI confirms explosion at Canada-U.S. Rainbow Bridge border crossing in New York

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:23:21 GMT

WASHINGTON — Four of the busiest border crossing points between Canada and the United States were abruptly closed Wednesday after a vehicle exploded at a U.S. checkpoint in Niagara Falls. The FBI confirmed it is investigating the explosion, which took place on the U.S. side of the Rainbow Bridge crossing in upstate New York.Videos posted to social media show smoke and flames and the wreckage of at least one vehicle at the checkpoint complex on the U.S. side of the Niagara River. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons that Canada was working closely with the U.S. and taking the matter “extremely seriously” before he excused himself to attend a briefing.  Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc called it a “violent circumstance” and a source of concern for both countries, but warned against speculation in the absence of more details.  New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that she had been fully briefed and was monitoring the situation ...