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FBI arrests Texas businessman linked to impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — FBI agents have arrested a Texas businessman at the center of the scandal that led to the historic impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton, jail records show.Nate Paul was booked into an Austin jail Thursday afternoon after being taken into custody by federal agents, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office online inmate listings. It was not immediately clear what charges led to his arrest and the jail records said only that he was being held on a federal detainer.Paul’s entanglements with Paxton were central to the GOP-led state House of Representatives’ overwhelming vote to impeach the Republican last month.Paul’s troubled real estate empire has been the focus of federal scrutiny for years and agents searched his Austin offices and palatial home in 2019.The next year, Paxton involved his office in the federal case, a move that prompted his top staff to report him to the FBI.Their allegations of bribery and abuse of office by Paxton prompted sep...

Canada’s Corey Conners tied for lead at RBC Canadian Open

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

Metaphorical clouds of controversy and literal clouds of smoke continue to swirl around the RBC Canadian Open.Canada’s Corey Conners was in a four-way tie atop the leaderboard after a 5-under 67 in Thursday’s first round. England’s Aaron Rai and Americans Justin Lower and Chesson Hadley were grouped with Conners at the top of the leaderboard in the morning wave and no one caught them up.Conners, from Listowel, Ont., was not able to speak with reporters after his round because he had to deal with an urgent personal matter. His caddy Danny Sahl said they were happy with Conners’s bogey-free round.“Really disciplined off the tee, we didn’t try to do too much,” said Sahl, who is from Sherwood Park, Alta. “But he had tons of fairways, missed maybe a couple in the first cut.“Corey’s just tee-to-green hitting greens, in regulation, made some good putts, just strong all around.”Lower said that to stay atop the leaderboard on ...

Live updates | Trump Classified Documents Indictment

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Follow along for live updates on former President Donald Trump, who announced Thursday on social media that he’s been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate. The Justice Department did not immediately publicly confirm the indictment.___What to know:— Signs that Trump could face criminal charges began to pile up this month— Who is Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing probes into the retention of classified documents?— In spite of legal woes and crowded GOP field, Trump has remained Republicans’ frontrunner for 2024___AP SOURCES CONFIRM INDICTMENTTwo people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to discuss it publicly said Trump’s team had been informed that he’s been indicted on seven counts and that prosecutors had contacted lawyers to advise them of the indictment shortly before Trump announced it himself on his Truth Social platform.“This is indeed a DARK DAY for the United States of America,” Trump po...

Nevada Senate adjourns without voting on proposed A’s stadium in Las Vegas

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — An anticipated vote in the Nevada Senate on a financing bill for a proposed $1.5 billion Las Vegas Strip stadium for the Oakland Athletics will not occur until next week, pushing the special legislative session further amid negotiations over whether to contribute $380 million in public funding to the project.The measure can still be amended by lawmakers, and if it passes the Senate it would still need approval from the Assembly before going to the desk of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who has expressed support for it. In a hearing that began Wednesday and stretched into the early morning hours Thursday, lawmakers peppered tourism officials and a representative from a firm partnering with the ball club with questions about the feasibility and benefits of financing such a deal.Public funds for the stadium would mainly come from $180 million in transferable tax credits and $120 million in county bonds. Backers have pledged that the creation of a special tax dis...

Here are the other investigations Trump has to worry about

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

Donald Trump’s legal problems appear to have escalated significantly on Thursday with federal charges over the retention of top secret documents, but investigators aren’t done yet.The former president faces a string of inquiries in various states and venues as he campaigns for a second term in the White House. He’s already been charged in a 34-count indictment in New York in a hush money case. The others include federal and state investigations into his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election and a civil case that threatens his ability to ever again do business in New York.Trump, a Republican, has denied any wrongdoing and says he is being targeted by Democrats trying to keep him from reclaiming the presidency in 2024.Here’s a look at the top probes:HUSH MONEY SCHEMETrump became the first former U.S. president in history to face criminal charges when he was indicted in New York in March on state charges stemming from hush money payments made during ...

Is the Canadian wildfire smoke expected in Chicago?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

CHICAGO — The smoke from the wildfires in Canada have left parts of the United States under an air quality alert.Some and haze is expected in Chicago and parts of Illinois on Friday, but most of the heavier smoke is expected to continue in the east and as far south as North Carolina. Here’s how you can check the air quality in Illinois An air quality action day was issued on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for all of Indiana due to the smoke. Should you run your air conditioner when it’s smoky outside? According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, there are high levels of fine particles in Friday's forecast. IDEM said the particles include microscopic dust, soot and liquid that can settle into the lungs and can be hard to exhale.The National Weather Service said people with chronic respiratory illnesses should limit their time outdoors.Air quality alerts have been issued in 24 states. What are the health concerns with poor air quality? The sun rises over th...

Mother says teen was target of racially motivated attack in Wicker Park

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

CHICAGO — A teen's mom said he is the victim of a racially motivated attack in Wicker Park.Around 8 p.m. Wednesday night, the teen said a man followed him home and attacked him. Man found dead at Chicago shelter for migrants identified The teen's mother said her 16-year-old son was headed home after playing basketball at Wicker Park.Along the way, she said the man followed him home near Ellen Street and Marion Court.That's when she said it escalated and the man got out of his vehicle and began physically attacking the teen.Nicole Harvey said the man accused the teen of trying to create problems, carjack and rob people and called him a racial slur. "Like it was just really mean and hateful," Harvey said. Docs: Logan Square woman found nearly decapitated in duffle bag; boyfriend had cleaning supplies Her two other sons, who had just arrived home, saw the fight and went to break it up and call police."No one knew," Nicole Harvey said. "If they wouldn't have pulled up, he could've b...

Big Ten announces 16-team football scheduling - and a big change

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

CHICAGO — As the Big Ten prepares to expand to 16 teams in 2024 with the addition of USC and UCLA, they are making a few adjustments to the football schedule.That includes a major change to how they'll align the conference moving forward.On Thursday, the league announced that they will no longer have divisions, something that has been in place since Nebraska joined the conference in 2011. Instead, all 16 teams will compete for the regular season title, with the top two squads advancing to the Big Ten Championship Game.Tiebreaker procedures for the top two spots will be announced at a later date. Each school will play nine games in the conference and play every other Big Ten opponent at least twice - once home and once away - in a four-year period. (Courtesy: Big Ten Conference)Part of the way they'll schedule teams is through the "flex protect plus" which will protect some of the rivalries in the conference while setting "two play" opponents for each school, where they'll face them ...

Family of missing Roseland woman Rena Baker confirms her death

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

CHICAGO — The family of a missing mother of two from Roseland confirms she has been found dead.  CPD: Missing 15-year-old girl last seen leaving home in Humboldt Park The family released a statement verifying a body found Tuesday was that of 39-year-old Rena Baker:We are deeply saddened to confirm that our beloved Rena has passed away. Rena was a beautiful, warm, loving individual who touched everyone she interacted with.  Her absence leaves an incredible void in the lives of her children, as well as our family and friends. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to every individual and organization that helped in the search for Rena, your prayers and words of encouragement supported us through this difficult time.  At this time, we kindly request that our wish for privacy be respected as we navigate this tragic loss.  Again, we extend our deepest thanks for the compassion and understanding of everyone involved and for the continued respect for our pri...

Nate Paul, Austin developer at center of Ken Paxton impeachment, arrested in Travis County

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:33:24 GMT

AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- Nate Paul, the Austin real estate developer central to allegations of illegal conduct by Ken Paxton, Texas’ now-suspended attorney general, was booked into the Travis County Jail Thursday on a federal warrant.Paul was booked into the jail at 4:25 p.m., said Kristen Dark, a spokesperson for the Travis County Sheriff's Office. The arresting agency is the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Paul's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Calls to the FBI's San Antonio office, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District and Paxton were also not immediately returned.It's not immediately clear whether his arrest is related to those allegations, but Paul is at the center of the abuse of office complaints against Paxton, a three-term Republican attorney general who was impeached by the Texas House last month. Paxton is currently suspended from his official duties and awaiting an impeachment trial in the Senate, which would require a tw...