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Chicago Bears storylines: Bijan Robinson’s unexpected appeal, a big need at defensive tackle and the true cost of the Chase Claypool trade

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 GMT

The NFL draft is three weeks away, leaving the Chicago Bears in the homestretch of their evaluation process.The Bears currently hold 10 selections in the April 27-29 draft, and general manager Ryan Poles is eager to attack that weekend with purpose, understanding how many holes he has to fill on his roster.As Poles and the Bears cross the bridge from free agency to the draft, here’s the inside slant on three notable storylines.The sure thingApproach the evaluation with an open mind and you’ll see why many NFL talent evaluators can’t stop fixating on Texas running back Bijan Robinson.Scan through Robinson’s junior season stats — 258 carries, 1,580 yards, 18 touchdowns — and it’s easy to acknowledge the elite production.Check out his combine measurables too. The 37-inch vertical leap, the 10-foot, 4-inch broad jump, the 4.46-second time in the 40-yard dash. Yep, those pass muster as well.Then turn on the game video where week after week, serie...

As Jets wait on Aaron Rodgers, rest of AFC East making key additions this offseason

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 GMT

Remember the years when the New England Patriots ruled the AFC East by winning 17 out of 19 division titles, including 11 in a row (2009-2019)?Those days are long gone, as the Buffalo Bills have recently dominated the AFC East winning the division for the last three years.But in 2023, the AFC East could be a gauntlet as the Jets, Dolphins and Patriots have all made strides this offseason. The Dolphins made the playoffs as a wild card team in 2022 after finishing 9-8, while the Patriots (8-9) and Jets (7-10) remained in playoff contention late into December.At some point, Aaron Rodgers is expected to be traded to the Jets after the veteran superstar quarterback announced on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he “intends” to play for the club last month.Gang Green recently signed former Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year deal and ex-Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman to a one-year contract to team up with NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson....

Supreme Court of Canada won’t hear appeal involving private health care

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 GMT

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear a challenge of a British Columbia law intended to preserve public health care through measures against extra-billing and certain private insurance.Two Vancouver private health facilities and four patients argued that provisions of the Medicare Protection Act violate their constitutional rights due to long waits for care in B.C.’s publicly funded system.They said it amounted to a breach of the patients’ life, liberty and security of the person under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.The Supreme Court of B.C. dismissed the constitutional challenge three years ago and the provincial Court of Appeal upheld the ruling last year. Justice John Steeves said in the original court ruling that while long waits for care might increase the risk to some patients, the provisions were justified by the overall objective of supporting a system where access to health care is based on need, not the ability to pay.B.C. Health Minister Adria...

Ex-head of Michigan marijuana board admits he took bribes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 GMT

The former head of a Michigan medical marijuana licensing board has agreed to plead guilty to accepting $110,000 in bribes when he led the panel over a two-year period, authorities said Thursday.Rick Johnson acknowledged in a signed court filing that he acted “corruptly” when he accepted cash and other benefits to help businesses get licenses. Charges against Johnson and three other men were announced by U.S. Attorney Mark Totten at a press conference near the Capitol in Lansing.Johnson, 70, was chairman of the marijuana board for two years until spring 2019. The Republican years earlier also was a powerful lawmaker, serving as House speaker from 2001 through 2004.“Public corruption is a poison to any democracy. … That poison is especially toxic here,” Totten said. “The marijuana industry has been likened to a modern-day gold rush, a new frontier where participants can stake their claim and just maybe return big rewards.”The marijuana board reviewed and appro...

Man seriously injured in stabbing near Yonge and Gerrard

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 GMT

Toronto police have arrested a suspect after a man was stabbed in the city’s downtown core.Police and paramedics were called to the Yonge and Gerrard streets area, near Toronto Metropolitan University, just after 11 a.m. on Thursday.Paramedics say the man, who is in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. However, police say his injuries are life-threatening.Police say he was stabbed in the abdomen.

House Republicans subpoena former prosecutor in Trump case

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Thursday subpoenaed one of the former Manhattan prosecutors who had been leading a criminal investigation into Donald Trump before quitting last year in a clash over the direction of the probe. Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, ordered Mark Pomerantz to testify before the committee by April 30. The subpoena, reviewed by The Associated Press, is the latest escalation by Republicans as they probe Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, days after Trump was charged in a 34-count felony indictment in connection with a hush money scheme involving a porn actor. Pomerantz refused to voluntarily cooperate with the committee’s request last month at the instruction of Bragg’s office, citing the ongoing investigation. The Manhattan D.A.’s office has accused Jordan’s committee of overstepping its legal authority and infringing on New York state sovereignty. Jordan has now written in a letter to Pomerantz, ...

Guard who was fired over anti-Muslim meme is reinstated

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 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 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:02 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