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Jordan Neely, street artist who died from chokehold on a New York City subway, mourned at funeral in Harlem

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

(CNN) — Jordan Neely, the homeless street artist who was the victim of a fatal chokehold on a New York City subway, was remembered at his funeral Friday as a “well known and loved” performer.Neely, 30, known for his Michael Jackson impersonations, was restrained in a chokehold May 1 on a Manhattan subway by another rider, Daniel Penny, after Neely began shouting that he was hungry, thirsty and had little to live for. Penny, a 24-year-old US Marine veteran, surrendered to police last Friday to face a second-degree manslaughter charge.“He performed in front of thousands of people in the streets of New York City, and on the subways where he was well known and loved,” Neely’s great aunt Mildred Mahazu said at his funeral service at the Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem.“One of Jordan’s biggest passions was to dance and entertain. He was greatly influenced by pop star Michael Jackson, who he started idolizing from the age of seven. Over time, he began to perfe...

Target recalls nearly 5 million candles after reports of cuts and severe burns

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

New York (CNN) — Target is recalling nearly 5 million of its Threshold-brand candles in glass jars because the glass can “break or crack” when in use, “posing laceration and burn hazards,” the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.The retailer received 137 reports of the candle jar breaking or cracking while the candle was lit, resulting in six injuries that included deep cuts and severe burns, the agency said.Thirty-seven different candles are listed on the recall list, with scents ranging from Apple Blossom and Breeze to Leather and Embers.Among the candles recalled are the 5.5-ounce 1-Wick, 14-ounce 3-Wick and 20-ounce 3-Wick Candles. The recalled item numbers are found on the CPSC site, and consumers can check the bottom of the glass jars to see if numbers match.The 4.9 million candles were sold in Target stores nationwide from August 2019 to as recently as March 2023.In a statement, Target said it is “committed to providing high quality and safe products to our gu...

Josh Bates delivers winning hit, as Plymouth North edges Duxbury

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

PLYMOUTH — Having your first at-bat mid-game is not an ideal situation for a baseball player. Having that chance come in the bottom of the seventh in a tie game is even more difficult.Plymouth North senior Josh Bates was faced with that exact situation and he laced a line drive into left field to give the Eagles a 6-5 victory over Patriot League rival Duxbury on Friday afternoon.“I wasn’t really expecting to get up so quickly,” Bates said. “Our four-hitter (George Slauson) is really good, but they walked him, and it was my turn. I’ve had a good season at the plate, and I was confident I could win it.”Bates, who entered in the top half of the inning as a defensive replacement, may not have been as loose as someone who had played the entire game, but Eagles coach Dwayne Follette knew his slugger was up to the task.“For Bates to come into the game in that situation and get that hit is huge,” Follette said. “He’s second on the team in hitting and I’m not surprised he came through for us...

Debt limit talks halted again at Capitol as Republicans, White House face ‘real differences’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

By LISA MASCARO, FARNOUSH AMIRI and ZEKE MILLER (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Debt limit talks halted again late Friday at the U.S. Capitol shortly after resuming, another sudden turn of events after negotiations had come to an abrupt standstill earlier in the day when Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said it’s time to “pause” negotiations, and a White House official acknowledged there are “real differences.”Top Republican negotiators for McCarthy exited the brief meeting shortly after talks restarted Friday evening. They said there were no further negotiations planned for Friday and they were uncertain on next steps. But a top White House adviser to President Joe Biden said they were hopeful for a resolution. The negotiators are racing to strike a budget deal to resolve the standoff.“We reengaged, had a very, very candid discussion, talking about where we are, talking about where things need to be, what’s reasonably accep...

Boston City Councilor Arroyo denies working with Rollins to tip election outcome

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo denied colluding with former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins to influence the outcome of last year’s election for Suffolk DA.Arroyo told reporters Friday that he had no knowledge that Rollins was leaking sensitive information on his behalf, and denied pressuring the state’s top prosecutor to investigate his primary opponent.“I never asked her to do this,” Arroyo said. “And this report makes clear that there’s no evidence of that fact.”Arroyo sought to distance himself from Rollins in his latest interview, marking a change in tone from the statement he released two days earlier, when he described her as a longtime friend he often sought out for advice and counsel.He described Rollins’ actions as “unethical,” and said her decision to step down as U.S. Attorney was “appropriate,” given the violations highlighted in two bombshell reports released by the feds this past Wednesday. Rollins submitted her letter of resignation to President Biden on Friday.A...

Following dissolution of Peel Region, there are questions about who’s next?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

The Ford government’s decision to dissolve Peel Region has raised many questions about how this might impact other regions across the province. The province tabled legislation on Thursday that will begin the process of turning Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon into independent cities and towns by Jan. 1, 2025. The new legislation will establish a transition board which the province says will oversee the process and ensure it is fair and balanced.With Mississauga and Brampton being the third and fourth largest cities in Ontario, the government is confident they’ll work better independently. But what about regions that oversee much smaller communities?The province says it is also appointing a facilitator to begin reviewing the community needs of Durham, Halton, Niagara, Simcoe, Waterloo and York and determine if it should pursue a similar-type dissolution for those regions. “We’re the only government in the history of Ontario that’s actually giving peopl...

3-year-old boy critically injured in McKinley Park crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

CHICAGO — A 3-year-old boy is in critical condition after a crash Friday afternoon in McKinley Park, according to Chicago police. Around 4:30 p.m., a 16-year-old boy hit a driver trying to turn left from South Ashland Avenue onto 35th Street, according to police. Parents want answers after 2 Chicago elementary schools went on lockdown The 16-year-old boy and the driver of the other car weren't injured, police said.A 3-year-old boy who was in the car trying to turn left was taken to Stroger Hospital with a head injury in critical condition, police said.A 42-year-old man who was also in the car was taken to Stroger Hospital with minor injuries in good condition.No citations have been issued at this time.The crash is still under investigation, police said.

Chicago man sentenced to 23 years for Lombard 7-Eleven robbery

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. -- A Chicago man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his role in the robbery of a 7-Eleven in Lombard last year.Lennell Owens, 47, and Reginald Allen, 54, both of Chicago, entered the 7-Eleven convenience store on the 800 block of South Westmore-Myers Road in Lombard around 6:45 p.m. on June 11, 2022. Parents want answers after 2 Chicago elementary schools went on lockdown According to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, the two Chicago men approached the counter and 54-year-old Allen demanded money from an employee who was working at the cash register.47-years-old Owens then went to the back of the store with another employee and stole cartons of cigarettes from the shelves as well as the employee’s cell phone at gunpoint.While Owens was in the back of the store, Allen remained at the counter and collected the money from the cash register. Following the robbery, both men left the store and drove away in a Jeep Wrangler southbound on Westmore-...

Woman says lemur attacked her at Texas aquarium

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Charmaine Dickerson's trip to visit her boyfriend ended in pain — and she's considering a lawsuit. "I remember looking down and my face was, like, dripping blood," she said. In viral video, man says Tampa owes each Black resident $3M in reparations The culprit was a lemur at the Austin Aquarium in Austin, Texas, according to Dickerson. The location is one of two in the United States that allows guests to interact with lemurs, according to the aquarium's website. Dickerson said she signed up for an "animal encounter," where she was told she could pet a lemur under supervision of a handler. "I take probably two steps in, the lemur lurches at me," she said. "It lands on my shoulder. I turned my face. There's a bite on this side, and then a scratch. I just felt bleeding."Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. The aquariu...

Transgender Texan, family start new life in New Zealand

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lauren Rodriguez has a limit of 20 boxes to pack up everything that matters most to her ahead of a big move from the Austin area next month. One already contains dozens of figurines she collected since childhood, which she said will help make where she's headed next feel much more like home. "I'm excited, but I've got a million little things to do between now and then," Rodriguez said from the short-term rental where she's staying temporarily outside of Austin. Texas Democrat faces censure, primary challenger after vote on health care ban for transgender minors Last year she talked to KXAN about putting what she called her "dream home" on the market, and someone finally bought it in April. The sale is allowing her to leave Texas, perhaps for good, and reunite with her transgender son, Greyson. While sitting on the bed in her cramped rental, she scrolled to a picture on her phone showing her son before he boarded a flight in February. "This is at the Austin airport...