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As Twitter fades to X, TikTok steps up with new text-based posts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

The same day Elon Musk abruptly dropped Twitter’s name and bird logo as part of its supposed transition to an “anything app” called X, TikTok impishly announced it will begin letting its users post — you guessed it — text-based messages. The popular Chinese-owned app, best known for lip-synced dances, often farcical “challenges” and other short videos, didn’t offer much explanation for the new feature. It did note in a statement that the service is “expanding the boundaries of content creation” by showcasing the written creativity users have previously had to share via comments and video captions. TikTok announced the new feature late Monday.It wasn’t clear to what extent users have embraced text posts in their first full day of availability. That’s partly because searching on variations of the term “text post” largely turned up examples of a popular video genre — those focused on text message phone conversations, typically selected for humorous effect. There were also a...

Attorney for ex-student charged in California stabbing deaths says he’s not mentally fit for trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The former college student charged with murder in the stabbing deaths of two people and attempted murder of a third in a Northern California university town has not showered in the nearly three months he’s been in jail, goes days without eating and believes he will return to classes, his attorney said Tuesday. The remarks by Dan Hutchinson, a Yolo County deputy public defender, came during a proceeding to determine whether Carlos Dominguez is mentally competent to participate in a criminal trial over the stabbings that rocked the University of California, Davis, campus and surrounding community. Hutchinson said he will present evidence showing that Dominguez started showing outward signs of schizophrenia toward the end of his freshman year. Prosecutors said Dominguez is “toying with the system” and should face a criminal trial. Jurors will ultimately decide whether he is fit for trial. To be found mentally unfit, the defense must show that Dominguez cannot...

Michael K. Williams’ nephew urges compassion for defendant at sentencing related to actor’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A 71-year-old man linked to a crew of drug dealers blamed in the fentanyl-laced heroin death of “The Wire” actor Michael K. Williams was sentenced Tuesday to more than two years in prison at a proceeding in which the actor’s nephew recommended compassion for the defendant.Carlos Macci was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who told Macci that selling heroin and fentanyl “not only cost Mr. Williams his life, but it’s costing your freedom,” in part because he did not stop selling drugs after Williams died.Macci had pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess and distribute narcotics.The judge noted that more than 3,000 fatal overdoses occurred in New York City last year, killing many who never understood the threat they faced from lethal doses of drugs whose components were unclear.Williams, who also starred in films and other TV series including “Boardwalk Empire,” overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment in September 2021....

Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz dies at age 70

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Rocky Wirtz, who won three Stanley Cups as owner of the Chicago Blackhawks and presided over the team during one of the NHL’s biggest scandals, has died. He was 70.The Blackhawks said in a release that Wirtz died on Tuesday, and it said it was a “sudden passing.” But no further details were provided.NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a release that the league was “deeply saddened” by Wirtz’s death.“Devoted to family and the Chicago Blackhawks, Rocky was a native son of Chicago and an accomplished businessman,” Bettman said. “Rocky took over control of the Blackhawks in 2007 and almost immediately restored the passion and following of this storied, Original Six franchise.”Rocky Wirtz was two years old when his grandfather, Arthur Wirtz, purchased the Blackhawks in 1954. Rocky Wirtz took over the team after his father, William, died in September 2007.William Wirtz was nicknamed “Dollar Bill” for his frugality when it came to acquiring the services o...

Man and woman charged in human trafficking, forced minor into sex trade: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

Toronto police have arrested and charged a man and a woman for their involvement in human trafficking after an underage female victim was forced into the sex trade “through a combination of deception, direction and control.”Investigators said the Toronto Police Service Human Trafficking Enforcement Team looked into allegations in June. It’s alleged that the accused manipulated the victim into human trafficking.Police noted that all of the money earned by the female victim was surrendered to the accused.Authorities arrested two people on June 27. They were identified as 24-year-old Isaac Shakur Semi-Bi and 30-year-old Jade Marchand Rondeau.The man faces 16 total charges. They include trafficking in persons under 18 years by exercising control, trafficking in persons under 18 years by recruiting, financial benefit/trafficking person under 18, material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18, procuring/recruiting a person under 18 to provide sexual ...

Kansas football lineman charged in connection with alleged bomb threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — University of Kansas football offensive lineman Joseph Krause made his first court appearance Tuesday after he was charged with allegedly making a bomb threat that prompted the evacuation of a stadium. Krause has been charged with making an aggravated criminal threat Monday. The university stadium and two other sports complexes were evacuated without incident, university police told The Kansas City Star.Krause does not yet have a lawyer. But he told a judge Tuesday that he plans to find representation in the next two days. No attorney was listed for him in court records as of Tuesday. Making an aggravated criminal threat is a felony punishable by a minimum of two-and-a-half years in prison, a fine of $300,000 or both. Krause has been on the team for three seasons as a walk-on. He has not played a game since 2020. The Associated Press

Golden Fire in southern Oregon burns dozens of homes and cuts 911 service

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

BONANZA, Ore. (AP) — A wildfire that started over the weekend in southern Oregon has burned dozens of homes and caused area residents to lose 911 service and internet, state officials said Tuesday.The Oregon State Fire Marshal said preliminary damage assessments from the Golden Fire east of Klamath Falls showed that 43 residences near the town of Bonanza were destroyed. More than 40 outbuildings were also consumed by fire. The fire marshal said most of the structures are believed to have burned Saturday, when the fire started and spread rapidly in hot weather and gusty winds. Crews were unable to access the structures before Tuesday because of unsafe conditions, the fire marshal said.Sherry Booth told KATU-TV that she lost her home to the fire.She said she was in town when she got a call saying the fire was headed toward it.“They were closing everything off, but we know a back way in so we did get to the house,” she said. “We had to go try to save our animals, and the cops wer...

Brazil regulates sports betting, taxes companies amid scandal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s government issued a provisional decree on Tuesday to authorize sports betting and tax companies’ revenues by 18%. The move comes amid a sprawling investigation that ensnared dozens of players in a match-fixing scandal.President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s decree was sent to congress, which needs to vote on it on the next 120 days so it remains valid. Brazil’s finance ministry expects to collect at least 2 billion Brazilian reals ($420 million) in tax from betting companies next year if the provisional measure is confirmed.Brazilian bettors will not pay tax if they make gains amounting to almost $445 on each bet. Any gains above that will make betters pay 30% income tax. The decree comes less than one year after an investigation by the attorney’s office in Goias showed that some players had been offered between $10,000 and $20,000 to perform specific actions, like receiving yellow cards and giving away penalty kicks. Alleged criminals...

VIDEO: Camera footage shows Edison Park business owner's dad robbed of catalytic converter at gunpoint

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

CHICAGO — An Edison Park business owner spoke out Tuesday, warning the community after his father came face-to-face with two armed suspects on the City's far Northwest Side who stole his catalytic converter.“He tried to stop the situation, but the guy pulled out a gun, so what is he gonna do?" said Edwin Espinosa, co-owner of Snappy Dog in Edison Park. "Nothing … just backs out and lets them take it.”According to the Chicago Police Department, a 48-year-old man was walking toward his vehicle in the 6600 block of North Northwest Highway around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning when he saw two people taking his catalytic converter.Police said the offenders pulled out handguns and told him to walk away. He complied, and the thieves fled in a white SUV. UPS driver shot while delivering packages in West Humboldt Park Cameras at another nearby business caught the theft on video. As can be seen on tape, one suspect hands the other a tool, who then goes under the victim's SUV as the second perso...

Pete Davidson avoids jail time after charge of driving into Beverly Hills house

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

(AP) - Pete Davidson has entered a diversion program to resolve a reckless driving charge for crashing into a Beverly Hills home and will perform 50 hours community service, authorities said Tuesday.The 29-year-old “Saturday Night Live” and “King of Staten Island” actor and comedian will likely do his community service with the New York Fire Department, where his late father worked, Los Angeles County prosecutors said.Davidson was 7 years old when his father, Scott, a New York firefighter, died responding to the 9/11 attacks. Rare Apple sneakers up for sale at $50K Davidson pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor and was put in an 18-month diversion that also includes 12 hours of traffic school, an order to obey all laws and restitution that was not specified.When Davidson was charged on June 16, prosecutors called the March 4 crash a “serious collision." No one was reported injured.Davidson’s latest show, “Bupkis,” debuted on Peacock in May, and he stars in the forthcomin...