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Basdeo Panday, Trinidad and Tobago’s first prime minister of Indian descent, dies

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Basdeo Panday, a former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago who was the first person of Indian descent to hold that position, has died. He was 90.Panday died on Monday surrounded by his family, according to a statement that his daughter, Mickela Panday, posted on social media.“He passed with his boots on, keeping everybody around him on their toes with his wit and humor,” she wrote.Panday served twice as prime minister from 1995 to 2001 following key elections that marked a turning point for the Indo-Trinidadians who lived on the twin-island nation, whose population is currently 35% East Indian and 34% of African descent.Panday was a lawyer, economist and union leader who also co-founded three political parties, including United National Congress. He temporarily stepped down as opposition leader of that party after being convicted in 2006 of failing to disclose a bank account in London.In 2005, Panday and others were charged with corruption and arreste...

Warren Buffett, James Simons and Phil Knight are among the top charity donors of 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual list of the biggest charitable donations from individuals or their foundations totaled more than $3.5 billion in 2023. Four universities received big gifts in 2023, along with four scientific research institutes and a health-care system. The other gifts went to a family foundation and a racial-justice group.The list has 11 gifts because of ties. Eight of the donors are multibillionaires, and their combined net worth is $305.1 billion.Topping the list is a gift from the investment guru Warren Buffett, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at roughly $119 billion. He gave 1.5 million shares of Berkshire Hathaway Class “B” stock valued at $541.5 million to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named for his first wife, who died in 2004.Buffett created the grantmaker in 1964 to manage the family’s charitable giving, and it remains a family affair. Two of his three children serve on its board, and it is led by his former son-in-law. The foun...

Woman charged with leaving 4 children home alone on New Year's Eve

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman is charged after leaving four young children home alone on New Year's Eve on the city's West Side, according to Chicago police.Dominique Bishop-Smith, 29, faces four misdemeanour counts of child endangerment.Around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, officers were waved down by an 11-year-old boy who said that he was home alone with other children inside a residence on the 4800 block of West Jackson Boulevard in the Austin neighborhood.Officers transported the boy, along with a 1-year-old boy, a 7-year-old boy, and a 4-year-old girl to West Suburban Hospital as a precaution after not being able to make contact with a guardian.

Village police chief in Southwest suburb retiring after 39 years in DuPage County Law Enforcement

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

WOODRIDGE, Ill. — The Village of Woodridge announced Tuesday that Chief of Police Brian Cunningham is retiring after 39 years of service with DuPage County Law Enforcement.Cunningham’s last day with the Village of Woodridge and the Woodridge Police Department will be Wednesday, Jan. 24, according to a news release from the village announcing Cunningham's retirement. He has been the village's Chief of Police for the past seven years.The search for a new chief will begin immediately, the release states. In the interim, Deputy Chief of Police Thomas Stefanson will serve as acting chief. Stefanson has been with the Village of Woodridge since 1998 and has held several positions, including Patrol Sergeant and Detective Sergeant, before becoming Deputy Chief of Police in 2014.During his tenure as Chief of Police for the Village of Woodridge, Brian Cunningham has implemented several programs and led initiatives for the Woodridge Police Department and the community. (PHOTOS COURTESY VILLAGE ...

Man dead after entering airplane engine at Salt Lake City International Airport

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) – A 30-year-old man is dead after illegally accessing Salt Lake City International Airport's ramp area and getting into an airplane engine Monday night, according to Salt Lake City Police Department.At around 9:50 p.m. on Jan. 1, a store manager at the airport contacted authorities with the Airport Control Center about a passenger on the secured side of the terminal.SLCPD officers responded to the call, learning that the man had passed through an emergency exit door.Police and airport employees started searching for the man and found that he had accessed the airport's ramp area from the emergency exit.At around 10:10 p.m., authorities found the man unconscious inside a wing-mounted engine of an occupied commercial aircraft on the deicing pad. The plane's engine was not running at the time, though the aircraft was preparing for a flight to San Francisco, according to a spokesperson for the Salt Lake City International Airport.Authorities worked to get the man ou...

Concerns grow about southern border

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Concerns around the border grow, as republicans continue to call on the president to act on the southern border. A group of republicans are heading to the border this week as they push to impose stricter policies.The U.S. tried to raise pressure on Mexico’s president to do something about the mass wave of migrants coming through Mexico. But republicans want more from President Joe Biden."Life along the border has turned upside down," said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales said he will host a group of about 60 republicans this week to visit the border."I believe in legal immigration. I believe most of America believes in legal immigration, but what we're seeing is not that, this is chaos," he added.Many republicans have criticized President Biden for vacationing in St. Croix as the border crisis continues. Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar says the president needs to act."As long as people are coming to the border,...

The Rock teases match against top WWE star

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

(WKBN) - WWE kicked off 2024 with a surprise return from one of its popular legends, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, at its Day 1 Monday Night Raw episode. The Rock made an appearance interrupting former WWE champion Jinder Mahal. The man known as "The People's Champion" laid out Mahal with his signature People's Elbow finishing move. What The Rock had to say before he left the ring that night has fans talking.Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock is seen during Wrestlemania XXX at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans on Sunday, April 6, 2014. (Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE)The Rock said that he was going out to dinner, and asked fans if he should sit at "the head of the table." The Head of the Table is the nickname of the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Reigns, whose real name is Joe Anoa'i, has held the WWE World Championship since September 2020. His title reign is over 1,000 days and it is the longest WWE world championship reign since Hulk Hogan held the ti...

Dean's A-List Interview: Dan Levy

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

In his first A-List Interview of 2024, WGN's Dean Richards talks with Dan Levy, the writer, director and star of the Netflix movie "Good Grief" and one of the comedic geniuses behind the hit sitcom "Schitt's Creek." "Good Grief" premiers Friday on Netflix. Dean’s A-List Interview: Erika Alexander in ‘American Fiction’ Get Dean’s reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean’s Downloads weekly newsletter. You’ll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Travis County GOP unable to secure resources for hand counting in primary election

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Travis County Republican Party was unable to secure the resources required to hand count ballots in the March primary election, according to its chair. It means despite weeks of contentious back and forth between the GOP and the Travis County Democratic Party to reach a primary election contract, only Republican mail in ballots will be hand counted, but early voting ballots will not, Republican Party chair Matt Mackowiak told KXAN. Travis County primary election contract reached, county-wide voting to remain The deadline to gather the volunteers and resources required was Dec. 31, KXAN previously reported. Still, the GOP chair worked several additional changes into the election contract -- which was approved by Travis County Commissioners last month -- that Mackowiak believes will help with transparency and safety. That includes getting additional data on who voted where. “We will have cast vote record reports and other reports that are required to be provided...

Farm distillery to open tasting room in Amsterdam

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:43:04 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Second Act Spirits, a New York farm distillery, is set to open a tasting room in the Amsterdam Clocktower at 37 Prospect Street. Owners Rich and Stacey Michaels got the plans approved by the Amsterdam Planning Commission on December 27. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! "Amsterdam has some great buildings, local history and currently has no craft beverage producers in town," said the owners. "We have been involved in some beer events in Amsterdam in the past and there seems to be a great sense of community."The tasting room will be serving samples of Second Act's vodka and whiskey products and cocktails. They'll also be offering light food options such as charcuterie, appetizers, and soups, as well as merchandise. Wilton Mall movie theater to reopen "This is one of the advantages of being a farm distillery license," said the owners. "Other types of distilling licenses cannot offer merchandise."Second Act Spir...