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Arizona man charged with smuggling diamonds through Florida

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — An Arizona man was charged in South Florida with illegally smuggling diamonds into the United States.Guilherme Cipriani, 41, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was arrested Wednesday in his home state, according to court records. He made his first court appearance in Arizona, but his next court date is scheduled for May 24 in Miami. That’s where a federal grand jury indicted him in March on charges of smuggling diamonds into the U.S. and providing a false statement to a federal agency. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.Cipriani tried to smuggle 14 loose-cut diamonds and 53 rough-uncut diamonds into the U.S. through Miami International Airport on Nov. 10, according to the indictment. Officials didn’t provide an estimate for the value of the diamonds.Cipriani also lied when he told a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent at the airport that he was not transporting commercial merchandise into the country and had spent zero dollars on commercial merchandis...

Ontario government investing $12M to help people with criminal records find jobs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

As Ontario deals with soaring demand for skilled labour, the provincial government is investing $12 million for nine organizations to ramp up programs to get people with criminal records into the trades as well as the hospitality and tourism sectors.One of the groups receiving funding is the Oaks Revitalization Association, which has focused on youth programming in the Chalkfarm area of Toronto. CityNews spoke with members of the association’s board and they said they found there was a growing need to provide wraparound supports for people who have had interactions with the justice system.“Reintegrating back into society is a massive challenge and what we wanted to do was to step in and help people get back into society,” Joe Williams, the association’s managing director, said while speaking about criminal records.“Applying for a job, the first thing that happens is there’s a criminal check and usually you find that people that have criminal recor...

Victim’s sister tells jurors about quick funeral, remarriage

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The sister of a woman killed in what prosecutors say was a doomsday-focused plot told jurors Friday that her sister’s funeral was held so quickly that some family members couldn’t attend and that she was devastated when she learned her former brother-in-law remarried just a few weeks later. “You don’t get married four weeks after you just buried your wife of almost 30 years — you just don’t do that,” Samantha Gwilliam said, explaining that she later learned that Lori Vallow Daybell married Gwilliam’s former brother-in-law, Chad Daybell, just two weeks after Gwilliam’s sister Tammy Daybell died. The testimony came in the triple murder trial of Vallow Daybell, who is accused along with Chad Daybell in Tammy Daybell’s death and the deaths of her own two youngest children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Idaho prosecutors say the couple espoused strange doomsday-focused beliefs involving demonic possession and “zombies” to furth...

Chile, Peru discuss safe passage for stranded migrants

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

TACNA, Peru (AP) — Stranded for five days under the scorching desert sun alongside a highway, Venezuelan Rosmary Morales looked on helplessly Friday at a wall of police officers blocking her passage into Peru. The 45-year-old waits alongside hundreds of others who have set up a makeshift refugee camp on the Chilean side of the border they can’t cross because they lack the proper documentation. “There isn’t even an awning,” Morales said, adding she felt she was being treated “like a dog.”Morales is among the Venezuelans, Colombians and Haitians stranded for two weeks along the Peru-Chile border, eager to return home as living costs skyrocket and as lawmakers in both countries propose penalties for undocumented migration. Political leaders, meanwhile, are discussing how to facilitate their passage through Peru at a time when migrants increasingly are being blamed for rising crime on both sides of the border.Chile said Friday it would start registering all the undocumented migrants who...

Army grounds aviators for training after fatal Alaska crash

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Army says Friday that it has grounded non-critical aviators for training after deadly helicopter crashes in Alaska and Kentucky killed 12 in the past month. Military investigators were making their way to Alaska’s interior on Friday, one day after a midair collision between two helicopters killed three soldiers and injured a fourth.The investigative team from Fort Novosel, Alabama, was expected to arrive at the scene of the crash near Healy, Alaska, by Saturday, said John Pennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Alaska. Little new information about the crash was released Friday.The Army on Thursday said two of the soldiers died at the crash site, and a third died on the way to a hospital in Fairbanks. A fourth soldier was injured and taken to a hospital. That soldier was in stable condition on Friday, Pennell said. The names of those who were killed were not immediately released.The Army said more details would be releas...

Street League Skateboarding kicks off 2023 tour in Chicago

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

CHICAGO -- Street League Skateboarding lands in the Windy City this weekend.The Street League Skateboarding Championship Tour will make the only United States stop on Saturday when they take over the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.Pro skateboarder Rob Dyrdek, famously known for his hit MTV shows “Rob & Big, “Fantasy Factory,” and “Ridiculousness,” founded Street League Skateboarding in 2010."The thing that makes Street League standout more than any other contest is it's rooted and based and founded by real skateboarders," Skateboarding legend Paul Rodriguez said."Before (Street League Skateboarding), all the other events around skateboarding were basically like festivals that were action sports based - BMX, Motocross, and Rollerblading - which is cool and all, but it feels real special to have an event that's just skateboarding."Street League Skateboarding has separated itself from widely known events like the X-Games by creating a traveling competition for the top skateboarders in t...

Daughter to join dad in cockpit as he takes his final trip as United captain

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

CHICAGO — A father-daughter duo will take flight Sunday to mark the end of a United Airlines captain's 38-year career.The Bales family has been flying for more than 60 years. Police: Shots fired during funeral service in Maywood "Every day I'm flying when I show up to work I just can't believe I get paid to do that," Ally Bales said. You could say her love for flying the friendly skies is in her DNA. The first officer shared the cockpit with her father."When you look over, it's your dad next to you, not just someone else from the 16,000 pilots that we have at United Airlines," Ally said. Amtrak train derails at Chicago Union Station; some Metra lines delayed Capt. Chris Bales is preparing for his final flight after 38 years. He's set to take off this weekend before he reaches the federally mandated-retirement age of 65."It feels a little weird because it's always something I knew was out there, but now it's here," Chris said. The father-daughter duo will fly round-trip from Ch...

NFL Draft 2023: Why were the Jonas Brothers there?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — The Jonas Brothers broke the news Monday that they planned to appear at the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City — but some NFL fans may be wondering just what the former Disney stars were doing there.Turns out, "the Jo Bros" picked the event to drop their new single "Celebrate," in addition to "celebrating" players who were drafted. 2023 NFL Draft: Why do fans boo NFL commissioner Roger Goodell? The Grammy-winning group joined host Rece Davis, along with "College GameDay" analysts Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard."Congrats to all of the players at the @nfldraft tonight!" the band wrote on Instagram.The new Jonas Brothers record, simply called "The Album," will be available next month.Kevin, Nick and Joe Jonas just wrapped five shows at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway last month. Each night focused on a different Jonas album, including “Jonas Brothers,” “A Little Bit Longer,” “Lines, Vines and Trying Times,” and “Happiness Begins.” Three other concerts will f...

Storms continue in our eastern counties

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Strong to severe storms are moving through the area this evening, set to clear out by 9 p.m. TRACK STORMS: Live Radar We have received reports of ping pong size hail in Jollyville and Granger with more numerous reports of quarter sized hail scattered throughout Central Texas. If you can safely report damage at your property, send us a picture or video to [email protected] Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 9 p.m. for the potential of baseball size or larger hail, hurricane-force wind gusts (74+ mph) and an isolated tornado.Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effectMake sure you download the KXAN Weather App and enable your location to receive severe weather alerts for your area.This quick-moving line of strong to severe storms will clear our area before midnight with only a few spotty showers leftover early Saturday morning. Dry, windy weather returns Saturday then temperatures warm on Sunday.FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas fore...

LIVE BLOG: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings continue east of Austin

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe storms are moving across Central Texas. The main concerns tonight are large hail and damaging winds. Isolated tornadoes are also possible.The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of the KXAN viewing area in a 3 out of 5 threat for severe storms, as another potent low-pressure system dives into the state.Current Watches and WarningsSevere Thunderstorm Warning for Bastrop, Fayette, and Lee counties until 7:15 p.m. Quarter size hail, 60 mph wind gusts possible.Flood Advisory for Milam County until 8:30 p.m. Minor flooding is possible in low-lying and poor drainage areas.Flood Advisory for Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties until 8:45 p.m. Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas possible.Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette and Lee counties until 9 p.m. KXAN First Warning Weather forecast Weather ResourcesHow to talk to your kids about severe weatherWatches vs Warnings: Understanding how a storm is made...