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Accused RCMP leaker never spoke of doing undercover operations: former colleague

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

OTTAWA — A former colleague of Cameron Jay Ortis, who is accused of disclosing secrets to people of interest to police, has testified in court that Ortis never mentioned taking part in undercover operations.Dan Morris told the Ontario Superior Court that Ortis did not speak to him about contacting the targets of RCMP investigations.  The Crown alleges Ortis, a former RCMP intelligence official, anonymously sent classified information in 2015 to people who were of investigative interest to the national police force.Ortis, 51, has pleaded not guilty to violating the Security of Information Act by allegedly revealing secrets to three individuals and trying to do so in a fourth instance.Ortis’s lawyers have said they will argue their client had the authority to take the actions he did.Reporters and the general public were excluded from the courtroom for Morris’s appearance Monday, but an edited transcript of his testimony was released today.This report by The Canadian Press ...

Some companies using lots of water want to be more sustainable. Few are close to their targets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Major corporations in water-guzzling industries such as clothing, food, beverage and technology want to be better stewards of the freshwater they use — especially as drought, floods and other extreme weather intensified by climate change threaten their supply chains. But of 72 companies ranked by a sustainability nonprofit over the past year, few are close to achieving their 2030 targets.Last year, Ceres launched an effort to press companies with large water footprints to protect those resources and address related financial risks. On Wednesday, the group released an analysis that found most of the assessed companies — including such powerhouses as Coca-Cola, General Mills and Amazon — have set targets but aren’t close to meeting them.“There’s no doubt that companies need to do better,” said Kirsten James, senior program director for water at Ceres.Ceres said the companies were chosen from the four sectors based on factors including size and their impact on w...

France’s Macron seeks international support for his proposal to build a coalition against Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron sought to promote — with little success so far — the creation of an international coalition to fight the armed Palestinian group Hamas, during a two-day trip to the Middle East that started in Israel.Leaders he met with in Israel, the West Bank, Jordan and Egypt didn’t publicly address the issue. The first response to the devastating Israel-Hamas war is “the fight against terrorism,” Macron said Wednesday after his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.“The right response is to cooperate, to draw lessons from the international coalition against the Islamic State group” that intervened in Iraq and Syria, he added. Macron first made the proposal Tuesday after his meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, mentioning the idea of a “regional and international coalition” against the Hamas group that rules the Gaza Strip.Netanyahu did not specifically comment on the French offer. The French presidency la...

Docs: Sergio Brown planned to travel to Colombia after allegedly murdering mother

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

MAYWOOD, Ill. — Former NFL player and Maywood native Sergio Brown planned on traveling to Medellin, Colombia following the murder of his mother, prosecutors alleged Thursday.Brown, 35, was arrested in Mexico City on Oct. 7 and deported to San Diego on a first-degree murder warrant. He was transported to Maywood Tuesday and officially charged.Prosecutors outlined the murder in court on Wednesday, including that Brown allegedly planned to travel to Colombia prior to his arrest.On the night of Sept. 14, Myrtle Simmons-Brown, 73, was last seen alive at around 6 p.m. Brown and his mother lived together in the 1100 block of Nichols Lane in Maywood.A family member became concerned after text messages went unanswered and met police at the residence on Sept. 16.By then, Sergio Brown was already in Cancun, court documents allege.Back at the home, authorities noticed blood on the back patio. Neighbors began searching the area and Simmons-Brown's body was located approximately 100 to 150 feet a...

Can the Bulls take a leap forward in 2023-2024?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

CHICAGO — It's the start of a new Bulls season, but you can't blame fans for feeling pretty much the same as they did last year.After all, the majority of the roster returns, and one of the key players remain out, with the same coach hoping to get more out of the team's core over the next six months. So, as one might imagine, expectations are a bit tempered for the team as they prepare to open up the 2023-2024 season at the United Center against the Thunder at 7 p.m. Here are a few things to look for from the team as they get ready for the first of 82 games. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Pressure mounting?While no one is talking about the job status of either one, there is certainly a thought that executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas, general manager Marc Eversley, and head coach Billy Donovan have something to prove in 2023-2024.After a fast start to the 2021-2022 season built optimism, that's slowly faded as Lonzo Ball has been forced out of the lineup with a knee i...

'Truly a miraculous find': Deer hunter helps locate 2-year-old who wandered into South Carolina woods

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A deer hunter helped deputies in South Carolina locate a 2-year-old reported missing this weekend after hearing her crying in a wooded area."Other than being tired, thirsty, and frightened, the little girl was in good shape," the Newberry County Sheriff's Office announced Sunday afternoon on Facebook.Deputies said the 2-year-old was last seen at around 3 p.m. Sunday, after lying down with her mother for a nap. Hours later, at 6 p.m., a deer hunter heard the child crying in the woods and called 911.Using mapping technology and a helicopter unit, officials were able to locate the hunter and ultimately the girl about a mile from where she was last seen.The toddler was immediately transported to be evaluated by EMS personnel. The Newberry County Sheriff's Office thanked local citizens, clergy members and first responders for aiding in the rescue efforts, and added that "emergency service personnel from all over the country" helped in the search."It was tru...

VIDEO: Driver hits man on scooter, gets out of SUV, then drives away

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Police in Tampa, Florida, are looking for a hit-and-run driver who struck a man driving a motor scooter in front of a group of people."Right when it happened, I just started immediately saying goodbyes," said victim Jonathan Fitzcharles. "I was laying there on the ground, I knew I had just been hit by a car."The crash happened on Oct. 12."Everyone who came up on the scene just said, 'Do not move,'" Fitzcharles recalled. "They said, 'You cannot move. Don't even try.'"Fitzcharles said he just moved to the Tampa neighborhood of Ybor City last month, and took his moped around town whenever he could."I saw a car to my left going pretty fast," Fitzcharles said. "I said to myself, 'There's a stop sign there, we're good.'"By the time he realized he was going to get hit, he said all he could do was brace for impact."That was very hard, because you're just thinking to yourself, I mean, that's what I was screaming at the scene was, 'Am I going to die?'" Fitzcharles said. "...

Are your onions part of this salmonella outbreak in 22 states?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a 22-state salmonella outbreak that has infected people.So far, 15 people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. CDC interviews with sick people and traceback data show that onions processed at Gills Onions may be the source of the outbreak. Gills voluntarily issued a recall of its bagged, precut onions at the center of the investigation. The recalled items include diced yellow onions, diced celery and onions, diced mirepoix, and diced red onions. RECALL: Kroger bagged collard greens may have listeria contamination The products recalled had use-by dates in August 2023, so they are no longer for sale in stores. However, consumers may have them — or foods made with them — in freezers. The Food and Drug Administration's detailed recall notice has more information and lot numbers of the affected products. (Courtesy: FDA)(Courtesy: FDA)(Courtesy: FDA)(Courtesy: FDA)(Courtesy: FDA)The rec...

'Basketball Wives' star sentenced to prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – A judge has sentenced Brittish Cierrah Williams, a former cast member of the reality show "Basketball Wives," to four years in prison for her involvement in several schemes, including tax fraud, bank fraud, insurance fraud, and pandemic-related scam.Williams, 33, pleaded guilty to 15 felonies, which included misusing Social Security numbers, making false statements to the IRS, and wire fraud. Her deceptive actions continued even after federal agents first got in touch with her and indicted her, as the sentencing hearing made clear.Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke highlighted the seriousness of Williams' crimes, emphasizing the need for strict punishment. U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey stated, "You knew what you were doing. You knew it was wrong, and you did it anyway." In addition to her prison term, Williams will be on supervised release for five years and must pay $564,069 in restitution. ‘Sad’: Sears reopened a store in California and shoppers have thou...

Former NFL player Sergio Brown denied release in hearing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

MAYWOOD, Ill. — Sergio Brown, the former NFL player charged in connection with the death of his mother is being detained until trial.Brown, who has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and concealment of a dead body in connection with the death of his mother, 73-year-old Myrtle Simmons-Brown, appeared in court on Wednesday at the Maybrook Court House in Maywood.According to Maywood Police, Sergio Brown was taken into custody in San Diego, California, on Oct. 10, on a first-degree murder warrant after his mother was found unresponsive in a creek behind her home in mid-September. Previous Coverage: Family of Myrtle Simmons-Brown look for answers in homicide investigation Police say Simmons-Brown, was found dead near her home on Sept. 16, after family members reported her missing, alongside Sergio Brown.Myrtle Simmons-BrownOfficials from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, who confirmed Simmons-Brown’s death, said she died from multiple injuri...