Oklahoma judge who sent more than 500 emails during murder trial resigns
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma judge who sent more than 500 emails to bailiffs during a murder trial is resigning. In a settlement agreement filed Thursday in an Oklahoma court regarding the judiciary, District Judge Tracy Soderstrom agreed to resign on Friday and never seek judicial office in Oklahoma again. Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice John Cain IV said Soderstrom mocked prosecutors, laughed at bailiffs' comments about prosecutors' genitals, praised defense attorneys and called a key prosecutor's witness a liar. After an investigation revealed this, the court recommended that he be removed from the court.
Mehta deletes Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei's Instagram and Facebook accounts
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Meta Inc. is shutting down the Instagram account it ran on behalf of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei following criticism of his support for Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. I deleted my Facebook account. Gaza Strip. Mehta did not specify the reason. However, he said he had deleted his account “for repeated violations of our Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy.” Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment. Iran provides arms and support to Hamas, but Tehran is not believed to have ordered the October 7 attack.
Drug possession charges against rapper Kodak Black dismissed in Florida
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Drug possession charges against South Florida rapper Kodak Black were dismissed two months after his arrest, but a drug trafficking case from 2022 remains pending. A Broward County judge ruled Friday that prosecutors cannot dispute or deny the fact that the rapper, whose real name is Bill Capri, had a prescription filled for oxycodone at a pharmacy. Plantation police arrested Capri in December after finding him drowsy at the wheel with white powder around his mouth, officials said. The powder initially tested positive for cocaine, but laboratory tests later determined it was oxycodone, and Capri obtained a prescription in July 2022.
Fire causes extensive damage to iconic Chicago breakfast restaurant
CHICAGO (AP) — Authorities say an overnight fire caused extensive damage to an iconic Chicago restaurant known for its breakfast and home to decades of memorabilia. Firefighters were called to the Palace Grill Thursday around 10 p.m. Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said no one was injured in the fire, but there was extensive damage to the interior of the restaurant. The Palace Grill he opened on Chicago's Near West Side in 1938 and has been a popular spot for hockey players, police officers, and firefighters for many years. Langford told the Chicago Sun-Times that the cause of the fire is under investigation, but a preliminary investigation indicates a grease fire started in the kitchen near the grill.
Turkish, Italian and Swedish astronauts return to Earth, ending private space station trip
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronauts from Turkey, Italy and Sweden have returned to Earth, completing a three-week private trip to the International Space Station. A SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida on Friday. The three were accompanied by a former NASA astronaut who now works for the Houston company that arranged the charter flight. Turkey, Italy and Sweden funded the mission, each paying about $55 million. Turkey's Alpel Gezeravci was the first person from his country to launch a rocket into space.
Prince Harry settles tabloid phone hacking lawsuit, says mission to tame the media continues
LONDON (AP) – Prince Harry has reached an out-of-court settlement with a tabloid newspaper that violated his privacy through phone hacking and other illegal snooping. Lawyer David Sherborne said on Friday that Mirror Group Newspapers had agreed to pay Prince Harry's “substantial” costs and damages, with an interim payment of 400,000 pounds ($505,000). Ta. A judge found that phone hacking at the Mirror Group newspapers in the 1990s was “widespread and chronic” and that newspaper executives covered it up, and in December awarded Prince Harry £140,000. The defendant was awarded damages in the amount of US dollars. Prince Harry has vowed that his “mission” to suppress the British press will continue.
Kobe Bryant was immortalized in a 19-foot bronze statue outside the Lakers' downtown arena.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a Kobe Bryant statue honoring the late superstar with a 19-foot-tall statue outside their downtown arena. The 4,000-pound bronze statue depicts Bryant, wearing a white No. 8 jersey, walking off the court with his right index finger raised after scoring 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006. . The statue was unveiled at a ceremony attended by dozens of people. Great Lakers players and hundreds of season ticket holders. After remarks from owner Jeanie Buss, former teammates Derek Fisher and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and longtime Lakers coach Phil Jackson, his widow Vanessa Bryant spoke at the ceremony.
Superstar DJ Tiesto says he has to decline Super Bowl appearance due to family reasons
THE HAGUE (AP) — Dutch music producer DJ Tiesto has withdrawn from Sunday's Super Bowl appearance, citing undisclosed family issues. “It was a difficult decision to miss the match, but family always comes first,” the Dutchman wrote on social media. The Grammy Award-winning musician was selected as the first-ever in-game DJ and was responsible for warming up the crowd before kickoff and during the game. Singer Usher will headline the halftime show, and Reba McEntire will sing the national anthem.
Body camera footage shows chaotic scene leading up to brawl between police and immigrants in Times Square
NEW YORK (AP) — Newly released body camera footage shows the chaotic scene leading up to a scuffle between immigrants and police in Times Square. The video shows officers approaching a group of men and ordering them to leave in front of the shelter. As one of the men left, he said in Spanish, “They look like Ugly Betty.” Shortly after, he was forced into a doorway and arrested, and a scuffle broke out between immigrants and police. In addition to Yohenri Brito, six other people were charged with involvement in the assault. Authorities are searching for at least five other people.
Iceland's volcanic eruption has calmed down, but scientists warn it could become more active.
LONDON (AP) – A volcanic eruption in southwestern Iceland appears to have subsided, but scientists warn that more eruptions could occur in the region in the coming months. The Icelandic Meteorological Office announced late Thursday that the size of the eruption had decreased significantly. The eruption began at around 6 a.m. local time on Thursday in the northeast area of Mount Seelingarfell. This prompted the eviction of the popular Blue Lagoon hot springs spa and cut off heating and hot water supplies to several communities on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the island's southwestern corner.
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