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Very ‘clear rules’ on undercover operations, former intel unit member tells jury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

OTTAWA — A former employee of an RCMP intelligence unit says members would never directly contact targets of a criminal investigation.Dan Morris told the Ontario Superior Court trial of Cameron Jay Ortis, who also worked in the unit, that senior RCMP decision-makers would need to approve such an action.  The Crown alleges Ortis anonymously sent secret information in 2015 to people who were of investigative interest to the RCMP.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. Under questioning from the Crown, Morris said there are “very clear rules” on how undercover operations can be performed within the RCMP and who can do them.Reporters and the general public were excluded from the courtroom for Morris’s appearance Monday and a transcript of his testimony was released today.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2023....

How safe are cockpits? Aviation experts weigh in after security scare on board Horizon Air flight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

The attempt by an off-duty pilot to shut down the engines of a U.S. airliner in midflight highlights the threat that insiders pose to aviation safety with their ability to go where passengers are prohibited.Events like the one Sunday on a Horizon Air jetliner are very rare, but they are potentially devastating.The captain and co-pilot prevented disaster by subduing the off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who — from his perfect vantage point in the cockpit jump seat — tried to cut fuel to the engines.“We’re just lucky he wasn’t flying the plane when he decided to do this. What’s going to stop that?” said Jon Loffi, a longtime law enforcement officer who teaches aviation security at Oklahoma State University and wrote a paper on identifying insider threats.There is something of a see-something, say-something mindset in aviation, where employees are encouraged to voluntarily report anything that raises a safety concern, including suspicious behavior of colleagues. It’s not clear how o...

Day care workers assaulted in front of dozens of children in DC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- While walking their class of infants and toddlers, two day care workers at Petit Scholars in Bloomingdale were assaulted by a man on Monday afternoon.A man walked up to the two women caring for their group of 20-30 children near 2nd and S streets NW. The kids ranged in age from 1-3 years old, according to a police report. The man asked for money, at which point the two daycare workers asked him to leave them alone. He refused. One worker said she was going to call the police and, as the call was being made, he punched her multiple times in the head. He then punched the other woman multiple times in the head. Funeral services set for murdered Washington County judge The man exposed his genitals and began to masturbate in front of the adults and children. Officers found him and arrested him for simple assault, a lewd incident or obscene act, misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child, interfering with request for assistance from law enforcement and aggressive p...

Investigation underway after south suburban bank robbery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. — A bank robbery in Country Club Hills has FBI agents searching for answers on Tuesday afternoon.FBI officials say agents were called to the scene at Old National Bank in the 4100 block of 183rd Street after reports of a robbery on Tuesday.According to agents, three men entered the bank while brandishing two rifles and a handgun and made verbal demands for money. Woman shot in head near South Side strip mall Agents say the men fed the scene after the robbery and are currently at large.Currently, it is unclear what time the robbery took place or how much money the individuals got away with. Agents say no photos were captured of the men involved.Those with information on Tuesday's robbery can report tips at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI. Agents say submitted tips may be worth a reward.

How safe and secure are cockpits?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

The attempt by an off-duty pilot to shut down the engines of a U.S. airliner in midflight highlights the threat that insiders pose to aviation safety with their ability to go where passengers are prohibited.Events like the one Sunday on a Horizon Air jetliner are very rare, but they are potentially devastating.The captain and co-pilot prevented disaster by subduing the off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who — from his perfect vantage point in the cockpit jump seat — tried to cut fuel to the engines.“We’re just lucky he wasn’t flying the plane when he decided to do this. What’s going to stop that?” said Jon Loffi, a longtime law enforcement officer who teaches aviation security at Oklahoma State University and wrote a paper on identifying insider threats.There is something of a see-something, say-something mindset in aviation, where employees are encouraged to voluntarily report anything that raises a safety concern, including suspicious behavior of colleagues. It's not clear h...

'I would take that back': Woman who called 911 testifies in APD officer's murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News Today's top morning headlines for Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Opening statements wrapped up Monday in the trial of Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Prosecutors continued to present witnesses Tuesday in the second day of the APD officer's trial. Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.You can follow KXAN's Grace Reader, who is reporting from the courtroom on day 2, here. Day 2: We're back in the courtroom this morning for the Christopher Taylor trial. The APD officer is charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos in 2020. I'll have another thread today🔽https://t.co/SrEZpYi9WD— Grace Reader (@GraceReaderTV) October 24, 2023 Testimony from woman who called 911 on RamosA woman who called 911 on Ramos, which le...

Flesh-eating parasite linked to international travel may be endemic to Texas, US, per the CDC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes a flesh-eating parasitic disease caused by a sand fly bite may be endemic in Texas and other southern states, according to a new analysis. Leishmaniasis occurs through a bite of an infected female sand fly, which consumes blood to produce eggs. The infection is most common in parts of Africa, Brazil and the eastern Mediterranean region, like Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, according to the World Health Organization. It is thought that the parasite can live in other hosts, like rodents, and spread through the sand fly. All leishmaniasis infections are caused by Leishmania parasites but can have varying clinical presentations. The most common form – called cutaneous leishmaniasis – can cause ulcers and permanent scars. Some more severe variations of the disease can be fatal, according to the CDC. “Historically, it was considered that cutaneous leishmaniasis, or any type of leishmaniasis, is linked to interna...

State employee recounts Good Samaritans' efforts to save victim in fatal SH 130 crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Two fatal crashes were reported at the intersection of State Highway 130 and Gregg Manor Road within 24 hours this weekend, continuing a trend of documented crashes on and near the Travis County intersection over the past several years.Just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the first of those crashes, before medics returned to the same site just after 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Three patients were accounted for in Saturday's two-vehicle crash that involved a sedan and a truck, ATCEMS officials said. A state emergency services employee drove by the crash on Saturday. They, alongside several strangers, pulled over and attempted to save the driver of a sedan involved in the crash. They also attended to the driver of the truck and his passenger. The truck driver was marked trauma alert and was transported from the scene via Travis County Star Flight.The driver of the sedan ultimately died from their injuries -- but the state employee ...

AFD Station 1 to temporarily use downtown Travis County space

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department will temporarily move some firefighters into a Travis County office building while Fire Station 1 renovations continue. Fire Station 1, located at Fifth and Trinity streets, closed Oct. 13 because of renovations and some construction complications. Crews were moved to other stations in the city. PREVIOUS REPORTING: Downtown fire station closes — is it a dangerous move? Travis County commissioners approved an agreement to let AFD use space in the Ned Granger Building on 11th Street. The move will help with response times and keep firefighters in proximity to downtown Austin, Fire Chief Joel Baker told county commissioners Tuesday. Firefighters will move into the 11th Street space in one to two weeks, Baker said. About 15-20 people will be using the space at any given time, including some medic units. The space is on the first floor and about 7,200 square feet in size with a full kitchen. Baker said they are still determining where the fire...

Who Is Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the latest Republican nominee for Speaker?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:22:20 GMT

WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Tuesday elected Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the No. 3 in the party, as their speaker nominee after five rounds of ballots that pointed to a precarious path forward.The internal party election came after Republicans cast aside Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the second party nominee for speaker, who was unable to win the majority of votes needed to be elected to the top job.Emmer, 62, of Delano, Minn., has served since January as the party’s whip, responsible for counting and securing the votes to pass the speaker’s agenda. He was the highest-ranking Republican in the race and has been endorsed by ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy.A mainstream conservative who voted to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory and supported a stopgap spending bill last month to avert a shutdown, Emmer has pitched himself as a unity candidate. Several hard-right conservatives, including a handful who voted to oust McCarthy, have signaled their support for the Minnesota Republi...