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Heather Mack, convicted in Bali of killing mom and stuffing body in suitcase, pleads guilty in US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The American woman accused of helping to kill her mother and stuffing her body in a suitcase during a luxury vacation to Bali nine years ago changed her plea to guilty in Chicago federal court on Friday.Heather Mack, 27, was convicted in Indonesia in 2015 of being an accessory to Sheila von Wiese-Mack’s murder with her then-boyfriend in a bid to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund. Mack, then 18 and pregnant, covered her mother’s mouth in a hotel room while Tommy Schaefer bludgeoned Wiese-Mack with a fruit bowl, prosecutors say.Mack stood before U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly in orange jail garb and orange slippers as he asked her questions before she was set to enter a plea. She spoke confidently and calmly as the judge asks her that she was giving up her rights to remain silent at the motion hearing. “Yes, your honor,” she responded from a podium.After the judge explained the charge against her, Mack pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kill a U.S...

Greek coast guard defends actions as up to 500 migrants feared dead in shipwreck

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s coast guard defended its actions in responding to a ship carrying hundreds of migrants that ended up sinking off the country’s south coast, as criticism mounted Friday over the European Union’s years-long failure to hammer out a comprehensive migration and asylum policy.Patrol boats and a helicopter spent a third day scouring the area of the Mediterranean Sea where the packed fishing vessel capsized and sank early Wednesday. The International Organization for Migration said as many as 500 passengers may have gone down with the trawler, which was traveling from Libya to Italy.“This could be the second deadliest shipwreck we have ever recorded after the tragic shipwreck of April, 2015 on route to Italy,” the U.N. migration agency’s Missing Migrants Project tweeted, referring to a vessel that capsized off the coast of Libya, claiming the lives of an estimated 800 migrants.The Greek coast guard said the search and rescue operation w...

Supreme Court of Canada upholds Safe Third Country Agreement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

OTTAWA — A pact with the United States to control the flow of asylum seekers across the shared border is constitutional, Canada’s highest court ruled in a unanimous decision Friday.The Safe Third Country Agreement, which came into effect in 2004, recognizes Canada and the U.S. as safe places for potential refugees to seek protection.Under the agreement, refugees must seek asylum in the first of the two countries they land in. If their claim is rejected by one then they will not be successful if they try again on the other side of the border.Opponents of the treaty had asked the top court to declare the legislation underpinning the pact violates the right to life, liberty and security of the person, saying the U.S. is not actually safe for many asylum seekers.The Supreme Court found the legislative scheme underpinning the pact does not breach Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.“A degree of difference as between the legal schemes applicable in the two countrie...

Shooting, fire at Tennessee home leads to 6 dead including 3 children

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

SEQUATCHIE, Tenn. (AP) — Six people including three children were found dead in a Tennessee home where police responded to a shooting and arrived to find the residence ablaze, authorities said.A seventh person who had suffered gunshot wounds was found alive at the home in Sequatchie on Thursday night after firefighters extinguished the flames and was hospitalized in Chattanooga, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.It appeared to be domestic situation that turned into a murder-suicide, Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett told WTVC-TV.The person authorities think is responsible is among the deceased, the bureau said. The agency did not release any names, but said it is continuing to investigate. Autopsies on all six people will be performed in Nashville.The Associated Press

Islamic militants kill 7 farmers in northeast Nigeria, further threatening food supplies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Islamic extremist rebels killed at least seven farmers in northeast Nigeria, an attack that further threatens food security in the hard-hit region, local authorities told The Associated Press on Friday.The militants attacked the farmers on Thursday as they worked on their crop fields near Borno state’s Molai area, the authorities said. Security forces deployed to the scene “were met with a horrifying sight; some victims had their throats slit while others were completely beheaded,” Abudulmumeen Bulama, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force that is helping fight the militants, said.Sainna Buba, a local government official, described the attack as a “sad occurrence and a setback” to restore peace and farming activities in the troubled region. The victims have been buried, he said.The attack happened amid state efforts to help farmers and other residents recover from violence and related upheaval in the troubled region. U.N. agencies this week sought...

Heather Mack pleads guilty in murder of mother in Bali

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

CHICAGO — Heather Mack has pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill her mother in the 2014 Bali suitcase murder. Mack has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kill a United States National. Max sentencing would be life in prison if she is convicted. accused of murdering her mother in Bali has plead guilty Friday.Mack is pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to kill a United States National. Max sentencing would be life in prison if she is convicted. Under a plea deal, the sentencing wound be capped at 28 years in prision,Heather Mack, 27, was convicted in Indonesia in 2015 of being an accessory to Sheila von Wiese-Mack’s murder with her then-boyfriend in a bid to gain access to a $1.5 million trust fund. Mack, then 18 and pregnant, covered her mother’s mouth in a hotel room while Tommy Schaefer bludgeoned Wiese-Mack with a fruit bowl, prosecutors say.The body of Wiese-Mack was found badly beaten and stuffed inside a suitcase at an Indonesian resort island.Mack spe...

Man charged in shooting outside Prime Time Restaurant in Hickory Hills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

HICKORY HILLS, Ill. —  A 37-year-old man is charged after a shooting outside a restaurant in south suburban Hickory Hills.Police said Robert Evrard, of Chicago, was arrested Wednesday for his involvement in a shooting outside Prime Time Restaurant, located at 7750 West 95th Street, last Friday.According to police, two people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting.Evrard faces four counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of reckless discharge of a firearm. Chicago Police Board fires sergeant in charge of Anjanette Young raid He is due in bond court Friday.

Friday Forecast: Temps in low 70s with decreasing clouds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

CHICAGO — A "beautiful day" with temperatures in low 70s Friday, cooler lakeside and decreasing clouds. Winds: NNW 5-15 mph. High: 72. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Temperatures in mid 50s tonight with clear skies. Winds: NNE 5-10 mph. Low: 54.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

PHOTOS: WGN anchors and reporters celebrate dads in honor of Father's Day!

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

Happy Father's Day!WGN is full of Rad Dads! Our anchor and reporters are celebrating the great fathers in their lives in honor of the holiday!  Whether they were raised by one, are married to one or are one themselves, we are celebrating dad!Ben Bradley and his sonsAlyssa Donovan and her fatherMike Janssen and his daughterDan Ponce and his father, brother and nephewsTahman Bradley and his newborn daughter PHOTOS: WGN anchors and reporters celebrate moms in honor of Mother’s Day! Andrea Medina with her father Manny — who is a WGN cameraman!Andrea Medina with her father Manny — who is a WGN cameraman!Andrea Medina with her father Manny — who is a WGN cameraman!Jarrett Payton and his familyJarrett Payton and his father Walter PaytonWishing everyone a great Father's Day!Ray Cortopassi and his fatherTim Joyce and his dadA young Larry Potash and his dadTim Joyce joking with his dadRay Cortopassi and his wife and childrenDemetrius Ivory and his twin girlsJosh Frydman and his parents...

Bears start next phase of Arlington Park demolition Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:47 GMT

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The next phase of the Bears' work on the Arlington Park site is set to begin on Friday. Once again, it involves putting an end to the old structure that is currently on the land.The Bears have announced that external demolition is set to begin at Arlington Park today. .The demolition of the interior of the building started earlier this month..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/M3csiq59o3— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) June 16, 2023The team announced that they will begin the exterior demolition of the buildings at Arlington Park on Friday, which is expected to begin around 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. See the current progress of the Bears' demolition of Arlington Park This comes after the team began the interior demolition of the grandstand, jockey and office buildings in late May. In the news release announcing this latest move in tearing down the old race track, the Bears said that this next phase of demolition "does not mean the property will be developed."In Feb...