Defendant in July 4, 2022, mass shooting outside Chicago could change plea – 2024

The man accused of fatally shooting seven people during a July 4 parade outside Chicago in 2022 was expected to reconsider his across-the-board not guilty pleas Wednesday. Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement last week that the prosecution and the defense have requested a hearing Wednesday morning. “It is expected that … Read more

Olympic champion swimmers tell Congress U.S. athletes have lost faith in anti-doping regulator – 2024

WASHINGTON — U.S. Olympic athletes have lost faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency to rid their sports of cheaters ahead of next month’s Summer Games in Paris, two former gold medalists said Tuesday in prepared testimony before a House subcommittee. The comments by Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt followed revelations that 23 Chinese swimmers had … Read more

After losing home, family hopes for historic café’s survival as Rapidan Dam collapse looms in Minnesota – 2024

In Rapidan, Minnesota, the Barnes family is almost synonymous with the nearby dam in imminent danger of collapse.  Their family home is only feet away from the Blue Earth River, which has overpowered the dam’s west abutment and is causing mass flooding along the area.  A few minutes away, the Barneses run a café called … Read more

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleads guilty to conspiracy after 5 years in prison – 2024

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, ending a yearslong legal battle and allowing him to return home a free man for the first time since 2012. He entered the plea at a court in Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth north of Guam, on Wednesday morning, … Read more

Starbucks debuts fruity energy drink less than 2 months after Panera discontinues Charged Lemonade – 2024

Starbucks on Tuesday launched a drink at stores nationwide called Iced Energy, which has up to 205 milligrams of caffeine in it — about the same amount as six cans of Coke. The fruity energy drink debuts less than two months after bakery-cafe chain Panera Bread announced it was discontinuing its controversial Charged Lemonade, a … Read more

Bankruptcy court trustee in Alex Jones liquidation case previews ‘wind-down’ of media company – 2024

A federal bankruptcy court trustee appointed to oversee the liquidation of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ estate is asking a judge to temporarily block families and other creditors from seizing assets related to his media company, as he readies “an orderly wind-down process” and sale. The trustee, Christopher Murray, “seeks this Court’s intervention to prevent a value-destructive … Read more