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Grandpa Google? Tech giant begins antitrust defense by poking fun at its status among youth

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Google executive testified Thursday that the company’s success is precarious and said its leadership fears their product could slide into irrelevance with younger internet users. Prabhakar Raghavan, Google’s senior vice president for knowledge and information products, testified for the tech giant as it defends itself in the biggest antitrust trial in the last 25 years. The government has accused the company of illegally thwarting competitors from making inroads against its ubiquitous search engine. Raghavan downplayed Google’s dominance and described it as a company beset by competitors on all sides. He said the company has been tagged with the disparaging moniker “Grandpa Google” among younger demographics who don’t see it as an interesting product. “Grandpa Google knows the answers and will help you with homework,” Raghavan said. “But when it comes to doing interesting things, they like to start elsewhere.”Google’s lawyers sho...

Missouri nonprofit director stole millions from program to feed needy kids, indictment alleges

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The executive director of a Missouri nonprofit stole millions of dollars from a program intended to provide meals for low-income children, according to a federal indictment announced Thursday.Connie Bobo, 44, of St. Charles, Missouri, was indicted on three counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of obstruction of an official proceeding.Bobo is executive director of New Heights Community Resource Center in the St. Louis suburb of Bridgeton. The nonprofit accepted funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the state to feed low-income school-aged children after school and during the summer, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.The U.S. Attorney’s office said the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services paid out about $11 million from February 2019 to March 2022, after Bobo submitted reimbursement claims stating that the organization served nearly 6 million meals. The indictment said New ...

Toyota recalls 751,000 Highlanders in the US to make sure bumper covers and hardware can’t fall off

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling about 751,000 large SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with the tabs that hold the front bumper covers on.The recall covers certain Toyota Highlanders from the 2020 through 2023 model years including gas-electric hybrids. The company says in a statement that the SUVs have resin front lower bumper covers that are connected with mounting tabs. If there’s a even a minor impact to the lower bumper cover assembly, the mounting tabs could detach, and parts of the assembly could fall into the road and become a hazard. Dealers will inspect the bumper cover tabs for damage. If there isn’t any, they’ll install improved hardware to hold the covers. If damage is found, dealers will replace the upper and/or lower bumper covers and add the improved hardware.Toyota says it will notify owners by late December. Owners can check to see if their Highlander is affected by going to nhtsa.gov/recalls and entering vehicle identification or license plate ...

Texas police could arrest migrants under a bill that is moving closer to approval by the governor

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas is closer to giving police broad new authority to arrest migrants and order them to leave the U.S. under a bill the state House advanced Thursday, putting Republican Gov. Greg Abbott closer to a potential new confrontation with the Biden administration over immigration. The proposal has erupted tempers in the Texas Capitol, where Hispanic Democratic lawmakers led hours of emotional protests over issues of race and the legality of the plan before House Republicans passed the bill on a party-line vote before sunrise.A similar proposal has already cleared the Texas Senate, meaning Republicans must now agree on a version before sending it to Abbott’s desk. “Our cries for help in the enforcement of existing federal immigration laws have been ignored by President Biden. We have had enough,” said Republican state Rep. David Spiller, the author of the House bill. Two years into Texas pushing the boundaries of immigration enforcement — busing migrants o...

US government says it plans to go after legal goods tied to illegal fentanyl trade in new strategy

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — As overdose deaths continue at a record pace, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced a new government-wide strategy Thursday involving scores of agencies that will target the precursor materials used by traffickers to make fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Troy Miller, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said in a statement that his agency will work with the postal service and express consignment carriers, air carriers, and other logistic companies to share information about suspicious goods, potential transit routes, and other data that can help thwart the supply chain of fentanyl and other illicit synthetic drugs. Legal goods that could be targeted include molds and presses to make pills, as well as chemicals.Miller planned to announce the program in San Diego at a border crossing. The pilot project will be launched in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, and will leverage partnerships at all levels: state, local, tribal, terr...

17-year-old killed in Carpentersville triple shooting

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. — A 17-year-old boy was killed during a triple shooting Wednesday night in Carpentersville.Officers responded to the 60 block of Birch Street on the report of shots fired at around 8:35 p.m.Police discovered a 17-year-old boy laying in the road with a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.Two other people were shot as well. They were transported with non life-threatening injuries and no ages were provided at this time.Police believe the victims were shot while inside a vehicle near the 30 block of Robin Road. Officers said the vehicle was driven to Birch Street where help was called.No one is in custody. Anyone with information can contact 847-551-3481.

Dog fatally shot by Chicago officer during attack with another dog

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

CHICAGO -- A dog was fatally shot by a Chicago officer during an attack with another dog in the South Shore neighborhood Thursday morning. According to police, a 71-year-old man was walking his dog in the 2500 block of East South Shore Drive around 9:13 a.m. when the dog got loose and began to attack another dog that was being walked by a 31-year-old woman. Chicago officer struck by vehicle in parking lot on North Side The owners of both dogs attempted to de-escalate the situation who continued to attack. An officer responding to the situation attempted to deescalate by tasering the dog but was unsuccessful. Another officer fired shots striking the attacking dog. It was pronounced dead on the scene. The woman's dog sustained injuries and there were no other injuries reported.

'Worst night of our lives': Survivors recount escaping shooting at Maine bowling alley

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - As police intensify their search for the gunman who killed at least 18 people at a bowling alley in Maine, survivors are recounting how they escaped the shooting that thrust the state's second-largest city into chaos Wednesday night.The shooting started at the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley in Lewiston around 7 p.m. A man who identified himself only by his first name, Brandon, said he was only at the alley for a few minutes for a solo night of bowling when he heard a loud pop that he initially thought was a balloon. Then, he saw the gunman."I had my back turned to the door," he told the Associated Press. "And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon, [the suspect] was holding a weapon, I just booked it." Maine mass shooting: What we know so far Brandon said he heard ten gunshots, ran down a bowling lane without his shoes on, slid into the area where the pins reside, and climbed into the machinery to hide until police arrived."I was putting on my bowling sho...

Bear caught on camera ringing doorbell in California

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

(KTLA) -- Video captured a trio of unlikely pranksters ringing the doorbell of a home in California's San Bernardino County before running away.  Three bears were seen on a Yucaipa home’s Ring doorbell system as they ambled onto the front porch at around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday.As one of the furry rogues nears the doorbell, it gets on its hind legs and begins sniffing, scratching and licking the doorbell camera, giving the residents a close-up look of the perpetrator's snoot.  A Yucaipa home's Ring Doorbell system captured one of two bears ringing their doorbell in the early morning hours. (Image submitted to KTLA)The bear momentarily pulls back and glances at what’s behind him -- or her -- perhaps to see if its partners want in on the fun. The bear then returns its attention to the doorbell, gives it another good lick and activates the doorbell’s chimes. Canyon in California closed after mountain lion tries to attack dog, injures hiker Almost as if it’s waiting to see i...

3 people shot on interstate in New York

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:53:42 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – One person was killed and two others were taken to the hospital after a shooting Thursday morning on I-190 in Buffalo, New York. At least two of the victims appear to have been shot while inside a Buffalo Sewer Authority truck. At least eight bullet holes were seen in the city vehicle, including shots that went through the front windshield and side window.One of the shooting victims taken to the hospital was listed in critical condition while the other was stable.As a result of the shooting, the southbound lanes of I-190 were shut down. In the hour before the southbound lanes were fully closed, more than two miles of congestion could be seen building on the interstate. As police investigated the shooting, I-190 southbound was shut down from Exit 11 (Route 198) to Exit 8 (Niagara Street), but by 12:30 p.m., all southbound lanes were blocked off and traffic was diverted off Exit 11.Additionally, the left lane of I-190 northbound is closed due to police acti...