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Millard, Smich murder appeals reopen wounds for victim’s family, 10 years later

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

It’s been more than 10 years since Linda Babcock’s daughter was murdered, a decade’s worth of milestones and memories she says were stolen by the men who killed her child. When Dellen Millard and Mark Smich make their appeals before Ontario’s highest court starting Monday, they will be entitled to reduced sentences for their multiple murder convictions – cutting 50 years and 25 years off their respective parole ineligibility periods.Babcock says when that happens, she’ll feel like justice for her daughter, Laura Babcock, will have been stolen too.“She gets no justice whatsoever,” Linda Babcock said in an interview. “My feeling is if you point a gun and shoot somebody then you do it to somebody else, those are two murders and they should be treated (as such).”A panel of Ontario Appeal Court justices are scheduled this coming week to hear Millard’s and Smich’s appeals of their high-profile convictions for murdering Laura Babc...

Gun reform coming in Michigan after 2nd school mass shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Armed with two handguns and dozens of rounds of ammunition, 43-year-old Anthony McRae open fired on the Michigan State University campus on the night of Feb. 13, killing three students and wounding five more. The mass shooting has pushed Michigan Democrats, who had already planned to prioritize changes to gun laws, into action. Democrats are expected to bring a sweeping 11-bill gun safety package before the Michigan Legislature this week, emboldened by their sweeping victories in statewide elections in November that gave them legislative control. Responding to two mass school shootings in 15 months, the party’s leaders say it is only the beginning of gun reform in the state.“Nothing is off the table,” said Democratic state Sen. Rosemary Bayer, who leads the firearm safety caucus. “But every state has a culture. So I think we’re trying to be conscious of Michigan and how we do things.”The package aims to establish safe storage laws, universal background ch...

Thousands take part in new Greece protest over train crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Thousands of people protested on Sunday against safety deficiencies in Greece’s railway network nearly two weeks after dozens were killed in the country’s deadliest train crash. The demonstrators also demanded punishment for those responsible for the head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train that killed 57 people Feb. 28. Police said that more than 8,000 people in Athens gathered outside Parliament to protest on Sunday. The protesters later marched to the offices of privatized train operator Hellenic Train. The company, which has been owned by Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane since 2017, isn’t responsible for the maintenance of the railway network. State-owned Hellenic Railways is in charge of upkeep.Authorities shut down four subway stations on two lines running through central Athens because of the protest.The rally was organized by civil servants, a pro-communist union and university students.In Thessaloniki, Greece’s s...

Is Will Smith invited to the 2023 Oscars?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A year after he slapped Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage, don't expect to see Will Smith at the Oscars this year. The actor has been banned from any academy event for 10 years after he walked onto the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and hit Rock on live television. The slap came after Rock made a joke about Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Later in the show, Smith won best actor for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father in “King Richard.” Traditionally, the best actor winner presents one of the major awards in the following year's ceremony, but that will not be the case for Smith in 2023. Everything you need to know about the 2023 Academy Awards “The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage,” the academy said in a statement announcing Smi...

Threshold Theater’s 2023 new play reading series to kick off Monday night with ‘strange, sexy’ sci-fi romance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

Coming to the Black Hart of St. Paul bar on Monday, March 13: A reading of “an unexpectedly pansexual sci-fi romance” play, courtesy of Threshold Theater.Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the reading begins at 7 p.m. Expect a 90-minute show, Threshold’s literary director Matthew Everett said, with a half-hour conversation afterward to debrief. And since the reading is at Black Hart, the soccer bar in Midway, attendees are encouraged to grab a drink and bring it to their seat. Tickets are $10 at the door.The play, “Zero State,” is written by Allison Moon, a former sex educator and neuroscientist by training. The main character — a neuroscientist — inhabits the body of her dead husband and learns more about him than she’d known when he was alive, including his memories and hallucinations. The reading on March 13 is directed by Kim Hines, a local actor, playwright and theater coach.“It’s very funny, it’s very sexy; a lot of strange, thorny ethical issues involved,” Everett said. “It has to ...

North Warren final four bound for first time in program history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Three years ago, the North Warren Central boys basketball team was set to take on Schroon Lake in regionals of the Class D state tournament. Unfortunately, COVID-19 robbed the Cougars of their chance to reach the final four. Fast forward to Saturday night, and James Cuyler's squad would have its' opportunity at redemption, and the team seized it. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Backed by a 26-point effort from senior Sean Evans, North Warren is headed to the state semifinals for the first time in program history after knocking off Sec. VII's Schroon Lake 64-59 in regionals.The Cougars had to overcome a sizeable, first-quarter deficit, though. Schroon Lake was firing on all cylinders offensively to start, and jumped out to a 15-8 advantage after the opening frame.But North Warren quickly responded, opening the second quarter on a 9-0 run that was capped by a put-back lay-up from junior forward Derr...

Catholic Central continues run into state semis, punishing Potsdam 72-34

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Catholic Central boys basketball team is officially in uncharted territory. On the heels of the program's first section title since 1981, the Crusaders are now headed to the final four of the Class B state tournament for the first time in program history. Guy Di Bacco's bunch punched its' ticket to the semis with an emphatic, 72-34 win over Sec. X's Potsdam in the regional round Saturday afternoon. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Catholic Central got off to a blistering start. It opened up the game on a 12-0 run, punctuated by a wing three-pointer from freshman phenom Darien Moore.After Potsdam finally got on the board with a two-point basket, CCHS countered with another 7-0 run, maintaining a 17-point advantage just 4:52 into the contest.And with just seconds remaining in the first quarter, eighth grader Xavjon Arroyo poured in a wing triple of his own, capping a 27-point opening frame from t...

Albany Academy captures first-ever regional championship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's been the season of firsts for the Albany Academy for Girls basketball team. After securing the program's first outright Colonial Council title, the Bears followed that up with their first Sec. II title. Now, they can add "first-ever regional championship" to that growing list of milestones. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Albany Academy matched up with Saranac, a top-five team in the state for Class B, Saturday afternoon at Hudson Valley Community College in the regional round of the state tournament. The fifth-ranked Chiefs proved to be no match for Brian Capitula's squad, though. The Bears led wire-to-wire, advancing to the state semifinals with a commanding, 62-37 win.Academy's suffocating brand of defense, which has been its' calling card all season, was on full display in the opening quarter. The Bears held Saranac to just six points, and used a balanced scoring attack to jump out to an ...

Late fourth quarter run cost Albany in regionals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Falcons gave it all they had but fell to Liverpool in the regional round 56-51. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! During the third quarter, the Falcons offense was making it rain from three point land. Shonyae Edmonds and Navaeh House hit some shots to extend Albanys' lead, but Liverpool wasn't far behind.Late in the fourth quarter Liverpool closed the gap and created an opening that allowed A'briyah Cunningham to score on a fast break layup that proved to be the game winner.

Averill Park repeats as regional champs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:36 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Class A power Averill Park are region champions again after defeating Indian River 64-38. From the opening tip, the Warriors dominated. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Taylor Holohan scored the first six points for Averill Park, giving them a 6-2 lead. Later on, Bailey Lange exploded with a long three-ball extending the Warriors' lead by 11.Averill Park closed the first quarter leading by 14 but kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter thanks to Kayleigh Ahern knocking down a mid-range jumper putting the Warriors up by 27-8. Holohan got involved again turning defense into offense by getting a fast break steal and scoring while taking some contact for the and one.Averill Park dominated in the second half to secure the regional title.