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Russian woman pleads guilty to smuggling animal DNA to Dulles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

A Russian woman living in Leesburg, Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to an unusual smuggling incident that happened last year at Dulles Airport.The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia said that Polina Perelman denied on a customs declaration that she had any animal products or cell cultures. But the woman, who told the court that she is a research scientist in molecular biology, was found to have vials containing 19 DNA samples, two of which are of endangered species — Siberian crane and dhole, a wild dog native to several parts of Asia.According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release, Perelman told the court that she does genetic sequencing to study evolution.The violation carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, but actual sentences are typically less than the maximum.Perelman is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, Aug. 23.WTOP has reached out to Perelman’s lawyer for comment.Source

Orioles rally to top Red Sox 5-4 for 7th straight win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Yennier Cano filled in for closer Félix Bautista in the ninth inning and not much changed.It ended with another Baltimore victory.Cano struck out two in the ninth and earned his first career save, and the Orioles held on for their seventh straight victory, 5-4 over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. After Danny Coulombe allowed a leadoff walk, Cano came on and balked the runner to second before striking out Kiké Hernández and Triston Casas and retiring Jarren Duran on a lineout.“It was a bit nerve wracking. I’ve never come into a major league game in the ninth inning trying to close it out,” Cano said through a translator. “At the end of the day it all remains the same — trying to go out there and do the job.”Bautista had the night off, which left the game in the hands of Cano, who has not allowed a baserunner in six appearances since coming up from the minors April 14.“He throws mid-90s with a disgusting changeup,” Orioles starter Dean Kremer said. “He’s bas...

Suns, Nuggets, Celtics can all advance with Game 5 wins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Load management is a big topic across the NBA these days.One great way to make sure players get rest in the playoffs is to end the series early.The Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics all have that opportunity on Tuesday night when they host Game 5s with a 3-1 lead in the series.“Closeout games are always the hardest,” Suns center Deandre Ayton said. “We expect it’s going to be a battle. We’re just gearing up.”The Western Conference top-seed Nuggets already had one opportunity to end their series, but the feisty Timberwolves managed to extend it with a Game 4 win in overtime on Sunday.“We really wanted to come out and have a sweep under our belt. Didn’t happen,” Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said. “They fought. They fought like hell, all game long. Even when we put a scare in their heart a little bit, they kept fighting, kept playing, and the crowd was into it.”The Suns-Los Angeles Clippers series has been shaped by Kawhi Leonard’s knee inju...

Acusan a maestro sustituto en Maryland de abusar sexualmente de estudiantes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

Un maestro sustituto en Maryland enfrenta más de 30 cargos de delitos sexuales, de acuerdo a la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado Charles. Administradores de General Smallwood Middle School sacaron a Malcolm Xavier Fluellyn, de 26 años, de la escuela tras enterarse de alegaciones de contacto sexual inapropiado con estudiantes en la escuela, informó el alguacil. Los detectives dijeron que Fluellyn tuvo contacto físico inapropiado con estudiantes, y que intercambió mensajes inapropiados en las redes sociales y por texto con ellos. Fue acusado el viernes de varios cargos de abuso sexual de un menor, solicitud sexual de un menor, mostrar material obsceno a un menor y un delito sexual de cuarto grado. Cualquier persona con información sobre Fluellyn debe llamar a los detectives al 301-609-6479. Source

Bassitt wins but leaves with sore back, Jays beat White Sox

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Chris Bassitt pitched 6 1/3 innings before leaving because of a sore lower back, Cavan Biggio hit a three-run home run and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 5-2 on Monday night.Bassitt (3-2) called manager John Schneider and the trainer to the mound in the seventh after bouncing his first pitch to Luis Robert Jr. Zach Pop came on and finished the inning.Robert made a spectacular catch in center field to take a home run away from Toronto slugger Matt Chapman, but little else went right for the struggling White Sox. Chicago (7-16) has lost five straight, 10 of 12 and 13 of 17.Bassitt signed a three-year, $63 million contract with Toronto last December. He allowed two runs and three hits to win back-to-back starts for the first time with the Blue Jays.Pop got four outs and Tim Mayza struck out pinch hitter Gavin Sheets to strand a runner at first base for the final out of the eighth. Jordan Romano finished for his eighth save in nine chances.Chicago’s Andr...

Siegenthaler, Schmid lead Devils past Rangers, series tied

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jonas Siegenthaler scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, Akira Schmid had 22 saves in another shutdown start and the New Jersey Devils beat the New York Rangers 3-1 Monday night to even their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.Jack Hughes and Ondrej Palat also scored for New Jersey, which got its second straight tight win at Madison Square Garden after a pair of lopsided losses at home.Vincent Trocheck scored for the Rangers, and Igor Shesterkin stopped 20 shots. New York has totaled just two goals in the last two games after scoring five each in the first two.Game 5 is at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday night, with Game 6 back at MSG on Saturday night.Schmid, making his second straight start after Vitek Vanecek allowed nine goals on 52 shots in the first two games, was sensational again for the Devils. The 22-year-old has given up just two goals on 58 shots the last two games. He had 10 saves in the first period, six in th...

Denver weather: Heavy snow, rain start Tuesday, a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather will turn soggy on Tuesday and Wednesday as an incoming storm system brings heavy rain and snow to most of Colorado. Weather tonight: Rain beginsThere is a chance for rain showers moving through overnight into early Tuesday morning. Clouds will continue to build over the Front Range. Overnight lows in Denver will drop to the upper 30s. What to expect from the Tuesday-Wednesday snowstorm Weather tomorrow: Rain to snowThe Front Range and plains will see rain showers Tuesday morning that will become heavier into the afternoon. The mountains will see scattered snow showers throughout Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, rain showers will start to change to snow, especially in the higher elevations above 6,000 feet. A winter storm warning has been issued for areas south and west of metro Denver Tuesday into Wednesday. Denver's temperatures will fall to the 40s on Tuesday. Looking ahead: Dry conditions return late Wednesday Rain and snow showers will linge...

Missing 6-year-old Firestone girl last seen in Denver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

FIRESTONE, Colo. (KDVR) — A 6-year-old girl has been considered endangered and missing for more than a week, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.The girl, Jazelle Martinez, is described as white with brown hair and brown eyes, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. She stands about 3 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 50 pounds. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with a rainbow and blue jeans and has a purple birthmark on her lower left back. 2 more rock attacks reported, video sought from homes, cars The Firestone Police Department and CBI sent out an alert last week. According to the alert, new information indicates the girl was last seen with her noncustodial older sister, Alexis Martinez, in the 700 block of Wolff Street in Denver on April 14.(Colorado Bureau of Investigation)The missing girl's grandmother, Martha Britton, told FOX31 that April 14 is the same date the 6-year-old’s father was killed in an officer-involved shooting.“She needs he...

Employment bills clear hurdles as legislative session winds down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Lawmakers have less than a couple of weeks left to finish up work for this legislative session. On Monday, they took up things like drug affordability and tax incentives for using clean energy over carbon, with the goal being done the first week of May. House members were also working on some key bills related to employment rights.Unemployment benefitsEarlier in the day, representatives on the floor worked on a bill looking to expand unemployment benefits. In the afternoon, they looked at tightening enforcement of the state's equal pay law. Colorado says it won’t enforce ‘abortion reversal’ ban If the unemployment dependency allowance measure passes, starting in 2026, dependents of a person receiving unemployment benefits start at $35 a week per dependent. Eligible dependents would be children or people over 18 who are incapable of working. That $35 amount would be adjusted for inflation.Equal pay and job transparencyThe equal pay bill was in committee Monday after...

Not just Qatargate: Eva Kaili also faces probe into EU kickbacks scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:31 GMT

Qatargate aside, Eva Kaili is facing a world of pain for a different reason altogether. Documents seen by POLITICO reveal fresh details about a separate criminal investigation that the Greek EU lawmaker is facing regarding allegedly fraudulent payments involving four former assistants in the European Parliament from 2014 to 2020. The probe is looking at Kaili for three potential fraudulent activities: whether she misled Parliament about her assistants’ location and work activities; took a cut of their reimbursements for “fake” work trips she orchestrated; and also took kickbacks from part of their salaries, according to a letter from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) to Parliament President Roberta Metsola, seen by POLITICO. Another Greek EU lawmaker, Maria Spyraki, has also been part of the same probe. Investigators accuse her of misleading the institution about her assistants’ activities and of telling them to file expenses for fake work trips. However,...