WASHINGTON (AP) — A freelance photographer and local government official from Illinois has been arrested on charges alleging he joined a mob's attack on the U.S. Capitol and pushed against a police officer’s riot shield, according to court records unsealed on Friday. Patrick Gorski, 27, was arrested in Chicago on Thursday on charges including obstructing law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, a felony. A federal judge ordered him released on bond after his initial court appearance. Gorski didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. An attorney who represented him after his arrest declined to comment on Gorski's behalf. Authorities allege that during the attack, Gorski climbed scaffolding, breaching police lines, and took photos and videos inside the building. He yelled at officers, pushed against an officer's riot shield and was eventually forced out after being sprayed with a chemical irritant, authorities said. When the FBI interviewed him, Gorski did not claim that he was working as a photojournalist during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot and said he didn't bring his professional camera to the Capitol. He told federal agents that he had worked as a photographer for the Chicago Fire Department and for Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. He has not professionally published any photographs of the Capitol riot, according to the FBI. An FBI agent’s affidavit says some of Gorski’s sports photographs are available through Getty Images and have been “picked up” by The Associated Press and USA Today. Authorities said Gorski has continued to take photos at some local sporting events in Chicago but hasn't published any political photographs in the last five years. Gorski is not an Associated Press journalist and has never been employed by the news organization, said Lauren Easton, AP's vice president of corporate communications. "We have distributed some photos he took for AP’s photo partners and member news organizations," Easton said in a statement. Gorski's resume says he works as a building commissioner for the Village of Norridge, Illinois, and graduated earlier this year from Southeastern Illinois University with a master’s degree in public administration. He attended then-President Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on Jan. 6 before he marched to the Capitol in a group of people that included conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Owen Shroyer , who has hosted a show on Jones' Infowars website. On the west side of the Capitol, Gorski climbed up a wall onto stairs, helped another rioter onto the wall and removed a tarp covering scaffolding, according to the FBI. He climbed up and down the scaffolding before he helped pass a bike rack to other rioters, the agent's affidavit says. Gorski pointed and yelled at police officers outside the building. He also clapped and chanted, “Let us in!” After rioters broke through a police lines and sent officers retreating, Gorski hung a flag over the edge of a balcony. Gorski used his phone to take photos or videos inside a tunnel entrance that police were guarding, according to the affidavit. He screamed at the officers, “This is our house!” as he pushed against an officer’s riot shield, the FBI said. Gorski left the tunnel after several minutes and entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing door, taking more photos or videos inside the building, the affidavit says. An officer had to forcibly move Gorski from a doorway in another part of the Capitol, according to the agent. Gorski retreated after police sprayed him with a chemical irritant. Approximately one year after the attack, the FBI received a tip that Gorski had posted photos of the riot in a group chat with friends. More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the Capitol riot.BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana 's Republican-controlled Legislature approved a constitutional amendment on Friday that would allow them to expand the number of crimes in which juveniles between 14 and 16 years old could be tried as adults. The state's constitution currently outlines 15 violent juvenile offenses, such as rape, murder and armed robbery, which prosecutors can handle in adult courts. Any changes to that list of crimes must be approved by voters. But the constitutional amendment sponsored by Republican Sen. Heather Cloud — which require voter approval in March 29 elections to take effect — would allow legislators the power by a two-thirds vote to decide what juvenile crimes can be transferred to adult courts. It's part of a wider push in Louisiana, which already has the second-highest incarceration rate in the country behind Mississippi , to implement tough-on-crime policies under Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. Since taking office in January, Landry has passed laws to treat 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system, largely eliminate parole and allow surgical castration as punishment for certain sex crimes against children. Supporters of the measure to make it easier to expand prosecution of juveniles as adults — backed only by Republican legislators — say it will grant lawmakers more flexibility to give prosecutors the tools they need to increase public safety. Vesting authority in the constitution "has hamstringed Louisiana from being able to address changes in an ever-changing juvenile crime landscape,” Cloud said on the Senate floor on Nov. 14. Opponents, including Democrats, social workers and criminal justice reform advocates, said specific offenses routing juveniles to adult courts should remain part of the constitution to keep this power in the hands of voters. “We’re taking the people’s voice away over how children should be treated in this state,” Democratic Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews said. Critics also argue the changes fail to confront the root causes of juvenile crime, namely poverty and underinvestment in education. Transferring juveniles into adult court would also prevent them from accessing age-appropriate rehabilitative services, criminal justice reform advocates and social workers testified during the legislative session. Related: “I can view this in no other way than just giving up on children,” Democratic Sen. Royce Duplessis said on the Senate floor. “We’re going to say we’re just going to treat them all as adults, and we’re not going to do our part as a society, as policymakers, to address what’s really failing — this is not going to do a single thing to deter crime." Some lawmakers said that juveniles committing violent crimes had been deprived of care from a young age and were past the point of rehabilitation, blaming their families as opposed to societal factors. READ: “Some of these kids are already lost when they’re 2 years old,” said Republican Rep. Tony Bacala in a House committee hearing. Unless they are transferred to an adult court, young people tried in juvenile court can only be imprisoned until age 21 according to state law. The effect of the proposed constitutional change will be to open the door for Republican lawmakers to give prosecutors the power to hand down lengthy prison sentences to 14- to 16-year-olds, including for less severe crimes, said Bruce Reilly, deputy director of the Louisiana-based criminal justice reform advocacy group Voice of the Experienced. The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association said they supported the measure. But New Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson said she was concerned the measure would “almost certainly further strain our already short staff” in the jail system. Federal law still considers 17-year-olds and younger as juveniles and requires them to be kept separate from adult inmates. District Attorney Tony Clayton, who represents West Baton Rouge and two other parishes, said he would not try a juvenile as an adult for having “marijuana in his wallet,” but for violent crimes. Violent crimes are on the decline nationwide according to the latest data from FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting. Since mid-2023, most violent crime has also been down in New Orleans, which in 2022 had the highest homicide rate among large cities nationwide. Conservative lawmakers argued this was the result of tough-on-crime penalties passed this year and Republican Gov. Jeff Landry's decision to send state troops to New Orleans. Lawmakers supporting the amendment have focused on high-profile violent crimes by juveniles, such as a deadly New Orleans carjacking case committed by teenagers — who were charged as adults — in which an elderly woman was beaten and dragged to her death. Louisiana is one of five states that classifies 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. _____ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96 Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Kwiatkowski says. What Contributed to Russia’s Progress? 1. : The Russian military possesses advanced and reconnaissance systems. A notable highlight was the late-year demonstration of the “impressive” , which Kwiatkowski describes as unmatched by Western capabilities. 2. : Russia maintained simple yet efficient logistics, ensuring a steady supply of essential “consumables,” such as ammunition and drones, to its troops. 3. : Russia has successfully ramped up the development and production of military equipment despite sanctions. (2/12) “Technology-wise and logistics-wise, Russia overwhelms Ukraine and what NATO has provided to Ukraine,” she says. 🤔What contributed to Russia’s progress, according to the former Pentagon analyst? How Did NATO Set Ukraine Up for Failure? A disparate collection of weapons provided by NATO led to logistical challenges and poor performance. strikes deep inside Russia triggered retaliatory attacks, severely damaging Ukraine's electrical infrastructure. A series of provocations failed to trigger Russia into overreacting but backfired through Moscow's . 23 December, 10:14 GMT Key Russian Gains: : Russian forces are at a rate of approximately 30 sq km per day. : Russian air defenses intercepted 86 Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles, 215 ATACMS, 1,629 HIMARS projectiles, and over 27,000 drones. : The Russian Armed Forces have liberated 4,500 sq km of territory previously occupied by the Ukrainian military, including over 190 settlements and key strategic towns like Avdeyevka and Ugledar. : Kiev currently controls less than 1% of the Lugansk People's Republic and 25-30% of the Donetsk People's Republic, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions. : Over 58,000 units of Ukrainian military equipment have been destroyed, including 18,000 foreign weapons. : In 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered over 560,000 casualties (killed and wounded), with over 40,000 troops lost near Kursk alone. 23 December, 15:21 GMT
Britons have been warned to stock up on essential supplies ahead of Storm Bert this weekend , as the UK braces for 70mph winds and heavy rain. There are eight Met Office weather warnings – including a severe amber one – in place across the UK on Saturday and Sunday as the second named storm of the season begins to arrive on Friday night. Many have been warned that they should expect power cuts and for rural communities to be cut off. Advice reportedly sent to British Gas customers includes a recommendation that people stockpile three days’ worth of food and water in case the weather disrupts travel and power. It also urged people to keep a phone charger, torch and batteries nearby. “It’s a good habit to have at least three days’ worth of food and essentials stored in an easy-to-reach part of your home. That’s things like medicines, drinking water, non-perishable food and snacks and extra blankets,” it warned. “And before going on any journeys, make sure you’ve got some food, water, a torch, your phone and charger, plus a blanket or two with you.” The majority of the UK will be facing at least one weather warning in the days to come, with Scotland and northern England expected to be the worst affected. An amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force between 7am and 5pm on Saturday in an area north of Scotland’s central belt, where 10-20cm is likely on ground above 200 metres and potentially as much as 20-40cm on hills above 400 metres. There is also up to 150mm of rain expected to fall in some areas. Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said Storm Bert was a “multi-hazard event”. “We’re looking at strong winds, some high snowfall accumulation, heavy rain, all in various different parts of the UK,” he said. “So it’s quite a complex weather set-up for the weekend. Generally speaking, it’s a very unsettled weekend of weather ahead.” He advised the public to keep an eye on the weather in their areas. “Because of the different nature of the weather across the UK, people really need to have an idea of what the forecast is for them specifically. “Further south it’s wind and rain, further north it’s snow then rain and wind. So it really depends on where you are in the UK. Keep on top of the forecast for your area, and prepare as necessary. “Obviously, with snow and ice there could be some pretty tricky conditions, especially in the morning (on Saturday), so if you are going to leave the house pay attention to what’s going on in your area with the local authorities.” Avanti West Coast advised customers not to travel north of Preston – including Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh – on Saturday because of the expected disruption from Storm Bert. “If you were due to travel on this route, your existing ticket can now be used anytime from Friday November 22 to the end of service on Monday November 25,” the train company said. It warned there was still a risk of disruption elsewhere in the UK and said if trains were delayed or cancelled because of the storm and customers abandoned their journeys as a result, they could claim a fee-free refund from where they bought their tickets.
It makes no sense Pittsburgh Steelers are using ‘not really that good’ player, says LeSean McCoySEOUL: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed on Thursday to fight “until the very last minute” in a defiant address defending his shock decision to declare martial law and deploy troops to the country’s parliament last week. The South Korean leader is barred from foreign travel as part of a probe into his inner circle over the dramatic events of December 3-4 that stunned Seoul’s allies and threw the country into some of its deepest political turmoil in years. Yoon, staring down an impeachment vote in parliament on Saturday, vowed to “fight with the people until the very last minute”. He went on the attack against the opposition, accusing it of pushing the country into a “national crisis”. “The National Assembly, dominated by the large opposition party, has become a monster that destroys the constitutional order of liberal democracy,” Yoon said in his televised address. Yoon also doubled down on his justification of declaring martial law, which he had said was taken to safeguard South Korea “from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements”. “I apologize again to the people who must have been surprised and anxious due to the martial law,” he added. “Please trust me.” Saturday’s impeachment vote will take place at around 5:00 pm (0800 GMT). PPP leader Han Dong-hoon urged party members on Thursday to attend the meeting and vote “according to their conviction and conscience”. “President Yoon Suk Yeol is no longer able to fulfil his duties as president, and I think that has become clearer and clearer,” he said. The opposition formally submitted a second impeachment motion against Yoon on Thursday, following last week’s failed attempt to remove him from office after ruling party lawmakers largely boycotted the vote. The bloc needs eight MPs from the ruling party to vote in favour of the impeachment, and several ruling lawmakers have indicated their intention to do so in the next vote, scheduled for Saturday. To impeach Yoon, two-thirds of the parliament must vote in favour. Police meanwhile attempted another raid on Yoon’s presidential office compound, Yonhap news agency reported, a day after a similar attempt was blocked by security guards. The main opposition Democratic Party has said it would file legal complaints for insurrection against the president’s staff and security if they continued to obstruct law enforcement. Yonhap said Thursday’s raid focused on the headquarters of the military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, which reportedly agreed to cooperate with the investigation. ‘I want to witness history’ South Korea’s capital has been rocked by daily protests since last week, with thousands gathering to demand Yoon’s resignation. Kim Jae-hee, 34, told AFP she would be hitting the streets on Saturday to protest for Yoon’s impeachment. “I want to witness history,” she said. “I also know a lot of friends who are doing the same.” And members of Yoon’s inner circle have come under intense scrutiny for their alleged role in last week’s martial law declaration. Police said on Thursday they had raided the headquarters of the military’s capital defence command, which was deployed during the martial law declaration. Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of urging Yoon to impose martial law, tried to kill himself in prison on Tuesday, authorities said. Kim was first detained on Sunday and later formally arrested on charges of “engaging in critical duties during an insurrection” and “abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights”. The former interior minister and the general in charge of the martial law operation are also barred from foreign travel. The PPP has said that, pending Yoon’s resignation, he has agreed to hand power to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and party chief Han. In North Korea, AFP footage showed students scrolling through photos of anti-Yoon protests posted on the website of ruling party daily the Rodong Sinmun. Pyongyang’s state media—which has long hurled insults against Yoon—has described the South as being in “chaos” following his decision to impose martial law. — AFP
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The Philadelphia 76ers ' proposed plan to build a new arena in City Center took an important step forward Thursday morning. Philadelphia's City Council voted to approve bills that would allow the team to construct a $1.3 billion new facility scheduled to open in 2031. The group of bills passed by a 12 to 4 vote in council and needs to pass a second vote next week to become finalized. Opponents of the arena could be heard chanting, "You're all sellouts!" as the vote took place Thursday morning. Philadelphia's Chinatown and Washington Square West neighborhoods -- which both border the proposed arena site at 11th and Market Streets -- have been vocally opposed to the project that was first introduced in July 2022 . A citywide poll earlier this year showed that only 18% of Philadelphia residents supported the project. Mayor Cherelle Parker and local labor unions have backed the project. Political director for electricians union IBEW Local 98 TJ Lepera said, "council knows what's best for the city" after Thursday's vote. Part of the agreement voted on Thursday is for the Sixers to contribute $60 million to a Community Benefits Agreement over 30 years. City Council pushed for a CBA closer to $100 million this week, and groups like the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation wanted the CBA to be $163 million. But city council leadership relented in negotiations with the team before Thursday's vote and stuck with the $60 million figure. Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O'Rourke, who proposed that the Sixers should contribute $300 million to the CBA, called the legislation a "sellout deal." "City Council proposed a strong $100 million Community Benefits Agreement with extensive anti-displacement measures created with input from community leaders," they wrote in a statement . "It is deplorable to learn the 76ers and their billionaire owners think our communities are worth only $60 million over 30 years. They recently gave a single athlete $193 million over 3 years." Residents and small business owners in Chinatown and the surrounding neighborhoods have expressed concern about being pushed out of the area due to rising costs, potential gridlock caused by traffic and the ability for emergency vehicles to reach a major nearby hospital on game nights. The 76ers are owned by Josh Harris' Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment group (which also owns the NFL's Washington Commanders and NHL's New Jersey Devils) and currently share the Wells Fargo Center with the NHL's Flyers. Comcast Spectacor, the owner of the Flyers, operates the Wells Fargo Center. Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment is also a backer of the recently founded real estate development company Seregh , which plans to "develop mixed-use real estate near sports venues." Earlier this year, retired NFL star Jason Kelce, who spent the entirety of his 13 years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, publicly voiced displeasure with the potential move. "I would prefer it stays in South Philly, unquestionably," Kelce said in September. "I'll say this, when it does get built in Center City and all of these people are displaced, at the end of the day people are probably going to love it. In 10 years, all of this is gonna be different, and we're probably going to be really happy that there's this beautiful complex that was developed down there in a thriving part of the city. Right now, I really hate it. "...The ownership group isn't Philadelphian!" Kelce continued. "It's got a New Jersey Devils team, a Philadelphia team, and now a Washington team! Now they're forcing the city to do what this guy wants, and it sucks." The 76ers also publicly flirted with the idea of moving across the Delaware River for a potential new stadium in Camden, New Jersey and had N.J. lawmakers trying to lure the team with $400 million in tax breaks . The team has said it will not take city tax dollars for its proposal in Center City, and unless there's a big change between now and next week, it looks like the Sixers will have the green light on their new arena.Amazon has this Breville espresso machine on sale for a massive $250 off in a leftover Black Friday dealBJP should fulfill promises, says DeependerThe Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has outrightly denied the awareness of or currently investigating the alleged disappearance of ₦180 million from the account of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) owned by social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). Saturday Telegraph had earlier reported that in an Instagram video shared on Friday, VeryDarkMan claimed that ₦180 million had been transferred from the NGO’s account to an unknown destination, leaving a balance of ₦20 million. The controversial social media critic revealed that the breach was due to hacking. “Somebody hacked into the NGO website, and ₦180 million is missing. Thankfully, we’ve tracked the person, and one suspect has been arrested.” The claim has sparked mixed reactions online, with many questioning its credibility. READ ALSO: When contacted on Saturday, FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, clarified that the command had no record of the case. “The FCT Police Command is not aware of any case involving VDM’s missing funds and is not conducting any investigation into it. The individual in question should be contacted to clarify where the matter was reported, as there is no record of such a case with the FCT Police Command,” Adeh stated. Efforts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, for further clarification, proved unsuccessful, as calls to his line went unanswered. At the time of filing this report, Adejobi had not responded to messages regarding the issue. The incident has stirred public debate, with many calling for a transparent investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding the alleged fraud.
