US-led coalition captures a senior Islamic State member in Syria
Abu Hafs al-Qurayshi, an Iraqi citizen and IS commander, was detained during a pre-dawn operation that included landing troops from helicopters in the town of Atmeh, near the Turkish border. Another Iraqi citizen was killed, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
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Toronto Star
9 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Legal claim by ex-Los Angeles fire chief alleges mayor orchestrated smear campaign after her ouster
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former Los Angeles fire chief filed a legal claim Wednesday against the city, alleging that her ouster by Mayor Karen Bass was followed by an orchestrated effort to smear her conduct and decision-making during the most destructive wildfire in LA history. Former Chief Kristin Crowley's dismissal a month after January's Palisades Fire was followed by finger-pointing between her and City Hall over the blaze's devastation and the fire department's funding. In March, Crowley lost an appeal to the City Council to win back her job.
Winnipeg Free Press
9 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jury begins deliberating in trial of Memphis man charged with organizing Young Dolph's killing
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A jury began deliberating Wednesday in the trial of a man charged with organizing the daytime ambush killing of rapper Young Dolph at a Memphis bakery in November 2021. The trial of Hernandez Govan, 45, began Monday in a Memphis courtroom. Govan is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and first-degree murder. He is not accused of shooting Young Dolph, but prosecutors claim he directed the two people who did and was criminally responsible for the commission of premeditated murder. The 12-person jury began deliberating at about 5:15 p.m., after prosecutors and a defense attorney delivered closing arguments. Young Dolph — a rapper, independent label owner and producer whose legal name was Adolph Thornton Jr. — grew up in Memphis and was admired in the city for his charitable works. The 36-year-old was in his hometown to hand out Thanksgiving turkeys to families when his visit to his favorite cookie shop turned into an attack that shocked the entertainment world. Authorities said two men exited a white Mercedes-Benz and began shooting at the rapper at the bakery on Nov. 17, 2021. He died after being shot about 20 times, according to a medical examiner's report. Testifying against Govan was Cornelius Smith Jr., who has admitted to being one of the two shooters who ambushed Young Dolph. Smith previously was the main trial witness against Justin Johnson, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2024 after Smith named him as the second shooter. Memphis prosecutors have portrayed the killing as part an effort by Anthony 'Big Jook' Mims to get revenge on Young Dolph for diss tracks aimed at Big Jook and the record label he helped run for his brother, rapper Yo Gotti. Smith has testified that Big Jook put out a $100,000 hit on Young Dolph as well as smaller bounties on all the artists at Young Dolph's record label, Paper Route Empire. At the earlier trial of Justin Johnson, a prosecutor told jurors that Cocaine Muzik Group (now known as Collective Music Group), a rival record label founded by Yo Gotti, wanted Young Dolph to work for them, but he turned them down. Big Jook was shot and killed outside a restaurant in January 2024. Prosecutors argued Govan was the middle man between Big Jook and the two shooters. Smith testified on Monday that 'I didn't know anything about Paper Route having no hits,' before Govan told him about them. He said Govan hired him to 'do the hits,' and was going to take $10,000 as his cut. Govan was also the person who told him and Johnson that Young Dolph would be in Memphis for the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, so 'that's our opportunity,' Smith said. Prosecutors introduced as evidence cellphone communications involving Johnson, Smith, Govan and Big Jook ahead of the shooting. Meanwhile, Govan's defense attorney, Manny Arora, tried to paint Smith as an unreliable witness and a 'pathological liar' who would say anything to try to get a lighter sentence. He also questioned the validity of the cellphone communications, saying none directly incriminated Govan. Arora pointed to previous testimony where Smith recalled a chance encounter with Big Jook. At the time, Smith implied that Big Jook was the person who hired him. After Smith was arrested, his attorney called Big Jook's attorney and received somewhere between $38,000 and $50,000 in cash. Smith said on Monday that he did not know who had supplied the money. Smith also testified that he previously heard that Govan might be working with the FBI. Arora asked why Smith would take a job from Govan if that were the case. Smith said that Govan was 'innocent until proven guilty.' Govan did not testify in his defense. A trial date has not been set for Smith. Johnson was sentenced to life in prison in September 2024. He was later sentenced to 35 additional years in prison for two other convictions from the trial: conspiracy to commit murder and possessing a gun as a felon. Young Dolph began his career by releasing numerous mixtapes. His studio albums include his 2016 debut, 'King of Memphis.' He also collaborated on other mixtapes and albums with fellow rappers Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and others. Young Dolph had three albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200, with 2020′s 'Rich Slave' peaking at No. 4.
Winnipeg Free Press
9 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Legal claim by ex-Los Angeles fire chief alleges mayor orchestrated smear campaign after her ouster
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former Los Angeles fire chief filed a legal claim Wednesday against the city, alleging that her ouster by Mayor Karen Bass was followed by an orchestrated effort to smear her conduct and decision-making during the most destructive wildfire in LA history. Former Chief Kristin Crowley's dismissal a month after January's Palisades Fire was followed by finger-pointing between her and City Hall over the blaze's devastation and the fire department's funding. In March, Crowley lost an appeal to the City Council to win back her job. Crowley's legal claim this week alleges that Bass led 'a campaign of misinformation, defamation, and retaliation' to protect the mayor's political reputation following the fire. The mayor's office said Wednesday that it would not comment on 'an ongoing personnel claim.' A message seeking comment was also sent to the LA City Attorney's office. Crowley accuses the first-term Democrat of defaming her to distract from criticism of the mayor for being in Africa as part of a presidential delegation when the blaze started, even though weather reports had warned of dangerous wildfire conditions in the days before she left. In the filing, the former chief demands 'that Bass immediately cease and desist her defamatory and illegal public smear campaign of Crowley, retract her false statements about Crowley, and apologize for lying about Crowley.' Such legal claims are often precursors to lawsuits. Crowley's legal team wouldn't say if a lawsuit was imminent or what it might seek. Bass fired Crowley on Feb. 21, six weeks after the LA fire started. She praised Crowley in the firefighting effort's early going, but she said she later learned that an additional 1,000 firefighters could have been deployed on the day the blaze ignited. Furthermore, she said Crowley rebuffed a request to prepare a report on the fires that is a critical part of investigations into what happened and why. Crowley's legal filing disputes both those claims. The Palisades Fire began Jan. 7 in heavy winds. It destroyed or damaged nearly 8,000 homes, businesses and other structures, and it killed at least 12 people in the Pacific Palisades, an affluent LA neighborhood. Another fire started that day in Altadena, a suburb east of LA, killing at least 17 people and destroying or damaging more than 10,000 homes or other buildings.
