Trending News
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul says Cornell rape accuser was 'failed' by the system
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday that the woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of gang rape was "failed" by people obligated to protect her, including police and the county prosecutor.Hochul's claim came during a news conference in which she gave details on her decision to turn the case over to a special prosecutor, the state Attorney General Letitia James.The governor said she made the decision after learning "troubling details" about how authorities have handled the woman's claims thus far, including that the district attorney closed the case without having anyone interview the victim or anyone else involved in the alleged attack."In what world does the district attorney not even interview her, or anyone else involved, or even request the full transcript?" Hochul said. "This woman, this young woman, had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable. And then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her."She also assailed the Cornell University Police Department for not fully conveying the woman's story to prosecutors."After this young woman came forward, she spoke to the police. She sat for hours and told them exactly what happened to her. And according to new reports, she could not have been clearer that she was 100% confident that she had been raped,” the governor said. “Yet, shockingly, those words never made it into the account that the Cornell police sent to prosecutors."Hochul said Thursday that she appointed James to oversee the case because she had lost faith in the local district attorney's ability to handle it.The investigation initially was closed without charges in 2024.Last month, the woman filed a lawsuit and Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the investigation. He has since been bombarded by criticism that he abandoned the original investigation too quickly.The attorney general will oversee the investigation and, if warranted, present evidence to a grand jury, Hochul said."The young woman at the center of this case deserves to know that every fact will be examined and justice pursued,” she said in a statement Thursday.Van Houten didn’t immediately respond to Thursday messages seeking comment.The case has roiled the Ivy League campus and raised questions about its response and the larger issue of how sexual assaults are handled on college campuses.The woman, identified only as Jane Doe in court documents, told campus police in November of 2024 that she was sexually assaulted, then discussed it with the university's internal investigators as part of Cornell's disciplinary process.The lawsuit against seven fraternity brothers, the university, the Chi Phi fraternity and others alleges that she was plied with drugs and alcohol, then subjected to sexual acts by a group of men while she was partially or entirely incapacitated. One of the men sent a social media message to other fraternity members alerting them to what was happening, and inviting people to take part, according to the lawsuit.Lawyers for two of the men she is suing have denied they participated in a sexual assault. One said his client hadn't touched the woman. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the other men or their representatives have been unsuccessful.New York governors have turned to attorneys general to oversee important cases in the past.In 2018, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed then-Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas as a special prosecutor to investigate Eric Schneiderman, who resigned as New York attorney general after women accused him of violent slapping, choking and other abuse.In 2021, James oversaw a non-criminal investigation into sexual harassment allegations against then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, leading to his resignation. Cuomo initially tried to choose who would lead the investigation into the allegations. He then allowed James to choose two independent attorneys to lead it instead.James' office also handles other criminal work and has the power under state law to investigate every death involving law enforcement in the state. But, typically, she can't initiate criminal investigations without a referral from a local district attorney, the governor or a state agency, or an appointment like the one Hochul made Thursday.Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Hochul and James vow to investigate Cornell sexual assault case
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a press conference she believes the former Cornell University student who alleges she was raped by fraternity members in 2024 was "failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her." Hochul confirmed that she has appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in the investigation.
Michael J. Fox, actor and advocate, to be promoted within Order of Canada
Michael J. Fox, who is already a member of the Order of Canada, is being promoted to a companion in a ceremony hosted by Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and AG Letitia James are set to give an update on Cornell rape case
NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s governor and attorney general were set to give an update Friday morning about the investigation into a woman’s allegations that she was gang raped at a Cornell University fraternity house. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday she appointed the office of Attorney General Le...
Christa Pike survived her execution attempt. Tennessee must not try again | Austin Sarat
What happened to Pike was gruesome. No one deserves what she went through, not even those who commit horrible crimesBotched executions are nothing new in US history. In the era when hangings were common, some condemned people were decapitated. Later, when the electric chair was in vogue, every now and again, someone would catch fire during an electrocution. And nitrogen hypoxia, the US's newest execution method, has already proven notoriously unreliable.But, of all of the ways we have tried to execute people, lethal injection has the worst track record. More than 8% of all lethal injection executions have been botched. Most of them resulted when those charged with carrying them out could not find a usable vein. Continue reading...
New York's governor removes DA in Cornell rape allegations, appoints AG Letitia James to take over
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she had signed an executive order appointing the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James as the special prosecutor to oversee the investigation, which had initially been closed without charges in 2024.
'I was fighting for my life': Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls flydubai cockpit attack
Smit Machchhar says in video call with Indian PM that he realised if he did not get up 'passengers would lose their lives'The Indian pilot who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv said his faith and his desire to save his passengers allowed him to make a "last push" to open the cockpit door as he fought for his life.Capt Smit Machchhar, who was recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, described to India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, how he helped save the plane and its more than 170 passengers. Continue reading...
Slegers feels support from Arsenal hierarchy despite dismal run but biggest test looms
Board 'really good and positive' at 'difficult time'Gunners visit WSL leaders Manchester City on SundayRenée Slegers says she has felt the full support of Arsenal's board and praised her senior players for showing "monumental leadership" this week as she vows to find solutions to recent poor form before Sunday's pivotal trip to Manchester City.One win in five matches has put Slegers under mounting pressure. Arsenal let slip a two-goal lead to draw at Paris FC in the Women's ­Champions League on Wednesday and in the WSL they have slipped seven points behind City, the ­leaders and defending champions, having scored only twice in their four league games. Continue reading...
Captain Smit Machchhar: A steady hand, in and out of the cockpit
As Capt Smit Machchhar recovers in hospital, those who know him recall the pilot, teacher and neighbour behind the headlines. Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot while flying flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite sustaining serious injuries, he managed to maintain control of the aircraft after it dropped significantly. His actions allowed crew members and passengers to subdue the attacker, ultimately leading to a safe landing in Saudi Arabia. Friends and colleagues remember Machchhar as calm and composed, which reflects his character throughout his life.
Nations League: Zidane returns to face Italy and the Stade de France
Twenty years after the 2006 World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane faces Italy again on Friday, this time as France manager, on matchday three of the Nations League. For his first match in France as coach, he also returns to the Stade de France, where he experienced several defining moments of his career.
On TV
Outlander: Blood of My Blood — 2x3: "Rabbits Don't Swim" (STARZ)
Julia welcomes a new member of staff to Leathers and learns unsettling news. Brian and Dougal train their men for battle. Ellen calls on lessons from her father and uses her wit to defend her family and her clan. 
New Music

The Beatles — "Rubber Soul (Super Deluxe)" (Apple Records)

Dead Poet Society — "Monarch" (Spinefarm Music Group)

Andrea Bejar — "In Bloom" ([no label])

Haywire — "I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye" (Roadrunner Records)

Mac Miller — "The Divine Feminine" (Warner Records)

Dexter and The Moonrocks — "Friends That I Don't Like" (Big Loud Rock)

In theaters
The Last First: Winter K2 (98 minutes)
A historic race to become the first to summit K2 in winter unravels into tragedy, exposing how ambition, ego, and the pursuit of glory can be as dangerous as the mountain itself.
Rolling Loud: The Movie (99 minutes)
Desperate to reconnect with his 13-year-old son, Hank secretly takes him to Rolling Loud against his wife's wishes. When Zion disappears inside the massive festival, Hank teams with two unlikely allies and plunges into an increasingly insane search—while hiding the truth from his wife and confronting the harder truth that his son is growing up.
Launching today
Falcon Heavy | NROL-97 — SpaceX (03:54 UTC)
Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.
Useless Fact

Jupiter is bigger than all the other planets in our solar system combined.

The loonie
CAD → USD
0.7021
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0.6238
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Today In History
2017 — Tom Petty, Pioneering Rock Musician, Dies at 66
American singer and songwriter Tom Petty, whose roots-oriented guitar rock arose from the new-wave movement of the late 1970s and resulted in a string of hit singles and albums, died at age 66
2005 — Death of Pulitzer-Winning Playwright August Wilson
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson—who was best known for a cycle of plays, each set in a different decade of the 20th century, about Black American life—died at age 60. theatre quiz Ted S. Warren/AP Images
1985 — Rock Hudson's AIDS Death Raises Disease Awareness
American actor Rock Hudson died, becoming one of the first Hollywood celebrities known to succumb to AIDS-related complications; the extensive publicity surrounding his death drew attention to the disease. What's the difference between HIV and AIDS?
1967 — Thurgood Marshall Appointed to Supreme Court
Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967, becoming its first African American member. The U.S. Supreme Court has had nine justices since 1869.
1959 — The Twilight Zone TV Series Debut in 1959
The science-fiction anthology TV series The Twilight Zone debuted and became hugely popular, known for its unexpected plot twists and moral lessons; the show was created by Rod Serling
1957 — The Bridge on the River Kwai Wins Best Picture in 1957
The British-American war classic The Bridge on the River Kwai had its world premiere, and it later won the Academy Award for best picture. How much do you know about the Academy Awards?
1935 — Haile Selassie Orders Mobilization Against Italian Invasion
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassieordered mobilization upon learning that Italian forces had crossed the frontier to begin the Italo-Ethiopian War
1879 — Poet Wallace Stevens Born in Reading, PA
American poet Wallace Stevens, whose influential poetry explored the interaction of reality and imagination, was born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1879.
1836 — Charles Darwin's return to England
Naturalist Charles Darwin returned to England this day in 1836 after a five-year journey on the HMS Beagle, on which he gathered the specimens and observations that led to his theory of evolution by natural selection
1780 — British Spy John André Executed by Americans
British army officer John André was executed by the Americans as a spy after conducting secret meetings with American General Benedict Arnold during the American Revolution.How much do you know about the American Revolution?Photos.com/Jupiterimages

This is today, boiled down to the essentials. The full stash lives at logicalchaos.ca. Go get lost in it.