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Ex-Washington state newspaper editor pleads not guilty to paying girls for sexually explicit images

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A former Spokesman-Review newspaper editor arrested and accused of paying girls for sexually explicit images pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to nearly a dozen charges. Steven Smith, 73, pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, KHQ-TV reported. He has remained in Spokane County Jail on a $25,000 bail since his arrest on July 20.Smith was executive editor of The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, from 2002 to 2008. An account in Smith’s name for a mobile cash payment service was linked to an investigation into children using social media to send sexually explicit photos of themselves in exchange for money sent to them via the app, according to court documents.The victims, 10-to-14-year-old girls, sent images to an Instagram account and received money through a cash app account. Internet activity of those accounts was traced to Smith’s Spokane home, the documents said.Chat conversations showed...

Wisconsin’s high court, which almost overturned Biden’s win in the state, flips to liberal control

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Democrats celebrated the beginning of a new era for the state Supreme Court on Tuesday as it flipped from conservative to liberal control for the first time in 15 years. Janet Protasiewicz, who made abortion rights a focus of her winning election campaign and called Republican-drawn redistricting maps “rigged,” marked the start of her 10-year term with a swearing-in ceremony in the state Capitol Rotunda attended by an overflow crowd of hundreds, including many Democratic officeholders.Protasiewicz’s win carries tremendous weight in Wisconsin, where the state Supreme Court has been the last word on some of the biggest political and policy battles of the past decade-plus.The conservative-controlled court came within one vote of overturning President Joe Biden’s narrow win in the state in 2020, though Biden still would have had enough electoral votes to claim the presidency. More battles over voting rules and elections are expected leading up to 202...

More residents of Osoyoos, B.C., heading home despite recent wildfire growth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

OSOYOOS, B.C. — More residents of Osoyoos, B.C., and the surrounding area are being allowed to return home after being forced out by a fast-moving wildfire that spread from neighbouring Washington state over the weekend. The fire scorched about 30 square kilometres on the northern side of the border as of Tuesday, more than doubling in size overnight.BC Wildfire Service spokeswoman Shaelee Stearns said the fire burning closest to the town of about 5,000 residents saw minimal growth overnight, while shifting winds fanned flames on the west side and on the northwest corner of the blaze, accelerating its growth. “Those changes there have been reflecting the good work that firefighters are doing, especially as they continue up along that eastern flank, not only here in Canada, but also in the U.S.,” she said.Stearns said 50 firefighters, 65 structure protection personnel and six helicopters are responding to the fire.The service’s top priorities are human safety, then ...

$25K worth of flood damage to oldest church in Cicero, GoFundMe set up to help recovery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

CHICAGO -- The oldest church in Cicero is asking for help after flooding from severe weather left thousands of dollars worth of damage behind.Good Shepherd Church has been around for over 120 years. The church located on the 5900 block of West 28th Street in Cicero was hit by flooding following the weeks of severe weather last month.Senior Pastor Israel Hernandez said he and others grabbed buckets to scoop out the water, but the damage had been done. Hernandez said the damage totaled nearly $25,000. An astronomical amount for a congregation comprised of about 30 people. Flooding damage assessments underway in western suburbs Good Shepherd Church has been known for hosting fundraisers throughout the year, from carwashes to walkathons to raising funds for their annual back to school event that supports over 100 families. Those supplies reportedly all damaged following the July severe weather.Hernandez and Good Shepherd Church told the community they wouldn't be able to host this yea...

Newest national monument tells painful story of Emmett Till and mother’s courage 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

CHICAGO - Sixty-eight years ago, America was forced to confront racial hatred at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. The mutilated body of 14-year-old Emmett Till was placed in an open casket — an insistence of his grieving mother. What the world saw propelled the movement for civil rights.  Emmett Till home hosting celebration in honor of Till’s 82nd birthday "The power of the open casket changed not only our nation but changed the world," said former Congressman Bobby Rush. On Tuesday, Aug. 1, the Bronzeville Church celebrated its new status as a National Park District site. President Biden designates national monument honoring Emmett Till and his mother "It is estimated that thousands of people came to this very church, the visitation, countless photos, coverage to see what we saw," said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. "Today, the story of Emmett Till serves as a marker, as a symbol of not just how far we’ve come, much just how much more work we have to do."The churc...

From Badgers to Bears: Chicago area natives T.J. Edwards & Jack Sanborn are teammates again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — If all goes as expected, a pair of Chicago area natives will be starting for the Bears in 2023. Lake Zurich native Jack Sanborn, who enjoyed a strong rookie season in 2022, will be joined by Lake Villa native T.J. Edwards in the team's linebacker group in 2023. They'll join Tremaine Edmunds as the three men behind the defense in hopes of helping the Bears climb up the ranks of the NFL. This will be the first time these players with local ties will be doing this as professional players in Chicago, but they've been teammates before about two hours to the northwest of Lake Forest. (Associated Press)In 2018, both players were at Wisconsin, overlapping for that single season when Sanborn just arrived after a standout career at Lake Zurich High School. As he was trying to build his reputation in the Badgers program, Edwards was adding to his elite resume in college football. The year before, the former Lakes Community High School standout was a first team All-American ...

Teen dies from rare brain infection after swimming in Georgia, coroner rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

DEARING, Ga. (WJBF) — A Georgia teenager has died from a rare brain infection caused by an amoeba, health officials have confirmed. Megan Ebenroth, 17, was believed to have been infected while swimming in a freshwater lake or pond, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. The infection was caused by Naegleria Fowleri, an amoeba that lives in soil and warm, freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds, and hot springs, the agency explained. Naegleria Fowleri can cause a brain infection, primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), when water containing the amoeba goes up the nose. It can destroy brain tissue, cause brain swelling, and, in many cases, be fatal. Brain-eating amoeba: Will the warming climate bring more cases? Ebenroth, who was set to begin her senior year at Thomson High School this week, died on July 22. While few additional details have been released, the McDuffie County Coroner's Office said she spent a few days in the hospital after the incident. Her cause of death ...

‘Home Improvement’ actor arrested in Oregon; accused of domestic violence, burglary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An actor from the popular '90s sitcom “Home Improvement” is facing charges following an alleged domestic violence incident. Court documents show Zachery Ty Bryan, known for his role as eldest son Brad Taylor in “Home Improvement,” was arrested in Lane County on July 31 for alleged domestic violence, robbery and harassment charges, court documents show.“The defendant, on or about July 22, 2023, in Lane County, Oregon, did unlawfully and recklessly cause physical injury to [the victim],” court documents filed by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office state. “The State further alleges that the foregoing crime constituted domestic violence.”Additional details have not been released about the case. Bryan was still being held in jail as of Monday, according to USA Today. Hit, run suspect injured after officer involved shooting: Kelso Police Bryan faced similar charges in October 2020, when he was arrested in Lane County for assault, menacing, harassment, coer...

Austin Police announces charges against man involved in alleged child kidnapping case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Tuesday, the Austin Police Department announced charges against a man accused of attempting to kidnap a teenage girl last week in north Austin, according to an APD news release.Shortly before 4:30 p.m., July 25, officers responded to a check welfare urgent call in the 8000 block of Shoal Creek Boulevard, the release said. Officers arrested Willie Thompson, 48, and he was charged with trafficking of a child and sexual assault of a child.In a news conference Monday, APD commended the teenage girl for hatching the plan to escape from her alleged captors. Austin officers commend ‘brave’ girl who escaped from kidnappers Three of the five officers who helped thwart the kidnapping attempt and reunite the girl with her family spoke to reporters Monday afternoon, sharing new details about how they learned of this situation. Officers Rachel Stahlke, Cody Carr and Callie Wolfe shared they went to a store located near Shoal Creek Boulevard and Steck Avenue on July 25 after...

Vikings lose receiver Trishton Jackson to apparent knee injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:03:55 GMT

Outside of Justin Jefferson, who is a superstar, K.J. Osborn, who is a bonafide starter, and Jordan Addison, who is a first-round pick, no receiver on the Vikings was having a better showing at training camp than Trishton Jackson.That sentence is phrased in the past tense because it appears Jackson might be on the shelf for awhile. Though the Vikings haven’t released any details, Jackson suffered an apparent knee injury on Tuesday afternoon. He landed awkwardly while trying to make a catch during a 1-on-1 drill and remained on the turf writhing in pain.The moment itself was sobering to everyone in attendance at TCO Performance Center, as was the aftermath with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell coming over to offer Jackson words of encouragement. A few minutes later, the cart came out to take Jackson to the Vikings’ locker room.“It’s definitely tough to see him go down like that,” Jefferson said. “He definitely...