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Some small towns in America are disbanding police forces, citing hiring woes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

GOODHUE, Minn. (AP) — As Goodhue Police Chief Josh Smith struggled this summer to fill vacancies in his small department, he warned the town’s City Council that unless pay and benefits improved, finding new officers would never happen.When nothing changed, Smith quit. So did his few remaining officers, leading the Minnesota town of 1,300 residents to shutter its police force in late August.America is in the midst of a police officer shortage that many in law enforcement blame on the twofold morale hit of 2020 — the coronavirus pandemic and criticism of police that boiled over with the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. From Minnesota to Maine, Ohio to Texas, small towns unable to fill jobs are eliminating their police departments and turning over police work to their county sheriff, a neighboring town or state police.The trend isn’t altogether new.At least 521 U.S. towns and cities with populations of 1,000 to 200,000 disbanded policing between 1972 and 2017, ac...

Damaged tail rotor to blame for helicopter crash in 2018 that killed Leicester owner and 4 others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A damaged tail rotor was to blame for a helicopter crash that killed the owner of English soccer club Leicester and four others in 2018, an accident inquiry said Wednesday.The Leonardo AW169 helicopter took off from the center of the field after a Premier League match at Leicester’s King Power Stadium and got to about 430 feet (130 meters) above the ground. Then it spun around and plummeted into a concrete step outside the stadium.Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was Leicester’s owner at the time, along with club employees Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and Swaffer’s partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz, were all killed in the accident.An inquiry by the British government’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch found that the helicopter’s control system failed because a bearing in the tail rotor broke up due to its balls sliding rather than rolling as a result of a build-up of pressure.The pilot’s pedals became disconnected ...

California lawmakers vote to become first state to ban caste-based discrimination

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers on Tuesday voted to outlaw discrimination based on caste, adding protections for people of South Asian descent who say they have been left out of traditional American safeguards for fairness in employment and housing.The bill — the first of its kind in the U.S. — now heads to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who must decide whether to sign it into law.Caste is an ancient, complex system that regulates people’s social status based on their birth. It’s primarily associated with India and Hinduism, but caste-based divisions are also found in other faiths and countries. State and federal laws already ban discrimination based on sex, race and religion. California’s civil rights law goes further by outlawing discrimination based on things like medical conditions, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigration status and ancestry.Tuesday, the state Senate voted 31-5 to approve a bill that would redefine “ancestry” to inclu...

Joliet man sentenced to 15 months for crash that injured Illinois state trooper

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

WILL COUNTY, Ill. — A Joliet man will spend more than a year in prison for a Scott’s Law violation that resulted in a crash that left an Illinois State Police Trooper gravely injured, according to Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow.Glasgow announced Tuesday morning that 23-year-old Angel Casillas was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the crash, which resulted from a Scott’s Law violation, that left Trooper Brian Frank disabled and confined to 24-hour care. ‘Want this for my parents’: Reward increased in 1979 murders of Niles West students as families want answers Scott's Law mandates that drivers approaching stopped emergency vehicles along the roadway must change lanes if able, or greatly reduce their speed if unableAccording to Glasgow, on February 15, 2021, Trooper Frank was working a crash in the left lane against the center median wall along I55, just north of Route 30. At the time the trooper had emergency lights activated and had three emergency flares burning be...

Carnival Cruise passenger reported missing after ship returns to Florida

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

MIAMI (WFLA) — Officials in South Florida said they are searching for a missing man who was last seen on a Carnival Cruise ship.The Miami-Dade Police Department said Kevin McGrath, 26, was reported missing Monday after the Carnival Conquest returned to Port Miami.According to Carnival Cruise Line, McGrath was last seen at about 7 a.m. Monday by his cabinmate, just around the time that guests were supposed to be getting off the ship.After an "extensive search," McGrath was nowhere to be found on the ship, officials said.The U.S. Coast Guard was called in to do a search in the surrounding waters, but he was not found there. Delta flight returns to Atlanta after alleged diarrhea incident "The guest was not detected by surveillance systems, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol during the debarkation process," the Carnival Cruise Line statement said. "Miami Dade police eventually cleared the ship to sail."McGrath is described as being 5' 9" tall and weighing 170 pounds, with brown ...

Why are Nature Valley granola bars so messy?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — They're the snappy, crunchy and nutty snacks you're likely to see in just about any vending machine anywhere — the green-wrapped Nature Valley granola bars. Maybe they got you through an early morning college class or helped tide you over before lunch at work — whatever the situation, you can bet it probably made a mess.Why is that? Three-legged bear breaks into Florida home, drinks White Claws One needn't look far to find ranting and raving about the bars online. Just a few of the Reddit threads dedicated to them include "These Nature Valley bars need to come with an ashtray" and the slightly more aggrieved "F--- Nature Valley bars."But it turns out the company isn't unaware of how crumbly the bars can be. In fact, General Mills, which owns Nature Valley, sees the mess as a signature feature.The mess created by taking a few bites from one Nature Valley granola bar (Russell Falcon/NEXSTAR)“It’s no secret that enjoying one of our delicious Nature Valley C...

5 takeaways from the first day of Ken Paxton's impeachment trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The impeachment trial for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton is underway at the Texas State Capitol. Ken Paxton impeachment trial starts in Texas Senate Here are five takeaways from the first day of the trial.1. Paxton pleaded not guilty to all articles of impeachmentPaxton's lead lawyer Tony Buzbee spoke on Paxton's behalf and pleaded not guilty to each article of impeachment. In May, the Texas House voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton on 20 articles of impeachment. These range from making false statements to obstructing justice to accepting bribes from a campaign donor. The Senate will consider 16 of these articles in the trial. READ MORE: A comprehensive guide to Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial Here's a closer look at each article of impeachment. 2. Paxton not compelled to testifyLt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is also the impeachment trial judge, ruled that Paxton does not have to testify. House prosecutors sought to compel his testimony, but Patrick said they will...

'Addressing needs before gentrification': Travis County approves pilot program, investing in northeast Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)—Travis County has a new plan to put more resources and even money into northeast Austin.It passed a resolution brought forth by Travis County Commissioner Jeffrey Travillion, of Precinct 1. "On June 1, 2023, EDSI briefed the Commissioners Court on the idea of creating aMarshall Plan for eastern Travis County. A Marshall Plan identifies quality publicinvestments and funding mechanisms to support communities in East Travis Countythat have faced displacement and systemic racism that has left people of color fallingfurther behind economically; made them more likely to be in a generational cycle ofpoverty; and less resilient to natural disasters, weather events, and national or personaleconomic or health crises.Travis County Commissioners' Court, Resolution backgroundTravis County is now taking real action to make sure those who call northeast Austin, can not only stay, but thrive."What we're trying to construct is a policy framework," Travillion said. "The idea is that the...

Wisconsin judicial disciplinary panel rejects complaints lodged against Protasiewicz

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — A state judiciary disciplinary panel has rejected several complaints lodged against Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz that alleged she violated the judicial code of ethics for comments she made during the campaign. It’s a setback to Republicans who argued those remarks could warrant impeachment.Protasiewicz on Tuesday released a letter from the Wisconsin Judicial Commission informing her that “several complaints” regarding comments she had made during the campaign had been dismissed without action.The commission’s actions are private unless released by one of the parties involved. Protasiewicz received permission from the commission to release its May 31 letter to her, which she then provided to the Associated Press.Protasiewicz’s win in April flipped majority control of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court from conservative to liberal for the first time in 15 years. Democrats heavily backed her campaign, during which Protasiewicz criticized Republi...

Former St. Thomas student gets 3 years in prison for sex trafficking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:08 GMT

A former University of St. Thomas student was sentenced Tuesday to three years in federal prison for her role in a sex trafficking scheme.Between May and December 2020, 21-year-old Gisela Castro Medina conspired with Anton “Tony” Lazzaro to recruit and solicit six minors to engage in sex acts for cash and gifts, according to court documents.Anton Lazzaro and Gisela Castro MedinaU.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz said at sentencing that Castro Medina helped Lazzaro at “every step of the way.”Castro Medina in December pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and obstructing the investigation.Castro Medina admitted she knew the victims were underage when she recruited them through social media and other ways. She admitted she knew Lazzaro paid them money and gifts, such as alcohol, vapes, high-end purses and hotel rooms, in exchange for sex acts.Meanwhile, Lazzaro paid Castro Medina in cash and over Venmo, and by paying her rent and tuition at St. Thomas, wh...