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A homeless man is charged with capital murder and rape in the death of a 5-year-old Kansas girl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 25-year-old homeless man was charged Thursday with murder and rape in the killing of a 5-year-old girl in Topeka, Kansas. Mickel Cherry faces one count each of capital murder, first-degree murder and rape in the death of Zoey Felix on Monday. He was jailed in Topeka on a $2 million bond and his next court appearance has not yet been determined.Mark Manna, of the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit, said his office would represent Cherry, but that he had no further comment. Cherry’s family didn’t respond to messages. A capital murder charge would allow prosecutors to seek the death penally, but Shawnee County prosecutor Michael Kagay didn’t respond to an email from The Associated Press asking about his plans. Kagay said in a news release that Topeka police rushed to a gas station where fire crews were attempting to save Zoey’s life. She was later pronounced dead. A medical examination at the hospital revealed injuries consistent with sexual assault. Au...

Criminal charges lodged against Hartford ex-officer accused of lying to get warrant and faking stats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A former Hartford police officer accused by his own department of lying to get an arrest warrant and inflating his traffic enforcement states has been criminally charged with perjury, forgery and computer crime.Michael R. Fallon, whose late father was the chief of Connecticut State Capitol Police, turned himself in Tuesday at the department, Lt. Aaron Boisvert, a police spokesperson, said Thursday. He was released on a promise to appear in court next Wednesday, according to court records.A message was left at a phone number for Fallon found in public records. Court records do not list a lawyer for him, a court clerk said.Police Chief Jason Thody has said Fallon, 28, admitted to falsifying records and an internal affairs investigation substantiated the allegations against him. Fallon resigned in March before the investigation was complete, avoiding potential discipline, records show. Thody said the department has notified the state agency that decertifies polic...

Fired Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald is suing school for $130M for wrongful termination

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Former Northwestern University football coach Pat Fitzgerald is suing the school for $130 million, saying his alma mater wrongfully fired him in the wake of a hazing and abuse scandal that has engulfed the athletic department.The announcement by Chicago-based attorney Dan K. Webb on Thursday comes nearly three months after Fitzgerald was suspended and then fired after 17 years as head coach of the Wildcats. Webb said that Fitzgerald would also be seeking additional money for “infliction of emotional distress,” future lost income and punitive damages. The $130 million includes $68 million remaining in owed salary plus $62 million in future lost income, Webb added. The suit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court against the university and its President Michael Schill, he said. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 7.“If there was ever — if there was ever — an athletic coach at Northwestern University that should not have been terminated, it’s Coach Fitzgerald,” Webb sai...

3 Chicago women charged with stealing from 2 Ulta Beauty stores in Naperville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Three Chicago women are charged with shoplifting from two Ulta Beauty stores in the Naperville area, police announced Thursday.Around 2 p.m. Wednesday, area police officers conducted surveillance on two Ulta Beauty stores in Naperville after learning that a group in a black Mercedes had allegedly committed retail thefts at two nearby stores. According to police, Naperville detectives observed the three women exit the vehicle and enter the store in the 2700 block of Aurora Avenue. A short time later, police noticed the group leaving the store with two baskets of allegedly stolen merchandise.The three women — 20-year-old Jayla M. Alston, 19-year-old Skylar L. Escoe and 19-year-old Darielle Wrice — were arrested shortly thereafter and each charged with two counts of felony retail theft and one count of felony burglary.Jayla M. AlstonSkylar L. EscoeDarielle L. WriceWrice is also charged with attempted criminal damage to government property and driving without a valid ...

President Biden praises Dianne Feinstein as defender of American values at San Francisco memorial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Joe Biden praised the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday as a dear friend and a woman of deep integrity who fought to protect what was important to America: freedom, civil liberties, security and the U.S. Constitution. “She was always tough, prepared, rigorous, compassionate. She always served the people of California and our nation for the right reasons,” Biden said in recorded video remarks played at Feinstein's memorial outside San Francisco City Hall. Roughly 1,500 invited guests were at the private service, where two large screens showed photos of Feinstein over the years. Guests seated in white chairs sweltered on an unseasonably hot day as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight team soared overhead, occasionally interrupting speakers with the roar of their jets.The flight demonstration squadron is in the city as part of Fleet Week, an annual San Francisco celebration started by Feinstein in 1981 when she was mayor. Vice President Kamala Harris and...

Who will replace Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- Republicans are left scrambling to choose a new Speaker of the House after ousting Kevin McCarthy.The problem is the party is so divided, that it's unclear if they can unite behind a single leader.Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan says he's the person who can unite the dueling factions of the Republican party."If I didn't think I can do that, I wouldn't run. And I also think I can take our message to the American people," he said.Republican Congressmen Steve Scalise and Kevin Hern say they too are running for House Speaker.Former President Donald Trump says he's willing to do "Whatever is necessary to help with the Speaker of the House process short term."But hurdles that could prevent Trump from serving as speaker include that he wants to continue his presidential campaign and that he's facing felony indictments.GOP House rules say members facing felony indictments can't serve in Republican leadership. But it's unclear if that applies to the House Speaker.Congress...

There's a conspiracy theory about Taylor Swift attending the Jets game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — You may be up to your ears in coverage of the rumored romance between music superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce but Swift's presence at Chiefs' games continues to make headlines — and even a bizarre conspiracy theory. Since Swift attended the Chiefs' Sunday night game against the New York Jets, the photos and celebrity appearances have flooded social media, news articles and search engine suggestions. Now, some are speculating that creating a lot of new results when someone Google searches "Taylor Swift" and "Jets" at the same time was the entire point of her going to the game.You may be wondering: But why would she do that? Powerball players flocking to ‘lucky’ Los Angeles minimarket It all goes back to earlier this year when Swift caught sky-high criticism for her use of the private jet she owns. In July, data and marketing firm Yard named Swift the top offender in its list of Celebs with the Worst Private Jet Co2 Emissions. Yard's re...

Can the Bears still save the 2023 season? At least time is on their side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

Scott Lewis of The Barber's Chair Network and the "79th and Halas" podcast joins "9 Good Minutes" on WGN News Now to discuss the Bears' start & Thursday game against the Commanders.LANDOVER, MD. — The worst-case scenario for the Chicago Bears has indeed come true through four games. If you're skeptical about the team's chances to turn things around, you're not alone, especially with how the first four games have gone.The team has shown few signs of improvement from a dismal 3-14 season, despite making major investments in free agency. Outside of of the first half and early third quarter against the Broncos, the team looks as if it's digressed instead of progressed under second-year head coach Matt Eberflus. On top of that, the team had defensive coordinator Alan Williams resign abruptly while also briefly banishing wide receiver Chase Claypool, who was deactivated last week before being told to stay home after a rough start to the season. Oh, and the Bears just lost a 21-point l...

Halloween decor at New York house prompts fire department response

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (WPIX) – Firefighters in an upstate New York town mistakenly thought a Halloween decoration was a house fire. What first looked like a house in flames ended up being an illusion. The bright orange flames lighting up the interior of the home were so convincing that Glenn Falls dispatchers sent crews to the Sanford St. address for "a report of a confirmed structure fire." 1 in 6 Americans believe their home is haunted: survey The firefighters were so impressed that they got permission to post the house on their social media accounts, even telling people to go check them out.“To our surprise this was an amazing Halloween decoration,” fire officials wrote on Facebook. “This display will be up Friday and Saturday nights for the public’s entertainment until the end of the month.”The homeowners created the jaw-dropping display using "two LED lights, a box fan and a silver sheet," combined with a fog machine, according to the fire department.

Another cold front on the way following beneficial rainfall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:09 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Rain has exited the area following Austin's heaviest one-day rainfall since May 13. While much of Austin saw 1"-2.5", Kingsland and Marble Falls tallied 3"-4" of welcome rain.Austin's airport set a record daily rainfall amount for Oct. 5, beating the previous daily rain record of 1" on today's date in 1960.Central Texas rainfall totalsLive radarWhile temperatures are cooler behind Thursday morning's rainy front, it will still be a warm day Friday with highs in the 80s and a mix of clouds and sun. The start of ACL weekend one looks pleasant -- but the forecast gets even better as a second, dry cold front blows through Friday night. This clears the stage for lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s with crisp, low humidity Saturday and Sunday. These will be Austin's coolest mornings in more than five months.Temperatures warm next week as a chance of rain gradually returns. While it is still a ways out, we are tracking the potential of another fall front clearing skies and...