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Trial begins for Virginia school administrator charged with perjury in probe of sex assault case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

LEESBURG, Va. (AP) — A lawyer for a school system official accused of perjuring himself during a high-profile investigation of two school-based sexual assaults told jurors Tuesday that her client is “the fall guy” for a series of administrative failings.The perjury case against Loudoun County Public Schools spokesman Wayde Byard is the first prosecution to go to trial from a special grand jury investigation commissioned by Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares at the request of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.The grand jury examined the school system’s handling of two sexual assaults at two different high schools in 2021. The assaults became a major issue in that year’s gubernatorial election in part because the boy who committed the assaults was allowed to transfer to another school after the first attack and in part because the boy was wearing a skirt when he committed the first attack in a school bathroom. At the time the county was considering a policy change to a...

Community meeting held as city considers Gage Park Fieldhouse as migrant shelter site

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

CHICAGO -- Residents in Chicago's Gage Park neighborhood will get their chance to speak out on Tuesday over plans to use the fieldhouse as a temporary migrant shelter.About 300 single men, who are currently living at different police stations across the city, are expected to move to the Gage Park Fieldhouse as early as Saturday, July 1.On Tuesday, neighbors will be able to ask questions at the St. Clare De Montefalco Catholic Chapel in Gage Park on their concerns about the city's plan to house hundreds of migrants at the local field house. Gage Park Fieldhouse expected to house over 300 migrants While Gage Park's campus will stay open to the public and accessible for general use, the field house will be converted into a respite center.Improvements to the Gage Park Fieldhouse, include a dining hall, two separate shower rooms, activity rooms and other spaces for health, cultural and educational usage.15th Ward Alderman Raymond Lopez said he volunteered this building because it's loc...

Search underway for missing elderly man from Mount Prospect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. -- The Mount Prospect Police Department is asking for the public's help locating a missing 84-year-old man who was last seen driving to an auto repair shop in Arlington Heights this morning.George Kunz, 84, of Mount Prospect, was last seen driving to an auto repair shop on Arthur Avenue in Arlington Heights around 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Search underway for missing Irving Park teen Kunz is reportedly driving a brown colored Ford Edge.The Mount Prospect Police Department also requested that the Illinois State Police activate a Silver Alert for Kunz.Anyone with information regarding George Kunz's whereabouts are asked to contact the Mount Prospect Police Department at 847-870-5656.

'He will be moderately missed': Viral obit unveils the eccentricities of Kentucky man

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

SOMERSET, Ky. (WDKY) — A father's obituary written by his son shares a humorous take on his life.“He will be moderately missed" might be how some imagine a loveless obituary would end, but James Loveless, from Somerset, was a loved man, if his memorable obituary shows anything.The obituary said Loveless was born in Kentucky in 1963.“We might add — Jamie, a divorcee, father, grandfather, and proud owner of a few lots in the trailer park, had enough and up and died on us on June 14 in order to avoid another Presidential stolen-election mishap in the near future," it begins. ‘Kay’s fudge’: Late Utah grandmother’s recipe, engraved on tombstone, goes viral Loveless was said to be known for his appetite, social events, and memorable catering.“On many occasions in life, James was seen in his backyard at the trailer park during the early hours of the morning, hammering beers, standing over country-style ribs, and yelling, 'It's got a head like a cat on it!', while nearby neighbors would p...

Pflugerville-based foster & adoption agency under state investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN)-- A social service agency based in Texas with branches across the state has lost its contract with the state and is being investigated for violating state code, The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services issued a termination letter to Lonestar Social Services on April 20, effective June 15. The agency was contracted with the state to help connect children and families for foster care and adoption. According to the Texas Health and Human Services website, Lonestar is based in Pflugerville, with branches in Dallas, Nueces, Smith, Lubbock, Bexar and Harris counties. In its letter, DFPS said Lonestar violated terms of its Child Placing Agency contract, finding it noncompliant with the following rules: The operation must have reasonable financial stability and solvency to provide servicesThe operation must provide services in accordance with contract requirements and Health and Human Services Child Care Regulation minimum standards for CPAsThe opera...

Letters: Cherry-picking data can’t change the facts of climate change

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

True and falseTwo pieces in the Sunday, June 18, Pioneer Press made for an interesting contrast.One was Joe Soucheray’s column, which I invariably read. He indicated that nature is very powerful, which is absolutely true, but also that human influence on nature is negligible, which is false. He cherry-picks data, specifically that it was exceptionally hot for four days in 1956, thus implying that climate change isn’t really a thing, because of a hot spell 67 years ago.The other piece was a letter to the editor by Leslie Martin, who I do not know. Martin argues that the “climate catastrophe is here, scary as all get-out,” and appropriately credits the fossil fuel industry and its supporters for it. Martin challenges the Pioneer Press to do its job: “Tell the real story about the climate catastrophe and keep telling it because lives are literally at stake.”Martin’s comments reflect the understanding of the vast majority of scientists. Soucheray’s comments reflect, well, I’m not sure. ...

Mark Gongloff: Global heat records are falling. A little panic might be in order

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

Modern humans generally think of panic as unhelpful, triggering stampedes at concerts, collapses at cookouts and endless hours of therapy. But our species evolved panic as a kind of superpower to avoid being eaten. In certain circumstances, and in measured doses, a little existential dread can still be helpful.Take our rapidly changing climate.The planet could easily set a record-high average temperature in 2023, especially with an El Niño weather pattern kicking in later this year. We have already suffered through the hottest early June on record, with global land temperatures briefly touching 1.5C above the pre-industrial average. Ocean temperatures this spring have been the hottest ever at this time of year, in records going back 174 years.Many people, including myself, have warned against panicking about such stunning new highs, given the temporary nature of El Niño’s boost. Even if we temporarily hit 1.5C of warming this year, it will still be theoretically possible to av...

Byron Buxton in the outfield? ‘He physically can’t,’ Twins manager Rocco Baldelli says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

Twins star Byron Buxton has not played in outfield this season and it’s clearly taking a toll on him.The joy with which Gold Glove winner plays the game is most noticeable when he’s covering a seemingly impossible amount of grass to rob opposing players of extra bases. Buxton simply is not himself without that the ability to impact the game in that manner.He knows that better than anyone.Which adds to Buxton’s frustration as he continues to struggle at the plate. Before Tuesday night’s game between the Twins and Boston Red Sox at Target Field, the designated hitter had not garnered a hit since being reinstated from the injured list last week. The slump would be easier for Buxton to stomach if he were able to make his presence felt in the outfield.“That definitely takes your mind off of what you do at the plate,” he said Tuesday. “If I was to strike out, I went on defense, and I was like, ‘Ain’t nobody getting a hit.’ ”...

New York Air National Guard now assisting Titanic missing sub search and rescue operation 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) -- Governor Hochul announced on Tuesday afternoon that New York Air National Guard is now assisting the U.S. Coast Guard with its search and rescue operation for the Titanic missing submersible. The deep-sea vessel, named Titan, went missing Sunday morning with five people aboard after it headed towards a wreck site of the Titanic ocean liner in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Based at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach on Long Island, the 106th is one of three Air National Guard search and rescue units in the country and the only one based on the East Coast. The 106th flies fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft and rescue helicopters and has a unit of pararescue jumpers who are trained to rescue people on the sea and on land. New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing is assisting the United States Coast Guard in the search an...

New York moves to protect doctors sending abortion pills into states with bans 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:40 GMT

The New York state legislature approved a bill Tuesday that will protect medical providers for serving those who live in states with bans on abortion.This law could expand the use of telehealth for those seeking abortions, especially those who are from states who have restricted access to abortion care. The bill will shield providers from out-of-state litigation by saying that New York officials will not help a state with an abortion ban that attempts to pursue legal action against a New York telemedicine provider that offers abortion to a patient living in a state with a ban.Those providers will be protected as long as they are in compliance with New York law, according to the bill. The bill states that no state or local government employee in New York “shall cooperate” with an individual or out-of-state agency “regarding any legally protected health activity in this state.”"As anti-choice extremists continue to roll back reproductive care across the country, New York remains a san...