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Lawyers and prosecutors make final arguments in trial of 3 Washington state officers

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Lawyers for three Washington state officers charged in the death of a Black man who was beaten, shocked and hogtied facedown on a sidewalk made their final arguments to the jury Wednesday before the prosecution had the final say and the jury was told to return Thursday to begin deliberations.Two of the officers’ lawyers focused their final arguments on the autopsy report, which said Manuel Ellis had a fatal level of methamphetamine in his system when he died. They also noted that the medical examiner said the spit hood, which was put on by a different officer, “was a significant factor and possibly the most important factor” in his death. The drugs were the cause, the lawyers concluded.Special prosecutor Patty Eakes, on behalf of the Washington Attorney General’s Office, made rebuttal arguments and emphasized that the medical examiner knew about Ellis’ medical conditions and concluded he died of hypoxia due to physical restraint. The officers should ...

Texas high school Black student suspended over hair likely won’t return to his class anytime soon

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas high school Black student who has been disciplined and kept away from his classroom for months for refusing to change his hairstyle is not likely to be back with his regular classmates anytime soon.Efforts by Darryl George’s attorney to ask a judge to pause his punishment by his Houston-area school district over his locs as well as a civil rights lawsuit he and his family filed in September remain on hold in federal court.George, 18, returned to in-school suspension at his campus, Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas, last week and for now he will remain there. Before that, he had spent a month at an off-site disciplinary program.Here are some things to know regarding why George’s discipline over his hairstyle has continued for months, why his school district believes its actions have been justified and how various legal issues are complicating George’s situation.WHY DOES DARRYL GEORGE CONTINUE TO BE DISCIPLINED AND UNABLE TO RETURN TO CLASS?George ...

Female found strangled to death in South Shore

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman was found strangled to death inside a South Shore home Wednesday night, according to multiple agencies.According to the Chicago Police Department, an unresponsive female of unknown age was found inside a residence in the 7200 block of South Phillips Avenue around 6:09 p.m. and was pronounced dead on scene.The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed the female's cause of death was strangulation, but did not provide the age of the victim. Family questions CPD’s response after Midway Airport worker shot, killed CPD said they are treating the incident as a death investigation and have no offenders in custody.No other information is available at this time.Stay with WGN News as this story will be updated once more information is made available.

No. 1 North Central football eyes 30th straight win, third Stagg Bowl championship 

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Top ranked North Central College football found itself in an unfamiliar situation during Saturday’s national semifinal — for the first time all season, they trailed in a game. “The massage was to keep swinging,” said junior quarterback Luke Lehnen. “We had a stretch there where we had like five three-and-outs in a row, obviously you don’t want that as an offense. But the big interception from Zack Orr really helped our confidence, and we were like okay the defense is getting stops for us we got to go out there and respond because we hadn’t responded the entire third quarter.” The Cardinals fourth quarter deficit wasn’t for long. Joe Sacco’s touchdown run in the final 6 minutes put NCC back in front, and two huge defensive stops helped close out their 34-27 win at Wartburg and a trip to a 4th straight Stagg Bowl Friday night in Salem, Virginia against Cortland.  “Really fortunate to be a part of [the Stagg Bowl] four times,” said head coach Brad Spencer. ...

Luke Combs helping a fan who nearly owed $250K for selling unauthorized merchandise

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Country singer Luke Combs is making amends to a disabled Florida woman who sells tumblers online after she was ordered to pay him $250,000 when she got snared in a crackdown his lawyers launched against companies that sell unauthorized merchandise with his image or name on it.Combs in an Instagram video posted Wednesday said he told his attorneys to remove Nicol Harness from a lawsuit they filed in an Illinois federal court and that he was sending her $11,000. She had sold on Amazon 18 tumblers she had made with his name and likeness for $20 each, grossing $360.The singer, who recently topped the country charts with his remake of Tracy Chapman's “Fast Car,” also said he would start selling his own tumbler with the proceeds going to pay Harness' medical bills — she has heart disease and was recently hospitalized. He also said he would fly Harness and her family to an upcoming concert so he could meet her. Nearly half of teens say they are online ‘almost...

Woman accused of hiring man to kill estranged wife's family in Pennsylvania

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

BEDFORD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) -- A Pennsylvania woman is accused of hiring a man to burn down a house where her estranged wife was staying with family. Heather Ann Dibert, 43, of Duncansville, is facing 32 felony charges and seven misdemeanors for allegedly hiring 34-year-old Zachery Sellers to burn down the home her estranged wife was staying at with five others.According to a criminal complaint filed by Pennsylvania State Police Wednesday, Dibert allegedly gave Sellers money and drugs to come to Napier Township and burn down the home just after midnight on Oct. 28. Police said while this was happening, Dibert was setting up an alibi by traveling to a strip club in West Virginia. Detectives said that they were able to track both Dibert and Sellers via their phone locations the 24 hours leading up to the arson and into the next morning. Woman gets 70 years in prison for killing two bicyclists in Michigan charity ride According to the complaint, Dibert had ventured to the area of her...

Project Connect explores how to remove mass transit pinch points in light rail design

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With Austin Transit Partnership advancing environmental and design work on the city's upcoming light rail system, project heads spoke Wednesday about how they're using specialty technology to see the transit experience through the eyes of its users.KXAN spoke with ATP last month about specialty tech eyeglasses employed to help track users' journeys through Austin's current mass transit system. ATP worked with 14 volunteers from a range of backgrounds and user experiences to track biometric sensors, such as the number of steps they took accessing transit, where their eyes looked during the process as well as their heart rate, body temperature and perspiration levels.The Austin Transit Partnership utilized specialty tech glasses that help track different biometric sensors, including how many steps users take while using mass transit, where their eyes look while accessing bus or rail services as well as their body temperature, heart rate and perspiration. (KXAN Photo/T...

St. Paul shooting leaves man dead on University Avenue; suspect quickly caught by police

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

A shooting in St. Paul’s Summit-University area left a man dead Wednesday afternoon.Officers responded to the 400 block of West University Avenue just before 3 p.m. when a 911 caller reported hearing shots fired and seeing someone lying on the ground. Police found a man with apparent gunshot wounds on the southwest corner of University Avenue and Arundel Street, said Sgt. Mike Ernster a police spokesman.Paramedics took the man to Regions Hospital, where he died a short time later.A police sergeant was on patrol in the area and, “immediately after the shooting, he witnessed a possible suspect run from the area of the crime,” Ernster said. The sergeant stopped the man and took him into custody. After further investigation, he was brought to police headquarters to be interviewed by investigators, according to Ernster.Investigators are working to determine the circumstances of the shooting.The Ramsey County medical examiner’s office will confirm the identity of t...

Senate passes mammoth annual defense policy bill

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The Senate on Wednesday passed the annual defense policy bill, a compromise $886 billion package that lays out how the Pentagon will be funded through the next fiscal year.  The vote to approve the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was 87-13.House lawmakers will next take up the legislation. The bill faces resistance in the House from far-right lawmakers who are opposed to the package, in part because it fails to include House-passed provisions to rid the Pentagon of what they say are “woke” policies.In addition to keeping the Defense Department's programs and policies funded, the defense bill will authorize tens of billions of dollars for aircraft and ships and give a historic 5.2 percent pay raise to troops.The NDAA also eyes bolstering U.S. national security abroad, with $11.5 billion slated to deter China in the Indo-Pacific region and another $800 million to support Ukraine.  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday urged senators to pass the...

Facebook video shows person forced into van in Aurora on Wednesday

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

A video of a person being forced into a white van in Aurora on Wednesday morning was shared thousands of times on social media, prompting Aurora police to ask for help from the public in finding out more information.The video appears to show at least four people forcing someone into a white van with tinted windows before closing the door, according to a post shared by the Aurora Police Department on X.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Burglaries at over 40 Denver-area marijuana dispensaries lead to charges for members of two organized crime groups Crime and Public Safety | Family alleges UCHealth cut off Indigenous patient’s hair, then lied about it Crime and Public Safety | 1 killed, 2 hospitalized in fatal Aurora crash Sunday night Crime and Public Safety | Motorcyclist hit twice and killed in overnight crash in west Aurora Sunday Crime and Public Safety | 3 hospitalized in overnight Aurora sh...