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Chicagoans speak out at Public Safety and Accountability meeting at Truman College

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

CHICAGO, Ill. — City residents sounded off at a Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) meeting held at Truman College Thursday night."What we cannot end up [with is] fewer officers patrolling the beats and longer wait times, response times for 911 calls," said Patrick McNeil, a Chicago resident.Chicagoans used the public comment portion of the meeting to talk about police funding and City spending, which is a hot button topic with a vote on the City's budget by City Council upcoming in the near future."We’ve all seen in the news, folks, robberies have skyrocketed and took a turn for the worse," said Anthony Driver Jr., President of the CCPSA. "I was the victim [Jan. 23] of this year. We all are at an increased risk."Also taking place Thursday night was a hearing on public safety when it comes to workers, including ride share and food delivery drivers, as well as postal workers."Having to come to work scared wondering if they will be the next victim," said ...

Man who spent 30 years in prison for Chicago murder sues city, CPD for wrongful conviction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man is suing those he blames for sending him to prison for a crime he didn't commit, including the city of Chicago, the Cook County and 12 police officers.Lee Harris was convicted of murder and spent 33 years behind bars. In March, a judge vacated his conviction. Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to re-try the case. Previous Coverage: Man who spent 30 years in prison for Chicago murder he said didn’t commit released Harris has proclaimed his innocence for years and was the subject of a WGN Investigates report that exposed serious questions about his conviction and the investigation that sent him to prison.Harris filed a federal wrongful conviction lawsuit Thursday. He said the police officers on his case pressured him, fabricated evidence and knew he was innocent.The suit filed doesn't ask for a specific dollar amount. It will be up to the jury to determine that.

McNeil hands Vista Ridge 1st loss of season behind stout defense, hook and lateral TD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Why not dial up a trick play on third down and long? Well, there are plenty of reasons, but for the McNeil Mavericks, the gamble eventually changed the outcome of the game.The Mavericks scored on a 26-yard hook and lateral in the first half for the game's only touchdown, and their defense came up big with three interceptions to hang on for a 7-6 win over Vista Ridge on Thursday at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteOn third-and-11 with 3:24 left in the second quarter, McNeil quarterback Jadon Sultz fired a pass to Jarell Gary about five yards downfield, and then Gary immediately got rid of the ball with a lateral of Joshua Gayden. Gayden had a head of steam toward the end zone when he received the pitch and raced the rest of the way for the score. It was perfect execution on a play that fa...

Austin City Council creates another guaranteed income program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As a single mother of five living in Austin, times had been tough for Taniquewa Brewster."It was hard sometimes,” she said. “My kids are older and with school starting, they wanted extra things that are obviously expensive."Yet, things changed in September of 2022.That’s when Brewster was picked to participate in Austin’s guaranteed income pilot program. One year into pilot program, how $1K monthly checks are helping low-income Austinites Partially paid by taxpayer dollars from the City of Austin, 135 low-income families received $1,000 direct deposits every month for an entire year.This program provided a lifeline for Brewster back in April, when she was sick in the hospital for eight days."I racked up lots of insurance bills, medical bills and medical expenses,” she said. “That money was there right in time because it helped me pay off those bills and buy medication that I would not have been able to afford."The guaranteed income pilot is put on by UpTogether, a ...

Texas high school football scores for Thursday, Sept. 28

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three games in the Austin area were decided by five points or less while the other four were blowouts Thursday.McNeil used three interceptions and a touchdown on a trick play to top Vista Ridge 7-6 while Rouse slid past Pflugerville Connally 36-34. Killeen Chaparral knocked off Pflugerville 39-34 in the other competitive game involving area teams.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteAnderson clobbered Akins 50-13 and Crockett went even bigger to pound LASA 56-0. Travis beat Northeast 41-7 and Johnson City topped Hempstead 41-7.Scores from around the KXAN viewing areaAnderson 50, Akins 13Crockett 56, LASA 0Johnson City 41, Hempstead 7Killeen Chaparral 39, Pflugerville 34McNeil 7, Vista Ridge 6Rouse 36, Pflugerville Connally 34Travis 41, Northeast 7Scores from around Texas compiled by the Associated PressCLASS 6AConroe Oak Rid...

Woman shot, killed in south St. Louis near Grand and Gravois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A homicide investigation is underway after a woman was fatally shot Thursday evening in south St. Louis.The shooting happened around 9 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of South Grand Boulevard and Gravois Avenue. Police have set up a perimeter near a White Castle amid the investigation. St. Louis had only 2 officers for an entire district – Both called in sick Details are limited at this time, but police say the victim was shot in the head and died from her injuries. It's unclear what led up to the shooting, and police have not yet made any arrests. Homicide detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are investigating. This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

Rising fentanyl overdoses around St. Louis prompt urgent discussions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - On Thursday, state and local officials filled the New Northside Missionary Baptist Church in North City for one reason: A discussion on fentanyl overdoses.According to the City of St. Louis Department of Health, overdose fatalities rose 30% from 375 in 2018 to 487 in 2022 with fentanyl responsible for most deaths. The issue hits home closely for many. Becky Savhee says she found her 18-year-old son and 19-year-old sons dead in their own home after a suspected overdose. St. Louis had only 2 officers for an entire district – Both called in sick Savhee says her two sons were attending a graduation party with friends and were offered prescription pills that didn't belong to them. That night, there were five overdoses and two overdose deaths. “I was the one that found them the next morning," she said. "It's something I would never want someone to experience.”She’s been to every state since to spread her family’s story, and it’s the same reason she found herself in St Louis...

New system for emergency alerts in St. Louis County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - St. Louis County will roll out a new emergency alert program, starting Oct. 1. A new mass notification system will send information on a variety of situations, including evacuations, missing persons alerts, severe weather alerts and road closures. St. Louis had only 2 officers for an entire district – Both called in sick The county says the alerts will be "time-sensitive" and there will be "no delay in getting critical information" through the new system. For those seeking alerts, you can choose whether to be notified over text or email. If you'd like to sign up for emergency management alerts, click here.

Venture Café hosts Hispanic Heritage Night celebration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's been 54 years since the United States established National Hispanic Heritage Month to honor the influence and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino community.On Thursday, local community members gathered at Venture Café for a celebration of Hispanic businesses, food, art and dance. Hispanic Heritage Night is a staple in the Hispanic community to highlight and amplify their cultural contributions made to society. St. Louis had only 2 officers for an entire district – Both called in sick Attendees had the opportunity to shop at the business expo, listen to music from DJ Greg Horta, watch live musical performances, and enjoy a panel discussion from STL Santos, a Spanish-speaking supporters’ group for St. Louis CITY SC. "We're celebrating the fact that we're here in St. Louis and we're trying to get across the message we're here to support and uplift each other," said Maria Yaksic with the Bolivan Society of St. Louis. Close Thanks for signi...

Rockies dominate Dodgers, 14-5, in biggest victory over L.A. in more than seven years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:52 GMT

After getting bullied by the boys in blue for most of the summer, the Rockies got their revenge on Thursday night.Colorado crushed the Dodgers at Coors Field, 14-5, in the series and season finale between the teams, uncorking some why-can’t-they-do-that-more-against-L.A. moments along the way.It marked the Rockies’ largest margin of victory over the Dodgers in more than seven years, since beating L.A. 12-2 in LoDo on Aug. 3, 2016.Charlie Blackmon sprinkled some vintage Chuck Nazty magic with the 41st leadoff homer off his career, the 10th-most in MLB history. Chris Flexen turned in his second quality start. And the Rockies offense mashed, and then mashed some more, en route to mashing a season-best 10 extra-base hits and 18 hits.The win improved Colorado to just 3-10 against playoff-bound L.A. this year and 14-38 within the division. But it felt like a little bit of redemption amid another lost summer in which the Rockies will finish last in the National League West for ...