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Officer’s threat to charge 11-year-old crime victim draws sharp critique of Columbus police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — When an Ohio father learned that his 11-year-old daughter had been manipulated into sending explicit photos to an adult, he turned to the police for help.But instead of treating the girl as a crime victim, an officer seemingly threatened to charge her under a law most people view as designed to protect child victims.The shocking interaction was recorded last week on body camera audio and by the father’s doorbell camera in Columbus, Ohio. The footage drew criticism from the public and from experts who said law enforcement officials have long misused laws meant to protect children by threatening to charge them with being part of the same crime.Experts said the incident also showed that training for officers on how to respond to child exploitation cases is spotty and not standardized between police departments.“It was a complete fail on a legal level and on a human level,” said Scott Berkowitz, founder and president of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Net...

It's unclear what caused California woman to lose limbs, health officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

(KRON) -- A San Jose mother who underwent a quadruple amputation earlier this month after eating tilapia fish remains in a hospital, and her illness is now a mystery. Laura Barajas, 40, was not sickened by Vibrio, public health officials said Wednesday.Barajas' close friend, Anna Messina, previously told Nexstar's KRON that an infection that led to the amputations was likely caused by Vibrio. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a Vibrio bacterial infection can be caused by eating raw or undercooked fish, or by exposing an open wound to coastal waters.About 150-200 cases of the infections are reported each year, the CDC says. Roughly one in five cases are fatal, sometimes within one to two days of becoming ill. Texas man dies of Vibrio infection after eating raw oysters Barajas purchased tilapia in July from a local market in San Jose and cooked it for dinner. "Little did she know that this simple act would change her life forever. The following day, Laura...

Uber Eats to accept SNAP benefits for grocery deliveries in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

(KXAN) — Beginning in 2024, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will be able to purchase grocery deliveries through Uber Eats, the company announced Wednesday."We know that online food delivery can have a meaningful impact in reducing barriers to fresh groceries, especially for the most vulnerable–including people living in food deserts, seniors, and those facing disabilities or transportation barriers," company officials wrote in the announcement. "Helping to improve access to quality food is incredibly important to our work at Uber and we’re proud to use Uber’s technology and extensive local delivery networks to offer SNAP recipients the ability to use their benefits to access fresh groceries conveniently from our app in 2024." DeSantis vows to revoke funding for COVID vaccines if elected in 2024 Uber also announced it is working to help support Managed Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans by accepting FSA cards, Flex cards and waiver payments on Uber fo...

Man charged in Iconic Village apartment fire allowed to be released on bond

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

Hays County, TEXAS (KXAN) -- Jacobe Ferguson, a man facing arson charges in a deadly 2018 fire in San Marcos, was allowed to be released from jail on bond, according to the Hays County District Attorney's Office. Fifth body found after San Marcos apartment fire "The case is not dismissed or declined, but is pending further investigation," wrote a spokesperson for the Hays County District Attorney's Office. "Since Mr. Ferguson will be, or has been, released, no further time constraints are presented. Texas law does not have a statute of limitations on the charge of murder." KXAN has reached out to Ferguson's attorney for comment and will update this story if we hear back. Five people died, and several others were badly hurt, in a fire at the Iconic Village apartments at 222 Ramsay St. in July of 2018. Affidavit: Man set mattress on fire in deadly 2018 San Marcos apartment fire In December 2018, the ATF Fire Research Laboratory confirmed the fire to be arson and said the cause wa...

Death investigation underway after body found near Hamilton Pool Road, man arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Llano County Sheriff’s Office said it received information Sept. 17 regarding a body that had been dumped in the Round Mountain area near Hamilton Pool Road in Travis County.Investigators searched the woods and found a man’s body. LCSO said it notified the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, and TCSO processed the scene.According to LCSO, the man was identified as 27-year-old Martin Rivera Montezuma, of Kingsland, Texas.LCSO said Luis Chacaj Tahual was arrested and charged with “tampering with or fabricating evidence (human corpse) with intent to impair.”Tahual was booked into the Llano County Jail on a bond of $50,000.LCSO said an arrest warrant was also issued for 35-year-old Pedro Chilotillo. Officials said the warrant was also for tampering with or fabricating evidence (human corpse) with intent to impair.Montezuma was taken to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office where an autopsy was performed Sept. 18. Results from the autopsy were still pe...

Officials celebrate completion of SH 71 Colorado River bridge project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Officials in Central Texas on Thursday celebrated the completion of a major transportation project that improved the corridor connection Austin and Bastrop. The Texas Department of Public Safety, or TxDOT, was joined by state, county, and local representatives at a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the State Highway 71 at the Colorado River bridge project. During the project, nine bridges were constructed, a new westbound exit ramp across the river was added, and a new eastbound entrance ramp at the Union Pacific Railroad was added, according to TxDOT. "SH 71 serves as a major corridor for motorists traveling to and from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and the city of Bastrop. With the continued growth in this area, these improvements enhance safety and address congestion for all modes of transportation along SH 71," TxDOT said in a release about the project completion. View details about the project in TxDOT's fact sheet below. sh-71-colorado-riv...

New podcast dives into all of the Austin Public Library's non-book offerings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- While libraries are community spaces that encourage literacy, there are more non-book offerings than meet the eye at the Austin Public Library.Austin's public library system will premiere season two of its podcast series "APL Volumes" Sept. 27. The second season will focus on all of the non-literature items available for use through APL: from tools and board games available to rent, to craft supplies and seeds residents can come use. RELATED: Things you didn’t know you could check out at the library "We're talking about our zine collection, our gaming, gardening, different music, crafts, cooking," said Leticia Leal, a youth program specialist at APL's Central library branch and host of the podcast's second season. "And that's all the amazing resources that the library has that we're so excited to share with everybody."Why a podcast? Leal said it's a great medium and tool to reach people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. When it came to crafting th...

White Bear Township man pleads guilty in woman’s fentanyl overdose death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

A White Bear Township man has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder for selling pills that contained fentanyl and caused a woman to overdose and die.Jesse Russell Lietzau, 25, made the plea on Wednesday, the same day he was scheduled to go on trial for the woman’s May 2021 death in a Richfield hotel room. A plea agreement that Lietzau reached with Hennepin County prosecutors calls for a stayed seven-year prison term and a jail sentence capped at 240 days, court records show. Sentencing was set for Nov. 15.Jesse Russell Lietzau (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)According to the criminal complaint, on May 16 police responded to a hotel on the 350 block of West 77th Street in Richfield on a report of a woman who was unconscious and not breathing.Police found the woman lying on a bed with a pool of blood under her face and mouth. She was declared dead at the scene. The Hennepin County medical examiner said her cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity.Police spoke w...

Kamala Harris announces start of process to remove medical debt from people’s credit scores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris said Thursday that the Biden administration is taking the first steps toward removing medical bills from people’s credit scores, which could improve ratings for millions of people.Harris said that would make it easier for them to obtain an auto loan or a home mortgage. Roughly one in five people report having medical debt. The vice president said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is beginning the rulemaking process to make the change.The agency said in a statement that including medical debt in credit scores is problematic because “mistakes and inaccuracies in medical billing are common.”“Access to health care should be a right and not a privilege,” Harris told reporters in call to preview the action. “These measures will improve the credit scores of millions of Americans so that they will better be able to invest in their future.”The announcement comes after a long push by the Biden administration to minimize the importance of medica...

Clifton Park man sentenced for burglary, grand larceny

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:10 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Halfmoon man arrested in February for multiple thefts will serve time in prison. Casey R. Mohan, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and grand larceny in the fourth degree on July 19. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Mohan was sentenced to three and a half years of incarceration and five years of post-release supervision for the burglary charge. He was then sentenced to one and a third year to four years for the grand larceny charge. The sentences will run concurrently. Mohan was initially arrested following an investigation into multiple thefts. Mohan was accused of stealing two motor vehicles, a motorcycle, and two long guns. He was also accused of stealing a snowblower from a Lowe's Home Improvement.