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Army private who fled to North Korea charged with desertion, held by US military, officials tell AP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States earlier this month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child.The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced.King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that her son should be “afforded the presumption of innocence.” She said, “A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed.” Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years.King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea in July and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years. His sudden bolt int...

Attorney for Illinois comptroller fired after allegedly sending anti-Semitic messages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

CHICAGO — An attorney working for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has been fired after being accused of sending anti-Semitic messages on social media.Capitol Fax reports the messages said “All Zionists should pay” and referred to Jews as "vermin." Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines The comptroller's office released a statement that said the attorney "admitted to at least some of the posts. Comptroller Mendoza has zero tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech. The employee was immediately fired.The lawyer did not respond to a request for comment from WGN-TV.

Downtown fire station closes, is it a dangerous move?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The temporary closure of a downtown Austin fire station has some people worried about response times.According the Austin Fire Fighters Assocation, Fire Station 1 located on 5th and Trinity Street, closed suddently after the building was condemmed during construction.Both EMS and AFD crews who work out of the station were moved to other stations around the city until the building is remodeled."It has three units in it," said Austin Firefighters Association President, Bob Nicks. "It is the busiest unit in the city of Austin."Nicks said while the closure is just temporary, not having an operating station in the core of the city can impact response times all over."I can't emphasize how much what a dangerous condition this is to have no units downtown in the 10th largest city in the nation," Nicks said. "All these other stations that surround this block are pulled in. What is called coverage calls, so what happens is their response times become longer getting here and th...

Austin family waiting for City inspection turns trench into Halloween display

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's a Halloween display the Donovan family is pretty proud of. Enough so, they sent a photo to KXAN's Report!t this year. But they're also at a bit of an advantage over others sending their spookiest photos to KXAN. Most people don't have a trench in their front yard to work with. "The plumbers told us that the City has to come out and inspect the work before they can fill it back in so we thought lets make lemons out of lemonade and decided to make our 'graveyard escape,'" Forest Donovan said. 'Turning lemons into lemonade': An Austin family decorated a trench left open while they wait for the City of Austin to inspect their new water line (KXAN photo/Grace Reader)'Turning lemons into lemonade': An Austin family decorated a trench left open while they wait for the City of Austin to inspect their new water line (KXAN photo/Grace Reader)'Turning lemons into lemonade': An Austin family decorated a trench left open while they wait for the City of Austin to inspect the...

Austin City Council wants to hold funding for I-35 project, TxDOT responds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Thursday, Austin City Council approved a resolution seeking to hold funding from the Texas Department of Transportation for it's I-35 Capital Express Central project until two climate strategy plans can be completed. “While I-35 Central’s groundbreaking is inevitable, Austinites have shown strong support of efforts to reduce car-dependency and slow climate change, and it can’t be stressed enough how important it is to get this multigenerational project right," said Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis. She authored the resolution. Council Members Mackenzie Kelly and Leslie Pool voted against the resolution, along with Mayor Kirk Watson. Still, the resolution passed. TxDOT responded to the resolution shortly after Thursday's vote saying it "is not indicative of the partnership TxDOT has cultivated with the city." Austin’s I-35 expansion clears final hurdle before construction start The resolution does not stop TxDOT from continuing with its project, but serves as a reques...

Kings win review, then roll over Wild, 7-3

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

With Halloween less than two weeks away, perhaps it was appropriate that the Minnesota Wild was beaten by what appeared to be a phantom goal on Thursday.Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice in the last minute of the first period to break a 2-2 tie, the first of which he appeared to have kicked through Marc-Andre Fleury’s legs, and Minnesota never recovered in a 7-3 loss at Xcel Energy Center.Connor Dewar, Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek scored for the Wild, and Fleury stopped 21 of 26 shots.Former Wild goaltender Cam Talbot, who was traded after the Wild signed Fleury to a two-year contract extension in July 2021, stopped 30 shots for the Kings. After pulling within two goals on Eriksson Ek’s third period goal, the Wild pulled Fleury with just under 3 minutes to play and Los Angeles added a pair of empty-net goals.The Kings rallied from a 2-1 deficit, getting the go-ahead goal late in the first period when Dubois beat Connor Dewar for a blind outlet pass from Kevin Fiala and somehow ...

High school football: Defense delivers big plays in Centennial’s 9-0 win over Rosemount

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

The Centennial football team entered its regular-season finale Thursday night looking for a bit of revenge.And its defense assured the Cougars got it.Centennial twice held Rosemount without a score after fumbles by the Cougars on their first possession of both the first and second half, then forced a big turnover late in a 9-0 win in Circle Pines.A first-half touchdown run by senior quarterback Daylen Cummings and a fourth-quarter field goal by Keaton Frase were all that was needed as Metro-North champ Centennial improved to 7-1.The Irish (4-4) were the team that ended the Cougars’ season a year ago, defeating them 27-0 in the Class 6A state quarterfinals.Neither team scored in the first quarter, though Rosemount had its chance after recovering a fumble on the Centennial 38.But the Cougars defense turned the Irish over on downs on fourth-and-8 at the 23.Centennial then marched 55 yards to score on a 3-yard run by Cummings with 4:08 to go in the first half.The extra point was blocked...

50 years of Schenectady's "The Way We Were" film

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Actors Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford crossed paths in front of the Nott Memorial of Union College in the movie, The Way We Were. 50 years after the release, the local community is looking back on the romance before its anniversary premiere.A quick rewind of this classic movie shows some local landmarks in the spotlight. Union's Chester Arthur Statue and Jackson's Garden were featured in the 1973 hit. During the almost two weeks of filming on campus, student extras were paid $15 a day and a chance to be star-struck. "I didn't have a chance to be on set, but my husband, Marty Zielinski, went with my children right on set and met with Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand," exclaimed Lois Macerola as a first-time viewer of the film. Documentary “Hudson, America” shown at Time & Space Limited The Way We Were was filmed in the surrounding area and Union College in the fall of 1972. Two other schools were scrapped for the setting beforehand.At the tim...

City fills giant street holes after FOX 2 report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – After we told you last week about a massive hole left in the middle of a St. Louis street, we’ve found another one up the street and around the corner from the first.However, things are changing for the better since FOX 2 started looking into the issues.Last week, you would not have wanted to park on Utah near Ohio. You certainly would not have wanted to step out of your car here along one section, in particular. A near 12’ by 15’ hole in the street surrounded by cones and caution tape but only partially covered with plywood. It wasn’t like that for just a day or two. It was like that for weeks, residents said.“For over a month,” said Loretta Anderson, who cares for her year-old granddaughter in her home.“(The hole) was so big, you couldn’t miss it,” Marnae, Loretta’s daughter, said. Sex offender banned from rec centers after FOX 2 tip So, they were thrilled to see it filled and paved within days of FOX 2 asking the City of St. Louis what was taking so long.“Peace of m...

Feds bust suspected drug ring in St. Louis area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Missouri announced Thursday charges have been filed against 34 defendants believed to be tied to an organization known as Black Mafia Family. Investigators allege the group trafficked large amounts of narcotics into the St. Louis area.The four-year investigation was conducted by the St. Louis Gateway Strike Force. “I think that dismantling this organization is going to make a significant impact on community safety,” said Chris Crocker, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI St. Louis Field Office.Investigators allege the organization, with ties to other parts of the country, has been the main supplier of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine into the St. Louis area. The investigation also led to charges alleging drug traffickers pocketed money by applying for loans related to COVID relief funds. Teen and young woman shot while in car downtown, police investigating According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, among those facing f...