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Clock ticking for West Virginia to select leadership for opioid money distribution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia is finalizing the leadership for a newly created foundation tasked with distributing the lion’s share of the more than $1 billion in opioid lawsuit-settlement money coming to the state with the nation’s highest overdose death rate.That means funding for opioid treatment and addiction services can soon begin going out to communities after years of litigation, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said Monday in his state Capitol office in Charleston. “We feel this process has been moving along,” Morrisey said. “It’s a lot of money, and I want to make sure the public knows full well what’s happening with it.”Morrisey said the state has hired the Arlington, Virginia-based search firm DRiWaterstone Human Capital to find an executive director for the West Virginia First Foundation, the private non-profit that will distribute just under three quarters of the money. About a quarter will go directly to counties and a small percentage — ar...

Quebec provincial police spokesman charged with sexually assaulting minor in 1988

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

PERCÉ, Que. — A Quebec provincial police spokesman is facing three criminal charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a minor in 1988, before he joined the police force.Sgt. Claude Doiron appeared in court today in Percé, in the Gaspesie region, to be charged with sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching and sexual interference towards a child who was less than 14 years old.According to the charge sheet, the alleged crimes took place between May and September 1988 in Cloridorme, on the Gaspé peninsula.Doiron, now 60, was 25 years old at the time, and Quebec provincial police say he had not yet joined the force.A lawyer for Doiron said his client did not enter a plea, and the case is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 29. Doiron has regularly appeared in the media since 2012, when he was named provincial police spokesman for the Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2023.The Canadian Press

Suburban man accused of flashing laser pointer at several planes leaving Midway, O'Hare

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

BERKELEY, Ill. — A suburban man was arrested after being accused of flashing a laser pointer at several planes leaving Midway and O'Hare.At around 9:45 p.m. Thursday, a pilot and a spotter with the Illinois State Police were participating in "Operation Safe Drive." While flying, the pair said they were targeted by a laser pointer from the ground.They used the aircraft camera and determined it was likely coming from a yard in the 1200 block of Sunnyside Drive in Berkeley.During the investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration told authorities "several" aircraft department O'Hare and Midway recently, including commercial flights, reported the same issue from that area. Charges dropped against mother and 14-year-old son in fatal shooting Saul Martinez Castanon, 36, was arrested at his residence. He was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct.ISP released a video on YouTube of footage from the plane.

Blackhawks acquiring former NHL MVP Taylor Hall from Bruins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

CHICAGO — As the Blackhawks get ready to make a selection with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft on Wednesday, they're acquiring a player who had that distinction over a decade ago. Now Official: The Blackhawks have confirmed the trade with the Bruins ahead of the NHL Draft..5-time All-Star & former MVP Taylor Hall & forward Nick Foligno to the Blackhawks. .Defensemen Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula to Boston..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/iQOKytvCKq— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) June 26, 2023On Monday, the Blackhawks announced that they've acquired 2010 No. 1 overall pick, five-time NHL All-Star and 2018 MVP Taylor Hall from the Bruins. He comes to Chicago along with forward Nick Foligno in exchange for defensemen Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula.This trade gives the still-building Blackhawks a veteran player while offering Boston some salary cap relief. Hall will be in the third year of a four-year, $24 million contract he signed prior to the 2021-2022 season.Per Sportrac,...

Johnson marks start of 'One Summer Chicago' initiative for youth employment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago's six-week summer job program for young people kicked off Monday with support from Mayor Brandon Johnson.Held in the city's Grand Crossing neighborhood, Johnson made a special appearance to congratulate kids on their new jobs Monday morning at the orientation for 'One Summer Chicago.' The annual summer job initiative employs more than 25,000 young people between the ages of 14 and 24.  Most pools now open across Chicago after surge of lifeguard applicants Offered in the program are jobs in technology, healthcare and media. All city offices will also employ young people, including the mayor's office. The Chicago Police Department is taking on 76 people. Interim CPD superintendent Fred Waller says the participants will work with community policing officers. The city has also partnered with a private sector to allow young people to work for the Chicago Cubs and Amazon.  Chicago celebrates cultural diversity on World Refugee Day Mayor...

'Pillowcase Rapist' arrested on suspicion of kidnapping

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Ronald Mark Feldmeier, who served three decades in prison for a series of rapes in Sacramento, was arrested early Monday on suspicion of kidnapping a woman in Bakersfield, arrest records show. Sheriff's inmate records show Feldmeier, 71, was booked into jail at 4:50 a.m. He was being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday. Police said the woman suffered moderate injuries."The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was the passenger in a vehicle operated by (Feldmeier)," police spokesman Sgt. Robert Pair said in an email. "At some point, while traveling with Feldmeier, the victim became concerned for her safety and repeatedly asked Feldmeier to stop the vehicle and let her out. Feldmeier refused, and the victim jumped from the moving vehicle, resulting in the injuries." 1 dead after Corvette leaves road, goes down 50-foot embankment at I-5: CHP The relationship between the woman and Feldmeier was unknown, Pair said...

Student loan debt: Borrowers brace for Supreme Court decision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

President Biden's student debt forgiveness plan will finally see an end to its months-long limbo in the courts this week.With repayments set to start again in October after a years-long pandemic-related pause, the Supreme Court's forthcoming ruling on the legality of Biden's proposal is the last piece of the student loan puzzle, offering a clearer landscape moving forward.Many borrowers are fearful as the conservative-majority Supreme Court, which could make its decision known as soon as Tuesday morning, seemed skeptical of Biden’s plan during oral arguments in February. “Generally, I hope that no matter what happens with this Supreme Court decision, that our decision-makers keep talking about options when it comes to providing student debt relief,” Sabrina Golling, a 27-year-old student loan borrower, told The Hill on Monday.“No plan to reduce or eliminate student debt will be perfect and no plan could ever benefit everyone the same amount, but we should not let the perfect ge...

Is it illegal to remove a bird's nest in Texas?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A KXAN viewer's discovery of a nest full of baby cardinals in her backyard begged the following question: Is it illegal to remove or handle a bird's nest in Texas?Central Texas resident Julia Maloy went to trim a small, bushy tree in her backyard when she spotted the babies. She said she was tipped off by an adult cardinal flying close to the bush.A spokesperson for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said both state and federal legislation prohibit the intentional removal or destruction of nongame birds, their eggs and nests.The federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 guarantees federal protection to nongame birds, their eggs and nests."No person may destroy or take the nest, eggs, or young of any wild game bird, wild bird, or wild fowl protected by this code except as provided in this code," Parks and Wildlife Code Ch. 64 reads. In Texas, birds' breeding season typically spikes between March and August each year but can fluctuate between species, the TPWD spo...

Wrongway crash that killed 32-year-old also claims his 3-year-old’s life: She ‘ran into her daddy’s open arms’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

A 3-year-old girl died of her injuries a month after an Oakdale vehicle crash that also took her father’s life.Alex Ripka, 32, was driving to drop his daughter off at her grandparent’s house, so they could take care of her while he worked at a friend’s farm, according to a GoFundMe. He needed to be there by 4:30 a.m.William Alexander Flores-Zamora, 28, of St. Paul, was driving the wrong way on Interstate 694 — travelling south in the northbound left lane — when he crashed head-on into the car that Ripka was driving on June 1 at 2:24 a.m., according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Flores-Zamora and Ripka both died at the scene.Ripka’s daughter, Nevaeh Lorraine Ripka, was asleep in her carseat at the time of the crash, according to the fundraising site. At Gillette Children’s Hospital, Nevaeh underwent emergency brain surgery and was on life support.A Saturday update on GoFundMe said, “It is with a very heavy heart to let you all know, Ne...

Families of 5 killed in Minneapolis crash call for independent investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:10 GMT

The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Minnesota chapter and family members of five young women killed in a crash last week in Minneapolis are calling for an independent investigation.Derrick Thompson, the son of a former state representative who represented St. Paul, was charged last week with 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide.Left: Sagal Burhaan Hersi, 19, of Minneapolis, and Siham Adan Odhowa, 19, of Minneapolis. Top right: Sabiriin Mohamoud Ali, 17, of Bloomington . Bottom right: Sahra Liban Gesaade, 20, of Brooklyn Center, and Salma Mohamed Abdikadir, 20, of St. Louis Park. All five died when the driver of another vehicle crashed into their vehicle in Minneapolis on June 16, 2023. (Courtesy of the Dar Al Farooq Center)Jaylani Hussein, CAIR-MN executive director, said he’s heard conflicting information about what happened before the crash at Lake Street and Second Avenue, primarily “whether it was a chase or not a chase” by law enforcement befo...