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Texas judge dismisses murder charge against babysitter who served 15 years over toddler’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas judge dismissed a murder charge on Monday against a babysitter who served 15 years in prison after being convicted in the death of a toddler who choked on a wad of paper towels, which medical experts later concluded was the result of an accident and not intentional. Rosa Jimenez has been out of prison since 2021 after a judge ruled that a new trial was warranted at a minimum. Earlier this year, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that “false testimony” in her original 2005 trial entitled her to relief. That led to State District Judge Karen Sage granting a request on Monday to dismiss the original charges against Jimenez, who was babysitting 21-month-old Bryan Gutierrez when he choked and died in 2003. “For the past 20 years, she has fought for this day, her freedom, and to be reunited with her children,” said Vanessa Potkin, director of special litigation at the Innocence Project and Jimenez’s attorney. Jimenez had been sentenced to 99 years in pr...

Clayton Harris III joins race to replace Kim Foxx as Chicagoland’s top prosecutor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

CHICAGO — For serious competitive primary campaigns, it’s just about go-time. So Clayton Harris III, who’s hoping to succeed Kim Foxx as States Attorney, is stepping up public appearances.He’s been angling for months, even attending a Democratic Party candidate pre-slating event in June."I’ve got that Johnny Cash song, 'I've Been Everywhere,' playing in the car," Harris III said. Mayor Johnson talks Chicago’s top cop search, migrant relocation Now it’s official, Harris' campaign for Cook County States Attorney is off to the races."My focus is safety and justice, and we can do both," Harris said. "It’s not one or the other, it’s both."A former Assistant State’s Attorney, City Hall staffer and counsel at the Chicago Department of Transportation, Harris was careful not to criticize outgoing States Attorney Kim Foxx."I am the balance, the bridge, the evolution of what has been going on and we’re going to move forward to ensure that our communities feel safe and that we’re being safe ...

Fence at Ukrainian Village residence has tenants upset, concerned for safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

CHICAGO -- One week ago, Ukrainian Village resident Josie Defries said a dispute between landlords turned ugly.Defries said a woman who works for a Chicago Real Estate Company bought the apartment building next door at 1743 West Huron Street in February and had an argument with the neighboring landlord about the placement of garbage dumpsters out back.Now, tenants in adjacent 1741 West Huron Street, walk out their read door to find a chain link fence that runs through the gangway from the front sidewalk to a rear gate. The fence now blocks these residents from getting to their cars or even to take out their garbage.The post near the front sidewalk also blocks the gate from closing. Residents said it's not only a safety hazard, but a major inconvenience.If you want to build a fence on your property a permit is needed, but in the city of Chicago, as long as the fence is see through like a chain link and is below 5-feet tall, a permit is not required. The fence at the Ukrainian Village...

'Let's Make A Deal' host Wayne Brady comes out as pansexual

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

(The Hill) — Wayne Brady is pansexual, the entertainer and television host said in an interview with People Magazine published Monday. “I am pansexual,” Brady told People, which means he finds people attractive regardless of their sex or gender.“Bisexual — with an open mind!” Brady added. Brady said that he first shared the news of his sexuality with his ex-wife, Mandie Taketa, who told the magazine that she said knew the news would mean he could now be happier.Brady, who is currently the host of CBS’s "Let’s Make A Deal," said that he is excited to see where life will take him, adding that he has done his own research about being pansexual. Bryan Randall, Sandra Bullock’s longtime partner, dies at 57 from ALS: report “So, I came to pansexual because — and I know that I'm completely messing up the dictionary meaning — but to me, pan means being able to be attracted to anyone who identifies as gay, straight, bi, transsexual or non-binary. Being able to be attracted across the ...

Girl fatally shot in Chicago; suspect reportedly complained about noise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

CHICAGO (WGN) — A 9-year-old girl is dead after she was shot in the head in Chicago Saturday night by a man who was reportedly upset with the noise in the neighborhood. According to the Chicago Police Department, 43-year-old Michael Goodman has been charged with first-degree murder in the girl's death. Goodman allegedly approached a group in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood around 9:40 p.m. and shot the girl in the head.The girl, identified as Sarabi Medina, had just bought ice cream from an ice cream truck and was riding her scooter home when the shooting happened, according to authorities. Car was intentionally crashed into second floor of Pennsylvania home, authorities say Medina was transported to Stroger Hospital in critical condition where she was later pronounced dead.After the shooting, Goodman was tackled by Sarabi's father and shot during a struggle, according to a police report. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. “He ran over there, football-tackled [...

Chicago community leaders work to get jobs for teens involved in takeovers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

CHICAGO — A non-profit is working to provide jobs to teenagers who have previously been arrested for participating in the so-called teen takeovers, as well as other crimes such as carjackings.Monday, an event organized by Early Walker, CEO of I'm Telling, Don't Shoot, highlighted a community effort to employ teenagers in the restaurant industry. Multiple teens and parents spoke about the need for employment for young people."Being able to understand these kids are way more advanced, way more creative, (have) way more temptations to deal with now and I think that’s the real of this, right? Is that at the end of the day, we have to be able to meet them where they are," Walker said. Girl, 8, fatally shot in head in Portage Park; offender in custody The event took place at Jerk48, a Caribbean food restaurant in Chicago. The restaurant hosts a job-training program for those interested in pursuing work in the culinary industry.Among the participants was 19-year-old Devante White, Jerk 4...

Wildfires ignite across Texas amid extreme heat and drought

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- At least 11 active wildfires have burned more than 2,700 acres across Texas as of 6 p.m. Monday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.The statewide firefighting coalition has increased their "Preparedness Level" to Level 4 out of 5, citing a "significant increase in fire activity" amid a prolonged heatwave and punishing drought. MAP: More than 2,400 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires this year "It definitely is getting drier [and] getting hotter, Nothing is getting better so far," Texas A&M Forest Service's Kiley Moran said. "The drought has definitely contributed... it's very dry and it just takes a little spark from a piece of equipment or someone dragging their trailer chains down the road. Once it starts, the wind picks it up and it takes off."In Johnson County, just southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, a 1,400-acre blaze is half-contained as of 4 p.m. Monday. The Double Back Fire is the largest single wildfire in a string of...

Northway northbound reopens after multiple crashes in Lake George

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The northbound side of the Northway in Lake George reopened after a crash on Monday. The road was shut down between Exits 22 and 23 for about three hours after a crash involving a car carrier and a tractor trailer that caused multiple secondary crashes. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! New York State Police said no one was injured. One driver who was stuck in the traffic told NEWS10 he was surprised and grateful that everyone involved was okay."We were coming around the curb, and we just saw traffic was coming right to a screeching halt. And you could see the smoke coming from one of the tractor trailers, and we immediately pulled over and got out and ran to make sure everyone was okay."The road reopened just after 2 p.m. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Freshman Dylan Edwards developing into dynamic playmaker for CU Buffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

Colorado running back Dylan Edwards during football practice in Boulder, Colo., on Aug. 4, 2023. (University of Colorado Athletics)Dylan Edwards came to Colorado with a lot of hype as a four-star recruit who flipped a commitment to Notre Dame to join the Buffaloes.Last week, CU head coach Deion Sanders said Edwards has been “more” than advertised.As the Buffs go through preseason camp, the question is, how exactly will the Buffs use Edwards in their offense?A 5-foot-9, 170-pound speedster from Derby, Kan., Edwards is a running back, but not quite like anyone else in that room – or on the roster, for that matter.“I don’t think we have anyone on the team that can do what Dylan does,” running backs coach Gary “Flea” Harrell said Monday after the Buffs completed their fifth practice of the preseason. “He’s a guy from any part of the field can make a play because his speed, because his mindset, and we understand that.”Sanders said Friday that the Buffs plan on having Edwards return kicks...

Tory Lanez's father pleads for mercy at rapper's sentencing for shooting Megan Thee Stallion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:54 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rapper Tory Lanez 's father grew emotional in court Monday as he described his son losing his mother at age 11 as a judge prepares to sentence Lanez for shooting and wounding hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion.Los Angeles prosecutors are asking a judge to hand down a 13-year sentence to the 31-year-old Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson. Lanez was convicted of three felonies: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.Megan testified during the trial that Lanez had fired the gun at the back of her feet and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been riding in summer 2020. The pair had left a party at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood Hills home.Lanez's father, Sonstar Peterson, a Christian minister, choked back tears as he talked about his wife, Luella, dying just a few days after showing the first symptoms of a rare blood disorder that wo...