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Wrongful conviction lawsuit filed on behalf of Gurnee man freed after nearly 29 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

Herman Williams (Image: Illinois Innocence Project)CHICAGO — Lawyers for a Gurnee man freed from a downstate correctional center following nearly 29 years of incarceration are filing a civil lawsuit on his behalf for wrongful conviction.Attorneys with Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, and Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, LLC plan to argue that Herman Williams' wrongful conviction "was the result of a fabricated confession, manufactured and concealed evidence, and false testimony by law enforcement, public servants who had abandoned their professional and ethical obligations to falsely acquire this conviction to advance their careers." Williams was released from Sheridan Correctional Center on Sept. 6, 2022 after a Lake County judge threw out his conviction tied to the murder of his ex-wife, Penny Williams. Williams' body was found in a Waukegan pond near the Midlane Country Club on Sept. 26, 1993. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Gurnee man freed after 1994 murder conviction tossedProsecutors at the t...

Chicago files lawsuit against Kia, Hyundai over rise in car thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

CHICAGO — The City of Chicago has filed a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai over a rise in car thefts since last year.The complaint was filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County and alleges the auto corporations failed to equip their cars sold in the U.S., between 2011 and 2022, with anti-theft technology.It alleges that Kia and Hyundai "deceptively assured" consumers that these vehicles possessed “advanced” safety features, despite knowing about the defect and its consequences.The defect was made popular on TikTok — which shows how people can start some Kia and Hyundai models by using only a screwdriver and a USB cable.According to Chicago officials, thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in the city surged from about 500 in the first half of 2022 to more than 8,350 during the second half of the year. They said so far in 2023, thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles comprise more than half of all vehicles stolen in Chicago.In March, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul urged Kia and Hyundai ...

Austin-based major league pickleball team announces new celebrity ownership group comprised over 30 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-based pickleball team the Texas Ranchers, one of eight founding Major League Pickleball teams in the U.S., announced a new ownership group earlier this week made up of more than 30 people. The group is comprised of "power players" from professional sports, fashion, business, music and entertainment, as well as notable Austin-based entrepreneurs, including Kendra Scott and Garrett Salpeter (CEO, NeuFit), according to a release about the group. PAST COVERAGE: Major League Pickleball is coming to Central Texas — what is pickleball? Among the owners are Atlanta Falcons running back and former UT Longhorn Bijan Robinson, country music singer Zach Bryan, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, Kendra Scott, No. 1 ranked golfer in the world Scottie Scheffler, and more. Ownership group of the Texas Ranchers pickleball team (Credit: Texas Ranchers/Bobby Hammelman)The ownership group was hand-selected by preside...

Central Texas school district stays afloat amid shortage in special education teachers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

WACO. Texas (FOX 44) -- The national shortage of special education teachers is putting some schools in Central Texas in a tough situation.It's a discussion many districts are having to ensure students with special needs are supported.We reached out online and this topic is a big deal to parents mentioning how substitutes, even long-term ones were needed to step into the classroom.This year, Killeen ISD has made strides to improve."These special education aids and teachers just really go through it. You got to really love working with spread kids," said Killeen ISD parent, Desiree Bonavita.Bonavita volunteers at Venable Village Elementary School.Her son was in a class for students with special needs and says teacher shortages caused some challenges in his learning."The young ones need a lot more one-on-one attention and they're the ones that are like runners, so they're the ones who need the special education aids a lot more," said Bonavita.Another parent who wished to stay anonymous...

Docs: Texas husband pistol-whips man after discovering affair with wife, both wrap body in plastic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

HOUSTON (KIAH) — A murder investigation is underway after the discovery of a body wrapped in plastic and duct tape in Texas on Sunday.Investigators have a husband and wife in custody. They say the pair admitted to their involvement in the killing after the wife admitted to having an affair with the victim.Narciso Banos, 49, has been charged with murder, aggravated kidnapping and tampering with a human corpse when he faced a judge Sunday. His wife, Francisca Carrizales, 42, is also charged with aggravated kidnapping and tampering with a human corpse.The judge set Banos’ bond at $6.5 million, while Carrizales’ bond is set at $3.5 million. Both are currently booked at the Harris County Jail.On Friday, police were called to the residence at the 11500 block of Ezekiel Road for a welfare check on 32-year-old Francisco Romero.Romero had been reported missing and his last known address was at the home of Banos and his wife, which Banos is Romero’s boss.Court documents said that on Thursday,...

'Hot but not as hot as hell': Texas church sign pays tribute to recent heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) -- A south Abilene church sign is paying tribute to the Texas heat. The Church of Christ on Willis Street and South 11th Street currently have messages inspired by the sweltering summer on both sides of their sign. One side reads "It is hot but not as hot as hell", and the other side says, "Whatever you are baking lord, I think it's done."Triple-digit temperatures are expected to stick around through at least the end of this week.Get the latest 7-day forecast and other weather information here.

St. Paul man charged with setting off pipe bomb, damaging 2 vehicles; said he was ‘livid’ over dad’s ‘desecrated’ ashes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

A man charged Thursday with setting off a pipe bomb in St. Paul in June that damaged two vehicles told police it was intended for the vehicle of a man he was “livid” with because he “desecrated” his father’s ashes by pouring them onto the ground, according to a criminal complaint.Officers responded to a possible pipe bomb explosion at 1:12 p.m. June 13 on York Avenue between Kennard and Hazelwood streets on the Greater East Side.A Ford Ranger was parked on the north side of York and a Chevrolet Suburban on the south side. The Ranger had damage to the driver’s side and the Suburban’s rear driver’s side glass panel was shattered.Christopher William Kulak (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Officers saw burn marks on the asphalt between the vehicles, and found a pipe with a cap on the end. Witnesses and video cameras in the area documented a sedan approaching, a male’s arm reaching out the front driver’s side...

Free first aid kits and more coming to Aviation Mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A local organization with a role in accessible living accommodations is making health more accessible next month. This September, Southern Adirondack Independent Living Center (SAIL) is bringing medical kits and devices to Aviation Mall, completely for free. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! First aid kits, thermometers, COVID-19 tests, blood pressure cuffs and pulse oximeters will be up for offer during Community Health Day, from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16th. All supplies are free while they last."We're thrilled to extend this offering of free medical devices to our community, courtesy of our valued partners at the Warren County Office of the Aging," said SAIL Executive Director Tyler Whitney. "Moreover, attendees will gain insights into the remarkable spectrum of services that SAIL is dedicated to providing." Listening room and audio shop coming to Glens Falls SAIL representatives will be...

Trader Joe's must-haves for fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

(WSYR-TV) -- You might have noticed a certain chilliness in the air. While the leaves have yet to transform into the bright, pastel colors that New England is famous for, it is hard to ignore the fact that autumn is fast approaching. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Autumn also marks the apple and pumpkin seasons and the re-introduction of fall seasonal products. For some, there is no grocery store that does autumn better than Trader Joe's, with their fan-favorite butternut squash mac and cheese, autumn harvest soup, and pumpkin cheesecake.Trader Joe's officially ushers in the first sign of autumn with its "Pumpkin Palooza" on September 5. The rest of the seasonal products will follow around the second week of September.If you want to see what you can get your hands on this fall at Trader Joe's, read along for new and old fall-themed returning products this year. https://www.news10.com/news/it-doesnt-say-pickles-on-most-pickle...

New York Times tackles 'political storm' around St. Louis transgender clinic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:39:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS - As a new Missouri law takes effect next week that bans gender-affirming treatments for minors, the New York Times dove deep into one St. Louis pediatric transgender center facing pushback through a series of events described as a "political storm." In February, the Missouri Attorney General's Office launched an investigation into the Washington University Pediatric Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. A whistleblower accuses the center of using experimental drugs on children, distributing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, and giving children life-altering drugs without parental consent. BTK killer named ‘prime suspect’ in unsolved cases in Missouri, Oklahoma Washington University has contended that “appropriate policies and procedures” have been followed amid the investigation and claims there is no evidence of misconduct. Months later, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed a bill into law that would ban transgender children and some adults from acces...