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Illinois teen appears in court, accused of murdering 16-year-old over his 'unique' gun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) - Monday was the first day back from spring break for Urbana High School students, and the first day without their classmate, 16-year-old Montrell Emery. Emery was shot and killed last week.The district's communications director Katherine Tellez said in a statement the loss of Emery is "devastating" to the school family, and "we extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends." She also said members from the district's crisis team and UHS support staff were available for students who needed them.About a mile away, the 14-year-old accused of Emery's murder appeared in court via video conference.“I don’t have any other way to put it. It’s a loss for all of us," Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said. Kevin Fox, wrongly charged in daughter’s 2004 death, dies in crash A mother sat with her head in her hands as her 14-year-old son's charges were read out by Judge Anna Benjamin - three counts of first degree murder.“It appears that the motive here...

Texas may create 7-person artificial intelligence advisory council

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Legislature may move forward with creating a new group to study how helpful or risky artificial intelligence systems may be in state government. The Texas House state affairs committee will meet Wednesday morning to discuss a bill filed by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, which would create a new, seven-person artificial intelligence advisory council for the state. The hearing related to this proposal and a number of other bills will begin at 10:30 a.m., and a live stream will be available on the House website. Artificial Intelligence coming to a classroom near you Capriglione's bill specifies a number of responsibilities that this council would have if the legislation ultimately clears both chambers and gets the governor's signature to become law. The members would chiefly be tasked with having to "study and monitor artificial intelligence systems developed, employed, or procured by state agencies," according to the bill. AI is defined as a ...

APD provides new details in northwest Austin vehicle-pedestrian crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Tuesday, the Austin Police Department provided more details about a vehicle-pedestrian crash that occurred in northwest Austin March 14, according to a APD news release.At approximately 9:20 p.m., officers responded to the crash between an SUV and an unidentified pedestrian in the 12300 block of Farm-to-Market 620, the release said. 1 dead after a vehicle-pedestrian crash in northwest Austin Police said the pedestrian died on the scene. By Tuesday, detectives were working to identify the pedestrian.The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene and cooperated with the investigation, police said.This incident is being investigated as Austin's 22nd fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 22 fatalities for the year, police said. MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2023? Anyone with any information should contact APD's Vehicular Homicide Unit at (512) 974-8111. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visit...

The Grinch returns, along with six other shows, in Children’s Theatre Company 2023-24 season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

Food chopping, knife throwing chefs from South Korea, a boy who likes to wear dresses and the return of the Grinch are on tap for the newly announced Children’s Theatre Company 2023-24 season.Full season subscriptions and renewals are on sale now at childrenstheatre.org or by phone at 612-874-0400. Single tickets go on sale this summer.“We can’t wait for you to see all of these shows. It is a joy to share brand new works and productions that have never been to Minnesota and productions we just had to bring back to delight, surprise and carry you away,” said artistic director Peter C. Brosius in a news release. Brosius, who recently announced he was leaving CTC at the end of the upcoming season, is directing three of the seven productions.The lineup includes:“Cookin’” (Sept. 12-Oct. 22): Directed by Seung-Whan Song, “Cookin’” features four Korean cooks in a cooking competition who “put on a masterful display of food chopping, knife throwing, pot banging and fire-blo...

Itching to start spring garden cleanup? Not so fast!

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

By JESSICA DAMIANO (Associated Press)When the blare of the year’s first leaf blower awakened me one morning last week, I realized spring cleanup had commenced — no matter that March could still roar like a lion here in my Long Island, New York, neighborhood.It stands to reason that professional landscapers cannot logistically clear all of their clients’ properties at the same time — the right time — so they start early. That’s good for them but bad for our gardens.In mine, I forgo the fall cleanup, opting instead to allow leaf litter, ornamental grasses and spent perennials to remain standing to serve as shelter for pollinators and other insects over winter. Those insects are still hibernating, and removing the debris before they resume their life cycles would mean removing them from my garden.That would result in less food for birds and fewer flowers and tomatoes for me.The jury is out among experts on the exact timing, but there is consensus around waiting until temperatures are c...

St. Paul woman’s child torture conviction marks the first in Minnesota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

Janice Saice fought back tears as she spoke of the agony her two great-grandchildren endured over a week’s time in a St. Paul apartment in September.Saice recalled how she was “devastated” upon seeing the injuries to 5-year-old Lucilia — the bruises, burns and patches of missing hair. She did not get to see Zimiri, the girl’s 2-year-old brother, who “was worse,” she said.“Physical injuries heal, but the emotional damage that they suffered will never heal,” Saice said Monday in a Ramsey County courtroom.The injuries were caused by the “conscious torture” inflicted by the children’s aunt, Jaime Rae Wilson, and her boyfriend, Diego Ramon Calzada-Russette, said Colin Haley, assistant county attorney.“This was not a one-time deal,” he said before Judge Kelly Olmstead sentenced Wilson on two counts of child torture. “This was day after day after day after day. This was cigarette burns, lighter burns, being whipped with belts, being waterboarded.”Jaime Rae Wilson (Courtes...

Boys basketball state tournament: Lakeville North tops Buffalo in Class 4A quarterfinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

Once they were ready for their upcoming game, members of the Lakeville North boys basketball team asked coach John Oxton how to get to the court from their locker room at Target Center.For a team steeped in state tournament tradition, these Panthers were new to the dance. They’ll be used to their surroundings for their next game.Lakeville North beat Buffalo 87-59 on Tuesday afternoon in the Class 4A quarterfinals to advance and face the winner of the matchup between third-seed Wayzata and White Bear Lake Area. The Panthers, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, haven’t been to the state tournament since being the runner-up in 2019.“The lights are a little brighter out there,” said Lakeville North senior Nolan Winter, who had 25 points and 17 rebounds and is committed to play at Wisconsin.RELATED: Nolan Winter is the Pioneer Press’ 2023 east metro player of the year“We tend to take it for granted,” Oxton said. “We’ve been here a lot as coaches and stuff, but it’s their first time....

Will Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards return to Timberwolves’ lineup Wednesday? Depends on who you ask

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

Timberwolves fans received a shot in the arm Tuesday, when prominent national reporter Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that there was “optimism” that both Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns would return to action when Minnesota took the home floor Wednesday against Atlanta.Towns hasn’t played since suffering a calf strain Nov. 29. Edwards has missed the last two contests with an ankle sprain suffered Friday in Chicago.But Towns has been ramping up his activity of late and Edwards’ injury was not as serious as initially feared, so a Wednesday return, while surprising, also seemed plausible.But Timberwolves coach Chris Finch poured a little cold water on the idea during his radio interview Tuesday with WCCO host Chad Hartman. Hartman directly asked Finch if he expected both Towns and Edwards to play against the Hawks.“I do not,” Finch said. “They’re both in evaluation periods and they’re definitely on separate timelines...

Missing St. Charles woman found dead; man charged with murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - Exactly one week after she was last seen alive, a missing St. Charles woman has been found dead, police confirmed Tuesday. One person has been taken into custody and is expected to be charged in her death.Chief Bill Carson, Maryland Heights Police Department, said the body of Jacquelyn "Jacque" Elizabeth Mitchell was found inside an apartment in the 2200 block of Palestra Drive. She was 39.Authorities from St. Charles and Maryland Heights made the discovery Monday evening. Carson said Mitchell had been dead for approximately six days.A cause of death was not announced. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW The suspect, Joseph Dejoie V, 49, lives at the apartment on Palestra. He was arrested Monday evening. The St. Charl...

Missouri man dubbed 'Package Killer' admits to 2 murders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A Missouri man dubbed the “Package Killer” for his method of disposing bodies received two life sentences Tuesday after admitting to killing two women in the St. Louis area more than 30 years ago.Gary Muehlberg, 74, has now pleaded guilty to killing three women and faces a hearing next week in the death of a fourth. Remains of all four women were found in 1990 or 1991, packed into various types of containers.Muehlberg was already in prison for killing a man in 1993 when he was charged last year with four counts of fist-degree murder in the women's death. The cases were solved after O'Fallon Detective Jodi Weber found DNA evidence while examining old, unsolved homicides. Muehlberg confessed after prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty. Top story: Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody He pleaded guilty Tuesday to murdering Brenda Pruitt and Donna Reitmeyer. The new life sentences will run concurrently with two other life sentences he was p...