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Illinois man fatally shot by officer after fleeing traffic stop identified as 18-year-old

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

RANTOUL, Ill. (AP) — An armed man who was fatally shot by a central Illinois police officer after fleeing a traffic stop has been identified as an 18-year-old local man, authorities said Thursday.Champaign County's coroner said Jordan A. Richardson of Rantoul died at a hospital from a gunshot wound to the chest after being shot Wednesday by a Rantoul police officer. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday. Docs: Logan Square woman found nearly decapitated in duffle bag; boyfriend had cleaning supplies Richardson was the passenger in a car that was stopped Wednesday by Rantoul police, who found cannabis in the vehicle. Police said Richardson ran from the car, dropped a gun, then picked it up and continued running.Police said Richardson then fell to the ground and turned toward an officer with the gun still in his hand, prompting that officer to fire a single shot, striking Richardson, The (Champaign) News-Gazette reported.The officer who shot Richardson has been placed on paid administ...

Supreme Court sides with Jack Daniels in trademark fight against poop-themed dog toy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with Jack Daniel’s in its trademark fight against a poop-themed dog toy that parodies the company’s whiskey bottles.In a unanimous decision authored by Justice Elena Kagan, the high court ruled for the whiskey maker but left unaddressed whether the First Amendment provides parodies with heightened protections from trademark-infringement claims.The Supreme Court has never endorsed the premise, known as the Rogers test, and the justices ruled it wouldn’t apply to the dog toy, so they didn’t have to weigh in on its validity.VIP Products LLC’s toy replaced the famed “Jack Daniel’s” typography with “Bad Spaniels.” It further swapped “Old No. 7 brand” and “Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey” with “The Old No. 2 on Your Tennessee Carpet.”“This case is about dog toys and whiskey, two items seldom appearing in the same sentence,” Kagan wrote for the court.Kagan showed amusement at the court while reading the opinion on Thursday, at one point singing “Barbie ...

El Niño officially arrives early: What it means for Chicago in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – El Niño has arrived. The Climate Prediction Center announced Thursday that El Niño conditions were present and expected to grow stronger in the coming months. Forecasters give it a 56% chance of developing into a strong El Niño, and an 84% chance of topping "moderate" strength. This year's El Niño has shown up ahead of the typical schedule. In the past decade, El Niños have started in late summer or early fall. Its early appearance "gives it room to grow," Climate Prediction Center meteorologist Michelle L’Heureux, told the Associated Press. This year's El Niño is expected to keep building and remain strong through the 2023-2024 winter. Where do El Niño and La Niña get their names? This year is predicted to be the inverse of what we’ve seen the last three years, in which we have had back-to-back La Niña seasons.El Niño typically brings cold, wet winters to the Southern U.S. A strong El Niño, in particular, is associated with lots of rain for the Southwest and Cal...

APD holds press conference on sex assault investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department will hold a press conference Thursday afternoon to provide details on a sexual assault investigation.Police said they're now asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect. However, they offered no other information at this time. Austin apartment issues 10 p.m. curfew, do residents have to follow it? This developing story will be updated with more information.

Buoys to be deployed as new barrier at Texas border, Abbott says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) —Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday afternoon a "new, water-based barrier of buoys" will be installed at the Texas border soon. Abbott made the announcement after signing several border security-related bills that were passed during the 88th Legislative Session. Abbott said the installation of the buoys will start "immediately.""These buoys will allow us to prevent people from even getting to the border," Abbott said.Texas Department of Public Safety Director Col. Steven McCraw said the deployment of the first 1,000 feet of buoys will start in Maverick County's Eagle Pass. McCraw added the buoys can be deployed quickly and are movable.Images of the concept were displayed on each side of the table where Abbott, McCraw and Major General Thomas Suelzer, the Adjutant General of Texas, were sitting for the press conference. One image showed someone attempting to get over the barriers.Concept image of adding buoy barriers to the Rio Grande (Nexstar Photo)Image of s...

Hotter weather coming, but scattered thunderstorms continue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Scattered thunderstorms moved through parts of the area today bringing lightning and brief heavy rain, but no reports of damaging hail nor wind.Some areas recorded 1-2 inches of rain, including 1.75" of rain near Pedernales Falls State Park. Updated rainfall totals A ridge of high pressure builds overhead the next several days, raising afternoon temperatures to the warmest of the year thus far in the middle and upper 90s.Forecast high temperatures Friday -- the hottest of the yearThe ridge will not entirely eliminate rain chances, however, with a 20% chance of late-day storms Friday and a higher 30% chance of late-day thunderstorms on Saturday. "The future is smoky": Northeast U.S. air quality problems linked to climate change The ridge builds further next week, likely leading to a string of 100-degree days -- our first of the year, arriving about 3 weeks ahead of when they typically begin. Humidity also increases, producing "feels like" temperatures of 103°-107...

From concerts to art fairs to drag shows, there’s plenty going on this month to celebrate Pride

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

June is Pride Month, the concept of which was born after the patrons — including drag queens and trans people — fought back against police raids at New York’s Stonewall Inn in late June 1969.What began as a riot has since grown into a celebration around the globe. The Twin Cities Pride Festival is, of course, the biggest and best-known event of the month in the metro, but there’s plenty more going on, including arts and crafts fairs, concerts and drag shows. Here’s a look at what’s on tap.St. Paul PrideThe new St. Paul Pride festival is a family-oriented celebration of St. Paul’s LGBTQ entertainers, food scene and artists. Performers include Nunnabove, JD Steele and the MacPhail Youth Choir, Kelese, the Culture, Enzy Rose, Tahjer, Mikko Blaze and Cameron Wright. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. June 10; Rice Park, St. Paul; free; stppride.org.One Voice Mixed Chorus: ONEarthMinnesota’s only LGBTQ chorus, One Voice Mixed Chorus features 125 singing members ranging in...

Class 3A state track: Rosemount’s Hayden Bills wins shot put championship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

Rosemount senior Hayden Bills continued to make history Thursday, winning the shot put title at the Class 3A state meet prelims at St. Michael-Albertville High School with a throw of 66 feet, 7.5 inches to set a new state meet record.The throw was nearly nine feet better than his closest competitor, Brainerd’s Dylan Gross. Bills set the all-time state record in May with a throw of 66 feet, 8.75 inches.The Arizona State commit will look to defend his discus state title on Saturday.Rochester Century’s Elise Jensen won the girls discus throw state title with a toss of 149 feet, 8 inches. That eclipsed Eagan’s Alysha Onwuneme by just more than two feet. Rosemount’s Jordan Hecht was third.Wayzata’s Madelyn Gullickson won the 3,200-meter state title with a time of 10 minutes, 39.55 seconds, besting Mounds View’s Taylor Isabel by just more than a second. Forest Lake’s Norah Hushagen was fifth, while Central’s Laura McClary finished sixth.Robb...

Twins swept by Rays as losing streak hits five games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There were more hits, more runs and fewer strikeouts on Thursday.And yet, the results were the same. The Twins, mired in their worst stretch of the season, fell 4-2 on Thursday afternoon at Tropicana Field, swept by the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays. The Twins’ fifth straight loss dropped the club to a game under .500.Solo home runs from Carlos Correa in the fourth inning and Michael A. Taylor in the eighth marked the only runs for the Twins’ offense, which is making its way through a collective June swoon. The Twins leave Tampa Bay having scored just three runs in three games, collecting 13 hits and striking out 28 times.In a stroke of poor fortune, the Twins had an opportunity in the first inning with one out and a runner on when Jorge Polanco smoked a ball up the middle that looked like it was headed for the outfield turf. Instead, it deflected off pitcher Yonny Chirinos and then hit the second-base umpire. The Rays got an out on the play, and to make matters eve...

Schenectady man pleads guilty to drug, gun crimes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:30 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Thursday, Ramel Gulley, 28, of Schenectady, pled guilty to drug and firearm crimes. Gulley admitted that on February 28, he possessed 2,035 grams of heroin-fentanyl mixtures and intended to distribute them. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Gulley also admitted to having four firearms to protect the drugs, his drug trafficking business, and $12,625 in drug proceeds. Sentencing is scheduled for October 11. Gulley faces a minimum of 15 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of 5 years to life.