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Driver says he considered Treat Williams a friend and charges in crash are not warranted

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

DORSET, Vt. (AP) — A driver accused of causing a crash that killed Treat Williams knew the actor and considered him a friend but denied wrongdoing and said charges are not warranted.Ryan Koss, the managing creative director of the Dorset Theatre Festival in Vermont, said he knew Williams for years as a member of the tight-knit community, as well as a fellow theater member. He said he was devastated by Williams’ death and offered his “sincerest condolences” to the actor’s family. “I considered him a friend,” Koss said.Koss, 35, of Dorset, issued a statement Friday evening, three days after being issued a citation for grossly negligent operation causing death. He was ordered to appear in court in September to be formally charged.A Vermont State Police investigation concluded Koss’ vehicle pulled in front of Williams’ motorcycle on June 12 in Dorset, but Koss said he’s “confident the facts will show I obeyed all relevant traffic laws, and the state’s charges are unwarranted...

Israel arrests 2 settlers after deadly rampage on a village leaves 1 Palestinian dead

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police said Saturday that they arrested two Israeli settlers after they stormed a Palestinian village in the West Bank in a rampage that left one Palestinian dead. Armed settlers entered Burqa, a herding village east of the city of Ramallah, late Friday, shooting and killing 19-year-old Qusai Matan, Palestinian health officials said. Israeli media reported that one of the arrested settlers used to work as an aide, who remained unnamed, for a lawmaker of the far-right Israeli “Jewish Power” party which is in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition of ultranationalist and ultraorthodox parties in the Israeli parliament. It includes Itamar Ben-Gvir, a pro-settlement firebrand known for hardline positions against Palestinians. The party couldn’t be reached for comment.Police said they arrested two settlers after detaining five for questioning. The other settler who was arrested was hospitalized after sustaining injuries Friday night. Authoritie...

Dior store employee robbed at gunpoint in Gold Coast: CPD

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

CHICAGO -- There were no signs indicating an armed robbery took place at a Dior Store in the city's Gold Coast neighborhood Friday night. Chicago police are seeking at least one robbery suspect in the case. The incident took place at the Dior store located in the 900 block of Noth Rust street around 10: 47 p..mPolice reported that an unknown man entered the business through the back door, armed with a handgun. He threatened to use force while point the handgun at employees and took merchandise from the store. Woman found stabbed to death in road in Oak Forest: police He fled through the back door where he was observed entering a black Tukon truck and fled. There were no injuries reported and there is currently no one in custody.

Woman found stabbed to death in road in Oak Forest: police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

OAK FOREST, Ill. -- Oak Forest police are investigating a domestic homicide where a woman was found with fatal stab wounds in the road Friday night. Police said 30-year-old Lauren Pikor was found in the road near the 5300 block of Diamond Drive around 10.p.m. with fatal lacerations and stab wounds. She was pronounced dead on the scene. Dior store employee robbed at gunpoint in Gold Coast Oak Fores police are currently investigating the incident. If any information is recovered on the incident, contact Detective Sergent Ryan Burnett at 708-687-1376.

Mega Millions jackpot now estimated to be largest in game's history

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The current Mega Millions jackpot is estimated at $1.55 billion dollars, which would make it the largest in the game’s nearly three-decade history.For now, though, that figure is only an estimate: Officials say there’s a slight possibility Tuesday’s jackpot could fall short of the record (a $1.537 billion jackpot awarded in 2018), but it doesn’t look likely.“With enthusiastic players across the country, many of whom are newcomers to the game, it is indeed likely that there will be a new record Mega Millions jackpot,” reads a press release issued by Mega Millions. “However, we won’t know for sure until we get closer to Tuesday’s drawing; at this level, jackpots are hard to predict with complete accuracy.” Why the Mega Millions jackpot winner won’t actually get the jackpot amount Friday night’s winning numbers — 11, 30, 45, 52, 56, and the Mega Ball 20 — went unmatched once again, continuing a months-long trend that began after the last jackpot-winner was announced on&nb...

APD to get new $1.1M incident command vehicle

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it planned to buy a new incident command vehicle "to continue safety efforts in the city of Austin," the department announced Tuesday.The $1.12 million vehicle will replace the current incident command vehicle (ICV) "that has reached the end of its useful life, APD said. The ICV is used as a mobile command post during large-scale events like sporting events, festivals and weather events.The vehicle will be bought with APD's fiscal year 2023 asset forfeiture budget. APD will use the vehicle and the city's fleet department will be responsible for maintenance and long-term upkeep.APD said its training unit will create training for ICV users to take advantage of the vehicle's technology and equipment.

New partnership expands student housing for Huston-Tillotson students at St. Edward's University

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Huston-Tillotson University students will have an opportunity to have student housing starting this fall at the St. Edward's University campus, the two universities announced Friday. The partnership will give housing to 150 HT students at Teresa Hall on St. Edward's campus in south Austin. The program will last three academic years. HT President at CEO Melva K. Wallace said in the release that the partnership is cost-effective for students and allows them to interact with a broader network across both institutions. HT students will also have access to on-campus dining, recreation, wellness and health clinic services. HT has two residence halls, one for female housing and the other for male housing, according to its website. St. Edward's said this partnership is the start of expanding housing opportunities to external groups such as interns and conferences.

IDEA students in Austin to get free breakfast, lunch this school year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — All students at IDEA Public Schools across Austin will get free breakfast and lunch in the 2023-24 school year, the district announced Monday. The charter school district said families do not need to take any action to receive the free meals. RELATED: Research shows number of children receiving free summer lunches down by almost 45 percent The free meals are part of the community eligibility provision under the USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast programs. IDEA has eight schools in the Austin area: IDEA Bluff Springs, IDEA Health Professions, IDEA Kyle, IDEA Montopolis, IDEA Parmer Park, IDEA Pflugerville, IDEA Round Rock Tech and IDEA Rundberg. During the pandemic, students across the country received free breakfasts and lunches thanks to a federal waiver, but the program ended in June 2022.

New APD cadets could get up to $15K in bonuses

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department announced it was offering bonuses to new cadets.“The updated pay range for police officers has increased to $65,411.00 - $109,382.00, and officers may qualify to earn additional monthly pay incentives such as shift differential for working nights/evenings, bilingual pay, and education pay. Overtime opportunities are available, and base pay increases further as officers promote,” APD said.The department said it was hiring multiple upcoming academy classes through 2024 and that prior law enforcement experience was not required to apply.“The Austin Police Department (APD) is searching for qualified men and women who have the heart and desire to serve and protect our diverse and growing Austin community,” APD said.According to a release, new cadets beginning with the 152nd class starting in February 2024 would receive a financial incentive of up to a total of $15,000.The bonuses will be paid out as cadets reach certain milestones in their tra...

2 St. Paul men plead guilty to assaulting a federal agent during drug sting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:15:33 GMT

Two St. Paul men pleaded guilty this week to assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during a March undercover drug sting.The U.S. attorney’s office announced Friday:On March 30, an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent made arrangements to buy about 1,600 M30 fentanyl pills from Dion Darnell Miller, 27, and Aaron Maurice Amir Harris, 28, both of St. Paul, in a sting operation.At about 1:15 p.m., an undercover law enforcement agent arrived in the 600 block of Van Buren Avenue to buy 1,600 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl for $2,400. After he texted he was there, a silver Volkswagen arrived with Harris in the driver’s seat and Miller in the back seat. The undercover agent was told to get into the front passenger seat. He did so reluctantly, leaving the door ajar with his leg sticking out.Shortly after the agent asked to see the drugs, Miller, who was in the back seat, reached into his jacket and took out a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine and...