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Alabama inmate asks appeals court to block his execution, citing state’s past problems

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Attorneys for an Alabama inmate on death row asked a federal appeals court Monday to block his upcoming execution, arguing the state has a history of troubled lethal injections. James Barber, 54, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday as the state seeks to resume executions following a lengthy pause. Gov. Kay Ivey temporarily suspended executions last year after two lethal injections were called off because of difficulties inserting an IV into the veins of the condemned men. Advocacy groups claimed a third execution that was carried out after a lengthy delay was botched.A panel of judges with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Monday but did not indicate when they will rule. “We’re able to see from what happened last year; we have a very strong chance of substantial harm,” Barber attorney Mara Klebaner told the panel. Richard Anderson, an assistant Alabama attorney general, told the court that the state will use a new IV...

"We heard this loud boom:" Plane debris falls into backyard of Far Northwest Side home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department responded to a non-criminal case on the City's Far Northwest Side Monday afternoon where a plane part appeared to fall from the sky."We heard this loud boom," said local resident Sam Deane.According to police, officers responded to a home in the 4700 block of North Chester near Lawrence Avenue and Cumberland Avenue, where plane debris had fallen into the backyard, slightly damaging the home.After officers arrived, the debris was moved out in front of the home into the street, where it was taken from the scene."They were just having lunch upstairs in our unit and they just heard a loud boom and I guess it hit the side of the building," said Patrick Devitt, a resident of the building where the plane derbis fell. "The only thing that we were worried about at the beginning was like, oh yeah, it's real loud, stuff like that and you get used to it, but you never think that something like that is going to happen."According to the Federal Aviation Adm...

Powerball: Winning numbers drawn for $900M jackpot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - It has been three months since the Powerball jackpot was hit, but that could all change following Monday's drawing. If a ticket (or tickets) matches the winning numbers below, the jackpot could be the third-largest grand prize in Powerball's history, and one of the largest lottery prizes in U.S. history. The numbers drawn Monday were: 5, 8, 9, 17, and 41, and red Powerball 21. The Power Play multiplier was 4X. $900,000 Lotto ticket purchased in Chicago suburb Ahead of the drawing, officials estimated the jackpot to be $900 million, with a cash value of $465.1 million. By the time the drawing was held, officials estimated the jackpot at $922 million.Should the jackpot roll again after Monday's drawing, the prize could grow to eclipse $1 billion. It would need to surpass $1.05 billion to become the sixth-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. Here are the 10 largest Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots:$2.04 billion (Powerball): Nov. 7, 2022; California$1.586 billion (Po...

Georgetown ISD names Dr. Devin Padavil lone finalist for superintendent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Georgetown ISD Board of Trustees named a lone finalist for its vacant superintendent position at its regular meeting Monday.Dr. Devin Padavil, who has been the superintendent at Taylor ISD since 2021, is expected to start at Georgetown ISD after the mandatory 21-day waiting period, and the board will vote on hiring Padavil at its next meeting Aug. 7."We are excited to welcome Dr. Padavil to Georgetown," Georgetown ISD Board President Elizabeth McFarland said. "His extensive experience, exceptional leadership, and commitment to educational excellence make him the ideal candidate to lead GISD into the future. Under his guidance, Georgetown ISD is poised for continued growth, innovation, and success."Padavil has a deep background in education with assistant principal stops in Frisco, Pflugerville, Austin and Round Rock school districts, along with various levels of superintendent positions in Fort Bend, Leander and Taylor districts. He also taught English and s...

Investigators mum on Fargo shooting that left police officer dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

Authorities are answering few questions about the Friday shooting in Fargo that killed a police officer, including why the shooter opened fire.This photo provided by The City of Fargo, N.D., on Saturday, July 15, 2023 shows police officer Jake Wallin. On Saturday, Fargo’s police chief said a gunman opened fire on police and firefighters as they responded to a traffic crash in North Dakota. One officer, Wallin, was killed and two others were wounded before a fourth officer killed him. (The City of Fargo via AP)The Fargo Police Department has declined to discuss the Friday shooting that killed 23-year-old Officer Jake Wallin. Fargo Chief Communications Officer Gregg Schildberger referred questions to the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, or BCI, noting the state agency is leading the investigation.Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski did not return a message left by The Forum seeking comment on this story, but City Deputy Chief Communications Officer Katie Ettish said ...

One month after 11 teens shot downtown, no one charged yet

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Tuesday marks one month since a barrage of gunfire erupted during a St. Louis party, killing a teenager and injuring nearly a dozen others. No one has been charged.The shooting happened in the early morning hours of June 18 in an office building at 14th and Washington in downtown St. Louis.Investigators said the party was organized on social media.Evita Caldwell, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, said Monday that two teenagers have been arrested since the gunfire. However, they were released by Juvenile Court and detectives were asked to investigate more. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW On June 23, the department released a photo asking for the public's help to identify five different teenagers. Ca...

Golf ball sized hail dents East St. Louis cars 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - It's the worst storm Ron Swanson has seen in his life after living in East St. Louis for nearly 50 years.“I never saw hail this big before in my life," Swanson said.Golf ball-sized hail raining down, denting his truck and cracking his windshield Monday afternoon.“Messed up my window and my truck," Swanson said. "It busts my sister-in-law's car back window out.” Two St. Louis suburbs named among Top 50 ‘safest cities in the US’ To add insult to injury, there were still about 3,500 people without power on Monday due to recent storms in the Metro East. Downed trees and power lines spread out on sidewalks and residential properties. A Cahokia street team crew cleaned up one of the several down trees in the Centreville area.According to Ameren's outage map, about 100 people were still without power in the Centreville area. A timeline to restore power is unknown.Swanson said the only thing he can do the next time a similar storm roll through town is to, "Pray, tha...

FBI's 10 Most Wanted in St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The FBI is turning up the heat in the manhunt for the first St. Louis area suspect to make the FBI’s nationwide Ten Most Wanted list in nearly 60 years. Donald Eugene Fields II’s alleged crimes against children certainly show he belongs on the list, according to the FBI.“Worst case scenario … it’s a nightmare,” said Jay Greenburg, Special Agent-in-Charge for the FBI-St. Louis.Fields II, 59, now appears on wanted posters, websites, and billboards across the country.Fields II allegedly offered sex with a minor girl in his care to another man, in exchange for vacation trips and more.“The allegations involve cash, cars, motorcycles, Christmas presents,” Greenberg said. “Exchanging a child’s innocence for a thing of value converts this from hands on sexual abuse into sexual trafficking.”Fields II was indicted on a federal sex trafficking charge December 2022. He already faced state charges of statutory rape, sodomy, and molestation filed in 2019 for alleged sexual abuse of at...

St. Louis lotto players take their chance on $900M Powerball

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The Monday night Powerball jackpot nears a billion dollars at $900 million. If you aren’t so lucky, there's another chance Tuesday with Mega Millions at $640 million.Since Powerball hasn't produced a grand prize winner in almost three months, the pot now sits at $900 million.The third largest ever."I'm not very lucky, but maybe we'll luck out, me and a couple of guys at work,” said Don Grimes, a lottery player.Monday's Powerball drawing and Tuesday’s Mega Millions are nearing close to a record-breaking combined $1.5 billion. Two St. Louis suburbs named among Top 50 ‘safest cities in the US’ So, what would you do with the money?"Move to Florida. Buy a house, buy a boat, travel a lot, things like that,” said Julie Ronay, a lottery player."Obviously, get caught up on all of your bills, finances, help family members," said Mike Holba, a lottery player. "I do like to think of myself as a generous person, so I would probably do what I can to help dog shelters.""I always thou...

Illinois Treasurer’s office promoting ‘affordable’ private student loans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:27:51 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says far too many students are graduating from college with too much debt.It’s a nationwide issue Frerichs hopes to address. The treasurer’s office is partnering with the nonprofit ISL Education Lending to offer what they call “transparent and affordable private student loans.” Qualifying Illinois students and families can use the loans to attend nonprofit colleges or universities in the state of Illinois.“What we’re trying to do is partner with the private sector to offer lower interest rates. We’re not looking to compete with federally-guaranteed loans, but to supplement when there’s a funding gap,” Frerichs said.This loan program was born from the Student Investment Account Act. Passed in 2019, this legislation allows the treasurer to invest up to 5% of the state investment portfolio to provide affordable and responsible educational loan products to Illinois residents. Reported house explosion in St. Charles; 5 peopl...