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Southern California school janitor who spent years in jail acquitted of child sexual abuse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

JOSHUA TREE, Calif. (AP) — A jury has acquitted a former Southern California elementary school janitor who spent years in jail after being accused of sexually abusing students, his attorneys announced Tuesday.Pedro Martinez, of Hesperia, who’s been jailed since January 2019, was found not guilty on Monday on all 10 counts against him. An 11th charge was dismissed during his 3 1/2-month-long trial, according to a statement from his attorneys.He has been released.“We are thrilled that Pedro Martinez has been found not guilty of any of the terrible crimes that he was accused of, and he is home again with his family,” defense attorney Ian Wallach said in the statement. Martinez’s attorneys alleged there wasn’t any legitimate evidence in the case and accused the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department of bungling and misconduct. They didn’t immediately indicate whether Martinez might sue but said he is consid...

Andre Braugher, Emmy-winning actor who starred in ‘Homicide’ and ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine,’ dies at 61

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andre Braugher, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his roles on the series “Homicide: Life on The Street” and “Brooklyn 99,” died Monday at age 61.Braugher’s publicist Jennifer Allen told The Associated Press the actor died after a short illness.The Chicago-born actor had his breakthrough role in 1989’s “Glory,” starring alongside Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, who won an Oscar for the film about an all-Black army regiment during the the Civil War.Despite the part, he told The Associated Press in 2019 that he struggled to find work in a Hollywood where roles for African American actors were “few and far between. Period.”But he would establish himself with the role of Det. Frank Pembleton, which he would play for seven seasons in “Homicide: Life on the Street,” a gritty police drama on NBC based on a book by David Simon, who would go on to create “The Wire.”He would win his first career Emmy for the role, taking the trophy for lead actor in a ...

Opinion: Will next week decide the fate of Justin Fields and Luke Getsy?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

CHICAGO — From Matt Eberflus’ defense, to Justin Fields’ decision-making and Luke Getsy’s play-calling on offense, all facets of the Chicago Bears performance against the Detroit Lions came together like the ingredients of a well-prepared deep-dish pizza on Sunday. Last column: The Bears won, but Luke Getsy’s time as offensive coordinator may be up There was a litany of positives for Bears fans to take away from the first time Chicago won back-to-back games under Eberflus, and the first time the Bears won a game coming out of the bye week in ten years (Before Sunday, the Bears last win coming off a bye week was Nov. 4, 2013, against the Green Bay Packers)Montez Sweat looked every part of being the prized edge rusher Chicago didn't have five weeks ago — the not-so-secret ingredient needed to push the sauce in the Bears defensive pizza over the top, if you will.After notching 5 tackles, a sack and four quarterback hits Sunday, Sweat now has 3.5 sacks in five games donning the navy ...

Man fatally struck by semi while allegedly fleeing from police on West Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

CHICAGO — Police say a man is dead after he was hit by a semi-truck while allegedly attempting to flee from police on the city’s West Side on Tuesday afternoon.According to police, officers were observing a stolen vehicle that was parked outside of a business in the 800 block of South Cicero Avenue around 2:30 p.m. when a 24-year-old man exited the vehicle.Police attempted to perform an investigatory stop, but the man allegedly fled on foot.  Calls for NAACP Illinois conference president to resign after racist remarks Police say the man only made it a short distance before he was struck by a semi-truck. He later died at the hospital. Police say the semi-truck that struck the man did not stop.An investigation into the incident is currently underway by the CPD Major Accidents Investigation Unit.SkyCam9 flew over the scene around 4:20 p.m. and police tape could also be seen strung across Arthington as officers walked around the area. Body believed to be missing Carpentersville...

Missouri 18-year-old shot, killed in duck hunting incident: officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

WINFIELD, Mo. (KTVI) – An 18-year-old high school senior was shot and killed in a tragic duck hunting incident in Missouri over the weekend, according to authorities. Investigators said Trent Busch died from a gunshot wound while duck hunting at the Ted Shanks Conservation Area in Pike County, about 100 miles north of St. Louis, on Sunday. Preliminary findings indicate the shooting was an accident with no malicious intent.  A Missouri Department of Conservation official said Busch was with a group of friends but added that it’s too soon to release specifics about what happened.  He said that even though the shooting appears to be a tragic accident, the investigation is continuing.   The Pike County Sheriff’s Office is assisting the Missouri Department of Conservation in the investigation. Wild video shows bear sprint past skiers at California ski resort Busch was a senior at Winfield High School. The school’s principal, Jill Johler, described the teen as ...

Office of Sustainability selects 33 'youth leaders' for its Austin Youth Climate Equity Council

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) –  The Austin Office of Sustainability announced it has selected 33 young leaders as part of Austin's Youth Climate Equity Council, an initiative to give young people a “seat at the table” when exploring ways to address climate change in Austin. This is the third cohort of local young people – the 33 come from each City Council district and 13 schools. "[As a member of the council,] I hope to make effective change through education and policy in Austin – and to help organize youth to not only understand the science but to find solutions to the problem that will affect us for the rest of our lives," said Ellison, a newly appointed youth council member from the Ann Richards School for Young Women."My goal is to organize a movement into action — to make policy changes to stop industries from continuing to harm our communities and our futures, incentivize new industries to innovate solutions, and build new infrastructure to protect those most vulnerable to extreme cli...

Minnesota down to 3 final concepts for new state flag

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

With its deadline at the end of the month, a panel tasked with finding new symbols for Minnesota has honed in on three flag designs and finalized a design for a new state seal.The State Emblems Redesign Commission on Tuesday chose three final concepts from the more than 2,000 design submissions it received from the public in October. Members entered Tuesday’s meeting with six finalists from their meeting in November. After voting, they whittled their choices down to three.“I thought all six were strong, but emerging from public opinion and what I had heard and feedback from people from fellow Minnesotans, these were the top three that I think are the most unifying,” said Vice Chair Anita Gaul, who told reporters she expects the commission to narrow its choices to one finalist when members meet again Friday.All three final designs bear a single star and include one or more shades of the color blue. Two include the color green. And if you use your imagination, one appears ...

Elijah Hawkins sets Gophers single-game assist record in win over IUPUI

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

Only one piece of drama remained in the Gophers’ 101-65 blowout win over IUPUI on Tuesday at Williams Arena.Would Elijah Hawkins get one final assist?With the game well in hand, the starting point guard remained on the floor with four back-ups, but was stuck on a program-record-tying 16 for nearly six minutes.Then Hawkins’ bounce pass was finished by with a lay-up form walk-on Erick Reader with under three minutes left. Fans at The Barn roared when Hawkins passed Arriel McDonald’s previous mark set against Wisconsin in 1994. The public-address announcer notes the record and coach Ben Johnson subbed him out of the game.Hawkins, a transfer from Howard, had only one turnover in 32 minutes played Tuesday. His two points didn’t matter much with how much his teammates made shots.Over the last three games, Hawkins has 39 total assists, after putting up 11 against Nebraska and Florida Gulf Coast last week. It is also believed to be the first time a player has had double-digit as...

Troy Police celebrate the first Citizen Police Academy Graduation Ceremony

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) —In an effort to create strong relationships and promote better understanding between law enforcement and the community, the Troy Police Department created a ten-week Citizens Police Academy. On Tuesday, friends and family gathered for the first graduation ceremony. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! For Debbie Catellier, it was indeed a family celebration since her husband, son, and daughter-in-law all were a part of the program.“This is a great thing,” she said. “You know, it gets people out to know our police department. Which I believe we have a good police department in Troy.”Her son Michael Catellier, Jr said he wanted to sign up as soon as he heard about it, then recruited his family.“And they got excited about it, and here we are, graduating from the Citizen Police Academy,” he said.The program teaches participants about law enforcement values and operations and also covers topics such as investigations, use of ...

DU hockey coach David Carle on being favorite at 2024 World Juniors: “I’m used to having a target on our backs.”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:50 GMT

When a reporter asked if he was comfortable being a favorite in Sweden, David Carle’s smile said it all.“Yeah, I’m used to having a target on our backs here (with the Pios),” Carle, the venerated DU hockey coach, said Tuesday when asked about his debut as the coach of Team USA at the 2024 IIHF World Juniors later this month in Gothenburg, Sweden.“And all of our players that are coming to this event, I think that we’re probably (used to it). And at the same time, it’s not getting concerned with the outside noise. No one’s expectations on the outside are higher than ours internally. And this group has a lot to prove and they want to get over there and get to work and get after it.”Team USA begins pool play in Group B against Sweden on Dec. 26 at 9 a.m. Denver time. Carle’s squad is the second-highest seeded team in Group B behind the Czech Republic and the No. 3 seed in the overall field behind the Czechs (No. 2) and Canada (...