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Accused Highland Park shooter no longer representing himself in trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

WAUKGEN, Ill. — The man accused of the mass shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade switched legal tactics on Friday.23-year-old Robert Crimo III reversed his course and filed a motion, saying he no longer wants to represent himself. He asked the judge to reappoint the public defenders he'd dismissed just last month.Crimo III, the accused gunman in the 2022 Highland Park massacre, is charged with murdering seven people and wounding dozens more. Trial for accused Highland Park shooter to begin in February; Crimo III to represent himself Judge Victoria Rossetti questioned the 23-year-old Friday morning, asking, "Do you still want to represent yourself in your upcoming trial?"Crimo III responded that he'd like the judge to reappoint his public defenders.Crimo III stunned the courtroom last month when he stated his decision to represent himself. He also invoked his right to a speedy trial. The judge set his court date to February 26, just six weeks away.

Suburban police issue warning over limited-edition Stanley Cup scams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

MORTON GROVE, Ill. — The Morton Grove Police Department has issued a warning to shoppers looking to purchase Stanley cups online.The warning comes after Stanley released a collaboration with Starbucks: a “Winter Pink" tumbler sold exclusively at Target — causing a frenzy that had the insulated cups flying off the shelves. Starbucks pink Stanley Quencher release causes chaos at Target Well, the police department has a warning for people who are looking for the coveted cups online: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."Beware of tricky websites using the brand’s popularity. Shady websites pretending to offer discounts on Stanley cups have been found to be scamming shoppers. If you purchase a cup through a shady website, your personal information may be compromised and your money...gone," the department stated in a post on Facebook.The police department shared the following tips to avoid online scams:Only make purchases through verified, trusted sellers.Watch ou...

About 87,000 massage guns recalled due to fire, burn risks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

(WHTM) – Around 87,000 massage guns sold at major nationwide retailers are being recalled, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced.The Homedics massagers — sold as Homedics Therapist Select Percussion Massagers — can potentially "overheat while charging," leading to possible fire or burns, according to a recall notice. As of Thursday, Homedics was aware of 17 instances of overheating, one of which resulted in a burned thumb.The massage guns, priced at around $100 each, were sold between September 2020 and November 2023 at retailers nationwide, including Macy's, BJ's, JCPenney, Lowe's and Home Depot. They were also sold online at many of the outlets' sites, as well as on Amazon.com.(Consumer Product Safety Commission)Only the massagers with the model number HHP-715, and only those manufactured in 2020, 2021 or 2022, are involved in the recall. Consumers can identify the manufacturing date via a sticker on the underside of the "barrel," which contains a four-digit...

7 weeks after train crash, CTA Yellow Line reopens early Friday morning; passengers express joy, relief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — After a nearly two-month disruption, the "Skokie Swift" is back on its tracks, albeit a little less swift.Seven weeks after a CTA Yellow Line train crashed into a piece of snow-removal equipment, sending more than a dozen people to the hospital, scheduled train service for the line — called the "Skokie Swift" because it runs between Dempster St. in Skokie and Howard St. on Chicago's North Side — resumed Friday at 4:45 a.m.While it was closed, Yellow Line passengers have been riding shuttle buses.CTA passenger Sharon Reed let out a celebratory, "Whoooo!" when asked by WGN on Friday morning at Skokie's Oakton stop how it feels to be back on the Yellow Line again."I'm so excited!" Reed said. "When they said the Yellow Line was back to running, I didn't know what to do."I said, 'Thank you, Lord!'"While the National Transportation Safety Board has yet to determine what caused the crash, CTA has still worked with the NTSB to put several interim safety enhancements in place....

Chicago Bears president Warren donates $1M to Lurie's cancer center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

CHICAGO -- The foundation run by Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren and his wife pledged one million dollars to Lurie Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Friday morning. "Whenever we can provide to soften the blow on any level, we're in," Greta Warren said.In 2023, the Warrens made a donation to help families and children with cancer diagnosis, making a similar donation to a hospital in Minnesota. "With both are upbeat people, we both are people with a heart of gratitude, and grateful. Every once in a while, I get a little sad about something some issue I may dealing with, I would open up my phone and read about the different families we were able to assist with these grants," Warren said ‘Thank you for revitalizing my hope in humanity’: Man rescued from truck days after crash posts emotional update The impact a cancer diagnosis is especially personal to the couple after Warren's sister died in 2014 of brain cancer. He says her dying wish to her brother was to do wh...

3 years after Capitol riot, almost 1,000 convictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

(The Hill) -- Ahead of the three-year anniversary of the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, about 1,000 rioters have either pleaded guilty or been convicted of crimes ranging from felonies such as seditious conspiracy and assaulting police officers to misdemeanors such as trespassing. More than 1,200 individuals have been charged with federal crimes over the insurrection. In what has become the biggest criminal investigation in American history, prosecutors are still searching for suspects in an effort that promises to continue to keep Washington's federal courthouses busy for months to come. Around 1,230 people have been hit with federal crimes. Some 730 have pleaded guilty, while approximately 170 people have been convicted on at least one charge at trials decided by a jury or judge, according to an Associated Press (AP) database. Only two defendants were cleared of all charges. Federal prosecutors are still looking for at least 80 suspects. They also want ...

Former U.S. Capitol police officer who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 is running for Congress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Harry Dunn, a former police officer who testified before lawmakers about defending the Capitol on Jan. 6 is running for Congress in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.Dunn made the announcement in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter saying, “Today, I’m running for Congress to stop Trump’s MAGA extremism & ensure it never happens again.”The announcement comes one day before the 3rd anniversary of the Capitol insurrection.The former U.S. Capitol police officer says he is running in the Democratic primary to replace Rep. John Sarbanes who is a Democrat that is not seeking reelection. Five state legislators are currently running to fill the spot.Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District stretches between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.Dunn testified before the Jan 6. Committee in a hearing held at the Capitol in July 2021. During that testimony, he told lawmakers he had to receive private counseling therapy for the emotional trauma he endured on Jan. ...

CPD: Man killed inside Lincoln Park apartment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was found dead inside a Lincoln Park apartment on Tuesday and a homicide investigation has been opened.At around 6:55 p.m. Wednesday, a 43-year-old man was found dead by officers inside of an apartment in the 500 block of West Deming.His death was ruled a homicide by asphyxia and assault. A person of interest from the scene was transported by CPD for questioning. 7 weeks after train crash, CTA Yellow Line reopens early Friday morning Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

City of Austin warns of website impersonating 'Park ATX' app

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin warned users about a "fraudulent" website impersonating Austin's Park ATX app Friday, according to a press release from the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department. Austin rolls out new payment option for street parking The City said a sponsored website that is not connected with the Park ATX app is currently showing up at the top of Google search results for “Park ATX” on a mobile browser. The website is requesting credit card information but isn't allowing users to start a parking session.The website appears as am5.com, the release said. As of Friday morning, the website is still active when searched."The City has made its Park ATX vendor, Passport, aware of the fraudulent website and reported the issue to Google," the release states.The official Park ATX app allows users to pay, extend and manage their on-street parking sessions from a mobile app.I...

November 2023: Which local restaurants received a perfect health inspection score?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The data for health inspections in November 2023 shows that Austin Public Health checked 591 locations (restaurants, grocery stores, school cafeterias, etc.) in Travis County.Around 68% of those locations got a score above 89, but only 12.7% earned a perfect score of 100.Many of the locations that earned perfect scores were schools and medical locations.However, the following restaurants earned a perfect score in November 2023:Noa Noa Bar & Grill, located at 4720 South Congress AvenueCannon + Belle Restaurant, located at 500 East 4th StreetPoke Austin, located at 5601 Brodie Lane, Sunset ValleyThese chain restaurants also earned perfect scores:McDonald's, located at 3300 Bee Caves Road, West Lake HillsChipotle Mexican Grill, located at 2424 FM 685 Road, PflugervilleDominos, located at 18701 Limestone Commercial Drive, PflugervilleAs of December 2023, APH has inspected around 623 locations per month.The number of locations inspected each month in 2023, January to ...