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Catholic clergy abuse report could prompt lawsuits, changes to Illinois law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois’ attorney general has ended a five-year investigation into sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy in the state, releasing a nearly 700-page report that revealed the problem was far worse than the church acknowledged in 2018 at the start of the state’s review. Attorney General Kwame Raoul said Tuesday that state investigators found that more than 450 Catholic clergy in Illinois had sexually abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950. But Raoul and other experts say the finding is unlikely to lead to criminal charges. That follows a familiar pattern — no rush of criminal charges followed the 2018 release of a bombshell grand jury report on clergy abuse in Pennsylvania or last month’s report on abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.Advocates say they believe the report will help more people feel safe to discuss what happened to them with family, friends, support groups and law enforcement. They also say it could prompt people to file civil lawsuits...

Fuzzy falcon chicks who nest at Michigan State football stadium get tracking bands

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Newly fitted with tracking bands, four peregrine falcon chicks named Pickles, Muhammad, Egbert and Swooper have a nest in one of the best seats — make that perches — at Michigan State University’s football stadium. Scientists and college students on Wednesday carefully attached metal tracking bands to the fluffy white chicks’ legs. At about a month old, they’re still not much bigger than a pigeon and can’t yet fly away from their manmade nest atop Spartan Stadium. But the boisterous birds already have sharp talons and beaks, so the banding process was handled with care. The chicks weren’t too happy about the experience, writhing and squawking. Once a tag was applied to a chick’s leg, the bird was placed back in a box. And the squawking ceased.The chicks have become celebrities in East Lansing and around the globe, thanks to a web camera and livestream by the school’s Fisheries and Wildlife Club, which installed the nest box on the stadium...

South Africa under more scrutiny over Russian ship as ruling ANC says it would ‘welcome’ Putin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The South African government was under more pressure Wednesday for declining to release cargo documents relating to the visit by a Russian ship that the United States alleges collected a consignment of weapons for Moscow.Separately, a top official in South Africa’s ruling party added to the scrutiny of the country’s relationship with Russia by saying the party would “welcome” a visit by President Vladimir Putin, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.The comments by African National Congress Secretary General Fikile Mbalula regarding Putin were made in an interview with the BBC and in the context of the Russian leader attending a summit of the BRICS economic bloc in South Africa in August. The bloc is made up of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa.“If it was according to the ANC, we would want President Putin to be here, even tomorrow, to come to our country,” Mbalula said in the inter...

Kopech strikes out nine, White Sox roll to 6-0 win over Guardians

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Michael Kopech struck out nine and allowed two hits over seven dominant innings, Romy González had a two-run double and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-0 Wednesday.Kopech (3-4), who retired the first 16 batters in his last start against Kansas City, did not allow a baserunner until Josh Naylor singled leading off the fifth. The right-hander walked one and extended his shutout streak to 15 innings in his last two outings.The Guardians only pushed one player into scoring position and were blanked for the sixth time. Andrés Giménez had the other hit off Kopech, who held the Royals and Cleveland to a combined three singles while striking out 19 in back-to-back wins.González’s drive into the right-field corner highlighted a five-run fourth against Guardians starter Cal Quantrill (2-3). Jake Burger and Seby Zavala added sacrifice flies in the inning as the White Sox went up by six.Reynaldo López and Jimmy Lambert wrapped up the combined four-hitter fo...

Houser continues to provide boost as Brewers defeat Astros 4-0

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Adrian Houser allowed two hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings and the Milwaukee Brewers homered three times in a 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon.Willy Adames hit a two-run blast in the first inning to put the Brewers ahead for good. Owen Miller and Brian Anderson added solo shots in the seventh.After homering four times off 2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes and posting their highest hit and run totals of the season in a 12-2 victory Monday, the Astros went scoreless in the final two games of this series. Colin Rea and four relievers combined on a five-hitter Tuesday in the Brewers’ 6-0 triumph that ended Houston’s eight-game winning streak.The Astros mustered four hits Wednesday, two off their season low.Houser, who spent April recovering from a right groin strain, struck out three andwalked one in his fourth appearance of the season. This comes five days after he pitched six shutout innings in a 1-0 loss at Tampa Bay.His su...

Kingston Waters Cleanup returning to city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

The biggest single day shoreline water cleanup is returning to Kingston for the 4th time this June.The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston along with Neptune & Salacia Diving and Swim Drink Fish are welcoming the public for Kingston Waters Cleanup – Action and Awareness on June 10. The event was formerly known as PADI Aware – Dive Against Debris and is part of an international initiative that brings divers and other members of the community together to clean up the shoreline in their area.The event has typically been held in areas with high foot traffic, previously being held at the Gord Downie Pier, the Marine Museum and this year, it will take place in the water located between the Marine Museum and the Pumphouse Museum. Michelle Clarabut, the Marine Museum’s Programs and Communications Manager, said they try to hold the event in areas where a fair amount of debris has been previously identified by divers.“We’re looking for places where there’s some ...

How to see if part of Colorado's $1.2B in unclaimed property could be yours

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect how much unclaimed property the sate has.DENVER (KDVR) — The State of Colorado is holding more than $1.2 billion in unclaimed property, and some of it could be yours.Money and tangible property are turned over to the state treasury for safekeeping for a variety of reasons with the goal of returning the lost or forgotten assets to their rightful owner. Sometimes businesses lose track of property or payments, and that's one way that your money might up in unclaimed property, according to the Colorado Unclaimed Property Division.Some of those assets in the states possession might even belong to schools, hospitals, small businesses and corporationsAccording to the state treasury, $640,552,115 has been returned since the program began in 1987.How to see if you have unclaimed propertyThere is a list of over 1.7 million names and businesses for whom the property is waiting to be claimed, according to Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young....

Ex-Sunrise police officer facing child porn charges investigated for attending event with children present

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

A former Sunrise police officer accused of child pornography charges is now under investigation following reports of his presence at a party where children were present.Former Sunrise police officer Carl Haller, who was subject to restrictions including no contact with minors and no internet usage, left Broward County Jail in late February after posting bond, choosing not to comment on the matter.The 39-year-old ex-member of the SWAT team had been charged with viewing child sexual conduct, possessing child pornography on a computer, and tampering with evidence.Haller was terminated by the Sunrise Police last Thursday. However, the following day, he was seen attending a Fraternal Order of Police event aimed at supporting a Sunrise officer facing a health crisis.Confirming his presence, three officials from the city of Sunrise verified the authenticity of a photograph featuring Haller.The event took place at Commissioner Joseph Scutto’s pizza restaurant and was promoted as an al...

BSO seeks public’s assistance in locating missing 81-year-old man from Dania Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

The Broward Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Unit is seeking the public’s help in locating 81-year-old Max Wincoff McKenzie, who has been reported missing from Dania Beach.In their continued efforts to locate McKenzie, authorities have released a new photo and are urging anyone with information to come forward.According to detectives, McKenzie was last seen on Thursday, May 4, at approximately 3:15 p.m. in the 400 block of Phippen-Waiters Road in Dania Beach. He was wearing a green shirt, camouflage shorts, and shoes at the time of his disappearance. McKenzie is described as approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing around 180 pounds. He has grey hair and brown eyes.Investigators have received information indicating that McKenzie suffers from a health condition that requires medication, adding to concerns about his well-being.Anyone with information is urged to contact BSO Detective Leonard Charla at 954-321-4274 or reach out to the BSO non-emergency number at 954-764...

Karen Read, charged in the death of boyfriend, breaks silence after court appearance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:20 GMT

The woman accused of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, in January of last year broke her silence Wednesday, speaking publicly for the first time as she faces charges connected to her boyfriend’s death.Prosecutors have said Read ran over John O’Keefe with her SUV back in January, 2022 after a night of drinking. Read, prosecutors said, then left the scene.Read’s lawyers, though, have maintained O’Keefe was attacked by a dog and beaten inside a Canton home after Reed dropped him off and drove away.Speaking this week, Read proclaimed her innocence. “I tried to save his life,” she told reporters outside the courthouse in Dedham. “I tried to save his life at 6 in the morning. I was covered in his blood. I was the only one trying to save his life.”Read has been charged with charges including second-degree murder. She has pleaded not guilty. In April, her defense filed a motion asking for records they believe exonerate their client.The prosecution later responded, sa...