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Former child welfare worker guilty of endangerment in death of Illinois 5-year-old

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

Robert McCoppin | Chicago TribuneIn what is believed to be the first successful prosecution of its kind in Illinois, a former child welfare worker was found guilty Friday of child endangerment in the beating death of 5-year-old AJ Freund in Crystal Lake, but his supervisor was found not guilty.Carlos Acosta, who was the case investigator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, was found guilty in McHenry County court of endangering the life or health of a child. He was found not guilty of reckless conduct.Lake County Judge George Strickland said he could not find Acosta’s supervisor, Andrew Polovin, guilty of either charge because he did not know how much Polovin knew about AJ being abused. Strickland handled the case because all McHenry County judges recused themselves.AJ died in April 2019 after being beaten by his mother, JoAnn Cunningham. She is serving a 35-year sentence for his murder.The boy’s father, Andrew Freund Sr., was sentenced to 30 years in prison...

Trump absent while majority of Republican candidates gather in New Hampshire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

NASHUA, N.H. — The Granite state has been overrun by presidential candidates and Republican power players.Nearly every one of the more than half a dozen candidates seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for 2024 gathered in southern New Hampshire to close the week with a two-day “First in the Nation Leadership Summit” sponsored by the New Hampshire GOP .“We’re going to fight on principles: small government, lower taxes, individual freedom and responsibility and local control. That’s what we’re all about,” New Hampshire GOP Chairman Chris Ager said to start the summit.Scheduled to speak Friday were former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, businessman Perry Johnson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.Former Vice President Mike Pence, former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and businessman Ryan Binkley are scheduled to speak Saturday.Candidates were joined on...

Why Celtics’ Al Horford has already been impressed with Kristaps Porzingis’ defense

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

In Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics know they’re getting a dynamic offensive threat that will help unlock their unit in different ways. He’s been a consistent three-level scorer throughout his career, and had one of his best seasons offensively last year in Washington.Defensively, though, Porzingis might be a little underrated. He ranked among the best pick-and-roll defenders in the NBA last season, and with his size and mobility, presents a huge challenge to opponents at the rim, as he’s already shown in two preseason games. Already, his attention to detail on that end has caught Al Horford’s eye.“With us, we’re asking him to do a lot, to cover a lot of things,” Horford said. “Already I feel like he has my back covering different positions on the court. Everybody knows his offense. His offense is great. We know he can do a lot of things. But on defense he’s doing a good job of talking to us, protecting the basket and really staying active.”That sounds a lot like the departed Robert ...

Revs’ Carles Gil and Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar bring special talents to the pitch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

New England center back Dave Romney has enjoyed the unique experience of playing with the two best attacking midfielders in MLS, both of whom will be on the pitch on Saturday night (8:30) when the Revolution face Nashville SC at Geodis Park.New England’s Carles Gil captured the MLS Landon Donovan MVP Award in 2021 while Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar was the 2022 recipient when Romney was on the NSC roster.Former sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena made a steal of deal when he acquired Romney from Nashville SC in a straight up cash deal on Jan. 5.Arena paid out $250,000 in General Allocation money in 2023 and $275,000 of GA due in 2024 for Romney, a transaction that has paid dividends to the Revolution in every game this season. Romney has started every game and played every minute.“Different styles of play as a number 10,” said Romney. “Different styles, but both are extremely solid players and their quality is unmatched on the field.“They are usually the best players on the fie...

Person found dead in Mission Bay near SeaWorld

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- One person was found dead Friday in Mission Bay near SeaWorld, authorities said.Around 3:11 p.m., officers responded to a vehicle in the water at 404 Sea World Drive, according to the San Diego Police Department.FOX 5 was at the location where authorities could be seen towing a vehicle out of the water. Parents sue Hyatt Hotels Corporation after death of 1-year-old son No other information has been provided at this time.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Mississippi sheriff aims to avoid liability from federal lawsuit over torture of Black men

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi sheriff who leads the department where former deputies pleaded guilty to a long list of state and federal charges for the torture of two Black men has asked a federal court to dismiss a civil lawsuit against him. Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker were abused in a case of extrajudicial violence that even the sheriff they’re suing called the worst case of police brutality he had ever seen. But Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey’s attorney argues Jenkins and Parker’s $400 million lawsuit against Bailey should be dismissed because the sheriff is entitled to “qualified immunity,” a legal concept that often shields police officers from civil penalties for alleged abuses. Court records show that attorney Jase Dare asked to dismiss the lawsuit on Oct. 6, just one day after a settlement conference was filed with the court. A settlement conference is scheduled when the parties in a lawsuit try to settle a case before trial. ...

Law restricting bathroom use for Idaho transgender students to go into effect as challenge continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho law restricting which bathrooms transgender students can use in schools will go into effect while a court challenge plays out. Chief U.S. District Judge David Nye on Thursday denied a request by a plaintiff who is challenging the law to keep it from being enforced until the lawsuit is resolved, The Idaho Statesman reported. In August, Nye had placed the law on hold in August pending his decision.The law will go into effect 21 days after his ruling.It prohibits transgender students from using public school restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity. It also allows other students to sue their school if they encounter a student using a bathroom that doesn’t align with their sex assigned at birth. Nye said the plaintiff failed to show their challenge would succeed. He noted the law is “substantially related to the government’s important interest in protecting the privacy and safety of students” while using a restroom or a changing room....

Schumer says he’s leading a bipartisan group of senators to Israel to show ‘unwavering’ US support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ahead of a trip to Israel this weekend, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says an upcoming administration request for wartime funding could include aid for both Israel and Ukraine. Schumer — the first Jewish Senate majority leader and the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S. — is leading a bipartisan delegation of senators to Israel this weekend to express support for the country amid its week-old war against Hamas. He told The Associated Press in an interview that he wants to make clear that the United States stands with Israel and also show bipartisan support. “To have a bipartisan delegation, led by the majority leader saying strongly and unequivocally we’re with Israel is going to make a big difference to Israelis,” Schumer said. Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah and Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Mark Kelly of Arizona will also be on the trip.Schumer also plans to discuss with high-level offi...

Lexi Thompson makes run at PGA Tour cut in Vegas, but 2 late bogeys stall her bid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Lexi Thompson delivered star-power moments built for a stage like Las Vegas, and when she poured in a pair of long birdie putts Friday, she was on the verge of history.Thompson was 4 under with seven holes to play. She was on the verge of becoming the first woman in 78 years to make a 36-hole cut on the PGA Tour.One poor swing, one mediocre chip and one missed putt at the end left her on the outside of the cut at the Shriners Children’s Open, but no less proud of two days she won’t soon forget. She wanted to inspire kids to chase their dreams, and she did all of that at the TPC Summerlin.“Playing with the guys — amazing feeling,” Thompson said after a 2-under 69. “Growing up with guys, I’ve always wanted to be out on a PGA Tour event and tee it up. But the biggest thing was seeing the kids out there outside the ropes and then meeting a few of the Shriners ambassadors. That was the most special.”Her golf was a close second.Thompson made five birdies...

Forest Practices Board investigates planned back burn in B.C.’s Shuswap region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:00 GMT

British Columbia’s forest watchdog has confirmed it is investigating the province’s response to wildfires that ripped through small communities on the shores of Shuswap Lake in August, destroying or damaging more than 200 properties.A statement from the Forest Practices Boardon Friday says it launched the probe after receiving a complaint about the BC Wildfire Service’s use of a planned ignition aimed at reducing forest fuels between populated areas. At the time the back burn was lit on Aug. 17,two blazes, the Lower East Adams Lake and Bush Creek wildfires, had been steadily moving toward the northern shore of Shuswap Lake after igniting about five weeks earlier.The board says it has notified the wildfire service and it’s arranging for investigators to visit the area this month near Lee Creek and neighbouring Scotch Creek, in B.C.’s southern Interior. Lee Creek resident Jim Cooperman says he filed the complaint with the board, alleging “gross negl...