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DCFS still failing to find appropriate care for kids, leaving them locked-up, report shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

An annual report to legislators, prompted by a WGN Investigates series, shows the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is still leaving kids in crisis in psychiatric hospitals and juvenile jails longer than necessary.Newly released numbers show 296 kids were locked in psychiatric hospitals longer than medically necessary in the past fiscal year. DCFS also revealed 45 youth were in juvenile jails beyond their release dates. Both circumstances continues to occur due to a shortage of appropriate shelter space and foster care options, especially for kids with severe psychiatric or behavioral issues.“These are not just statistics. They represent children, real children, our children,” said Cook County public guardian Charles Golbert, who has shown a spotlight on the issue for years.While the most recent numbers show a slight improvement over the previous year they’re still worse than before the pandemic.  Previous Coverage: Hundreds of DCFS kids hospitalized longer than...

Trump fights effort to kick him off state ballots

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Former President Donald  Trump is fighting to stay on the ballot in Maine and Colorado, where legal efforts to kick him off are moving forward. Now the Supreme Court is expected to take up the issue and decide whether he is disqualified from becoming president again. Critics of Trump have been working to remove him from the ballot in several states. They argue his role in the January 6th Capitol riot falls under the insurrection clause of the constitution. Georgetown Law Constitutional Law Professor Dr. Michele Goodwin explains the clause was put in place after the Civil War to keep confederates from returning to office. "It prohibits individuals who've attempted to overthrow the government from being able to hold office," Goodwin said. Republicans are appealing a ruling from Colorado's Supreme Court to bar Trump from the ballot. This week Trump's legal team appealed a similar decision by Maine's Secretary of State. ...

WWII-era practice bomb washes up on California beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

(KRON) – An inert military ordnance washed up on a California beach over the weekend, prompting local authorities to contact specialists at the Travis Air Force Base for disposal.Deputies with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office were notified of a surprising find at the Pajaro Dunes on Sunday, following recent storms along the coastline the week before. The office's bomb team responded to the scene, where they determined the ordnance to be "safe," deputies wrote on Facebook. Turkey fryer explodes inside NC home after the cook falls asleep: authorities The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office also called in experts from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County. "After safely performing an on-site visual inspection and x-ray scan, the item was deemed free of explosives and safe to transport to Travis AFB," a communications official from the military base told Nexstar.The Travis Air Force Base identified the device as a WWII-era practice b...

House republicans visit southern border

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - House Republicans say securing the border is their top priority in 2024.60 House republicans went to Eagle Pass, Texas to call on the Biden administration to change their border policies.They say a recent surge of migrants arriving at the border is proof President Joe Biden’s border management is failing.This trip comes at a critical time, as Congress is still in search of a border compromise, and the White House says any change to border policy is up to Congress.“It’s been an eye opener. One thing is absolutely clear, America is at a breaking point,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.Last month, border officials reported the highest monthly total of migrant encounters on record, Republicans blame that on the Biden administration.“The Biden administration needs to end catch and release. And they need to deport people by the thousands not by the dozens,” said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).But the Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy at the Departm...

Go back to yesteryear and watch 150 films with Alamo Drafthouse's 'Time Capsules' series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Throughout January and February, you can travel back in time to watch movie classics from a six-year span of cinema from "the end of the millennium," as Alamo Drafthouse kicks off its "Alamo Time Capsules" series.Patrons can watch movies like "The Goonies," "The Iron Giant," "Clueless," "Run Lola Run" and more, according to Alamo's website.Starting with the year 1999, you can journey through "the greatest years in the history of cinema:" 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1979 and 1974, Alamo's website said.The movie theater chain said it digs deep to tell a story of that year, whether it be in cinema, culture and history. During the series, Alamo officials said online guests can expect to see "essential films" like "The Matrix," "Pulp Fiction," "Do The Right Thing," "Purple Rain," "The Warriors" and "The Godfather Part II."The series will also include exclusive merchandise, themed menus and special events. To see the cinema list in full, visit Alamo's website.

Science Museum of Minnesota receives record $6.5 million donation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

The Science Museum of Minnesota announced on Wednesday it received a $6.5 million donation — the largest philanthropic gift in its 117-year history — from the estate of a longstanding donor.William D. Wells, a globe-trotting pioneer in combining the disciplines of psychology, marketing and research for major consumer brands, authored more than 60 books and academic papers before retiring as a professor of advertising from the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication.Wells died in September 2020, leaving behind a sizable estate that has allowed him, posthumously, to continue to encourage others to explore the intersections of scientific research, media and general education.In 2021, Twin Cities Public Television received a $9 million gift from the Wells estate, the largest philanthropic donation in the downtown St. Paul television station’s then-64-year history. Wells had been a contributor to TPT STEM programs like “SciGirls” and ...

Wild decimated by injuries, but they have a plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

Without several of their best players on Tuesday, the Wild gave themselves a chance to beat the Calgary Flames with strong second and third periods, yet still fell to their Central Division rival, 3-1, and lost ground in the playoff chase.Still, the team’s performance was, in general, something for the team to build on while it awaits the return of points leaders Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, top pair defenseman Jonas Brodin, veteran leader Marcus Foligno and No. 1 goaltender Filip Gustavsson.The group, which also includes fourth-line forward Vinni Lettieri, is responsible for a combined 28 goals, five game-winners and 81 points. Brodin ranks second to rookie Brock Faber in time on ice (23:54 average), and Gustavsson has a team-best 22 appearances, 10 wins and 2.96 goals-against average in net.Kaprizov, who has 13 goals and a team-high 34 points, was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday. He will be eligible to return next Monday against Dallas at Xcel Energy Center, althoug...

One on One: Amsterdam mayor lays out agenda for new term

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Meet the mayor — again. In Montgomery County, Michael Cinquanti will begin another four-year term as Amsterdam's chief executive. During a one-on-one interview with NEWS10’s, Zion Decoteau, he touched on everything from improving housing to crime management to revitalizing the city’s downtown. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “We have several challenges, but they're all good challenges, they're all positive things so instead of having to fix messes, we are now getting things in place to improve,” said Cinquanti. The Independent Cinquanti says he wants to encourage more people to move to Amsterdam. Topping his list to achieve that goal is improving the city’s aging infrastructure such as roads and especially housing.“We want to build single-family condos, we want to build housing for seniors, we want to build housing apartments for working families...affordable apartments, and we want to build a homele...

New Hampshire man admits to receiving CSAM from a minor in Troy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Isaiah Lafoe, 25, of Lancaster, New Hampshire, is facing time in prison after pleading guilty to receiving child sex abuse materials from a 13-year-old in Troy. Sentencing is scheduled for May 3. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Lafoe admitted to coercing the minor into sending him sexually explicit images and videos to him via social media applications. Lafoe did this on multiple occasions, including September 30, 2020, and between October 5, 2020, and February 15, 2021. Lafoe faces at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of between five years and up to life of post-release supervision. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Schenectady man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting a minor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:21 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Juan Garcia-Pleitez, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree. Garcia-Pleitez admitted to engaging in sexual conduct with a child under thirteen years old. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The sexual assault occurred in August at a residence in Schenectady County. The child was known to the defendant. According to court documents, the victim underwent a sexual assault examination. Physical evidence was collected and analyzed. The results corroborated the child's sexual assault disclosure.Sentencing is scheduled for March 11, 2024. Garcia-Pleitez is expected to receive a sentence of twelve to fifteen years in prison and twenty years of post-release supervision. Schenectady IDA to buy old, blighted restaurant building He will also be required to register as a sex offender. A full order of protection will be issued for the victim and her siblings.