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New Mexico regulators fine oil producer $40 million for burning off vast amounts of natural gas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico oilfield and air quality regulators on Thursday announced unprecedented state fines against a Texas-based oil and natural gas producer on accusations that the company flouted local pollution reporting and control requirements by burning off vast amounts of natural gas in a prolific energy-production zone in the southeast of the state.The New Mexico Environment Department announced a $40.3 million penalty against Austin, Texas-based Ameredev, alleging the burning caused excessive emissions in 2019 and 2020 at five facilities in New Mexico’s Lea County near the town of Jal. Regulators raised concerns about the excess release of several pollutants linked to climate warming or known to cause serious health issues, including sulfur dioxide.The agency alleged that Ameredev mined oil and natural gas without any means of transporting the gas away via pipeline, as required by state law. The company instead is accused of burning off the natural gas in excess o...

Ex-student sentenced to 16-plus years in prison for 2022 attack on Las Vegas high school teacher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A teenager has been sentenced to 16 to 40 years in Nevada state prison after pleading guilty earlier to charges including attempted murder for an attack more than a year ago on a female Las Vegas high school teacher that left her with multiple injuries.The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that prosecutors asked a judge Wednesday to sentence the 17-year-old to 22 to 55 years behind bars, but Clark County District Court Judge Kathleen Delaney said she was balancing the seriousness of the crime with other factors.The defendant also pleaded guilty in April to attempted sexual assault and battery with use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm in plea deal that avoided trial in the after-school attack at Eldorado High School. Other charges against him were dropped. The Associated Press has not named the teen because of his age nor the teacher because of the nature of the crime.The defendant apologized in court and said he regretted what he had done. His...

Biden’s Iran envoy placed on unpaid leave pending a review of his handling of classified documents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration’s special envoy for Iran has been placed on unpaid leave and had his security clearance suspended pending a review of allegations he may have mishandled classified information, U.S. officials said Thursday.Rob Malley has led administration efforts to revive the faltering Iran nuclear deal and resolve issues related to detained Americans in Iran, but has not been active in his main job for weeks. He told colleagues he was taking extended personal leave for unspecified family reasons. Two State Department officials said the agency’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security was leading the inquiry, which revolves around Malley’s handling of classified documents. The officials said they learned of Malley’s change in status from paid to unpaid leave on Thursday, shortly after questions about his status were raised at the State Department’s regular afternoon briefing.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to privacy reasons.Mall...

US judge temporarily blocks Mississippi law on state police permits for some protests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A federal judge Thursday temporarily blocked a new Mississippi law that requires permission from state police for protests or other gatherings near state government buildings in the capital city of Jackson.U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate said the law is vague and could have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights, particularly for people who want to demonstrate against government actions.“It is clear that this statute is a prior restraint on speech,” Wingate said.Earlier this year, the majority-white and Republican-led Mississippi Legislature passed a bill to require the state-issued permits for protests in parts of Jackson, which is majority-Black and governed by Democrats.Legislators also passed a separate bill expanding the role of the state-run Capitol Police department inside the city, creating a new court inside part of Jackson with a judge appointed by the state Supreme Court chief justice, and authorizing the chief justice to appoint four addition...

Chicago locksmith now offers something more than just keys after nearly 60 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

CHICAGO — A tiny locksmith shop on the North Side of Chicago is gaining attention, not just for key making, but for the artwork now covering the walls.Like all of us, Joseph Gruber had something that drove him deeper and made him feel alive and present. But for nearly 60 years, it remained locked away. Butterball makes donation on behalf of dad’s basketball team started after Highland Park shooting Gruber has cut keys at helped others open what was once locked away at A.Active Key and Lock Service."The key part is alright," Gruber said. "It's my living."His brother and both of his nephews are locksmiths. But this story isn't about a family business as much as it is what Gruber kept under lock and key all these years."I got some pieces I made upstairs in my thirties, when I was 32," he said. "It's rather strange that nobody's seen them."It was a secret passion for drawing and the hundreds of pieces of art the locksmith turned out in private over the last four decades. "I look and s...

Cook County Jail farming initiative planting seeds of change for inmates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

CHICAGO — Within the walls of the Cook County Jail, there grows a garden where hope springs eternal in the days of summer. Inmate and gardener Jammie Williams said it's home away from home while he awaits trial for felony burglary.  “I love gardening,” Williams said. “I have been gardening all my life. It soothes me. It's peaceful.” The formal program name is the Sheriff’s Urban Farming Initiative. “We got tomatoes, greens, beets. We got some flowers. We got some pumpkins,” Willaims said. “We got cherry trees. We got some herbs growing.” Gardeners also tend to a bee colony. Cook County Sheriff’s Office prioritizing mental health for recruits and beyond Williams is one of 20 inmates at the jail who toil in the soil, undertaking an initiative that started in 2006.While the Cook County Sheriff readily admits he is no farmer, Tom Dart is proud to say the program has grown in the number of crops and participants over the years. “All of them will tell you A.) they love being ...

Destination Illinois: Historic Ottawa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

OTTAWA, Ill. — Historic Ottawa is a two-hour drive southwest of the Loop and is Chicago's sister city.It's home to the first Lincoln-Douglas debate, great restaurants and so much more. Take a walk through automotive history at Roscoe’s ‘Historic Auto Attractions’ On Aug. 21, 1858, More than 10,000 people attended the first debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. "There are over 10,000 people on the day of that debate," Tom Aussem, with Awesome Ottawa Tours, said. "It would've been a loud and raucous event."The debate was held in Washington Square. A boulder now marks the spot where the grandstand was.Aussem, a lifelong resident and tour guide, has a lot to share about Ottawa's remarkable history and its vital connection to the Illinois and Michigan canal. Destination Illinois: Floatzilla "Chicago and Ottawa were platted at the same time by the same guy, James Thompson from southern Illinois, for the purpose of the canal," Aussem said.The I&M Canal opened in 1848 ...

1 dead in 4-vehicle crash involving semi-truck on I-90

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — One person is dead following a four-vehicle crash Thursday morning involving a semi-tractor-trailer on Interstate 90.Around 11 a.m., Illinois State Police troopers responded to I-90, eastbound at Meacham near Schaumburg, for the multi-vehicle crash.According to troopers, one occupant of a passenger vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Driver dead, passenger seriously injured after semi-truck hit-and-run on I-55 Two lanes were closed amid the crash investigation Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesNo other injuries were reported. 

Former Round Rock pastor pleads guilty child pornography charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A former Round Rock pastor pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to an "enhanced charge of possession of child pornography," according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.David Lloyd Walther, 57, knowingly searched for, downloaded, distributed and possessed child sexual abuse material, including child pornography—some of which depicted prepubescent minors—using BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing network, according to the DOJ.Two large computers were found during a search of Walther's home and vehicle in November 2022 that contained more than 100,000 images and more than 5,000 videos of child sex abuse material, the release said. DOJ: Round Rock pastor arrested on child pornography charges Walther was the pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Round Rock at the time of his arrest, the release said.According to the DOJ, Walther faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. A federal district court judge will determ...

Texas lawmaker files bill to ban affirmative action after SCOTUS ruling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:27 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action admissions for private and public universities Thursday, a Texas representative filed legislation to codify it.State Rep. Carl Tepper, R-Lubbock, filed House Bill 54 to prohibit public universities and colleges from adopting affirmative action policies. Only one school, University of Texas-Austin, uses affirmative action. Tepper admits, his proposal's chances are "not strong," considering lawmakers just commenced a second special session with only one call on the agenda: property tax relief. "You never know, it might inspire somebody to add to add it to the call," he said. "We want people to not have an advantage or disadvantage of their race going into the future and giving them the privileges of higher education or a job," he said. In Texas, only the governor has the power of setting the agenda for special sessions. Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to eventually call legislators back for a special sessi...