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Pictures: Illinois dust storm causes I-55 pile-up

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

A windstorm in south-central Illinois kicked up clouds of dust Monday, causing numerous crashes, pileups and “multiple fatalities” on Interstate 55, police said.The crashes occurred late in the morning and involved 40 to 60 passenger cars and multiple tractor-trailers, two of which caught fire, Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick said. The highway was shut down in both directions in Montgomery County, 75 miles north of St. Louis.“The cause of the crashes is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway, leading to zero visibility,” Starrick said at a news conference.He reported that there were “multiple fatalities” but did not give an exact number, saying that would be released later in the day.Image credit: Nathan Cormier - Illinois dust storm Image credit: Nathan Cormier - Illinois dust storm Image credit: Nathan Cormier - Illinois dust storm Image credit: Nathan Cormier - Illinois dust storm Image credit: Nathan Cormier - Illinois dust storm Image c...

Former Creve Coeur pharmacy owner admits paying kickbacks for prescriptions

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The owner of a mail-order pharmacy in Creve Coeur appeared in federal court on Monday and admitted defrauding federal Medicare and state Medicaid programs of more than $5.5 million through an ongoing kickback scheme.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Michael McCormac, 55, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute.A federal grand jury indicted McCormac in October 2021.According to the plea agreement, McCormac paid kickbacks to marketing companies for prescription referrals for topical creams and oral medications, as well as antibiotic and antifungal drugs, which were filled by McCormac’s company—GoLiveWell Pharmacy—and reimbursed by federal health insurance. Top Story: 2 more prosecutors resign from Kim Gardner’s office McCormac told the court he paid the kickbacks as percentages or margins (net profits on each prescription), and that he was aware patients did not have a valid doctor-patient re...

Series of earthquakes shake Tennessee town near Missouri's Bootheel

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

RIDGELY, TN -- The epicenter of over ten earthquakes over the past three days has been in one Tennessee town near the border with Missouri. The last earthquake was a 2.8 magnitude quake in Ridgely, Tennessee Monday afternoon. The seismically active area around Missouri's Bootheel is known for one of the largest earthquakes in US history.Earthquakes happen nearly every day near New Madrid, Missouri. The number and frequency of earthquakes centered in Ridgely is not typical. They have been happening over the past three days and range in strength from 1.6 to 2.8 on the Richter scale. Dust storm closes I-55 in southern Illinois and causes massive pile-up The New Madrid Seismic Zone is located in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. It is named after the town of New Madrid, Missouri. The town was at the epicenter of a series of powerful earthquakes that occurred in 1811 and 1812.The area is a geologically complex region where multiple fault lines intersect. This makes it par...

Students treated for possible overdose at L.A. middle school

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

Several students were hospitalized after overdosing on an unidentified narcotic at Johnnie Cochran Middle School in Los Angeles’ Arlington Heights neighborhood on Monday.L.A. Fire crews responded to the school near Crenshaw and Washington boulevards around 11:30 a.m. after receiving reports of at least three children “with altered level of consciousness after possible exposure or ingestion of a yet unknown substance,” the Department said.According to Sky5 reporter Rich Prickett, the students responded well after being administered Narcan, which reverses the effects of opioids. After student’s death, LA schools to carry overdose antidote Three were transported to an area hospital where "they arrived conscious and breathing in minor to moderate medical distress," officials said.L.A. Unified School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho used the incident to encourage students and parents to report safety issues."We remain hopeful for a full recovery of our students ... who suffered from a ...

Workers rally for better pay and conditions on May Day

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

Rallies are being held in Los Angeles Monday to commemorate International Workers' Day.Demonstrators in Chinatown said they were marching for better pay and conditions. More marches are happening throughout the day.Ellina Abovian reports for the KTLA 5 News at 1 on May 1, 2023.

Disneyland commemorates Make-A-Wish partnership with window dedication ceremony

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

The Make-A-Wish non-profit organization was honored at Disneyland on Friday to celebrate its long-standing partnership with The Walt Disney Company. The celebration came a day before World Wish Day, which was Saturday and marks the anniversary of the wish that inspired the non-profit.Disneyland dedicated three windows along Main Street U.S.A. to the Make-A-Wish organization to commemorate the partnership between the two companies.The Make-A-Wish non-profit organization was honored at Disneyland on Friday to celebrate its long-standing partnership with the Walt Disney Co. (Disney Parks Blog) One window was dedicated specifically to the Make-A-Wish foundation, while the others were dedicated to Chris Greicius and Frank “Bopsy” Salazar. Disneyland temporarily pauses ‘Fantasmic!’ performances after fire Greicius’ mother, Linda Pauling, started the Make-A-Wish organization after Greicius died of leukemia, while Salazar is the first recipient of an official wish granted by the organizat...

Johnny Depp was — surprise — difficult on set of comeback film, reports say

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

There’s no doubt that Johnny Depp’s rabid online fans are excited to see him in a movie again, even in the French historical biography, “Jeanne du Barry,” set to open the Cannes Festival May 16.It remains to be seen whether other moviegoers will be so excited to see the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star in his first feature film in three years, after he supposedly extricated himself from the muck surrounding his lurid and protracted legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard.Unfortunately for the “not-so-canceled” Depp, his comeback narrative, after winning last year’s defamation case against Heard, has been plagued with unflattering reports about his on-set behavior, according to Jezebel. The reports mention Depp’s tardiness — known to be a longstanding issue with him — as well as clashes and “screaming matches” with his French female director and co-star, Maïwenn Le Besco, known by the mononym Maïwen, th...

Speeding truck smashes into metal column in fatal Concord freeway crash

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

CONCORD — A one-car crash early Saturday morning killed a man, authorities said.The identity of the man was not available Monday. Authorities said they have yet to determine who it is.The California Highway Patrol in a statement said the crash happened about 4:30 a.m. on northbound Interstate 680 at the state Highway 242 split. A white Ford F-150 truck hit a large metal column that held up a freeway overpass sign on the right shoulder, the CHP said.Authorities pronounced the driver dead at the scene. Nobody else was in the car, which was speeding when the crash happened, the CHP said.The CHP still is investigating and asked anyone who may have seen or heard the crash to come forward to their Contra Costa Office. They can be reached at 925-646-4980.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | San Jose: Pedestrian killed in early morning collision Crashes and Disasters | Fremont: Hit-and-run collision suspect taken into custody Crashes and Disasters | ...

Man arrested, 'stash' of weapons, suspected narcotics seized in Hayward bust

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

(KRON) -- One man was arrested and a "stash" of weapons was seized by Hayward police during a search of a residential home, the Hayward Police Department posted on Facebook on Monday. The Hayward PD Special Duty Unit authored a search warrant after being informed that a man was believed to be in illegal possession of multiple guns. 3 arrested in string of armed robberies seemingly targeting AAPI community The warrant was approved and during the search officers seized a "stash" of weapons, suspected narcotics and evidence of an illegal "chop shop," police said. Weapons seized at the residence included handguns, a shotgun and two different rifles.The man was at the scene at the time and was taken into custody, police said. Although the department posted about the incident on Monday, they did not specify when it took place.

Missing Petaluma girl located, safely returned home

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:16:28 GMT

A 12-year-old Petaluma girl who was reported missing has been located and returned safely home, the Petaluma Police Department announced Monday. Earlier, police in Petaluma were asking the public's help in locating a missing 12-year-old girl on Monday. Sydney Fischer was last seen by her mother at 7:30 a.m. Monday and didn't arrive at school, according to police. Woman walking outside crosswalk hit, killed in San Jose A note was later discovered indicating she had run away. Sydney has no history of running away and is considered at risk due to her age, police said. She is described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds, has red hair and was last seen wearing a green or purple Girl Scout hoodie and shorts. Sydney was located at approximately 1:35 p.m. by a family member on the east side of town, police said. From there, she was safely returned home.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.