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Suspect in Montana vehicle assault said religious group she targeted was being racist, witness says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A woman who police said repeatedly drove through a group of religious demonstrators, wounding one person in Montana’s largest city, allegedly told a clerk at a nearby convenience store that she was upset members of the group were expressing racist views against white people, the clerk said.The demonstrators targeted in the weekend assault in Billings are members of Israel United in Christ, according to police. The group has been described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as “an extreme and antisemitic sect of Black Hebrew Israelites” based in the Bronx, New York. Members of the group were standing on a sidewalk, holding signs and speaking through an amplifier when the woman drove at or through them several times, said Billings police spokesperson Lt. Matt Lennick. A 45-year-old man who was struck suffered minor injuries, police said.Genevienne Rancuret, 55, was arrested a few hours later and jailed on suspicion of eight counts of felony assault with a ...

Man shoots woman and 3 children, then himself, at Las Vegas apartment complex, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A man shot and killed a woman and two children and critically wounded a third child Monday before fatally shooting himself at a Las Vegas apartment complex, authorities said. What police described as a murder-suicide took place just five days after three professors were fatally shot by a lone gunman at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.“It does not have to end like this,” police homicide Lt. Robert Price told reporters outside the sprawling apartment complex where he said the man, woman and children were discovered about 10 a.m. by the man’s brother.Price did not immediately identify the man, who he said had been under house arrest in an unspecified court case. He said police also don’t yet know if the shooter and his victims were related.The shootings happened at an apartment complex about a 40-minute drive northwest of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where a lone gunman walked onto campus last week and opened fire in a building housing the busin...

Missing Gary woman found dead in Little Calumet River

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

GARY, Ind. — The search for a missing Gary woman has come to a tragic end after her body was found in a river in northwest Indiana over the weekend, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.Authorities say the body of 36-year-old Brittni Campbell was found in an area near 3000 Chase Street in the Little Calumet River around noon on Saturday. Missing Carpentersville teen’s car pulled from pond in Vernon Hills Campbell, who had been reported missing on Sept. 12, was identified by family members on Monday.According to authorities, an autopsy was performed at the Lake County Forensic Science Center in Lake Point, but details on the cause and manner of death are pending.Currently, it is unclear what led to Campbell's disappearance.

Obtaining IDs essential for released inmates in Cook County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. – For years, Chicago's Safer Foundation has worked with former inmates to help rebuild their lives after serving time.Step one, always, is to get an ID.Now, inmates leaving the Cook County Jail will have a much easier time obtaining that essential ID.On Monday, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced a partnership to provide free state ID cards for inmates being released from Cook County Jail. Read more: Inmates leaving Cook County Jail will receive free state ID cards It's the first program of its kind instituted for a county in the entire country, following a pilot program started two years ago on the state level to get inmates IDs upon release.That program has been invaluable for people like Safer Foundation client Calvin Brooks, who served 22 years and got his ID within a week of being released."It’s a tremendous advantage for guys like myself who've been gone for a while to have the help," says Brooks, w...

GoFundMe page created for off-duty Chicago police officer killed in crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. -- A GoFundMe page was created for the off-duty police officer who died in a car crash in Tinley Park Saturday. The Will County Coroner's Office identified the man as 34-year-old Timothy Siwula of Chicago. Wauconda math teacher dies after being struck head-on by alleged intoxicated driver Police said the crash happened near the intersection of 179th Street and LaGrange Road early Saturday morning. Both drivers were transported to Silver Cross Hospital. Siwula was pronounced dead shortly after. The other driver was transported to Loyola University Medical Center for further treatment. A GoFundMe page was made to help pay for Siwula's funeral and memorial services."Tim left everyone heartbroken with his tragic passing. We miss you Tim, and we will continue to spread your kindness. Rest easy Bud. Watch over us," the page said.

Missing teen's car pulled from Illinois pond as search continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. (WGN) — One week after a 17-year-old Illinois teen disappeared, search crews have recovered her SUV from a retention pond, according to authorities. Brissa Romero has been missing since Dec. 4 and was last seen in Vernon Hills, located about 45 miles north of Chicago, according to the Carpentersville Police Department. Police said the teen, who lives in Carpentersville, was traveling to a bowling alley in Vernon Hills for a holiday party before she vanished. During a Monday evening press conference, authorities said a review of Romero's cellphone data brought investigators to a retention pond in Vernon Hills. ‘A Call from Gaza’: Chicagoland businesses, schools strike to call attention to thousands of Palestinian deaths A resident who lives in the area notified officers about a backpack that appeared to have floated to the edge of the pond, according to investigators. Police said they believed the items belonged to Romero and crews were brought in to conduct ...

Bears showing progress with back-to-back wins after beating NFC North-leading Detroit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

Justin Fields is making plays with his arm and legs, the defense is dominating and the wins are starting to stack up for the Chicago Bears.Things seem to be falling into place.“You can just feel confidence,” coach Matt Eberflus said Monday. "The guys have always been confident in their approach and confident in their abilities. But you can see the feeling of confidence when you actually see it, the progress. When you see the result, you can certainly feel that with the players and the staff. The guys are upbeat and they’ve always been that way."But you can certainly feel the confidence growing as we start stacking these wins.” Former NHL player, coach Tony Granato diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma The Bears (5-8) still are last in the NFC North. But they are in a better spot than they were not long ago.Beating the Detroit Lions 28-13 at Soldier Field on Sunday and getting some payback for a late collapse against the division leaders in Week 11 at Ford Field was a ...

Police searching for Round Rock woman after 'unexplained disappearance'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The Round Rock Police Department is searching for a missing 39-year-old woman who was last seen early Sunday morning.Police said Amy Castellanos left her home around 3 a.m. Sunday to go to a local clinic for abdominal pain. She has not returned home since then. The van she was driving, a gray 2019 Toyota, was found nearby in the neighborhood.Police said they are concerned about her safety "due to her unexplained disappearance."Castellanos is described by police as:Hispanic FemaleAge: 39 years old5’4”Around 150 lbs.Brown hairBlue eyesLast seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, brown tank top, and gray sweatpants.Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Turck at 512-218-7048 or email [email protected].

Fact checking statement about APD 911 being 'nearly 100%' staffed by next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- During the City of Austin's update on the first of this month on winter preparedness, Asst. Interim City Manager Bruce Mills said "we'll be close to 100% staffed in the next two-to-three weeks at 911."Staffing issues have plagued the emergency communications center for nearly four years now, with KXAN previously reporting 100 people left Austin 911 between 2019 and 2021. This has resulted in slower police response times as well as callers being put on hold when calling 911. ‘Felt like I was abandoned’: Family on hold with 911 after crash, calls ISD police instead After hearing Mills' comment, we asked the Austin Police Department about current staffing levels. The department provided the following numbers. Call-takers: 21 vacancies out of 104 total positions (20% vacancy rate)Dispatchers: 5 vacancies out of 75 positions (7% vacancy rate)By comparison, in July, there were 47 call-taker vacancies - a roughly 50% vacancy rate.911 operators answer incoming 911 calls d...

Firefighters rescue dog from frigid waters of Duluth Ship Canal. Here’s the video.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:53 GMT

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Fire Department on Monday released video footage of firefighters rescuing a dog from the eight-foot waves of the Duluth Ship Canal last week. The rescue, which happened on Dec. 7, included firefighters in survival float suits climbing into the ship canal and struggling to find the dark-colored dog as it slipped below each big wave.Firefighters responded to the call at about 6:20 p.m. with some crews going directly to the scene and others headed to the Pier B resort complex where they launched a 14-foot inflatable rescue boat.As crews were en route, St. Louis County Dispatchers were able to use cameras on the Aerial Lift Bridge being controlled by the bridge operator to help pinpoint the caller’s location. Upon arrival, crews found the dog’s owner on the south pier on the lake side of the bridge.The firefighters climbed in and made their way toward where the dog was last seen but had difficulty finding the animal. Firefighters on land and the dog̵...