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Trial day 4 of two former DCFS workers in connection with the 2019 death of 5-year-old AJ Freund

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — The trial for two former Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers accused of child endangerment enters its fourth day Thursday.The multiple felony charges filed in Sept. 2020 against Andrew Polovin and Carlos Acosta stem from the April 2019 death of five-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund of Crystal Lake. They are accused of having known Freund’s life was in danger four months earlier yet not taking action.WGN plans to livestream the trial within this story beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m. The livestream will pause when the court takes its lunch break, but will resume within this story following that break. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Cross-examination continues on Day 3 of AJ Freund’s death, DCFS workers’ trial The bench trial began on Monday with the McHenry County State’s Attorney providing an opening statement for the prosecution, and separate attorneys providing statements for each of the defendants. Defense attorneys spent most of W...

Rare brain-eating amoeba was cause of Arkansas child's death

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) – An Arkansas child died after exposure to a rare brain-eating amoeba at a Little Rock splash pad, public health officials said.The Arkansas Department of Health said Thursday that the unidentified child died after exposure to Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba that can cause a brain-tissue-destroying infection.Health officials said they had investigated the death and determined the infection came from a splash pad at the Country Club of Little Rock. Samples from the pad were sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which confirmed one sample contained the amoeba.The club has closed the splash pad and pool. Brain-eating amoeba: How do infections occur, and where are they most common? The infection caused by exposure to Naegleria fowleri is called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM. Symptoms of PAM include severe headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting which then escalates to stiff neck, seizures, and coma that can lead to death. Th...

Chicago Fire Furniture: Torched Wood Specialist In Search Of Beauty Through Destruction

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

We love sharing untold stories here on Spotlight Chicago and some of the untold stories include those of independent artists, crafters and small business owners. We highlight a furniture designer and carpenter who incorporates fire in his work using hand tools in his creations. We spotlight Julius Dorsey of Chicago Fire Furniture. ChicagoFireFurniture.comInstagram: @FireFurnitureSpotlight Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sacramento football player dies after practice, school officials say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

(KTXL) — A Sacramento City College football player died after practice on Monday, according to school officials. A spokesperson with the college said they don't know the cause of the student-athlete's death. River Delta Unified School District confirmed the football player was Justin McAllister, who graduated from Delta High School in Clarksburg in 2022. "We at Sacramento City College and the Los Rios Community College District simply cannot imagine the pain that this young man's family and loved ones dealing with right now," Sacramento City College said in a statement. "All of our thoughts are with them at this of unthinkable grief." Sacramento City players told Nexstar's KTXL that McAllister collapsed and was unresponsive after a 20-minute conditioning with helmets and no pads. Players said McAllister was struggling a bit, but he told his teammates he would be OK. After players found out McAllister collapsed, they were told to exit the stadium. Once they were outside, players saw ...

Manufacturer behind CapMetro's electric buses files for bankruptcy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One of the electric bus manufacturers CapMetro entered into a procurement agreement with two years ago has filed for bankruptcy.California-based Proterra said in court filings it was navigating issues in being financially profitable while making custom-designed buses, The Washington Post reported in August.“While our best-in-class EV and battery technologies have set an industry standard, we have faced various market and macroeconomic head winds, that have impacted our ability to efficiently scale all of our opportunities simultaneously,” chief executive Gareth Joyce said in a news release announcing the bankruptcy. PAST COVERAGE: Nearly 200 electric CapMetro buses en route to Austin In September 2021, the CapMetro board of directors approved the procurement of 197 electric buses manufactured by both Proterra and New Flyer. The purchase came as the transit authority was advancing efforts to become a zero-emissions public transit fleet.A CapMetro spokesperson said ...

After selling out Target Center, country duo Dan + Shay book April stop at Xcel Energy Center

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Country duo Dan + Shay will play their second local arena headlining show when they stop by St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center on April 5.Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 22 through Ticketmaster. Fans who register at danandshay.com/tour by 4 p.m. Sept. 18 will receive access to a presale. Neither the venue nor the promoter revealed ticket prices. Ben Rector and Hailey Whitters will open.Dan Smyers and James Shay Mooney were pursuing separate careers in Nashville when they met in late 2012. The pair hit it off immediately and started writing together the next day.Within two months, they had multiple publishing deal offers and less than a year later, they released their debut single “19 You + Me.” It went gold and paved the way for “Show You Off,” “Nothin’ Like You” and the duo’s debut album, “Where It All Began,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart. They’ve continued that success with three mo...

Washington County board OKs 2024 tax levy limit. Levy to increase, but tax rate will fall.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The Washington County Board on Tuesday unanimously approved its maximum property tax levy – the upper limit of what the county can collect in property taxes for 2024.Although the $132.7 million tax levy is a 3.95 percent increase over 2023, county officials said the county tax rate is actually set to decrease by 7.3 percent. That’s because of the growing value of commercial property in the county and the addition of new construction to the county’s tax base.The board also approved a tax levy of $660,000 for the Washington County Regional Rail Authority, the same as in previous years.The proposed budget adopted by the board on Tuesday by a 4-1 vote includes $289 million in operating expenses; $59.2 million in capital projects and $15.3 million in debt service. Commissioner Michelle Clasen, who represents the Woodbury area, was the lone dissenter. Clasen said Thursday that she has concerns over equity and transparency in capital projects.Among the capital improvement projects pl...

Albany rally for addiction treatment and recovery

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) — Various community organizations came together at the Treatment Works Recovery Rally and March with a common message. Treatment works and recovery is possible.“Treatment works” chanted Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple along with crowd of supporters.About 300 people were in attendance today, K-9s and cops alike joined in on the festivities.There was a banner competition the event, one from the Addiction Recovery Centers of Albany that displayed superheroes from winning first prize. Despite the fun and games there was a serious undertone. The size of the crowd was testament  to how many lives the disease of addiction has touched in the Capital Region.Edward Bittig from Schenectady County is nearing 50 years of sobriety from alcohol — and as he jokes — jelly donuts. He says his recovery has come full circle.“I could not ask for a better life. I was recently honored by mothers against drunk drivers. A former drunk driver was honored ...

Edwardsville man charged with six felonies in child porn investigation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

MADISON COUNTY, Ill. - An Edwardsville man faces six felonies in connection with a child porn investigation dating back to last year. Prosecutors have charged Connor Bazzell, 24, with six counts of child pornography. Four counts are considered high-level criminal offenses in Illinois as a Class X felony. Girl’s path to school: speeding cars, sex offenders, dangerous crosswalk The Edwardsville Police Department received a tip in December 2022 that a resident was distributing child pornography. Bazzell was charged Wednesday in connection with the investigation, and he's linked to child pornography crimes from Jan. 2022 and Aug. 2023. According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Bazzell reportedly distributed videos of lewd acts involving two girls under the age of 18, including one under the age of 13. Charging documents also allege that Bazzell had videos of sex acts involving children on his phone. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your in...

Teen, two others charged in Washington Park homicide

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. - A teenager and two others face criminal charges in connection with a recent Washington Park homicide investigation. Police recently arrested 22-year-old Deantae Hoskins, 26-year-old Cheyennea Hoskins, and a 16-year-old in connection with the investigation. Deantae, Cheyennea and the teen are accused in the death of 36-year-old Peter Hester Jr. on Sept. 8, 2023. Illinois State Police say Hester was fatally shot in the afternoon hours near 47th Street and Caseyville Avenue. Girl’s path to school: speeding cars, sex offenders, dangerous crosswalk ISP says a suspect vehicle led to the arrest of Deantae, Cheyennea and the teen. Investigators have not disclosed a motive or any other information regarding the case. Prosecutors have charged Deatae and the unidentified teenager with first-degree murder. Cheyennea has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon.Deantae and the teen are both jailed on a $1 million. Cheyennea is jailed on a $50,000 bond.