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Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas is sentenced to more than 3 years in prison for corruption

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A veteran Los Angeles politician was sentenced Monday to 3 1/2 years in prison for a scheme in which he sought benefits for his son in exchange for supporting lucrative government contracts with the University of Southern California School of Social Work.Mark Ridley-Thomas, most recently a city councilmember, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on seven felony convictions including conspiracy, bribery and fraud for actions while he was a member of the powerful Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.Judge Dale S. Fischer also ordered Ridley-Thomas, 68, to pay a $30,000 fine.A jury in March found that Ridley-Thomas schemed in 2017 and 2018 with Marilyn Louise Flynn, then dean of USC’s School of Social Work, to funnel $100,000 from a Ridley-Thomas campaign fund through the university to a nonprofit run by his son.Prosecutors said the son also received graduate school admission, a scholarship and a paid professorship in the course of the conspiracy and bribery...

Investigation finds late founder of Japanese talent agency for boy bands sexually assaulted teens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A team investigating sexual assault allegations by the late founder of a powerful talent agency for boy bands has found the charges credible, calling Tuesday for compensation for the victims and the resignation of the current chief executive. The three-month probe, which included speaking with 23 victims, concluded that Johnny Kitagawa sexually assaulted and abused boys as far back as the 1950s and targeted at least several hundred people. The investigative panel said Johnny & Associates must apologize, strengthen compliance measures and educate its ranks about human rights. Julie Keiko Fujishima, the chief executive, must resign for not taking action over the years, according to the special team. Kitagawa died in 2019 and was never charged. “The company’s coverup led to the sexual abuse continuing unchecked for so long,” investigative team leader Makoto Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “There were many opportunities to take action.” Critics say what happened at Joh...

3 arrested after armed robbery, crash on Northwest Side: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

CHICAGO — Three people were arrested after an armed robbery led to a crash on the city's Northwest Side.The suspects allegedly were in a white SUV, which is a similar description of a getaway vehicle used in robberies over the weekend.Chicago police have not released many details of the suspects who were arrested just before 9:30 p.m. Monday in the Bucktown neighborhood. The three suspects robbed a 51-year-old woman on the 2000 block of Mozart before crashing the white SUV. Police have not said if the suspects are connected to the carjacking that happened Sunday night on the 1200 block of North Milwaukee Avenue. In that incident, a woman's white SUV was stolen and possibly used in another robbery that left a woman in the hospital.Over the weekend, multiple robberies took place in the city's West Town and Bucktown neighborhoods. Several carjackings, armed robberies within 2-hour span on Chicago’s North and West sides: police One of the incidents happened at the Illinois Auto Repair...

Hurricane Idalia forecast to become 'extremely dangerous' major hurricane, NHC says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Idalia strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane early Tuesday and is expected to rapidly intensify in the Gulf of Mexico.The National Hurricane Center said Idalia is about 370 miles south-southwest of Tampa. The storm's winds increased to 80 mph.Idalia is forecast to make landfall along the northwest Gulf Coast of Florida some time on Wednesday as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 major hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of the 5 a.m. update, Idalia was over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, moving north at 14 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The NHC shifted Idalia's track slightly west. Do I need to evacuate? Orders issued for several counties ahead of Idalia Storm surge remains the biggest threat with Idalia, with some areas north of Tampa Bay expected to see 8 to 12 feet of storm surge, with 4 to 9 feet in the Tampa Bay area and 3 to 7 feet south of Tampa Bay. The storm surge threat is increased thanks to higher-than-...

Neurosurgeon probing patient's mystery symptoms plucks worm from woman's brain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A neurosurgeon investigating a woman’s mystery symptoms in an Australian hospital says she plucked a wriggling worm from the patient’s brain.Surgeon Hari Priya Bandi was performing a biopsy through a hole in the 64-year-old patient’s skull at Canberra Hospital last year when she used forceps to pull out the parasite, which measured 8 centimeters, or 3 inches."I just thought: ‘What is that? It doesn’t make any sense. But it’s alive and moving,’” Bandi was quoted Tuesday in The Canberra Times newspaper.“It continued to move with vigor. We all felt a bit sick,” Bandi added of her operating team.The creature was the larva of an Australian native roundworm not previously known to be a human parasite, named Ophidascaris robertsi. The worms are commonly found in carpet pythons.This undated photo supplied by Canberra Health Services, shows a parasite in a specimen jar at a Canberra hospital in Australia. A neurosurgeon investigating a patient's mystery neurologica...

Metra Rock Island train derails near LaSalle Street Monday; normal service resumes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

CHICAGO — A Metra Rock Island trains derailed Monday causing major delays and disputations in service.As of Tuesday morning, Metra said it anticipates operating normal schedule. Trains may incur up to 15 minute delays.The incident involving Rock Island train No. 704 happened around 8:30 a.m. Monday near Clark Street and 15th Street. Train No. 704 was scheduled to arrive at the LaSalle Street Station at 8:30 a.m. but derailed near Clark Street and 15th Street.Service on the Metra Rock Island was suspended all day Monday due to the derailment, but is expected to be back to its normal schedule Tuesday.For the latest updates go to: metra.com

'Have you seen this bull?' Escaped bull on the loose in Barrington Hills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

BARRINGTON HILLS, Ill. — Officials in Barrington Hills are asking for the public's help to locate a bull who escaped from a resident's property.The village shared photos of the bull on their Facebook page that were captured on a security camera in the area of IL Route 62 and Old Sutton Roads.The bull is described to be brown and black and is reported to weigh about 1600 pounds.Village officials are reminding residents that although the bull may seem friendly, to not approach it and to call 911 immediately.(Credit: Village of Barrington Hills)(Credit: Village of Barrington Hills)(Credit: Village of Barrington Hills)(Credit: Village of Barrington Hills)

Teachers predict wave of violence with a return to classrooms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

(NewsNation) — With summer break over, the break from last year's campus violence also comes to an end. Across the country, many teachers have already begun to deal with incidents of violence as some predict things will only keep escalating without a major social shift. “I’m exhausted and we’re only three weeks into the school year and I’m already burnt out,” said Las Vegas teacher Kristan Nigro. Will back-to-school season make the summer COVID surge worse? The kindergarten teacher told NewsNation that her first-day excitement is long gone after an incident last year. “I had a child who went to my desk and grabbed the adult scissors and opened them and threw them at my face. Thank God I was able to get out of the way and not actually let those collide with my face,“ Nigro said.On Friday, four people were shot in Oklahoma during a high school football game after a fight broke out among spectators.Gunfire also broke out during lunch at a high school in Augusta, Georgia, when a figh...

Dean's A-List Interview: Andy Summers on upcoming Chicagoland show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

CHICAGO — Many people grew accustomed to seeing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist on stage with his famous band.Andy Summers was a big part of "The Police," who won five Grammy Awards on their way to enshrinement in 2003. Now years after the band members went their separate ways, he's taking his solo show to Chicagoland.Summers will be playing at Skokie's North Shore Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, September 8. It's a different venture for the guitarist in his career and one he talked about with Dean Richards on the WGN Morning News.He joined "Dean's A-List Interview' to talk about the show and what the audience will find unique about it in September.You can watch Andy's discussion with Dean on the August 29 WGN Morning News in the video above or below.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

These first 10 Medicare drugs chosen for US to negotiate lower prices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:49 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) early Tuesday announced the first 10 drugs chosen for Medicare price negotiation under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).These single-source drugs were chosen based on their eligibility under the IRA and are the "highest total Part D gross covered prescription drug costs" under Medicare Part D, according to CMS. In total, these medications account for $50.5 billion in total gross Part D costs.Negotiations over these drugs, if manufacturers agree to the process, will take place over 2023 and 2024. Drugmakers have until Oct. 1 to sign agreements.CMS will publish the "maximum fair prices" for these drugs in September 2024. The negotiated prices for these drugs will go into effect beginning in 2026. Drug shortages shine spotlight on FDA powers President Joe Biden is expected to give a speech on Tuesday to mark the selection of these drugs."For far too long, Americans have paid more for prescription drugs than any maj...