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South Carolina gas station owner charged with murder in 14-year-old’s shooting death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina gas station owner was charged Monday with murder in the death of a 14-year-old boy whom he allegedly chased from the store and shot in the back, the sheriff said.Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said at a news conference that station owner Rick Chow incorrectly suspected Cyrus Carmack-Belton had shoplifted bottles of water from the Xpress Mart Shell station in Columbia. After a verbal confrontation, the sheriff said Carmack-Belton fled and was pursued by Chow’s son.Chow joined the chase, armed with a pistol, Lott said. As they ran by nearby apartments, Carmack-Belton fell and got back up and Chow fired, striking Carmack-Belton in the back. Chow’s son said the teen had a gun, and investigators did find a gun close to Carmack-Belton’s body, Lott said.“Even if he had shoplifted four bottles of water, which he had taken out of the cooler and then put back — even if he had done that, that’s not something you should shoot anybody over, much less a 1...

Malaysia finds 100 artillery shells on Chinese barge, says it likely plundered WWII shipwrecks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s maritime agency said Tuesday a detained Chinese barge likely plundered two World War II British shipwrecks in the South China Sea after discovering 100 old artillery shells on it.Malaysian media reported that illegal salvage operators are believed to have targeted the HMS Repulse and the HMS Prince of Wales, which were sunk in 1941 by Japanese torpedoes days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. A total of 842 sailors perished, and the shipwrecks off the coast of Malaysia’s central Pahang state are designated war graves. Fishermen and divers alerted authorities after spotting a foreign vessel near the area last month.The maritime agency detained the barge, registered in Fuzhou, China, on Sunday for anchoring without a permit off southern Johor state. Upon investigation, the agency found piles of scrap metal and an artillery shell believed to be from World War II on the vessel.The agency said a thorough search Tuesday found 100 more ar...

Halifax wildfire: Officials worry high winds will cause ‘reburn’ in subdivisions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

HALIFAX — Fire officials in Nova Scotia say the uncontained wildfire in suburban Halifax has remained stable, but they warn the return of dry, windy conditions Tuesday could lead to a “reburn” in evacuated subdivisions. “We are expecting a bit of a weather shift,” David Steeves, a forest resources technician with Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources, told a news conference at a command post in Upper Tantallon, N.S.“We are expecting a significant level of fire behaviour …. It’s going to be an increasingly dangerous situation for the firefighters who are on the ground.”Halifax deputy fire Chief David Meldrum said firefighters spent the night extinguishing hot spots in neighbourhoods where 200 homes and structures have been damaged since the fire started Sunday. It remains unclear how many homes have been destroyed because surveys have yet to be completed.In all, about 16,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes, most of...

Joliet residents asked to shelter for manhunt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. — A shelter in place order has been issued as police in Joliet search for two burglary suspects.At around 5 a.m., Joliet police received a request for assistance from other area departments regarding a police pursuit.Police were in pursuit of a vehicle that was believed to be stolen with five male burglary suspects inside.Officers learned that the five fled from the vehicle in the area of Black Road and Junie Court.Police said the five may be armed and a perimeter was established. One of the suspects was placed into custody in the 1200 block of Taylor Street. Just before 9:15 a.m., police said a total of three suspects are in custody.Residents in the area were notified of a shelter in place order via a reverse 911 call. As of Tuesday morning, it remains in place.Due to Joliet Catholic Academy being in the area, the school is closed Tuesday.Police did not provide a description of the suspects.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

'America's greatest donuts': Indiana bakery gobbles up competition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

Rise’n Roll gobbled up awards like its customers gobble up its signature donuts.The donut chain, which has 16 Indiana locations, including five in central Indiana, has plenty to celebrate, thanks to the “Underground Donut Tour,” which bills itself as the “only food tour just for donuts.”For nearly eight years, the tour has been showcasing cities and the donuts they have to offer.Rise’n Roll Bakery absolutely cleaned up in the 2023 edition of the tour's "America's Greatest Donut" contest. The Indiana-based chain won “Overall Fan Favorite.” Its cinnamon caramel donut was "voted far and away the most popular donut in America" and won the "Greatest Cinnamon Sugar Donut" category. The bakery also earned top honors in numerous categories:Greatest Cake Donut (Red Velvet)Greatest Cream Filled Donut (Boston Cream)Greatest Jelly Filled Donut (Lemon Jelly filled)Greatest Old Fashioned Donut (Old Fashioned)Greatest Unique Flavors Donut (Mocha Donut)Greatest Unique Toppings Donut (Crunch Delight...

LIVE: Gov. Abbott calls special session to address property taxes, border security; more sessions coming

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas lawmakers were adjourned for almost three hours before Gov. Greg Abbott called them back to the Capitol on Monday.Abbott called for a special session to begin at 9 p.m. Monday following the end of the 88th Texas Legislature's regular session at around 6:15 p.m. He said property taxes and border security are on the agenda for what he called "Special Session No. 1." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas lawmakers adjourn without passing property tax legislation "Special Session No. 1 will focus only on cutting property taxes and cracking down on illegal human smuggling," he said in a release. "We must cut property taxes. During the regular session, we added $17.6 billion to cut property taxes. However, the legislature could not agree on how to allocate funds to accomplish this goal."In his release, he said legislation needs to be passed that lowers property taxes by "reducing the school district maximum compressed tax rate in order to provide lasting property tax relief for...

Fort Edward man accused of multiple sex crimes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 69-year-old Fort Edward man is accused of multiple sex crimes, one including attempted sexual contact with a child under 13. Robert Keech faces multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Keech attempted to have sexual contact with a child under 13 and restrained the child in the course of conduct. In a separate incident, he is accused of forcing himself onto a victim he invited into his apartment. Charges:First-degree criminal sex actForcible touchingFirst-degree attempted sex abuse (two counts)Unlawful imprisonmentEndangering the welfare of a childUnlawfully dealing with a child Police investigating fatal jet ski crash on Hudson River Keech was arraigned at the Centralized Arraignment and was held pending arraignment in Washington County Court due to previous convictions.

Police investigating fatal jet ski crash on Hudson River

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

NEWBURGH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- State police are currently investigating a fatal crash on the Hudson River involving two jet skis. Charles Sanchez, 48, of Belleville, New Jersey, was pronounced dead at the hospital following the crash. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police say a preliminary investigation shows Sanchez was a passenger on a jet ski when it collided with another on the Hudson River. Both were traveling north. Sanchez and the person driving the jet ski were thrown into the water.Local boaters at the marina immediately offered aid and helped everyone involved get out of the water. The driver of the jet ski was listed in critical condition, as Sanchez was later pronounced deceased at St. Luke's Hospital. Police investigating fatal motorcycle crash in Hoosick Falls Police say it was confirmed neither operator nor their passengers had consumed alcohol. The investigation is ongoing.

Ex-Blues Pietrangelo, Barbashev go for second Stanley Cup title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

LAS VEGAS - Two former St. Louis Blues instrumental in the 2019 Stanley Cup title will have a chance to win their second championship in five years. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and forward Ivan Barbashev are Stanley Cup Final-bound again as the Vegas Golden Knights secured the Western Conference spot. Vegas defeated the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference in six games, closing the series with a 6-0 win on Monday. Woman ‘saving up’ as Ferguson PD cracks down on expired tags If the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup Final, Pietrangelo will have won two with two different franchises, and more notably, be a part of the first Stanley Cup-winning team of both St. Louis and Vegas. Over the last six or so weeks, both have played to their strengths in ways that also helped spark the Blues to their only Stanley Cup title in 2019. Pietrangelo, now 33 years old, has provided reliable defense that helped him captain the Blues in a demanding 2019 schedule and the experience seems to be payi...

Colorado teen flouts school policy, wears Mexican and U.S. flag sash to graduation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:26:47 GMT

Naomi Peña Villasano. (Photo courtesy of Naomi Peña Villasano)PARACHUTE — A Colorado student barred from wearing a sash representing the flags of Mexico and the United States to her high school graduation did so anyway, partially covering it with another sash representing her participation in a service organization.“Always stand up for what you believe in,” Grand Valley High School graduate Naomi Peña Villasano told the Post Independent of Glenwood Springs after receiving her diploma on Saturday in the west-central Colorado town of Parachute.Peña Villasano’s case is the latest dispute in the U.S. about what kind of cultural graduation attire is allowed at commencement ceremonies.Peña Villasano challenged school officials in court after they said she would be banned from graduation ceremonies if she wore the sash that has stars and stripes on one side and a cactus, eagle and a serpent to represent the Mexican flag on the other side.A federal judge had ruled Friday that the scho...