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Organization has compassion blooming in vacant lots on South Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

CHICAGO — A handful of vacant lots on Chicago’s Southeast Side are in the process of being transformed into beautiful spaces.This is a story about a community investing not just in each other but the landscape that makes up their neighborhood. Ghian Foreman is the CEO of Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative. More from Erin: After loss, couple’s love story blooms in suburban garden "In the nine neighborhoods from Bronzeville down to South Chicago, there are 260 acres of vacant land. That's the same amount of land as Disneyland," Foreman said. "There was a study that was done that showed when you improve vacant lots (there is a) significant decrease in violent crimes, significant increase in people's sense of health and mental wellness." It was an experiment Foreman was eager to try out in Chicago starting with this first lot in Woodlawn. Lakeview man plants tulip garden to brighten neighborhood They call it Lots of Compassion.Foreman hopes the first wil...

Ohio fish company stole 100+ walleyes from charity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) — A Sandusky, Ohio-based fish company illegally took more than 100 walleyes and several other fish intended for donation to a Sandusky charity in 2021, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.The fish, including 112 walleye, one steelhead trout, one yellow perch and three whitefish, were harvested during Lake Erie walleye fishing tournaments, which regularly donate caught fish to charity "to support those in need," reads the release. Commercial fish processors like Lake Fish Company are paid to clean the donated fish and return ready-to-cook filets to the receiving charities.Lake Fish Company Inc. and four of its employees, Craig Carr, 55, of Oak Harbor; Dale Trent, 50, of Port Clinton; Thelma Towner, 69, of Sandusky; and Stanley Swain, 55, of Milan; have since pleaded guilty to one felony and several other misdemeanor counts of theft and other commercial fish violations, the DNR says.The state's wildlife division launched an investigation in 2021,...

Alzheimer's drug approved, Contaminated tap water — and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

Alzheimer’s DrugThe first Alzheimer’s drug, proven to slow the course of the disease, has been approved by the FDA.In studies Leqembi showed it clears the build-up of plaque associated with Alzheimer’s.It's designed only for people with early forms of the disease that have been confirmed to have those plaques in their brains.Before insurance coverage the drug costs $26,500.FDA approval would trigger a change in how Medicare and Medicaid covers the drug, making it more affordable for millions of people.Contaminated Tap WaterAlmost half of the tap water in the U.S. is contaminated with "forever chemicals."That's according to a new study from the U.S. Geological Survey.But the number of people drinking contaminated water may be even higher than what the study found because researchers weren't able to test for all PFA chemicals that are considered dangerous to human health.PFA's are synthetic chemicals that linger in the environment and the human body. They're linked to cancer, obesity,...

Colorado is warning residents about black widow spiders — here's why

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (KDVR) — The iconic black widow spider calls Colorado home, but the record wet weather this summer means residents may be seeing them more around their neighborhoods."When you have increases in moisture, you usually have increases in insect populations," said Sara Stevens, director of animal collections at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. "So they're most likely thriving more due to the abundance of prey items more so than the weather itself."Stevens said black widows are mealworm beetle specialists but also eat any sort of insect. Stevens said this makes them great at pest management.Black widow spider (AP Photo)"Black widows can be really beneficial for helping to mitigate that [pests] around the house," Stevens said. "Especially because most of the time they're outside. They're pretty shy spiders. They really don't want to come into our homes and interact with us too much. They like to find nice quiet spaces and they're sort of couch potatoes. They make a...

Affidavit: Man set mattress on fire in deadly 2018 San Marcos apartment fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

SAN MARCOS (KXAN) -- A Hays County arrest affidavit obtained by KXAN has revealed new details about what led to the arrest of Jacobe Ferguson, who is facing an arson charge connected with a fire at a San Marcos apartment complex that killed five people in 2018. NEXT: Former resident arrested after deadly 2018 apartment fire in San Marcos During a news conference Thursday morning, the San Marcos fire marshal said authorities served an arrest warrant to the 30-year-old former resident early Wednesday morning. Investigators said no other arrests are expected in the case. The fire happened in the early morning hours of July 20, 2018. In the following days, investigators with the San Marcos Fire Department Fire Marshal's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office interviewed several witnesses. KXAN is not naming the witnesses and will instead refer to them as Witness No. 1, Witness No. 2 and Witness No. 3.Witness No....

TxDOT seeks public feedback on $100B, 10-year plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Department of Transportation hosted a public meeting Thursday for residents to weigh in on the agency's Unified Transportation Program, or UTP, a 10-year outlook on transportation projects statewide.Thursday's virtual meeting was the first of two meetings slated for July. A second, virtual public hearing will be held on July 25 at 2 p.m.The Texas Transportation Commission is expected to approve the 10-year UTP at its Aug. 16 meeting. The draft plan, as proposed, features $100.6 billion in funding to be allocated to thousands of projects statewide, including safety upgrades, preventative maintenance work and congestion mitigation efforts.TxDOT approves adjustments to the UTP annually, which helps determine transportation funding across the state. The UTP doesn't guarantee a specific budget or project will be built, but helps develop a long-form plan for identifying transportation needs across the state.Some of the projects the draft UTP has proposed for pos...

QAnon leader, who said JFK and son are still alive, dies in Rochester after crashing dirt bike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Michael Protzman, the leader of a QAnon cult who led thousands of people to believe a conspiracy that former president John F. Kennedy and his son John F. Kennedy Jr. are still alive, has died in Rochester, according to VICE News.Protzman, 60, died Friday, June 30, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, a week after suffering multiple blunt-force injuries from a dirt bike accident at the Meadow Valley Motocross track in Millville. The fatal injuries occurred after Protzman lost control of his dirt bike, according to the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.Known to his followers as “Negative 48,” Protzman built a 100,000-plus-person cult following on the social media app Telegram by spreading conspiracy theories predicting that JFK would reappear at Dealey Plaza, the site of his 1963 assassination in Dallas, on Nov. 2, 2022, according to the Houston Chronicle.Protzman believed the resurrected Kennedy would reinstate former President Donald Trump a...

Five MN drownings reported over Fourth of July holiday weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

RED WING, Minn. — At least five people drowned in Minnesota waterways over the weekend through the Independence Day holiday Tuesday.The deaths nearly double the total drownings in Minnesota waterways so far this year, state officials said Wednesday.Three people from Oakdale died while swimming in the Vermillion River near Red Wing on Monday. Additionally, two 20-year-old men died in separate incidents: one in Wright County, Minnesota, Monday; and the other in Clearwater County, Minnesota, Sunday.The three deaths along the Mississippi River are the first in Goodhue County since 2021. Before Monday, the most recent fatality on the river in Minnesota was June 2 when a 39-year-old kayaker was found after his craft was found capsized May 31.The holiday and weekend incidents unofficially brings the total drowning fatalities in Minnesota to 12 so far this year, said Lisa Dugan, boat and water safety outreach coordinator at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.Among the earlier drownin...

Five prospects to keep an eye on at Wild development camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

It’s that time of the year when dozens of Wild prospects descend upon St. Paul for a sneak peek at what they hope life could be like in future NHL seasons.Thirty-six players will be at development camp from July 7-9 at TRIA Rink in downtown St. Paul. Who stands out? That remains to be seen.Here are five prospects to keep an eye on:Brock FaberThe biggest name on the list of participants is defenseman Brock Faber. He made his NHL debut last season in the leadup to the playoffs and performed so well that he found himself in the lineup for the Wild in their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars. Presumably the Wild are most interested in seeing the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Faber take on a leadership role amongst his peers. He already has proved himself as a player who is going to be instrumental on the blue line this season. Especially considering the loss of veteran defenseman Matt Dumba.Liam OhgrenAfter being selected by the Wild in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft...

Former St. Paul teacher sentenced to probation for nonconsensual sexual contact with student

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:24 GMT

A former St. Paul Public Schools teacher was sentenced this week to two years of probation for engaging in a nonconsensual sex act with an 18-year-old student.After a family member reported it, the student told police that she and Pablo Alejandro Cortes, her 50-year-old biology teacher, had been flirting by text message and Snapchat when they agreed to meet after school Dec. 2, according to the criminal complaint.Pablo Alejandro Cortes (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)At a parking ramp near Como Park, Cortes exposed himself and the student performed oral sex on him, she said. She told police she “didn’t want to … but continued because she was scared,” according to the complaint.Though the student was 18, it is a felony for a teacher to have sex with a student. In a plea deal, the felony charge against Cortes was dismissed and he pleaded guilty to fifth-degree nonconsensual sexual contact, a gross misdemeanor.Cortes was sentenced Wednesday to 360 days in the Rams...