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5 indicted in NY for scheme to drug, kill and rob men

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Julio Ramirez, a 25-year-old social worker, died in a taxi of an overdose last April after leaving a bar in Manhattan with a group of men. Relatives grew suspicious when they discovered money missing from his bank account.A month later, John Umberger was found dead in a townhouse after leaving a nightclub so incapacitated that he had to be helped by several companions, police say.Umberger’s family suspected foul play, doubting that the 33-year-old political consultant visiting New York City from Washington, D.C., would have purposely taken a lethal dose of drugs. Suspicions heightened when his bank, too, appeared to have been drained. A grand jury indictment unsealed Tuesday names five men in connection to the drugging deaths of the two men as part of a criminal operation to steal money. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said the group targeted men at bars and clubs — befriending them and then plying them with potent and dangerous drugs. When their victi...

Activists demand police reform after Jayland Walker decision

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Social justice activists called for widespread police reforms while marching through the streets of Akron on Tuesday, a day after a grand jury declined to indict eight police officers who fired 94 shots at Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man killed after what started as a traffic stop.Organizers of the march told dozens of protesters to make their voices heard but urged them not to become violent. Protests following Walker’s death and the release of body-camera footage of the shooting led to daily protests last summer and a citywide curfew. City leaders in recent days set up a protest zone downtown in anticipation of more demonstrations. Walker was shot 46 times in a barrage of gunfire that lasted just under seven seconds on June 27 after he jumped out of his still-moving car and ran from police. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Monday the state’s investigation found that Walker fired at least one round at officers while he was in his car and then la...

Search underway for missing Cook County woman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Cook County Sheriff's Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a 64-year-old woman who was last seen on April 13.Paula Gibbs, 64, of unincorporated Leyden Township, was last seen on Thursday, April 13 on the 2500 block of Mannheim Road after driving off from a motel. Judge tentatively OKs $725M Facebook settlement: How to apply for a payout She left the motel driving in her maroon 2011 Toyota Highlander with Illinois license plate DS43090. Her car has a broken headlight on the passenger side, according to authorities.Gibbs is described as 5-foot-4, weighing 200 pounds, with brown eyes and gray hair. She was last seen wearing a sweat suit and a black zip-up jacket.Anyone with information on Gibbs whereabouts is asked to contact the Cook County Sheriff's Police Department at 708-865-4896.

Coroner: Aaron Carter drowned in tub due to drug, inhalant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

Singer and rapper Aaron Carter accidentally drowned in his bathtub due to sedatives he'd taken and gas used in spray cleaners he had inhaled, a coroner's report said Tuesday.Carter, the younger brother of the Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter, was found submerged and dead at age 34 in the bathtub of his home in Lancaster, California, on Nov. 5, the autopsy report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner said. Singer Aaron Carter dies at 34 The sedative alprazolam, often sold under the brand name Xanax, was found in his system, as was the compressed gas difluoroethane, which the report says is “a gas commonly used as a propellant in air spray cleaners,” which “can induce feelings of euphoria when inhaled."The two substances made him incapacitated in the tub, and caused the drowning, the report said. Aaron Carter’s life in photos The autopsy was performed the day after Carter's death, but the results were withheld for toxicology tests, which often take months.

CPS reveals prelim. budget plans for 2024 fiscal year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Public School system has revealed their plans for the 2024 fiscal year.CPS CEO Pedro Martinez unveiled budget plans during a zoom meeting alongside board members Tuesday, emphasizing a focus on equity, stability and acceleration."We know that our kids are capable of amazing growth while we support their learning," Martinez said during the Zoom meeting.CPS's current budget totals to $9.4 billion, while next year's number won't be disclosed until this summer."These exact numbers are subject to change as we work with school leaders and the budget process," Martinez said. South Side high school principal removed from post While Martinez was mum on specific numbers for the entire 2024 fiscal budget, he did promise that most of CPS's 633 schools will receive more funding than they did last year."We are projecting to add 150 million dollars for this next school year," Martinez said. "In addition to the 240 million that added for the current year that we're in."Sever...

Netflix to end its DVD-by-mail service after 25 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Netflix is poised to shut down the DVD-by-mail rental service that set the stage for its trailblazing video streaming service, ending an era that began a quarter century ago when delivering discs through the mail was considered a revolutionary concept.The DVD service, which still delivers films and TV shows in the red-and-white envelopes that once served as Netflix's emblem, plans to mail its final discs on Sept. 29.Netflix ended March with 232.5 million worldwide subscribers to its video streaming service, but it stopped disclosing how many people still pay for DVD-by-mail delivery years ago as that part of its business steadily shrank. The DVD service generated $145.7 million in revenue last year, which translated into somewhere between 1.1 million and 1.3 million subscribers, based on the average prices paid by customers. Netflix drops second live event after technical errors The growth of Netflix's video streaming service has been slowing down ov...

Aaron Carter drowned in tub due to drug, inhalant: coroner

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Singer and rapper Aaron Carter accidentally drowned in his bathtub due to sedatives he'd taken and gas used in spray cleaners he had inhaled, a coroner's report said Tuesday.Carter, the younger brother of the Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter, was found submerged and dead at age 34 in the bathtub of his home in Lancaster, California, on Nov. 5, the autopsy report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner said.The sedative alprazolam, often sold under the brand name Xanax, was found in his system, as was the compressed gas difluoroethane, which the report says is “a gas commonly used as a propellant in air spray cleaners,” which “can induce feelings of euphoria when inhaled."The two substances made him incapacitated in the tub, and caused the drowning, the report said.The autopsy was performed the day after Carter's death, but the results were withheld for toxicology tests, which often take months.

Tax Day 2023: What happens if I don't file my return in time?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – It is finally upon us – Tax Day.For those who have already filed, April 18 is just Tuesday, but it may be a source of tremendous stress for others.If you are worried that you might not be able to finish your taxes in time, you can file for an extension, though that’s not ideal (more on that below.) Judge tentatively OKs $725M Facebook settlement: How to apply for a payout Whether you do your taxes yourself, go to a tax clinic or hire a professional, navigating the tax system can be complicated and stressful. Courtney Alev, a consumer financial advocate for Credit Karma, recommends you go easy on yourself.“Take a breath. Take some time, set out an hour, or go through it over the weekend. You’ll hopefully see that it’s a lot simpler than you think,” Alev said.Can I file for an extension?The good news is that filing for an extension is pretty painless, but there's a catch – you don't get extra time to pay your taxes.You can use IRS Free File, regardless of income, to file...

Frontier Airlines launches all-you-can-fly pass

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

DENVER, Colo. (WGN) -- Frontier Airlines launched their "GoWild! All-You-Can-Fly Pass" packages last week that allow passengers to purchase an unlimited number of flights.The pass includes access to over 75 United States destinations and international destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. The highest value airline rewards program is a bit of a surprise For each flight purchased with the pass, Frontier Airline passengers would only pay $0.01 in airfare before taxes, fees, and charges. While the pass is valid, passengers can book an unlimited number of flights.Frontier Airlines travelers will be able to confirm bookings 24 hours before departure for domestic flights and 10 days prior to international flights.Flights must be booked through flyfrontier.com and are subject to blackout periods. Add-ons such as bags or seats are not included with the pass. These airlines have lost, damaged the most luggage: data Passengers can purchase a summer pass for ...

Washington County takes steps to complete highway connection by taking over road in Oak Park Heights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:25 GMT

Over objections from officials in Oak Park Heights, the Washington County Board on Tuesday voted to take over part of a street in the city to create a connection in the Manning Avenue corridor south of Minnesota 36.Washington County officials plan to use state law to recategorize 58th Street between Memorial Avenue and Stillwater Boulevard as a county road. Under Minnesota statute 163.11, any roadway in a county can be recategorized as a county road. The county would then be responsible for maintenance and improvements to that road.County officials have been looking for ways to create a connection in the Manning Avenue corridor – “the backbone of the county” – for more than 30 years, said Kevin Peterson, a design engineer for Washington County. Extending 58th Street would create a link between the southern and northern portions of Manning, also known as Washington County 15, he said.Currently, southbound Manning Avenue ends at Minnesota 36. To continue south, drivers must get on Min...