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Man pleads guilty to murder in 2021 hit-and-run spree that killed steakhouse chef

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A man has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the death of a Philadelphia steakhouse chef prosecutors say he intentionally killed during a drug-fueled, hit-and-run spree that caused injuries and damage in two counties.Kareem Welton, 43, also pleaded guilty Friday in Montgomery County Court to attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault and robbery of a motor vehicle in the violent predawn 2021 joyride that started in Philadelphia’s Center City and ended 30 miles (48 kilometers) away in neighboring Montgomery County.Prosecutors dropped a first-degree murder charge in exchange for the plea, which does not include any agreement on sentencing.Authorities alleged that Welton stole a car left running by a woman in July 2021 and then went to a family friend’s home and stole a 5-year-old poodle, hit two people on a motorcycle and then struck and killed 31-year-old Adriana Moreno-Sanchez as she walked home from her restaurant shift. Authorities s...

Crowds cheer as ‘ring of fire’ eclipse moves across the Americas, stretching from Oregon to Brazil

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.. (AP) — Cheers erupted among crowds in Oregon and New Mexico on Saturday as a rare “ring of fire” eclipse of the sun that had millions across the Americas waiting with anticipation began putting on a spectacular show.With the presence of cloudy skies, a NASA livestream of the phenomenon reported it in Eugene, Oregon, shortly after 9:15 a.m. local time. This came over an hour after a partial eclipse set in. For the small towns and cities along its narrow path, there was a mix of excitement, worries about the weather and concerns they’d be overwhelmed by visitors flocking to see the celestial event, also called an annular solar eclipse. Clouds and fog threatened to obscure the view of the eclipse in some western states, including California and Oregon.As totality began in Eugene, Oregon, oohs and ahs combined with groans of disappointment as the eclipse was intermittently visible, the sun’s light poking through the cloud cover from behind the moon only at times...

Collision in Scarborough involving police car closes north and southbound Markham Road

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

A collision in Scarborough involving a police vehicle has closed northbound and southbound Markham Road and eastbound Eglinton Avenue.At approximately 10:24 a.m. a collision with a police car involved occured in the Markham Road ad Eglinton Avenue area.The officer was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.The driver of the other involved vehicle was transported to hospital with serious injuries.Roads are closed in the area.

Plan for Canadians to leave Gaza via Egyptian border crossing Saturday cancelled

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

The Israeli Foreign Ministry says in a message sent to western embassies that a plan to allow foreign nationals to leave Gaza through a border crossing into Egypt has been called off. A Global Affairs Canada official said Friday that Canadians in Gaza might be able to use the crossing to escape the territory during a short window of time Saturday.However, Julie Sunday, Canada’s top official for consular services, cautioned that there was no guarantee the plan would come to fruition.The message from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, seen by The Canadian Press, stated that “the passage that was planned for today … is cancelled.”The message also advised people to stay away from the area and wait for further updates.Officials said Friday that 150 people with a connection to Canada, including Canadian citizens, their foreign relatives and possibly permanent residents, are inside the Gaza Strip.

Crews battle fire at century old church in East Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

CHICAGO -- A fire broke out at an over a century old church in the East Side neighborhood overnight.The fire erupted at the Advocate United Church of Crist located on 103rd and Avenue L around 4 a.m. No one was in the building and no injuries were reported.Neighbors told WGN the noise woke the up and looked outside to see flames shooting out of the over 100-year-old church. ‘It’s just so senseless:’ Friend remembers man killed in attempted armed robbery in Humboldt Park Nearby residents of the church were ordered to evacuate, and the church pastor said when firefighters got there a brush of flames erupted upon opening the door. "Very emotional, I really don't have any words," senior pastor Rev. Malcom Griffith said.Rev. Griffith said he was doing ministry Friday and mentioned the building passed a code inspection. He also said the church is considered a lifeline for many people and is known for its work to help the homeless.

Saturday Forecast: Rainy with high wind gusts, mid 50s

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

Saturday: It's a windy and dreary day in the Chicagoland area this Saturday. Rain showers are expected to decrease this afternoon and will be left with a few lake effect showers later. Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Winds will be strong out of the northeast 20-30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph with the most powerful winds near the lakeside. Highs today will be in the mid 50s with a few more showers overnight. Saturday night: Temps to be in the mid 40s with few lingering spot showers lakeside Sunday: Temps in the mid 40s with few lingering spot showers lakeside. Clearer and drier conditions with be around to the strat the work week.

Nevada substitute teacher accused of forcing 2 children to kiss, parents upset

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Several parents are leveling blame against the leaders of a North Las Vegas charter school for the actions of a substitute teacher who is accused of trying to get two kids to kiss.The incident happened on Tuesday at Legacy Traditional School – North Valley, located near Lone Mountain Road and Valley Drive, though parents weren’t notified until Thursday, according to emails families shared with 8 News Now. North Las Vegas substitute teacher accused of ‘inappropriate comments toward students’ “Who asks a sixth-grade student, 'Who has a boyfriend and a girlfriend?' Really, the kids are not here for that. They're here to learn,” Anais Gallegos said on Friday.Gallegos has two children who attend Legacy Traditional.One of them was in the class, where according to the email sent to parents Thursday, a substitute encouraged kids “to kiss each other” and used “inappropriate language.”“What my daughter was telling me, no, that's not okay,” Gallegos said. “The principal ne...

‘The Sandlot’ actor's mother found dead in Northern California, suspect apprehended 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

KTLA -- The mother of Marty York – known for his role as Alan “Yeah-Yeah” McClennan in ‘The Sandlot’ – was found dead in her Northern California home, the actor confirmed on social media. According to initial reports from TMZ, York’s mother Deanna Esmaeel was found dead inside her Crescent City home on Thursday.  Esmaeel was a Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office deputy, the department said, and a warrant was issued for Daniel James Walter, a man who was “seeing” York’s mother, according to the actor. “This is the hardest post I’ll ever have to write but I found out from the Sheriff’s Department last night that my mother was murdered by a man she was seeing,” York said in an Instagram post on Friday. “The emotions I have are horrible right now...between rage, vengeance [and] crying.”A manhunt began for Walter – who legally changed his name to Edward Patrick Davies in July – after he was last seen in Crescent City on Thursday morning. He was eventually captured in Cu...

Most workers hit the roads to commute as costs increase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

(NerdWallet) - People who drive to work day in and day out have likely grown weary of hearing about the growth (and then partial reversal) of working from home. The rising costs of their commute no doubt add insult to injury.The share of people working from home increased dramatically in 2020 and remains higher now than before the pandemic. But the overwhelming majority of U.S. employees — 77% of them — still commute. That’s 124 million workers on the road in 2022, according to recently released American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This is at a time when vehicle ownership costs are up considerably.In-person workers are less likely to be high earners. Jobs in lower-earning service and manufacturing industries can’t be done remotely like those in many tech and professional fields. Lower relative wages make increased commuting costs tough to handle (along with sharing the road again with higher-earning workers getting called back to their perk-rich offices).Commu...

9-year moratorium on new downtown Austin street events gets extension

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – As Austin’s downtown area continues to burgeon, city officials said they must maintain the moratorium on new downtown street events first instituted in 2014. The city first instituted a moratorium, or temporary ban, on new street events to keep the urban streets safe while the downtown area grows, according to a city memo. City staff have renewed the moratorium on several occasions in the last nine years. The city said that the area most affected is the Downtown Austin Project Coordination Zone, which falls between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the north, Oltorf Street to the south, MoPac/Loop 1 to the west, and Chicon Street to the east, according to a memo.There are several ongoing major projects in that area, with many more scheduled in the coming years. There are also two multi-year projects – Project Connect and the downtown Interstate 35 expansion – scheduled to start construction in 2024, which will have significant impacts on the are...