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Woman accused of falsely reporting she was abducted after seeing child on road seeks to avoid jail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama woman accused of falsely telling police she was abducted after stopping to check on a toddler wandering along the highway is appealing her municipal court conviction in an effort to avoid a yearlong jail sentence sought by prosecutors. A municipal judge on Wednesday found Carlee Russell, 26, guilty of misdemeanor charges of false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident. The guilty judgement came after Russell’s attorneys agreed to “stipulate and appeal” the case — a legal maneuver to move the case to circuit court where proceedings will start anew.Russell’s summer disappearance — and her story of being abducted after stopping her car to check on the child — captivated the nation before police called it a hoax. Flanked by her family and attorneys, Russell made her first court appearance Wednesday amid a heavy media presence, news outlets reported. Defense attorney Richard Jaffe said in a telephone interview they do not...

New York officer fatally shoots man in fencing mask who charged police with 2 swords, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

ELWOOD, N.Y. (AP) — A police officer fatally shot a man who charged at authorities with two swords on Long Island, New York, and the police commissioner said Wednesday that the shooting appeared to be justified.Alan Weber, 54, was pronounced dead at a hospital after Tuesday night’s shooting in Elwood.Police responded to a 911 call reporting a man acting violently inside a home. Weber was screaming and breaking items when officers arrived and refused to come outside, police said in a statement.The Suffolk County officers entered and Weber confronted them with the swords while wearing a fencing mask, Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said, adding that Weber did not obey commands to drop the swords and an officer shot a stun gun at him but it had no effect.Weber then charged, and one officer fired several shots, Harrison said. The officer’s name was not released.“I feel the officers had no other choice but to use what they had to use to stop the threat,” Harrison said.Nei...

10 family members of CPD officer killed in Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

CHICAGO -- A Chicago police officer, who was born in Gaza before moving to Chicago in the 1990's, learned Monday morning that nearly a dozen of his family members had been killed.Chicago Police Department's Mohammad Darabaih told WGN-TV that on Monday his cousin called him saying that 10 of his relatives were killed in Gaza. Among them, his brother-in-law's sister, husband, and their children."My sister and husband and the whole family got bombed and they’re all dead," Darabaih said. "Her son, a 7-year-old boy, (is) on life support. Her daughter, 6-years-old, passed away. (They) pulled her out of the rubble on site."Darabaih said that he was told on Monday that two surviving children, two-year-old twins, are now orphaned and two other children are still alive, but severely wounded."I condemn killing of innocent people." Darabaih said. "We need peace, both sides need to seek peace." For more coverage of the Israel and Hamas Conflict, click here Hamas, the militant group that contro...

New CPD K9 & Equine Memorial Plaza honors fallen service animals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Along the Lakefront just across from Soldier Field at the Gold Star Families Memorial Park marks the newest addition to those who have died in the name of public service. The K9 & Equine Memorial Plaza is a tribute to service animals who have paid the ultimate sacrifice."The addition of the K9 & Equine Plaza Memorial Plaza provides our officers with a place and opportunity to also honor their animal partners and the work that they do in service to this city," said Sandra Wortham with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. MORE FROM PATRICK ELWOOD: Impact culinary program helps aspiring chefs – with help from the best in ChicagoThree horses and eight dogs dating back to 1936 and a horse named Teddy killed in a traffic crash are among the animal officers memorialized.Phil Cline is the executive director of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, which is the steward of the park.  “Just a stone's throw from here are the names of 600 police officers who made that ulti...

Biden calls Hamas attacks in Israel the deadliest day for Jews since Holocaust

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday condemned the weekend attack by Hamas militants on Israel as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust as the number of U.S. citizens killed in the fighting ticked up to at least 22.“This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty — not just hate, but pure cruelty — against the Jewish people,” Biden told Jewish leaders gathered at the White House.Beyond the 22 known to have been killed, the State Department said at least 17 more Americans remain unaccounted for in a war that has already claimed more than 2,200 lives on both sides. A “handful” of U.S. citizens are among the estimated 150 hostages captured by Hamas militants during their shocking weekend assault on Israel, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday. What is Hamas and who leads it? Signs of U.S. support for Israel were seen across the administration, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveling there for meetings, Biden denouncing antisemit...

Felony dropped after man who found bag of cash, claimed finders-keepers pays back town

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

(AP) — A Connecticut man who found a bag containing nearly $5,000 in cash outside a bank and claimed “finders-keepers” had a criminal charge against him dropped Wednesday after he gave the money back.Robert Withington, 57, went to Bridgeport Superior Court for a scheduled court hearing, and a state prosecutor informed Withington's lawyer the felony larceny charge was being dropped.Withington found the bank bag containing $4,761 on May 30 outside a bank in his hometown of Trumbull, near Bridgeport. It turned out the money belonged to the Trumbull tax collector's office, and a town employee had dropped the bag while walking to the bank to deposit the money, police said.Police said the bag had the bank's name on the outside, and there were deposit slips inside indicating the money belonged to the town, authorities said. A police officer had escorted the town employee to the bank, but neither one noticed the bag being dropped, police said.Withington, a dog trainer, happened to be near t...

Police release sketch of person of interest in VT rail trail shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

CASTLETON, Vt. (NEWS10) -- Vermont State Police released a composite sketch of a person of interest in the shooting death of Honoree Fleming, 77, on the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail in Castleton. The sketch is based on testimony from multiple witnesses.Police said the person of interest is a white male believed to be in his 20s. He's about 5'10" tall with short red hair. He was last seen wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack. Investigators said he should be considered armed and dangerous. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "Do not confront this person. Do not try to do anything on your own. Contact the police, mayor's agency, 911, the tip line, and then pass that information on."Fleming was fatally shot on Thursday, Oct. 5. Police continue to ask anyone who saw something or has any information to come forward. Tips can be reportedly anonymously on the Vermont State Police website or by calling (802) 773-9101.

NYC students tour dairy farm in Schodack Landing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

SCHODACK LANDING, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A group of New York City students visited the Capital Region on Wednesday to see what life was like on a farm. The Dutch Hollow Farm in Schodack Landing hosted about 50 students and teachers from five different high schools in Brooklyn.The farm owners gave the students a close-up look at how technology and modern science are used on a dairy farm. The goal was to show students where their food comes from. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "We're going to take a walk through of our entire farm from beginning to end to see every last aspect," co-owner Nathan Chittenden said. "To learn more about how we take care of animals here on the farm to provide them with dairy products that are made right here in New York."The farm gives tours to local schools each year, usually during the spring.

Push continues for direct pay bill for EMS services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Lawmakers are renewing calls for Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill to change how some first responders are paid. The Direct Pay bill would require health insurance companies to reimburse all ambulance services immediately regardless of whether the company accepts the patient's insurance.Currently, insurance companies send money to their patients, but it does not always make it back to the ambulance companies, which some said is making it difficult for them to stay afloat. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "They're struggling with everything we're struggling with," Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara said. "Inflation, rising costs, workforce shortages. They're trying to make ends meet. And as we saw in the past, a lot of them are having trouble even keeping the doors open."Insurance providers warn the bill would raise costs. The bill passed unanimously in the assembly and the senate. Gov. Hochul has not said if...

No injuries reported after shot fired in Rensselaer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:34 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) – A suspect has been arrested after a shot was fired early Wednesday morning at a public housing property. The Rensselaer Police Department said no injuries were reported after a gun was fired from one apartment and into another. It happened at the Rensselaer Housing Authority Mayor John Warden Apartment complex. The resident  who woke up to a bullet in her bedroom wall did not want to talk to NEWS10 on camera but said she just moved in with her two kids after they had been homeless for a year. Mom and son were about to call it a night when the shot was fired. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “At 2:56 this morning we received a call from a neighbor who stated that she heard what sounded like a loud pop,” said Rensselaer Police Department Detective Sergeant Michael Deso.She said when they walked out of their bedrooms they found their hallway filled with smoke and debris.Joseph Gonzalez is the resident wh...