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WATCH: Trial day 5 of two former DCFS workers in connection with the 2019 death of 5-year-old AJ Freund

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — The trial for two former Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers accused of child endangerment entered its fifth day Friday after the prosecution rested their case Thursday afternoon.Charges were filed against the pair in Sept. 2020, stemming from the April 2019 death of five-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund of Crystal Lake. Andrew Polovin and Carlos Acosta are accused of having known the child’s life was in danger four months earlier, yet not taking the right steps to ensure the situation didn’t worsen.Throughout the trial, prosecutors have maintained that caseworkers should have taken action when they received information in Dec. 2018 from police, who called the DCFS hotline regarding a bruise on AJ’s hip. While the child and his mother blamed the bruise on being pawed by a dog, the child also told a doctor, “maybe someone hit me with a belt. Maybe mommy didn’t mean to hurt me.” PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Trial day 4 of two former DCFS workers in conn...

Skechers opens 'Costco-style' restaurant in California, and it's an overnight success

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

(KTLA) - For the last four months, lines have been building outside the Skechers store in Gardena, California, and it's not the shoes that everyone is buzzing about.The warehouse outlet store, which was the second brick-and-mortar location the company opened decades ago, is now home to a concession stand offering uncomplicated but high-quality cheap eats. The local business community, and even some well-known social media influencers, can't seem to get enough of it.Skechers has opened an elevated concession stand at its outlet store in Gardena and the project has become an overnight success. (KTLA)It's called the Food Spot, and the outdoor eatery is attached to the side of the unassuming store in a bustling shopping center.It's been described by many as a "Costco-style" concession stand that's a bit tastier and a touch more expensive, but one that doesn't require a membership to eat there.It offers some of the affordable classic Costco fare you know and love, like all-beef hot dogs ...

Closing arguments in historic impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The House board of impeachment managers and defense attorneys for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton will give closing arguments in the historic trial Friday, making their final cases to the 30 eligible senators who will decide whether Paxton can keep his elected title.The near-end of the trial comes after senators — functioning as a jury — heard from more than a dozen witnesses testifying about their firsthand experience with Paxton, who is accused of abuse of office, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Paxton defense rests its case in impeachment trial; closing arguments Friday morning What happens next?Prosecution and defense will have one hour each to make their final pitch to jurors. After that, eligible jurors — exluding Paxton's wife, Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney — will meet privately to deliberate. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has presided over the trial as a judge, is also exluded from deliberation. It is unclear how long it will take senators t...

I-35 in Buda reopens after deadly multi-vehicle crash Friday morning

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

Editor's note: The above video is from a 6:30 a.m. traffic update while the interstate was still closed. BUDA, Texas (KXAN) -- Interstate 35 northbound in Buda has reopened after part of it was shut down for several hours early Friday morning after a deadly crash involving four vehicles. The Buda Police Department said the interstate was shut down near exit 220/Main Street. The department posted about the incident on social media at 4:31 a.m.The department posted an update at 8:30 a.m. that the interstate had reopened, but warned that roadways would still be congested as traffic resumes. Police asked drivers to be patient and allow for extra commute time. REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPS According to BPD, four vehicles, including a semi-truck, were involved in the crash. Police said the crash was caused by a driver going the wrong way. It's unclear how many people were killed or injured in the crash. Police asked drivers to use alternate routes and plan for delays. The majority of 911 serv...

Bastrop boy becomes pro cornhole player

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — Cornhole is often something we see played at tailgates, backyards or bars.Yet, an 11-year-old boy from Bastrop has turned this game into a career.Brayden Wilson is the youngest professional player in the American Cornhole League. His love for the game grew during the COVID-19 pandemic when the world shut down.“The first time I threw the bag, I fell in love with it,” Wilson said.Almost every day, he practiced and played cornhole with his father, Steven.When the world got back to normal, Wilson started competing in tournaments across the country. Now, he’s taking home trophies almost every weekend.“I'm only 11 years old and I'm a professional at this game,” Wilson said.Last season, he earned the Stevie Award given to the Amateur of the Year.To get geared up for the upcoming American Cornhole League season, Wilson trains for two hours every day.His father, Steven, says this can be tough at times for his sixth-grade son, who attends Bastrop Intermediate School.“S...

Immigrant advocates, faith leaders call on Congress to act after judge declares DACA illegal

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- Dozens of faith organizations and migrant advocacy groups spoke out on Thursday calling on Congress to act after a federal judge in South Texas declared DACA to be illegal. Border commuters fume as CBP closes pedestrian crossing to process wave of migrants On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, sided with Texas and eight other states that sued the federal government to stop the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. This was the second time in two years that Hanen has ruled against the controversial program, which protects migrants who are brought illegally as children to the United States from deportation. Federal judge again declares DACA immigration program unlawful There are an estimated 600,000 in the program, who also are called "Dreamers." Hanen's ruling stops short of ordering them deported but it prevents any new applicants. Deferred Action for Ch...

Now open: Slice Brothers, Minneapolis’ first Black-owned pizzeria, expands to Frogtown

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

Good news for pizza-lovers: Local New York-style pizzeria Slice Brothers is now open in St. Paul, near the corner of University Avenue and Dale Street.Slice Brothers’ first location opened in 2021 in Northeast Minneapolis — the city’s first Black-owned pizza shop — and then expanded to Midtown Global Market. The St. Paul location is their third; a fourth at the Mall of America is coming soon, too.During an opening ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 14, Mayor Melvin Carter and Neighborhood Development Center President and CEO Renay Dossman spoke before Slice Brothers co-founders Adam Kado and Hosie Thurmond cut the ribbon.Kado and Thurmond are longtime friends and both grew up in St. Paul.“It’s been a long time coming to get this bad boy open,” Thurmond said later Thursday afternoon. “We’re happy to be here slinging pizza.”The buffalo chicken pizza was one of several varieties available on opening day of the Slice Brothers pizza shop in St. Paul on Sept. 14, 2023. In addition to neon-style ...

Charles Blow: What we owe survivors of racial terror

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

I met Sarah Collins Rudolph, a small woman nestled into a corded khaki sofa, last month in her darkened living room in Birmingham, Alabama. The room is something of a shrine, commemorating the 1963 act of terror that killed four little girls but spared a fifth.She was that fifth little girl. She survived the Ku Klux Klan bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham 60 years ago. Her sister and her friend were among the girls killed.In the years leading up to that attack, white terrorists, raging against integration, were detonating bombs in Birmingham so often that the city earned an ignominious nickname: Bombingham.Rudolph was 12 at the time. That day, the blast sprayed her body, including her eyes, with glass. She was found standing, stunned, in the rubble. She was rushed to a hospital. One eye was lost, but the other was saved, with glass still in it, the doctors afraid of removing it and taking the chance of plunging the girl into total blindness.When she was told tha...

Three dead in head-on collision on Illinois Route 4

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

MADISON COUNTY, Ill. -- Illinois State Police have been called to investigate a fatal crash on Route 4 at US Route 40. Three people are dead after a head-on collision between two vehicles.The crash happened at around 3:15 a.m. Friday. According to police, a man was driving a car southbound on Route 4 near Old State Route 4 when it crossed the center line and collided with a car going northbound. Two women were riding in the northbound vehicle. All three people died at the scene. Study reveals potential health risks associated with household cleaning supplies This crash is still under investigation. The identities of the victims have not yet been released. This story will be updated with more information as it comes into the FOX 2 Newsroom.

Denver weather: Cool, rainy, fall-like Friday before weekend warm-up

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:46:51 GMT

Denver is expected to have another day of cool, rainy weather before the weekend warms up and dries out.The high Friday is 66 degrees, and the greatest rain chances in the city will be before 3 p.m. when the city has a 50% chance. After that, the rain clouds will eventually give way to a partly cloudy evening with a low of 47 degrees.This morning will be cool with scattered light rain showers. This afternoon there will be a good chance of showers and storms mainly to the south of I-70 especially over Park County. To the north of I-70, the sun will pop out and will create pleasant conditions. #COwx pic.twitter.com/kHuS39rI1r— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) September 15, 2023Fog could roll into some areas Friday evening after the rain leaves as moisture in the atmosphere lingers.After Friday, the weekend and early next week is expected to be mostly sunny with highs in the high 70s and low 80s.Saturday’s high is 76 degrees; Sunday’s is 82 degrees; and Monday’s is 83 ...