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Proposed law would let Illinois convicts earn parole regardless of crime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — One of the architects of the controversial SAFE-T Act has proposed legislation that would allow prisoners serving a life sentence to become eligible for parole.Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) introduced House Bill 2045 this month.The bill, if adopted as law, would allow any offender over the age of 55 who has been sentenced to serve life in prison, to become eligible for parole.“We believe it is going to increase public safety,” Slaughter said, according to The Center Square. “The efforts will indeed help citizens become more productive, positive citizens.” Slaughter is a member of the Legislative Black Caucus, which introduced the original Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today Act (SAFE-T Act) as a response to the murder of George Floyd, and was passed by the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives in the early hours of Jan. 13, 2021.Many Illinois law enforcement agencies have warned the act, which abolishes cash bail in the state, wil...

Man charged after slapping wife in the face with slice of pizza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WTVO) — Police have charged a Florida man with battery after allegedly striking his wife in the face with a slice of pizza.According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, police were dispatched to a home on March 17 after a "911 hang-up" during a possible domestic disturbance.When they arrived, they made contact with the suspect, Ortelio Alfonso, 39, who told officers he had a "verbal altercation" with his wife.Oretelio Alfonso. Photo: Marion County Sheriff's OfficeThe probable cause statement reported that the two began arguing after the woman physically disciplined the couple's son by spanking him.As reported by The Smoking Gun, the argument turned violent when Alfonso "grabbed a slice of pizza and slapped her in the left side of her face with it."The responding officer reported seeing that the victim had "pizza sauce over the front over the front of her shirt, the collar of her shirt, and the rear portion of her shirt.""I also observed the victim [to] have r...

Illinois man convicted after shooting himself with illegal gun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) -- A Danville man was convicted in Vermilion County court for illegal possession of a gun after the State's Attorney said he accidentally shot himself with that gun.State's Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said Winston Douglas was mishandling a loaded gun on Jan. 21 when he accidentally pulled the trigger. The bullet struck Douglas in the leg, and he was subsequently taken to the hospital for live-saving treatment.Lacy added that after a thorough investigation by Danville Police, officers determined Douglas was a previously convicted felon who was not allowed to have a gun. He was arrested, charged and convicted for that crime and received a sentence of eight years in prison on Tuesday. Former Taylorville CEO arrested after employees contacted police In a press release, Lacy thanked Detective Ralph Dunham and the Danville Police Department for their efforts in the investigation."This investigation completed by the Danville Police Department, in cooperation with the S...

Virginia student accepted to over 2 dozen colleges, receives $700K in scholarships

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) -- A Virginia student is proof that hard work pays off.Courtney Toran, a senior at Nansemond River High School in Suffolk, has been accepted into more than two dozen colleges and universities. And if that's not enough, she has also received more than $700,000 in scholarships."This is a very life-changing experience," said Toran, who is not only a star student, but an All-American cheerleader and the senior class president.Her high school has a wall showing all the colleges and universities that students have been accepted to, and Toran's name appears multiple times.She has been accepted to Spelman College, Salem College, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University and about 20 others."It makes me feel proud of myself," she said. Toran said originally she wanted to go to VCU, then she just kept applying from there."I just feel like I'm very blessed with all these opportunities that I have, and it's made it a little difficult to choose what college I'...

Elburn woman 'planting seeds of change' in community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

ELBURN, Ill. -- For nearly two decades, Jaimie Valentini worked as a special education teacher. She loved the work, but often worried about opportunities for her students once they transitioned into adulthood.Two years ago, she put that calling into action."Plant a seed, watch it grow," a phrase Jaimie Valentini embodies every day."In my brain it was always this very easy fix to a big problem we had in our community," Jaimie Valentini, the founder of the Rising Lights Project said.Jamie started the non-profit "Rising Lights Project" two years ago. A place where young adults of all abilities could harvest their collective talents to grow something bountiful and beautiful.The rising gardeners grow, dry, pack, and then sell their herb infused creations at farmer's markets throughout Geneva and Batavia.Right now, the gardeners rely on artificial lights, but come spring, the office moves outdoors."It's trickling down from this little garden club that I heard of," Loreen Niforatos said. "...

TikTok creators say ban would destroy their businesses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — TikTok creators took to Capitol Hill Wednesday to discourage Congress from banning the social media app nationwide.The creators use TikTok for all sorts of things, from posting poetry to discussing mental health to teaching grammar to showing off their fashion lines. They say banning the app would crush their businesses."I would lose a business that I've worked almost a decade for," said Summer Lucille, who said the app increased e-commerce for her small fashion business by 800%.She said the booming business allows her to support her family."It changed my life forever, so I would be devastated (by a ban)," she said.The full-court press sponsored by TikTok came one day before the company's CEO was scheduled to testify before senators and as the White House and a growing number of lawmakers from both parties say they are concerned the China-owned app could share millions of Americans' data with the Chinese government."TikTok poses a national security threat," Se...

6 dead after car drives into construction zone on Maryland interstate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

WOODLAWN, Md. (WDCW) — Six people are dead after a car drove through a work zone on Interstate 695 in Maryland Wednesday afternoon.Maryland State Police said that the incident happened around 12:40 p.m. on the inner loop of Interstate 695 at Security Boulevard in Woodlawn. Close call: Departing Southwest Airlines plane comes within less than 200 feet of ambulance According to authorities, the car involved went into the work zone, passing in between jersey walls that were placed there temporarily, and hit multiple construction workers. The car then overturned, sending debris across multiple lanes of traffic. Emergency personnel work at the scene of fatal crash along Interstate 695 near Woodlawn, Md., Wednesday, March 22, 2023. At least six people were dead after a crash that closed the Baltimore Beltway in both directions Wednesday, snarling traffic along the west side of the highway that encircles the city, Maryland State Police said. (Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Sun via AP)Emerg...

Man arrested after fire burns vacant downtown Austin building

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested one day after Austin Fire crews put out a fire at a vacant building on Congress Avenue between 9th and 10th streets. No one was hurt, but it caused an estimated $1 million in damages, AFD said.The Austin Fire Department told KXAN crews were called out around 11:40 p.m. Monday after a 911 caller reported seeing smoke. Fire crews saw flames in a second-floor window of the building at 907 Congress Avenue and called out more crews to help. AFD posted on social media at 1 a.m. that crews were working outside the building because of structural conditions. AFD said crews were putting out hotspots and you could no longer see flames from the outside of the building. The fire was out early Tuesday morning, and AFD tweeted at 9:21 a.m. Tuesday the building was under fire standby all night as crews were watching it and extinguishing small flare-ups.John Daniel Banks, 32, was arrested in connection with the fire and faces an arson charge, according to AFD. If c...

UT professor awarded 'Nobel Prize of Computing' for developing Ethernet 50 years ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — University of Texas at Austin Professor Robert Metcalfe has been awarded the 2022 Association for Computing Machinery A.M. Turing Award – referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Computing” – for the invention, standardization and commercialization of Ethernet.Metcalfe is a professor emeritus in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UT Austin. The award is named after Alan M. Turing – famous for his role in developing the modern computer – and includes a $1 million prize with financial support provided by Google, according to a UT Austin release. “It is dangerous to accept an award for developing Ethernet, which turns 50 on May 22, 2023,” Metcalfe was quoted saying in the release. “Over Ethernet’s 50 years, hundreds of people have earned some claim of inventorship. Join me in saying to these folks, ‘Thank you.’”Metcalfe developed Ethernet in the 1970s while working as a computer scientist with the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). It was there...

When will Austin decide on its official light rail design?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austinites have a little more than a month to weigh in on Project Connect's initial light rail options before work happens to finalize the official design.The Austin Transit Partnership debuted five scaled down options for the city's upcoming light rail system at an open house Tuesday evening. Greg Canally, ATP's executive director, referred to it as the program's initial investment in light rail, with options featuring between 6-mile and 10-mile-long routes that are projected to service up to nearly 40,000 people each day. ICYMI: Project Connect debuts five scaled down light rail options For community members who missed Tuesday's open house, ATP is offering a virtual version online, which residents can view and submit feedback on through May 2. A virtual light rail community update will also be held on April 6 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.Beyond that, officials said Project Connect leaders will host informational meetings with city and transit boards and commissions, neigh...