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Illinois man sentenced to probation after wife recorded fight that ended with her found dead near stadium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A newlywed prison guard was sentenced Tuesday to probation after his wife recorded a fight that ended with her being found dead at the bottom of a parking garage near the stadium where the St. Louis Cardinals play.Bradley Jenkins, of Taylorville, of Illinois, was initially charged with third-degree felony domestic assault after 27-year-old Allissa Martin's 2019 death. Court documents say a video taken on Martin’s phone recorded Martin yelling at Jenkins to stop punching her in the face before she dropped the phone. Jenkins was a lieutenant for the Illinois Department of Corrections at the time.But after a grand jury declined to indict him, he was recharged with a lesser count of misdemeanor assault. He pleaded guilty to that charge before he was sentenced, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.In June 2022, Martin's mother sued a bar, the parking garage operator and Jenkins for the wrongful death of her daughter. She argues that the bar overserved...

Concerns grow as Kim Jong Un meets with Vladimir Putin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — U.S. officials are watching with concern as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit is shrouded in secrecy, but U.S. leaders say Russia may want North Korea to provide them with weapons for the war with Ukraine. Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Tuesday riding aboard a heavily-armored train. As Russia fights to gain ground in its war with Ukraine, its running low on ammunition. George Washington University National Security expert Thom Shanker says while North Korea is one of the poorest nations in the world, it's also one of the most militarized.  Life-saving Naloxone now available over the counter "Putin is looking to Kim, the North Korean leader for weapons," Shanker said. "They have a huge supply of artillery shells for any potential war with South Korea and the U.S. and one can see Kim trading those to Putin."North Korea's Kim Jong Un rolled into Russia on an armored train to see Presiden...

Why Not Petites: Challenging Modeling Industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

The runway is filled with lots of tall men and women but one organization is asking, "Why Not Petites"? They're challenging the modeling industry and asking agencies and brands to book more petite models. Joining us on Spotlight Chicago is founder and CEO Britney Wittes. She's been modeling since she was 10 years old and has a personal story that started her passion for petite modeling. WhyNotPetites.comInstagram: @WhyNotPetitesFacebook: Why Not PetitesSpotlight Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sisters Working It Out For Breast Cancer Awareness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

Breast Cancer Awareness Month might be in October, but its an illness women are dealing with year round. Today's guest is dedicated to meeting women where they are- in prevention, diagnosis, and support. The CEO of Sisters Working It Out joined us on Spotlight Chicago.SistersWorkingItOut.orgInstagram: @swiochicagoFacebook: SWIO-Sisters Working It Out Spotlight Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Soaking rain looking more likely late week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After months without soaking rain, our weather pattern finally turns more forgiving with daily rain chances increasing later this week.We won't rule out a stray shower or storm moving into the Hill Country later tonight, but our confidence increases with rain chances tomorrow through this weekend. Spotty storms and showers will be possible tomorrow morning through evening. The entire day won't be wet but a few spurts of rain will be possible in each daypart. Be sure to keep the umbrella on standby.Now although we're fairly confident in rain falling between now and this weekend, the exact timing of these rounds will be tough. Unlike a large storm system sweeping across the area, this week's showers and storms will be determined by smaller disturbances in the overall flow interacting with a stalled cold front. One round of rain will determine the timing of the next round of rain... and so on. Increasing rain chances late weekThat being said, we're seeing good agreemen...

Police looking for truck driver involved in fatal north Austin crash over weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police said a pickup truck driver involved in a fatal motorcycle crash on Mopac over the weekend left the scene. The crash happened Saturday around 9:45 p.m. on the Mopac Expressway southbound. Police said a pickup truck crashed into a guard rail, which sent debris across the road. A motorcycle driving southbound hit the debris, leading the motorcycle to fall. APD said the motorcyclist fell onto the road, and a different pickup truck hit the motorcyclist. This truck driver left the scene without stopping. Austin-Travis County EMS said the person died at the scene. APD said the motorcyclist who died is unidentified. PREVOUS: ATCEMS: 1 dead in auto-motorcycle crash on Mopac service road An investigation is ongoing. This is Austin's 64th fatal crash this year, according to APD. As of the date of the crash last year, there were 71 fatal crashes in Austin. Police said anyone with information should contact the vehicular homicide unit at 512-974-8111. Tips can al...

Franklin Barbecue, Nixta Taqueria team up for 'burrito bonanza'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Franklin Barbecue and Nixta Taquera are partnering up this weekend for a "burrito bonanza," the restaurants announced on social media. Austin barbecuer Franklin Barbecue said a one-night pop-up will turn the restaurant into a burrito shop with collab burritos, beers and margaritas. The event starts at 6 p.m. Sunday, and no tickets are needed. RELATED: Nixta Taqueria asking for community’s help after city permitting issues On Instagram, Nixta Taqueria said a menu is coming. This is one of several recent pop-ups the restaurant has had while its restaurant location is closed due to city permitting issues. Previous collaborations were with la barbecue and Paperboy. Nixta Taqueria also is running a food truck at 1204 Cedar Avenue, according to an Instagram post.

High school basketball: Jacob Sand named Cadets’ head coach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

St. Thomas Academy stayed in house to fill its vacant boys basketball coaching position, tabbing Jacob Sand to fill the job.Sand worked as an assistant under Khalid El-Amin the past two seasons. El-Amin left STA in the offseason to become head coach at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. St. Thomas Academy won a Metro East Conference title last season.Sand is also an assistant athletic director at the Mendota Heights school. He has 12 years of coaching experience at various levels.“Coach Sand has been working toward the goal of becoming a high school head basketball coach his entire career,” St. Thomas Academy athletic director Reed Hornung said in a release. “I’m confident his basketball mind, love for the game and infectious drive to succeed will fuel the continued success of our basketball program.”

Two Twins players readying to begin rehab assignments later this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

In the hours before the Twins took on the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night at Target Field, utilityman Nick Gordon stepped into the batter’s box to face relief pitcher Brock Stewart in live batting practice, an important moment for both rehabbing Twins.“He was electric,” Gordon said. “Brock had some very good velocity on his heater, I would say. His pitches looked good, man. He looked good, and Brock, he definitely looks like he’s ready to go.”In the coming days, both will join Triple-A St. Paul on a rehab assignment. Stewart said he was expecting to pitch for the Saints on Friday and Tuesday, while Gordon is set to begin a rehab assignment with the Saints a day earlier, on Thursday.It’s been a long time coming for both of them.Stewart has been on the injured list since June 27, after an issue flared up in his throwing arm. Gordon has been out even longer, fouling a pitch off his right shin, fracturing his tibia on May 17 in Los Angeles.“I was itching to go when I got hur...

Water samples collected from 84 locations at Stillwater prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:00 GMT

Water samples were collected from 84 locations at the Stillwater prison Monday after inmates complained that the water at the prison was undrinkable.The Minnesota Department of Corrections asked the Minnesota Department of Health to conduct additional and more comprehensive water testing of the prison water after a prisoner protest last week.On Monday, water samples were collected from locations including faucets in cells, the prison’s kitchen, programming areas, the chapel and a number of staff areas, Corrections spokesperson Andy Skoogman said.“This kind of analysis of the facility’s water has not happened in the past and exceeds federal and state drinking water sampling requirements,” the release said. The water samples will be analyzed for “contaminants, including bacteria, metals and total suspended solids.”Skoogman said the results of the testing will help the department identify and implement a longer-term water management strategy.The prison wat...