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St. Louis suburb settles ‘debtors’ prison’ lawsuit

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

A Missouri town will pay $3.25 million to settle a so-called debtors’ prison lawsuit over allegations that thousands of people were unconstitutionally jailed and forced to pay fines and fees that provided millions of dollars for the town’s coffers.The town of Maplewood agreed last week to the settlement of the federal class-action lawsuit. Maplewood was among several St. Louis County towns whose policing and court practices fell under scrutiny after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson in 2014.The Maplewood lawsuit, filed in 2016, alleges unlawful policing and economic injustice. The settlement money will be distributed among more than 7,000 people who were jailed and more than 20,000 who paid fines and fees from Nov. 1, 2011, through Nov. 18, 2021.The suit accuses Maplewood of routinely violating constitutional rights through a “predatory scheme” of unconstitutional jailing, often for minor traffic offenses, to extract fines and fees.“This...

Gun discovered inside vehicle in Antioch High School's parking lot

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

ANTIOCH, Ill. — A handgun was discovered inside a vehicle Tuesday morning at Antioch High School's parking lot.The gun was found during a regularly-scheduled canine scent search of vehicles, police said.After it was found, the student, a 21-year-old man who participates in an alternative schooling program, was taken into custody.“I would like to recognize District 117 on its commitment to ensuring the safety of students at our high school,” said Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow. Glenview smoothie café robbed at gunpoint Monday The investigation remains active and potential charges have not been announced at this time.

GSU faculty on strike Tuesday; 3rd IL university to strike in last week

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. — Educators at Governors State University are on strike in a dispute over wages. It is the third Illinois university to strike in the last week.A large rally took place Tuesday on the university's campus with many supporters, including the Chicago Teachers Union.About 280 faculty, advisors and staff, all members of the University Professionals of Illinois Union, have been in contract talks for nearly a year — with both work load and pay being the two biggest issues that remain on the bargaining table.The union that represents all of these faculty members say that many of their colleagues have left the schools over the last few years for better paying positions at other schools.Negotiations on a new contract for GSU began 10 months ago, and as of Thursday have not gotten to where they want to be.Of course, with hundreds of professors out on strike right now one of the biggest impacts is being felt on students.Last week, both Chicago State University and Eas...

What is a nutria? And is it dangerous to pets?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

(KXAN) — A mysterious animal was recently spotted swimming in Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. The state's Parks and Wildlife Department later identified it as a nutria — but just what the heck is that? Nutria spotted in Lady Bird Lake As the U.S. Department of Agriculture explains, nutria are a species of common invasive semi-aquatic rodents. Often compared to beavers, the animals originated in South America and were brought to the U.S. in the 1880s during the fur trade. When demand for nutria fur halted, the animals were released into the wild, according to the USDA.While the rodents — which also visibly resemble South American capybaras — can benefit certain environments by eating weeds and other invasive plants, they can also cause significant damage to their habitats.In its webpage concerning “Texas’ most unwanted plants and animals,” the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) said nutria eat aquatic vegetation and burrow, “which can lead to erosion and damage roads.”Nutr...

Walmart removes T-shirt from sale after shoppers notice vulgar acronym

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Walmart has removed a recycling-themed shirt from sale after a viral Twitter post pointed out a vulgar acronym hidden within the design.The shirt featured large lettering reading “RE” on the left, with the words “cycle,” “use,” “new” and “think” written in smaller lettering on the right. The intended takeaway, apparently, was for onlookers to interpret the message as four distinct words: “recycle,” “reuse,” “renew” and “rethink.”But the lettering on the right side of the shirt, when read vertically, spelled out an inappropriate four-letter word.“I need this shirt before Walmart realizes what they have done,” wrote the Twitter user in a now-viral post containing an image of the shirt. “Find the hidden word.” Walmart closing 4 locations in Chicago That viral tweet, first shared last week, has 2.6 million views as of Tuesday.Walmart has since confirmed the shirt was removed from sale after the issue was brought to the company’s attention.“The shirt was only sold at Walmar...

Woman charged after Chicago-bound flight diverted to Kansas City

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A woman has been charged in federal court after prosecutors said she caused a disturbance that forced a flight to be diverted to Kansas City International Airport.Chloe Dasliva, 32, whose hometown was not available, was charged with one count of interfering with a flight attendant, federal prosecutors announced Monday.DaSilva was on board an Alaska Airlines Flight that took off from San Francisco International Airport early Friday bound for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. 2 found dead near O’Hare Airport, hours apart According to court documents filed Friday, several passengers said Dasilva became abusive toward a flight attendant, including threatening to kill him. She eventually was restrained with zip ties.The pilot told investigators he decided to divert the flight to Kansas City out of concern for the safety of the passengers.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesOn Monday, prosecutors asked a federal judge to continue to detain DaSilva pendi...

Dalai Lama kisses boy on lips in video, later apologizes

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

DHARAMSALA, India (AP) — Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama apologized Monday after a video showing him kissing a child on the lips triggered criticism.A statement posted on his official website said the 87-year-old leader regretted the incident and wished to "apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.”The incident occurred at a public gathering in February at the Tsuglagkhang temple in Dharamsala, where the exiled leader lives. He was taking questions from the audience when the boy asked if he could hug him.The Dalai Lama invited the boy up toward the platform he was seated on. In the video, he gestured to his cheek, after which the child kissed him before giving him a hug.The Dalai Lama then asked the boy to kiss him on the lips and stuck out his tongue. “And suck my tongue,” the Dalai Lama can be heard saying as the boy sticks out his own tongue and leans in, prompting laughter from the...

Brighter skies ahead of a little rain

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The day dawned mostly sunny with areas of dense fog mainly in the Hill Country and from eastern Williamson into Milam Counties. Fair-weather cumulus clouds increased during the morning from an area of low pressure in northwest Gulf. Morning lows were in the mid/upper 40s to low 50s including 53° at Camp Mabry.Winds will come out of the northeast to east this afternoon keeping most highs in the middle to a few upper 70s. A little "cooler" than today's normal of 80°This quiet weather week will continue a gradual warming through Saturday. Daytime highs will peak in the low/mid 80s Saturday before the next cold front.That front will arrive Saturday afternoon/night bringing with it a low chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms. A little rain Friday and not much more on SaturdayRain totals will be meager with both the American and European models suggesting a few hundredths up to between .10" and .20".Lower humidity will be delivered by a north wind so that Sunday wi...

30-story, all-glass student housing high-rise coming to West Campus

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- West Campus is getting a new high-rise, and this one will be an all-glass, 30-story student housing tower. Birmingham-based Hoar Construction on Tuesday announced the groundbreaking of construction on the tower, named Icon. It's expected to be complete by the summer of 2025, in time for students to move in before the 2025-26 school year starts. Hoar Construction is serving as the general contractor on the construction of the building, alongside New York-based developer The MDL Group. According to a release from Hoar, Icon will house 555 beds across 216 apartments ranging from one-bedroom to five-bedroom units. The apartment will feature a pool, fitness center, game and lounge rooms, a podcast studio, and student workspaces. There will also be four levels of below-ground parking. When it's completed, Icon will be one of the tallest buildings in the surrounding neighborhoods, according to Hoar.The tower will be the latest project in Austin built by Hoar. Other complex...

Tupperware stock tumbles after company warns it’s at risk of going out of business

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:38:59 GMT

Food-storage company Tupperware’s stock tumbled on Monday after warning it could be on the brink of going out of business after nearly 80 years.The 45% slide came after the company announced it had hired financial advisers to help keep the company solvent amid “substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” according to a regulatory filing filed last Friday.Tupperware is also on the verge of being de-listed by the New York Stock Exchange after not filing an annual report.The company said it was running out of money to keep operating and was exploring mass layoffs and selling off its real estate assets among other cost-cutting measures.“Tupperware has embarked on a journey to turn around our operations and today marks a critical step in addressing our capital and liquidity position,” CEO Miguel Fernandez said in a press release. “The company is doing everything in its power to mitigate the impacts of recent events, and we are taking immediate action to...