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Chicago's shooting victims are increasingly its youngest residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

Meet Mekhi.He was 8-years-old when he was shot and paralyzed while attending a baby shower in Englewood in 2019.The bullets weren't intended for him. They were meant for someone down the street. But that's the thing about bullets. They don't consider innocence or intent. More Coverage: WGN Investigates Mekhi was one of 238 kids shot in Chicago that year who survived. WGN Investigates reviewed police data that found the number of juveniles 17 and younger climbed to 324 in 2020 and 374 in 2021 before declining slightly last year.“It happens so commonly and it happens every day that no one cares: 'Just another black kid shot," his mom Miranda Randle-McGruder said.Mekhi's message to those doing the shooting: "Instead of going and trying to hurt someone you should first try to go and love someone. You can ruin their life; but my life is not ruined."The victims of gun violence in Chicago are increasingly some of the city’s youngest residents.  Police data show 59 juveniles sho...

Florida teacher under investigation after showing students Disney movie

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

WEEKI WACHEE, Fla (WFLA) — A fifth-grade teacher in Florida is currently under investigation after she showed a Disney movie that featured a gay character in class. Jenna Barbee, who teaches at Winding Waters K-8 in Brooksville, says she originally thought the movie, "Strange World," was appropriate for students to watch since it is rated PG. Despite the rating, school district policy states all movies must first get approval from school leadership before they can be viewed by students."I was showing a movie to my students about Earth because that's our current lessons in science," Barbee said. DeSantis curtails diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Florida state colleges Disney's description of the film states it's a movie about a family of explorers trying to save their world from a strange power outage. The film features a gay teenager, which is what sparked concern for a parent and Hernando County School Board member Shannon Rodriguez."Movies such as this, they assist te...

On target: Highland Park Elementary archery team wins national title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The archery team at Highland Park Elementary School has had a lot of success in recent years, consistently placing in the top 10 at national tournaments. At this year's championship in Sandy, Utah, the Scotties from Highland Park made some history."Our school's never done something like that," said Augie Burns. "I think when we first found out, we were like 'Oh my gosh, that's so crazy. We just broke a school record.'"MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersThe Highland Park group of fifth graders took home the national championship for the first time at the end of April. Since winning the title, life has changed for the young archers."It's sort of like being a celebrity," said Wyatt Gray. "Everybody at school will come and ask you what happened.""We were all just like trying to explain," said Mack Reeder about the questions she was getting. "One of my friends ...

San Marcos CISD school board approves 3% teacher, nurse pay raise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Teachers with San Marcos CISD will be getting more money. On Monday night, the school board approved a 3% increase for teachers and nurses, along with a longevity plan. RELATED COVERAGE: Austin ISD looking to fill over 200 vacancies for 2023-24 year, holding career fair Saturday "Not only a percentage increase, but we're also looking at longevity increases. So the longer you stay in San Marcos, we want to take care of you," SMCISD Chief of Communications Andrew Fernandez said. SMCISD said it's just one of the ways it's trying to recruit and retain teachers as several districts across Central Texas deal with vacancies. Another way the district is addressing openings is through a program with Texas State University. "They come in and take over some of our classrooms, and it gives them a first-year experience while they're still seniors in college," Fernandez said. Fernandez said they've hired a dozen of those "student-teachers" this school year, including...

South St. Paul girl, 15, dies of gunshot wound after Saturday arrival at west metro hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

Homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help after a 15-year-old South St. Paul girl arrived at a west metro hospital with a gunshot wound and later died.Marleisha Victory Davenport died shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday at North Memorial Medical Center, an hour after she arrived, according to the Hennepin County medical examiner’s office.She had been shot in the back, apparently in North Minneapolis, according to media reports.Anyone with information is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Tips may also be submitted electronically at www.CrimeStoppersMN.org. All tips are anonymous and anyone providing information leading to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a financial reward.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Man fatally shot in St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff ID’d as 35-year-old Crime & Public Safety | Antoine Suggs sentenced to more than 100 years in St. Paul quadruple murder ...

Rudy Giuliani sued for $10 million over sexual assault allegations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

A former associate of Rudy Giuliani accuses the ex-Trump attorney of demanding sexual favors from her in a bombshell lawsuit alleging "unlawful abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft and other misconduct."Noelle Dunphy, former director of business development for several Giuliani-owned companies, filed a lawsuit Monday before the Supreme Court of the State of New York.Dunphy is seeking $10 million in compensation from Giuliani, who allegedly subjected her to constant sexual remarks, demands and threats.“He made clear that satisfying his sexual demands—which came virtually anytime, anywhere—was an absolute requirement of her employment and of his legal representation,” the lawsuit reads.Giuliani “worked aggressively” to hire Dunphy in 2019, according to the lawsuit, and allegedly began abusing her “almost immediately” after she started work. “Giuliani began requiring Ms. Dunphy to work at his home and out of hotel rooms so that she would be at hi...

Cleanup underway in south St. Louis County after heavy rain flooded homes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - We are under a flash flood watch, and many have been dealing with excess water all weekend. Cleanup in south St. Louis County is underway, where it was hit the hardest.The Cedar Creek Lodge Apartments have flooded at least three times since 2017. Over the weekend, emergency crews responded to dozens of calls for help as cars were stuck in floodwater.Devon Emspon lives in the apartment complex and provided dozens of photos of the flooding.“I started knocking on all my neighbors' doors to let them know they probably should move their car," he said. "It was pretty frightening, because this is the worst one I've seen yet. It was going very fast. One minute, it was raining really hard. The next thing I know, nobody could get in or get out." The apartment also flooded in 2017 and 2019. Missouri AG: Gardner was at nursing school during contempt of court hearing Residents evacuated as authorities prepared for the historic crest of the river. It flooded many homes a...

Keeler: The best way for Anthony Davis, Lakers to slow down Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic? Kidnapping might actually be it.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

Darvin Ham waxed poetic about Nikola Jokic Monday the way Broncos scribes yap about Patrick Mahomes.You gush. You glorify. You genuflect. You joke about committing a felony to try and keep a legend from showing up. Then, the more you think about it in real time, the better idea said felony becomes.“(We’re going to) try to catch him coming out of his house and kidnap him,” the Lakers coach cracked at Ball Arena when asked about defending the Nuggets’ star center.Ham’s grin said he was kidding. We think.“No, I mean, obviously, everyone knows how great he is,” the Lakers coach continued. “And you just have to mix up pitches … but we have a few different guys that will see action against him and just try to put your best foot forward every time out.”You laugh, but kidnapping might be the best card the Lake Show can play against the Joker. Tinseltown’s glorious 2020 supervillain, Dwight Howard, is 7,000 miles away in Taiwan at present, playing for the Taoyuan Leopards when he’s not busy ...

Black bear plays 'ding dong ditch' on cabin in San Bernardino County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

A black bear in the mountains of San Bernardino County was caught on camera last month after it triggered the doorbell camera at a cabin and surprised its owners.The video was captured April 18 at a cabin near Running Springs. It shows a large black bear approach the cabin's front door, stand up on its hind legs and look around. At one point, the bear appears to stare right at the camera.The video was shared with KTLA by Ring, the popular brand of security doorbell cameras. Black bear living in Santa Monica Mountains believed to be only bear in region The owner of the cabin told Ring that the bear stopped by the cabin around 2:45 a.m., and while bears have been known to roam around the neighborhood, one has never gotten that close to the cabin before."Upon viewing, we were in disbelief," said Cesar, the owner of the cabin. "This was a very big bear. We want to share the video to bring awareness to the local community and tourists that bears do roam the area. This awareness will m...

Are bears really a threat to humans in California?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:37 GMT

It has been 100 years since the California grizzly bear, the symbol that adorns the state flag, was hunted to extinction in the Golden State. Today, you will only find them in zoos and animal sanctuaries.However, where one bear species has disappeared, another has surged in population in recent decades.In the early 1980s, the number of wild black bears in California, the smallest of North America’s three bear species, was estimated to be 10,000 to 15,000. Today, the population has grown to somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.Despite their variance in color -some are cinnamon or light brown- and wide range in sizes and weight, they are all considered black bears. It is also the only kind of bear you will find in the wild in California.A bear in Monrovia walks near a KTLA 5 News van on Feb. 21, 2020. (Credit: KTLA)Most of the state’s black bears are found in the northern portion of California in what biologists refer to as t...