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Wrongfully convicted Massachusetts man gets $13M settlement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts man who spent 32 years in prison after he was wrongfully convicted of setting a fire that killed eight people will receive $13 million from the city where he was arrested.Victor Rosario, 65, said Wednesday he has forgiven those who put him behind bars.“One of the things for me to be able to continue moving forward is basically to learn how to forgive,” he said at a news conference the day after the Lowell City Council voted to settle a $13 million civil rights lawsuit he brought against the city.Rosario was 24 years old when he was convicted of arson and multiple counts of murder in connection with the 1982 fire in Lowell, Massachusetts. Three adults and five children died in the fire.Rosario tried to help the victims escape the flames, his attorneys said.But investigators identified Rosario as a suspect, and then fabricated evidence and hid evidence that the fire was actually an accident, attorney Mark Loevy-Reyes said.“They brought Victor Rosari...

Canadian film and TV production rebounded in 2021/22 from early pandemic woes: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

Canadian producers say spending on film and TV productions leapt by a record 28 per cent during the second year of the pandemic.A report from the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) found a “robust rebound” between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022.It says spending jumped more than $2.5 billion to an all-time high of $11.7 billion. That’s also nearly 22 per cent higher than the previous record of $9.6 billion in 2019/20, before the pandemic.The biggest growth was in foreign productions shot in Canada, which rose 27 per cent to $6.7 billion, and Canadian television production, which jumped 39 per cent to $3.5 billion.But producers say it’s uncertain whether such growth can be sustained, pegging the bump to short-term government funds that helped the industry withstand COVID-19 restrictions and Canadian broadcasters who increased commissions and spending that had dropped earlier in the pandemic.The report says challenges ahead include lingering inflation and a possi...

'MVP! MVP!' The 12th anniversary of Derrick Rose's biggest moment with the Bulls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

CHICAGO — It was quite a moment for a kid from Chicago who'd not only arrived on basketball's biggest stage but had risen to the very top. That moment happened 12 years ago on Wednesday when Derrick Rose was given the highest individual honor in a season by the National Basketball Association. On May 3, 2011, the Englewood native was named the league's Most Valuable Player in which he not only elevated his own status in professional basketball but also the Bulls as a franchise. Rose received 113 of 121 first place votes in a decisive victory after averaging 25 points and 7.7 assists per game. He remains one of only two players in Bulls history to win the regular season MVP award, joining Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, who won it five times.It was an emotional day for Rose, who'd started his basketball journey at Simeon High School, then went to Memphis for a year and helped that team to a national title game, and then was picked first overall by the Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft. The g...

'All clear' given at twice evacuated Glenbard West High School after bomb threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. — Police in Glen Ellyn have given the 'all clear' at Glenbard West High School after the school was evacuated for the second time in less than a week following a bomb threat. Police said they were notified of the threat around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and cleared the building as a precaution. Around 1:45 p.m., police said students and staff were clear to exit the area. School buildings remain closed until the 'all clear' was given at 2 p.m.No arrests have been made in either incident. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesThe swatting investigation is ongoing.

CPD Memorial Foundation gifts police 500 new bulletproof vests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department is receiving hundreds of new bulletproof vests.  The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation delivered 500 new vests Wednesday morning. The vests were purchased with $540,000 in federal funding. The foundation says it has now spent more than $13,000 on bulletproof vests for Chicago police officers. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesBulletrpoof vests should be replaced every five years due to wear and tear. Click here if you are interested in donating to Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's Get Behind the Vest Program.

LIVE: 18 year old arrested, charged with murder in fentanyl-related death of Lehman High student

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- An 18 year old was arrested and faces drug-related charges and a murder charge in connection to the overdose death of a 15 year old from Kyle.On April 11, the Hays County Sheriff's Office and Hays County EMS responded to a call about a 15 year old who was found unresponsive in the 100 block of Cotton Gin Road in Kyle. EMS performed life-saving measures, but the 15 year old died. They were a student at Lehman High School. The HSCO Criminal Investigation Division and the Special Services Division (SSD) started an investigation. The preliminary investigation found the victim’s death was caused by an accidental drug overdose, specifically from fentanyl. During the criminal investigation, SSD identified a suspect believed to have sold the fentanyl to the victim.Jaquell Desean Ray, 18, was arrested April 11 and charged with delivery of a controlled substance or marijuana to a minor, which is a second-degree felony. An additional charge of murder was filed May ...

Poll: 76% of Texas voters support raising gun purchase age

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three out of four Texas voters support the idea of enacting stricter gun control measures that would raise the age requirement to purchase a weapon in the state, according to a new poll released Wednesday. Pollsters from the Texas Politics Project asked 1,254 registered voters about several proposed laws under consideration this legislative session, including how they felt about potentially increasing the legal age to purchase any firearm from 18 to 21. According to the findings, 57% said they strongly support that proposal, while 19% said they "somewhat support" it. Those numbers combined eclipse the 20% of voters who expressed opposition to the proposal (9% somewhat oppose; 11% strongly oppose). Uvalde families call to raise age for buying semi-automatic guns in overnight Texas House hearing This idea garnered attention recently because of advocacy from the families who lost loved ones in the deadly shooting last year at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The gun...

Tuition costs will increase for non-resident, graduate students in University of Texas system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The University of Texas System Board of Regents voted Wednesday to approve increasing tuition for non-resident and graduate students, and non-academic mandatory fees during its May meeting on Wednesday. UT Chancellor James Milliken initially made the recommendation to the board to increase the tuition costs by no more than 5.2% by the start of the 2023-2024 academic year. Chancellor Milliken used the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) data compiled by Commonfund, an asset management firm, to make his recommendation. In a vote just after 2 p.m. Wednesday, the board approved up to a 5.2% increase on out-of-state and graduate student tuitions as well as non-academic mandatory fees. Those price changes will go into effect for the fall 2023 semester.Higher Education Price Index The HEPI is a tool used to calculate inflation for colleges and universities. It takes into account eight components that make up the operating costs for schools. Those include faculty salaries (...

Anthony Edwards is ascending. The Timberwolves must follow suit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

Anthony Edwards was serious, but still his smiling, bubbly self after Minnesota’s Game 6 first-round series loss to Memphis last spring that ended the star guard’s first playoff appearance.If anything, that would have been the time to be down. The Timberwolves held double-digit fourth-quarter leads in each of their final three losses of that series, Game 6 included. They let the series slip through their fingertips. But Edwards was too optimistic to get down. He seemed to understand such playoff lumps were part of the process in his first bite at the postseason apple. Moments after the loss, Edwards quickly shifted gears to what he planned to work on in the offseason in preparation for getting back to the same stage and being better.That was not the sentiment after Minnesota’s Game 5 loss to Denver in the same round last week.Edwards’ head was down on the table for the start of his postgame press conference. His face was riddled with disappointment. Minutes earlier, he had missed a ...

St. Thomas Academy names Brian Ragatz president

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:21 GMT

St. Thomas Academy has named Brian Ragatz as its new president, effective July 1.Ragatz — who graduated from the school in 1998 — will become the St. Thomas Academy’s 30th leader, taking over from current Headmaster Kelby Woodard.Brian Ragatz was named president of St. Thomas Academy, effective July 1, 2023. Ragatz will become the Academy’s 30th leader, taking over from current Headmaster Kelby Woodard. (Courtesy of of St. Thomas Academy)“Brian has built a distinguished career as a Catholic school educator, administrator and advocate over the past 20 years, and has consistently demonstrated excellent leadership, financial management and advancement abilities,” said Daniel E. Kubes, chair of the St. Thomas Academy Board of Trustees, in a statement. “The board is confident Brian will continue to positively move Saint Thomas Academy into the future.”Ragatz currently is president of the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence, a group that w...