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Ambulance dispatcher dies after being shot in parking lot over weekend; estranged husband charged

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A dispatcher died Wednesday after being shot at a Little Rock-area ambulance service’s parking lot over the weekend, and her estranged husband was charged in her death.Cassandra Pena-Romero, 27, who was shot at the Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services parking lot in downtown Little Rock on Saturday, died on Wednesday from her injuries, the agency announced. Omar Pena-Romero, who was arrested by police near Texarkana, Arkansas, Saturday night, was being held in the Pulaski County jail without bond and was charged Wednesday with capital murder. Pena-Romero, 23, had been charged over the weekend with first degree domestic battery, violation of a no-contact order and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a felony.“Dispatchers are the first step of the life-saving work of emergency services, and Casandra was a true community hero,” said Greg Thompson, executive director of Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services. “We appreciat...

Mom gets life for stabbing newborn and throwing the baby in a river in 1992. DNA cracked the case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

YORK, S.C. (AP) — A 50-year-old woman was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for killing her newborn daughter, whose stabbed body was found in a plastic bag in a South Carolina river in 1992.A York County jury convicted Stacy Michelle Rabon of homicide by child abuse earlier this month. She was charged with her baby’s death two years ago when her DNA sample taken in a 2019 drug arrest matched the DNA from the infant.Rabon will be eligible for parole starting in 2031 because she was sentenced under the law in 1992 which allowed for shorter sentences for serious convictions.Rabon told investigators she delivered the baby in a van by the Catawba River near Rock Hill, but then gave it up to a couple because she didn’t want to keep her and never saw the child again.Prosecutors said she made up that story after she was arrested. They said the infant was found wrapped in sheets inside a plastic bag in the river in August 1992 and was stabbed at least 50 times. Investigators ...

VIDEO: COPA releases footage of officer-involved shooting in Englewood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) released bodycam footage on Wednesday of an officer-involved shooting in Englewood last month.According to COPA, Chicago police officers responded near 300 West 56th Place after police received a complaint for a trespassing incident on July 24. University Park workers go unpaid CPD officers reportedly monitored the area through a Police Observation Device (POD) and observed a group of individuals in a cul-de-sac. Several CPD officers arrived in the area in four unmarked police vehicles.Upon their arrival, officers exited their vehicles to engage the group of individuals on foot as well as an individual driving a black sedan.While on foot, multiple officers attempted to engage the driver of the black sedan, as the vehicle attempted to leave the area, striking a police vehicle, and ultimately fleeing the scene.During this altercation, two officers discharged their firearms at the moving sedan. A CPD officer was hit in th...

Looking for a job? CTA hosting career fair for bus operators, mechanics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicagoland residents seeking jobs are invited to attend a Chicago Transit Authority career fair this Friday on the city's Near West Side. CTA is looking to hire bus operators and bus mechanics – with a starting hourly wage of $28.65 for bus operators and $41.90 for bus mechanics – at their career fair at Malcolm X College.New hires will receive paid training, benefits, and a $1,000 bonus. Search for jobs on our job board Applicants with excellent customer service skills and a willingness to earn a commercial driver’s license are encouraged to visit the Malcolm X College conference center, in the 1900 block of W. Jackson Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 25.Click here to register."We’re making tremendous progress in strengthening our workforce having hired more than 600 new bus operators and welcoming more than 1,200 total new hires so far this year, but we’re not finished yet and need more dedicated workers committed to keeping the City of Chicago moving,” said CTA ...

CPD seeking to identify CTA Red Line attempted armed robbers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Mass transit detectives with the Chicago Police Department are seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect connected to an armed attempted armed robbery that happened at the Garfield stop on the CTA Red Line earlier this month.Suspects in attempted armed robbery at the Garfield stop on the CTA Red Line on Aug. 16, 2023.Detectives said a group of Black males around the age of 18 approached a victim on the Garfield stop platform around 10:35 a.m. on Aug. 16. One of the three lifted his hooded sweat jacket, revealing the handle of a gun, and demanded his property. 3 charged with murder after man killed in Aurora home invasion If you or someone you know has any information that can help police make an arrest and conviction in the investigation of this incident, the CPD Bureau of Detectives' Mass Transit Section can be reached over the phone at 312-745-4706.

Anderson scores winning run in the 10th as the White Sox end Mariners' 8-game win streak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Designated runner Tim Anderson stole third and scored the winning run on a Seattle throwing error — all on a failed pickoff play — as the Chicago White Sox snapped the Mariners’ season-best eight-game winning streak with a 5-4, 10-inning victory on Wednesday.Anderson was leading off second base when Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh threw to second base in a pickoff attempt following a pitch from Justin Topa. J.P. Crawford took the throw from Raleigh and threw wildly to third in an effort to get Anderson. But the Mariners couldn’t handle the overthrow and Anderson crossed the plate with the winning run.“Not the way we drew it up, but it was a major league win,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said, a day after the club fired executive vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn.Trayce Thompson hit his sixth home run — his first since joining the club on Aug. 3 — to left in the sixth for the White Sox, who avoided a sweep and ended a two-game skid.Topa (...

18-year-old at large, teen charged after 15-year-old shot in Palatine dies, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

PALATINE, Ill. —  A 15-year-old boy critically wounded after a shooting in unincorporated Palatine last week has died, police said Wednesday. An 18-year-old male and a 14-year-old boy face charges in connection with the deadly shooting. On Aug. 17, just before 5:20 a.m., Palatine police officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 1700 block of E. Clear Creek Bay. Arriving officers located several shell casings and eventually discovered the 15-year-old boy nearby with a gunshot wound to the upper body.The boy was rushed to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge in critical condition. He died days later from his injuries on Tuesday, Aug. 22. 3 charged with murder after man killed in Aurora home invasion That same day, a 14-year-old was charged in juvenile court for his role in the shooting. The juvenile faces felony charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.Police also i...

Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte turns 20, slated to return Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

(KTLA/NEXSTAR) — With the summer season slowly fading away and fall on the horizon, many people are gearing up for the return of everything pumpkin spice.Starbucks announced Wednesday that its famous pumpkin spice latte will return to coffee shops nationwide on Thursday, along with other seasonal items. Starbucks’ PSL almost didn’t happen — here’s why it did The fan favorite drink will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.These items will join the pumpkin spice latte on this year’s limited-time fall menu.Pumpkin Cream Chai LattePumpkin Cream Cold BrewIced Apple Crisp Oatmilk MacchiatoBaked Apple CroissantPumpkin Cream Cheese MuffinOwl Cake PopStarbucks lovers can also get pumpkin-spiced flavored items at their local grocery stores, ranging from pumpkin spice-flavored coffee creams to chilled coffee drinks. The coffee company will also bring its pumpkin spice lineup to its Starbucks Reserve locations nationwide for the first time. Taco Bell, other food chains could move ...

Which local restaurants received a perfect health inspection score in July 2023?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In July, Austin Public Health (APH) performed over 550 health inspections at locations across the metropolitan area, such as restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores and schools.Of the 565 locations inspected, 312 received scores above 89. Only 39 received perfect scores, and just 12 of those are restaurants.For July 2023, four local restaurants received perfect health inspection scores:Blue Basil, a food truck typically located at The Domain (11119 Alterra Pkwy, Austin);Odd Duck, located at 1201 South Lamar Blvd., Austin;Pflugerville Donuts, located at 1700 Grand Avenue Parkway, Austin; and,Show Me Pizza, located at 2809 South 1st Street, Austin.Of those, two have ongoing streaks of perfect inspections: Show Me Pizza (two inspections) and Pflugerville Donuts (three inspections). In addition, five chain restaurants had stores that received perfect scores: Chipotle Mexican Grill (1109 E 5th Street, Austin), Schlotzsky's (3944 S FM 620 Rd, Bee Cave), Starb...

Demonstrators stood outside Austin high school with anti-LGBTQ, abortion messages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As students were released from McCallum High School Tuesday afternoon, the district confirms roughly eight people stood outside with anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion signs. "The protesters were on the sidewalk but were blocking the buses, so they were asked to move," a spokesperson for AISD said. "Austin ISD Police officers were on-site to ensure everyone's safety, and the protesters left after about an hour."KXAN does not share photos or videos of possible hate speech as standard practice, which is why we have not included photos in this story and blurred signs in the video above. Texas State student accused of setting fire to Austin synagogue arrested "Instead we need to be standing up and saying that everyone belongs, and this is a community for everyone," said Council Member Alison Alter of District 10. In July, Alter officially helped launch an anti-hate campaign called "We All Belong." The program came about after a series of hate speech incidents and a hate cri...