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Chicago man exonerated of 1989 double murder conviction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

CHICAGO — A 52-year-old man who has spent more than three decades in prison for the murder of two youths has been exonerated.Francisco Benitez was convicted in Sep. 1991 but maintained his innocence of the crimes, according to a press release from The Exoneration Project. An evidentiary hearing was held April 5-6, 2023 during which evidence was presented in support of his exoneration. CFD lieutenant dies following Northwest Side fire earlier this month Part of Benitez's argument involves two police officers involved with his conviction. The Exoneration Project cites two other murder convictions involving these officers which have been vacated.Tuesday Benitez was officially found innocent by a judge and was able to return home for the first time in 34 years.

Cubs give Sister Jean a 104th birthday gift, continuing a recent tradition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

CHICAGO — Some might argue that the best moment of the start of a critical Cubs' series with the Brewers came before the game.That's when a beloved member of the Rogers Park community who has found international fame over the last few years got a bit of a birthday present at the Friendly Confines - and kept what's become a recent tradition going.(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Sister Jean, the basketball chaplain and longtime member of Loyola University, got the chance to throw out the first pitch before the game at Wrigley Field on Monday night.It comes just after she celebrated her 104th birthday on August 21 and she was greeted warmly by the crowd as she was pushed onto the field. Sister Jean waved to the crowd and was set just a few feet away from home plate.(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)After rotating the ball in her hands and winding up her arm a few times, she gave an underhand toss towards the plate to mascot "Clark The Cub," who was the catcher for the first p...

What is considered a 'major hurricane'?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

(WHTM) - The peak of hurricane season is just around the corner, and that means these storms are likely to make an appearance in the coming weeks. According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Idalia is expected to strengthen to an "extremely dangerous major hurricane." But what is a major hurricane and why does it matter? According to the National Hurricane Center, a hurricane is considered "major" when the sustained winds within the storm reach 111 mph or higher. This corresponds to a Category 3 or higher storm on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Winds Scale, which has ratings up to 5. A Category 3 storm, according to the scale, has winds between 111 mph and 129 mph. TIMELINE: Idalia approaches and storms increase According to the NHC, storms of this strength can cause major damage and trees can be "snapped.""Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads," the NHC st...

Megan Rapinoe's USWNT finale will be in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

CHICAGO — The international career of one of the greatest women's soccer players in American history will come to an end in Chicago.It's a fitting place for that to happen, too.On Tuesday, the United States Women's National Team announced that Megan Rapinoe will play her final match for that squad at Soldier Field this fall. That will be an international friendly against South Africa on Sunday, September 24 at 4:30 p.m. central time. Rapinoe, who plays for OL Reign of the National Women's Soccer League, announced earlier this year that she'll retire from professional soccer at the conclusion of their 2023 season. She took part in her final FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this past summer, where the USWNT was eliminated in the Round of 16.In some ways, it's a full circle moment for the two-time World Cup champion (2015, 2019) and 2012 Olympic gold medalist. Rapinoe began her professional career with the Chicago Red Stars in 2009 as their first round draft pick (2nd overal...

Parents worried about Adderall shortages as kids start school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

(NewsNation) — Back to school means many things, including an Adderall shortage for those who need it. A nationwide shortage of Adderall, the drug commonly prescribed for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), has dragged on since last October, and the pharmaceutical industry hasn’t been able to catch up.Millions of children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and the number of them who take Adderall to help them stay focused in the classroom has grown in recent years.“These medications are very necessary and can really affect a child’s performance and attendance at school,” Dr. Sujatha Reddy said. Millions impacted by Adderall shortage: Here’s what we know The U.S. Food and Drug Administration blames manufacturing delays for the shortage as demand increased significantly during and after the pandemic.Also, because ADHD medications are considered controlled substances, the FDA and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration set a limit on how much medicine can be manufactured a...

Idalia could come ashore as a dangerous Category 3 storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Florida residents loaded up on sandbags and evacuated from homes in low-lying areas Tuesday, less than a day before Hurricane Idalia was expected to barrel into the state with the threat of flooding that could swamp the Gulf Coast.Idalia was churning in the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 1 storm, but it was projected to come ashore as a Category 3 system with sustained winds of up to 120 mph (193 kph) — a potentially big blow to a state still dealing with lingering damage from last year’s Hurricane Ian. Hurricane Idalia forecast to become ‘extremely dangerous’ major hurricane, NHC says “You still have time this morning to make your final preparations ... but you got to do that now,” Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at the state’s emergency operations center.Tolls were waived on highways out of the danger area, shelters were open and hotels prepared to take in evacuees. More than 30,000 utility workers were gathering to make repairs as quickly as possible in the hu...

Four arrested in Capital Region distract and steal scams

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Four people were arrested following multiple distract and steal scams across the Capital Region. Angie Gonzalez Lopez (33, Van Nuys, California), Yonathan Martinez Castro (25, Queens), Camilo Otalora Bastidas (31, Queens), and Angelo Romero Guadarrama (36, Queens), each were charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, second-degree identity theft, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, and fifth-degree conspiracy. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On Tuesday, August 22, around 5:08 p.m., troopers responded to the Amsterdam Market 32 parking lot for reports of a theft. Police say an investigation found Gonzalez Lopez had distracted the victim while in the parking lot, and another suspect stole the victim's wallet from their car. Police believe the suspects intentionally put thumbtacks under a tire of the victim's car, then acted as a good samaritan to "help them," ultimately distracting them while the...

13-year-old leads wild police chase from south to north St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Police say a 13-year-old driving a stolen vehicle with a 19-year-old passenger in south St. Louis led police on a chase Monday night. Two suspects are now under arrest after crashing the vehicle in Old North St. Louis.The teen driver was taken to Juvenile Family Court on charges of tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. The police have not identified him because he is a minor. Trevon Fisher faces the same charges and is in police custody with no bond. St. Charles asks residents to send pics of cars with illegal temp tags A vehicle was stolen in a carjacking Monday morning in the 4100 block of Flad in the Shaw neighborhood. Officers saw the gray 2018 Honda Civic later near the intersection of Michigan and Schirmer in the Patch neighborhood in south St. Louis. A police chase started after the suspects sped off.The stolen vehicle struck two other cars near I-55 and Arsenal. They eventually drove the stolen vehicle onto westbound I-70. The suspects tossed a ...

Another gut-punch: Cardinals are 20 games below .500 for first time in decades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Nearly one month removed from the trade deadline and with nearly one month remaining this season, the St. Louis Cardinals have hit one of their biggest skids in a disappointing campaign.The Cardinals have lost 10 of their last 12 games and bring a four-game losing streak into Tuesday. The latest loss, which spoiled one of Adam Wainwright's best opportunities for career win No. 199, puts the Cardinals 20 games under the .500 mark. It's been almost three decades since a Cardinals team fell that far back. That last happened late in the 1995 season. Why Bob Barker did not play for the St. Louis Cardinals Just how ugly has this stretch been for the Cardinals? They're only averaging around 2 runs per game and giving up around 7 per game in their last dozen contests. The Cardinals are in a tough spot when it comes to measuring performance. On one hand, the team traded away several veterans to stock the farm system and give younger players more opportunities, so some regressi...

Drivers crossing Colorado express lanes’ double white lines face $75 fines as surveillance increases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:33 GMT

Colorado authorities are intensifying their crackdown on traffic express lane rule violators, deploying more roadway surveillance technology and shifting from warnings to $75 civil penalties in an effort to improve highway safety.The surveillance systems including sensors, cameras and tracking software detect violations and identify driver transgressors who cross the painted white lines separating express lanes from other lanes. Crossing those solid white lines greatly increases crash risks due to speed differences between express and other traffic.Drivers caught crossing or weaving back and forth across the white lines on Interstate 25 north of Denver and C-470 in the south metro area will face the penalties starting Oct. 1 after a one-month grace period starting Sept. 1, Colorado Department of Transportation officials said in a news announcement.Drivers who already have received mailed warnings during a grace period along the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor – where enforcement beg...