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Southern California jury delivers $135M verdict in molestation case involving middle school teacher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A jury has delivered a $135 million verdict in a molestation case involving a middle school teacher, determining that negligence by a Southern California school district allowed the abuse of two students during the 1990s. Jurors in Riverside County Superior Court decided Tuesday that the Moreno Valley Unified School District is 90% responsible for the damages, while former teacher Thomas Lee West is 10% responsible, according to plaintiffs’ lawyers. The ruling means the district will pay $121.5 million in damages.District officials didn’t immediately respond to an email Wednesday seeking comment on the verdict. During a criminal trial, West was convicted of committing lewd or lascivious acts with minors. He is currently serving a 52 years-to-life sentence in Mule Creek State Prison.The two former students said in their civil lawsuit that they were repeatedly abused by West during 1996 and 1997 when they were sixth graders at Vista Heights Middle ...

Lidia dissipates after killing 2, injuring 2 near Mexico resort, Atlantic sees Tropical Storm Sean

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Lidia dissipated Wednesday after hitting land as a Category 4 hurricane near the resort of Puerto Vallarta. One person was killed by a falling tree, another drowned in a swollen river and two others were injured after the hurricane made landfall. The hurricane knocked over trees and blew roofs off houses with winds as high as 140 mph (220 kph) before moving inland. Laura Velázquez, the head of Mexico’s civil defense system, said Wednesday that one person died on the northern outskirts of Puerto Vallarta after being hit by a falling tree, and two others were injured elsewhere in the area.The governor of Jalisco state, Enrique Alfaro, said another man drowned in a town south of where the hurricane hit when he tried to cross a swollen river late Tuesday night.The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Wednesday that Lidia’s winds were down to 35 mph (57 kph) as it dissipated about 145 miles (235 kilometers) north-northeast of the city of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-lar...

Police: Man abandons dog in Northwest Indiana after shelter refuses to euthanize

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

GRIFFITH, Ind. — A man abandoned a dog in Northwest Indiana last week after asking a no-kill shelter to euthanize the pet.A dog was recently found abandoned in Griffith and police are asking the public's help to identify the suspect.On Oct. 4, Griffith police said a man arrived to the animal control and shelter, located in the 100 block of North Wood Street. The man asked for the dog to be euthanized because the animal is "aggressive" but the shelter refused — citing that they are a no-kill shelter, according to a detective."We are unable to take people's pets just because they don't want them any longer. We are at near max capacity as it is," authorities told WGN News.Around three hours later, the dog, a pit mix, was found abandoned a few blocks away tied to a fence.The dog is currently healthy at the shelter but is "scared."The man wanted was wearing a grey shirt, dark pants and red shoes at the time. ‘So grateful’: Ohio family elated after reuniting with trucker’s dog in Romeo...

Endangered missing 13-year-old known to frequent South Shore area, CPD says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are seeking the public's help locating an endangered 13-year-old male last seen on Monday. According to police, Dexter Berry never returned after leaving his Englewood home on Oct. 9. Police add that Dexter is known to frequent the 7700-7800 block of S. Kingston Avenue in Chicago's South Shore. SEE ALSO: Search underway for 16-year-old girl missing from South SideThe 13-year-old stands 5'2", weighs 1,20 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. No clothing description at the time of his disappearance was available. Anyone with information on Dexter's whereabouts is asked to call police at (312) 747-8380 or dial 911.

Jada Pinkett Smith reveals Chris Rock asked her out years before Oscars slap

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

(KTLA) -- Before he cracked jokes about her appearance and got slapped at the 2022 Oscars, Chris Rock apparently wanted to date Jada Pinkett Smith.The actress claimed he had asked her out amid rumors she and Will Smith were divorcing.She told PEOPLE this happened around the summer of 2016, about six years before Smith slapped him onstage at the 94th Academy Awards."I think every summer, all the reports would come out that me and Will were getting a divorce. And this particular summer, Chris, he thought that we were getting a divorce," she explained. "So he called me and basically he was like, 'I'd love to take you out.' And I was like, 'What do you mean?' He was like, 'Well, aren't you and Will getting a divorce?' I was like, 'No. Chris, those are just rumors.' He was appalled. And he profusely apologized, and that was that."Pinkett Smith said she hasn't spoken to Rock since that infamous slap on Oscar night, but told the outlet she hopes those involved can move on. “[Do I have] any...

'Hee Haw' cast member Buck Trent, who performed on Dolly Parton's 'Jolene,' dies at 85

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

BRANSON, Mo. (KOLR) – Buck Trent, a multi-instrumentalist who appeared on "Hee Haw" and performed on Dolly Parton's albums, has died at the age of 85, his wife Jean Trent announced on Facebook.Dolly Parton and Buck Trent perform during "Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Opry" in 2019. (Photo by: Katherine Bomboy/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)"It is with great sorrow and a broken heart to say my husband, my love, Buck Trent, went to be with Jesus this morning," Jean Trent wrote. "I lost my best friend, and the world lost a Master Musician and Country Music Legend." She capped off her statement with "Oh Yeah!" — a catchphrase Trent became known for during his run on "Hee Haw" between 1974 and 1983. Singer Maren Morris leaving country music, blames the ‘Trump years’ In addition to "Hee Haw," Trent was formerly a regular on "The Roy Clark Show" and performed on "The Porter Wagoner Show" as part of the Wagonmasters. During his career, he also recorded with artists including Vince Gi...

Streaming service Crunchyroll agrees to pay users in $16 million settlement: Do you qualify?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Anime streamer Crunchyroll has agreed to pay $16 million to settle claims it shared users' information with third parties without people's permission. Included in the settlement are direct payments to millions of Crunchyroll users and subscribers.To qualify, you don't need to be a paying subscriber. If you were in the United States between the dates of Sept. 8, 2020, and Sept. 23, 2023, and you were a registered user (even for Crunchyroll's free version) and you watched a video on one of their platforms, you are eligible for a piece of the fund. Anyone who watched videos on Crunchyroll's website, streaming apps or mobile apps may qualify. Registered users and paying premium subscribers are both eligible. ‘Largest number of claims ever filed’: 17M people validated to receive Facebook settlement payment Court documents state that by mid-2021, Crunchyroll had 5 million paying subscribers and 120 million registered users. Sony acquired Crunchyroll in August of that y...

Police searching for suspects of east Austin robbery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin police are asking for the public's help identifying the suspects involved in a robbery that happened in east Austin last month. According to the Austin Police Department, it happened at a business on Loyola Lane shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. APD said the suspects were refused service by a store employee "due to the suspects having criminal trespass notices." APD said one of the suspects took an item and left the store, and an employee was assaulted while trying to retrieve the stolen item. Suspect 1 is described as a black man, around 25-35 years old, and 5'11" in height. He was wearing red pajamas with Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters on them and carried a black shirt. The Austin Police Department is searching for two suspects involved in a robbery at a business on Loyola Lane Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. (APD photo) The Austin Police Department is searching for two suspects involved in a robbery at a business on Loyola Lane Sunday, Sept. 10, 202...

St. Paul Public School District to host listening sessions on budget challenges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

As federal funding from the American Rescue Plan and other emergency sources runs dry, the St. Paul School District is bracing for a difficult budget climate. The school district will host three listening sessions to better understand family priorities and provide background on the budgeting process.Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding is expected to end in September 2024.The St. Paul School Board recently approved a maximum property tax levy increase of 1.73% for 2024. The levy can be adjusted downward but not increase above that limit when the school district budget is finalized in December.The meetings, which will all take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., will be held on Oct. 17 at the East African Elementary Magnet, 437 Edmund Ave.; Oct. 23 at the American Indian Magnet School, 1075 Third St E.; Oct. 25 at the Como Park Senior High School, 740 Rose Ave. W.The meetings will be conducted in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali and Karen. Additional languages ...

St. Paul’s first-ever ‘Snow Summit’ aims to educate public, alley captains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:27 GMT

The city of St. Paul wants you to better understand snow — as in snow removal, snow operations and snow safety.The first-ever “St. Paul Snow Summit” will be held this Saturday at the city’s Public Works Garage at 891 Dale St.From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Public Works will host an open house with exhibits on snow removal, snow safety and winter activities, coordinated with St. Paul Parks and Recreation and the St. Paul Fire Department. Various vehicles and equipment will be on display, and two food trucks will have items for purchase.While St. Paul does not provide snow plowing in alleys, residents often choose a snow captain for their block who coordinates with neighbors to hire a snow removal company. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the second floor conference room, a morning “alley captains conference” will be geared toward alley captains and will feature tips, tools and techniques for organizing.As part of alley captain training, St. Paul Public Works will...