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Illinois convict can't withdraw guilty plea in Randy Gori's murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Illinois — Timothy M. Branowetz, a convicted killer, had his motion to withdraw his guilty plea for the murder of attorney Randy Gori denied. Madison County State’s Attorney, Tom Haine, dismissed the motion, stating, "We hope this ruling brings an end to this convicted murderer’s legal gamesmanship. We will continue to make every effort to ensure he serves every day of his 70-year sentence."Haine added that Gori's family deserves time to heal with a sense of closure. City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim In December 2021, after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and armed robbery, Banowetz was sentenced to 70 years in prison. Circuit Judge Kyle Napp granted Haine’s request to dismiss Banowetz’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea sentence on November 9. There is a 30-day window to withdraw a guilty plea, but Banowetz's proposal reached the Circuit Clerk in December 2022, months after the window had closed.Banowetz claimed he sent the moti...

Grotto Sculpin: The rare fish only found under Perry County, Missouri

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

PERRY COUNTY, Mo. -- There are over 700 caves in Perry County, Missouri. This makes it a great spot for the endangered grotto sculpin to live. The unique fish is found only in one place in the world. The subterranean streams of Perry County.Conservation agents recently went to check on the county's grotto sculpin population. Cpl. Chris Doran, Scientist David Ostendorf, and Fisheries Technician Forrest Copeland explore caves to ensure the fish's well-being. The Missouri Department of Conservation shared pictures of their journey under Perry County on Facebook.Grotto Sculpin survey - Image from the Missouri Department of Conservation Grotto Sculpin survey - Image from the Missouri Department of Conservation Grotto Sculpin survey - Image from the Missouri Department of Conservation Grotto Sculpin survey - Image from the Missouri Department of Conservation Distinct from the banded sculpin, the grotto sculpin features smaller eyes, a paler body, and adapts to cave life with its light tan...

Illinois prison officer admits failure to stop brutal inmate beating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

PERRY COUNTY, Ill. -- Mark C. Maxwell, an acting lieutenant at Pinckneyville Correctional Center, confessed in federal court to not intervening while his subordinates brutally attacked a restrained inmate on April 24, 2022. Under federal law, officers have a duty to intervene if a fellow officer uses excessive force."I failed to uphold my duty, and I take responsibility for that," Maxwell admitted. City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim Charged with deprivation of civil rights, Maxwell faces up to 10 years in prison for standing by as the inmate suffered a fractured orbital socket, a partially collapsed lung, and needed 25 stitches.Officers Cord A. Williams, 35, and Christian L. Pyles, 25, charged in the same incident, have pleaded guilty to various offenses, including violating civil rights and obstructing justice.Following an investigation by the Illinois State Police, Maxwell will receive his sentence on February 21, 2023.

St. Louis scrapyard hit with $68K Clean Water Act fine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

LENEXA, KAN. -- A St. Louis scrap metal facility is facing a stiff fine from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. SA Recycling LLC, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is set to pay $68,000 in civil penalties for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The EPA claims the company didn't adequately control stormwater runoff from its scrap metal recycling facility, risking pollution in the Mississippi River.“Uncontrolled runoff from industrial facilities not only harms streams and rivers, but it also limits the public’s use and enjoyment of those waters,” states David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim EPA alleges SA Recycling failed to comply with its Clean Water Act permit, including neglecting pollution prevention practices, inspections, and employee training. In addition to the penalty, SA Recycling is addressing the violations with an EPA compliance order, cost...

Man who shot Waffle House cook over COVID-19 mask mandate sentenced to 13 years in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

The man who shot a Waffle House cook who had asked him to wear a mask or leave the restaurant during the 2020 COVID-19 restaurant mask mandate has been sentenced to over a decade in prison.Arapahoe County District Court Judge Jacob Edson in November sentenced Kelvin Watson, 30, to 13 years in Department of Corrections custody after he pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder and a sentence enhancer for committing a violent crime with a weapon in the 2020 shooting in Aurora, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.Watson pleaded guilty earlier this month.“While restaurants and stores are public places, businesses have the right to refuse service or ask customers to leave their establishment,” 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner said. “The defendant drove back to the restaurant and shot an innocent employee for no reason other than doing his job.”Watson first went to the Waffle House in the 12800 block of East Mississippi Avenue about mi...

Opinion: Laura Loomer and Kari Lake in the same week? Colorado’s GOP has lost its mind

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

On a slow news day, I can count on the Colorado Republican Party to provide material for this column.Last week, the party’s Twitter account hyped a video conversation between Dave Williams, chair of the state’s GOP, and Laura Loomer, a self-described white nationalist and islamophobe, her words, not mine. Loomer routinely spreads loony conspiracy theories about mass shootings and elections including her own loss in a Florida congressional primary race. Naturally, she blamed election fraud and has refused to concede.Loomer was banned from ride-share services Lyft and Uber after a daylong Twitter harangue against Muslims. She tweeted that she will not “support another Islamic immigrant driver” and tagged both companies in the post. Smart. Loomer has also accused Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and other Democrats of scheming to institute Sharia law in Minnesota.Banned from Twitter for extremist posts, she sued the social media giant and the Council on American-Islamic Relationships whi...

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis calls special session in wake of Proposition HH defeat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

Thirty-six hours after Colorado voters rejected his marquee property tax relief ballot proposal, Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday called the state legislature back into session late next week to come up with a replacement plan.The special session will begin at 9 a.m. on Nov. 17, going into next weekend, Polis announced during a morning news conference at the Governor’s Residence in Denver.“If we do nothing, Colorado homeowners are facing a record property tax increase,” he said. “The crisis is not urban or rural, Denver or the state. It is universal across our state — truly a Colorado crisis.”In Tuesday’s election, about 60% of voters rejected Proposition HH, Polis and Democratic leaders’ proposal to reduce the extent of property tax increase while also providing financial assistance to local governments, along with significantly more money for education. It would have paid for much of that by dipping into future state tax refunds required...

Brawl erupts between Israel, and Palestinian supporters outside L.A.'s Museum of Tolerance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

Altercations between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian supporters were captured on video outside a screening at the Museum of Tolerance in West Los Angeles Wednesday night. The screening showed images of the gruesome Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel by Hamas militants, which Israel says left more than 1,400 dead and more than 240 taken hostage.The 47-minute video was provided by Israeli Defence Forces and shown to select audiences in Los Angeles and New York. Several altercations were captured on video outside the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance on Nov. 8, 2023. (spobh90210)Actress Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, had reportedly been involved in organizing the screenings."Over 240 hostages, including 30 children, are still being held captive by Hamas. This is a prayer from Broadway to bring them home," Gadot posted on her Instagram page Wednesday night. About 150 people attended the Los Angeles screening, although Gadot was not in attendance, according to the Los Angeles Times. Vid...

Review: Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers’ is a Seasonal Treat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

The Holdovers might be the most unsentimental holiday movie in recent memory. That’s not surprising, since director Alexander Payne goes to great lengths to avoid cheap emotion. From Election to About Schmidt, the Nebraska-born filmmaker specializes in depicting sad sacks with an absurdist’s sensibility. It’s a deceptively simple balancing act that’s been attempted by many and accomplished by few; Noah Baumbach comes close. In his latest film, Payne foregoes some of his trademark cynicism and goes straight for the heart, resulting in a touching seasonal film for people who aren’t that jazzed about the holidays.Welcome to Barton Academy, a boys’ boarding school located in the snowy outback of New Hampshire. We’ve seen similar schools in movies such as School Ties and The Emperor’s Club, institutions that instill outdated codes while priding themselves on their academic prowess. But even with this stifling atmosphere, there’s always something charmingly antiquated about these schools....

Driver Arrested after DUI Crash on 1st Street [Cheney, WA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:11:12 GMT

20-Year-Old Impaired Driver Arrested after Causing a Two-Vehicle Collision on F StreetCHENEY, WA (November 9, 2023) – Early Sunday morning, police responded to a DUI crash on F Street where they arrested one driver.The incident happened just after midnight, October 29, at the intersection of 1st and F Streets.According to the Cheney Police Department, the collision involved a white Cheney Camaro driven by a 20-year-old man and a Honda CRV.Upon investigation, the officers determined that the Honda was pulling out from a parking lot on 1st Street when the Camaro, traveling at high speed, crashed into the Honda.Furthermore, the impact of the crash sent the Honda crashing into a tree on a sidewalk. The driver of the Honda suffered injuries and paramedics immediately treated him.Meanwhile, the 20-year-old driver was evaluated and he was determined to be intoxicated. Police later arrested the driver with DUI-related charges.Further investigation is still ongoing, and an update will ...