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Tinley Park mayor vows stricter protocols after flash mob incident involving 400 teens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Days after Tinley Park police canceled the final day of the Armed Forces Weekend Carnival due to safety concerns stemming from a flash mob incident on Saturday, the city's mayor says stricter protocols are imminent. Tinley Park Mayor Michael GlotzIn a statement Tuesday, Michael Glotz addressed the May 20 event, which saw 400 teenagers converge at the carnival in response to a social media post. According to Glotz, the teens aimed to cause "general chaos by starting fights with each other and running through the crowd."Glotz added: "In addition to scaring a lot of families and young children who were trying to enjoy a fun night out, the incident resulted in a police officer being injured and our police department issuing citations to several out-of-town teenagers for fighting in public."Police on Saturday issued five citations. Most offenders were released to their parents and guardians. Glotz praised the quick response of police, adding that officers kept the sit...

CPD: Armed group commits 6 robberies at gas stations in 2-plus hours

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department sent out a community alert Tuesday after a group of males committed at least a half-dozen robberies at gas stations across the City in the span of little more than two hours.Police said a group of Black males in an older model white Toyota Camry committed at least six armed robberies at gas stations in Austin, the Lower West Side, Avondale, Humboldt Park and North Lawndale from 3:51 a.m. to 6:02 a.m. Tuesday.In each instance, the unknown offenders approach victims at gas stations and demand personal property at gunpoint.Police describe those in the group as being 16-25 years old, 5'6" to 5'8" tall, wearing black ski masks and clothing, and displaying a black handgun. Police: Woman arrested, charged after punching student at middle school Incident Times and Locations1100 block of North Cicero Avenue on May 23nd, 2023 at 3:51 a.m.300 block of South Cicero Avenue on May 23nd, 2023 at 3:54 a.m.1900 block of West Cermak Road on May 23nd, 2023 at ...

Target removes some LGBTQ merchandise from stores after threats to workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride Month, after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers.“Since introducing this year’s collection, we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and well-being while at work," Target said in a statement Tuesday. ”Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior."Target declined to say which items it was removing but among the ones that garnered the most attention were “tuck friendly” women’s swimsuits that allow trans women who have not had gender-affirming operations to conceal their private parts. Designs by Abprallen, a London-based company that designs and sells occult- and satanic-themed LGBTQ clothing and accessories, have also created ...

8-year-old boy hit by car, mother insists city make intersection where it happened safer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – On Friday, May 12, Kirsten Matetich was at a party with her husband when she got a harrowing phone call. “[A friend] called me to let me know that Ross had been hit by a car,” Matetich said. Ross, her 8-year-old son, had been walking home from a restaurant with his babysitter. They crossed the street at the intersection of Windsor Road and Winstead Lane, a MoPac Expressway exit lane in Tarrytown. Ross and his babysitter entered the intersection when the pedestrian signal indicated they could walk. But as they were crossing, a car turning left onto Windsor Road from MoPac slowly ran into them. While the driver should have yielded, the light was green, Matetich said. “When we arrived, there were two ambulances, police cars –  just sort of like a chaotic scene,” Matetich said. “It was really, really scary.”Ross was in a great deal of pain following the incident. But after a night in the hospital and several tests, Matetich said he is physically ...

Attorney General Paxton under investigation for whistleblower settlement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas House lawmakers tasked with investigating legal and ethical violations announced Tuesday they are investigating the Office of the Attorney General.The House General Investigating Committee has been investigating Attorney General Ken Paxton's legal settlement with whistleblowers since March. Early this legislative session, Paxton requested the legislature approve $3.3 million of state money so his office could pay a settlement to employees that were terminated after they raised ethical concerns about Paxton's conduct. Four former top aides sued Paxton for wrongful firing and retaliation after they accused him of using his office to help Nate Paul, an Austin-area real estate developer and Paxton campaign donor.In a public hearing Tuesday afternoon, the committee issued a letter directing the attorney general to preserve all documentation relating to the matter."Please immediately suspend all of your destruction policies for all documents... relating the above ...

The Jayhawks and Bad Bad Hats will provide tunes for revived Grand Old Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

Local favorites the Jayhawks and Bad Bad Hats will headline the Grand Stage at the revived Grand Old Day June 4 on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue.Beer garden wristbands are $10 in advance from grandave.com. Youth wristbands are $6 and there’s also a $50 VIP option that includes two drink tickets, a swag bag, access to a premium concert viewing area, free food and other perks.Live music will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Grand Stage and five other areas.First formed in 1984, the Jayhawks found a national audience after signing with Rick Rubin’s American Recordings label and releasing “Hollywood Town Hall” in 1992. Critics praised band leaders Gary Louris and Mark Olson for their strong songwriting and rich vocal harmonies. But after 1995’s “Tomorrow the Green Grass,” Olson left the group. Starting with 1997’s “Sound of Lies,” Louris began introducing rock, power pop and other elements to the band’s sound.The trio Bad Bad Hats began making music in 201...

Twins’ injured list bulging at the seams

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

The Twins on Tuesday placed Trevor Larnach on the 10-day injured list after he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He joins 10 teammates on the IL, an impressive collection that includes key players such as second baseman Jorge Polanco, right fielder Max Kepler and right-hander Kenta Maeda.Injuries to key contributors derailed last season late, knocking the Twins out of contention in the American League Central over about two weeks in September. Minnesota entered Tuesday night’s game against San Francisco at Target Field 2-5 in their previous seven games.Sick with the flu for several days, Larnach was seen by a doctor on Tuesday.“We’ll see how he is in a few days,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “There was no way he was going to be playing any time in the near future. We need to get him off his feet and let him rest for a couple days.”Matt Wallner was recalled from St. Paul and the outfielder and was available off the bench. Over six big league games in April, Wallner, 25, was hitless in 11...

Festus family encounters black bear in neighborhood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

FESTUS, Mo - In a Festus, Missouri, neighborhood early Tuesday morning, one family was startled by the sudden appearance and size of a bear.“My wife got me out of bed, and she recorded it,” said Josh Johnson, a Festus resident. “She said, ‘There's a bear out there,’ and I didn't believe her. I came out, and sure enough, a big bear. I took a couple pictures, she took a video, and it went viral pretty quick.”Johnson said he saw the large bear around 6 a.m. Tuesday. The bear was caught going through trash cans off Hillcrest Road near the American Legion. This is the first sighting of a bear in Festus. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House Authorities asked residents to secure trash bins and put their trash cans out the day of, instead of the night before pickup.“If you see it before it sees you, slowly back away, don't turn and run because a lot of time if a bear sees you run, it will prompt them to chase you,” said Chief Doug Wendel for the Festus Po...

Carbondale man steals backhoe for 10-mile drive to Illinois airport to catch flight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

MARION, Ill. (AP) — A southern Illinois man has been charged with theft for allegedly stealing a backhoe to drive about 10 miles (16 kilometers) to an airport to catch a flight, authorities said.Security camera footage shows a Carbondale man arriving at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois atop a backhoe and leaving it in the airport parking lot Thursday, the Williamson County Sheriffs Office said.Footage captured the man walking across the street from the lot to the airport lobby, carrying a guitar case, the sheriff's office said.The owner of the backhoe arrived at the airport a short time later and identified the equipment as belonging to his company, the sheriff's office said. The owner said the machine, typically used to move large debris, had been parked at a job site.

Missouri miracle? Hundreds travel to see nun's exhumed, 'incorrupt' body

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:57 GMT

GOWER, Mo. - Catholic faithfuls are making the pilgrimage to Gower, Missouri, to witness what they describe as a miracle."It's great to be reminded that it can happen in our lifetime," one person said."She's a Saint already. I already have her canonized," another said."We drove in like a 3-hour drive and walked straight into mass," another woman in the group said. Kansas City’s Van Noy mansion hits the market These statements are from just some of the hundreds traveling to the Benedictine monastery in Gower, a small town about an hour north of Kansas City. The focus is a body revealed to have no signs of decay four years after burial. In the words of the sisters, it is "incorrupt." The word incorrupt lends special meaning to Catholics as it signals a possible path to sainthood.The person at the center of the attention is Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who is described as the African American foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles.The sisters told the Cat...