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Suspected drunken driver seen overfilling gas tank had loaded rifle inside car, prosecutors allege

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. — A felon is accused of having multiple firearms inside his vehicle while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol in west suburban Downers Grove.Gordon Martin, 23, of Bolingbrook is charged with illegally possessing a loaded rifle and an unloaded handgun. Martin is also charged with two counts of misdemeanor DUI.According to DuPage County prosecutors, just before 7:40 p.m. Wednesday, Downers Grove officers responded to an area Shell gas station. Officers were called to the scene for a man 'overfilling his gas tank.' Venezuelan migrants accused of stealing nearly $3K in merchandise from Oak Brook Macy’s Arriving officers encountered Martin and his vehicle, which prosecutors allege had two flat tires and was missing its front bumper. Gordon Martin, 23, of Bolingbrook (Photo: DuPage County State’s Attorney Office)The discarded bumper was later discovered at the intersection of Cross Street and Warrenville Road with a portion of the license plate still att...

These places in the Chicago area are accepting leftover Halloween candy donations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

CHICAGO — Several places across Chicagoland are collecting leftover Halloween candy. Here is a list of places you can donate your candy.Soldiers' Angels has a searchable map to find a place where you drop off candy. They have dozens of locations, including in Naperville, Sycamore, St. Charles, Minooka, Joliet, Chicago and Addison.People's Resource Center in Wheaton and Westmont is accepting sealed candy.Operation Shoebox is collecting bags of individually wrapped candies. They said heat-resistant candy is best. It can be sent to Operation Shoebox 8630 East Highway 25 Belleview, FL 34420Many Ronald McDonald House Charities locations will accept unopened candy donations. There are several local chapters including in Chicago, Naperville, Winfield and Oak Brook.Operation Support Our Troops is collecting candy. They have several donation sites across the area. It's best to call the location first to see if they are collecting candy. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines You can also...

Malörtsgiving: Limited Thanksgiving edition of Malört now available

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago favorite rich in the spirit of Thanksgiving.Malört has released a limited edition of its iconic Chicago liquor. Dubbed 'Malörtsgiving,' the drink features flavors of turkey bouillon, cranberry and sage. Whether it be an $8 shot or a bottle for $150, CH Distillery in the West Loop - the only place the drink is available - promises a drink that will "transport you to a Thanksgiving feast while maintaining Malört 's infamous flavor." All proceeds will benefit Lemons of Love, a nonprofit helping those impacted by cancer. Cheers, Chicago!

Liam Hendriks wins AL Comeback Player of the Year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox's closer Liam Hendriks has been named the 2023 American League (AL) Comeback Player of the Year, according to a press release from the team Thursday.The AL and NL Comeback Player of the Year Awards are presented by the Major League Baseball Players Association and voted on by players from each league.Hendriks returned to the White Sox active roster in May and appeared in five games after battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Hendriks revealed his cancer diagnosis back in January before undergoing treatment, after which he announced he was cancer-free in April. ‘I’m cancer free’: White Sox closer Liam Hendriks is in remission Hendriks went 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA, one save and three strikeouts before undergoing UCL replacement surgery in August.Hendriks was also the White Sox's nominee for the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award, his third consecutive nomination to represent his team. He helped raise nearly $130,000 for Lymphoma research through the sale of "Close Ou...

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried convicted of defrauding crypto customers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s spectacular rise and fall in the cryptocurrency industry — a journey that included his testimony before Congress, a Super Bowl advertisement and dreams of a future run for president — hit a new bottom Thursday when a New York jury convicted him of fraud in a scheme that cheated customers and investors of at least $10 billion.After the monthlong trial, jurors rejected Bankman-Fried’s claim during four days on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court that he never committed fraud or meant to cheat customers before FTX, once the world’s second-largest crypto exchange, collapsed into bankruptcy a year ago.“His crimes caught up to him. His crimes have been exposed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon told the jury of the onetime billionaire just before they were read the law by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan and began deliberations. Sassoon said Bankman-Fried turned his customers’ accounts into his “personal piggy bank” as up to ...

Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs could have been a rocket scientist. Those study habits are helping him now.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

Josh Dobbs admitted he was a bit of a procrastinator at the University of Tennessee.As the starting quarterback for the Volunteers back in the mid-2010’s, Dobbs had a lot on his plate, and thus, he often found himself cramming for tests at the last minute. Not exactly the easiest thing considering his major in aerospace engineering.That said, Dobbs still managed to maintain a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, and eventually parlayed his degree into an internship with NASA.He could have been a rocket scientist. He chose NFL quarterback for the time being. Now the 28-year-old Dobbs is hoping the former can help the latter.After being acquired by the Vikings this week at the trade deadline, Dobbs might as well be back in college, cramming for a test at the last minute. He will be the backup on Sunday when the Vikings play the Atlanta Falcons on the road, and while he’s not expected to know the whole play book, he’s hoping his study habits from the past can help him lea...

Wisconsin boys soccer: Somerset bows in Division 3 state semifinal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

MILWAUKEE — Somerset boys soccer coach Karsten Grover was worried about his team getting off to a slow start.Unfortunately for the Spartans, his worst fear was quickly realized.Somerset, which had allowed three goals in a match just once all season, gave up three scores in the opening 20 minutes and dropped a 5-0 decision to Plymouth in the Division 3 semifinals of the Wisconsin boys soccer state tournament Thursday.“We have a tendency to be a second-half team,” Grover said. “We have a tendency to start games slow. We talked about it a lot before the game. But I think a lot of nerves. First time this team’s ever been this far. Bigger pitch than we’re used to by a lot. I know the guys were talking a lot about that before the game. So, a lot of new things for us to figure out.“We just had a slow start,” Grover said. “The first 20 minutes kind of cost us.”The third-seeded Spartans (23-2), making their first state tournament appearance, never got untracked against the second-seeded Pant...

East Metro Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Hill-Murray’s Jacob Dinzeo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

In the week of the boys soccer state tournament semifinals and championship game, Hill-Murray senior midfielder Jacob Dinzeo took a break from writing college essays, of all things, to speak with a reporter.Welcome to his life.Dinzeo is as well-rounded as they come, sporting a grade-point average of over 4.0 amid a rigorous course schedule, while also volunteering in the community and, yeah, guiding the Hill-Murray soccer program to incredible heights.The senior midfielder continued his efforts in the latter Wednesday, tallying two assists in Hill-Murray’s 6-1 Class 2A state tournament semifinal victory over St. Cloud Tech at U.S. Bank Stadium.Dinzeo has 20 goals and 16 assists this season while leading Hill-Murray to its second consecutive state championship appearance. Hill-Murray, which lost in last year’s state title match, will battle top-seeded Orono at 12:30 p.m. Friday for state supremacy.All of that makes him the 2023 Pioneer Press East Metro Boys Soccer Player of the Year....

'Clean Up, Build Up' campaign aims to revitalize St. Louis neighborhoods

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Cleaning up neighborhoods in an effort to build them up: It's a plan the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is putting in place to make them safer for everyone. Three-time world boxing champion Devon Alexander joined the Urban League and others Thursday morning to promote the “Clean Up, Build Up" campaign and an upcoming cleanup event this Saturday. “To be honest, these belts right here mean nothing [compared to] the work you’re about to do for this neighborhood,” says Alexander, born and raised in St. Louis. Florida kidnapping victims rescued from downtown St. Louis hotel "Clean Up, Build Up," previously known as Clean Sweep, is a neighborhood revitalization initiative through which construction workers, neighborhood stakeholders, and volunteers from the region demolish vacant properties beyond repair and clear vacant lots and alleys around the City of St. Louis. On Thursday, representatives from the Regional Business Council and Spire also joined Alexander and t...

Ameren offers tips to prevent electrical fires as colder weather arrives

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:11 GMT

ST. LOUIS - With temperatures dropping below freezing last week, some St. Louisans have began to pull out their space heaters, electric blankets, and other items. Let it also serve as a reminder, it’s about time to start getting the holiday decorations up. Ameren has some advice on how to stay safe and prevent electrical fires this season.Our first blast of cold air had us reaching for all things cozy and warm, but some of those items increase the risks of fires during the colder months if not used properly. “The most fire deaths in the U.S. happen during the winter months, so this is the time when we’re most prone to lose lives unfortunately, said Tim Frankenberg, the fire safety engineer for Ameren.  Florida kidnapping victims rescued from downtown St. Louis hotel As you’re preparing that big holiday meal, there are some things to consider. Don’t put too many appliances in a single outlet. The electrical load needs to be distributed. “If an outlet’s hot or a cord starts getting ...