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West Virginia boy, 16, sentenced to 80 years for killing mother, sister

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia teenager was sentenced to consecutive 40-year prison terms in the fatal shootings of his mother and sister after a judge rejected the defendant’s pleas for a lesser sentence.Connor Crowe pleaded guilty last November to second-degree murder after waiving his right to be tried in juvenile court or by a jury. He was 13 in September 2020 when he killed his mother, Melissa Rowland, 39, and his 15-year-old sister, Madison.Attorneys for Crowe, 16, cited his age as one of the factors in asking for a shorter sentence, but Hancock County Circuit Judge Jason Cuomo gave him the maximum penalty, news outlets reported.“I want to remind you that your sister was 15 at the time you murdered her,” Cuomo told Crowe. “She was younger than you are right now, and you gave her no consideration, no mitigation for something less than a death sentence.”“Your sister would have graduated high school, I think about a week or two ago. She’ll ne...

Russian court prepares way for new trial against jailed Kremlin foe Navalny

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

In this handout photo released by Moscow City Court Press Service, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on a TV screen, as he appears in a video link provided by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in a courtroom at Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said in April that he was facing new extremism and terrorism charges that could keep him behind bars for life. (Moscow City Court Press Service via AP) In this handout photo released by Moscow City Court Press Service, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on a TV screen, as he appears in a video link provided by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in a courtroom at Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, Wedne...

Car slams into sportswear store in Miami Gardens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene of a traffic accident at around 9:30 a.m. in which a car crashed into a building. A morning drive ended in a crash at Simon’s Sportswear located on Northwest 27th Avenue in Miami Gardens.The store had its front windows shattered due to the collision. First responders said no one was trapped in the vehicle or transported to the hospital.

Police found an unknown body in a trunk in St. Petersburg on Halloween 53 years ago. Thanks to DNA testing, the ‘trunk lady’ now has a name

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

(CNN) — After police found a body in a black steamer trunk in a wooded area in Florida 53 years ago, the mystery of the “trunk lady” became a cold case that captured the attention of the public for decades. Using DNA evidence, police have now identified the victim as Sylvia June Atherton, a mother of five, from Tucson, Arizona.On Halloween 1969, St. Petersburg police were called to a wooded area behind what was then a restaurant named the Oyster Bar, Assistant Chief Michael Kovacsev said at a news conference Tuesday. He said two children reported seeing two white men in a pickup truck unload the trunk in the field and leave.When the officers opened the trunk, they found a woman’s body, wrapped in a large plastic bag, police said in a statement. She had visible injuries to her head and was partially clothed in a pajama top. She had been strangled with a bolo tie, police said.Investigators were unable to identify the woman, and she was buried as “Jane Doe” in St. Peters...

Now-former Burlington firefighter accused of animal abuse appears in court, ‘not guilty’ plea entered on his behalf

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

A now-former Burlington firefighter who also used to run a dog training facility appeared in court on Wednesday to face animal abuse charges after customers said their dogs were abused at “Falco K9” in South Boston.Tyler Falconer, 30, faced a judge on charges he abused and neglected the animals that were in his care – three counts of animal cruelty by a custodian and three counts of improperly tethering or confining an animal.According to court documents, Lindsay Foster’s dog “Watch” was one of three animals Falconer is accused of abusing. She said she brought her five-month-old dog to the facility to be house trained in February, only to discover her puppy became emaciated when she picked him up two weeks later.“He could barely pick his head up because he was so hungry and so exhausted,” Foster told reporters. She went on to report the situation to the Animal Rescue League and later came across other dog owners with similar complaints. Several pe...

Bus driver accused of stalking New Hampshire boy, 8, agrees to plea deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A former school bus driver accused of threatening and stalking an 8-year-old boy in New Hampshire has agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors under which he would serve a six-year prison sentence, according to documents filed in federal court.Michael Chick, 40, of Eliot, Maine, worked as a bus driver for First Student and drove routes in both Greenland and Rye, New Hampshire.Chick was arrested last year. Prosecutors alleged he gave a student at Greenland Central School cellphones with instructions to take inappropriate photos of himself, placed tracing devices on his parents’ vehicles and made multiple nighttime visits to their home, according to court documents.The boy told investigators Chick used a story about a group of criminals he called “The Team” who would kill his family, kidnap him and torture him if he did not comply with their demands.The boy’s parents reported what they considered Chick’s obsession with their son. Chick was reassigned to different bu...

Owner of South Boston animal kennel charged with animal cruelty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

A Burlington man who owns a South Boston animal kennel has been charged with animal cruelty after authorities say three dogs in his business’ care lost significant weight and showed signs of injury.Tyer Falconer, 30, was arraigned in municipal court in South Boston today on three counts of animal cruelty by a custodian and three counts of improperly tethering or confining an animal. Judge Michael Bolden released Falconer and scheduled a pre-trial hearing for July 18.“Dogs bring so much joy to the lives of the families who care for them and love them. They return that love, enormously. When necessary to board, it’s vital for families to know that their dogs are in a safe, healthy environment and are treated with kindness and care,” said SuffolkDistrict Attorney Kevin Hayden in a statement, in which he revealed he is himself a dog owner. “That was clearly not the case here, as these disturbing facts make quite clear.”Falconer owns Falco K9 in South Boston.Assistant DA Kelly Ryan said ...

Go green: Salads are taking center stage at mealtime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

It’s the time of year when many of us enjoy eating a salad, especially on a hot, humid day. But what exactly is a salad? What comes to mind: Caesar, Waldorf, potato, tuna, pasta? Some even think of it as rabbit food, which perhaps is true, if you think about how salads were prepared back in the day — iceberg lettuce, a slice of onion and cucumber, a wedge of tomato, some shredded carrots, and perhaps an olive or two. Today, many restaurants, especially fast-food restaurants, still serve this type of salad.In years past, salad was served as an appetizer or side dish, with little creativity in its preparation. Remember the salads that included cubes of Jell-O? Am I aging myself now?Fast forward. Salads today, quite often, take center stage of meals, using a variety of greens largely unbeknownst to most in the past. Arugula seems to be popular and has become a favorite of mine. Watercress, Bok choy, endive, kale, and a plethora of lettuces have taken over from plain old iceberg. Fruits...

The tip jar is dead. Here’s how businesses can navigate digital options

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

Consumers aren’t the only ones getting used to the digital tipping screens that are becoming increasingly popular for in-person purchases. Behind the scenes, striking the right balance with preset tipping options is a delicate process for small-business owners. Set them too high and you could upset some customers. Too low, and you could be leaving money on the table.The right tipping system helps encourage customers to tip generously and provides a smooth experience for people on both sides of the transaction. Small-business owners can use their point-of-sale systems’ customer-facing screens to collect other useful feedback, too.Here’s how restaurant-industry experts are navigating new gratuity norms and getting the most out of customer-facing tipping screens.Consider your business modelIf you’re not sure where to start with preset tipping options, take your business model into account. “You have to be specific and intentional when you’re choosing what you want those percents ...

Twins graduate together decades after dropping out of high school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:15 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A set of twin sisters walked across the stage at the MiraCosta College Community Learning Center last week to receive their high school diplomas, decades after dropping out.Carol Baker and Carolyn Baker-Lowery, who say they've done almost everything together for over 60 years, studied side-by-side to accomplish the shared goal. How to get discounted San Diego County Fair tickets, parking and other deals According to MiraCosta College, schoolwork always came as a challenge for the twins who said they felt like "lost causes in the public high school system."After spending a short period at a continuation high school, they both became teen mothers and said they felt it best to enter the workforce instead of finishing high school. Carol became a social worker while Carolyn pursued a career as an in-home childcare provider/preschool teacher, the college explained. Carol says she found a reason to finish her education, 30 years after leaving high school. While volunteerin...