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Murdaugh trial gives unsolved death investigation a boost

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A mother whose son was found dead in the middle of a South Carolina road eight years ago is opening a private investigation into his death after raising almost $90,000 amid the publicity surround the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh.There is no current evidence linking Stephen Smith’s death to the Murdaugh family, the lawyers for the mother say. State investigators, who are also looking into Smith’s death, have also remained tight-lipped about taking over the case around the same time police said Murdaugh killed his wife and son. He is serving a life sentence for those killings.But the lack of evidence hasn’t stopped speculation. And that attention in turn helped Sandy Smith raise in less than two weeks more than $87,000 through Go Fund Me. Her goal was $15,000 — enough to pay to exhume her son’s body and have a private autopsy.“It’s important to me because I love my son and since I couldn’t protect him, I’m going to fight for him,” S...

2 Chicago officers injured in crash after driver runs red light on Far North Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

CHICAGO — Two Chicago officers were injured after a driver ran a red light and crashed into their police vehicle, according to authorities.The crash happened just before 2 a.m. Wednesday in the 6800 block of North Sheridan on the city's Far North Side.According to police, two officers were transported to an area hospital after their vehicle was struck in the intersection by a car that failed to stop at the red light.Three people were taken into custody, including a female juvenile that was transported to St. Francis Hospital in an unknown condition, police say. 78-year-old woman killed, 5 family members injured in North Side car crash No other injuries were reported. Police said the vehicle that struck the officers may have been stolen.

Celebrating 75 years of WGN-TV with Paul & Pat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

WGN's Morning News has been the most watched morning program for more than a dozen years. Partially for its extensive news coverage but also for the laughs that gets us up and rolling in the morning. As we continue to celebrate 75 years on the air, Paul Konrad and Pat Tomasulo are joining us this morning.Daytime Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Apple Music bug? Mystery playlists vex some users

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Have you noticed any unusual appearances — or disappearances — in your Apple Music application? You may be among some other users who say phantom playlists that don't belong to them are showing up in their libraries.Alternatively, some users say their own playlists (and saved songs) have disappeared completely. According to various Reddit threads, the phenomenon has been reported before and there doesn't appear to be a clear fix. Technology outlet The Verge and Apple news site 9to5Mac both note that the issue only seems to affect the Apple Music app on iOS (desktop). Dunkin’s newest item sounds like something Taco Bell would offer Nexstar reached out to Apple for comment and/or any possible guidance for users who may encounter this issue. "Found this random song uploaded to my library," one Reddit user explains in a thread. "I didn't add this." One reply offered consolation that while at least the song that was reportedly added was a "banger," they had "zero clue what'...

Rare parasite strain killed California sea otters, could pose human health risk: study

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

(The Hill) -- An unusually virulent type of toxoplasmosis is killing California sea otters — and may pose an eventual public health threat to other marine animals and to humans, a new study has found.This deadly disease, thus far identified in four stranded otters, comes from a rare strain of the microscopic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, according to the study published Wednesday in Frontiers in Marine Science.While toxoplasmosis is common in sea otters and can be fatal, the authors stressed that this form appears to be especially vicious and capable of swiftly killing healthy adult animals.Because this strain of Toxoplasma has never been detected on California’s coast before, the researchers are assuming that it is a recent arrival.As such, they expressed concerns about potential contamination of the environment and the marine food chain — warning that such circumstances could pose a public health risk. Thus far, however, no infections have been reported in humans...

Ambulance and departing Southwest plane come within 173 feet at airport: 'Significant potential for collision'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. (WDVM) – A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 was taking off from Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in January when an ambulance crossed the same runway, coming within 173 feet of the plane, according to a Federal Aviation Administration analysis.The FAA's analysis of the incident shows that an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle crossed Runway 15R without authorization from air traffic control on Jan. 12, 2023. The Southwest flight had been cleared to take off from the same runway moments earlier."The closest estimated horizontal separation occurred at a distance of 173 feet," the FAA said. Airline investigating after flight attendants allegedly fight over passenger’s request Air traffic control recordings obtained by LiveATC.net captured the moment the Southwest flight was cleared for takeoff at around 1:50 p.m. that day. Seconds later, the fire and rescue vehicle was cleared to cross Runway 10 and instructed to "...

Why millions of people could lose Medicaid next month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

(The Hill) -- Health officials are bracing for chaos as states begin to determine — for the first time in three years — who is eligible for Medicaid, as a key pandemic policy of guaranteed eligibility ends.Advocates warn that without a safety net, millions of vulnerable people will fall through the cracks and lose coverage. The Biden administration is giving states a year to go through the once-routine process of sorting through Medicaid rolls, though some are moving much faster. Arkansas for instance will speed through the redetermination process in only six months, citing cost concerns and the goal of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) to push people to "escape the trap of government dependency." Eight states began the renewal process in February, and have already started sending out renewal notices. But unlike Arkansas, those states won't begin terminating people from the program until May or June. According to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, most sta...

Google Limps Into OpenAI Arms Race With Soft Launch In The UK

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

Charges dropped against former Texas Longhorns defensive back

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

Editor's note: The video above is from KXAN's coverage of Texas basketball's run in the 2023 NCAA TournamentAUSTIN (KXAN) — Charges against former Texas Longhorns defensive back Ishmael Ibraheem have been dropped, according to court documents.Ibraheem was a redshirt freshman and was suspended from the football team in September after he was charged with assault causing bodily injury – family violence and interference with emergency request for assistance. The charges were misdemeanors. Dylan Disu peaking at the right time for Longhorns during March Madness run According to documents, Ibraheem's charges were dismissed after he completed state counseling courses through the Batterers Intervention and Prevention Program (BIPP)."From the night of his arrest, Ishmael has asserted his innocence. In an effort to expedite a resolution to allow Ishmael to transfer universities, he agreed to complete counseling. Now that his pending criminal charges have been dismissed, Ishmael is solely fo...

Loons make official the addition of attacker Jeong Sang-bin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:40 GMT

Minnesota United has held an affinity for South Korean players for years, and the club was able to announce the addition of Jeong Sang-bin on Wednesday.The Loons acquired Jeong as attempts to bring other Koreans were unsuccessful, including more-experienced forwards Hwang Ui-Jo and Cho Gue-Sung.MNUFC will pay an approximately $2.5 million transfer fee to acquire the 20-year-old attacker on a permanent transfer. Jeong has signed a three-year contract with the Loons, including a club option for 2026. Jeong will occupy an MLS Under-22 Initiative slot and will require an international roster spot.Jeong went from K-League club Suwon Bluewings to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League last January. He had signed a 4 1/2-year contract with Wolves but couldn’t obtain his work visa and was set on loan to Grasshopper Club Zurich.Grasshopper sporting director Bernt Haas lamented how the club wasn’t able to integrate Jeong. He didn’t score a goal in the Swiss Super League across ...