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2 former Alabama governors from opposite sides of the political aisle express doubts over executions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Two former Alabama governors, from opposite sides of the political aisle, wrote in an opinion piece that they are now troubled by the state’s death penalty system and would commute the sentences of inmates sentenced by judicial override or divided juries.Former Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat, and former Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican, who both oversaw executions while in office, penned the Tuesday opinion piece for The Washington Post. The governors said that have both come “to see the flaws in our nation’s justice system and to view the state’s death penalty laws in particular as legally and morally troubling.”“We missed our chance to confront the death penalty and have lived to regret it, but it is not too late for today’s elected officials to do the morally right thing,” the governor’s wrote. Bentley and Siegelman each let eight executions go forward while they were in office, according to a list maintained by the Alabama Department of...

Drug and prostitution raids at 3 Gary homes yield narcotics, 12 arrests and one baby in protective custody

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

GARY, Ind. — Search warrants executed in connection to a suspected drug and prostitution ring at three Gary homes Tuesday led to at least a dozen arrests, seizure of five different illegal substances and guns, and a one-year-old child being placed into protective custody, according to the Lake County Sherriff's Department.Deputies said five men and seven women were arrested at two homes in the 1000 block of Rutledge Street and one home in the 2000 block of Ohio Street. In total, 14 grams of fentanyl, 12 grams of cocaine, two grams of ketamine, two grams of marijuana, one gram of MDMA and two firearms were seized by LCSD SWAT teams executing search warrants at the three homes.49-year-old Tandika Jackson (left) and 55-year-old Arthur Boyd (right) (Courtesy: LCSD)According to LCSD, two men — Arthur Boyd and Tandika Jackson — were believed to have leadership roles in the suspected drug and prostitution ring. Boyd, 55, is facing charges of Dealing a Narcotic Drug with Enhancement, and De...

Amber Alert issued for 14-year-old girl out of Houston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

HOUSTON (KETK) -- An Amber Alert was issued Tuesday night for a 14-year-old girl in Houston.Authorities said Marisol Avila was last seen wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and black shoes. Avila is about 4'5" and 110 pounds with black hair.The suspected vehicle is a tan, late-model Subaru Forester. 1 dead after hit-and-run crash involving truck, motorcycle in East Texas Anyone with information is asked to call 911.amber_alertDownload

Vikings take a chance on XFL standout receiver Lucky Jackson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

It looks like the Vikings are rolling the dice and hoping to get lucky.Less than an hour before players took the practice field at TCO Performance Center on Tuesday afternoon, the Vikings signed XFL standout receiver Lucky Jackson to the 90-man roster. They waived outside linebacker Kenny Willekes in a corresponding move.Though it’s unclear how much of an impact Jackson will have — if any — he’s an intriguing prospect on the surface after starring as a receiver for the DC Defenders.After finishing his collegiate career at Western Kentucky, then playing in a couple of different pro leagues, Jackson made a name for himself in the XFL this past season. He hauled in 36 receptions for 573 yards and 5 touchdowns.Where will Jackson fit in?That remains to be seen as he joins a position room that includes star receiver Justin Jefferson, first-round pick Jordan Addison, and the highly motivated K.J. Osborn, among a handful of others.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | ...

Community responds after two deputies were shot in Clifton Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The community is now shaken after the officer-involved shooting in an area usually known as a quiet neighborhood early Monday morning. Fox Run Apartments remained an active scene as police continued their investigation, but Sheriff Michael Zurlo from Saratoga County Police says they are grateful the situation wasn’t worse.“There are no words to sufficiently describe how grateful I am that this is only a press conference and not a eulogy,” Sheriff Zurlo said during a press conference Monday afternoon. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! After news of the shooting spread, some expressed shock that this happened in an area usually known for being a quiet and safe community. But resident Sheree Stewart is not surprised after she says she witnessed other violence, including a stabbing… in the same complex… within the last year.“Clifton Park is a safe place to live, you think… But with all of the inciden...

State official plans to help residents dealing with O'Fallon sewer backup issues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

O'FALLON, Mo. - A Missouri State Representative from St. Charles answers the call to help with a sewer backup crisis families faced in O’Fallon.After another family contacted FOX 2 for assistance following a backup at their home due to a blockage in the city's sewer system, we got in touch with Rep. Phil Christofanelli for help.Griffin Wielgus said he came home to find sewage covering his basement floor. He thought the cleanup and the cost of getting his home back would cost around $30,000. The City of O'Fallon said it’s not responsible for the cost, even though it’s the city’s sewer line. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House Wielgus’s homeowners’ insurance won’t cover the cost either, saying, it’s the city's fault. For Wielgus, dealing with O'Fallon has been a real challenge."I think they should be accepting responsibility. I don’t know what they expect people to be able to do," he said. "If it’s their main lines that are backing up, it’s not tha...

GOP lawmakers concerned Missouri voters could legalize abortion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Voters could get to decide if abortion should be legal again in Missouri on the ballot next year. That possibility has lawmakers playing the blame game after a big priority for Republicans this session fell short of the finish line. The legislation would make it harder for voters to change the state's constitution by increasing the number of voters needed to approve an initiative petition. Without it, some GOP members worry abortion will become legal again. "I think the Senate should be held accountable for allowing abortion to return to Missouri," House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, said. "I think abortion will be allowed because they will put ballot candy in and if you don't pass IP [initiative petition] reform, it will (pass) 50% plus one. I don't believe in changing the constitution that easily." St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House After becoming the first state in the country to outlaw abortion following the ...

Social media may harm children and teens, surgeon general says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The U.S. Surgeon General's Office released an advisory Tuesday about the growing concerns surrounding the impacts of social media on kids.Screen time in the U.S. is a hot topic, and the Surgeon General's report said advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that require immediate action. "A lot of these things collide. It's from not feeling accepted, and it's on social media, and they don't feel accepted, or they are excluded, and it just all can start snowballing," said Tina Meier with the Megan Meier Foundation.Meier urged parents to read the Surgeon General's report. The study shows 95% of 13- to 17-year-olds use social media. Almost 75% of youth said social media sites are doing a fair to poor job of addressing cyberbullying. It also shows that when it comes to body image, nearly half of social media posts make people feel worse. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House "Since the pandemic, we have had a 565...

Thieves targeted another public garden in Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

ALTON, Ill. There’s been another bizarre case of repeated thefts from a public garden.Last week, FOX 2 reported about expensive planted flowers being pulled up and stolen, along with leaf blowers and weed eaters, from the Wilson Park botanical garden in Granite City, Illinois. This time, it's a ceramic frog called Fernando in Alton. Fernando is part of a water feature/fountain, the centerpiece of a large garden in the median at the State Street, Belle Street split. The median was not much to look at before Alton residents Laura Wallendorf and Cheryl Seniour transformed it about five years ago. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House “We just started working up here,” Wallendorf said.They added flowers, hostas, and ornate grasses in place of waist-high weeds.The Alton Public Works Department was so taken by the volunteer transformation, it added electric service and water service during a nearby streetlight project. One worker then added th...

Historic Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine hit by graffiti vandals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:04:42 GMT

PORTAGE DES SIOUX, Mo. - The community of Portage Des Sioux is frustrated after the historic “Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine” is vandalized and covered in graffiti for weeks without cleanup efforts in time for the high tourism season.Just off the banks of the Mississippi River lies the small, peaceful town of Portage Des Sioux. Overlooking it all is the iconic Virgin Mary called “Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine,” the landmark was erected to protect the area from flooding, but there is another threat: vandals.Two weeks ago, they graffitied the entire area, including the shrine, and it has yet to be removed."It's terrible. Our town is known for that statue, and it kind of puts a black mark on our town,” said Colleen Bextermueller, a Portage Des Sioux resident. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House "It's just not right; I mean, it’s defacing for us a very religious monument,” said Dawn Boschert, a Portage Des Sioux resident.The landmark was adopted by th...