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NYPD officer cites ‘courtesy cards,’ used by friends and family of cops, as source of corruption

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City police officer is speaking out against the use of “courtesy cards” by friends and relatives of his colleagues on the force, accusing department leaders of maintaining a sprawling system of impunity that lets people with a connection to law enforcement avoid traffic tickets.Though not officially recognized by the NYPD, the laminated cards have long been treated as a perk of the job. The city’s police unions issue them to members, who circulate them among those who want to signal their NYPD connections — often to get out of minor infraction like speeding or failing to wear a seat belt.In a federal lawsuit filed in Manhattan this week, Officer Mathew Bianchi described a practice of selective enforcement with consequences for officers who don’t follow the unwritten policy. Current and retired officers now have access to hundreds of cards, giving them away in exchange for a discount on a meal or a home improvement job, he said.In the Staten Island precinct...

Students, advocates speak out on YCDSB’s decision not to fly Pride flag

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

The York Catholic District School Board voted against flying a Pride flag outside its main office next month because the rainbow banner does not align with the Catholic faith, the board chair said Tuesday, as the move was criticized by some.Chair Frank Alexander said the board will instead focus its attention on making systemic changes that support marginalized students, although he did not detail what those changes might be.“Part of my role and part of the role of the board is to make sure that Christ remains at the centre of who we are (and) that Catholic education remains strong,” Alexander said during a news conference.“The Archbishop of London most recently said that we love that community. We acknowledge them as children of God. However, there are parts of that belief system that really does not align with our faith.”The board’s Gender, Sexuality and Catholic Education Committee had put forward a motion asking for the Progress Pride flag to be flo...

GOP chairman moves to hold FBI director Wray in contempt over Biden doc

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Oversight Committee said Tuesday he is moving forward with holding FBI Director Chris Wray in contempt of Congress because the department has not turned over a bureau record that purports to relate to President Joe Biden and his family.Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., criticized the federal law enforcement agency after he said his committee was told it would not gain access to an unclassified form that describes “an alleged criminal scheme” involving the president and a foreign national.“The FBI’s decision to stiff-arm Congress and hide this information from the American people is obstructionist and unacceptable,” Comer said in a statement. In response, the FBI said in a statement that it remains committed to cooperating with lawmakers in “good faith,” and that “any discussion of escalation under these circumstances is unnecessary.”The FBI said it offered to give the Oversight committee “access to information responsive to the Committee’s su...

Parents hold rally for improved security ahead of Highland Park school district meeting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — A parental advocacy group held a rally Tuesday where they pleaded for improved security at Highland Park High School, ahead of a board meeting for the local school district.The rally — led by Parents for Securing Our Schools, or Parents SOS — started at 5 p.m., two hours before a board meeting for Township School District 113.At two previous board meetings for District 113 on April 11 and April 25, parents from the Highland Park community repeatedly asked school board members about installing metal detectors and hiring additional armed security after an April 4 lockdown where police said a student was able to bring a gun into Highland Park High school. Juvenile arrested after anti-Semitic vandalism found in Highland Park “If you really think about it, we have to be successful 100% of the time to prevent a mass shooting. A mass shooter just has to be successful once," said Enrique Perez, from Parents SOS. "That kid was not successful this time because the inte...

Traffic troubles lead to hundreds of fans missing majority of concert in Tinley Park

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Hundreds of fans missed a large portion of a highly anticipated concert that happened at a venue in Tinley Park Saturday.Ludacris and Janet Jackson helped kick off the summer concert season at Credit Union One Amphitheater Saturday night, but getting into the building turned into a nightmare for many there."In 30 years, I've never had an issue until Saturday night," said Jim Ryan.According to Ryan, he hit a local bar on the way to the show Saturday night, assuming he had plenty of time to kill before the concert. Instead, it took him and his friends two-and-a-half hours to get there, and they missed most of the show. Gorillaz announce 4 city tour, including Chicago stop "It's on 183rd Street, 1.3 miles from the venue," Ryan said of the bar he was at. "We walked out of there at 7:30 and sat down at the venue at 10:03 ... [Janet Jackson] shut down at 10:45."Traffic gridlock outside of Credit Union One Amphitheater during Janet Jackson/Ludacris concert. Photos fro...

West suburban 7th grader competing in National Spelling Bee

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

FOREST PARK, Ill. — A seventh-grader from the western suburbs hopes to spell her way to success.Forest Park middle schooler Emme Whitebone is competing in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. (Photo/Nexstar) Emme Whitebone is competing in this week's National Spelling Bee, set to be held on Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, D.C.Emme, who has won the School Citizen of the Year Award twice, has been in training for weeks after advancing through her own school spelling competition. The former Girl Scout says she's up to the challenge."I like spelling onomatopoeia, not because I like the word, but I just don't know anyone that can spell it," the seventh-grader joked. "So I sound so cool when I do."Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesWhitebone says she also hopes to visit the Smithsonian and the National Museum of African American History while visiting the nation's capital. The 13-year-old Forest Park middle schooler loves performing musical theater, plays the cello, an...

Ralph Yarl, teen shot after knocking on Kansas City door, walks at brain injury event

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) – Seventeen-year-old Ralph Yarl, who was shot in the head last month after knocking on the wrong door, participated in an annual Memorial Day race over the weekend.The event raises awareness for thousands of people in Kansas City who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Alicia Keys surprises Ralph Yarl's Staley classmates with concert trip Ralph Yarl was shot in April after he mistakenly went to the wrong house to pick up his siblings. Prosecutors said the Kansas City homeowner, 84-year-old Andrew Lester, fired through a glass door, and Yarl did not enter the home.Doctors said the 17-year-old faces a long recovery but is expected to fully recover from the two gunshots and traumatic brain injury he suffered during the shooting.Lester is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in Clay County. On Monday, Yarl's family attended the annual Going the Distance for Brain Injury Run at Loose Park, which helps raise money for those af...

Baby dies in hot car as parents attend church in Florida: police

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A baby died after being left in a hot car for approximately three hours on Sunday in Palm Bay, according to police.The Palm Bay Police Department found an unresponsive 11-month-old baby around 1 p.m. The child was left in the car while her parents attended a church service.The baby was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead.“This is an unfortunate incident, and our condolences and prayers go out to the family,” Police Chief Mario Augello said. ‘Terrifying’: Passenger recalls experience aboard Carnival Sunshine during storm The investigation is still ongoing, and no charges have been filed as of Tuesday. More than 30 children died of heatstroke in vehicles last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In early March, a 2-year-old Florida boy died after his father allegedly left him in a car for several hours. The boy was later pronounced dead at a hospital, and charges were filed against his father.An Alabama father was arre...

Police: Austin man charged after he shot gun from backyard, close to a family

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man has been charged with deadly conduct – a misdemeanor –and endangering a child – a felony – after shooting dozens of rounds of bullets from his backyard into a wooded area with his children, according to police documents. The bullets he shot ended up coming close to a nearby family, according to police documents.  Austin Police responded to a call Wednesday evening from someone who had heard multiple gunshots coming from a southeast Austin home. APD went to the house where the shots were reportedly coming from and found 52 spent cartridges on the back patio. Upon interviewing the Austin man, APD found that he was practicing shooting with his children, the arrest affidavit said. While interviewing the accused man, APD received another call from a mother whose family was using a disc golf course – located behind the accused man’s home – and said multiple bullets were “whizzing” by them while they were playing the game, police said. The woman told...

Westlake eyeing a trip to state, taking on SA Johnson in 6A regional baseball finals

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Westlake Chaparrals baseball team is two wins away from a berth in the UIL Class 6A semifinals.Following a two-game sweep of Eagle Pass in the Region IV semifinals last week, the Chaps take on San Antonio Johnson in a best-of-three series Thursday-Saturday for the region championship and the right to play at Dell Diamond.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersThe series kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Woerner Field on Westlake's campus, then shifts to San Antonio's Northeast ISD Sports Park for Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday. If the series needs to go to a third game, it'll be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos.Along their road, the Chaps swept Vandegrift and San Antonio Brandeis before going to three games with Round Rock. After beating Eagle Pass with relative ease 7-2 and 4-0, the third-ranked Chaps face a Johnson team that eliminated Lake Tra...