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Critics of North Carolina school athletics governing body pass bill ordering more oversight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislators have ordered additional oversight of the chief nonprofit body that manages high school sports, finalizing legislation Friday that seeks to leave more rule-making in the hands of state education leaders. In separate House and Senate votes, the General Assembly passed a bill that for months had focused solely on changes to state insurance laws. But the final measure negotiated by Republicans and unveiled Thursday tacked on more than a dozen pages addressing high school athletics that largely came from a separate bill that passed the Senate earlier this year. A 2021 law that sought more rigorous government supervision of interscholastic sports among public schools led the State Board of Education to enter a memorandum of understanding with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, which began in 1913. That agreement laid out how the association, which serves more than 400 schools, would administer and enforce requirements for h...

Incoming CPD superintendent meets with Police and Fire Committee

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

CHICAGO – The head of Chicago Police Department’s counterterrorism bureau, tapped by Mayor Brandon Johnson to become the city’s next top cop, is officially one step closer to taking over the position.Chief Larry Snelling appeared at the City Council’s Committee on Police and Fire meeting Friday afternoon as aldermen voted unanimously to confirm his nomination.Snelling needed to attend a public hearing, which he did earlier this month, and be approved by a City Council vote before he can officially take the reins. The next step in the process will come on Wednesday, when the full City Council is expected to come together at a special meeting to cast its vote, confirming Johnson’s pick to lead the department.“It truly is an honor to sit before you today in this position,” said Snelling.Chief Snelling gave praise to interim superintendent Fred Waller, who came out of retirement to fill the role during the nationwide search and transition process. Members of the committee also thanked h...

Missing Park Forest girl found safe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

PARK FOREST, Ill. — A missing middle school student from Park Forest has been safely located after she was reported missing on Friday, according to police. Fall arrives in Chicago on a warm note Park Forest police say the girl has returned home and thanked those who assisted in the search.

Colorful Lakeside home keeps recreation in mind

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

CEDAR LAKE, Ind. — A lakeside home in Indiana could be the perfect getaway for someone as unique as the house itself. The lake lover's dream features plenty of activities for someone looking for fun on and off the water.Credit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiCredit: Blaine J. BugaskiLocated along Lake Shore Drive in Cedar Lake, Indiana, the home boasts uniquely colorful walls and ceilings and offers plenty of room for those looking to park their boat or jet ski.The listing describes the home's open-concept design as one that blends luxury and functionality.While the home sits right across from Cedar Lake, those who would rather be golfing can head inside to find a family room that doubles as a four-hole indoor putting green.With an asking price of $579,000, the 1,624 square foot home has one bedroom and one eye-catching bathroom.The home, which is located an hour-and-a-half...

LIVE: Westlake leads Lake Travis 10-7 at halftime of Battle of the Lakes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's one of the most anticipated games on the high school slate in Texas, and this year it's a showdown with two of the Lone Star State's top 10 teams.Westlake and Lake Travis face off in the Battle of the Lakes at 7:30 p.m. from Cavalier Stadium, and whoever comes out on the short end of it will do so for the first time this season. Westlake enters the game No. 4 in the Dave Campbell's Texas Football/Associated Press Class 6A Top 25 and Lake Travis is No. 8.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteThe Chaparrals (3-0, 1-0 District 26) have had two weeks to prepare for the game with a bye last week while the Cavaliers (4-0, 2-0) dispatched Akins 37-0 in district play.The Cavs last won the Battle of the Lakes in 2019 by one point, 26-25. The game wasn't played in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Westlake has picked up the la...

Oklahoma judge arrested in east Austin for firing gun, road rage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

AUSTIN — A judge from Oklahoma was arrested Sept. 11 in east Austin, and he now faces charges of reckless driving and deadly conduct of discharging a firearm.Judge Brian Lovell, who lives in Waukomis, Okla., works at the Garfield County Courthouse in Enid, Okla. He was nearly 500 miles from his home when the incident occurred. It's unclear why Lovell was in Austin.According to the arrest affidavit, Lovell fired shots into at least five cars at the intersection of Matamoros Street and Santa Maria Street. Several cars were hit. Witnesses at the scene told the Austin Police Department a man in a white SUV was seen leaving the area.APD got a second call of a road rage crash that was nearly two miles away, near the intersection of East Seventh Street and North Interstate Highway 35 Service Road, court documents said. According to the report, Lovell slammed his white SUV into the back of a woman’s car. The two reportedly got into an argument, and Lovell “intentionally” hit the woman’s car...

Jury finds Oakdale man guilty in Woodbury grad party shooting that killed Maplewood teen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

A jury on Friday convicted one of two shooters charged in the murder of 14-year-old Demaris Hobbs-Ekdahl, who was shot in a car outside a Woodbury graduation party in 2021 shortly after his stepfather fired his gun.Xavier Le’Drew Hudson, 20, of Oakdale, was found guilty of all 10 charges against him, including aiding and abetting second-degree intentional murder and eight counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, in connection with the June 5, 2021, shootout.The jury of nine men and three women deliberated about seven hours Thursday and Friday before reaching the verdict, which followed a nine-day trial. Prosecutors presented forensic evidence that showed Hudson fired a volley of shots, although not the one that struck and killed Hobbs-Ekdahl.Xaivier L. Hudson (Courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office)Hudson, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, remains jailed ahead of a sentencing date yet to be determined.“While no outcome can ever fully heal the ...

Colorado high school football: How Post Preps Top 10 teams fared in Week 5

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

Class 5A1. Cherry Creek (4-0) at No. 6 Regis Jesuit, 6:30 p.m. Friday. Next week: vs. Cherokee Trail, 7 p.m. Sept. 28.2. Pine Creek (4-0) at Mullen, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: vs. Fountain-Fort Carson, 6 p.m. Sept. 28.3. Columbine (5-0) won vs. Fort Collins, 57-13: The Rebels rolled for 422 rushing yards, with senior Josh Snyder needing just four carries to reach 120 yards and two touchdowns. Brennan Goodwin, Troy Johnson and Jack Hansen each had interceptions for a Columbine defense that shut out Fort Collins through three quarters. Next week: at Pomona, 6 p.m. Sept. 28.4. Ralston Valley (4-1) won vs. Valor Christian, 22-21: The Mustangs and Eagles produced yet another instant classic, with Ralston Valley QB Logan Madden finding Jackson Hansen for an 11-yard touchdown pass and game-winning two-point conversion with 17 seconds left. Madden ran in two other TDs as the Mustangs overcame Gabe Sawchuk’s big night (18 carries, 119 yards). Next week: at Lakewood, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29.5...

Human remains found in eastern Colorado linked to missing Kansas women

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

The bodies of two missing Kansas women were found in eastern Colorado on Wednesday, according to Kansas police.Linda Estrada, 44, and Amy Ford, 39, of Emporia, Kansas were identified by the city’s police department as the two people whose remains were found by law enforcement in rural eastern Colorado on Wednesday.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Aurora police on trial as first of three cases brought in killing of Elijah McClain goes before jury Crime and Public Safety | Body of missing Colorado climber found in Glacier National Park Crime and Public Safety | Pilot dies in small aircraft crash in Larimer County Crime and Public Safety | Experienced rafter dies after falling into the Colorado River in Gore Canyon Crime and Public Safety | Man dies after early Sunday shooting in downtown Denver The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced Friday the agency was assisting the Kiowa County Sh...

1 in 6 Los Angeles city jobs unfilled, controller says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:51 GMT

One out of every six City of Los Angeles jobs is currently vacant, according to Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia.Earlier this week, Mejia's office issued a news release that described city services as suffering from "chronic and rampant staffing vacancies."The Controller's office looked at pay data from the 2022-23 budget and found that 17% of positions were unfilled.Among those city departments hardest hit by vacancies are the airport system, building and safety, housing, planning, public works, recreation and parks, and the water and power departments.No department saw a worse vacancy rate than the Economic and Workforce Development department, which had nearly 60% jobs unfilled.Finance, general services and information technology (IT), all had vacancy rates worse than the city average. And the personnel department, which is tasked with addressing the issue itself, had a vacancy rate of nearly 15%.Diana Chang, the controller's office director of communications, said attra...