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Lawsuit challenges Alabama inmate labor system as ‘modern day slavery’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Current and former inmates announced a lawsuit Tuesday challenging Alabama’s prison labor program as a type of “modern day slavery,” saying prisoners are forced to work for little pay — and sometimes no pay — in jobs that benefit government entities or private companies.The class action lawsuit also accuses the state of maintaining a discriminatory parole system with a low release rate that ensures a supply of laborers while also generating money for the state. “The forced labor scheme that currently exists in the Alabama prison system is the modern reincarnation of the notorious convict leasing system that replaced slavery after the Civil War,” Janet Herold, the legal director of Justice Catalyst Law, said Tuesday. The Alabama Department of Corrections and the Alabama attorney general’s office declined to comment on the lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses the state of violating the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution, anti-human traff...

Ashley Furniture sued after recliner allegedly caught fire, caused severe burns to military veteran

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

CHICAGO —  A St. Louis man has filed suit against Ashley Furniture after he says a recliner chair caught fire, resulting in injury.The same chair is suspected of causing a house fire in north suburban Round Lake Beach. On Tuesday, lawyers on behalf of Jeffrey Jones laid out their grievances after the 53-year-old allegedly woke up in the early morning hours of May 13 with his apartment on fire.During a press conference where lawyers announced a lawsuit against Ashley Furniture on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, Jeffrey Jones was overcome with emotions. (Photo/WGN)"Since I have been in the fire, it makes me feel helpless," Jones said. "It makes me feel weak." Former President Barack Obama surprises South Shore preschoolers Jones purchased what was marketed as the Party Time LoveSeat Recline from a company that Ashley Furniture had allegedly distributed it to for resale. According to Jones, he had to fight his way out of the apartment, escaping with severe burns to his body. Jones ...

15-year-old boy charged after allegedly bringing gun to school in Oswego

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

OSWEGO, Ill. — Charges have been filed against a 15-year-old boy accused of bringing a loaded gun to school in Oswego on Tuesday.Authorities say school resource officers at Oswego East High School were first notified about the weapon after a student turned over a backpack with the gun inside. Officers say the backpack was reportedly left with a classmate by the student. Teen killed, man critically injured in Chicago Lawn shooting The classmates later turned over the backpack after they opened it and found the gun inside.After finding the weapon, police began an investigation and determined that the 15-year-old student who allegedly brought it had no intention of harming students or staff members. He was then taken into custody. 2 hospitalized after crash involving school bus in Glenview According to Oswego Police, the boy is facing three felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon, and one misdemeanor count of unauthorized s...

Police identify 2 killed in Chicago Lawn shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

CHICAGO — A 14-year-old boy and a 65-year-old man are dead after a shooting on the city's Southwest Side.Chicago police say the deadly shooting happened just before 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the 3500 block of West 61st Place in Chicago Lawn. Police seek help identifying woman found dead after south suburban fire According to police, the victims were standing outside in the area, when a grey vehicle approached and two men inside opened fire. Officers say the 14-year-old boy, who has been identified as Juan Medina Jr., suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene.The man, who has been identified as Mario Medina, was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries. Police say the vehicle was spotted fleeing westbound on 61st Place. 2 hospitalized after crash involving school bus in Glenview Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and police say an investigation is underway. Anyone with information that could help aut...

Starbucks announces December deals, including free hot chocolate days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

(KSWB) – Starbucks is in the giving mood this holiday season. Starbucks announced earlier in December that rewards members can get half-off their drink purchase on Thursdays throughout the entire month of December, between noon and 6 p.m. Just a few days later, the coffee chain announced Hot Chocolate Cheer Weekends. All customers can get a free short (or kid's size) signature hot chocolate with the purchase of a grande or larger drink, every Saturday and Sunday in December. Inflation or deflation? These 12 things are actually getting cheaper The offer is available for in-store and drive-thru purchases; eligible orders through the Starbucks app can be redeemed in store with same-day proof of drink purchase. However, the deal does not include delivery.The offer ends New Year's Eve weekend on Sunday, Dec. 31. Other coffee chains are also joining in on the holiday giveaways. Dunkin Donuts is giving away one free classic donut with any drink purchase through Dec. 27. Just don't forge...

Judge to consider holding Texas in contempt following new evidence, testimony in foster care case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A federal judge is considering holding the state of Texas in contempt of court over ongoing problems in the Texas foster care system. Following days of testimony at the latest hearing in a lawsuit that has lasted over 12 years, U.S. District Judge Janis Jack could decide to fine the state for not meeting some of her specific, court-ordered reforms. Lawyers representing thousands of children in the state’s care asked Judge Jack to go a step further and to consider placing parts of the system into what’s called a receivership – a mechanism typically used in corporate law, which allows a court appointee to take control of an entity. ‘Nightmare’: Former Texas foster care workers describe dangerous living conditions inside unlicensed placements For three days, they brought former caseworkers, a former foster child, and a child welfare expert to testify on specific stories and cases, as well as more broadly on the living conditions and experiences of kids in the system....

Mahtomedi man robbed of casino winnings in home driveway, charges say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

A casino winner was assaulted and robbed of more than $38,000 in cash outside his house in Mahtomedi early Sunday morning, according to court documents.The 67-year-old man told police he returned home from Treasure Island Resort & Casino with about $38,100 in cash about 2:15 a.m. Sunday when a red pickup pulled up to his residence in the 700 block of Griffin Court.“Two black male occupants exited the motor vehicle, physically assaulted him, took the cash from him, and left in the red pickup,” according to a criminal complaint filed in Washington County District Court.While the man was being punched and kicked by the men, two women relatives came out of the man’s house, according to the complaint. The men threatened that they “were going to kill the girls,” and one pointed a gun at one of the women and said, “You (expletive) better go inside or we will kill you.”The men fled the scene, and the man who had been robbed took after them in his own vehicle, the complaint states.Deange...

Keeler: CU Buffs, Deion Sanders’ 4-8 season should be graded on “curve,” Kordell Stewart says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

BOULDER — Kordell Stewart’s CU Buffs were a last-place football team this fall. He’ll give you that. But they were America’s last-place football team.“Prime and I spoke every single week,” Stewart, one of the greatest QBs in CU history, said of Deion Sanders, the Buffs’ ubiquitous coach and his good friend/confidant.“But it’s a learning curve, right? You’ve got to give him a chance to learn. If you give him a chance to learn what he has on the football field, then he has a chance to know how to go about his business next year.”I’d give him a B-minus overall. We got three weeks of rock-star scores, rock-star shootouts, rock-star sellouts and rock-star guests. I mean, Lil Wayne led the team out at Folsom Field for the Rocky Mountain Showdown, for pity’s sake.Then Oregon punched new money straight in the kisser. And that was that.Quarterback Shedeur Sanders literally broke his back trying to carry this offens...

Denver still plans to house 1,000 people before year’s end — with help from just one micro-community

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

The push by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to move 1,000 homeless people off the streets by year’s end gained new urgency Tuesday as city officials detailed a schedule of coming encampment closures.And they confirmed that it will be converted hotels — not the micro-community sites in neighborhoods that have attracted the heaviest pushback — that they will rely upon most heavily to accomplish that goal. Just one micro-community is projected to open by the end of the month, on Dec. 31.“By the end of the month, we expect to have resolved as many as 12 total encampments and have more than 1,000 people indoors through these efforts,” Cole Chandler, Johnston’s top homelessness adviser, told members of the City Council during an untelevised meeting at city hall.As of Tuesday afternoon, the Johnston administration’s existing dashboard counted 584 people sheltered through the effort, which Johnston launched with an emergency declaration to combat homeles...

Al Michaels won’t call an NFL playoff game for NBC this season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:14 GMT

By JOE REEDY (AP Sports Writer)Al Michaels won’t be calling an NFL playoff game for NBC for the first time since the network returned to televising the league in 2006.NBC confirmed to The Associated Press that Michaels won’t be working the playoffs. It was first reported by the New York Post.The 79-year-old Michaels was the voice of “Sunday Night Football” from 2006 through 2021 before leaving for Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday night package when his contract expired. He has called 11 Super Bowls, including five for NBC.Michaels retained an announcer emeritus role at NBC and called an AFC wild card game last year with analyst Tony Dungy when the Jacksonville Jaguars rallied from a 27-point, first-half deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30.NBC has three games during the wild card round Jan. 14-16, including one being streamed on Peacock. The Sunday night crew of Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will call two games. Noah Eagle and Todd Blackled...