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12 men arrested following Lake County Sheriff's Office prostitution sting

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. - A recent human trafficking suppression operation resulted in the arrest of 12 men, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday. The Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Group conducted a web-based operation targeting customers of prositutes.When the "Johns" arrived and offered money to undercover detectives for the sexual acts, they were arrested and booked at Lake County Jail. Police: 3 women arrested after stealing from Ulta, leading police on pursuit before crash in Oak Brook The following individuals have all been charged with solicitation of a sexual act:Nicholas B. SteeleVictor AndralaTraian BigSteven D. CarrIsrael G. Cisneros-SanchezDouglas M. DockeryChristian FelixNicholas A. HuemannRyan A. JugaAliaksandr KorsMichael P. MarcianoTheodore E. PfaffNicholas B. Steele, 44, of the 18100 block of Loretta Drive, MarengoVictor Andrala, 43, of the 1500 block of Eva Avenue, Park CityTraian Big, 49, of the 3700 block of Harlem Avenue, ChicagoSteven D. Carr,...

'We heard gunshots': Austin business owner near shooting spree site recalls events 

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Frank Prior is the owner of ATX Bikes in South Austin. A group of around 50 mountain bikers meet at his shop every Tuesday evening for a group ride in a network of trails behind the store's shopping center off Slaughter Lane and the MoPac Expressway. “Shortly after 6 [p.m.],” Prior said, “we heard gunshots. We heard a few of them.” MORE: Six people dead after shooting spree in Austin, double homicide in Bexar Co. Prior said one person, who was planning to join the group, went out on the trail with his bike to warm up before the ride. “He comes back distressed with a gunshot wound, informing us there's someone out there with a gun who fired at him,” Prior said. “He wasn't even aware he'd been hit at that point. But he sure enough was,” he recalled. Prior told KXAN that the cyclist had a straight-through wound near his elbow.“The version that we heard is he's spinning on the trail, and in what he described as an ambush – this person stepped out, pointed the...

End of television contract creates some revenue uncertainty for Twins, other MLB teams

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

NASHVILLE — It may be some time still before the Twins know where their television home is — and thus, how much revenue they’ll be getting from their new deal — creating some uncertainty for the front office as it tries to attend to the Twins’ offseason needs.It was a relatively quiet Winter Meetings for the Twins — and much of Major League Baseball, as well — though Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said that uncertainty hadn’t changed their preparation or approach to the meetings in any way.The Twins’ deal with Bally Sports North concluded at the end of last season and the Twins expect to get less than they received for their telecast rights — around $55 million — in their new deal. They’re certainly not the only team dealing with these issues.“I think there are a host of clubs that are in that same conversation. We are definitely a part of that with the expiration of our deal this past offseason,” Falvey said. “There is some uncertainty. Certainly somethin...

A cougar caught on video roaming through a Minneapolis backyard is likely dead

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

A cougar that was spotted Monday in Minneapolis’ Lowry Hill neighborhood was apparently struck and killed early Wednesday on Interstate 394 in Golden Valley.Dan Stark, a large carnivore specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, told the Associated Press that it was almost certainly the same cougar, as the animals are exceedingly rare in that area. Until this week, a cougar hadn’t been seen in Hennepin County in nearly two decades.Robyn Bruggeman posted a video of her neighbor’s home surveillance footage to the Uptown neighborhood’s Nextdoor page. It showed a cougar walking through a backyard, setting off a pair of motion sensing security lights as it made its way toward a playground set.The video went viral on social media Tuesday and the Minnesota DNR confirmed it was, indeed, a cougar. Minneapolis Animal Control and the DNR also warned parents of small children and pet owners to be cautious.Stark said the cougar had an ear tag placed on...

Children's Holiday Program seeing more families in need

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Children's Holiday Program at Unity House has been a staple, providing gifts to families in Rensselaer County. Parents who participate in the program will get to visit the holiday store and select presents for their kids. Others create wish lists where you can adopt their list and purchase gifts for a specific family in need. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The annual program typically serves 1,000 children. This year, they're seeing more families in need and wish lists for 75 children are yet to be adopted. “It’s at least a few hundred more families, children that we are serving," Moira Geracitano, Children's Holiday Program Coordinator, said. With the lingering effects of the pandemic and cost of living creating barriers for families, Geracitano said their program provides an avenue for kids to receive presents without forcing families to make more difficult choices. Albany colleges working to s...

Utah man pleads guilty to murder-for-hire scheme

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Utah man charged with a murder-for-hire scheme in 2021 is facing up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Christopher Pence, 43, pleaded guilty to using the Internet to solicit and pay for the murders of two Hoosick Falls residents. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Pence admitted to using a website on the Darknet and paying the website administrator approximately $16,000 in Bitcoin to facilitate the murders. Pence provided the names of the intended victims, as well as their address and photographs. Pence also instructed to make the murder look like an accident or botched robbery and requested no harm come to the children who lived with the intended victims.The FBI arrested Pence in Utah on October 27, 2021. The intended victims were not harmed. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2024.

Where to get dinner for the holidays in the Capital Region

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- With the holidays quickly approaching, you may be preparing to cook for the family or dreading the hassle of preparing a big meal. Luckily, you have a few options whether you're thinking of going with the traditional ham or Italian dishes. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! While very few restaurants are open for Christmas Day, there are several places where you can get your meal catered for the holidays. Here are some Capital Region businesses that are offering special packages for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and even New Year's.Mazzone Hospitality, Clifton ParkMazzone Hospitality is offering its "Home for the Holidays" dinner packages. The packages include glazed spiral-cut ham, roast beef tenderloin, prime rib, or roast turkey with au gratin potatoes, roasted vegetables, asparagus, house rolls with butter, gingerbread bundt cake, and white chocolate truffle cheesecake. The dinner serves up to 10 peopl...

Highway with 'Loneliest Road in America' also runs through St. Louis region

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS - You would hardly know it driving through St. Louis, but one of the region's highways runs along the same path as the "loneliest road in America."In 1986, Life Magazine claimed the state of Nevada's portion of U.S. Highway 50 to be the nation's "loneliest road." This assertion is based on what drivers would encounter while driving on the highway: Desert valleys, packs of mountains, and very few signs of civilization. “It’s totally empty. There are no points of interest. We don’t recommend it. We warn all motorists not to drive there unless they’re confident of their survival skills," said the original report, via archives on the LoneliestRoad.us website. The "loneliest road in America" runs around 400 miles, approximately from the municipalities of Carson City to Baker. The state's tourism board Travel Nevada has embraced its stretch of U.S. Highway 50 as a "gateway to ghost towns, historic mining communities, [and] stunning state parks."As a whole unit, U.S. 50 stretches...

Not many moves for Cardinals at Winter Meetings, but plenty to unpack

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals dove into the free agent pitcher's market in the early weeks of the offseason, but haven't finalized any moves during the Winter Meetings, which are set to end Wednesday. The Winter Meetings mark an annual occurrence in which lead executives from the Cardinals and other MLB teams meet to discuss business and potential trades. The meetings began Sunday and run through Wednesday in Nashville.The Cardinals have only made one notable roster change since the start of the meetings. On Wednesday afternoon, they selected relief pitcher Ryan Fernandez from the MLB phase of the Rule 5 draft, which gives prospects a chance to compete for spots on MLB rosters the following year if they've been blocked from reaching the big leagues for several years. FOX 2 Cardinals podcast: Three new pitchers… More to come? Ryan Fernandez is a 2018 draft pick who came from the Boston Red Sox organization. He has a career 3.33 ERA over 216 innings in parts of five minor-lea...

Phoenix Coldon: Still missing after nearly 12 years

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:32:59 GMT

SPANISH LAKE, Mo – This December 18 marks the 12th anniversary since Phoenix Coldon went missing. She was last seen leaving her family's home in Spanish Lake on December 18, 2011. Her car was later discovered abandoned in East St. Louis, and since then, no further clues have emerged regarding her whereabouts.At the time of her disappearance, Phoenix Coldon was dressed in grey sweatpants adorned with either UMSL or Lindenwood printing down one leg. She paired this with a dark-colored hoodie and wore tennis shoes. She had pierced ears. In a FOX2 report from 2012, Goldia Coldon, Phoenix's mother, described the day her daughter disappeared as "a normal Sunday for her family." They attended church, did some shopping, and the UMSL student departed in her black 1998 Chevy Blazer around 3 p.m., never to be seen again.Phoenix's car was found with the engine running at 9th Street and St. Clair Avenue in East St. Louis, and both her phone and bank activity ceased. St. Louis officer shortage...