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Teen's protest against Illinois YMCA locker room policy gains national attention

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) -- A large group gathered near the Springfield Kerasotes YMCA on Thursday. They were there to support 16-year-old Abbigail Wheeler. For months, Wheeler and her family have been protesting rules at the YMCA regarding the organizations locker room policy. Wheeler, who was a member of the swim team at the YMCA, took issue with the fact that the YMCA allows transgender people to use the locker room that aligns with their gender identity. Wheeler complained about an incident in late April, where she says a transgender women was changing in the locker room while the swim team was practicing. Wheeler said at the rally she only saw a person changing in the locker room. "To be clear, I did not see the man naked and no male genitalia was exposed, however, I did see the man changing in the women's locker room. After seeing the man, I was scared and upset. I decided to leave immediately because I was alone with them and felt very uncomfortable.”There was never any fo...

Woman shot, killed in Westminster home in apparent drive-by shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

An apparent drive-by shooting northwest of Denver into a Westminster home with five adults and five children inside has left one woman dead, according to a police announcement Friday morning.Westminster police, notified shortly after midnight, have been investigating this homicide in the 8500 block of 88th Place. A heavy police presence was expected in the area on Friday. When police officers arrived at the scene early Friday they saw the woman down and began trying to revive her. She was taken to a hospital where she died, officials said.“Preliminary information leads police to believe this was a drive-by shooting,” the announcement said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Aurora dentist’s wife fatally poisoned with cyanide and decongestant found in Visine, coroner testifies Crime and Public Safety | Three decomposed bodies found near Gunnison County campsite in western Colorado Crime and Public Safety | Pueblo offi...

Man shot dead by Adams County sheriff deputy at Lakeside Inn on Federal Boulevard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

A police shooting early Friday in Denver at the Lakeside Inn on Federal Boulevard left a man suspected of having a handgun dead — apparently after he pointed the gun at his own head — and an investigation into what happened has been launched.The shooting happened shortly after midnight at 6251 Federal Blvd., according to the Adams County Sheriff officials in a Twitter post.Preliminary info indicates shots were fired when the suspect was believed to be armed with a handgun as a deputy attempted to contact him. Updates will be provided as they become available. pic.twitter.com/ObYcGcxzM6— Adams Sheriff's Page (@AdamsCoSheriff) July 14, 2023“Preliminary info indicates shots were fired when the suspect was believed to be armed with a handgun as a deputy attempted to contact him,” a sheriff’s office update on Twitter said.The deputy was uninjured, officials said.The man died after he was shot.Police closed the southbound lanes of Federal Boulevard ...

Man sentenced in California smuggling crash that killed 13 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for coordinating a smuggling trip in which two dozen migrants were stacked into a Ford Expedition that crashed into a tractor-trailer, killing 13 people outside a California desert town.Jose Cruz Noguez pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges stemming from the March 2, 2021, crash near Holtville, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) east of San Diego. It was one of the deadliest highway crashes involving migrants smuggled into the United States. Cruz Noguez also admitted to trying to still get payment for the smuggling trip from the survivors, prosecutors said. Neither Cruz Noguez nor his attorney could be reached for comment.“Cruz Noguez organized one of the most callous and inhumane smuggling attempts that law enforcement has responded to in this district,” U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said. “He and his co-conspirators treated these individuals like a worthless commodity."Cruz Noguez arranged for the Ford Expedition...

Officials search for angry sea otter harassing surfers, kayakers off California coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

Wildlife officials were trying to capture a wayward sea otter Thursday that has been wresting surfboards away from surfers and aggressively approaching kayakers off the coast of Santa Cruz, California.The 5-year-old female otter has shown aggression toward people for several weeks and poses a public safety risk, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement.Video and photographs shared on social media show the marine mammal getting on top of different surfboards — on at least one occasion biting and tearing chunks off a board — and aggressively approaching surfers.A sea otter was captured on video going toe-to-toe with a surfer and his board in Santa Cruz on July 9, 2023. A team of wildlife experts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium were working to capture and put the animal in a new home, the service said.“While there have been no confirmed reports of injury, due to the highly unusual behavior of this otter, kayakers, s...

Chemical spill causes major backups on 60 Freeway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

A chemical spill closed multiple lanes of the eastbound 60 Freeway in Chino Friday morning, impacting traffic and causing delays of up to an hour.The unknown chemical appeared to come from dozens of white buckets that were strewn about the roadway, as shown in footage from the scene.A reported chemical spill closed lanes of the eastbound 60 Freeway in Chino on July 14, 2023. (Key News Network)The buckets reportedly spilled just before Central Avenue at about 3:10 a.m., and by 3:30 a.m., a SigAlert had been issued for the three right lanes, according to Sigalert.com. The California Highway Patrol and Chino Valley Fire District were on scene to direct traffic and assist with cleanup, which at times closed all lanes, according to KTLA's Ginger Chan.

Residents upset after bear purportedly shot in San Bernardino Mountains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

Residents are angry after a bear was reportedly shot in the San Bernardino mountains earlier this week.Amid increased bear sightings across Southern California, encounters with wildlife remain a danger to both humans and animals.Although the shooting is under investigation, neighbors suspect someone was feeding the bear before it was shot. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed they're investigating the shooting, but the bear has not yet been found.In the San Bernardino mountains, black bear sightings are commonplace among neighborhoods, especially as the weather heats up.The black bear residents believe may have been the victim of a shooting in Angeleus Oaks in the San Bernardino mountains. (Trisha Ramsey)Bear sightings increasing in Southern California amid rising temps. (Apple Annie’s)Two orphaned bear cubs were spotted in Forest Falls and taken to a wildlife sanctuary after their mother was found dead. (San Diego Human Society)Bear sightings increasing in South...

Nathaniel Mardel Injured in Hit-and-Run Crash on Englewood Avenue [Yakima County, WA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

Tyson Hunter Arrested after Bicycle Accident near 21st AvenueYAKIMA COUNTY, WA (July 14, 2023) – Late Thursday night, Nathaniel Mardel was injured following a hit-and-run bicycle crash on Eaglewood Avenue.The incident occurred on July 6th, at around 11:45 p.m., in the 2000 block of Englewood Avenue near North 21st Avenue.According to the Yakima police, a Ford Mustang struck 28-year-old Mardel as he was riding his bicycle in the area.Furthermore, the authorities responded at the scene and found out that Mardel also struck a chain-link fence on the south side of the street.As a result, Mardel suffered broken thigh bone, shin, shoulder, arm, wrist, and bones in his face.First responders transported Mardel to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital and from there he was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.Following the crash, the authorities located the suspect, Tyson Hunter, in a home in the 1200 block of Jerome Avenue. They arrested him on charges of DUI.Ad...

One person killed, one badly injured in Oakland freeway crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

OAKLAND– One person was killed and another was badly injured in a multi-vehicle crash Friday morning on Interstate 880 in East Oakland, the California Highway Patrol said.No information was released immediately about the identity of the person killed or the conditioin of the person who was injured.The five-vehicle collision happened about 1:43 a.m. Friday in the southbound lanes of the freeway near the 66th Avenue offramp, the CHP said.One person was pronounced dead at the scene.Another person, who the CHP said sustained major injuries, was taken to a hospital.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Man convicted of setting up smuggling trip that killed 13 in California gets 15 years in prison Crashes and Disasters | Woman gets 9 years for killing California bicyclist and fleeing Crashes and Disasters | Big-rig truck hits and kills pedestrian on I-880 in Oakland Crashes and Disasters | Salinas man killed in crash on Hi...

Meet Nicole Taylor, the powerful foundation CEO who gives away Silicon Valley’s billions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:38 GMT

You might not know about the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, unless you work in philanthropy — or you caught stories earlier this year about a mystery donor using the foundation to give $10 million to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s nonprofit.But since the SVCF was founded in 2007, it has become one of the most powerful vehicles for charitable giving in the United States. With nearly $14 billion in assets, it has emerged as the largest community fund in the world and the go-to for Mark Zuckerberg, Reed Hastings and other tech titans to donate sizable chunks of their fortunes for eventual distribution to chosen causes.Charismatic president and CEO Nicole Taylor, who has led the foundation since 2018, believes the SVCF should help the most vulnerable. In 2022, she oversaw the distribution of nearly $2.6 billion in grants to more than 5,000 organizations around the world. Nearly $550 million of that went to Bay Area nonprofits, including $154 million to organizations in San...