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Former NYSDOL employee sentenced in unemployment fraud scheme

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Wendell Giles, 53, was sentenced to three years in prison. Giles, a former New York State Department of Labor employee, admitted to obtaining over $800,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Giles said he and another former NYSDOL employee, Carl J. DiVeglia III, created and approved false unemployment insurance applications in 2020 and 2021. Giles then had relatives, friends, and acquaintances submit false benefits applications. He and DiVeglia took a share of the benefits paid by NYSDOL.Giles agreed to pay $826,530 in restitution to the State of New York. DiVeglia previously pleaded guilty on April 13 and also agreed to pay restitution.A two-year term of supervised release was also imposed. Giles will also have to forfeit a $100,000 money judgment to the United States.

Cannabis growers showcase reopening in Saratoga Springs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Saratoga Cannabis Growers showcase reopens Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs City Center Parking Garage –3rd Floor – the same level as the pedestrian walkway to the City Center near Maple Ave., after moving indoors. The showcase will be open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! If needed, the showcase will operate on Mondays and Tuesdays. The showcase will run until Sunday, December 31. “I am happy that we were able to work with Scot Trifilo, the Showcase Operator, the NYS OCM, and our partners at the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority to find a safe, secure, and warm environment for the continuation of the Growers Showcase," said Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran. "I know that the extended hours and certainty of schedule as well asconvenient parking will be appreciated by the community....

Saint Louis Zoo elephant Donna dies after tumor diagnosis

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Donna, an elderly Asian elephant at the Saint Louis Zoo, died Thursday morning after a recent tumor diagnosis. Zoo officials say Donna was "humanely euthanized ... due to a rapid and irreversible worsening of her health over the last several days." Last month, the zoo announced Donna was diagnosed with a condition known as primary hyperparathyroidism. It's caused by a a tumor that secretes a hormone that controls the level of calcium in her body. In such cases, surgery is not an option. City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim As the tumor grew, medication and treatment efforts from the zoo became less effective. Her condition declined significantly over the last few days, and after consulting with experts, the zoo decided to put her down. “All who knew and loved Donna will miss her greatly,” said Regina Mossotti, Vice President of Animal Care, Saint Louis ...

Two educators in southern Missouri charged for sexual contact with students

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

SCOTT COUNTY, Mo. - One teacher and a teacher's aide in southern Missouri face criminal charges for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with students. Prosecutors in Scott County, Missouri, have charged Lindsey Limbaugh and Kristin Kirker, each with two counts of sexual contact with a student. For both, the alleged crimes date back to the spring semester of the previous school year. Limbaugh was a teacher, and Kirker was a teacher's aide in Scott County, just south of Cape Girardeau. City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Limbaugh first contacted the student through TikTok last April, which led to back-and-forth messages between the two for several weeks. Court documents allege there were inappropriate sex acts during a field trip to a park and at the victim's home sometime after he graduated from high school. The alleged actions were first reported to authorities on Monday, leading to Limbaugh's arrest ea...

Illinois convict can't withdraw guilty plea in Randy Gori's murder

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Illinois — Timothy M. Branowetz, a convicted killer, had his motion to withdraw his guilty plea for the murder of attorney Randy Gori denied. Madison County State’s Attorney, Tom Haine, dismissed the motion, stating, "We hope this ruling brings an end to this convicted murderer’s legal gamesmanship. We will continue to make every effort to ensure he serves every day of his 70-year sentence."Haine added that Gori's family deserves time to heal with a sense of closure. City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim In December 2021, after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and armed robbery, Banowetz was sentenced to 70 years in prison. Circuit Judge Kyle Napp granted Haine’s request to dismiss Banowetz’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea sentence on November 9. There is a 30-day window to withdraw a guilty plea, but Banowetz's proposal reached the Circuit Clerk in December 2022, months after the window had closed.Banowetz claimed he sent the moti...

Grotto Sculpin: The rare fish only found under Perry County, Missouri

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

PERRY COUNTY, Mo. -- There are over 700 caves in Perry County, Missouri. This makes it a great spot for the endangered grotto sculpin to live. The unique fish is found only in one place in the world. The subterranean streams of Perry County.Conservation agents recently went to check on the county's grotto sculpin population. Cpl. Chris Doran, Scientist David Ostendorf, and Fisheries Technician Forrest Copeland explore caves to ensure the fish's well-being. The Missouri Department of Conservation shared pictures of their journey under Perry County on Facebook.Grotto Sculpin survey - Image from the Missouri Department of Conservation Grotto Sculpin survey - Image from the Missouri Department of Conservation Grotto Sculpin survey - Image from the Missouri Department of Conservation Grotto Sculpin survey - Image from the Missouri Department of Conservation Distinct from the banded sculpin, the grotto sculpin features smaller eyes, a paler body, and adapts to cave life with its light tan...

Illinois prison officer admits failure to stop brutal inmate beating

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

PERRY COUNTY, Ill. -- Mark C. Maxwell, an acting lieutenant at Pinckneyville Correctional Center, confessed in federal court to not intervening while his subordinates brutally attacked a restrained inmate on April 24, 2022. Under federal law, officers have a duty to intervene if a fellow officer uses excessive force."I failed to uphold my duty, and I take responsibility for that," Maxwell admitted. City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim Charged with deprivation of civil rights, Maxwell faces up to 10 years in prison for standing by as the inmate suffered a fractured orbital socket, a partially collapsed lung, and needed 25 stitches.Officers Cord A. Williams, 35, and Christian L. Pyles, 25, charged in the same incident, have pleaded guilty to various offenses, including violating civil rights and obstructing justice.Following an investigation by the Illinois State Police, Maxwell will receive his sentence on February 21, 2023.

St. Louis scrapyard hit with $68K Clean Water Act fine

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

LENEXA, KAN. -- A St. Louis scrap metal facility is facing a stiff fine from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. SA Recycling LLC, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is set to pay $68,000 in civil penalties for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The EPA claims the company didn't adequately control stormwater runoff from its scrap metal recycling facility, risking pollution in the Mississippi River.“Uncontrolled runoff from industrial facilities not only harms streams and rivers, but it also limits the public’s use and enjoyment of those waters,” states David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim EPA alleges SA Recycling failed to comply with its Clean Water Act permit, including neglecting pollution prevention practices, inspections, and employee training. In addition to the penalty, SA Recycling is addressing the violations with an EPA compliance order, cost...

Man who shot Waffle House cook over COVID-19 mask mandate sentenced to 13 years in prison

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

The man who shot a Waffle House cook who had asked him to wear a mask or leave the restaurant during the 2020 COVID-19 restaurant mask mandate has been sentenced to over a decade in prison.Arapahoe County District Court Judge Jacob Edson in November sentenced Kelvin Watson, 30, to 13 years in Department of Corrections custody after he pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder and a sentence enhancer for committing a violent crime with a weapon in the 2020 shooting in Aurora, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.Watson pleaded guilty earlier this month.“While restaurants and stores are public places, businesses have the right to refuse service or ask customers to leave their establishment,” 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner said. “The defendant drove back to the restaurant and shot an innocent employee for no reason other than doing his job.”Watson first went to the Waffle House in the 12800 block of East Mississippi Avenue about mi...

Opinion: Laura Loomer and Kari Lake in the same week? Colorado’s GOP has lost its mind

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:48 GMT

On a slow news day, I can count on the Colorado Republican Party to provide material for this column.Last week, the party’s Twitter account hyped a video conversation between Dave Williams, chair of the state’s GOP, and Laura Loomer, a self-described white nationalist and islamophobe, her words, not mine. Loomer routinely spreads loony conspiracy theories about mass shootings and elections including her own loss in a Florida congressional primary race. Naturally, she blamed election fraud and has refused to concede.Loomer was banned from ride-share services Lyft and Uber after a daylong Twitter harangue against Muslims. She tweeted that she will not “support another Islamic immigrant driver” and tagged both companies in the post. Smart. Loomer has also accused Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and other Democrats of scheming to institute Sharia law in Minnesota.Banned from Twitter for extremist posts, she sued the social media giant and the Council on American-Islamic Relationships whi...