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Mexican man pleads guilty in smuggling crash where 13 died

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

EL CENTRO, Calif. (AP) — A Mexican man pleaded guilty Tuesday to coordinating a smuggling effort that left 13 people dead when their overloaded SUV was struck by a big-rig after crossing the border into California two years ago.Jose Cruz Noguez, 49, of Mexicali, entered pleas in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to bring in undocumented migrants and three counts of bringing in undocumented migrants for financial gain, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a statement. He faces at least 15 years in prison when he is sentenced in June.Prosecutors said Cruz organized a smuggling run on March 2, 2021, in which dozens of people were crammed into two modified sport utility vehicles that were driven into the United States through a breach cut in the international boundary fence. One SUV, a GMC Yukon carrying 19 people, caught fire for unknown reasons on a nearby interstate after entering the U.S. Everyone escaped the vehicle and all were taken into custody by the Border Patrol, au...

UN: 26% of world lacks clean drinking water, 46% sanitation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A new report launched Tuesday on the eve of the first major U.N. conference on water in over 45 years says 26% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water and 46% lack access to basic sanitation.The U.N. World Water Development Report 2023 painted a stark picture of the huge gap that needs to be filled to meet U.N. goals to ensure all people have access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.Richard Connor, editor-in-chief of the report, told a news conference that the estimated cost of meeting the goals is somewhere between $600 billion and $1 trillion a year. But equally important, Connor said, is forging partnerships with investors, financiers, governments and climate change communities to ensure that money is invested in ways to sustain the environment and provide potable water to the 2 billion people who don’t have it and sanitation to the 3.6 million in need.According to the report, water use has been increasing globally by roughly...

Arkansas governor signs school bathroom bill into law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday signed a law prohibiting transgender people at public schools from using the restroom that matches their gender identity, the first of several states expected to enact such bans this year amid a flood of bills nationwide targeting the trans community.The bill signed by the Republican governor makes Arkansas the fourth state to place such restrictions at public schools, and it comes as bills in Idaho and Iowa also wait the governor’s signature. And it might be followed by an even stricter Arkansas bill criminalizing trans adults using public restrooms that match their gender identity.Arkansas’ law, which won’t take effect until later this summer, applies to multi-person restrooms and locker rooms at public schools and charter schools serving prekindergarten through 12th grade. The majority-Republican Legislature gave final approval to the bill last week.“The Governor has said she will sign laws that ...

11 killed as strong earthquake rattles Pakistan, Afghanistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A magnitude 6.5 earthquake rattled much of Pakistan and Afghanistan on Tuesday, sending panicked residents fleeing from homes and offices and frightening people in remote villages. At least 11 people died in the two countries.More than 100 people were brought to hospitals in the Swat valley region of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in a state of shock, Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for Pakistan’s emergency services told The Associated Press.“These terrified people collapsed, and some of them collapsed because of the shock of the earthquake,” he said. Faizi said most were later discharged from the hospital.Faizi and other officials said nine people were killed when roofs collapsed in various parts of northwestern Pakistan. Dozens of others were injured in the quake, which was centered in Afghanistan and also felt in bordering Tajikistan. The earthquake triggered landslides in some of the mountainous areas, disrupting traffic.Taimoor Khan, a...

2 children among 8 people critically injured in 2-vehicle crash on North Side, paramedics say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

CHICAGO — Eight people have been transported to various area hospitals in critical condition after a two-vehicle rollover crash on the city's North Side. Chicago paramedics tell WGN that the crash occurred just after 8 p.m. at the intersection of Peterson and Kimball. While details on what caused the crash are currently unknown, the impact led to one of the vehicles involved coming to rest on its roof.Two of the eight seriously injured are children, WGN News has learned. Ambulances transported the young victims to Lurie Children's Hospital. Two adults were taken to St. Francis, while two others were taken to Lutheran General. Two more adults were rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesWGN News has reached out to Chicago police and is awaiting additional details. This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available.

New lawsuits filed against former Chicago cop bring old allegations to light

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

CHICAGO — Snippets of stories about wasted youth and wrongful convictions were shared Tuesday outside City Hall, with all involved pointing the finger at one man - a disgraced Chicago police detective: Reynaldo Guevara.David Lugo recounted spending more than two decades in prison, being denied a proper goodbye to family members along the way. "I did 26 years in prison due to Guevara," Lugo told reporters. "I lost my mother, my sister, my brother, cousins, and other family members." Allegations against former Chicago cop cost city $75M Daniel Rodriguez spent nearly 17 years and nine months in prison for a murder he did not commit, leaving behind a 2-year-old. "Imagine that? Leaving your 2-year-old and coming home and your granddaughter is 2 years old," Rodriguez said. The men say missed time with their families is due to the misconduct of Guevara, who worked on the city's West Side in the 1970s and 1980s. Dozens of men have accused Guevara of “fixing” their murder cases, in part, b...

Chicago suburb tops 'Best Places to Live in Illinois' list

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — A Chicago suburb with a population of a little over 1,300 is the best place to live in Illinois, according to the latest rankings from Niche.com.Bannockburn was not only named the best place to live in the state but also ranked 8th out of 544 for Places with the Best Public Schools in Illinois. SEE ALSO | Brookfield Zoo named 5th best zoo in new pollThe north suburban community in Lake County scored an 'A+' grade for public schools, health and fitness and family upbringing. The suburb was also given an 'A' grade for crime and safety, nightlife, and outdoor activities. Closely following with an 'A-' grade, Bannockburn ranks the best in the state for jobs and daily commutes. The rest of the breakdown:Diversity — BHousing — B-Weather — C+Cost of Living — CThe top 10 'Best Places in Live in Illinois' are ranked below:1.) Bannockburn2. ) Long Grove3. ) Clarendon Hills4. ) Naperville5.) Inverness6.) Hinsdale7.) Buffalo Grove8.) Western Springs9.) Kildeer10.) EvanstonNi...

Case of teen's 2015 death, reopened during Murdaugh investigation, now ruled a homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD/NewsNation) – Attorneys for the mother of Stephen Smith, the 19-year-old who was found dead along a rural South Carolina road in 2015, say the boy's death has now been ruled a homicide. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) confirmed the information to Nexstar's WCBD Tuesday night.The news came following a call between attorney Eric Bland and SLED Chief Mark Keel, according to Bland Richter Law Firm.Smith was believed to have been killed in a hit-and-run accident, though his family doubted it from the start. Police said he was walking along the road after running out of gas, but investigators found no skid marks or car debris, and Smith’s loosely-tied shoes were still on his feet, attorneys have said. What happened to Stephen Smith? Sandy Smith is on a mission to find justice in her son’s July 2015 death At the time, rumors circulated claiming that the prominent Murdaugh family was somehow connected to the death, but those rumors were never ...

Early spring storm threatens strong or severe thunderstorms for parts of the area later Wednesday into early Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

The heaviest storm is capable of damaging hail, gusty winds and soaking downpoursLOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BATTER CALIFORNIANSIt's pretty easy to see the low-pressure system which continues to batter Californians. Road closures, mudslides, flooding and white-out conditions have been reported in the Golden State. A quick pressure drop, as the storms rapidly intensified, has also created strong winds in the Northern California area.STRONG, ISOLATED SEVERE T-STORMS POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY MORNINGTiming: 8 PM Wednesday to 4 AM ThursdayMain hazards: pea to quarter size hail, vivid lightning and heavy downpoursCHANCE OF SEEING THUNDERSTORMS LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNINGThe greatest probability of seeing thunderstorms late Wednesday night, early Thursday morning appears to be along and south of I-80 into central Illinois sections of IndianaFIRST OFFICIAL FULL DAY OF ASTRONOMICAL SPRING IN CHICAGOTuesday’s first official full day of astronomical...

Hays County considers proposal to share cost of roads, infrastructure with developers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:26 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Hays County Commissioners are looking for ways to share the cost of growth with developers coming to the area.They are considering a resolution that would require developers to pitch in for needed road and infrastructure upgrades. As it currently stands, commissioners said they do not have the authority to ask for that. Dripping Springs resident Carrie Napiorkowski said she does have safety concerns for different roadways in the area. "I would say these roads are crumbling," Napiorkowski said. "These low water crossings are very narrow. They have no shoulders. They have no middle lane and they're winding and twisting." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hays County coalition says no to proposed 5,000 seat concert venue There's a proposed 5,000 seat concert venue coming to the area, which raises her concerns even more. "It was not developed as a county road for anything more than just casual traffic," Napiorkowski said. On March 14, Hays County Commissioner Walt Smith p...