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Former CTA clerk sentenced to prison after stealing $356,000 in retirement plan funds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A former clerk for the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) retirement plan has been sentenced to a year in federal prison after fraudulently obtaining more than $356,000 in plan funds, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Illinois.United States District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly imposed a year-and-a-day sentence Tuesday on Ayanna Nesbitt, a 51-year-old woman from Chicago. Nesbitt pleaded guilty earlier this year to a wire fraud charge, which led to her sentencing earlier this week.Government officials said Nesbitt created and obtained approval for approximately 43 fraudulent requests from the CTA's retirement plan to issue various benefits payments and refunds of pension contributions, which upon approval, were sent to financial accounts controlled by Nesbitt, or paid to people who then transferred the money to her. Valparaiso University student dies after stabbing at Planet Fitness; Man in custody From 2019 to 2021, government officials said...

Chicago Amputee Soccer proving what it means to play for the love of the game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

CHICAGO — What started with just one player has grown to nearly an entire team in just months. It’s the first-ever soccer team in Chicago for players missing a limb.The Chicago Amputee Soccer isn't looking for your sympathy. They are out to prove what it means to play for the love of the game. The rules are field players give it everything they have with forearm crutches and one leg, while keepers defend the goal with one arm.MORE FROM ERIN MCELROY: After loss of baby, couple honors her memory with NICU little librariesMetal crutches clang as the players fiercely maneuver and tear down the field in a show of athleticism not meant to inspire but call others to compete."To play other regional teams across the country under the American Amputee Soccer Association and be able to compete at the highest level,” Michael Fiorante is the group’s Co-Founder.Last month, Andrew Paine joined the U.S. National Amputee Soccer Team as they squared off overseas against Poland, England...

10 Gambino members and associates arrested on racketeering charges: court documents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) --- Ten people associated with the Gambino crime family were arrested in New York on racketeering charges Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.In a coordinated operation, Italian law enforcement also arrested six alleged organized crime members and associates for a total of 16 defendants. One person remains at large, officials said.A 16-count indictment was unsealed Wednesday in federal court in Brooklyn charging the 10 New York defendants with racketeering conspiracy, extortion, witness retaliation, and union-related crimes "in an attempt to dominate the New York carting and demolition industries," according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The ‘Secret Six’ who helped bring down Capone The defendants are:Joseph Lanni, also known as “Joe Brooklyn” and “Mommino,” an alleged captain in the Gambino organized crime familyDiego “Danny” Tantillo, an alleged Gambino soldierAngelo Gradilone, also known as “Fifi, alleged Gambino soldierJames LaFor...

2 Las Vegas casino dealers accused of cheating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Gaming investigators suspect two Las Vegas baccarat dealers cheated with players, leading the guests to win thousands of dollars, according to court documents obtained by Nexstar's KLAS.Yuxuan Leng and an unnamed second person now face cheating charges, documents said.In May 2022, a representative from the Rampart Casino at the Resort at Summerlin contacted the Nevada Gaming Control Board alleging two baccarat dealers cheated with players, documents said.Staff at the casino met with gaming investigators, telling them that two baccarat players “have been frequent baccarat players” for years “and recently have been winning more than usual,” documents said. Have a $2 bill? It could be worth thousands Casino surveillance revealed two casino dealers “were revealing the gaming cards to [both players] prior to the conclusion of gameplay on six separate incidents spanning over the month of May,” documents said.“Once the dealers revealed the gaming cards to [the two play...

8 dead in South Texas following fiery crash involving suspected human smuggler

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

ZAVALA COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported eight deaths Wednesday following a two-vehicle crash near Batesville, Texas — about 20 minutes south of Uvalde in south Texas.According to DPS, a preliminary investigation found a suspected human smuggler was driving from Houston on U.S. Highway 57 while evading the Zavala County Sheriff’s Office. Texas police: Migrants found ‘suffocating’ in train; 2 dead While evading, the suspect's vehicle caused a head-on collision with another vehicle, which was then engulfed in flames, killing its two occupants, DPS said.DPS said the driver in the suspected smuggler vehicle died, along with five passengers. Troopers confirmed several of the people dead were from Honduras.Officials said the investigation was ongoing as DPS investigates the fatal crash.

RESULTS: How did Texans vote on each of the 14 proposed constitutional amendments?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Thirteen of the 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution were passed by voters Tuesday.More than 2.5 million votes were cast statewide. With more than 17.7 million registered voters, turnout was around 14.41%, according to the Secretary of State's office. Click here for full election results Here's a look at the results for each proposition:Props 4 and 9 each passed with more than 80% of the vote in favor. Prop 4 will increase the homestead tax exemption and provide property tax relief, while Prop 9 will add billions of dollars to the Texas retired teachers pension fund.Prop 13, the only proposition to fail, would have raised the mandatory retirement age for judges in the state from 75 to 79.Travis County, home to Austin, was often an outlier. It was the only county to vote against Propositions 1, 3 and 7, which guarantee the right to farm and ranch, prohibit a net worth tax and create a state energy fund.Three of the propositions passed in all 254 counties...

RESULTS: This is the best KXAN viewer photo of October 2023, as voted by you

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest forecast from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here at KXAN, we get hundreds of photos sent to us each month by viewers just like you.We want to showcase some of the best pictures we receive, so we narrowed them down to our 10 favorites for the month.The winning photo will move on to represent October in the best viewer photos of the year once 2023 is said and done.#10. Solar Projection (1.5% of votes)Austin, Oct. 14. Courtesy Terrell Gilliland.An annular eclipse in Austin on Oct. 14, 2023, as seen through a solar projector. (Courtesy Terrell Gilliland)#9. Dark Side of the Sun (6.1% of votes)Austin, Oct. 14. Courtesy Geoffrey D. McLin.An annular eclipse seen from southeast Austin on Oct. 14, 2023. (Courtesy Geoffrey D. McLin)#8. Candy Corn Clouds (6.6% of votes)Georgetown, Oct. 27. Courtesy Martin Byhower.Clouds bubble up at sunset over Georgetown on Oct. 27, 2023. (Courtesy Martin Byhower)#7. Soaking in the Sun (7.3...

Public invited to Rice Park holiday tree lighting (and Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kick-Off) on Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

It was Election Day, but it looked more like Christmas at Rice Park in downtown St. Paul on Tuesday.Bystanders craned their necks upward to watch a crew assemble a 40-foot artificial holiday tree for a lighting ceremony on Friday.It’s long been a tradition to light up the real trees of St. Paul’s historic park to celebrate the holidays and illuminate our winter, but this will only be the second year that the Salvation Army’s “Tree of Lights” will be the sparkly focal point in Rice Park.The event also represents the Red Kettle Kick-Off for the organization, a fund-raising effort involving the pealing of bells at kettles across the Twin Cities and beyond.But first, the tree must be assembled.“This is a 3-day process,” said Angel Fields Mitchell, divisional director of marketing for the Salvation Army Northern Division, from Rice Park on Tuesday. “Tomorrow, we will decorate the tree.”The ceremonyHundreds of people were on hand as th...

Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs has side hustle as viral TikTok sensation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

The team store for the Vikings is fully stocked with Josh Dobbs jerseys. The team store for the Arizona Cardinals couldn’t say the same thing earlier this season.That much the 28-year-old Dobbs jokingly shed light upon a couple of months ago when he posted a video on TikTok that ended up going viral. As the starting quarterback for the Cardinals at the time, he filmed himself inside the team store trying to buy his jersey for a family member, only to realize that wasn’t an option. That clip has been viewed 1.3 million times.The following day he posted another video on TikTok, taking to the camera, and revealing that the team store had his jersey available for purchase. That clip has been viewed 1.4 million times.“It’s fun,” Dobbs said. “I think TikTok is a great opportunity for everybody to show their personality.”Now the starting quarterback for the Vikings, preparing for a home game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, he has decided to con...

Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson higher on recruiting class than national rankings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:52 GMT

Gophers men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson is higher on his incoming, two-player recruiting class than three outside national rankings.Minnesota signed guard Isaac Asuma of Mountain Iron, Minn., and forward Grayson Grove of Alexandria, Minn., for the 2024 class on Wednesday. The U’s class ranks outside the top 55 in the nation, according to 247sports, On3 and Rivals.Asuma, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard from Cherry High School, had a great summer with his AAU team D1 Minnesota, Johnson said.“He’s a top-100 player in my mind,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday. “I’ve watched enough on the circuit to see that. Whatever the numbers are, they are. But to watch him go head-to-head, toe-to-toe, his AAU team was down a little bit and he had to carry those guys in a couple of tournaments. … Our fans are really going to love his grit and toughness and skill level.”Johnson said the U was “lucky” to get him committed early in March. His offer list included Iowa, Iowa State, Xavier, Butler, Nebrask...