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Embezzlement of Oregon weekly newspaper’s funds forces it to lay off entire staff and halt print

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon weekly newspaper has had to lay off its entire staff and halt print after 40 years because its funds were embezzled by a former employee, its editor said, in a devastating blow to a publication that serves as an important source of information in a community that, like many others nationwide, is struggling with growing gaps in local news coverage.About a week before Christmas, the Eugene Weekly found inaccuracies in its bookkeeping, editor Camilla Mortensen said. It discovered that a former employee who was “heavily involved” with the paper’s finances had used its bank account to pay themselves $90,000 since at least 2022, she said. The paper also became aware of at least $100,000 in unpaid bills — including to the paper’s printer — stretching back several months, she said.Additionally, multiple employees, including Mortensen, realized that money from their paychecks that was supposed to be going into retirement accounts was never deposite...

Light snow possible New Year's Eve

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

Clouds blocked all sun a second consecutive day as rains eased Friday.  December—typically Chicago's cloudiest month of the year—has been even cloudier than usual this year.  The month, which typically hosts about 40% of its possible sun has generated just 32% of its possible sun to date in 2023.  That's only 80% of December's typically paltry allotment of sunshine.Total storm rainfall out of this slow moving system has come to 0.27" at O'Hare and 0.37" at Midway.  Some clearing is expected later tonight allowing some sunshine as the New Year's Eve weekend gets underway Saturday.  But any sun will yield ground to a new round of incoming clouds later Saturday.  Those clouds are to accompany the next weather disturbance to sink southeastward into the Midwest out of Canada and potential bring some flurries to the Chicago area later Saturday night that is to build into periods of light snow Sunday into Sunday night (New Year's Eve). Though NOT a BIG SYSTEM, modest accumulations are poss...

Body of missing St. Louis mother found in Chicago suburbs; ex-boyfriend charged with murder

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — The family of Marquisha Williams is heartbroken, but they say the discovery of her body in the Chicago area brings them some closure after Williams had been missing for over a week.The search ended Thursday in Des Plaines when Williams' family said her body was found in the 2100 block of E. Algonquin Road at the Cook County Forest Preserve. The Cook County Medical Examiner had responded to the Forest Preserve. On Friday, the medical examiner confirmed that the body found was that of Williams.Williams, a 29-year-old mother of four from St. Louis, went missing a week before Christmas.Prosecutors have charged Trenton Ivy, her ex-boyfriend, with murder. Ivy was arrested in Racine, Wisconsin, last week Friday on unrelated charges. Investigators say after his arrest, Ivy confessed to killing Williams in St. Louis. He also admitted to having a physical altercation and then dumping Williams' body at an undisclosed location.Williams' mother, Norvette Chavis Williams, said...

Man rescued after crashing into pond at forest preserve in Addison

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. — A man was pulled to safety after crashing his car into a pond in the western suburbs.First responders in Addison conducted a water rescue on Friday after the man drove his car into the pond at the Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve. FBI searching for man who robbed bank in Buffalo Grove According to Addison fire officials, the rescue was conducted around noon and officials say the driver crashed after he lost control of his vehicle.Officials say the man was still inside his car when crews located him in shoulder-deep water and was able to get out thanks to the help of first responders. String of burglaries in Hyde Park prompts warning from Chicago police "They attempted to throw a rope out to the individual, the rope missed, he kind of walked back to the car, and then subsequently he ended up walking out toward the shore and then our paramedics and firefighters, helped him, assisted him get out of the water," Deputy Chief Brock Herion from the Addison Fire Pr...

Texas point guard Rori Harmon out for season with ACL tear in right knee

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas junior point guard Rori Harmon is out for the remainder of the season after tearing the ACL in her right knee during practice Wednesday, she announced Friday.In a social media post, Harmon said, "I'm heartbroken that I won't be able to play with my teammates this season, but I'm going to support them and be the best teammate I can be."Harmon is one of the best point guards in the country and leads the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at 6.64, dishing out 93 assists to just 14 turnovers. She's second in the country with 7.8 assists per game and averages 14.1 points per game, helping the Longhorns to a 13-0 record and No. 5 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25."She has worked so hard to become in my opinion the best guard in the country, an All American," Longhorns head coach Vic Shaefer said. "It is difficult to see a young person go through this. It is truly devastating. My heart is crushed for her."Texas opens Big 12 Conference play against No. 10 Baylor ...

Senator becomes first woman Dean of Texas Senate

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When the new year starts, Senator Judith Zaffirini will start her role as Dean of the Texas Senate. Zaffirini will be the first woman to serve as Dean. She previously broke barriers when she was the first Mexican American woman elected to the Senate in 1986.According to Zaffirini's office, she will take over the role of Dean once former Senator John Whitmire resigns at the end of the year to become Mayor of Houston on January 1.The role of the Dean is determined by seniority. Zaffirini said because the next three senators in seniority are male, it could have been a long time before another woman was in place to assume the deanship.“Only 24 women have served in the Texas Senate with 952 men, including the four Democratic and four Republican women who serve today," Senator Zaffirini said.She said she is excited to serve the public in this new role but hopes this first is a reminder that more women are needed in public office."It's very sad that it's taken that long, an...

Local nonprofits report flat or falling donations as demand rises in the face of inflation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

At the Catholic Charities Dorothy Day campus in downtown St. Paul, nearly 20 volunteers from Lumen Christi Catholic Church in Highland Park unpacked boxes of fudge-covered Oreo cookies and prepped spaghetti and meatballs on Friday for upward of 300 homeless visitors.The church’s “29th of the month” volunteer squad has been a consistent presence for roughly 40 years, said church organizer Brian Dusbiber.Volunteers from Lumen Christi Catholic Church unpack boxes of cookies for homeless visitors Friday at the Catholic Charities Dorothy Day campus in downtown St. Paul. (Frederick Melo / Pioneer Press)What’s also become consistent is the demand for food. Unseasonably warm temperatures haven’t reduced the long lines of clients, which used to ebb and flow at Dorothy Day throughout the month as benefits wore out.That’s no longer the case. A daily wall chart shows 300 to 381 meals served at breakfast, lunch and dinner, or anywhere from 864 to 1,065 meals per day, every day.Now, “they’re more...

New NYS minimum wage goes into effect Monday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The new year means new laws go into effect across the state. On Monday the New York state minimum wage will rise to $15 an hour. However, many local businesses have already been paying employees more than what is required. It's something David Girard has taken notice of at 518 Craft.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! “What I found was that there was a kind of generosity in the pay scale here and the idea that there was this awareness that not only do you pay people a living wage, but you pay them what they’re worth,” said Girard.He started as a bartender and has worked his way up to management. He said when you invest in your workforce everyone gets along better. “But at the same time I think we are all big believers in the more we invest in the people who work with us and for us that might hurt a little bit in the short-term, but it’s always going to pay dividends in the long-term,” said Girard.Most payro...

$20K plan could help workers, patients after St. Louis nursing home closure

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Two weeks after a north St. Louis nursing house shut down and displaced its residents, St. Louis agencies continue to work to bring calm to the chaos of the situation. The Northview Village Nursing Home abruptly closed on Dec. 15. State and local officials moved in quickly to move 170 residents to other regional facilities. Workers were left out of a job and without an expected pay check. In the aftermath, various agencies have worked to provide a safety net for residents and workers. Police: St. Louis woman Marquisha Williams found deceased in Illinois On Friday, the St. Louis Mental Health Board Executive Committee met to discuss needs and a tentative plan to approve up to $20,000 to cover costs. "So that we can cover the purchase of the items needed by the individuals who have been relocated under the age of 60, that include things like personal hygiene items and clothing items, as well as the staffing costs," said MHB Executive Director Cassandra Kaufman. The menta...

Candlelight vigil planned in memory of St. Louis-area murder victims

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:54:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A local organization prepares for their annual candlelight vigil for local murder victims, keeping the memories of loved ones alive as 2023 comes to an end. Mothers Advocating Safe Streets is the organization that recognizes victims who lost their lives to violence this past year in St. Louis City and County. Leaders say they are pleading for the violence to end. Mothers Advocating Safe Streets is on a mission to continue to raise awareness about violent crimes.“We know how important it is to reach out and be with the families because we know the turmoil they go through when losing a child," said Sharon Webb, founder of Mothers Advocating Safe Streets. Police: St. Louis woman Marquisha Williams found deceased in Illinois Webb and Shelia Price have both lost children to gun violence. Webb's daughter, Cara Davenport, was killed in St. Louis in 2000. She was 18 at the time and a senior at Hazelwood West High School. Police say she was shot in a car and was not ...