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Chicago's emergency management and communications executive director retiring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

CHICAGO — Rich Guidice, the executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications is retiring, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Thursday. Guidice was appointed by then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the start of 2019. Answering the call: Chicago dispatchers honored for being ‘voice of hope’ amid tragedy He has overseen events like the 2012 NATO Summit and championship celebrations for the Cubs, White Sox and Blackhawks. "Throughout our work together, our city has endured great challenges, but what I have admired about Rich is his steady hand and effective leadership to steer the emergency response management of this great city," Lightfoot said. "At the helm of OEMC, he helped build a strong foundation for the department, was integral to our COVID-19 response and the modernization of our city's emergency response technology, and most recently, our new arrival mission."Lightfoot wished him well in his next chapter.

How much coffee is too much coffee?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in America, with 62% of people drinking it every day in the country.There is an old saying that a person can have "too much of a good thing," and too much caffeine can lead to health problems. Coffee lovers might be wondering, however, how much coffee they can drink without having to worry about this.An 8-ounce cup of coffee has about 95 milligrams of caffeine, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most healthy adults can have about 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, which adds up to right around four cups of coffee per day.Drinking more than four cups can lead to side effects. These can include headaches, nervousness, irritability, frequent urination, fast heartbeat and muscle tremors. Insomnia can occur as well.Having caffeine in the afternoon can affect a person's sleep. Sleep loss, even in small amounts, can disturb a person's alertness and performance during the day. If a person uses coffee to mask symptoms of sleepiness...

Bissell recall: Cordless wet dry vacuums may pose fire hazard

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Bissell is expanding a January recall of its Bissell Cordless Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vacuums over concerns the devices' battery packs may overheat and potentially catch fire — affecting about 2,000 devices.The recall involves Bissell Cordless Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vacuum models 2551R and 25518, according to the announcement posted to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Bissell says about 58,000 vacuum models total are now affected. Honda recalls CR-Vs in cold states — including Illinois — to fix frame rust problem Here's how to tell if your model is affected by this recall:Location of model numbers on Bissell Cordless Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vacuums (CPSC)You'll find "BISSELL" on the front of the productRemove the device's clean water tank to reveal the model numbers. Affected model numbers are only 2551R and 25518 and the previously recalled 2551, 2551W and 25519 modelsBissell reports the models were sold between May 2019 and July 2021 at HSN.com and at Ollie's...

APD searching for man who pulled knife, threatened store employee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect wanted in a February aggravated assault incident in north Austin, according to an APD news release.At approximately 7:40 p.m., Feb. 25, the suspect walked into a convenience store, located at 11800 Metric Blvd., the release said.The suspect then "became combative" after a store employee asked him to leave, according to police. During the altercation, the suspect pulled out a large knife and tried to stab the store employee, the release said.The suspect description is below:Hispanic male30 to 35 years of age150-160 lbs.Small beard on his chinHe was last seen wearing a dark-colored jacket, dark-colored bucket hat, and dark jeansImage provided by the Austin Police DepartmentAnyone with any information should submit a tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling (512) 472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for ...

Howard Lake man sentenced for killing St. Paul man with his own gun

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

A Howard Lake, Minn., man was sentenced this week to 15 years in prison for fatally shooting a St. Paul man at a Frogtown home last May.Tisen Miguel Doverspike-Wiggins (Courtesy of Ramsey County sheriff’s office)Tisen Miguel Doverspike-Wiggins, 21, pleaded guilty Feb. 6 to second-degree unintentional murder-while committing a felony in the May 4 death of 26-year-old Erick Stevens, who was shot once in the chest.Doverspike-Wiggins’ guilty plea came after he reached an agreement with the prosecution one week before a jury trial was set to begin. In exchange for the plea, a second charge of second-degree intentional murder-not premeditated was dismissed.Ramsey County District Judge Patrick Diamond sentenced Doverspike-Wiggins on Wednesday in accordance with the agreement. He received credit for 319 days already served in custody.According to the criminal complaint, Doverspike-Wiggins asked Stevens for his gun while the two men were in the kitchen of a home in the 700 block of Edmund Av...

Program helping neurodivergent adults opens Albany location

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Arc Transitions program in Albany held its open house on Thursday. The program helps neurodivergent adults transition into adulthood successfully.Participants can meet with experts and peer mentors to learn more about employment, relationships, and self-care. Specialists with the program said it offers young adults the chance to grow in a supportive environment. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "The purpose of Transitions is to help young adults ages 16-27 succeed in life and college, and achieve careers they dreamed of or never dreamed of but found new ways."Arc's Albany campus is the newest location. It is located at 2 Tower Place in Stuyvesant Plaza. The learning centers are also open in Fulton and Schoharie Counties.

Plan to crack down on false school threats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

(NEWS10) -- There were false reports of mass shootings at more than 200 schools last week, including Albany and Saratoga Springs High Schools. Sen. Chuck Schumer has now revealed a new, three-part plan to put a stop to the fake threats.It includes $10 million for the FBI to conduct full scale investigations and find a way to track the crimes. Schumer said it will make it easier to hold those responsible accountable. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "They will be able to hire personnel, they will be able to buy machinery, they will be able to use cybersecurity, and they will be able to use social media to find out who did it and then bring them to justice," he said.The proposed $10 million would be included in the upcoming federal budget as part of a bipartisan bill. Schumer said he is confident it will pass.

Potosi police officer accused of child sex trafficking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A former Potosi, Missouri, police officer is now facing federal charges tied to child sex trafficking.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Matthew Skaggs, 39, was indicted March 29 and arrested on April 5 in the federal case. Skaggs is charged with sex trafficking, solicitation of child pornography, and coercion/enticement of a minor.He was first arrested in August 2022 in Washington County on charges of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy (with a victim under 14 years old), enticement or attempted enticement of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child. Top Story: Five people in one trailer died when a tornado sucked it away The federal indictment alleges that between Jan. 1 and Aug. 10, 2022, Skaggs persuaded three minors into engaging in a commercial sex act, solicited a visual depiction of a child engaging in sexually-explicit conduct, and attempted to coerce a minor to engage in sex acts.Prosecutors...

Odds are long Missouri Senate will pass sports betting bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Chances that sports betting becomes legal in Missouri this year are getting smaller and smaller after the Senate debated for eight hours on the topic without taking a vote. Nearly all of Missouri's neighboring states allow sports wagering, which means many Missourians cross state lines to place a bet. The reason why the upper chamber hasn't been able to pass a bill to legalize it is because some members also want to approve slot machines for gas stations and bars. "If you want a stand-alone VLT bill, then you let it go first and then let's talk about sports betting," Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis, said on the Senate floor. Video lottery terminals, better known as VLTs or gray machines, are currently unregulated in the state. Thousands of these video gaming machines, that pay a cash prize, are found in places like gas stations. While some want to legalize VLTs, others say the two topics should be kept separate. "The thing you heard last night ...

Employees who filed racial equity suit must pay legal fees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:57:02 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Two women who sued the Springfield school district over having to undergo mandatory racial equity training have been ordered to pay the district's legal fees.U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool ordered Jennifer Lumley and Brooke Henderson to pay the district $312,869 in legal fees, The Springfield News-Leader reported.Harpool ruled against the women in January after they claimed in their lawsuit that the training they were required to take in the 2020-21 school year violated their constitutional rights. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW In his ruling last week, Harpool said the two women, who still work for the district, had not shown they were harmed in any way by the training. He said they were trying to draw...