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Judge vacates murder conviction of Chicago man wrongfully imprisoned for 35 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago man who spent 35 years behind bars for a murder he didn’t commit was freed Tuesday after a judge vacated his conviction and dismissed all charges. Brian Beals, 57, struggled to find the right words to describe his feelings as he stood outside Robinson Correctional Center in Crawford County, some 210 miles (338 kilometers) south of Chicago, and embraced his sister and niece. “Relief, happiness, it was just amazing to walk out of there,” he told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “I’m ready to begin life again.” Beals was convicted in the 1988 murder of 6-year-old Demetrius Campbell. At the time, Beals, a 22-year-old student at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, was home in Chicago during Thanksgiving break. He was approached by a drug dealer and they argued, according to news accounts at the time. Attorneys say Beals got in his car and drove off. Bullets fired in Beals’ direction hit two bystanders, the boy and his mot...

3rd Marineland beluga that moved to U.S. aquarium dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

A third beluga from Marineland has died at a U.S. aquarium after arriving there two years ago.Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut says the beluga named Kharabali exhibited abnormal swimming behaviour in November and was eventually moved to its intensive care facility 11 days ago.Mystic says staff were giving Kharabali round-the-clock care for “multiple health issues” before she died. Marineland, a tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ont., sold five belugas to Mystic and they were moved to the U.S. aquarium in May 2021.Mystic said one whale died within months of the move while the second died about a year later, due to pre-existing conditions.The belugas’ move came at the same time the Ontario government had declared all marine mammals at Marineland in distress due to water problems.The U.S. aquarium’s workers are devastated by Kharabali’s death, Mystic said.“Her spirit touched us all, and we are heartbroken by her passing,” said Allison Tut...

Five whales came to a Connecticut aquarium in 2021. Three have now died

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

MYSTIC, Conn. (AP) — A 9-year-old beluga whale at Mystic Aquarium named Kharabali has died, marking the third death among five whales that were transported there from Canada in 2021.Kharabali began swimming abnormally in November, and “her strange behavior continued to progress.” She was eventually moved to the intensive care facility at the aquarium’s Aquatic Animal Study Center and died Monday, the aquarium announced Tuesday.A necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of her death.“Her spirit touched us all, and we are heartbroken by her passing. Kharabali received the utmost care and love during her time with us, and we will always cherish the moments we shared,” Dr. Allison Tuttle, the chief zoological officer, said in a news release.Kharabali is the third whale from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to die after arriving at Mystic Aquarium. A male beluga named Havok died in August 2021, and a female name Havana died in February of 2022. Both of those whales ha...

Universities of Wisconsin regents to vote again on GOP deal to cut diversity spots for cash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Universities of Wisconsin regents have decided to vote again on a deal with Republican lawmakers that calls for reducing diversity positions in exchange for funding to cover employee raises and campus construction projects, including a new engineering building at UW-Madison.The regents rejected the deal on a 9-8 vote Saturday. They met in a closed video conference Tuesday morning, however. Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman declined to reveal what was discussed to reporters. Hours later, the regents posted notice that they’d scheduled an open meeting for late Wednesday afternoon to vote again on the proposal. The agenda indicates that Regent Amy Blumenfeld Bogost, who voted against the deal on Saturday, is now requesting adoption. She did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press on Tuesday evening. The voicemail at her Madison law office was full. Republican Chris Kapenga, president of the state Senate, tweeted on Monday t...

Congressional candidate’s voter outreach tool is latest AI experiment ahead of 2024 elections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

A phone-banking tool powered entirely by artificial intelligence is getting its first real-world test in a Pennsylvania Democrat’s congressional campaign.The chatbot, named Ashley, calls voters and engages in two-way, interactive conversations about candidate Shamaine Daniels, one of seven Democrats running so far in next year’s primary. The voice tool from the startup Civox represents one of many ways AI technology is breaking into politics ahead of the 2024 campaigns, but experts say its direct contact with voters could threaten data security and has the potential to undermine voter trust.Daniels announced the partnership with Civox on Tuesday, saying the the first-of-its-kind political campaign tool had already completed more than 1,000 calls with likely Democratic primary voters in Pennsylvania’s 10th House district, which includes the state capital, Harrisburg.Unlike other robocallers, Ashley doesn’t use canned responses or give call recipients a menu of optio...

Family of Kenneka Jenkins to receive $6M in wrongful death settlement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

CHICAGO -- The family of a Chicago woman found dead inside a Rosemont hotel freezer six years ago will receive a $6 million wrongful death settlement.The settlement was reached in August, but the terms were not made public until Tuesday.The lawsuit was filed in December 2018 against Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosemont, its security company and a restaurant that rented the walk-in freezer in which Jenkins was found dead. Body believed to be missing Carpentersville teen pulled from retention pond in Vernon Hills Security video showed 19-year-old Kenneka Jenkins appearing to stumble around the Crowne Plaza O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont after attending a party there on Sept. 9, 2017.Jenkins was seen wandering towards a walk-in freezer, but her body was not found until the following day. Suspect in fatal grocery store shooting leaves behind debit card, leading to his arrest The Cook County medical examiner’s office found that she died from hypothermia and ruled her death an accident....

Teen killed, man critically injured in Chicago Lawn shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A 14-year-old boy is dead and a man is in critical condition after a shooting on the city's Southwest Side.Chicago police say the deadly shooting happened just before 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the 3500 block of West 61st Place in Chicago Lawn. Police seek help identifying woman found dead after south suburban fire According to police, the victims were standing outside in the area, when a grey vehicle approached and two men inside opened fire. Officers say the 14-year-old boy suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Police say the vehicle was spotted fleeing westbound on 61st Place. 2 hospitalized after crash involving school bus in Glenview Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and police say an investigation is underway. Anyone with information that could help authorities is asked to call CPD Area One detectives at 312-747-8380.Tips for police can also be filed at&nb...

2 hospitalized after crash involving school bus in Glenview

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

GLENVIEW, ILL. — Emergency were called to the scene after a crash involving a school bus in Glenview.The crash happened on Tuesday afternoon, near Buckingham Glen Circle & Greenwood Road and involved two vehicles and a school bus.SkyCam9 was over the scene around 4:30 p.m. when crews could be seen working the crash. Man fatally struck by car while allegedly fleeing from police on West Side The bus involved had Alltown markings on its side, which is a bus service that provides the majority of bus transportation for students in District 34. Glenview police said no children were on board the bus and added that the bus was parked at the time of the crash. Police say two drivers involved in the crash were taken to the hospital, and no citations have been issued to anyone involved. Police did not provide details on what led to the crash

Ashley Furniture sued after recliner allegedly caught fire, causing severe burns to military veteran

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

CHICAGO —  A St. Louis man has filed suit against Ashley Furniture after he says a recliner chair caught fire, resulting in injury.The same chair is suspected of causing a house fire in north suburban Round Lake Beach. On Tuesday, lawyers on behalf of Jeffrey Jones laid out their grievances after the 53-year-old allegedly woke up in the early morning hours of May 13 with his apartment on fire.During a press conference where lawyers announced a lawsuit against Ashley Furniture on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, Jeffrey Jones was overcome with emotions. (Photo/WGN)"Since I have been in the fire, it makes me feel helpless," Jones said. "It makes me feel weak." Former President Barack Obama surprises South Shore preschoolers Jones purchased what was marketed as the Party Time LoveSeat Recline from a company that Ashley Furniture had allegedly distributed it to for resale. According to Jones, he had to fight his way out of the apartment, escaping with severe burns to his body. Jones adds that ...

Police seek help identifying woman found dead after south suburban fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:20:41 GMT

RIVERDALE, Ill. — Police are asking for help identifying a woman who was found dead after a structure fire in the south suburbs over the weekend.According to Riverdale police, officers were called to the scene of the fire just before 3:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. After the officers arrived, they found the body of a woman who they say had been set on fire. Man fatally struck by car while allegedly fleeing from police on West Side Authorities are now working to identify the woman and are asking for the public's help.Riverdale police say the woman is believed to be Hispanic or African-American and has a large one-color tattoo on her upper right arm, depicting praying hands wrapped with a rosary, with the word “faith” written underneath.Ornate watch worn by woman found dead after south suburban firePolice say the woman was also wearing an ornate wristwatch at the time of her death. Police provided photos of the wristwatch in hopes someone may recognize it. Emergency crews battle ho...