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Former Wisconsin prosecutor sentenced for secretly recording sexual encounters

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A judge sentenced a former Wisconsin prosecutor to 18 months in prison Monday for secretly recording sexual encounters with two women, including one he was prosecuting in a restraining order case.A jury found former Burnett County District Attorney Daniel Steffen guilty in April of three counts of capturing an intimate representation depicting nudity. St. Croix County Circuit Judge Scott Nordstrand handed down the sentence. A state Department of Justice agent began investigating Steffen in early 2020, according to the criminal complaint in the case. A witness told the agent that a woman the witness knew had openly talked about having sex with Steffen in exchange for leniency on her pending criminal cases.The woman told the agent she had only met Steffen a couple times in court and denied having a relationship with him. She said she had several cases pending and ended up paying a fine. A few months, later she acknowledged a relationship with Steffen, saying she w...

Obamas’ personal chef drowns near family’s home on Martha’s Vineyard

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

EDGARTOWN, Mass. (AP) — Former President Barack Obama’s personal chef has drowned near the family’s home on Martha’s Vineyard. Massachusetts State Police confirmed that the paddleboarder whose body was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond on Monday was Tafari Campbell, 45, of Dumfries, Virginia. Campbell was employed by the Obamas and was visiting Martha’s Vineyard. The Obamas were not present at the home at the time of the accident. In a statement, the former president and his wife, Michelle Obama, called Campbell a “beloved part of our family.”“When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together,” the couple said. “In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.”“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’...

Journal series calls for inquiry into Canada’s COVID-19 response, highlighting shortfalls

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

A new series published in the BMJ medical journal is calling for an independent inquiry into Canada’s COVID-19 response. Experts from 13 organizations across Canada, including doctors, nurses, researchers, law and humanitarian specialists, along with Jocalyn Clark, a Canadian who is the BMJ’s international editor, wrote the seven articles published late Monday. “We see this as the next step in the pandemic,” said Dr. Sharon Straus, physician-in-chief at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and one of the senior authors of the “Accountability for Canada’s COVID-19 Response” series. “This is the start of preparing for the next emergency,” she said. The articles identify shortfalls in Canada’s COVID-19 response, including difficulty reaching vulnerable and marginalized populations who were most at risk, the catastrophic deaths in long-term care homes and inconsistent public health messages across provinces and territories. The ar...

Miami-Dade’s police chief shot himself, state official says. He survived

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The director of the Miami-Dade Police Department was in critical but stable condition following surgery in a Tampa area hospital a day after shooting himself, state law enforcement officials said Monday.Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez, 52, was in Tampa for a law enforcement conference, officials said.The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, or FDLE, is investigating the shooting with the Florida Highway Patrol. FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said during a news conference Monday afternoon that Tampa police had responded to a domestic dispute between Ramirez and his wife earlier Sunday at the hotel where the conference was being held. Ramirez left the hotel, and suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound after pulling over on Interstate 75 south of Tampa, Glass said.“Law enforcement is a demanding and stressful career and occupation,” Glass said. “And Director Ramirez has dedicated nearly 30 years of his life to public service and keeping the citizens of Miami-Dade ...

Pat Hughes had a special message for Cubs fans in Cooperstown

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — It was a special weekend for one of the most recognizable voices in the history of Chicago sports broadcasting in Cooperstown. Pat Hughes has had a number of honors in his career - but none bigger than the one he got on Saturday. (Courtesy: MLB Network)The longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the Cubs was honored as the 2023 Ford C. Frick Award winner for broadcasting excellence at the Glimmerglass Opera Theater. It was part of the Baseball Hall of Fame's 74th induction ceremony weekend for the Class of 2023. One of the players that Hughes called games for as a member of the Cubs, first baseman Fred McGriff, joined former Cardinals & Reds third baseman Scott Rolen in being enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Sunday. He's currently in his 27th season as the voice of Cubs' baseball on the radio and occasionally on television as well. Hughes has had the chance to call games for nine playoff teams and is the only radio broadcaster in team history to broadcast t...

VP Kamala Harris returns to Chicago, touts efforts to boost economic power of Hispanic community

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

CHICAGO — For the second time in as many weeks, Vice President Kamala Harris visited the city of Chicago.Harris' return to Chicago saw her deliver remarks on the final day of UnidosUS’ 2023 Annual Conference at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. UnidosUS is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization.During Harris' speech, the Vice President ralleid support for President Joe Biden's administration and highlighted the work the pair has done for the Latino community."I do belive that in the face of dark moments the history of this organization has helped to shine a light on our path," Harris said. Addressing Latino leaders, Harris celebrated diversity and unity as strengths that help build "a stronger nation, democracy, and a stronger world. Also discussed was how much of an economic powerhouse the Latino community has become.   Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Rainbow PUSH Coalition convention Under the Biden administration, 13 million ...

The deadly effects of heat  — a higher risk of heart attacks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

For Monday, July 24, Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Study finds risk of fatal heart attack doubles in heatwaveThe risk of fatal heart attacks doubles in heat waves and high pollution days. The American Heart Association Journal, Circulation, reports as extreme temperatures are becoming more frequent and are occurring for longer durations, doctors are concerned about acute heart events. In a study of more than 200,000 people, extreme heat was associated with more heart attack deaths compared to average temperature days. After two days of extreme heat, between 83 and 98 degrees, the heart attack rate rose by 18%.Four days of sustained high temperatures translated to a 74% greater risk for heart attack. Probiotics can prevent age-related declines in cognitive function More evidence of the brain-gut connection and how certain foods can enhance cognitive health. Probiotics prevent age-related declines in memory and thinking accordin...

Here's what scientists say about whistleblower claims that Pentagon has evidence of alien crashes

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

(The Hill) – Interesting. Frustrating. Potentially even "credible."But nothing that science can work on in its current form.That was how physicists and astronomers interviewed by The Hill described recent allegations that the U.S. government has been hiding evidence of multiple alien crash sites.To take those claims beyond buzzy conjecture, the country needs a plan to acquire more hard data, scientists said.On Wednesday the House Oversight Committee will hold controversial hearings about "unidentified aerial phenomena," or UAP.Those hearings will focus on eyewitness accounts by U.S. military pilots of what have appeared to be strange craft moving in ways that known human technology cannot, and on the broader claims of a cover-up made by former Air Force and intelligence official David Grusch. See the CIA’s trove of UFO-related intelligence documents The hearings are part of a broader — and unusually bipartisan — congressional mainstreaming of a long-taboo question: Has t...

Dane Mizutani: Can the Vikings defend their crown as NFC North champions?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

There’s no denying the Vikings lived a charmed life last season.Not only did they boast an incredible 11-0 record in games decided by a single possession — winning the NFC North division in the process — they appeared to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders before their luck ran out in an opening-round playoff loss to the New York Giants.As much as head coach Kevin O’Connell loves to preach the importance of execution, it’s highly unlikely the Vikings can sustain that level of success again in close games.The big question is: Can the Vikings defend their crown as NFC North champions?The potential emergence of the Detroit Lions seems like the biggest challenge to the Vikings this season. No disrespect to the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.The biggest thing the Vikings have going for them is they should have a potent offense once again, led by some big weapons — quarterback Kirk Cousins, receiver Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson, among others.On the ...

Botanical Garden advice on caring for your plants in this heat

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:50:13 GMT

ST. LOUIS – It’s going to be a scorcher this week, which won’t only be tough on us but will also stress our gardens and landscapes. So while we’re keeping ourselves hydrated, we need to provide plenty of H₂O to our plants as well “Water very good and water very deep to make sure that water gets through the root profile. And then let the soil dry out just a little bit,” said Daria McKelvey, supervisor of the Center for Home Gardening at the Missouri Botanical Garden. “And then come back, and if the soil’s a little bit dry, maybe the first couple of inches, then water again.”Of course, Mother Nature may help some, but you need to keep an eye out even after a quick, heavy rain. “After we have a rain like that, do look at your plants. See how your things are doing. If your soil is saturated, then great. You don’t really have to do too much. Nothing we would rather a slow, steady, deep rain would be best,” McKelvey said.  Crews investigating fatal 3-vehicle crash in nort...