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Potosi police officer accused of child sex trafficking

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 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 Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 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 Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 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...

Two juveniles missing from Colorado found in Nebraska in I-80 traffic stop

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 GMT

Two juveniles reported missing in Colorado were found in Nebraska during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 and the 18-year-old driver of the pickup truck was arrested.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Letecia Stauch suffered mental break during killing of 11-year-old Gannon, defense says as murder trial opens Crime and Public Safety | 14-year-old Burlington girl found safe Crime and Public Safety | 5-year-old girl missing from Houston may be in southern Colorado with noncustodial father Crime and Public Safety | Trial begins for Colorado Springs stepmom accused of killing 11-year-old Gannon Stauch, dumping body in Florida Crime and Public Safety | CBI “endangered missing” child alert canceled after Texas girl found safe About 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nebraska State Patrol stopped the driver of a Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck that was eastbound on the highway near York, according to a NSP...

4 ducklings rescued from storm drain, reunited with mama duck in Riverside

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 GMT

Four ducklings that fell into a storm drain in Riverside were rescued and reunited with their mother Tuesday, authorities announced.  Residents told crews with Riverside Animal Services that a mother duck and her 10 ducklings were attempting to cross Grove Community Drive when one of the baby waterfowl slipped and fell to the bottom of the storm drain.  "Hearing the cries of her little one, the mother duck quickly returned and began pacing back and forth near the opening of the storm drain,” officials said in a social media post. “Unfortunately, as baby ducklings always stay close to the mother duck, three more slipped into the drain.”  By the time Riverside Animal Control Officers Mary Salazar and Sean Fazio arrived, the mother duck and her remaining ducklings had left the area.  With the assistance of residents, Officer Fazio entered the storm drain, reached the ducklings and passed “them up one-by-one to neighborhood children for safe keeping,” officials said....

L.A. County steps up efforts to recruit more mental health workers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 GMT

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to recruit mental health workers for street teams by offering more incentives.The workers will be a part of response teams designed to help the homeless throughout the region. The county has allocated funding toward the program, but the problem is finding people to fill the job.Existing incentives include signing bonuses, student loan forgiveness and flexible schedules, but that proved not to be enough.On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved a motion directing the Department of Mental Health to develop a plan to add more incentives, including an increase in bonuses and sabbatical programs.“We find ourselves in a situation where we have the infrastructure and funds in place, but we’re having a hard time filling those positions,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said during the meeting.The department and partner agency Sycamores are actively looking to hire licensed mental health providers, marriage and family therapists, soc...

Cap'n Crunch to celebrate 60th 'birthday' with Palm Springs pool party

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 GMT

A legendary breakfast cereal mascot is getting ready to celebrate hit 60th birthday with a 21+ pool party in Southern California.Cap'n Crunch, the white-haired mustachioed seafaring explorer of the eponymous cereal brand, will be celebrating 60 trips around the sun in sunny Palm Beach on April 15, the first weekend of the Coachella music festival.Lone Palm Pool at Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs will transform into "Cap'n's Cove" for the big birthday bash. Fans 21 and older can celebrate the sexagenerian sailor from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Crunch cereal-inspired brunch items, drinks and festival wear. The birthday party will also feature some celebrity appearances by musician and host Reneé Rapp, as well as DJ PEE .WEE (aka Anderson .Paak) spinning an all-vinyl set. Cap’n Crunch is inviting fans to the Palm Springs desert for his epic 60th birthday bash dubbed “Cap’n’s Cove!"The Grammy winning musician, artist and producer will be performing from a stage modeled after the Cap'n's...

Disney, American Airlines partner with Make-a-Wish for 'Best Flight Ever'

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 GMT

Disney and American Airlines is partnering with a popular travel influencer to give children with critical illnesses and their families a trip they'll never forget.Next Wednesday, Make-A-Wish will be flying 27 families from New York to Orlando, Florida for several days of fun at Walt Disney World Resort.While the main event will be at Disney World, the flight itself will also offer a one-of-a-kind experience. The families will board a charter flight and will be treated to several in-flight experiences, provided by American Airlines, including interactive games, special snacks and "surprise moments." The flight will be hosted by Brian Kelly, a travel influencer known as "The Points Guy."Also on the docket is a performance and sing-along with Michael James Scott, who stars as Genie in the Broadway production of "Aladdin."The day will begin with a pre-fight celebration at John F. Kennedy International Airport which will include a special breakfast and a sending off by Make-A-Wish suppo...

Thomas Cervantes Killed in Two-Car Crash on Temescal Canyon Road [Temescal Valley, CA]

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 GMT

2 Injured in Fatal Car Collision near Weirick RoadTEMESCAL VALLEY, CA (April 6, 2023) – Thursday afternoon, Thomas Cervantes lost his life in a two-car crash on Temescal Canyon Road.The accident took place on February 24th, at around 3:45 p.m., along Temescal Canyon Road at Foster Road, just south of Weirick Road.Authorities responded after they received a collision involving two vehicles that happened under unknown circumstances.Police pronounced 32-year-old Thomas Cervantes, of Riverside, dead at the scene. Meanwhile, paramedics took two unidentified people to the hospital with minor to major injuries.At this time, officials have no other information about the fatal collision near Weirick Road but an active investigation is underway.The team at Sweet James sends their warm and sincerest sympathies out to the friends and family of Thomas Cervantes. May the memories of your loved one and the love of your family give you strength in the days ahead.It is important to have strong...

Jury can’t decide if Pittsburg man killed exploited Oakley teen, but acquit him of first degree murder

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:16:50 GMT

OAKLAND — Nearly seven years after a 17-year-old girl was gunned down behind a recreation center along International Boulevard, her accused killer finally had his day in court.But at the end of a trial that spanned nearly two months, jurors were unable to reach a complete verdict for 28-year-old Pittsburg resident Darion Brown. They did acquit Brown of first degree murder, but couldn’t decide on second degree murder or manslaughter, according to court records.The partial result led to a mistrial in Brown’s case, which could now either be tried again, set for plea bargaining, or be dismissed outright. Brown is charged with murdering 17-year-old Alexis Leann Ervin, an Oakley girl who was shot a half dozen times a little before 7 a.m. on June 8, 2016, behind the Rainbow Recreation Center, 5800 International Blvd in Oakland.During Brown’s trial, which started in February, his attorney argued there were several other people present during the shooting, any one of ...