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Colorado man pleads guilty in Vermont murder for hire conspiracy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The Colorado man who prosecutors say abducted and killed a Vermont man as part of an international murder for hire conspiracy pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to charges that could land him in prison for life.Jerry Banks, 35, appeared in Vermont U.S. District Court where he changed his plea to guilty. A sentencing hearing for Banks will be scheduled for a later date. Banks was charged with murder for hire that led to the January 2018 death of Gregory Davis, of Danville, Vermont, and a charge of kidnapping. He had initially pleaded not guilty. Davis’ body was found by the side of a snowy Vermont back road.Prosecutors say Banks was part of a conspiracy that began when Davis had been threatening to go to the FBI to report he’d been involved in a fraudulent oil deal with another one of the conspirators, Serhat Gumrukcu, of Los Angeles, who is also facing a murder for hire charge in the case.The cases of Gumrukcu and Berk Eratay, who faces similar charg...

Lansing police arrest man for kidnapping after allegedly stealing car left on with 2 kids inside

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

LANSING, Ill. — A man has been charged with kidnapping after police say he allegedly stole a car left running with two kids inside on Monday from a bank in Lansing.According to a news release from the Lansing Police Department, Casean Cornell, 25, of Lansing, allegedly stole a car from a bank in the 18100 block of Torrence Avenue with a 1-year-old and a 9-year-old inside. Man charged in Northwest Indiana high-speed crash that killed middle school teacher Police said Cornell told the kids to get out of the car but when they didn't, he drove off with them still inside and later crashed into a nearby garage.Cornell left the area and the kids were found unharmed, police said.On Thursday, Cornell was arrested near 17th Place and Torrence Avenue by detectives.Cornell is on bond for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon case from November.He is charged with kidnapping and possession of a stolen vehicle, according to the release.He's due in bond court on Saturday.

WATCH: Gator grabs underwater drone during marine unit training

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An alligator was spotted on camera grabbing the Lee County Sheriff's Office's drone as their marine unit was training in Fort Myers, Florida.The video shows the moment an alligator investigates an underwater camera. What is a ‘dupe’ on TikTok? Here’s the meaning behind the trend The alligator makes a few splashes and hangs around for the camera.According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligators are "opportunistic feeders" and will eat animals — and anything —that are readily available and that they can easily overpower. Former Disney worker arrested again after taking upskirt videos in Florida Publix, deputies say There are several safety tips to keep in mind when near freshwater:Be aware and alert of the possible presence of gatorsSupervise children when they are playing in or around waterNever feed or entice gators (it's dangerous and illegal!)Swim only in the daylight (they are most active between dusk and dawn)Never swim outs...

Orioles top Royals, 3-2, as offense scores early and bullpen holds on late

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

The Orioles didn’t score until the ninth inning Wednesday. It took them seven innings Thursday. Austin Hays didn’t wait long Friday.Batting leadoff, Hays homered on the first pitch he saw to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. The early run — as well as the ones Baltimore scored in the second and fifth innings — mattered immensely, as the Orioles found themselves in a one-run game, relying on their bullpen to hold the tight lead.Mike Baumann, Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista delivered, following another solid start from Tyler Wells to hand the Orioles a 3-2 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals.Wells delivered 6 2/3 efficient innings to maintain his status as one of the best pitchers in the American League. Baumann stranded two runners in scoring position with a two-out strikeout in the seventh. Cano won a nine-pitch battle with Salvador Pérez, inducing a ground ball double play, for a scoreless eighth. And Bautista continued his dominance in the nin...

State softball roundup: Cretin-Derham Hall claims third place in Class 3A

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

NORTH MANKATO — Brooke Nesdahl, Sophie Black, Catherine Gaertner and Kaiya Anderson all recorded two hits as Cretin-Derham Hall topped Delano 4-0 to claim third-place in the Class 3A state tournament.Nesdahl tossed a two-hit shutout for the Raiders (18-9), who recorded their first state tournament victories since 1991. Nesdahl and Black belted home runs in the victory.Top-seeded Mankato East downed third-seeded Chisago Lakes 11-0 in the championship game, a respite for the Cougars after they had to go 10 innings with Cretin-Derham Hall in the semifinals Thursday evening.Kylinn Stangl threw 160 pitches in that game against the Raiders, and came back Friday to toss a complete-game shutout for Mankato East, a perennial power of the past that was making its first state tournament appearance since 2012.CLASS 2ASix different Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton batters collected hits — led by two from Kaleigh Peterson — in the Rebels’ 3-1 state championship victory over St. Cha...

Lynx greats return for All-25 festivities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

Reestablishing a foundation had been a theme around the Minnesota Lynx this season.With a mix of veterans and some younger players for whom high hopes flourish, the team’s won-loss record has not been what has been typical for Minnesota’s most successful franchise of the past 25 years — including four championships and six WNBA finals appearances from 2011-17.Nineteen of the players named to the Lynx All-25 Team made triumphant returns to Target Center on Friday night, soaking in accolades from the faithful fans, smiling nearly nonstop and reliving good times with many who’ve worn the team’s colors.“It’s been amazing to see everybody, kind of have those little giggles we used to have. It’s just sharing the moment,” said Seimone Augustus.Added Maya Moore: “I’ve never been in a setting like this with all the Lynx legends. It’s been pretty sweet.”Current guard Rachel Banham grew up in Minnesota and saw many of the players in action or played alongside them.“I’m excited to actually see ...

Review: Much to enjoy about Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s season finale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra rounds out its season with a spot of joy, featuring Hungarian guest conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy. With spry physicality, Takács-Nagy led the orchestra in emphasizing the contrasts and also surprises held with the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Claude Debussy and Edvard Grieg.Principal clarinet player Sang Yoon Kim got the spotlight for the first Debussy piece, “Premiére rhapsodie,” (First rhapsody). Debussy first composed the work for clarinet and piano, and later published a version for a full orchestra. The SPCO along with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta commissioned composer Geoffrey Gordon to compose a new orchestration that requires fewer instruments than Debussy’s orchestral version. This weekend’s performance marks the world premiere of Gordon’s take. It’s a lush expression of musical excellence.Kim’s mastery of the clarinet is on full display. He can make the instrument sound as smooth as cream. In faster sections, ...

10 gang members arrested for multiple robberies in Orange County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

Ten suspects were arrested in connection to a series of robberies in multiple cities throughout Orange County that lasted for six months. According to Anaheim and Placentia police, 13 robberies occurred between June and December 2022 in several cities including Anaheim, Buena Park, La Habra, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, and Stanton. The robberies took place while the victims were trying to sell property using online marketplaces and platforms. The suspects were armed during many of the incidents. Placentia authorities and the Anaheim Police Department’s Gang Unit worked together during the investigation to identify the suspects. During the investigation, authorities discovered that nine of the 10 suspects lived in Anaheim and were members of an Anaheim criminal street gang. Detectives arrested nine juvenile suspects and one adult suspect and recovered two firearms, narcotics, and stolen property during search warrants. The suspects were booked in the Orange County Juvenile Hal...

Stanford professor charged with domestic violence missing in Washington’s Olympic National Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK – A search is underway for a Stanford University professor who did not return as scheduled from a hiking trip in Olympic National Park in Washington and missed a court hearing Friday related to domestic violence charges he faces in Santa Clara County.Hunter Bryan Fraser, 44, set out Monday on a two-day, 40-mile trek, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. He was due back in Seattle by midday Wednesday.Fraser was set to appear Friday morning in Santa Clara County Superior Court for a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors have charged him with inflicting corporal injury on a girlfriend.Fraser was last seen Monday afternoon west of the Deer Park Campground and his family last heard from him via text Tuesday morning, according to the sheriff’s office.On Wednesday around 6:15 p.m., park rangers notified the sheriff’s office that Fraser was overdue.A deputy found Fraser’s vehicle in a dedicated parking area near the Deer Ridge Trailhead. Two Clallam Coun...

Peet's Coffee to close Oakland warehouse where employee was killed in roof collapse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:02 GMT

(KRON) -- Peet's Coffee has closed the Oakland warehouse where an employee was killed in a roof collapse in March, it confirmed to KRON4. Peet's distribution center and warehouse operations will now be in Tracy, CA. The man killed in the collapse was identified as Martin Gonzalez, 57. He was a long-time Peet's employee. Man arrested for allegedly starting fire in Emeryville Target The facility was located on the 600 block of 85th Avenue, just south of the Oakland Coliseum. The Oakland Fire Department said it was a distribution for other coffee companies in addition to Peet's.The collapse occurred at 3:13 a.m. on March 10. A Peet's spokesperson said a 30-by-30 section of the roof collapsed and killed Gonzalez. "Since the tragedy at our Oakland warehouse in March, we had no choice but to evaluate multiple options," a Peet's statement read in part. "It was clear that we would not be able to return the facility on 85th Street to its previous capacity and that it would not meet o...