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Police search for killer of retired college dean who was shot on trail near university campus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

CASTLETON, Vt. (AP) — Five days after a retired college dean was shot and killed on a recreation trail near a Vermont University campus, students returned to classes on Tuesday, some on edge, a day after police urged residents to remain vigilant, lock doors and to report any tips that might help them identify and find the killer. Honoree Fleming, a retired dean and professor, was found shot to death on Thursday afternoon on the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail about a mile (1.61 kilometers) south of the Castleton campus of Vermont State University. The shooting happened during the school’s week-long fall break. The university reopened Monday but students were excused from classes. “I recommend to the public to be vigilant, have some awareness,” Maj. Dan Trudeau, commander of the Vermont State Police’s criminal division, said Monday. “If you’re out be with a friend because we don’t really know yet if the community is in any further danger. We don’t know ...

White House condemns a violent crash at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The White House on Tuesday condemned a violent crash at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco where a man rammed a car into the lobby, creating a chaotic scene that ended with police shooting the driver, who later died at the hospital.“We condemn this incident and all violence perpetrated against foreign diplomatic staff working in the United States,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.U.S. government officials have been in contact with Chinese foreign ministry officials in the aftermath of the incident Monday, according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The White House official added that investigators believe the driver was “acting with malign intent.”As of Tuesday morning, police had shared no additional details on the identity of the driver or how the incident unfolded. San Francisco police said Monday they didn’t know why the unidentified driver smashed t...

Ontario securities regulator exploring artificial intelligence use in capital markets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

TORONTO — Ontario’s securities regulator says it is evaluating the potential role it can play in overseeing and guiding responsible adoption of artificial intelligence to protect investors and the integrity of capital markets.The Ontario Securities Commission’s report released Tuesday says use of AI in capital markets is primarily focused on improving the efficiency and accuracy of operations, trade surveillance and detection of market manipulation, and supporting advisory and customer service.It says AI can improve the ability to gather information and detect patterns, or anomalies from large volumes of data by automating processes normally handled manually — leading to better market forecasting and hedging.Large firms are also currently using AI to provide automated customer support and help for client-facing advisers, but the report says its use for trading, asset allocation and risk management are so far limited.The regular warns of major challenges for AI adoption i...

Oklahoma judge dismisses case of man who spent 30 years in prison for Ada rape

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma judge on Tuesday exonerated a man who spent 30 years in prison for a 1987 rape and burglary, after post-conviction DNA testing from a rape kit showed he did not commit the crime.Pontotoc County District Judge Steven Kessinger issued a final order that vacates Perry Lott’s conviction and permanently dismisses the case. “I have never lost hope that this day would come,” Lott, 61, said in a statement. “I had faith that the truth would prevail, even after 35 long years.“I can finally shut this door and move on with my life.”Lott was released from prison in 2018 after the DNA results first came to light, but only after agreeing to a deal with former District Attorney Paul Smith to modify his sentence. The agreement allowed Lott to leave prison and remain free while his motion to vacate was litigated. At the time, Smith said the DNA evidence did not exclude Lott as a suspect.But earlier this year, the Innocence Project, which helped to free Lot...

Utah sues TikTok, alleging it lures children into addictive, destructive social media habits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

Utah became the latest state Tuesday to file a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging the company is “baiting” children into addictive and unhealthy social media habits.TikTok lures children into hours of social media use, misrepresents the app’s safety and deceptively portrays itself as independent of its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, Utah claims in the lawsuit.“We will not stand by while these companies fail to take adequate, meaningful action to protect our children. We will prevail in holding social media companies accountable by any means necessary,” Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Salt Lake City.Arkansas and Indiana have filed similar lawsuits while the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide whether state attempts to regulate social media platforms such as Facebook, X and TikTok violate the Constitution.Public health concerns are cited in the Utah lawsuit. Research has shown that children who spend m...

Mateo Askaripour’s ‘This Great Hemisphere’ is a novel about power set 500 years from now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Mateo Askaripour’s follow-up to his acclaimed debut novel “Black Buck” is a look into the distant future. Dutton, a Penguin Random House imprint, announced Tuesday that Askaripour’s “This Great Hemisphere” is scheduled for release next summer. The novel is set 500 years from now and tells of a society in which some people are born invisible and consigned to second-class citizenship. One invisible person, Sweetmint, embarks on a quest to find her missing brother. ”’This Great Hemisphere’ is a novel about the nature of power, the lengths people will go to in order to gain and maintain it, as well as the almost biological compulsion we all possess to protect those we love,” Askaripour said in a statement. “It is a call to arms for the unseen, a rallying cry for those who are tired of being ignored and forgotten. And, of course, it’s a hell of an adventure.” Askaripour’s “Black Buck,” released in 2021, was a widely pr...

Chicago suburb ranked safest in US for trick-or-treating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Naperville is the safest city in the nation for trick-or-treating, according to a new study. ChamberofCommerce.org analyzed key safety metrics across 300 cities, including pedestrian fatalities, violent crime, property crime, number of registered sex offenders, and number of law enforcement employees.SEE ALSO: Tunnel of Terror: Haunted car wash returning to IllinoisHighlights for Naperville include:Low number of registered sex offenders: 2.1 per 10,000Violent crime incidents: 3.6 per 10,000Property crime incidents: 47.4 per 10,000Average annual pedestrian fatalities: 1.67 (or 0.11 per 10,000)Law enforcement employees: 16.8 per 10,000Rounding out the top 5 are Gilbert, Arizona (No. 2); Frisco, Texas (No. 3); Sugar Land, Texas (No. 4) and Cary, North Carolina (No. 5).   SEE ALSO: See the Haunted Houses in the Chicago area in 2023Naperville is Illinois' third-largest city, with nearly 150,000 residents. The complete study can be accessed here.WGN’s Larry Hawley recen...

Hundreds gather to show support, solidarity in wake of Gaza attacks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

GLENCOE, Ill. — As the war between Israel and Hamas continues community members in Chicagoland are coming together in a showing of solidarity.Several prayer vigils were held Monday night and another gathering was held Tuesday morning in Glencoe. Hundreds of people came together for the community-wide solidarity event hosted by the Jewish United Fund (JUF) of Chicago.Governor JB Pritzker addressed the crowd and condemned the actions against Israel, while calling for solidarity and prayer for impacted families and the men and women of the Israeli defense forces.“Today we come together in solidarity to mourn and grieve for the victims of the horrific violence against Israel,” Pritzker said. “Prayers are called for, but they are not enough, not nearly enough. Children, students, elderly, mothers and fathers, innocents are dead and injured at the hands of Hamas.” Biden condemns Hamas brutality in attack on Israel and calls out rape and torture by militants “We are here at a synagogue w...

Man arrested after climbing Chicago's Accenture Tower

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

CHICAGO (WGN) — A man was arrested Tuesday after scaling the Accenture Tower in Chicago's West Loop.The 42-story building, located at 500 West Madison Street, houses the Consul General of Israel, as well as other companies and various restaurants.Tenants on the south side of the building were told to stay away from windows as the man managed to scale up the length of the high-rise.The man reached the rooftop and was immediately taken into police custody. Charges are pending. 104-year-old Chicago woman who became oldest person to tandem skydive dies Maison Des Champs has been identified as an alleged anti-abortion activist who goes by the name "Pro-life Spider-Man" on social media. A video of him climbing the Accenture Tower was livestreamed on his Instagram account.He was arrested in Oklahoma last year after climbing Oklahoma City's Devon Tower. He has also scaled the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco and the New York Times Building, as well as buildings in Detroit and Las Ve...

Illinois' first hospital-based donor care center to open in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A new way to handle organ donation is coming to RUSH University Medical Center. A first in Illinois, the hospital-based donor care center will see deceased donors be taken to RUSH to ensure organs remain viable and the donor's wishes are honored. Andrea Collins, the fiancée of donor Alphonso Parker, spoke about the importance of honoring the wishes of fallen loved ones. More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch "When it was determined that Alphonso would not make it, I was kind of comforted to know that his gifts went on to save so many lives. To date, it's been 114 lives that his gifts have touched."Scheduled to open in July 2024, the Gift of Hope Organ Donor Care Center at RUSH will have six ICUs, two dedicated operating rooms, a family lounge and specialized 24-hour staff. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN's Dina Bair and the Med Watch team including latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reportin...