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FBI: Financial sextortion cases rising in Chicago area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

CHICAGO — A new report from the FBI indicates an alarming increase in financial sextortion cases nationwide, especially in the Chicago area. Nationwide reports of sextortion cases jumped 463% from 2021 to 2022, with a 539% rise in local cases. FBI seeing ‘explosion’ in reports of young boys being extorted online There was a 322% rise nationally in financial sextortion cases with a 383% increase in Chicago. Conventional sextortion typically targets young women and girls for the purpose of obtaining sexual content.Targets of financial sextortion tend to be young men and boys with the ultimate goal of getting money. Grieving mom warns about ‘sextortion’ after son’s death The FBI has a number of resources online to help people prevent becoming a victim, including a program for children in grades 3 through 8 to teach them about online safety through a video game.The program is offered in English and Spanish.The FBI encourages people to be selective about what they share online, be wa...

49 percent agree with criminal case being brought against Trump: poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

Just under half of Americans say they think it was right for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) to pursue criminal charges against Trump for his role in a 2016 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, according to a new Reuters-Ipsos poll released on Friday.However, that 49 percent breaks down drastically along party lines, with 84 percent of Democrat respondents agreeing with the decision to bring charges compared to the just 16 percent of Republican respondents who said the same, the poll found.This partisan split reflects the difference of opinion in Washington, where Republican lawmakers have repeatedly denounced the case as “politically motivated” and an “unprecedented abuse of power.”Republicans in the Reuters poll largely agreed with such sentiments, with 76 percent saying some members of law enforcement are attempting to delegitimize Trump through politically motivated investigations.The vast majority of American respondents — 73 percent — say...

Daniel Perry found guilty of murder in protester's death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 6, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The trial for Daniel Perry ended Friday, and after jury deliberation, he was found guilty of murder for the death of a man during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest.Perry faced one count of murder and another count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after the deadly shooting of Garrett Foster in the streets of downtown Austin on July 25, 2020. While he was found guilty of murder, the jury found that he was not guilty of the aggravated assault charge. Austin police report from July 2020 incidentAccording to APD’s description of the incident, a car turned on Congress Avenue near 4th Street at 9:51 p.m. into where a group of protesters was marching against police violence. Protesters surrounded the car. Foster was armed with an assault-style weapon and was one of the protesters who surrounded the car.Former Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said that is when the driver, later id...

Where to hunt for Easter eggs this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Spring has sprung! And though Friday was dreary, KXAN meteorologists are forecasting a mild, partly cloudy Easter – perfect for hunting down colorful treat-filled eggs left, in theory, by a large, cartoonish rabbit. If you’ve got kiddos who are keen to hunt down some eggs – or you’re an adult who still likes to partake in the celebration (I’m not here to judge!) – here is a list of some egg-celent Easter egg hunt opportunities around the area:Houston-Tillotson University Where? Houston-Tillotson University at 900 Chicon Street, Austin, TX 78702.When? From 10:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. Saturday. How much? Free!This Easter celebration invites children of all ages for the 17th annual easter egg hunt at the University. Keeping with the University theme, children have the opportunity to win a $500 scholarship prize egg, prize eggs for school supplies and eggs with candy and coins. Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt at the Fairmont AustinWhere? Fairmont Austin at 1...

These features can help your home sell faster — and for more — according to Zillow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Homes in the Austin area are taking a lot longer to sell these days. Back in May 2022, the average home for sale in the metro area spent just 15 days on the market.In February 2023, that figure had jumped to 84 days, according to the latest housing report from the Austin Board of Realtors. That's the longest average in 11 years.But new insight from Zillow might be able to help some homeowners find a buyer faster. The property website looked at features in homes nationwide to determine what additions can cut time spent on the market and rake in more money.Zillow says it looked at 271 features and design terms in listing descriptions from nearly 2 million sales last year.Features that can make your home sell fasterHomes that sell faster than expected often boast practical features which attract competing buyers, Zillow says. Features like this include doorbell cameras and fenced backyards.Here are the top 10 features that can help you find a buyer quicker:FeatureDays ...

Nelly's new 'MoShine' moonshine mixes business and pleasure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Nelly is blending "southern swagger and heartland hustle" with a new alcoholic drink called MoShine. The 60-proof corn-based moonshine comes in peach and passion fruit flavors and is meant to be consumed by the shot, or mixed into drinks."I'm taking a country tradition and mixing it up for everyone to enjoy," states Nelly in a press release. Top Story: Fenton clerk recounts terrifying gunpoint robbery and assault The spirit is made in collaboration with Piedmont Distillers. They say it mixes well with lemon-lime soda, sweet tea, lemonade, and energy drinks.MoShine premiered at an American wine and spirits industry convention with celebrity guests. Nelly treated attendees to a performance of some of his biggest chart-topping hits. The drink is now being rolled out across the country. It can also be ordered online at DrinkMoShine.com.

Polis’ sweeping zoning reform set for tweaks as battle lines take shape

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

Gov. Jared Polis’ marquee zoning reform bill received its first public hearing before legislators Thursday, a 12-hour marathon meeting that featured a revolving door of experts, local government officials, housing advocates and residents jostling to change one of the most far-reaching measures being considered in the Capitol this year.Change is certain: The bill’s sponsor, Commerce City Democrat Sen. Dominick Moreno, circulated a 21-bulletpoint list of amendments before the hearing began that would tweak affordability, the bill’s impact on rural-resort towns and density requirements.Those changes, which a Senate committee will likely consider next week, may satisfy concerns of housing advocates that the bill doesn’t do enough to ensure new development is affordable. But they’re unlikely to appease local government officials, who have become the bill’s most fervent critics. SB23-213 proposes to reshape the state’s locally set zoning rules in ...

ACLU appeals ruling allowing Colorado sheriff to continue operating federal immigration program in county jail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado is appealing a judge’s ruling that allows the Teller County sheriff to continue operating a program under which deputies can conduct federal immigration enforcement.Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell has been operating under a 287(g) agreement, a program state and local law enforcement agencies can enter into with the federal government, which trains and allows deputies to enforce federal immigration laws.In the Teller County jail, that means the deputies who go through the program can identify inmates as immigrants who are potentially violating civil immigration law and then hold them until Immigration and Customs Enforcement picks them up for immigration detention.But the ACLU contends that this goes beyond a county sheriff’s authority and is a violation of the Colorado Constitution — because inmates are held beyond their release date without a signed judge’s order — and a 2019 state law that limits coo...

Attempted murder suspect who led police on wild chase taken into custody in West Carson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

An attempted murder suspect is in custody in West Carson after leading authorities on a wild chase through Los Angeles. The chase began in the area of 99th Street and Avalon Boulevard around 12:10 p.m, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, who had no additional information about the attempted murder the suspect was wanted for. The driver was in a silver or champagne-colored four-door pickup truck that had already suffered some damage, including to its tires.After about 20 minutes, the driver entered Inglewood and drove at a slower pace through a residential area.Even after leaving the residential area, the truck continued at speeds of about 20 mph, though the vehicle had a noticeable lean toward its right side.Once the truck left Inglewood, the driver began intentionally ramming other vehicles that were in its way. When that didn't work, three people ran from the pickup.One person then hopped into another vehicle, an SUV, which police also pursued.The SUV appeared undamage...

California seeks federal help for salmon fishers facing ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — California officials are seeking millions of dollars in federal disaster relief for the state's salmon fishing industry, they said Friday following the closure of recreational and commercial king salmon fishing seasons along much of the West Coast due to near-record low numbers of the iconic fish returning to their spawning grounds.Dealing a blow to the Pacific Northwest’s salmon fishing industry, the Pacific Fishery Management Council approved the closure Thursday for fall-run Chinook fishing from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the California-Mexico border. Limited recreational salmon fishing will be allowed off southern Oregon in the fall.Much of the salmon caught off Oregon originate in California’s Klamath and Sacramento rivers. After hatching in freshwater, they spend an average of three years maturing in the Pacific, where many are snagged by commercial fishermen, before migrating back to their spawning grounds, where conditions are more ideal to give birth...