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Lourdes shrine reviewing mosaics after Jesuit abuse claims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

ROME (AP) — Officials at the Catholic shrine in Lourdes announced the creation of a study group Friday to decide what to do with one of the French sanctuary’s most famous but now controversial attractions: mosaics by a Jesuit artist who has been sanctioned by the Vatican and his religious order for sexually, spiritually and psychologically abusing women.The Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik designed the facade of one of the three basilicas at Lourdes with a series of mosaics in 2008 to mark the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions that turned the shrine in southwest France into one of the world’s biggest pilgrimage sites, attracting around 3 million visitors a year.In December, the Jesuits revealed that Rupnik had been declared excommunicated by the Vatican in 2020 for committing one of the worst crimes in church law — using the confessional to absolve a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual activity — and had also been accused by nine women of related sexual, spiritual and psycholog...

Live Chicago severe weather: Tornado watch, storms through Friday night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

The Chicago area is under a tornado watch until 10 p.m. Friday.Two rounds of storms are forecasted between the hours of 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. The first round set to move into the Chicago area around 4 p.m. as super cell thunderstorms. These storms pose a tornado threat and a golf-ball sized hail threat. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here A cold front then moves through around 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. bring another round of very quickly moving severe weather. These storms also pose the threat of tornadoes. The storms are likely to move through at a rate of 50-60 mph so any tornado warnings will be quick and offer not much time. It's advised that residents be prepared in advanced and stay tuned to WGNTV and the weather app for alerts and updates. Tom Skilling also suggests anyone with any porch furniture or outdoor items susceptible to strong wings should bring them inside. These storms are set to bring potentially dangerous and destructive winds with...

Tornado emergency issued for Little Rock and nearby areas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for Arkansas's capital of Little Rock and surrounding areas on Friday, warning that 350,000 people are in danger from a “confirmed large and destructive tornado.”Forecasters say “a large and destructive” tornado touched down Friday afternoon in Little Rock and North Little Rock. The violent twister was seen in video posted online plowing through neighborhoods and business districts of Little Rock and surrounding areas. Aerial footage showed several rooftops reduced to splinters in Little Rock and nearby Benton, vehicles were toppled over and debris was scattered across roadways.There were no immediate reports of injuries. Passengers and airport employees at Clinton National Airport in Little Rock took shelter in bathrooms. Massive storms brewing over at least 15 states in the Midwest and southern U.S. on Friday have meteorologists urging people to brace for dangerous weather including tornadoes, saying the...

Bolingbrook teen told he’s indicted on 3 murder charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago teen accused of fatally shooting his 17-year-old girlfriend, a 9-year-old girl and the child’s father was told Thursday a grand jury has indicted him on three charges of first-degree murder.Byrion Montgomery, 17, of Bolingbrook, went before a Will County judge and was informed that the grand jury indicted him in the March 5 slayings of 40-year-old Cartez Daniels, 17-year-old Samiya A. Shelton-Tilman and Sanai Daniels, 9. Bolingbrook victims ID’d, teen gunman was dating 17-year-old Judge Dave Carlson told Montgomery, who is currently being held at the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center in Joliet, that he will be transferred to the Will County Jail after he turns 18 on April 27, the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reported.Carlson also granted an order to have Montgomery submit to DNA testing. Bolingbrook victims ID’d, teen gunman was dating 17-year-old The 13-count indictment contained the same adult charges that were filed...

Man arrested, 19 guns found after Austin road rage incident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was booked into jail Wednesday in connection to a January road rage incident on the Interstate 35 frontage road, the Austin Police Department said in a release.On Jan. 30, a caller told APD a man pulled a gun out and pointed it at two people, including a child, in another vehicle in the 5700 block of the South I-35 frontage road, which is in central Austin near Koenig Lane, APD said.Detectives identified the man as 23-year-old Austin Martin, the release states.Firearms discovered at Austin home. Photo: Austin Police DepartmentMartin was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, APD said.KXAN has reached out to an attorney representing Martin. This story will be updated if we receive a statement.Deeper into the investigation, detectives conducted a warranted search of Martin's home and found 19 guns on March 29, according to APD.Martin remained in custody at Travis County jail Friday, and according to jail records, his bond was set at $...

Lockout lifted: Middle school in Buda placed on lockout as 'safety precaution'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A lockout at McCormick Middle School in Buda was lifted at 11 a.m. Friday, according to the Hays County Sheriff's Office. At 9:34 a.m., HCSO said the middle school was placed on a lockout as a "safety precaution."The sheriff said deputies were working an incident off Hillside Terrace near Denise Ellen Drive in Buda. The tweet from the sheriff did not say what the incident was related to.In another tweet, the sheriff said this was an active investigation, and HCSO would provide an update as more information becomes available.“Please be mindful this will cause a traffic backup in the area,” HCSO said.According to Hays County ISD, a lockout is when there is a threat outside of the building.This is a developing story. Check back with KXAN for more information.

Texas DPS Chief EEO officer suspended after arrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (Nexstar) — A leader within the Texas Department of Public Safety was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, according to Williamson County jail records. The Austin Police Department arrested Nathanael Haddox, the chief equal employment and opportunity officer for DPS, Thursday.Haddox was "suspended pending an investigation into the circumstances of this incident," DPS told KXAN.Nathanael Haddox (Williamson County Sheriff's Office Photo)Haddox had a personal recognizance bond originally set for $1,000, but it was waived. As of Friday morning, the chief DPS officer was released on bond, according to Williamson County Jail records.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

'I am scared. I am terrified': Daniel Perry's 911 call played in court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 31, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) –  On the fourth day of Daniel Perry’s trial, the man accused of murdering Garrett Foster at a July 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstration, state attorneys played a 911 call Perry made following the deadly incident. “I made a wrong turn, a guy pointed a freakin weapon at me and I panicked. I don’t know what to do. I’m just an Uber driver. I made a wrong turn; I’ve never had to shoot someone before. They started shooting back at me, and I got out of the area,” Perry told a 911 operator. MORE: Daniel Perry trial day 3: Witnesses recall deadly shooting at Austin protest “I am scared. I am terrified. I am worried that they are going to go after me,” he told the operator. “I’ve never had to defend myself before.” Former Austin Police Department Officer Joshua Visi responded and found a very distressed Perry.Follow reporter Sam Stark's live updates from day 4 of court below:Tweets by Sam...

Jurors begin deliberations in St. Paul quadruple murder trial. Suggs claims self-defense.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

A Ramsey County jury has begun deliberations in the murder trial of Antoine Suggs, a St. Paul man accused of shooting and killing four passengers in his Mercedes-Benz while driving along West Seventh Street, and then dumping the car with their bodies 65 miles away in a Wisconsin cornfield.Following closing arguments, the dozen jurors received their final instructions shortly after 12:20 p.m. Friday, and were expected to deliver a verdict by 7 p.m. or reconvene either Saturday or Monday at the judge’s discretion.Antoine Suggs (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Suggs, who took the witness stand in his own defense on Thursday, did not deny killing each of his passengers — Nitosha Lee Flug-Presley, Loyace Foreman III, Matthew Pettus and Jasmine Sturm — whom he had just met hours earlier. He maintained, however, he acted in self-defense after the woman in the passenger seat next to him allegedly drew a gun while her friends used coded language to plot...

John Shipley: St. Paul Saints’ new owners know that fun is good business

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:25 GMT

For 30 years, the St. Paul Saints were in many ways the team’s owners, two of them, anyway. Marv Goldklang might have had his name on the ownership group, but he was happy to watch partners Mike Veeck and Bill Murray become the collective face of the franchise.The Saints might have brought some big-name major leaguers through St. Paul — Leon Durham, Daryll Strawberry, Jack Morris among them — but they, like all the Saints’ players, came and went. Veeck and Murray were the constant, routinely showing up at Midway Stadium and CHS Field to oversee the Saints’ unique brand of merry mayhem.That officially changed Thursday when Baseball Diamond Holdings completed its purchase of the team.“I’m not Mike or Bill,” said Peter Freund, CEO of Diamond Baseball Holdings, which owns 16 minor-league teams in 14 states. “I love them to death, and they’re creative geniuses, and I’m still partners with them in South Carolina, but no, that’s not me.”And it doesn’t need to be.During the Saints’ years as...