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Missouri man sentenced for child sex crimes in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - A Missouri man was sentenced to decades in prison after pleading guilty to child sex crimes in Illinois. William E. McKay, 37, of Fredericktown, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. I-64 open after massive flooding from a main break McKay admitted to committing a sexual act with a victim younger than 13 years old in Madison County, Illinois, between November and December 2021. “We can’t begin to imagine the trauma that children and their families suffer in cases such as this,” said Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine. “We hope that this sentence allows a measure of healing for the victim, who demonstrated tremendous courage by coming forward.”The Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Child Advocacy Center and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services were all involved in the investigation.

The new Tinder? Writers looking for love on the picket line

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

As striking Hollywood writers protest working conditions and pay, some are also looking for love while on the picket line. This week, the two collided outside Universal Studios. An event called "Strike Up a Romance" was organized by "Family Guy" writer Jaydi Samuels Kuba, who also runs a matchmaking business. The event doubled as a picket line for members of the Writers Guild of America and as a singles' mixer."We get to go out, picket like we're supposed to, and maybe meet the love of our lives," writer Matt Altman told Now This News. He added. "Isn't every story about love in the end?""For us, this was just a fun opportunity for writers just to meet each other without the pressures of having to have crazy work hours," organizer Kuba told Reuters.The singles' mixer was allegedly inspired by married couples who met during the last WGA strike. The WGA has been on strike since May 2, after contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producer...

Man shot, killed after argument near Metro station in downtown Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

A man is dead after an altercation with another man resulted in gunfire near a Metro Red Line station in downtown Los Angeles late Friday night.The victim, a 36-year-old man, argued with another man, 23, outside a Metro station near Hill and 1st streets at 11:58 p.m. Friday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.The younger man pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the older man, who was struck at least once, police said.He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The shooter, meanwhile, fled on foot.While it remains to be seen if the shooting was gang-related, police did confirm that the victim was not homeless.

Has Scabby the Rat reached the end of his relevance?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — For decades, a giant, inflatable rat with beady eyes, sharp teeth and a pustule-covered belly has loomed over union protests, drawing attention to various labor disputes.But in the era of TikTok and influencer culture, middle-aged Scabby faces a new challenge: staying relevant.“It’s kind of unfortunate, changing times, older members of the public know exactly what the rat is for,” said James Smith, union activity administrator for the NYC District Council of Carpenters. “The newer generation sometimes doesn’t — one person thought that we were protesting a building that needed an exterminator.”Nevertheless, Scabby isn’t collecting hard-won retirement benefits just yet. Most recently, he has been making the rounds at various picket lines in New York for the Hollywood writers strike organized by the Writers Guild of America East and other unions. Scabby is the “true rat czar of New York City,” said WGA East communica...

Jordan Poole wraps up tumultuous season with the Warriors ahead of uncertain offseason

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — What was the biggest thing Jordan Poole learned from a volatile season that saw him get punched by a teammate, sign a nine-figure extension and end with a role reduction and intense scrutiny on the game’s biggest stage?“I learned a lot of stuff,” Poole said. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”Poole spoke Saturday morning at Chase Center after his exit interview with the organization, just about 13 hours after the Warriors’ season ended in Los Angeles with a loss to the Lakers. Poole had another rough night on Friday, only tallying seven points on 3-of-10 shooting and missing all three 3-pointers.It wrapped up a really difficult series for the fourth-year guard. After a 21-point effort in Game 1, Poole only scored 29 points in the last five games, making only 13-of-43 shots (30.2%) and just one of 17 3-pointers (5.9%).The struggles on the court seemed to be met by visible frustration from Poole throughout the Western Conference semifinals. Poole was shown expres...

U.S. Presidential Scholars: 7 Bay Area teens win prestigious award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

Seven Bay Area high schoolers have been named 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars, an honor awarded to only 161 students in the nation.Three were honored for general academic excellence:Annmaria K. Antony, San Jose, Harker SchoolElane Kim, Walnut Creek, Stanford University Online High SchoolAaron Hieu Tran, Morgan Hill, Ann Sobrato High SchoolThree were honored for excellence in the arts:Zoe Wijesekara Dorado, Castro Valley, Castro Valley High School (writing)Miranda A. Lu, San Jose, Leland High School (visual arts)Gavin Ray Trotmore, Berkeley, Berkeley High School (design arts)One was honored for excellence in career or technical education:Sezen S. Musa, Sunnyvale, Wilcox High School (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)The awards were announced this week by the U.S. Education Department. The list of semifinalists, released last month, included 16 Bay Area students.Those in the general academic division qualify through SAT or ACT scores and are invited to submit a packet de...

NCS softball playoffs: First-round matchups in all six divisions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.Division IWednesday’s first roundNo. 16 San Leandro (16-10) at No. 1 San Ramon Valley (20-5), 5 p.m.No. 8 Heritage (15-5) at No. 9 James Logan (20-3-1), 7 p.m.No. 13 Monte Vista (11-10) at No. 4 Freedom (16-8), 5 p.m.No. 12 Liberty (12-14) at No. 5 Clayton Valley Charter (16-5), 5 p.m.No. 15 Bishop O’Dowd (13-11) at No. 2 Granada (19-5), 5 p.m.No. 7 Amador Valley (15-11) at No. 10 Castro Valley (15-7), 5 p.m.No. 14 Arroyo (10-12) at No. 3 California (17-8), 5 p.m.No. 11 Vintage (17-9) at No. 6 College Park (16-8), 5 p.m.Division IITuesday’s first roundNo. 16 Ukiah (17-6) at No. 1 Redwood (18-4-1), 5 p.m.No. 8 Marin C...

NCS baseball playoffs: First-round matchups in all six divisions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.BaseballDivision ITuesday’s first roundNo. 16 Castro Valley (10-15) at No. 1 De La Salle (20-5), 5 p.m.No. 9 Dublin (16-8) vs. No. 8 Liberty (16-9) at Pittsburg HS, 5 p.m.No. 13 Freedom (13-11) at No. 4 Amador Valley (18-5), 5 p.m.No. 12 Pittsburg (18-9) at No. 5 Granada (20-7), 5 p.m.No. 15 Antioch (15-9) at No. 2 San Ramon Valley (18-9), 5 p.m.No. 10 Berkeley (18-7) at No. 7 Heritage (19-7), 5 p.m.No. 14 College Park (11-13) at No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter (19-5), 5 p.m.No. 6 Foothill (15-9) at No. 11 James Logan (18-6), 5 p.m.Division IIWednesday’s first roundNo. 16 Northgate (9-14) at No. 1 Casa Granada (19-5), 5...

El día después: cómo está la frontera sur de EEUU tras el fin del Título 42

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

EL PASO, Texas — En su frontera con México, Estados Unidos logró voltear con relativa calma la página de las restricciones a la inmigración impuestas durante la pandemia, mientras los migrantes se adaptan a las nuevas y estrictas normas destinadas a desalentar los cruces ilegales y esperan que se cumpla la promesa de nuevas vías legales de entrada al país.Un día entero después de que se eliminaran las normas conocidas como Título 42, migrantes y funcionarios gubernamentales seguían evaluando los efectos de la nueva normativa del gobierno del presidente Joe Biden con la esperanza de estabilizar la región fronteriza y socavar a los contrabandistas que cobran a los migrantes para llegar allí.Ahora, Estados Unidos básicamente prohíbe a los inmigrantes solicitar asilo en el país si no lo pidieron antes en línea o si no buscaron protección primero en los países por los que viajaron. El dato clave que define quiénes pueden solicitar asilo en EEUU CB...

Buffalo Bills sign 1st-round draft pick Dalton Kincaid to 4-year contract

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:33 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills signed rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid to a four-year contract on Saturday in a move that locks up the team’s entire six-member draft class.Buffalo traded up two spots to select the Utah product with the 25th overall selection last month. Kincaid led FBS tight ends with eight touchdowns receiving last season and finished with 16 overall in three years at Utah.Under-recruited coming out of high school in Nevada, Kincaid spent his first two college seasons at San Diego, where he led FCS tight ends in averaging nearly 19 yards per catch in 2019.Kincaid’s pass-catching ability and versatility in being able to play off the ball as a receiver provides him the potential of filling an immediate need on Buffalo’s Josh Allen-run offense. He can fill the slot receiver’s role, which is open after the team did not re-sign Isaiah McKenzie this offseason.The signing was announced on the second day of the Bills’ three-day rookie minicamp and comes t...