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Historic Pettis County church burns after suspect lightning strike

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

SEDALIA, Mo. - Sedalia, Missouri got hammered by rainfall Tuesday morning, recording five-plus inches of rain in the span of a few hours.With all the rain passing through the area also came a lot of lightning. That's what is being blamed for the damage at the Bahner Church near the intersection of Route V and Bahner Road, just south of Sedalia.Bahner Church is what it's known as colloquially. It's official name is St. John the Evangelist Chapel, described as a Catholic church with a generational history.Now the church is reduced to ash, still smoldering.Church to her grandpa and beyond, 7-year-old Charli Bahner says she thought the building would always be there."My heart's like beating fast and stuff," Bahner said."Up there, there was like a front that was kind of like a stage. And there, before the front, there was like benches and stuff," she said."My grandma's like 'Oh my gosh, Bahner Church burnt down.' Then my mom called grandma and said it got shocked by lightning," she said....

Transgender former student sues Missouri school for making her use boys' bathrooms

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (AP) — A transgender former student sued a Missouri school district on Monday for forcing her to use the boys’ bathrooms or the high school's only single-stall bathroom.The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri sued Platte County R-3 School District on behalf of the transgender female former student, identified in the lawsuit only as R.F.The former student received detention twice for using the girls' restroom, according to the lawsuit. She said a male classmate harassed her and threatened her with rape when she used the boys' bathroom.The lawsuit argues the school violated her rights by requiring her to use the bathroom that aligned with her sex assigned at birth or the school's single-stall gender-neutral bathroom.“Forcing transgender students to use the bathroom or locker room that matches their sex designated at birth is not only discrimination but dangerous and causes serious harm to Missouri’s youth,” said Gillian Wilcox, deputy director of litigation a...

Ahead of MLS transfer deadline, Colorado Rapids make a pair of outbound trades as Bryan Acosta, Anthony Markanich depart

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

With just over 24 hours to go in the 2023 MLS secondary transfer market window, on Tuesday the Colorado Rapids dealt a pair of players to fellow Western Conference playoff contenders in exchange for capital and a future draft pick.Here’s a breakdown of both trades the Rapids made, which came after Colorado was bounced out of the League Cup Monday night against Liga MX side Toluca in disappointing fashion. After a three-week break, the Rapids will have 11 games remaining to turn the season around and cobble together something of a playoff push even though the team is currently in last place in the Western Conference.Bryan Acosta heads to Portland for up to $325,000 in GAMThe Rapids traded midfielder Bryan Acosta to the Portland Timbers in exchange for $150,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM), plus upward of $175,000 in 2024 conditional GAM if certain performance metrics are met during the rest of the 2023 season.Acosta joined Colorado ahead of the 2022 campaign via the M...

National group joins search for missing L.A. girl, 12

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is boosting efforts to find a 12-year-old girl from San Pedro who disappeared in mid-July.Isabella Poland left her home around 4:20 p.m. on July 15, according to Los Angeles Police.Several days later, she was captured on surveillance video at the Montclair Place shopping mall, roughly 50 miles from her home, with an unknown male.Isabella’s mom, Linda Poland, told NCMEC that her family is heartbroken.Isabella Poland (Los Angeles Police Department)“Isabella, we love you and need you home. Please reach out to us, we promise that you are not in trouble. We just want to know that you are okay,” Linda Poland told the NCMEC.Poland does not have a cell phone and was not allowed to use social media, authorities said.She is described as a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs around 130 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans.Anyone with information about Isab...

2 Orange County residents accused of targeting elderly Vietnamese Americans in scheme

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

Two Orange County residents are facing federal charges after allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $2 million by stealing the identities of homeowners and tricking banks into cashing out mortgages on those properties, according to the U.S. Justice Department.Thao Thi Kim Nguyen, 47, of Garden Grove, and Nghiep Chinh Nguyen, 55, of Westminster, were charged by a federal grand jury and pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Monday.Both are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. Thao Nguyen is also charged with seven counts of bank fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft, while Nghiep Nguyen is charged further with two counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, officials said.The defendants allegedly primarily targeted elderly Vietnamese Americans during their scheme.As part of their fraudulent behavior, the defendants obtained a type of mortgage that allows homeowners to convert home equity into cash by borrow...

90s sitcom actor arrested on domestic violence, robbery charges

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

An actor from the popular '90s sitcom “Home Improvement” is facing charges following an alleged domestic violence incident, KTLA sister station KOIN reports.Court documents show Zachery Ty Bryan, known for his role as eldest son Brad Taylor in “Home Improvement,” was arrested in Lane County, Oregon on July 31 for alleged domestic violence, robbery and harassment charges, court documents show.“The defendant, on or about July 22, 2023, in Lane County, Oregon, did unlawfully and recklessly cause physical injury to [the victim],” court documents filed by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office state. “The State further alleges that the foregoing crime constituted domestic violence.”Additional details have not been released about the case. Bryan was still being held in jail as of Monday, according to USA Today.Actor Zachery Ty Bryan attends P.S. ARTS and OneWest Bank's Express Yourself 2016 at Barker Hangar on November 13, 2016, in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Joshua Blanchard...

Driver Killed in Rear-End Crash on Interstate 17 [New River, AZ]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

Deadly Rear-End Crash on Interstate 17 near New River Road Left One Driver DeadNEW RIVER, AZ (August 1, 2023) – Early Saturday morning, a two-vehicle rear-end crash on Interstate 17 left a driver dead.The incident happened July 29th, at about 3:45 a.m., in the northbound lanes of the freeway.According to the Arizona Department of Public, a vehicle rear-ended a semi-truck near mile marker 233, about a mile north of New River Road. The collision caused the driver to sustain serious injuries.Emergency crews were dispatched to the area shortly after. There, officials pronounced the involved driver dead at the scene, due to the extent of his injuries. His identity has not yet been released by authorities.It was later reported that no other person was injured in the incident. At this time, the cause of the crash is still under investigation.The Sweet James team sends our warm and sincerest sympathies to the friends and family of the victim. May the memories of your loved one and the...

Who are the co-conspirators in the election interference indictment?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

By Marshall Cohen | CNNThe historic indictment against Donald Trump in the special counsel’s probe into January 6, 2021, and efforts to overturn the 2020 election says that he “enlisted co-conspirators to assist him in his criminal efforts.”The charging documents repeatedly reference six of these co-conspirators, but as is common practice, their identities are withheld because they have not been charged with any crimes.CNN, however, can identify five of the six co-conspirators based on quotes in the indictment and other context.They include:Co-Conspirator 1 is former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.Among other things, the indictment quotes from a voicemail that Co-Conspirator 1 left “for a United States Senator” on January 6, 2021. The quotes in the indictment match quotes from Giuliani’s call intended for GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville, as reported by CNN and other outlets.Co-Conspirator 2 is former Trump lawyer John Eastman.Among other things, the indictment says Co-Conspirator 2 “circulate...

Explainer: What is Donald Trump indicted for this time?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

By Alanna Durkin Richer | Associated PressDonald Trump for years has promoted baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. In truth, Trump was the one who tried to steal the election, federal prosecutors said Tuesday in a sprawling indictment that paints the former president as desperate to cling to power.The Justice Department indictment accuses Trump of conspiring with allies and concocting various schemes in a brazen attempt to overturn his election loss to President Joe Biden as his legal challenges floundered in court.The charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution team are built around the words of Trump’s advisers, White House lawyers and others in his inner circle who repeatedly told him there was no fraud.It’s the third time this year the early front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary has been charged in a criminal case. But it’s the first case to try to hold Trump responsible for his efforts to remain i...

Contra Costa DA files murder, DUI charges against Tracy man who allegedly killed wife in Byron Highway crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:25 GMT

MARTINEZ — A Tracy man who allegedly told officers he’d had roughly a dozen alcoholic drinks at a bar before crashing his car on Byron Highway last month has been charged with his killing his wife in the wreck, court records show.Andre Avaloz, 36, was charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving in the July 15 crash that killed 38-year-old Anna Avaloz, which occurred around 11 p.m. The charges were filed four days after the crash, and Andre Avaloz is set to be arraigned before Judge Patricia Scanlon later this month, according to court records.According to the California Highway Patrol, Avaloz was traveling roughly 85 mph when he lost control of his Chevrolet Suburban and crashed into a drainage ditch near Clifton Court, injuring himself and killing his wife. Avaloz allegedly spoke with officers who arrived minutes after the crash, telling them that he and his wife had been at the Wild Idol Bar in Byron, and that he drank five to six shots of vodka...