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Arizona boy hospitalized twice before death in state care

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

A 9-year-old boy who died last year while in the care of Arizona’s child welfare agency was hospitalized twice for a life-threatening diabetes complication in the weeks leading up to his death, according to an autopsy report released this month.The state took Jakob Blodgett into its custody on Dec. 9 after his father, Richard Blodgett, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession. Before the end of the year, Jakob was dead.The Maricopa County medical examiner’s report listed the boy’s cause of death as complications of Type 1 diabetes, including the serious complication known as ketoacidosis. The manner of death was listed as natural.Blodgett, 47, has said his son was diagnosed with diabetes as a toddler, meaning his body couldn’t produce enough insulin to survive.Blodgett, who already had a drug case pending when he was arrested, remains in custody in Holbrook, about three hours outside of Phoenix. In a message sent Monday night from the facility, he said he has been st...

Maine shooter had conviction prohibiting gun possession

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

BOWDOIN, Maine (AP) — A Maine man who police say killed four people in a home and then shot three others randomly on a busy highway had a criminal history that should have prevented him from legally possessing a gun, according to state records.The shootings in Maine began in the small town of Bowdoin, where four people were killed Tuesday. Then a chaotic scene developed in which shots were fired at vehicles on an interstate highway over 20 miles away in the community of Yarmouth, police said. Three people were shot there, and one remained in critical condition Wednesday.“This is an active investigation with a lot of moving parts,” Shannon Moss, state police spokesperson, said Wednesday.The gunman, identified as Joseph Eaton, 34, of Bowdoin, was charged with four counts of murder but was not immediately charged in the highway shootings, she said. He was jailed while awaiting a court appearance. It was unclear if he had an attorney to speak on his behalf, a jail official s...

Stock market today: Wall Street slips, erasing gain for week

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is slipping Wednesday following mixed earnings reports from big U.S. companies and another signal that inflation remains painfully hot around the world.The S&P 500 was 0.5% lower in early trading, threatening to erase the gain it’s built so far this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 141 points, or 0.4%, at 33,835, as of 9:45 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.5% lower. The Nasdaq was lagging the market as high-growth and tech stocks had some of the market’s sharper losses. They were hurt in part by higher yields in the bond market, which rose after a report showed U.K. inflation remained above 10% for a seventh straight month. Central banks around the world have been raising rates at a furious pace for more than a year, and the wide expectation is for the Federal Reserve to raise short-term U.S. rates again at its meeting next month. High rates can stifle inflation, but only by slowing the entire economy, raising the ris...

Spain’s Sánchez warns drought now a major national concern

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain’s prime minister warned lawmakers Wednesday that the acute drought afflicting the southern European country has become one of its leading long-term concerns.“The government of Spain and I are aware that the debate surrounding drought is going to be one of the central political and territorial debates of our country over the coming years,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told the Madrid-based Parliament.The territorial tensions between regions over water that Sánchez referred to are already being seen in protests over the rerouting of water and disputes between farmers and ecologists.Three years of scant rainfall and high temperatures put Spain officially into long-term drought last month.The national weather service said 2022 was the hottest year ever recorded, when average daily temperatures rose above 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time since records started in 1961. The country has warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (34 F) since the 19...

WATCH LIVE | Mayor Lightfoot presides over final scheduled Chicago City Council meeting

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot will preside over her final scheduled Chicago City Council meeting Wednesday.Along with Lightfoot, several members of city council will also be attending their last scheduled meeting, with a number of speeches expected honoring those who are leaving.This was certainly not how Lightfoot wanted this to go. She did not make it to the run-off after finishing third in the February election. Lightfoot is leaving Brandon Johnson's administration, however, in a better place budget-wise than previous outgoing mayors have done for their predocessors.She reportedly passed along some advice to Johnson's administration — don't screw this up.Lightfoot will likely be remembered for her combative style of politics and guiding the city through COVID-19.Along with Lightfoot, about a dozen city council members will enter the chamber for the last time Wednesday as sitting alderpersons, barring of course any emergency meetings. Brandon Joh...

Ohio 13-year-old dies after trying TikTok challenge

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A 13-year-old Ohio boy has died after participating in a TikTok challenge.Jacob Stevens, of Greenfield, was taken off life support this week after he overdosed on Benadryl.The social media challenge advises users to take 12 to 14 pills to hallucinate. TikTok removed all videos relating to the challenge and is now offering resources for substance abuse.Justin Stevens, Jacob’s father, had confirmed on a GoFundMe page that his son would be removed from life support because he had "no brain activity.""We do not think it's fair to keep him on this," wrote Justin Stevens, who was asking for donations "so that we can have a proper funeral and send off."Jacob’s parents described him as well-mannered, funny and loving. He enjoyed listening to music, playing football and spending time with his friends, according to his obituary. ‘Incredibly lethal’: Drug Enforcement Administration breaks down xylazine risk Following the teen's death, local substance abuse officials are...

Texas cheerleader shot after parking lot mix-up outside grocery store

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) — A Texas high school cheerleader was hospitalized Tuesday night after a shooting in a grocery store parking lot. Elgin Police said a 25-year-old man fired shots into a car at an H-E-B parking lot and injured two people. Lynn Shearer, owner of Woodland's Elite Cheer Co., said four cheerleaders who go to her gym were involved in the shooting. "It was unfortunate. These girls were just trying to get home," Shearer said. Shearer said the cheerleaders carpool from the Austin area to her gym in Eglin."These kids have grown up in our gym. We've known them for years, some of them literally, since they were, you know, 8, 10 years old," Shearer said. "So they're like our family."Shearer said Washington is well-known across the country for her cheerleading. (Photo: Jacky Sauceda)Shearer said Washington is well-known across the country for her cheerleading. (Photo: Jacky Sauceda)Shearer said Washington is well-known across the country for her cheerleading. (Photo: Jacky Sau...

Dean's Home Video: 'The Diplomat,' 'Dead Ringers,' & more

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

CHICAGO — A show that centers around an ambassador to the UK & a show based on a 1980s psychological thriller are among the new streaming releases this week. "The Diplomat" stars Keri Russell as the new Ambassador to Britain which debuts Thursday on Netflix. Meanwhile, "Dead Ringers," which was released in 1988 as a film, gets a new life in 2023 as a Prime Video miniseries that's set to stream on Friday.Dean Richards featured both of these on this week's edition of "Dean's Home Video" on Wednesday's WGN Morning News.He also discussed other releases like Season 2 of "Beavis & Butthead," "Ghosted," "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once and Always," "Dear Mama," and more.You can watch this edition of "Dean's Home Video" from the April 19th WGN Morning News in the video above.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Dean cooks asparagus pesto pasta with chicken 

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

Dean Richards is celebrating spring and making sparagus pesto pasta with chicken Ingredients:1 bunch, asparagus (about 1 lb.), trimmed in half on a bias. 1 lb. thin chicken cutlets (about ½-inch thick)1 Tbsp. olive oil, divided1 tsp.  Italian seasoning Salt and pepper16 oz. pasta of your choice (I like farfalle or gemelli for presentation)For the Pesto:1 bunch asparagus spears (about 1 pound), trimmed of tough ends and cut in 3 inch pieces3 handfuls baby spinach leaves2 cloves garlic, peeled1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping1 cup pine nuts1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for toppingJuice 1/2 lemon1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt Dean shares recipes for puff pastries Directions: Bring 2 pots of water to a rolling boil;  one for the pasta and one for the asparagus.While the water is heating, put the pine nuts in a single layer in a large ski...

Round Rock school temporarily locked down due to 'suspicious' person with weapon nearby

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:56:56 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- A Round Rock middle school was placed on a brief lockdown Wednesday morning after reports of a "suspicious" person with weapons nearby. Hernandez Middle School was placed on lockdown while the Round Rock Independent School District investigated the reports, Dr. Patricia Ephlin with RRISD said.RRISD didn't find evidence of a person with weapons nearby, and the lockdown was lifted. Ephlin said the middle school will resume the day as scheduled. Parents and guardians were notified when the lockdown was issued, according to Ephlin. The notice to parents and guardians said that the Round Rock Police Department was also inside the campus to ensure it was clear.