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Rail operator pleads guilty in Scottish train crash that killed 3 in 2020

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A British rail operator pleaded guilty Thursday to safety failures that led to a train derailment that killed three people and injured six others three years ago in Scotland.Network Rail admitted in High Court in Aberdeen, Scotland, that it failed to ensure the safety of passengers and rail workers before extreme rainfall unleashed a slide that buried the tracks in rocks and gravel and caused the train to derail and topple down a hill. Train driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, were killed in the Aug. 12, 2020 crash near the coastal town of Stonehaven.Stuchbury, who died on his wedding anniversary, wasn’t supposed to be on that train but had boarded it in hopes of making a transfer down the line after his original train headed toward Edinburgh was canceled because of severe weather. “He had one last trip before retirement,” his widow, Diane, said in a statement read in court by a prosecutor. “On ...

3 charged after 2 men shot, killed in Chicago Heights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. — Three men have been charged following a deadly double shooting in Chicago Heights on Sunday morning.At around 4 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to the 500 block of 14th Place on the report of shots fired.When officers arrived on scene, they found two men, ages 30 and 32, with apparent gunshot wounds.Both men died at the hospital.Three men were taken into custody during the initial investigation. Alexis Mendoza, 19, and Adrian Romo-Trejo, 24, were both charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Previous: 2 dead after apparent shooting in Chicago Heights, police say Additionally, Jesus Mendoza, 43, was charged with aggravated battery.Alexis Mendoza and Romo-Trejo were held without bond. Jesus Mendoza was given a $100,000 bond.

Pedestrian, 61, struck and killed by car in Peotone

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

PEOTONE, Ill. — A 61-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle in Peotone.The incident happened around 7:50 p.m. Wednesday on Route 50 and Corning Avenue. Police said the 61-year-old man was transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee, where he was pronounced dead. The victim's identity has not yet been released. 16-year-old seriously injured, 3 others hurt in Northwest Indiana crash The 17-year-old driver of the vehicle was treated and released at the scene.The crash remains under investigation.

An American researcher is trapped more than 3,000 feet inside a cave in southern Turkey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish and international cave rescue experts worked Thursday to reach an American researcher who got trapped inside a cave in southern Turkey at a depth of more than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) after he became ill.Mark Dickey, 40, was in Morca cave in southern Turkey’s Taurus Mountains when he experienced gastrointestinal bleeding, according to the European Cave Rescue Association. He was unable to leave the cave on his own, the association said on its website.It described Dickey as “a highly trained caver and a cave rescuer himself” who is well known as a cave researcher, or speleologist, from his participation in many international expeditions. He is secretary of the association’s medical committee.Dickey was on an expedition mapping the 1,276-meter (4,186-feet) deep Morca cave system for the Anatolian Speleology Group Association (ASPEG) when he was about 1,000 meters down, according to Yusuf Ogrenecek of the Speleological Federation of Turkey.Ogrenecek told The As...

Bruce Springsteen postpones September shows, citing doctor’s advice regarding peptic ulcers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Boss is taking an unexpected breather and postponing his September shows, citing doctors' orders.Bruce Springsteen announced on his website Wednesday that he was postponing shows for the remainder of the month while he is treated for symptoms of “peptic ulcer disease.”The disease causes ulcers to form in the stomach or small intestine that can cause heartburn, nausea and stomach pain.The postponed shows including scheduled stops in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Albany and Syracuse in New York, Pittsburgh, Washington, and shows in Connecticut and Ohio.“Over here on E Street, we're heartbroken to have to postpone these shows,” Springsteen said in a statement posted on his site and social media. “We'll be back to pick up these shows and then some.” Bruce Springsteen returns to Wrigley Field for 2-show run Springsteen, renowned for his high-energy, three-hour concerts with the E Street Band, recently performed three nights of shows in his home state ...

American stuck in Turkish cave after becoming 'severely ill' over 1,000 meters below surface

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – An American speleologist exploring the Morca Cave in Turkey is currently trapped at a depth of more than 1,000 meters after becoming ill during the expedition.Mark Dickey, 40, was co-leading an expedition on Saturday, Sept. 2, to map new passages within the Morca Cave — Turkey’s third-deepest — when he became “severely ill,” according to Gretchen Baker, the National Coordinator of the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC), an all-volunteer organization based in Huntsville, Alabama.Dickey, from New York, is the NCRC’s international exchange program coordinator, and has been teaching instructional classes on cave-rescue techniques for 10 years, Baker told Nexstar.“Currently, Mark is improving and is not as sick,” said Baker, who did not provide additional details on the cause of Dickey’s illness. 3 sailors safe after sharks nearly sink catamaran on round-the-world trip The European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA) provided slightly more information, publicly stating that ...

Singer Charlie Puth engaged to family friend-turned-girlfriend Brooke Sansone

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

(WPHL) – Singer and songwriter Charlie Puth is engaged. The "See You Again" singer posted an announcement on his Instagram on Thursday, saying he was engaged to longtime family friend-turned-girlfriend Brooke Sansone. "I flew to New York to ask my best friend to marry me, and she said yes. I am the happiest, best version of myself and it is all because of you Brookie. I love you endlessly forever and ever and ever," said Puth. In Puth's Instagram post, the couple is seen posing for a selfie, showing off Sansone's engagement ring, and sharing a slice of Pizza at Luccali's Pizza in Brooklyn, New York. The couple has been dating since the summer of 2022 when Puth publicly revealed their relationship on his 31st birthday. "Ohhhhh I'm NOT a loser…'cause I didn't lose her!!! (Happy birthday to me)," Puth had said on Instagram. Bruce Springsteen postpones September shows, citing doctor’s advice regarding peptic ulcers During an interview on "The Howard Stern Show" in October 2022, Put...

Austin ISD to discuss proposed TEA special education plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Independent School District will discuss the Texas Education Agency's proposed plan for its special education program during Thursday's school board meeting.The proposed plan was posted on the AISD school board agenda.TEA officials initially recommended a conservatorship after an investigation found the district failed to provide legally required services to students with disabilities.TEA's Special Investigation Unit reviewed 43 investigations by TEA's Office of Special Populations Monitoring starting in 2020.The issues in the special education department started before AISD Interim Superintendent Matias Segura took over leadership, but he has not shied away from discussing the topic, saying in the past that fixing the issues is one of his top priorities. "There are still conversations to be had around the details," Segura said. "It is not a conservatorship which is what we know. One thing I often tell folks is AISD has been monitored, we are in a mon...

Twins’ Royce Lewis making grand impression in rookie season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

CLEVELAND — Royce Lewis was just a young kid, a Little Leaguer in Southern California, when he lifted a pitch over the fence in right-center field for his first-ever grand slam. It just so happened to be the first home run of his life, too.“My dad loved that —  that’s all he preached, going opposite field, so that was a big one,” Lewis said.His first major-league home run was a grand slam, too.Lewis, it seems, thrives in those moments and evidently has since childhood. And those moments, it seems, tend to find him, for whatever reason.“I’ve always heard that pressure is a privilege,” infielder Kyle Farmer said. “He’s worked hard coming back. I think he’s getting put in those situations for a reason. He’s coming through. Just goes on to the story of how good he is.”The Twins’ rookie made history Monday when he became the quickest player to reach four grand slams. It took him just 56 major-league games. Finally healthy, Lewis, who was the Twins’ No. 1 prospect for years, has bee...

Gophers football vs. Eastern Michigan: Keys to game, how to watch and who has the edge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:30:45 GMT

EASTERN MICHIGAN vs. MINNESOTAWhen: 6:30 p.m. SaturdayWhere: Huntington Bank StadiumTV: Big Ten NetworkRadio: KFANWeather: 71 degrees, 50 percent chance of sprinkle, 8 mph south windBetting spread: Minnesota, -20.5Records: The Gophers (1-0) edged Nebraska 13-10 in the season opener on Aug. 31. Eastern Michigan (1-0) beat FCS-level Howard 33-22 on Sept. 1.History: The Gophers have never before played Eastern Michigan, but when U head coach P.J. Fleck was at Western Michigan, he was 3-1 against the Eagles. Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton is 0-3 against Fleck.Key matchup: Gophers kickoff coverage against Eastern Michigan’s kickoff return unit. Minnesota lost contain on the left side and allowed a 63-yard return to Nebraska, which set up the Cornhuskers only touchdown. The Eagles had two different players return kicks for TDs against Howard.Who has the edge?Gophers offense vs. Eastern Michigan defense: The U offense left a lot to be desired until they got the ball back with five ...