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Rensselaer man sentenced for unemployment insurance fraud

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

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Rensselaer man was sentenced to a year and a month in prison for taking part in a fraudulent scheme to make over $60,000 in unemployment insurance benefits under the names of two other people. Taquan Parker, 26, also received benefits from the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the scheme, per the Department of Justice (DOJ). Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Parker previously entered a guilty plea of conspiracy and mail fraud charges. In his plea, Parker admitted he provided Kahleke Taylor (a.k.a Flex) with the personal identifying information of two other people, which Taylor proceeded to file false claims through the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL).Per the DOJ, Parker further admitted that through the fraudulent applications submitted by Taylor, the NYSDOL paid out $60,132 in unemployment insurance benefits. Parker will serve a three-year term of s...

Man accused of battering, choking mother of their children

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

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A St. Louis man is accused of battering and choking the mother of their children, as well as striking one of the kids.According to a report filed by the Berkeley Police Department, the incident happened on June 19 at a home in the 6000 block of Evergreen Boulevard.Police and prosecutors claim Emanuel Vaughn was outside the home when he and the victim got into an argument in front of their children. The victim took the kids inside and locked the door.Vaughn allegedly kicked the door in, then cornered and attacked the mother. Police say he struck the woman several times in the face, bit her head, pulled her hair, and put her in a chokehold. Two lives lost: Did 911 fail during St. Louis storm? The mother, who nearly lost consciousness, put both of her feet on the refrigerator and pushed off to escape the chokehold. She fell to the floor, and Vaughn kicked her.Police say the woman grabbed her son to protect the child, but Vaughn struck both her and the boy.The ...

What qualifies for an AMBER Alert in Missouri & Illinois?

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

ST. LOUIS - Authorities have activated a series of AMBER Alerts on the Missouri and Illinois sides of St. Louis in recent weeks. Since late-June, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has issued AMBER Alerts for at three incidents with tied to the St. Louis area. AMBER Alerts have stemmed out of Berkeley and Breckenridge Hills in Missouri and Collinsville in Illinois. There were two others issued last weekend elsewhere in Missouri. Two lives lost: Did 911 fail during St. Louis storm? The alerts are meant to assist with child abductions and similar high-profile situations. Many people are informed of ongoing AMBER Alerts through their phone, and those alerts been trending a little more than usual lately. So what exactly qualifies for an AMBER Alert in Missouri and Illinois? Both states follow relatively similar criteria. On a national level, the AMBER Alert system was launched in 1996 after a nine-year-old girl was kidnapped and murdered in Texas while riding her bike. To declare...

7 dogs found abandoned, one dead in boat in the Illinois River

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

PEORIA, Ill. - Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger confirmed that multiple dogs were located in a boat in the Illinois River near the Peoria Riverplex on Wednesday.According to Sollberger, there were seven dogs in the abandoned boat. One was dead, and the other six were in bad condition. The six dogs that survived taken to the Peoria County Animal Protection Services (PCAPS) for treatment. Two lives lost: Did 911 fail during St. Louis storm? The Fon du Lac Park District is the primary law enforcement agency on the Illinois River. Their police chief Chance Barlow said a call came in around 5:30 p.m. and the boat was pulled around 7:50 p.m.The boat is a 32-foot Cabin Cruiser with the anchor down. No one was on the boat except for the dogs. Police have not yet disclosed any arrests or what else might have led up to this incident.

Large crowds, traffic backups likely for Morgan Wallen's two St. Louis shows

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

ST. LOUIS - Tens of thousands are expected to pack Busch Stadium on Thursday and Friday to enjoy a show from county music star Morgan Wallen. Wallen is set to perform back-to-back nights at Busch Stadium. Gates open at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Parker McCollum, Ernest and Bailey Zimmerman are also set to perform in both shows. When Missouri drivers can expect construction on I-70 to start Due to the timing of the event, rush-hour commutes around St. Louis might be a little busier than usual. MoDOT projects traffic could be similar to that of a Cardinals game, but perhaps backed up on highways and busy streets a little earlier than usual. Traffic fo a recent Morgan Wallen show in Mississippi might be an indicator of what to expect. Check FOX 2's traffic map for real-time updates.Wallen, who has earned several country music and billboards awards, is performing 62 shows at 29 venues as part of his "One Night At A Time Tour" this year. For more information on the upcoming Busch Stad...

Illinois man sentenced to 13 years in prison for deadly 2021 DUI crash

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

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - A man who has methamphetamine in his body when he was behind the wheel of a car that crash, killing one, will go to prison for 13 years.Christopher Clayton, 32, pleaded guilty on Thursday in Peoria County Circuit Court to one count of aggravated driving under the influence and received his 13-year sentence, which is one year shy of the 14-year maximum.In return, an additional aggravated DUI count, alleging cocaine was in his body, was dropped. Also, an aggravated fleeing and eluding charge as well as unlawful restraint, which alleged he held Ashley Gase of Pekin against her will, were dropped. When Missouri drivers can expect construction on I-70 to start Killed was Gase, who was in the Hyundai Elantra’s back seat when it collided with a pickup truck in South Peoria on Aug. 16, 2021. Three others went to the hospital.Clayton must serve at least 85% of his sentence. The plea came about a week before he was to go to trial in Circuit Judge John Vespa's courtroom...

Swifties line up hours in advance to snag 'Eras Tour' merch at Arrowhead

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With less than 48 hours to go before the pop star is set to take the stage at Arrowhead Stadium, Taylor Swift fans are lining up to get their hands on exclusive merchandise. "The Eras Tour" merchandise trucks are set to open in Lot M at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium at 10 a.m. Thursday, but many fans were lining up hours in advance. Fans line up outside of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of Taylor Swift's concerts to buy items from merch trucks on July 6, 2023. (Photo by Marcus Officer/FOX4)Fans line up outside of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of Taylor Swift's concerts to buy items from merch trucks on July 6, 2023. (Photo by Marcus Officer/FOX4)Fans line up outside of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of Taylor Swift's concerts to buy items from merch trucks on July 6, 2023. (Photo by Marcus Officer/FOX4) Are you ready for it? What to know before Ta...

One teen dead, one injured after Aurora shooting

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

A teenage boy died overnight Thursday and another teen is in the hospital after a shooting in Aurora just before midnight.Aurora police detained a person of interest in connection to the shooting.The teen who died was found in the 19400 block of East 59th Place with a gunshot wound and was transported to a hospital, the Aurora Police Department said in a 12:28 a.m. tweet. He died while at the hospital.#APDAlert: A man was located in the 19400blk of E. 59th Pl with a gunshot wound and transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries just before midnight. One person has been detained to determine their involvement. Witnesses are asked to either call police or submit… pic.twitter.com/XMKirgPT0e— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) July 6, 2023The second teenager was also taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound. Police said that teen’s condition is unknown.Police ask anyone who may have information about the shooting to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.Related Artic...

CU Boulder chemists develop future of recycling plastics

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

Chemists at the University of Colorado Boulder are developing the future of recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common type of plastic found in packaging and soda bottles. The method relies on electricity and chemical reactions to dissolve the plastic.The study addresses concerns about the problem of plastic waste around the world. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the total generation of municipal solid waste in 2018 was 292.4 million tons. This is approximately 23.7 million tons more than the amount generated in 2017.PET plastic is found in everyday items such as water bottles, blister packs and some polyester fabrics. Mixed with a special kind of molecule and small amount of electric voltage applied, the reaction decomposes acids and alcohols in the presence of oxygen.This approach works to highlight PET being deconstructed into their molecular components through electrochemical reaction.Study co-author Oana Luca, who is also an assistant professor in th...

Sylmar church's crosses set on fire; hate crime suspected

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

Arson and hate crime investigations are underway after three crosses belonging to Sylmar Christian Fellowship Church in Sylmar were set ablaze early Thursday.The fire was reported in front of the church around 4:40 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department said.The flames were already extinguished when crews arrived at the scene. Officials say a neighbor saw the fire and came over to help.Three crosses were set on fire at a church in Sylmar on July 6, 2023. (KTLA)"Probably an accelerant was used, but we’re not sure at this time," an LAFD captain told KTLA.The Los Angeles Police Department, LAFD, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working to determine if the incident was a hate crime, as the church's membership is predominantly Black."It's a shame that people still want to do things like this, in this day and age," the church's pastor, Pierre Howard, told reporters. "We're going to put those three crosses back up ... We're moving forward. Nothing stops us."Th...