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Mississippi school district named in desegregation lawsuit is allowed to shed federal supervision

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A majority-Black Mississippi school district received a judge’s approval Tuesday to shed federal supervision in a decades-old desegregation lawsuit that included a 2013 order to move away from harsh discipline that disproportionately affected Black students.U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate praised the Meridian Public School District for reducing the number of suspensions that led some students to drop out of school.“Meridian is no longer known for a school-to-prison pipeline,” the district’s superintendent, Amy Carter, told Wingate during a hearing in Jackson.The Justice Department announced in 2013 that it would enter a consent decree with the Meridian schools for the district to improve disciplinary practices. The department said at the time that its investigation found Black students “frequently received harsher disciplinary consequences, including longer suspensions, than white students for comparable misbehavior, even where the students were a...

Man declared dead is likely still alive, Quebec court reaffirms in appeal case

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

MONTREAL — A missing man is “almost certainly alive” after he was pronounced dead more than five years ago, Quebec’s Court of Appeal reaffirmed in a recent decision.The ruling represents the latest turn in a bewildering series of cases in which the family of Hooshang Imanpoorsaid wrangled with an insurance company over evidence of his survival. The legal squabble has meant that the former Quebec resident, missing for over a decade, has been considered alive, then dead, then alive again within the span of a few years.Imanpoorsaid disappeared in 2008 after he said he would take a trip from Montreal to Toronto, according to court documents. But a police investigation revealed he had instead allegedly flown to Amsterdam. His disappearance led his family to discover he owed large sums of money to several lenders.“I’m sorry for creating so much stress for you guys,” Imanpoorsaid purportedly wrote in a cryptic email to his children the day after he left ...

Tickets to see Lionel Messi face Chicago Fire FC are in demand

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

CHICAGO — The biggest story in Major League Soccer in 2023 concerns the greatest player in the world joining its Miami franchise, and he's going to make a stop in Chicago.Lionel Messi's appearance at Soldier Field on Wednesday, October 4 with Inter Miami CF has already created plenty of buzz - and ticket sales - for Chicago Fire FC."You probably could not have scripted his arrival any better, right," said Fire president of business operations David Baldwin of Messi. "He's scored in most of the games, he's had some game-winning assists. It's been really exciting for the league as a whole."Especially for the Fire, who will play arguably their most anticipated regular season match in franchise history on October 4 as the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner for world player of the year comes to Chicago.Naturally, the sales for this match have been quite brisk as the club has opened the upper deck for the first time since returning to Soldier Field three years ago."We're tracking towards selli...

Ingredient in cold medicine doesn't work, FDA says — and more

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

Medical Watch for Sept 12Cold medicine doesn't workYour favorite cold medication may not be on store shelves soon.A Food and Drug Administration Advisory panel announced phenylephrine, an ingredient added to hundreds of medications to relieve congestion, doesn't work.Now the question is whether the FDA will order the removal of products containing phenylephrine.Over the counter drugs like Mucinex, Tylenol Sinus, Sudafed PE, Benedryl Allergy and Dayquil, among others, could disappear from pharmacy shelves after an FDA panel unanimously voted to remove phenylephrine from its list of approved ingredients.Experts recommended the FDA halt the sale of the more than 260 oral nose and sinus medications containing phenylephrine.Drinking alcohol not only makes you gain weight, it can build up fat around vital organs.Alcohol & FatA new study by Wake Forest University School of Medicine finds heavy alcohol consumption is linked to ectopic fat.The fat that accumulates around the heart, liver...

Chicago Sky had a week to remember for now & future

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

CHICAGO — The end of the regular season has come, and the Chicago Sky are still playing basketball for the fifth straight year.It didn't always look like that might be the case in 2023, but thanks to a strong final week, the group got themselves into the WNBA Playoffs after a year of change.Oh, and they also locked down their best player for the next few years. The team won their final three games of their regular season, defeating the Fever on the road 96-69 on the road on September 5, the Lynx at home on Friday 92-87, then the Sun on the road Sunday 102-91 to finish 18-22 on the year.It was a game clear of the Sparks for the eighth and final spot in the WNBA Playoffs, earning a date with the top-seeded Aces in the best-of-three semifinal starting on Wednesday night in Las Vegas at 9 p.m. central time. Game 2 will be played on Sunday at 2 p.m. central time at Michelob ULTRA Arena with a potential Game 3 in Chicago on September 20..@chicagosky guard Courtney Williams was named the W...

Louisiana school shooting leaves 1 dead, 2 injured: officials

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

ST. HELENA PARISH, La. (WVLA) — Officials are responding to a reported shooting at St. Helena College and Career Academy in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, on Tuesday, Sept. 12.According to the St. Helena Parish Sheriff's Office, the shooting has left one dead and two at the hospital. Their conditions are unknown at this time.This is a developing story.

'This is crazy': Investigation underway after string of car burglaries in South Loop

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are investigating a rash of early-morning car burglaries in Chicago’s South Loop.Police say a search is underway for the occupants of a blue Dodge Challenger who appeared to be working as a team while blowing out car windows and stealing belongings from inside the vehicles.One of the burglaries happened only two blocks away from Chicago Police 1st District. Illinois appeals court hears arguments on Jussie Smollett request to toss convictions Tammy Huang, a South Loop resident, says she are stunned by the brazen nature of the thefts."We wouldn’t expect this to happen when the police stations right there,” Huang said.The assailants smashed out car windows and ransacked vehicles starting just after 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday.Another South Loop resident, Jack White, said he can hardly believe it.“This is crazy. This car, that car all their windows are smashed,” White said. Police investigate string of early-morning armed robberies in Hyde Park, Kenwood White says he think...

Tennessee man pleads guilty to threatening Little Caesars worker with AK-47

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A man who made national headlines for threatening employees of a Knoxville Little Caesars with an AK-47 rifle because his pizza was not "hot-n-ready" has pleaded guilty in the case.Charles Doty Jr., 64, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated assault on Aug. 23. A sentencing date has been scheduled for September 29. How big will Facebook settlement checks be? Lawyers reveal estimated payment per person He was arrested in November 2021 after the altercation at the Little Caesars store on Cedar Bluff Road. According to the incident report, Doty became angry when told it would take 10 minutes to make his "hot-n-ready" pepperoni pizza. Kimberleigh Murrell, who was serving him, said he became "mad, frustrated" and demanded breadsticks. Police said it was then that Doty exited the store and returned with an AK-47. Murrell told WATE Doty pointed the gun at her and said, "Where is my pizza? I want my pizza now."He left the store before the police arrived af...

Bastrop film studios to open in late 2024, CEO said

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A massive film studio project in Bastrop is moving ahead, with the project's developer estimating the site's first part to open next year.Alton Butler, CEO and owner of Line 204, said the nearly 600-acre project is scheduled to finish in December 2024 with some grounds opening before then. Details of the project were first shared in 2021, and Butler's plans have only grown from there. The development along the Colorado River will have stages, office space, warehouses, roadways for filming and more. The entitlements step of the project is complete, and the site is in the grading process. Butler said construction will be in phases with the first 28-acre section having production offices and studios."It's really a long project with a lot of big projects inside of it," Butler said. He said the studios will be a self-sustaining unit with nearly everything needed for film production — including grip and lighting equipment, truck rentals and a working ranch.Butler said wha...

We Are Blood cites 'historic patient need' in donor call

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:14:00 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Sept. 12, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We Are Blood is seeking additional blood donors amid a "historic patient need" exacerbated by ongoing blood supply shortages, officials said in a release.In August, We Are Blood reported its highest local patient need for transfusions in the organization's history, with 9% more red cells -- or 386 units -- needed compared to August 2022.“Blood shortages across the country mirror our struggles here in Central Texas with protecting our community’s blood supply,” We Are Blood's Vice President of Community Engagement Nick Canedo said in the release. “Donations are urgently needed at We Are Blood as we experience record high local patient need and decreased donations.”Officials said the organization needs a minimum of 200 donors every day to help meet transfusion needs at its partnering hospital and medical centers in its 10-county coverage scope. We Are Blood works as the singular pro...