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Former Crown Point teacher sentenced to 1 year in jail for child seduction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

CROWN POINT, Ind. — The former head of Crown Point High School's theatre department received one year in jail following pleading guilty for child seduction.Christopher “Kit” Degenhart, 51, entered guilty plea in May to child seduction involving sexual intercourse, a level 5 felony. As a result of the plea agreement, the state dropped the other child seduction charge, which was a level 6 felony.According to the sentencing agreement, Degenhart will spend one year behind bars while participating in a work release program. After one year, he's scheduled to move into home detention while working in the program for six more months.After the year and a half in the work release program, Degenhart will be on two and a half years of probation.Conditions of the probation including obtaining employment and attending sex addiction meetings. Additionally, he also must register as a sex offender.Degenhart taught at Crown Point High School beginning in 1995 and ran the theatre department for severa...

I-65 closed both directions in NW Indiana after Hazmat situation involving tanker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — I-65 near Merrillville is closed in both directions until further notice after a crash involving a tanker led to a hazmat situation Wednesday afternoon.According to Indiana State Police, traffic is being diverted at U.S. 30 (exit 253) and S.R. 2 (exit 240). Stay with WGN News as this article will be updated once more information becomes available.

Disneyland reaches settlement in $5M lawsuit filed by annual pass holder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

(KTLA) – Disneyland has reached a settlement with a Magic Key Holder who claimed people were misled into thinking the most expensive annual pass would get them unlimited access to parks, only to be unable to secure reservations on certain days.The $5 million lawsuit was filed by California resident Jenale Nielsen in 2021 after she bought the $1,399 Dream Key, the highest tier pass, shortly after the company launched the Magic Key program.In the lawsuit, Nielsen claimed that Disney’s advertising of the Dream Key having no blackout dates made her think she could go to the Anaheim theme park any day she wanted.However, not long after her purchase Nielsen noticed that she couldn’t make a reservation for most days in November, including each weekend date that month, according to the lawsuit.“As a frequent Disneyland visitor, Ms. Nielsen thought it was unlikely that all tickets and/or reservations for both Disneyland and California Adventure had already been sold for 17 of the 30 calendar...

Whistleblower tells Congress US is concealing UFO 'retrieval' program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects, a former Air Force intelligence officer testified Wednesday to Congress. The Pentagon has denied his claims.Retired Maj. David Grusch's highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress' latest foray into the world of UAPs — or “unidentified aerial phenomena," which is the official term the U.S. government uses instead of UFOs. While the study of mysterious aircraft or objects often evokes talk of aliens and “little green men,” Democrats and Republicans in recent years have pushed for more research as a national security matter due to concerns that sightings observed by pilots may be tied to U.S. adversaries. Lawmakers call for centralized reporting, more investigation on UFOs Grusch said he was asked in 2019 by the head of a government task force on UAPs to identify all highly classified programs relating to the task force...

Federal Reserve announces interest rate hike as inflation nears target

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The Federal Reserve announced another small interest rate hike, saying that while inflation has dropped to almost the target rate, the hike is needed to finish the job.Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced the quarter percent hike, explaining, “we understand the hardship that high inflation is causing, and we remain strongly committed to bringing inflation back down to our 2% goal.”Although the Federal Reserve has knocked inflation down to 3% as of June, Powell says that's still too high.“Without price stability, the economy doesn't work for anyone,” Powell said.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says with inflation well on its way to stabilizing, the U.S. economy is strong. He also credits the work of Democrats and the Biden administration.“As the new jobs are being created, wage growth continues to go up. It's now exceeding inflation,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.Republicans like Senator Josh Hawley say Democrats are to blame for high inflation ...

Man, 57, fatally struck in Waukegan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle in Waukegan over the weekend, police said Wednesday. Just before 9:30 p.m., July 22, officers were called to the area of North Lewis and Roger Edwards for a male pedestrian in the roadway. Police learned that moments prior, the driver of a white 2014 Cadillac XTS hit the male in the road while traveling northbound on Lewis. 18-year-old charged after 2 women found shot to death inside vehicle in Waukegan The driver involved pulled over and contacted police.Emergency personnel in Waukegan rushed the pedestrian to Vista East Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 53-year-old John D. Rutledge of Waukegan. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesNo charges are pending at this time.

Man possibly struck by lightning at Illinois cemetery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A man was rushed to the hospital after a suspected lightning strike while visiting a cemetery on Wednesday morning.According to witnesses, landscapers heard the man screaming for help after the strike at the Willwood Burial Park, at 7000 W. State Street around 10 a.m.The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office and ambulances responded to the scene.Witnesses said the man was responsive at the time. His current condition is unknown.A thunderstorm moved through the Rockford area Wednesday, bringing heavy a downpour, high winds, and lightning. Rabid bats found in Chicago area; IDPH issues warning Lightning strikes often result in a condition known as keraunoparalysis, a temporary paralysis of the lower limbs, or damage to ear-drums or eyes. Injuries can range from a mild burn to damage to the brain or death.The National Weather Service says a typical lightning flash holds 300 million volts and 30,000 amps. In comparison, a typical household socket current holds 120 v...

Austin's 19-day streak of consecutive 100° days is the 5th-longest in recorded history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is currently experiencing one of the longest stretches of triple-digit heat in recorded history.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, has reached 100° or hotter every day since July 8.That means, as of Wednesday, temperatures have reached the century mark for 19 days in a row. With records dating back to the 1890s, that ties as the fifth-longest stretch of triple-digit temperatures ever recorded in Austin. MORE HEAT RECORDS: What is Austin's hottest month ever? The KXAN First Warning Weather team is currently forecasting at least seven more days at or above 100°, which would extend the streak to 26 days, the second-longest of all time. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade The record streak currently stands at 27 days, set between July 17 and Aug. 12, 2011. That summer went on to have a record-breaking 90 days of triple-digit heat.Meanwhile, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has been above 1...

New Austin fencing ordinance aiming to protect children, wildlife going into effect soon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – After an Austin City Council approval last week, new fencing regulation designed to improve child and wildlife safety will go into effect July 31, according to the city's Development Services Department. Per the changed ordinance, newly constructed fences may not include “certain dangerous fence designs,” including spiked pickets, bars and other decorative features that extend above the top horizontal bar of the fence.“This is primarily a safety issue to help protect children; utility and construction workers; and pets and wildlife that may either fall on a fence or maybe attempt to climb or jump over a fence and are at risk of being entrapped or impaled on the spiked features on the fence,” said Daniel Word, an Assistant Director with the  Development Services Department. Word said there was also a tragic incident in 2018 in Georgetown where a child died after being entrapped on a rod-iron fence with spiked pickets above the top rail.  READ MOR...

"Coolest" highs in 2.5 weeks return to Central Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Today's triple-digit high was our 35th of the year and our 19th consecutive day of a high at 100º or hotter in Austin, the 5th longest stretch ever.You probably noticed the hazier sky today thanks to Saharan dust. This will stay with us to wrap-up the work week, but will slowly fade during the weekend returning our sky to a brilliant blue by early next week. Generally air quality remains okay as this dust is suspended higher in the sky, but sunsets will look extra pretty tonight.Dust from Africa overhead for a few daysWe're forecasting a brief "cool-down" of sorts with high temperatures falling to 102º on Friday. The last time highs were as low as that was back on July 8th when we began this recent stretch of 100º+ heat. 2023 AUSTIN WEATHER DATA This cool-down will come with a further decrease in afternoon dew points making for a relatively dry afternoon heat on Friday, compared to what we've had.The high just won't leaveYou can thank high pressure moving a little...