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Audit suggests DC’s program of eliminating traffic deaths is not working

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

A new audit of D.C’s Vision Zero program, which aims to eliminate fatal and serious traffic deaths by 2024, suggests it’s not working.The D.C. auditor’s report says the program is suffering from not enough funding as well as not enough staffing and oversight.More Local NewsMore DC News“That division wasn’t funded until 2020 with under a million dollars, although that grew over a million dollars the following year,” said D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson in a press conference.The ambitious initiative kicked off in 2015. Since then, the report shows — in a chart with data from D.C. police — that traffic fatalities in the District have increased yearly except for 2019.The report also found that from 2017 through 2021, Ward 8 was the deadliest ward for pedestrians and bicyclists with 42 deaths.However, Patterson stated that the city has made strides when it comes to the equity of studying problems in all of D.C.’s wards.“We found no difference in their conduct b...

Jim Ratcliffe jets in for Manchester United buyout talks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Jim Ratcliffe toured Manchester United on Friday as part of his bid to buy the English soccer club.The billionaire owner of INEOS jetted in for talks with club executives at Old Trafford, along with some of his closest advisors.Ratcliffe was greeted by United chief executive Richard Arnold on Friday morning and briefly met with manager Erik ten Hag at the club’s Carrington training base.“I just met them and shook hands,” Ten Hag said at a news conference ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarterfinal match with Fulham. “We play a big game on Sunday and all our focus is on that. Others in the club are dealing with potential investors.” Ratcliffe posed for photographs at Old Trafford before heading to Carrington in a car with blacked out windows. He is getting a closer look at United before submitting a formal offer to current owners the Glazer family.Ratcliffe is one of Britain’s richest people and is bidding to buy a majority share of the 20-time ...

Who murdered this 15-year-old girl after a basketball game?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — “Their voices may now be silent . . . those who may know the truth are not,” the Colorado Bureau of Investigation shared as a part of its mission as it works to assist in bringing justice to cold case tragedies.There are hundreds of unsolved homicide cases, long-term missing person cases, and unidentified remains cases in our state where at least three years have passed since the crime happened. Alaska man arrested in 2006 Boulder County cold case murder The Colorado cold case task force created a list of those cases dating back to 1970. The Problem Solvers are working to highlight cold cases in our state each week.Murder of Marilee BurtThe Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office are working to solve the cold case murder of Marilee Burt from February 27, 1970.The CBI said Burt was walking to her home in Columbine Valley after a basketball game at Goddard Middle School but she never made it home.Witnesses told investigato...

St. Patrick’s Day rites: parades, bagpipes, clinking pints

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

Oh, Danny boy, ’tis the time of year when Irish bagpipes will be calling in the concrete glens of New York City, across the swooning boughs of Savannah, Georgia, and in the halls of the White House as the U.S. celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, pub crawls and a state visit.The annual parade in New York City — which bills itself as the world’s largest and oldest — will draw throngs to Fifth Avenue to listen to bagpipes and bands, and give homage to Ireland’s patron saint.In Savannah, Georgia, paradegoers plant their lawn chairs in prime viewing areas to watch a flow of floats, dancers and marching bands. The city’s annual parade is one of the largest and draws visitors from near and far.Some cities including Chicago, which dyes its river green to commemorate a day when everyone pretends to be Irish, already held their parades last weekend. Other cities, including Boston, will hold parades and other festivities this weekend.But their streets will n...

Debris on SB Palmetto Expwy causing delays near 122nd Street

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

Emergency crews are working to clear up a significant debris spill that has caused heavy congestion on the Palmetto Expressway, Friday morning. The incident occurred on the southbound lanes near 122nd Street, where two right lanes have been blocked off to allow for cleanup.Footage from 7SkyForce shows dirt and debris scattered across the affected lanes, causing a major disruption to traffic. The incident has caused a significant delay, with traffic backed up all the way to Red Road.It is not yet known how long it will take for crews to clear the area. Motorists are being advised to allow extra time for their morning commute and to consider alternative routes if possible.

In Estonia, backing Ukraine isn’t controversial … but gay marriage is

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

Over the past year, Kaja Kallas has developed an image as a strong supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia. The next battlefield for the Estonian leader is closer to home … same-sex marriage.Currently non-existent throughout the former Soviet nations, same-sex marriage has emerged as one of the major issues in coalition talks led by Kallas, the Estonian prime minister whose party won the most votes in elections in early March.For the liberals, this could be their best chance to get gay marriage on the statute books. While the registered partnership act of 2014 did grant some limited rights to gay and lesbian couples, it was never implemented as there was always a conservative party in government blocking its adoption. This time, with Kallas inviting two liberal parties into the coalition, Estonia could be on course to become the first Baltic to allow same-sex marriage.“For almost a decade, there has been little to no progress when it comes to the rights of same-se...

Mass. man pleads guilty to trying to hire someone to kill wife

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts man who tried to hire a contract killer to kill his wife after she sought a restraining order against him instead asked an undercover federal agent to do the job, authorities said.Massimo Marenghi, 56, faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing after pleading guilty on Thursday in federal court to murder for hire, the U.S. attorney’s office in Boston said.Authorities started investigating in January 2021 when someone went to law enforcement and reported that Marenghi had complained about the restraining order and asked for assistance in killing his wife, prosecutors said.Federal investigators directed that person to introduce Marenghi to an undercover agent posing as a contract killer.Marenghi met with the agent in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, discussed a price of $10,000, and provided the agent with a photo of his wife’s home and explained how to evade surveillance.At a second meeting, he provided the agent with a $1,500 deposit, ...

Boston man arrested for threatening MBTA passengers with his pet rat

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

A 57-year-old Boston man was arrested Thursday for threatening MBTA passengers with his pet rat, according to transit police. Officers arrested the man at Oak Grove station around 4 p.m. Police say he was also consuming alcohol and refused to leave the scene.Police say the man is “well known” to the department for “causing disturbances” with his pet rat, Jerry. Jerry the rat was turned over to animal control. https://twitter.com/MBTATransitPD/status/1636702630591311874

7 deputies charged with murder in the death of Irvo Otieno

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

DINWIDDIE, Va. (AP) — Video from a state mental hospital shows a Black Virginia man who was handcuffed and shackled being pinned to the ground by seven deputies who are now facing second-degree murder charges in his death, according to relatives of the man and their attorneys who viewed the footage Thursday. Three people employed by the hospital have also been charged.Speaking at a news conference shortly after watching the video with a local prosecutor, the family and attorneys condemned the brutal treatment they said Irvo Otieno, 28, was subjected to, first at a local jail and then at the state hospital where authorities say he died March 6 during the admission process.They called on the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene in the case, saying Otieno’s constitutional rights were clearly violated.“What I saw today was heartbreaking, America. It was disturbing. It was traumatic. My son was tortured,” said Otieno’s mother, Caroline Ouko.Otieno’s case marks ...

Several people, dogs escape North County house fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:48 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- Several people escaped a house fire in North County on Friday, said the Oceanside Fire Department. According to fire officials, units were dispatched to a single-story house located on Guinevere Street shortly after 1 a.m. Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and flames at the front of the home and quickly made entry to search for potential victims while also extinguishing the blaze. Westbound SR-78 closure to last into weekend for emergency sinkhole repairs Oceanside firefighters also used a ladder truck to perform roof ventilation strategies to allow smoke and heated gasses to be released. The department said this improved search conditions for inside crews.Fire officials say seven occupants of the home, along with four dogs, made their way out of the house without assistance. One adult victim was located in the backyard suffering from smoke inhalation and was transported to a local hospital by a Carlsbad Fire Department ambulance.The victim, who's ident...