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Australian police charge 19 men with child sex abuse after FBI tips about dark web sharing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Police have charged 19 men in Australia with child sex abuse offenses and rescued 13 children from further harm following tips from the American FBI of an international online criminal network, officials said Tuesday.Two of the 19 men already were convicted and sentenced to prison terms of almost 15 years in the Australian Capital Territory and five years in New South Wales state, Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider said.“We will allege that these men were members of a technologically sophisticated online child abuse network that was operating across the country,” Schneider told reporters.The 19 had been charged with a total 138 offenses related to peer-to-peer sharing of video and images on the dark web. Most were information technology professionals with a high degree of technical competence, she said.The men, aged 32 to 81, allegedly used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network.S...

Flatonia's Boston Targac helps power Team USA to 12U World Cup title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Most 12-year-old kids play baseball in the summer for their local Little League or competitive travel teams. Flatonia's Boston Targac isn't like most kids his age.Targac spent his summer playing ball on the USA Baseball 12-and-under National Team. The incoming seventh-grader at Flatonia Junior High helped the Stars and Stripes capture a world championship by winning the World Baseball Softball Confederation 12U World Cup tournament held July 28-Aug. 6 in Taiwan.Flatonia's Boston Targac helped the Team USA 12U National Team win a gold medal at the WBSC World Cup in Taiwan. (Photo courtesy of USA Baseball)Flatonia's Boston Targac helped the Team USA 12U National Team win a gold medal at the WBSC World Cup in Taiwan. (Photo courtesy of USA Baseball)Flatonia's Boston Targac helped the Team USA 12U National Team win a gold medal at the WBSC World Cup in Taiwan. (Photo courtesy of USA Baseball)Flatonia's Boston Targac helped the Team USA 12U National Team win a gold medal ...

Concert review: Nickelback’s new songs fail to inspire, but people still love the big, loud, dumb old hits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

It seems the famously nostalgic 2005 smash “Photograph” has taken on a new meaning for Nickelback, who headlined St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center on Monday night.Or, to put it another way, it’s been rough going as of late for the Canadian rockers, who spent the time from 2001 to 2014 selling out arenas and scoring worldwide hits with songs like “How You Remind Me,” “Someday” and “Rockstar” (all three of which joined a stripped-down “Photograph” in Monday’s set list).Things started going south in 2015. The previous year, the group added electronic dance elements to their own brand of hard rock on their eighth album “No Fixed Address.” Fans and radio largely rejected the new songs and midway through the tour, lead singer Chad Kroger was diagnosed with an operable cyst on his voice box, leading to the cancellation of an entire leg of the tour (including a planned stop at Target Center) so Kroger could undergo surgery. His wife, Avril Lavigne, also announced the couple...

Consumer debt climbs as American credit card balances surpass $1 trillion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

Consumer debt grew $17.9 billion from May to June as a credit crunch brought on by Federal Reserve rate hikes drove a sharp gain in the amount of outstanding credit for payments like mortgages and car loans.The numbers, which are not adjusted for inflation, come in well ahead of expectations at $13 billion and nearly double the increase from the previous month at $9.4 billion.Debt levels on lump-sum purchases like houses and student loans increased $18.4 billion, offset by a 0.6 percent decrease in the amount of “revolving” credit, which includes things like credit cards and lines of credit.‘It’s just gonna get paid when it gets paid’: Balance-carrying cardholders crunched by Fed rate hikesThe dip in revolving credit is catching the eye of economists.“This is surprising and inconsistent with other data we have on consumer spending in the month," economist Dean Baker with the Center for Economic and Policy Research told The Hill.  "These data are erratic and often subject to substant...

New small business marijuana license application period closes this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The state's health department is offering a chance for Missourians to become entrepreneurs in the marijuana industry. It's been six months since recreational marijuana sales went live in Missouri. Since then, the state has sold roughly $4 million of legal weed a day, totaling nearly $600 million. Part of Amendment 3 that voters approved back in November 2022 included language creating microbusiness licenses, and the idea behind it is to boost opportunities in disadvantaged communities. "It was surprising to me just how popular this program was. Just how many people were interested in access," director of Missouri's Division for Cannabis Regulation Amy Moore said. "The way I would describe these licenses is they are small businesses. Missourians know what a small business is. They know it can be challenging, but it can be incredibly rewarding and a great opportunity."Following voter approval, the state offered comprehensive licenses to facilities alrea...

Father mourning after 7-year-old dies in accidental shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

BERKELEY, Mo. – Two families are coping with tragedies. A 7-year-old was accidentally shot and killed in Berkeley. Hours later in Belleville, a 5-year-old suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the face.As the effects of guns plague two communities, the father of the 7-year-old is speaking out about the loss of his son.“I feel like he don’t deserve that. It should’ve just been me instead of him,” Deontrell Macon said.A young boy is dead, and a father is in mourning.The child was playing with an unsecured gun inside a truck parked at the Mint Townhomes, when he accidentally shot himself.“A lot of police cars,” Ajah Shurn, a resident at the complex, said.Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital said they’ve treated 28 children for gunshot wounds this year alone. Some of those, the same case as what Macon describes, simply tragic accidents.“It was an accident,” Macon said.Macon said he was asleep upstairs when his son died. The 7-year-old’s grandfather, Macon's father, had been watching the chi...

Anheuser-Busch selling 8 beer, beverage brands to cannabis company

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Anheuser-Busch InBev has reached an agreement to sell eight of its beer and beverage brands, including Shock Top and HiBall Energy, to global cannabis company Tilray Brands, Inc.The deal is expected to be completed by year's end and includes current employees, breweries, and brewpubs associated with the brands.The brands are: Shock Top, Breckenridge Brewery, Blue Point Brewing Company, 10 Barrel Brewing Company, Redhook Brewery, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Square Mile Cider Company, and HiBall Energy.The move will elevate Tilray to the fifth-largest craft beer business in the United States, up from ninth overall.The sale price was not disclosed in Monday's announcement.

Hazelwood apartment complex cited for AC unit repair delays after FOX 2 report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

HAZELWOOD, Mo. – When we met Vanessa Downen in late July, the air conditioner in her Hazelwood Forest Apartment unit had been removed but not replaced."They actually have a whiteboard above the desk in the office of the manager that has ‘AC units’ written on it. Below it, about 13 other units. Mine is about the fifth one down,” she said.According to Downen, a new management company took control of the complex a few months ago, further complicating her efforts to get her air conditioning fixed.FOX 2 attempted to question complex management about the repairs, but no one would answer the door or respond to our follow-up phone calls. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW Hazelwood City Manager Matthew Zimmerman said he issued the complex a five-day ...

Wildwood residents complain about glut of excess trash cans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

WILDWOOD, Mo. – Trash woes have now hit one of St. Louis's top suburbs. It's not an issue of too much garbage in Wildwood; it's too many garbage cans stacking up in people’s driveways, yards, or garages, along with skyrocketing garbage fees.New garbage service means new cans have been issued before the old ones have been taken away. There’s the sheer number of cans, plus the size of the new containers: a 96-gallon can for trash and a 64-gallon can for recycling.People are putting four, five, or even six barrels out in their driveways after the city arranged new trash service. The former provider, Waste Connections, pulled out with the expiration of its contract.“I think at one time there were probably at least over 100 trash cans in the subdivision waiting for the old provider to come pick them up,” resident Steve Ash said. “So, it’s been a dilemma.”The old bins have signs on them with messages like, “Take cans, please.” The old containers won’t work with the new provider’s trucks. ...

Beatle Bob tribute at Ballpark Village brings fans, bands from far and wide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Bands and music fans showed up to Ballpark Village Monday evening to celebrate the man lovingly known as Beatle Bob.Bob Matonis was diagnosed with ALS in February 2022 and passed away on July 27. He was 70.Family and friends showed up to the tribute to help say goodbye to a man known in the music community for his dance moves."Beatle Bob is St. Louis. He's a product of St. Louis,” Jimmy Tebeau said. “He represents St. Louis, and any time he would go anywhere, it was like, ‘Oh, there's Beatle Bob from St. Louis. It's like Imo's pizza. It's St. Louis.”A dance floor is always involved in any memories friends have of Bob."I first ran into him at Mississippi Nights down on The Landing, if you remember where that is. He was the only guy dancing on the dance floor," Tebeau said.Matonis’ favorite bands drove in from their nationwide tours to pay tribute to their favorite fan. Child shot and killed while playing with a gun in north St. Louis County "Every cool show that I've ev...