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'Motherhood' influencer convicted of lying about attempted kidnapping on social media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

(KRON) – An Instagram influencer was found guilty by a jury in California after she made a viral video about a fake kidnapping, prosecutors said. Kathleen "Katie" Sorensen, 31, went viral in 2020 when she told her Instagram followers that two strangers tried to kidnap her children while she was shopping in Petaluma, in Sonoma County.The jury convicted Sorensen on one count of knowingly making a false report of a crime. After the verdict was reached, Judge Laura Passaglia remanded the "influencer" into custody and set bail at $100,000.Sorensen is now facing a maximum sentence of six months in jail. Questions remain in Bob Lee homicide case "This verdict will enable us to hold Ms. Sorensen accountable for her crime, while at the same time helping to exonerate the couple that was falsely accused of having attempted to kidnap two young children," Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said. "The case is also important in that it illustrates the importance of using social medi...

Toddler with rare condition is called 'Little Ninja Turtle'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

(NewsNation) — A Florida family has nicknamed their toddler "Little Ninja Turtle" due to a growth on his back that once resembled a turtle shell. James McCallum was born with giant congenital melanocytic nevus, a condition in which pigment cells don't develop correctly. In his case, it caused the 20-month-old to have a large raised area on his back that his parents said looked like a turtle shell.His parents, Kaitlyn and Tim McCallum, from Clearwater, noticed something was different about their son when he was born. "It was just a different tint, a different color, there was some kind of scabby-type things on his upper back," Tim McCallum said.Kaitlyn McCallum said it looked like "a birthmark with scabbing.""At the time, you're on that mommy feeling of just having your baby, and you're just excited for him to be here," she said. "You don't think anything and then over a couple of days, you start to, you know, notice everything, and you know, that's a big thing to notice for a little...

Federal judge rules Pennsylvania school district must allow After School Satan Club

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

(The Hill) -- A school district in Pennsylvania must allow students to convene an After School Satan Club, a federal judge ruled on Monday. “In a victory for free speech and religious freedom, a federal court has ruled that the Saucon Valley School District must allow the After School Satan Club to meet in district facilities,” the ACLU announced.In a Monday filing, issued in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and shared by the ACLU, a judge found that “here, although The Satanic Temple, Inc.’s objectors may challenge the sanctity of this controversially named organization, the sanctity of the First  Amendment’s protections must prevail.” The school district must allow the After School Satan Club, which is sponsored by The Satanic Temple, to meet during the school year on three previously agreed-upon dates, but it won’t have to distribute permission slips for the club for students to take home, according to the filing.  DeSantis signs ...

DeSantis signs measure expanding Florida death penalty law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

(The Hill) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Monday signed a bill that would make child rapists eligible for the death penalty in the state. “In Florida, we believe it’s only appropriate that the worst of the worst crimes deserve the worst of the worst punishment,” DeSantis said.Under the new legislation, child rapists get a minimum sentence of life in prison without parole and are eligible for capital punishment. The legislation goes against a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the court found it unconstitutional for states to use the death penalty as punishment for the rape of a child if the victim had not died.DeSantis's office said he's "prepared to take this law all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule judicial precedents" which the Florida governor believes has "unjustly shielded child rapists from the death penalty." Federal judge rules Pennsylvania school district must allow After School Satan Club The bill was among a few the governor approved on ...

41% of LGBTQ young people contemplated suicide in the last year: survey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) - A new mental health survey out Monday from The Trevor Project shows 41% of LGBTQ young people seriously contemplated attempting suicide in the last year.The organization surveyed more than 28,000 LGBTQ people aged 13-24 nationwide.The survey also found that 81% of LGBTQ young people wanted mental health care in the past year, but of those, 56% did not receive any.“I know so many people who have attempted, who have suicidal thoughts,” said Alex Carroll, a member of the nonprofit NYC Youth 4 Trans Rights. “I think it’s shocking, but I think it’s the hard truth that everyone needs to know.”“I’m in that 41%, and once you’re in it, it’s really hard to get out of it, even if you have a super great support system,” said Kat Garcia, a member of NYC Youth for Trans Rights.“Middle school was a really tough time,” said Quinn Canales, a transgender college student who is also part of the non-profit. “I personally attempted twice because I was not able to get the proper help I ...

'A Taylor Treasure': Mrs. Lessie Givens reflects on 36 years of teaching pre, post-integration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

TAYLOR (KXAN)— If she knew then what she knows now, what would Mrs. Lessie Givens tell herself? What advice would she have for others? Would she survive the current state of public education, with teachers exiting the industry due to increased stress, politics spilling over into the classroom and what many call unfair compensation?Taylor ISD year book photo. (Photo: Taylor ISD).On National Teacher Appreciation Day, these are questions Reporter Jala Washington is dying to ask Givens ahead of a community celebration on Tuesday honoring Givens for her service inside and outside of the classroom. Lessie Givens yearbook photo, teacher at O.L. Price school. (Photo: Taylor ISD)She's known as a 'Taylor Treasure,' for shaping, molding and supporting young minds throughout the Taylor Independent School District for 36 years. You'll find the now 96-year-old retired teacher among her peers in a senior living community in Taylor. That's where what's being called a 'life service' will take place,...

Big Stacy Pool to temporarily close in May

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Parks and Recreation Department announced Big Stacy Pool would close between May 13-19 for its annual spring cleaning.The public municipal pool, located at 700 E. Live Oak St., is set to reopen on May 20 for normal operations. It's one of only five city-led pool facilities open year-round. Through June 4, Big Stacy is open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays for lap swimming only. From 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. during the week, the pool is available for recreational swimming. Both lap swimming and recreational swimming is open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.From June 5 to July 15, its hours will change to the following:Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., lap swimming only; 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., swim team use; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., recreational and lap swimmingWeekends: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., recreational and lap swimmingMemorial Day: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., recreation and lap swimmingIts operating hours will shift again between July 16 and Aug. 13:Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., l...

Met Gala 2023: Fashion highlights from carpet

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

NEW YORK — Here are the latest updates on the 2023 Met Gala from from the carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and behind the scenes. This year’s theme revolves around late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.Live updates are contributed by Leanne Italie, Jocelyn Noveck, Beatrice Dupuy, Lindsey Bahr, Elise Ryan, Mallika Sen and other AP journalists.___IS RIHANNA AT THE MET GALA?Rihanna attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” exhibition on Monday, May 1, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)Yes! About an hour and a half after reporters were told to expect one more guest in about 15 minutes, Rihanna herself arrived at the Met Gala. She ascended the steps in voluminous white bedecked with rosettes that doubled as a hood, accompanied by A$AP Rocky in a kilt-type layer over jeans (reminiscent of mid-aughts Disney Channel couture).It’s just May and it’s alr...

MN Legislature picks four new University of Minnesota regents, including West St. Paul council member

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

Minnesota lawmakers on Monday night elected four new members to the University of Minnesota system’s governing board, a body that sets policies and tuition at five campuses.Newly elected members of the UMN Board of Regents include a nurse union leader, a former health care company CEO and Robyn Gulley, a West St. Paul city council member who works with the AFL-CIO.Interim board member Tadd Johnson, a former University of Minnesota Duluth graduate studies director, was elected to a full term. Johnson is the first Native American regent.The Board of Regents controls policy, curriculum, tuition and fees for the University of Minnesota’s campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester and the Twin Cities. It also manages all university lands. Each odd-numbered year, all 201 members of the state House and Senate come together to elect one-third of the 12-member board to a six-year unpaid term. One member comes from each of the state’s eight congressional districts and four represent the...

Seasonal-centric job fair coming to Glens Falls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:58 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The Glens Falls and Lake George region are looking to fill out the ranks at employers who need seasonal workers this summer. A job fair exclusively for seasonal jobs is set for next week at the Salvation Army. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Thursday, May 18, the Salvation Army of Glens Falls will host a job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 37 Broad St. The fair is planned to include jobs in the hospitality, tourism, recreation, construction and landscaping industries. The fair has been planned in cooperation with the Warren County Department of Workforce Development and the New York State Department of Labor.“The Salvation Army is happy to host this seasonal job fair in partnership with Warren County Career Center," said Glens Falls Salvation Army Administrator Major Leo Lloyd. "We hope it is beneficial for job seekers.” Open house set for Glens Falls buses and trolleys Employers interested ...