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What parents need to know about sextortion crisis impacting kids

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

The FBI is sounding the alarm on sextortion, the shakedown of people who have been threatened to have information about their sexual activity revealed. In 2021, there were 700 cases reported to the FBI across the country. That number jumped to 4,000 in 2022,  a 463% increase. Chicago saw an even bigger spike. The FBI says the targets tend to be young men and boys, typically between 10 and 17 years old. Special agent Siobhan Johnson with the FBI's office in Chicago joined WGN Evening News to talk about their findings and offer tips on prevention. Traditional sextortion typically targets young women and girls for the purposes of obtaining sexual content. The current jump in sextortion reports is related to a new version: financial sextortion.Targets of financial sextortion tend to be young men and boys. Typically, victims are aged 10 to 17, but victims can be any age (and have been noted as young as 7). Rather than sexual gratification, motivation appears to be largely financial....

Indiana prison employee 'will not survive' after inmate struck him with steel pipe

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — The Indiana State Prison has announced that Mike Keel, a maintenance foreman at the state prison in Michigan City, will not survive the injuries he endured after a prisoner struck him on the head with a steel pipe earlier this week. Keel recently celebrated his 29-year anniversary with the Indiana Department of Corrections and was called a "key part of the team responsible for keeping the historic (Michigan City prison) running every day." "(Keel) was known across the agency for his quality workmanship, including the bell that sits at our Fallen Staff Memorial which he will join later this year," Indiana State Prison wrote in tribute to Keel. Indiana prison employee hit over the head with a steel pipe, inmate taken into custody Mike Keel awarded for years of service. (Photo provided by Indiana State Prison)Mike Keel (provided by Indiana State Prison)The Indiana State Police previously reported the Keel had been assaulted by an inmate at the Michigan City pri...

Fans thank Jonathan Toews as he plays his last game with Blackhawks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

CHICAGO -- "Captain Serious" will take the United Center ice for the final time Thursday.Longtime captain Jonathan Toews will play in his last game as a Chicago Blackhawk Thursday after a historic career.“Tonight will be his final game as a Blackhawk, and it was very important to us to provide the proper send off to Jonathan and our fans,” said general manager Kyle Davidson in a statement on Thursday morning. Oh, Captain! A look at Jonathan Toews’ Blackhawks career "He has done so much for our organization, and no matter where he plays next, we’re excited our fans get the chance to show Jonathan exactly how much he means to them.”Fans made their way to the United Center Thursday to witness the final curtain call for the Blackhawks longtime captain.The Blackhawks are set to face off against their 2010 Stanley Cup opponent, Philadelphia Flyers. Puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday.Toews was drafted by the Blackhawks in 2006. made his debut with the team in 2007, and has been at the ...

Don't you want to smell like Fanta?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

(WBRE/WYOU) — Fanta announced Wednesday the creation of its first-ever fragrance, the limited-edition "Scent of Fanta," which the company made available online Thursday.Fanta, which is owned by The Coca-Cola Company, describes its "wearable version" of the brightly colored soda as having "bubbly aspects of bright and juicy orange essence infused with a glimmering splash of tart lime and a sweet sprinkle of soft sugar." IRS warns of deadline to claim $1.5B in 2019 tax refunds: These states are owed the most According to Fanta, the orange-scented fragrance awakens the senses and allows fans to breathe in the energizing smell of Fanta Orange anytime, anywhere. (Courtesy: Fanta)In creating the scent, Fanta joined a number of other companies experimenting with sometimes shocking fragrance-based promotions. In 2022, Velveeta released a cheese-scented nail polish evocative of the product's "rich, creamy texture and cheesy, melty goodness." In 2019, Dunkin' partnered with a candle maker t...

Austin Watershed suggests polystyrene container ban to reduce harmful litter in waterways

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – In an effort to find ways to reduce trash in Austin waterways, the Watershed Protection Department proposed looking into banning single-use products from Austin facilities and evaluating the possibility of prohibiting the sale of single-use material that negatively impact Austin’s water quality.On Thursday, the Watershed Protection Department sent out a revised memo to the Austin Mayor and City Council that described current efforts to reduce trash in the waterways and posited recommendations for future policy considerations. The Watershed Protection Department proposed changing policies at City facilities in and around waterbodies, such as limiting City procurement and distribution of single-use plastic and polystyrene in all City of Austin facilities and researching the City of Austin's ability to enact a ban on single-use containers on waterways. This could mirror San Marcos' "can ban," which prohibits people from bringing single-use cans while floating on th...

West Campus rent higher than Austin's citywide average

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- According to data from Apartment List, the West Campus area has higher rent prices than many other parts of Austin. "In that very close University-adjacent area, two bedroom apartments right now are running like two grand a month, which is about $100 to $200 more expensive every month than the citywide average," said Apartment List Senior Research Associate Rob Warnock. It's something University of Texas graduate student Edwin Bautista experienced firsthand. "It's been tough finding actually affordable housing, especially as a student just because my income is so limited," Bautista said.West Campus housing high-rise boomThe University of Texas at Austin has the highest bed count in the nation for student housing projects currently under construction, according to real estate company Berkadia’s 2023 Student Housing Market report.The report shows UT coming in at the top spot with 5,522 total beds. That's nearly double the University of Wisconsin at Madison, which is r...

Hutto ISD voters consider $522 million bond election for rapidly growing district

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — Hutto ISD said it's the fourth fastest-growing school district in Central Texas. In May, voters will decide on a $522 million school bond that would bring two new elementary schools and additions to several existing campuses.Dr. Celina Estrada Thomas, superintendent of Hutto ISD, said the district is expected to nearly double in the next 10 years.On the HISD bond web page, the student population is listed at 9,750. That number is projected to surpass 17,000 by 2032.The bond has three propositions, the largest being Proposition A costing $471.5 million.The biggest highlights from Prop A include the addition of elementary schools No. 8 and No. 9 for the district, additions to existing campuses, and purchasing land for future school sites.Proposition B would bring "instructional technology devices" to Hutto ISD; the price tag for that is listed at $10.5 millionProposition C, listed at $40 million, would improve the District Academic Center which hosts HISD's River...

Getting hotter and more humid through Saturday afternoon

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Thursday afternoon was Austin's first day of warmer than normal weather in nearly a week and a half as high temperatures climbed to 81 degrees. Heat and humidity continue to build Friday and Saturday, with near-record highs in the forecast Saturday afternoon. El Niño watch issued: Here’s what that means Clouds increase tonight into Friday as a storm system passes to our north. The system could generate an isolated thunderstorm locally on Friday, Friday night and Saturday, though rain will remain isolated. The Storm Prediction Center has our northern tier of counties under a 1 out of 5 risk of severe storms Friday and Friday night.Severe thunderstorm risk Friday/Friday nightAfter high temperatures in the 90s on Saturday, an afternoon cold front will drop temperatures and humidity beautifully on Sunday. Those participating in the Capitol 10K Sunday morning will find a cool, dry morning with low humidity and breezy northeast winds. First 2023 Atlantic Hurricane for...

Minnesota DFLers push automatic voter registration, absentee ballots, other election changes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

Minnesota lawmakers are politically divided on the best way to better protect the state’s voting system and to encourage more people to participate in elections.Democrats, who hold narrow majorities in the House and Senate, are pushing a bill they call the Democracy for the People Act. They say it would automatically register people to vote, make it easier to cast ballots, protect voters from misinformation and shed more light on who spends money to influence elections.“It really is a bill that makes a choice to protect and expand multiracial democracy,” said Rep. Emma Greenman, DFL-Minneapolis, the chief sponsor of the bill in the House where the legislation was debated Thursday.Democrats’ envision that “people of every background, every ZIP code, every generation, every race, every political persuasion come together to make decisions to think big and solve problems and govern together,” Greenman said.Republicans oppose the legislation saying it ...

Twins infielder Kyle Farmer ‘in fairly good spirits’ after surgery

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:19 GMT

A day later, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was still marveling over the fact that Kyle Farmer managed to escape a facial fracture after taking a 91.6 mph fastball to the face on Wednesday afternoon.His lip, well, that’s a different story.“He’s a handsome guy and all that,” Baldelli said. “The scar is probably going to be there. It’s significant. I don’t know if we’re going to be able to hide that one.”The Twins officially placed the infielder on the 10-day injured list on Thursday, selecting the contract of outfielder Kyle Garlick and transferring Gilberto Celestino (thumb) to the 60-day IL to make room for Garlick on the 40-man roster.For now, there is no timeline for Farmer’s return, but Baldelli said the infielder appeared to be “in fairly good spirits.”“He’s texting everybody, He’s talking about the game,” Baldelli said. “ … All things considered, what he went through was beyond horrible and I think he’s probably missing everyone already. Luckily, his wife is there wi...