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‘Smallville' actress sentenced in NXIVM sex cult case secures early release from prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

(The Hill) -- Actress Allison Mack was released early from prison in California this week after serving time related to the NXIVM sex cult, The Associated Press reported.Mack, most famous for her role as Superman’s friend in the CW drama "Smallville," was sentenced to three years in prison in 2021 for her role in NXIVM, where she manipulated women into becoming sex slaves for cult leader Keith Raniere.She received a reduced sentence after she assisted prosecutors against Raniere, who received a 120-year sentence on sex trafficking charges. She could have faced up to a 14-17 year prison sentence for her role in cult activity. Oath Keepers leader warns Trump against trial: ‘You’re going to be found guilty’ Raniere used his influence over women in the cult, marketed as a self-help program, to have sex with them, get them branded with his initials and brainwash them. Mack, a member of the cult’s inner circle, was considered a “master” of the slaves, ordering them to “perform la...

Here are the 10 most expensive places to buy a home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

(The Hill) -- Rising prices in the first quarter of the year pushed up the income needed to afford a home to its highest level since 2007. Major homeownership expenses last quarter required about 33 percent of a family’s monthly income, a report from nationwide property data provider ATTOM showed. Typically, lenders call for a buyer's monthly debt-to-income ratio not to exceed 28 percent. Now after three quarters of declines, the price for a median single-family home rose to $350,000 — up 10 percent from the first quarter.  Nine cities where buying a home is still cheaper than renting ATTOM’s report shows prospective buyers needed to earn at least $75,000 annually to afford a median-priced home in about half of the nation’s housing markets. The highest yearly wages needed to afford a median-priced home were highest in markets along the East and West coasts. Wage requirements were highest in Manhattan County, New York, where prospective ...

Firework thrown from truck explodes near family, children on Florida home's porch, video shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

YBOR CITY, Fla. (WFLA) – A person in a truck threw a firework at a family and some friends sitting on their porch in Florida where it exploded next to two small children, surveillance footage from the home shows.The group had gathered at the home in Ybor City to celebrate July Fourth on Tuesday night when a pick-up truck slowly drove down the street, homeowner Peter Murray told Nexstar's WFLA. These are the most dangerous fireworks in the U.S. In footage shared with WFLA, a person seemingly riding in the bed of the truck tosses the lit firework at the group.The firework then explodes right in front of the family, which included 3- and 4-year-old children. Murray said one person was burned on the foot and another was burned on the leg. The children were frightened but not injured. A representative for the Tampa Police Department did not immediately return a request for further information on Wednesday morning.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

David Ross shows frustration with umps, roof closure after Cubs' win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

MILWAUKEE — Despite one of the more thrilling wins of the season on Tuesday, David Ross wasn't too happy with a few aspects of the game in Milwaukee. That's why he let his displeasure be known in a news conference following the Cubs' 7-6 win over the Brewers in 11 innings at America Family Field on Monday.Ross' frustration concerned two things during the contest, starting with the ball and strike calls by home plate umpire Erich Bacchus. He would eventually be thrown out of the game along with first base coach Mike Napoli in the 11th inning when the Cubs grabbed the lead for good.The second contention came when the roof at American Family Field was closed in the middle of the game. It's a move that is only done when inclement weather is nearing the stadium, and while there was rain in the forecast, there wasn't any imminent threat of showers around the ballpark at that time. Ross talked about both when he was asked about his frustrations with the calls behind the plate on Tuesday."I...

Foster Farms recalls thousands of pounds of mini corn dogs due to 'spoilage'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WHNT) -- If you have these Foster Farms mini corn dog products in your freezer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) wants you to throw them out.Officials say around 76,961 pounds of mini corn dog products sold by Foster Farms are being recalled because they are "unfit for human consumption" after the FSIS said it received some complaints of "an odor, off appearance, and unpleasant taste."According to the FSIS, the affected products are 1.83-pound resealable bags of “Foster Farms Mini Corn Dogs Bite-Sized Chicken Franks Dipped in Batter Honey Crunchy Flavor.” World roasts on unofficial hottest day recorded The corn dogs were produced on April 24, 2023, and were shipped to retailers across the country. They have lot codes 123114 and 223114 and a "best if used by date" of April 23, 2024. There is also an establishment number “P- 9136” printed on the package.Foster Farms mini corn dogs (USDA Photo)While there haven't...

Sheriff: Body of 8 year old missing in Lake Travis found

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — On Tuesday night, a dive team recovered the body of a child who fell off a boat in Lake Travis Monday afternoon and didn't resurface, Travis County Sheriff's Office tells KXAN.The 8-year-old boy went missing at around 2 p.m. Monday, the Travis County ESD 1 shift commander told KXAN. The boy was not wearing a life jacket at the time.The incident happened in the Cow Creek Arm of Lake Travis, Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) wrote on Twitter. Several other agencies helped in the search, including Lake Travis Fire Rescue and STAR Flight.By Monday night, crews switched to recovery mode, according to the Travis County ESD 1 shift commander. The Travis County Sheriff's Office then took command of the recovery effort. The Wake: The Secrets of Lake Travis TCSO said Tuesday morning that it started its search at the shoreline, with lake patrol on the water. The sheriff's office said the dive team is out searching by sonar, which means they are using sound waves...

Tracking the Tropics: Can hurricane history help us predict future patterns?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The tropics have been quiet for the first time since the season's first tropical wave formed in late May. But as we move further into the hurricane season, can we expect the peace to continue?Meteorologists often look at the past to paint a better picture of the future. So this week, Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Rebecca Barry and WCBD Meteorologist Rob Fowler will turn through the pages of history to see where things might be headed next.The National Hurricane Center has been keeping tabs on the tropics for decades. In July 1979, the center caught first wind of what would become Tropical Storm Claudette. While the storm never reached hurricane status, it is remembered for its rainfall along portions of Texas and Louisiana.An observer west of Alvin, Texas reported 43 inches in 24 hours, which is a United States record for 24-hour rainfall amount. In actuality, the storm total at that location was 45 inches. The rains went on to produce severe flooding that was re...

One dead after downtown St. Paul motorcycle crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

St. Paul police responded to a motorcycle crash Tuesday night.Officers arrived at the intersection of Kellogg Boulevard and Market Street in St. Paul around 11 p.m. Tuesday. A man had apparently lost control of his motorcycle and struck a utility pole, according to a St. Paul Police Department spokeswoman.The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name will be released after positive identification by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office.There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.The crash remains under investigation.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | In partnership with Schmitt Music, Walker West Music Academy to debut 4 new Steinway concert pianos Crime & Public Safety | Details emerge about theft, death of St. Paul charter school’s beloved goat Crime & Public Safety | Letters: Our water supply isn’t inexhaustible Crime & Public Safety | Q&A: Mayor Melvin Carter ...

Jamelle Bouie: What Frederick Douglass knew that Trump and DeSantis don’t

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

There was a moment during the Trump administration when the president and his most ideologically committed advisers searched for a way to end birthright citizenship.Enshrined in the first sentence of the first section of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, birthright citizenship means that anyone and everyone born on U.S. soil is an American citizen. Written to secure the social transformations wrought by the Civil War, it is a cornerstone of the United States as a multiracial democracy.President Donald Trump would end it, he decided, by executive order. “It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don’t,” he said when announcing the effort in 2018, falsely asserting, “We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States — with all of those benefits. It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.”Fortunately, Trump was wrong. There is no way, short of ...

Bodies of 3 missing swimmers recovered from Minnesota river

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:21 GMT

RED WING, Minn. — The bodies of three people who drowned in a Minnesota river were found by search crews Wednesday after going missing over the Fourth of July weekend.The names of the two men and a girl have not been released, however the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office says all three were from the same household in Oakdale.The swimmers were part of a family gathering Monday night at Diamond Island on the Vermillion River, near the confluence with the Mississippi River, southeast of the Twin Cities.Two bodies were found in the Mississippi at 6:53 a.m. and the third about 12 minutes later, Sheriff Marty Kelly said Wednesday.A man was fishing along the shore while two adults and the girl were swimming, according to the sheriff’s office.All three swimmers began to struggle in the water and the man on the shore went in to help. He rescued an adult woman, then went back into the water to try and save the others.The sheriff’s office said both men and the girl went under the water and neve...