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Suburban ringleader gets 9 years in USPS mail-for-cash scheme

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

CHICAGO — A suburban ringleader has been sentenced to nine years for recruiting USPS employees for an elaborate mail-for-cash scheme.Davey Hines, 30, of Naperville, was indicted along with several others, including five USPS employees, in 2021. He pleaded guilty to four counts charging conspiracy, receipt of stolen mail, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft on July 8, 2022Hines was the ringleader of "Operation Cash on Delivery" — which occurred between June 2018 and December 2019. The federal investigation identified USPS employees who stole credit cards and other financial instruments and provided them to Hines and others in exchange for cash or other items.Hines, who also recruited most of the USPS employees, then worked with the others to unlawfully obtain the USPS customers’ personal information — including dates of birth and Social Security numbers.Over the course of the conspiracy, more than 650 credit cards were stolen. The group made more than $460,000 in fraudu...

Northwestern doctor donates kidney to Virgina woman, husband donates to Chicago patient

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

CHICAGO — This all started with a Northwestern doctor who cares for patients with kidney failure and decided she wanted to donate one of her own. Two months ago, Dr. Aleksandra Gmurczyk went into surgery.Her kidney went to someone she didn't know — Ginger who lives in Virgina. Ginger's husband, Gary, wanted to donate but he was not a match for his wife. His kidney went to Arturo Reyes who lives in Chicago. Two lives saved in this paired exchange. Dr. Gmurczyk has been sharing her experience on Tik Tok. She says the surgery and recovery process is easier than one would think. She walked home after a short hospital stay and was back at work two weeks later.  National Burrito Day: How to get free or discounted food at Chipotle, Taco Bell and other chains During a press conference at Northwestern Thursday morning, the Virginia couple logged in through zoom getting to meet with Dr. Gmurczyk and Reyes for the first time. "I'm so glad to meet you, I know you’re going to ta...

Suburban man charged following break-in at Michael Jordan's mansion

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

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — A suburban man has been charged in connection to a break-in Tuesday at Michael Jordan's mansion.Raiden Hagedorn, 18, of Mundelein, is facing three charges after officers arrived to Jordan's mansion, located in the 2700 block of Point Lane in Highland Park, on the report of a break-in.Hagedorn was charged with criminal damage to property under $500, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass to a residence — all misdemeanors.He was taken into custody and released on a recognizance bond. Suburban man accused of exposing himself to 2 girls near playground Jordan hasn't lived in the home in several years and it's currently listed for nearly $15 million. It has been on sale since 2012.

Walmart to add electric vehicle charging stations to thousands of locations by 2030

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

(The Hill) – Walmart announced that it will add charging stations for electric vehicles to thousands of U.S. stores by 2030. The company plans to add these EV charging stations at various Walmart and Sam's Club locations, said Vishal Kapadia, Walmart's senior vice president of energy transformation. "With a store or club located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans, we are uniquely positioned to deliver a convenient charging option that will help make EV ownership possible whether people live in rural, suburban or urban areas," Kapadia said in a statement. Kapadia added that Walmart already has nearly 1,300 of these stations at more than 280 locations throughout the country. Walmart closing some ‘underperforming’ locations Sales of electric vehicles surged in 2022, with purchases increasing by two-thirds amid an overall auto industry slump. Yet the infrastructure challenges of producing enough charging stations to support the increase in electric vehicles on the road...

Mom died protecting kids in tornado, brother says

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

WYNNE, Ark. (WREG) — A mother was killed while protecting her children during a tornado, family members in Wynne, Arkansas said.The brother of 29-year-old La'Kristen White said her three children are now recovering from serious injuries, but are alive. La'Kristen Wright (photos courtesy family)Wynne, Ark. (Shay Arthur)Wynne, Ark. (Shay Arthur)Wynne, Ark. (Shay Arthur)White's home off West Garfield Avenue is now just a pile of rubble. It was decimated during last week's tornado.But before it hit and claimed her life, she called her brother Brandon Johnson in Little Rock to give him a warning.She said "I just got wind that it's coming towards you, and so you need to take cover and be careful. You always looking out for me," Johnson remembered. Five people in one trailer died when a tornado sucked it away That was the last time they spoke. Johnson said he tried to check in hours later, but his sister never answered. Johnson says his sister died protecting her three children — ages 2...

Honda recalls CR-Vs in cold states over rust problem

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

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling nearly 564,000 older small SUVs because road salt can cause the frame to rust and rear suspension parts to come loose.The recall covers certain CR-Vs from 2007 through 2011 that were sold or registered in states where salt is used to clear roads in the winter.U.S. safety regulators say in documents posted Thursday that salt can accumulate and cause corrosion, and the rear trailing arm can detach. That can cause drivers to lose control, increasing the risk of a crash. Rear trailing arms connect the rear axle to the chassis. Democrats express outrage over Clarence Thomas luxury travel report The recalled CR-Vs were either sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.Dealers will inspect the SUVs and install a support bra...

Around Town checks out 'Pompeii: The Exhibition' at Museum of Science and Industry

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

Pompeii: The Exhibition will run at MSI through September 4, 2023. Tickets and more information can be found at msichicago.org/pompeii

Chihuahua puppy beaten, set on fire and left with 3rd-degree burns

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

HOBBS, N.M. (KRQE) – A mixed-breed Chihuahua puppy named Phew was hospitalized after being beaten and sustaining third-degree burns. Now, police in Hobbs, New Mexico, are trying to find the person responsible.Brandy Ellison is the owner of Amazing Grace Pet Rescue. On March 26, she was bombarded with Facebook messages from community members about helping a puppy that had been burned. One of those messages was from the owner of the dog. Ellison took over responsibility for Phew’s care, and he's now on antibiotics and pain medication.“We're cleaning him every day, and it's painful … we have heavy medication on him, but it's still painful,” said Dr. John Kuitu with Great Plains Veterinary Clinic and Hospital. Democrats express outrage over Clarence Thomas luxury travel report The dog had reportedly been beaten and set on fire before jumping out of a window. The owner said she didn’t know how it happened but told investigators her boyfriend had been left with the dog. “He wa...

Elvis Andrus reaches a career milestone in White Sox win

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

CHICAGO — Most of the highlights in his career have come with other teams, but Elvis Andrus will always have one big moment of his career in Chicago. That came on Wednesday afternoon in a White Sox victory, one in which he had to switch positions early in the game. After moving to shortstop after Tim Anderson's ejection for taking exception to a strike three call by home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn, Andrus collected his 2,000 career hit in a 7-3 win over the Giants at Guaranteed Rate Field.The milestone came in the fifth inning when Andrus singled to right field to start what would be a four-hit, two-run inning for the White Sox.He becomes the 290th player in MLB history to reach 2,000 hits in his career and he's fourth among active players, trailing only Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera (3,090), Reds first baseman Joey Votto (2,093), and Padres right fielder/designated hitter Nelson Cruz (2,018). It was one he had to wait a bit for since he went hitless in his last three games...

Man accused of intentionally setting Austin synagogue on fire to give plea Thursday afternoon

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

Austin (KXAN) — The man accused of intentionally starting a fire at an Austin synagogue on Halloween 2021 is set to give his plea in federal court Thursday afternoon.Franklin Barrett Sechriest was indicted on three counts related to the arson investigation at Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue.An affidavit reported surveillance cameras filmed Sechriest with a gas can in his hand. Agents also found glass bottles, lighter fluid, a lighter and waterproof matches in his car. The fire was estimated to have caused $25,000 in damage, and congregants had raised at least $500,000 for repairs by late December of 2021.If convicted, the Department of Justice said Sechriest could face up to 30 years in prison for the damage to religious property charge, 20 years for the arson charge, and a mandatory 10-year sentence to run concurrently with any other sentence for the use of fire charge.A representative of Congregation Beth Israel said the synagogue plans to issue a statement to KXAN.com after Th...