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18-year-old at large, teen charged after 15-year-old shot in Palatine dies, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

PALATINE, Ill. —  A 15-year-old boy critically wounded after a shooting in unincorporated Palatine last week has died, police said Wednesday. An 18-year-old male and a 14-year-old boy face charges in connection with the deadly shooting. On Aug. 17, just before 5:20 a.m., Palatine police officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 1700 block of E. Clear Creek Bay. Arriving officers located several shell casings and eventually discovered the 15-year-old boy nearby with a gunshot wound to the upper body.The boy was rushed to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge in critical condition. He died days later from his injuries on Tuesday, Aug. 22. 3 charged with murder after man killed in Aurora home invasion That same day, a 14-year-old was charged in juvenile court for his role in the shooting. The juvenile faces felony charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.Police also i...

Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte turns 20, slated to return Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

(KTLA/NEXSTAR) — With the summer season slowly fading away and fall on the horizon, many people are gearing up for the return of everything pumpkin spice.Starbucks announced Wednesday that its famous pumpkin spice latte will return to coffee shops nationwide on Thursday, along with other seasonal items. Starbucks’ PSL almost didn’t happen — here’s why it did The fan favorite drink will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.These items will join the pumpkin spice latte on this year’s limited-time fall menu.Pumpkin Cream Chai LattePumpkin Cream Cold BrewIced Apple Crisp Oatmilk MacchiatoBaked Apple CroissantPumpkin Cream Cheese MuffinOwl Cake PopStarbucks lovers can also get pumpkin-spiced flavored items at their local grocery stores, ranging from pumpkin spice-flavored coffee creams to chilled coffee drinks. The coffee company will also bring its pumpkin spice lineup to its Starbucks Reserve locations nationwide for the first time. Taco Bell, other food chains could move ...

Which local restaurants received a perfect health inspection score in July 2023?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In July, Austin Public Health (APH) performed over 550 health inspections at locations across the metropolitan area, such as restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores and schools.Of the 565 locations inspected, 312 received scores above 89. Only 39 received perfect scores, and just 12 of those are restaurants.For July 2023, four local restaurants received perfect health inspection scores:Blue Basil, a food truck typically located at The Domain (11119 Alterra Pkwy, Austin);Odd Duck, located at 1201 South Lamar Blvd., Austin;Pflugerville Donuts, located at 1700 Grand Avenue Parkway, Austin; and,Show Me Pizza, located at 2809 South 1st Street, Austin.Of those, two have ongoing streaks of perfect inspections: Show Me Pizza (two inspections) and Pflugerville Donuts (three inspections). In addition, five chain restaurants had stores that received perfect scores: Chipotle Mexican Grill (1109 E 5th Street, Austin), Schlotzsky's (3944 S FM 620 Rd, Bee Cave), Starb...

Demonstrators stood outside Austin high school with anti-LGBTQ, abortion messages

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As students were released from McCallum High School Tuesday afternoon, the district confirms roughly eight people stood outside with anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion signs. "The protesters were on the sidewalk but were blocking the buses, so they were asked to move," a spokesperson for AISD said. "Austin ISD Police officers were on-site to ensure everyone's safety, and the protesters left after about an hour."KXAN does not share photos or videos of possible hate speech as standard practice, which is why we have not included photos in this story and blurred signs in the video above. Texas State student accused of setting fire to Austin synagogue arrested "Instead we need to be standing up and saying that everyone belongs, and this is a community for everyone," said Council Member Alison Alter of District 10. In July, Alter officially helped launch an anti-hate campaign called "We All Belong." The program came about after a series of hate speech incidents and a hate cri...

Gloria Lofton's daughter reacts to updates in the Raul Meza investigation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Months have passed since Sonia Houston was first informed that Raul Meza Jr., 62, was connected with her mother, Gloria Lofton’s, death. Houston said in recent weeks, she feels Austin police have been more communicative with her, but still, she wants more answers.  READ MORE: Daughters of Gloria Lofton decry Austin Police for its handling of their mother’s death Since the APD press conference in May, there have been several updates in the case, including when authorities in July searched a field where, nearby, in 2022, officials had seen Meza, who at the time “appeared as though he had been in a fight,” according to documents. There, investigators uncovered clothes, rope and a tarp, and “several locations displayed the properties of a possible burial site,” according to court documents. Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon told KXAN’s Briana Hollis that since it is still an open investigation, he could not provide more details on the field search.  MORE: N...

Georgetown Animal Shelter sees increase in distemper cases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- The Georgetown Animal Shelter has seen an rise in dogs entering the shelter with the distemper virus, according to a news release from the City of Georgetown. The shelter is asking for help getting healthy dogs out of the shelter and into foster or adoptive homes, in order to separate them from sick dogs.The release said the shelter confirmed one case of distemper and six presumptive cases. The initial dog came into the shelter July 31 and first showed symptoms on August 17. It tested positive for the virus on Aug. 22.“We desperately need the community’s help to foster or adopt our current, healthy dogs, so we can limit the spread of this devastating disease,” said Georgetown Animal Services manager April Haughey in the release. “We are taking every step we can to clean and sanitize the shelter and isolate potentially infected dogs, but with how this virus spreads and with the shelter being over capacity, we don’t have other options.”The shelter said that...

'Help us!' State employees blow whistle on errors they say are kicking thousands off Medicaid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A new whistleblower complaint obtained by Nexstar claims technical glitches and disorganized leadership have caused issues in Texas' administration of Medicaid and erroneously kicked thousands of children and pregnant women off of their health insurance."The persistence of numerous and growing system issues remains evident, causing erroneous denials of coverage, particularly impacting newborns and pregnant women—creating a situation that could further agitate our noncompliance with [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] guidelines," anonymous Texas Health and Human Services employees wrote to Texas HHS Commissioner Cecile Young on Monday. Concerned state employees say internal errors put thousands at risk of losing Medicaid coverage The complaint describes system coding errors that placed children in incorrect coverage groups, leading to a failure to claim more than $100 million in federal funds. The letter also says over 5,800 pregnant women had their co...

Leander announces resignation of city manager

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) -- The City of Leander will soon be on the hunt for a new municipal leader, following the resignation of City Manager Rick Beverlin Tuesday.Beverlin accepted an offer with the City of Nacogdoches, Texas, to serve as its city manager, per a City of Leander news release Wednesday. Beverlin had served in his role with the city since 2019.Leander City Council will officially consider accepting Beverlin's resignation at its council meeting on Thursday, Sept. 7. As part of that discussion, Leander City Council members will meet in closed session and discuss the hiring process for its next city manager, the release added.“I appreciate all your support and that of the community and our local and regional partners. It is a bittersweet moment and wish all of you the best and the city much success, prosperity, and peace,” Beverlin wrote in a letter notifying council of his decision.His last day serving Leander is slated for Nov. 1, per the release.A Houston native, Beverl...

Twins to get Edouard Julien some experience at first base

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

MILWAUKEE — The Twins are scheming up ways to get Edouard Julien, Jorge Polanco, Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton all in the same lineup. To do that, there are only a couple of ways to make it work.One includes having Buxton play center field, something which manager Rocco Baldelli said over the weekend that they had been discussing. Buxton, who is on currently on the Injured List with a hamstring injury, has been the team’s designated hitter this season and has yet to see the outfield because of an ongoing knee issue.Another solution?Moving someone to first base.The choice is Julien, who made his major-league debut at the position during the final inning of Tuesday night’s game here.“We’re going to have to find different ways to put a lineup together, especially once Buck comes back off the IL,” Baldelli said. “On those days when Buck’s in the lineup, we’re not going to be able to play Eddy and Polo and Royce in the lineup at the same time, so finding ways to do that is part of o...

Murder charge dismissed against Woodbury teen in North St. Paul gun heist

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:55:41 GMT

Prosecutors have dismissed a case against a 16-year-old Woodbury teen who was accused along with four others of aiding and abetting murder in the June shooting death of a man during a gun heist in North St. Paul.The Ramsey County attorney’s office threw out the charge it had filed against Austin Dwayne Mansfield in the killing of 24-year-old Anthony Robert Rojas in his apartment, where police believe Rojas was making ghost gun parts.Dennis Gerhardstein, Ramsey County attorney’s office spokesman, said Wednesday in a statement the case against Mansfield was dismissed on July 26 “for insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt at this time.”Gerhardstein said the attorney’s office cannot comment further because the investigation “surrounding the case remains active and ongoing.”The alleged shooter, Abo Eshun Essilfie, 17, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty this month in adult court to the same charge in connection with the murder.Also facing the same charge are 19-y...