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Man busted trying to cash in stolen lottery tickets in south St. Louis County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A man is behind bars after he was busted trying to cash in stolen lottery tickets in south St. Louis County, tickets he allegedly acquired through a series of burglaries. Prosecutors have charged Armando Sheti, 27, with four counts of second-degree burglary and four counts of stealing in connection with the investigation. Investigators say Sheti is linked to burglaries at several businesses near Union Road between Sept. 9 and Oct. 5 this year. He reportedly took off with cash or lottery tickets at least four times in recent weeks. Football coach shot in front of players at practice, St. Louis community shocked Police say an undisclosed amount of lottery tickets were stolen during the early-morning hours of Oct. 5 at Europe Grocery Store. Sheti later tried to cash in those tickets at an undisclosed location, and police caught the transactions on video, leading to his arrest. The St. Louis County Police Department says Sheti also admitted to burglaries at Tu...

Illinois 'Up' house blocked by high-rises on 4 sides

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – There's a mystery around a house that has somehow found itself encircled by tall city buildings on all four sides. This home is situated at 509 ½ Green Street in Champaign, Illinois.A photo via Google Earth visually illustrates the house's peculiar placement.The house is in Campustown, serving as a lasting reminder of what remains of a once-residential neighborhood. In 2013, when businesses at the corner of Sixth and Green streets were demolished to make way for a new high-rise apartment complex, a hidden standalone house was revealed.The removal of these commercial structures was part of the preparations for the forthcoming apartment complex. The house served as an apartment building for decades. However, in 2013, the Champaign Fire Department declared the house unsafe due to its confinement between four high-rise buildings and its sole access point being a narrow alleyway.A view from Google Earth shows the house's peculiar placement and the potential fire safety ...

Illinois man charged with arson after argument

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

O'FALLON, Ill. – First responders were called to a residential fire in the 1500 block of English Pine around 1 a.m. Sunday. They discovered that one side of the duplex was on fire.  Investigators believe it was intentionally set. There were no injuries, and it was determined that the duplex was unoccupied at the time. Delfred D. Jones, 27, was arrested that Sunday evening. Detectives learned that the residents of the duplex and Jones had met just a few hours before the fire. The resident had invited Delfred back to the apartment.  Football coach shot in front of players at practice, St. Louis community shocked The fire was started later, during a disagreement between the two individuals inside the duplex. Detectives do not believe anyone was inside when the fire started. The St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office charged Jones with arson Tuesday, and he is currently being held in the St. Clair County Jail pending additional court proceedings. 

Illinois man pleads guilty to making false statements to get COVID-19 relief money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- A Peoria man pleaded guilty Thursday to allegations he improperly received COVID-relief money through the Paycheck Protection Program.In March, Shon Smith, 33, was charged in U.S. District Court in Peoria with one count each of mail fraud, wire fraud, and making a false statement regarding a scheme to illegally obtain PPP money from June 2020 through June 2021. Peoria man sentenced to year in prison for PPP fraud But on Thursday, he pleaded guilty to the false statement charge in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge James Shadid, a felony that could send him to prison for up to five years. He will remain free on bond pending his sentencing in February, according to court records.In his indictment, he's alleged to have obtained money from Indiana through unemployment insurance by claiming he was a painter. He also claimed, the indictment stated, he was a barber and made $160,000 a year to get PPP money.Smith got a $20,833 PPP loan in May 2021 and then tried a...

New-look Avalanche top line lived up to the hype in season-opening victory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

SAN JOSE – Jonathan Drouin became one of Nathan MacKinnon’s close friends and his carpool buddy while they spent two years as teenagers tearing apart the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads.When Drouin signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche this offseason, expecting a reunion between the two seemed obvious. Avs coach Jared Bednar made it clear though at the start of training camp that a spot next to MacKinnon on the club’s top line must be earned, regardless of what highlight-reel goals those two created a decade ago.Drouin earned his chance to play next to MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen in the team’s season-opening 5-2 win Wednesday night in Los Angeles with a strong, consistent camp. It was only one game, but that trio’s opening data point of the season was outstanding.“Playing with those two – they are very special,” Drouin said. “I’ve said it for a while now, but we saw it firsthand today. Look at that first goal Mikko scored. How many guys in the league can do that ...

“On Patrol: Live” policing show to feature Weld County Sheriff’s Office starting this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

Weld County sheriff’s deputies will appear on episodes of the reality policing show “On Patrol: Live” as soon as Friday night after the Sheriff’s Office signed a yearlong contract.The previous incarnation of Reelz’ show “On Patrol: Live,” then called “Live PD,” was canceled by its previous network A&E in 2020 during the protests over police brutality following the murder of George Floyd and amid controversy over the death of Javier Ambler in Austin that was filmed and deleted by one of the show’s camera crew.“On Patrol: Live” premiered summer 2022, with the new name and on the new network, is in its second season. It airs live Friday and Saturday nights and is streamed on Peacock.In a news release posted Wednesday on Facebook, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office announced the deal, saying appearances would start Friday night.“We are looking forward to allowing the public to see the great work that men and...

Are you struggling to make student loan payments now that the freeze is over? The Denver Post wants to talk to you.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

The freeze on student loan payments that began in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic expired in August after two and a half years.While the Biden administration has implemented a number of programs aimed at helping low-income Americans pay off their loans more easily, the return of monthly payments remains a significant financial burden for many.Reporter Michael Braithwaite is looking to talk to Colorado residents about any financial hardships they are going through as a result of the resumption of student loan payments, and whether any of the federal programs are helping.If you are interested in participating in a story, please fill out the information below.[contact-form] Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter.

Dodgers postseason struggles in spotlight again after disappointing NLDS

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

The Los Angeles Dodgers are under the microscope again after struggling to carry their regular season excellence into the postseason. After winning 100 games for the third consecutive year, buoyed by an excellent and record-breaking August, the Dodgers were swept out of the playoffs by a familiar foe: the Arizona Diamondbacks.The Dodgers won 16 more games than the D-Backs in the regular season en route to their 10th National League West title in 11 years. But Arizona flipped the postseason switch, making quick work of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card series before dismantling the Dodgers in three games in the NLDS.Future Hall of Famer and Game 1 starter Clayton Kershaw gave up six runs while recording only one out in the first inning at Dodger Stadium. They would go on to lose that game 11-2.Game 2 was more of the same as promising Dodgers rookie Bobby Miller gave up three runs in less than two innings before being yanked by manager Dave Roberts. Clutch hits didn't material...

Former Inglewood cop admits to selling brick of cocaine, stealing from evidence locker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

A former Inglewood Police Department officer has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of distributing cocaine, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.Whittier resident John Abel Baca, 47, admitted to distributing cocaine on two separate occasions in 2021. The 21-year veteran of the department gave cocaine to a cooperating witness, then gave a kilogram of cocaine to that same witness in exchange for $22,000, the DOJ said in a news release. Before those incidents, the witness told the FBI that Baca had offered to sell him a kilogram of cocaine, two kilograms of "White China" heroin and "an unlimited supply of black tar heroin," prosecutors said."[The witness] reported that Baca claimed to have stolen drugs and cash during routine traffic stops that Baca made as a drug task for officer with IPD," the release said. Inglewood police officer, informant arrested on federal drug charges: Justice Department During the first of the two cocaine distributions, which was "covertly recorded," B...

SoCal's latest billionaire a mystery after winning Powerball jackpot; store owner awarded $1M

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:50 GMT

Southern California’s newest billionaire remains a mystery after winning Wednesday night’s Powerball jackpot.We know the $1.7 billion-winning ticket was sold at Midway Market & Liquor located at 6032 Frazier Mountain Park Road in Kern County. Owner Andy Khalil, who received $1 million for selling the winning ticket, said he found out about it on social media.“They were mentioning the store name and they were congratulating me,” Khalil said. He has worked at the store for 29 years and said this is the first time they have sold such a big winning ticket. Khalil told KTLA he plans on using his share of the winnings for his children's college funds. His nephew, Chris, who also works at the store, said he found out about the store selling the winning ticket from a friend. He didn't believe it until he verified the address. Chris added that the store's customers are mostly local and are loyal, and he hopes one of them won the jackpot. Donning yellow lotto tees reading "Billionaire Mad...