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Man charged with sexual assault on a child, police say more victims possible

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) -- The 20th Judicial District Attorney's Office charged a man with four counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and is asking other possible victims to come forward. Justin Whittaker was charged on Feb. 28 for alleged incidents that occurred between 2009 and 2017, the DA's office said. Whittaker is accused of having sexual contact with several children while they were in his home on Westin Drive in Erie. Boulder therapist accused of sexual assault on children The Erie Police Department and DA's Office believe there may be other victims and/or witnesses to these similar incidents. “We encourage victims to come forward. Our dedicated Sex Crimes Unit prosecutors and victim advocates are available to assist and support victims,” District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement. Anyone with information related to this investigation, contact Detective Shannon Crow with the Erie Police Department at 303-926-2827 or scrow@erieco...

Gun reform debate heats up at the Colorado Capitol

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The battle over guns is once again heating up at the state Capitol. Several gun control bills introduced by Democrats advanced through the legislature this week, while Republicans vowed to do everything they can to stop them from passing.State senators from both parties discuss the future of those gun bills and how to prevent gun violence this weekend on "Colorado Point of View." Lawmakers advance gun bills in ColoradoThree bills addressing gun control advanced at the state Capitol during a round of Senate committee hearings on Wednesday. A fourth bill, which would create a three-day waiting period to get a gun, passed on Monday. Arguably the most controversial bill, a proposed assault weapons ban, has not been brought to a committee.Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, is one of the main sponsors of a bill to expand Colorado’s red flag law to allow health care providers, educators and district attorneys to file an extreme risk protection order. He said Democra...

Fall River man pleads guilty in 14-year-old son’s 2020 death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

A Fall River man was sentenced to life in prison this week for the death of his 14-year-old son after he pleaded guilty to second degree murder charges.John Almond’s son, David, who had autism, was found dead inside his Fall River home in 2020. It was later determined that he died from starvation, neglect and abuse.Prosecutors said the conditions in David’s home were deplorable, with thousands of fentanyl bags found inside. The DA’s office said David was happy at school before his father regained custody of his siblings. In addition to David, one of his siblings was also found malnourished with fentanyl in his system as investigators began looking into this case. John Almond’s life sentence comes with eligibility for parole in 20 years. Almond was arraigned alongside his girlfriend, Jaclyn Marie Coleman, on charges linked to his son’s death back in 2020.  The Bristol County District Attorney’s office at the time said officers responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsi...

2 dead, nearly 10,000 under evacuation orders as California floods intensify

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

 (CNN) — At least two people have died as the result of the ongoing storms inundating California, and nearly 10,000 residents are under evacuation orders, officials said, as intense flooding threatens several coastal counties.The powerful storms have delivered heavy rainfall across the central and northern parts of the state, prompting the Weather Prediction Center to issue a Level 4 of 4 warning of excessive rainfall in the area.Meanwhile, the state of emergency declaration requested by Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday night has been approved by President Joe Biden, clearing the way for financial help in responding to the storm’s onslaught and recovery, said Nancy Ward, director of the state’s Office of Emergency Services.Some 25 million people are under flood alerts issued by the National Weather Service, and more than 25,000 are without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.Some isolated areas of the state have received more than a foo...

US officially rescinds recent Covid testing rules for travelers from China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

(CNN) — People who want to fly from China to the U.S. will have an easier time of it starting Friday.Special Covid testing rules for people traveling from China and its administrative areas, which were put in place on January 5 during a big outbreak of cases in China, were officially rescinded at 3 p.m. ET Friday, according to a news release from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.A source had told CNN earlier this week that the CDC order was expected to be dropped as soon as Friday.What this means is travelers departing from China, Hong Kong, Macau and a few designated airports located elsewhere will no longer have to submit to a pre-flight test to get a negative result or show documentation of recent recovery from Covid-19 to board a flight to the U.S.The CDC said in its Friday news release that the order was put in place because of “concerns that Covid-19 cases were surging in the [People’s Republic of China].“At that time, mit...

MIAA Statewide tournament scoreboard and highlights from Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTSBOYS BASKETBALLSophomore Matt Gaffney paced things offensively with a 17-point outburst, while Ben Howard (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Ethan Tracy (10 points, 10 rebounds) each finished with a double-double to guide top-ranked Malden Catholic (21-2) past No. 25 Leominster, 55-38, in the Div. 2 quarterfinals. … Eddie McCoy (22 points) and J.T. Veiking (21 points, six boards, six assists) shouldered the load offensively, helping second-seeded Mansfield (23-2) pull away for a 77-50 win over No. 10 Marblehead.Lorenzo Jackson erupted for 29 points, while Josh Campbell added 24 points himself as top-seeded Archbishop Williams (22-1) staved off a challenge from No. 8 Oakmont by rallying for an 88-83 victory in a Div. 3 quarterfinal.Freshmen Andy Batista (21 points, two rebounds, three assists) and Giovanni Jean (14 points, 12 rebounds) set the tone for Lynn Tech (18-4) in a 58-48 win over Worcester Tech in the Vocational Large Championship.GIRLS BASKETBALLKailey Sullivan...

Newton North escapes Lawrence with thrilling 55-54 victory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

LAWRENCE — Newton North once again finds itself on the doorstep of the state title game.Adam Landry scored 14 points and Jose Padilla added 13 as No. 7 Newton North held off a furious rally from No. 2 Lawrence and knocked off the Lancers, 55-54, in front of a jam-packed crowd on Friday night at Lawrence High School.Newton North (20-5) will play Worcester North in the Division 1 state semifinals. The Tigers are in search of their second consecutive state final appearance.Newton North’s Victor Caira (20) attempts to block a shot from Lawrence’s Igor Gonzalez before a huge crowd Friday night in Lawrence. Newton North advanced with a thrilling 55-54 win. (Photo by Amanda Sabga/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)“Lawrence is such a great defensive team they pressure on the ball so well and we were fortunate to get them in foul trouble,” Newton North coach Paul Connolly said. “Our guys did a tremendous job in that environment to just control the game.”On the heels of baskets from Landry and Pa...

Orioles observations on Kyle Bradish’s rotation case, Gov. Wes Moore’s first pitch and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

After his third spring training start, Kyle Bradish said he believes his performance thus far is worthy of a spot in the Orioles’ rotation.Truthfully, the bigger question is how high he can climb in it.The 26-year-old right-hander dominated across four innings against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night, striking out eight while allowing a run on two hits over four innings. On the spring, Bradish has struck out 12 while giving up two runs in nine innings, a strong show amid Baltimore’s 12-pitcher rotation competition.“I think after my second-half performance last year and then getting my work in this year and going about my business how I do, I think I should be in contention for it,” Bradish said. “But it’s not up to me. I just want to go out there, do my thing and then let what happens happen.”After returning from a shoulder injury in late July, Bradish posted a 3.28 ERA in 13 starts. Excluding a disastrous penultimate outing in Boston, th...

Slice of heaven: San Diego-area shop has best pie in CA, according to Yelp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego is known for its carne asada, seafood and craft beer selection, but you may be surprised to find out it's also home to some of the best pie in the state.Yelp has compiled a list of the 'Top Pie in Every State' and there's one shop in Wynola, a small mountain town near Julian, that hands out slices that taste like home.California Mountain Bakery was named as the home of the best pie in the state, based on a variety of factors including the number of high ratings and the number of positive reviews.The shop is a family affair born of a dream, owner Raul Padilla told FOX5SanDiego.com. His father has been a baker in Julian for over 30 years working at different spots across the community, but he had hoped to one day open a bakery of his own.Padilla, who attended culinary and business schools in San Diego after graduating from Julian High School, decided to help his father start the bakery and, about eight years ago, California Mountain Bakery opened shop. San Di...

Bill would ban marriages under age 16 in West Virginia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:58 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A child marriage bill was passed by the West Virginia Senate on Friday night after it was changed to prohibit anyone younger than 16 from getting married and to ban age gaps of more than four years for 16- and 17-year-olds.The Senate passed the bill on a 31-1 vote. It now goes to the House of Delegates, which previously passed its own version. The legislative session ends Saturday.“I want us to pass something because our current situation is intolerable,” Morgan County Republican Sen. Charles Trump said.Currently, children can marry as young as 16 in West Virginia with parental consent. It allows anyone younger than that to get married with a judge’s waiver.The Senate bill would remove the possibility that anyone younger than 16 could marry. Those ages 16 and 17 would have to obtain parental consent and they couldn’t marry someone more than four years older than them.Existing legal marriages, including those done in other states, would be unaffected.Th...