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Bethlehem Drag Queen Story Hour draws supporters, those opposed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Drag Queen Story Hours are not new to libraries in the Capital Region, but decisions over whether to hold them have gotten a lot of attention in recent months. The Bethlehem Library hosted one on Thursday.The library's director said more than 100 people showed up, including supporters and people who opposed it. While leaders acknowledged the controversy it could cause, they said libraries should not stay away from difficult topics and should, instead, teach people how to respect those with different viewpoints. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "Lots of people who agreed with the program and some folks who did not agree with the program," Bethlehem Library Dir. Geoffrey Kirkpatrick said. "And everybody was here and engaged peacefully , and the program went off without a hitch."The director said the library would consider hosting another Drag Queen Story Hour given the high level of community interest.

Police release photo of stash from Pennsylvania woods believed to belong to escaped inmate Michael Burham | Manhunt day 7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

YOUNGSVILLE, Pa. (WIVB) -- Pennsylvania State Police released a photo Thursday of a stash that they believe belongs to escaped inmate Michael Burham.It has been one week since Burham, the "prime suspect" in the May 2023 killing of a Jamestown woman, broke out of a jail in Warren County, Pennsylvania.The stash was a camouflaged backpack and some type of other bag. Police said the stash, which was found wrapped in a tarp and hidden partially under a log, contained food, clothing and other materials. Police said it was found in a wooded area outside the city of Warren.Police said they are "confident" that the stash belongs to the escaped inmate.Courtesy: Pennsylvania State PoliceAdditionally, police announced that the combined award between Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers, U.S. Marshals and Warren County Crime Stoppers has been increased by another $2,500, bringing it to a total of $22,000.The Warren County Board of Commissioners, along with the Prison Board, held a meeting Wednesday&...

GOP passes amendments that threaten to doom defense bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

House adoption of conservative amendments to a defense bill has thrown the fate of the must-pass package into doubt, sparking widespread opposition from Democrats and putting new burdens on Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to rally enough Republican votes to pass it through the lower chamber. The threat to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is unusual for an annual legislative ritual that sets the budget for the nation’s armed forces — and routinely enjoys broad bipartisan support. But this year, under pressure from hard-liners in his conference, McCarthy brought a series of controversial conservative amendments to the floor. Five of those measures — pertaining to explosive issues like abortion and transgender rights — were approved on largely partisan votes Thursday evening. The most consequential of those is an amendment that would reverse the Pentagon’s policy to reimburse travel expenses for service members who get abortions – a policy that has prompted Sen...

Bandimere Speedway’s 65-year history: How the family-owned drag racing track became world-renowned

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

MORRISON — In the fall of 1957, auto parts businessman John Bandimere paid $11,000 for a plot of about 180 acres nestled up against the hogback of the Jefferson County foothills.He then went to an auction and bought a scraper, a grater and two pushers. In 1958, with the help of hired friends, Bandimere moved several thousand tons of dirt and built a track and all the necessary equipment to maintain it by himself.It marked the humble start of a 65-year run for the now world-renowned Bandimere Speedway, which is closing at the end of this year and will host Mile-High Nationals for the last time this weekend.The facility first known as the Safety Proving Grounds of America came from two motivations: Bandimere, who was in the high-performance auto parts business, wanted a place to test his wares. He also wanted a safe space for the area’s youth to race, including his son, John Bandimere Jr. — who was a street racer in his younger days, and has served as the track’s showrunne...

Defendant guilty of first-degree murder in Lakewood man’s death, victim’s body never found

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

A Jefferson County jury on Thursday found a defendant guilty of first-degree murder in the death of an 81-year-old Lakewood man whose body was never found.Ricardo Perez, 37, was also found guilty of tampering with a body, attempt to influence a public servant and tampering with physical evidence in connection to the death of Gail Wilson, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.On Nov. 1, 2021, Wilson was reported missing by family members. At the time of his disappearance, he lived with an adopted daughter, Savannah Wilson, 26; her boyfriend, Perez; and a housemate, 22-year-old Jay Griffith.Perez, Griffith and Savanah Wilson were co-defendants in the case.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Argument escalates into deadly shooting in Denver police say Crime and Public Safety | Aurora dentist’s wife fatally poisoned with cyanide and decongestant found in Visine, coroner testifies Crime and Public Safety |...

Video shows smash-and-grab burglary at Downey mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

Police in Downey are investigating a robbery at a jewelry store inside the Stonewood Mall Wednesday afternoon.The robbery happened around 4:30 p.m. at Daniel's Jewelers, according to the Downey Police Department.Video of the smash-and-grab burglary shared to TikTok showed at least three men wearing black hoodie sweatshirts smashing the glass displays of the jewelry store and pulling several items from the damaged cases.The person who shot the video, an employee at one of the mall's businesses, said there have been several burglaries at the mall in recent months and the mall only employs one security guard on site. The TikTok caption claimed that police did not show up to the mall for more than 20 minutes after the crime took place. Downey police have released very little information about the burglary, only confirming that it is under investigation. It's currently unclear if any arrests have been made or if any suspects are outstanding.KTLA was unable to verify the claim that the St...

Bear shooting under investigation in San Bernardino mountains, residents upset

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

Residents are angry after a bear was reportedly shot in the San Bernardino mountains earlier this week.Amid increased bear sightings across Southern California, encounters with wildlife remain a danger to both humans and animals.Although the shooting is under investigation, neighbors suspect someone was feeding the bear before it was shot. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed they're investigating the shooting, but the bear has not yet been found.In the San Bernardino mountains, black bear sightings are commonplace among neighborhoods, especially as the weather heats up.“We see them all the time,” said Trisha Ramsey, an Angelus Oaks resident. “They’re regulars over here. They live here.”Ramsey shared a video of a young bear she spotted while driving on State Route 38 last Monday. On Thursday morning, a bear was seen on video wandering around a Sierra Madre neighborhood.The black bear residents believe may have been the victim of a shooting in Angeleus Oaks in the...

Las Vegas teen runaways end up arrested in Palo Alto following chase, crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

PALO ALTO – Authorities on Thursday arrested four teenage runaways from a Nevada group home following a car chase and crash in Palo Alto.The episode unfolded shortly after 2 a.m. when a patrol officer tried to stop the driver of a 2017 Kia Rio for a moving violation, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a news release.The driver initially turned into a cul-de-sac near the intersection of Ross Road and Nathan Way and stopped. But as the officer was pulling behind the Kia, the driver made a U-turn and collided with the front end of the officer’s patrol car, according to police. The driver then turned onto Ross Road and headed toward East Meadow Drive.The officer pursued the Kia, which eventually collided with a signal pole and raised curb near the intersection of East Meadow Drive and Alma Street, police said.The crash triggered the Kia’s airbags and left the car inoperable, according to police.The four occupants – a 15-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy and two 13-year-old boys – we...

Photos: Oakland police host CommUNITY Tour at DeFremery Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

West Oakland residents were treated to free food and festivities Wednesday at DeFremery Park as part of the Oakland Police Department’s CommUNITY Tour.Several hundred people turned out to the historic West Oakland park for hot dogs, hamburgers and churros as officers mingled with community members. A DJ spun tunes as kids jumped in bounce houses, rode ponies, got their faces painted and played video games.OPD offers three CommUNITY Tours per year in different parts of the city in an attempt to build connections with residents.“Public safety is our profession; however, community outreach is just as important. The majority of times officers interact with our community members is during emergency situations. Hosting events such as the CommUNITY Tour provides the opportunity for positive engagement, allowing our officers to build and strengthen long-lasting relationships with our community.  The Oakland Police Department’s CommUNITY Tour is one of several ways OPD gives back and r...

Man charged with murder in Silver Spring parking garage killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:39 GMT

A man arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of a Baltimore man inside a downtown Silver Spring parking garage has been charged with murder.Ramone Christopher Ramsay, 30, appeared in Montgomery County District Court on Thursday and is being held without bond. Ramsay is accused of shooting and killing 21-year-old Kymani Elijah Bailey early Saturday morning inside Public Parking Garage 3, near Thayer and Silver Spring avenues.Montgomery County police said Bailey was walking inside the parking garage after he left a restaurant when Ramsay came up to him and started shooting.It happened on the first day of Montgomery County’s paid Saturday parking, which county officials said will help pay for more lighting, cameras and other safety and security measures for facilities in Downtown Silver Spring and other areas.Ramsay faces charges of first and second degree murder, assault and reckless endangerment, as well as a number of firearm offenses. He’s scheduled to appear f...