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Former Illinois bank executive admits to arson, bank fraud

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

BENTON, Ill. - A former bank vice president and loan officer in central Illinois appeared in federal court Friday morning and admitted to committing arson and bank fraud.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois said Richard Pigg, 52, committed the crimes between May 2011 and December 2016 when he lived and worked in Mount Vernon.According to court documents, Pigg convinced customers at Community First Bank of the Heartland to buy rental properties in Centralia, Mount Vernon, Murphysboro, and West Frankfort on his behalf, through mortgage loans financed by CFBH.Pigg assured the customers that he would be able to acquire the tenants and collect rent, and also maintain the properties. However, the victims never received any income from the rental properties. Mike Shannon, longtime Cardinals radio broadcaster, dies at 83 During this process, Pigg would increase the amount financed in the mortgage loan by thousands of dollars above the purchase ...

Technical issues closes Colorado DMV statewide, online services unaffected

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Colorado’s Division of Motor Vehicles on Monday shut down driver’s license, vehicle registration and other in-office services statewide due to “a technical issue” and issued a notice directing Coloradans to reschedule.However, “online services are not affected by this service outage,” state spokeswoman Stephany Garza said in an agency news announcement.No time was set for when DMV offices are expected to reopen.Updates will be provided on DMV social media pages and online, officials said.Coloradans needing DMV services can work through the DMV’s website, myDMV.Colorado.gov to access online services, officials said. They also can use MV Express Kiosks in some counties to renew their vehicle registrations.State motor vehicle officials previously shut down offices and also online services around Colorado on March 6 due to “a technical issue.”Agency officials couldn’t immediately be reached Monday to respond to queries.Get more Colorado news by signing up for our...

Unsung heroes Bruce Brown, Aaron Gordon both X-Factors vs. Phoenix

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Suns superstar Kevin Durant went left, just like Bruce Brown said he would.Midway through the fourth quarter of Denver’s Game 1 rout of Phoenix, Brown, a teammate of Durant’s in Brooklyn, was caught on an island against one of the most lethal scorers in the NBA. But Brown took contact, sat on his dribble, and picked his pocket clean. That transition chance was short-circuited when Chris Paul, perhaps out of frustration, shouldered Jamal Murray to the ground.Less than a minute later, Durant swerved left and Brown ripped him clean, again.“I knew he was going to do that,” said Brown, which is way more than most defenders can ever profess against Durant.Instead of giving the ball up after the second swipe, Brown hammered the transition dunk to effectively end the drama on Saturday night. Before the series even tipped, Brown talked about which direction Durant preferred to operate and knew he liked to settle into the mid-range. Against Durant, you take every advantage you can find.Beginn...

'SNL,' late-night shows and more to be impacted by looming WGA strike

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

A writer's strike affecting Hollywood studios and production companies could begin as soon as Tuesday. That's expected to happen if a deal isn't reached by midnight Monday night, making it the first Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike in over 10 years.The deadline is when the WGA contract between the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers expires. What happens if there's a strike?If a strike does happen, the production of scripted network shows and late-night talk shows will be stopped. It would also halt writing work for movies, television, and streaming services. What shows will be impacted the most?Late-night programs will be the first to feel the impact if a strike happens, they'll go into reruns immediately. This is due to their nightly schedules and their subject matter as the hosts' opening monologues consist of making fun of the day's news. “Immediately, new episodes of late-night shows including ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallo...

California to receive $500,000 from alleged Medi-Cal defraudment scheme

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonita, announced the state will receive a nearly $500,000 settlement after an L.A.-based plastic surgeon was accused of defrauding Medi-Cal, California's Medicare program, of hundreds of thousands of dollars.Dr. Joel Aronowitz allegedly overbilled Medi-Cal recipients for skin grafts and skin wound treatments for more than six years, specifically between 2015 and 2021. The alleged crime cost the program $ 248,809 and under the settlement, Aronowitz will pay $497,619 to the state, a news release said. California to get millions from multistate opioid settlement with Walgreens “The Medi-Cal system is a lifeline that provides access to free or affordable healthcare services for millions of Californians,” Attorney General Bonta said in a statement.“When bad actors abuse or defraud it, they drain away funds meant to help people with limited income and resources get the healthcare they need. Let this settlement serve as a warning: The California Depart...

1 Injured in Fiery Multi-Vehicle Crash on State Route 163 [San Diego, CA]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Vehicle Collision near Clairemont Mesa Boulevard Resulted in One HospitalizedSAN DIEGO, CA (May 1, 2023) – Wednesday morning, police responded to a multi-vehicle crash on State Route 163.It happened just before 6:00 a.m., April 19th, in the northbound lanes of the highway near Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.Upon investigation, the officers learned that multiple vehicles were involved in the incident where one burst into flames.Furthermore, two people sustained injuries where one received treatment at a hospital while the other was at the scene. Also, firefighters were dispatched to the scene to put out the fire.Meanwhile, the northbound lanes of SR-138 were blocked and traffic was affected near Exit 8 on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.Authorities have yet to provide additional information about the crash at this time, an active investigation is currently ongoing.One small driving mistake can lead to multi-vehicle accidents. That is why it is important to always keep your attention on th...

Man Hospitalized after Scooter Crash on Newport Boulevard [Newport Beach, CA]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Scooter Crash on Newport Boulevard near 32nd Street Left Rider DeadNEWPORT BEACH, CA (May 1, 2023) – Sunday afternoon, a scooter crash on Newport Boulevard left one man hospitalized.The incident happened just before 4:00 p.m., April 16th, just north of 32nd Street.According to the Newport Beach Fire Department, they arrived at the scene and found the scooter rider with serious injuries and in critical condition.Medics transported the victim to the nearest hospital to receive treatment. As of Wednesday the man was still in the hospital.Meanwhile, the driver and the passenger of the involved vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with the authorities.The crash is still under investigation and any witnesses are encouraged to call Investigator W. Hume of the Major Accident Investigation Team at (949) 644-3687.Road accidents can happen anytime, anywhere, and to anyone. When using motorized bicycles or scooters, it is important to wear the proper protective gear to ensure your...

Coronation organizers wonder if Prince Harry will be a ‘no-show,’ report says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Even though Prince Harry finally let Buckingham Palace know — more than a week after the RVSP deadline passed — that he would be attending King Charles III’s coronation Saturday, he’s still keeping organizers in suspense about key details about his plans.Sources told The Mail on Sunday that Harry has yet to let organizers know “when he is coming, where is staying, when he is going back and whether he is happy with his seating position” in Westminster Abbey. Organizers even suspect he could pull out at the last minute.The Sun reported last week that Harry’s solo trip to the UK — without his wife Meghan Markle — to see father Charles and stepmother Camilla crowned king and queen probably will be a short — just 24 hours at most. He’ll attend the 11 a.m. service, then pop back on an airplane so he can fly back to the United States and join Meghan in Montecito to celebrate their son Archie’s fourth birthday.But this ...

Paltrow denied bid to recoup attorney’s fees in ski crash lawsuit

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

By Sam Metz | Associated PressSALT LAKE CITY — Gwyneth Paltrow will not recoup the attorneys’ fees she paid to successfully defend herself against a lawsuit from a 76-year-old retired optometrist who claimed she was at fault for crashing into him at a posh Utah ski resort in 2016.In a final judgment published on Saturday, a Utah judge affirmed the jury’s unanimous verdict finding Terry Sanderson — the man who collided with Paltrow — to be “100% at fault,” awarding Paltrow the $1 she sought in a countersuit, and leaving attorneys’ fees for District Court Judge Kent Holmberg to decide.The judgment said Paltrow would not seek attorneys’ fees and Sanderson would not appeal the verdict, effectively ending a protracted legal battle seven years after the two crashed on a beginner run near the base of Deer Valley Resort in Utah.Representatives for both Paltrow and Sanderson were not immediately available to answer questions about the final judgment or the...

Draymond Green details Steph Curry’s impassioned speech to Warriors ahead of Game 7

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Steph Curry’s dazzling, record-setting Game 7 performance in Sacramento carried the Warriors into the second round of the NBA playoffs.For anyone who has seen Curry take over a critical game for Golden State, the 50-point showing was no huge surprise, even if Curry’s play itself was breathtaking.Count Draymond Green among those who expected the two-time MVP to rise to the occasion. He knew Saturday that Curry had something special in store.Green explained the story on his podcast: He sent a text to his fellow longtime Warriors, Curry and Klay Thompson, in the wee hours following Golden State’s Game 6 loss, saying he couldn’t sleep in the wake of the “gut punch” they had received from the Kings.Curry replied a few hours later saying he couldn’t sleep either and that he wanted to be the one to address their teammates ahead of Saturday’s film study, rather than leaving the more vocal Green to do it. What followed from Curry prepared the W...