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Case of teen's 2015 death, reopened during Murdaugh investigation, now ruled a homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD/NewsNation) – Attorneys for the mother of Stephen Smith, the 19-year-old who was found dead along a rural South Carolina road in 2015, say the boy's death has now been ruled a homicide. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) confirmed the information to Nexstar's WCBD Tuesday night.The news came following a call between attorney Eric Bland and SLED Chief Mark Keel, according to Bland Richter Law Firm.Smith was believed to have been killed in a hit-and-run accident, though his family doubted it from the start. Police said he was walking along the road after running out of gas, but investigators found no skid marks or car debris, and Smith’s loosely-tied shoes were still on his feet, attorneys have said. What happened to Stephen Smith? Sandy Smith is on a mission to find justice in her son’s July 2015 death At the time, rumors circulated claiming that the prominent Murdaugh family was somehow connected to the death, but those rumors were never ...

Early spring storm threatens strong or severe thunderstorms for parts of the area later Wednesday into early Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

The heaviest storm is capable of damaging hail, gusty winds and soaking downpoursLOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BATTER CALIFORNIANSIt's pretty easy to see the low-pressure system which continues to batter Californians. Road closures, mudslides, flooding and white-out conditions have been reported in the Golden State. A quick pressure drop, as the storms rapidly intensified, has also created strong winds in the Northern California area.STRONG, ISOLATED SEVERE T-STORMS POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY MORNINGTiming: 8 PM Wednesday to 4 AM ThursdayMain hazards: pea to quarter size hail, vivid lightning and heavy downpoursCHANCE OF SEEING THUNDERSTORMS LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNINGThe greatest probability of seeing thunderstorms late Wednesday night, early Thursday morning appears to be along and south of I-80 into central Illinois sections of IndianaFIRST OFFICIAL FULL DAY OF ASTRONOMICAL SPRING IN CHICAGOTuesday’s first official full day of astronomical...

Hays County considers proposal to share cost of roads, infrastructure with developers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Hays County Commissioners are looking for ways to share the cost of growth with developers coming to the area.They are considering a resolution that would require developers to pitch in for needed road and infrastructure upgrades. As it currently stands, commissioners said they do not have the authority to ask for that. Dripping Springs resident Carrie Napiorkowski said she does have safety concerns for different roadways in the area. "I would say these roads are crumbling," Napiorkowski said. "These low water crossings are very narrow. They have no shoulders. They have no middle lane and they're winding and twisting." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hays County coalition says no to proposed 5,000 seat concert venue There's a proposed 5,000 seat concert venue coming to the area, which raises her concerns even more. "It was not developed as a county road for anything more than just casual traffic," Napiorkowski said. On March 14, Hays County Commissioner Walt Smith p...

Twins’ Byron Buxton, set for DH duties in early going, makes Grapefruit League debut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

FORT MYERS, Fla. — For the first time this spring, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli had the chance to pencil in Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa’s name back to back atop the lineup.It took the duo just eight pitches to give the Twins a two-run lead with Buxton smoking a ball to the right-center field gap and Correa following with his first home run of the spring.“I told him that I just needed him to come back so he could inspire me once again. Felt good when he started with that double,” Correa said. “I was like, ‘All right, here we go. It’s feeling like the regular season all over again.’ Yeah, definitely got excited to see him back out there.”Buxton has been getting all of his at-bats this spring on the backfields in live batting practice and more recently, in minor league games. Tuesday marked the first time he played in a Grapefruit League game.“It felt good. Felt good to get back out there and be back with the guys playing again,” Buxton said. “That kind of put things in perspective ...

MN Senate committee probes allegations of toxic workplace at veterans home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

Lawmakers on the Minnesota Senate veterans committee heard dramatically different views during a Tuesday evening oversight hearing of whether there is a toxic workplace culture at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings and if there is enough being done to address it.Larry Herke, commissioner of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, said he responded quickly last June when current and former caregivers sent him a packet of documents detailing allegations of harassment, retaliation and bullying of caregivers at the Hastings veterans home.Herke said he put together a 10-point plan to address those issues and implemented new training procedures. When it became clear that wasn’t enough, Herke said he decided Saturday to dismiss two top leaders at the department because the culture hadn’t changed.“It was clear to me the culture in Hastings has some issues,” Herke told senators. “The person at the top sets the tone. We needed to make some changes.”C...

Filip Gustavsson shakes off slow start to lift Wild to thrilling win over Devils

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. — Filip Gustavsson didn’t look himself on Tuesday night at the Prudential Center. He was fighting the puck and couldn’t seem to catch anything cleanly with his glove hand. His positioning in the crease proved to be his saving grace as pucks at least continued to bounce off of his pads.“I thought I played with two blockers out there today,” Gustavsson joked. “I asked (goaltending coach Freddy Chabot) if he’s found my glove yet.”As the game between the Wild and the New Jersey Devils wore on, however, Gustavsson slowly found his rhythm between the pipes. He made a few big saves to get himself going and started to look like the star goaltender he has been for the Wild all season long.In the end, Gustavsson stood on his head down the stretch to force overtime, and the Wild earned a thrilling 2-1 win as Matt Boldy scored the game-winner with 1.3 seconds left in the extra session.MATT BOLDY IS THE HERO!!!!!#MNWILD | #NHL pic.twitter.com/8Qzp...

Man admits to killing St. Charles woman, has violent history 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - In an interview with the police after his arrest, 49-year-old Joseph Dejoie admitted to killing Jacquelyn “Jacque” Elizabeth Mitchell. Police confirmed the two knew each other and even exchanged text messages on March 14, when Mitchell went missing. Dejoie was arrested Monday evening after police used the city’s Real Time Crime Center surveillance videos. “We actually got a pretty significant break in this case when we were able to obtain surveillance video of (Dejoie) driving Jacque’s car after she had disappeared,” said Chief Bill Carson with the Maryland Heights Police Department. Top story: Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody Carson said Mitchell, 39, was found inside Dejoie's apartment in the 2200 block of Palestra Drive.Dejoie is being charged with second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and the abandonment of a corpse. Dejoie has a criminal record with past charges of burglary, rape, and possession of dru...

CHP ends escorting traffic through I-5, Grapevine after brief snowfall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) --California Highway Patrol officers have ended escorts along Interstate 5 through the Grapevine, but roads remain wet and slick Tuesday night, Caltrans said. Possible funnel cloud visible as thunderstorm rolls through Bakersfield CHP in Fort Tejon escorts had ended by 7 p.m. Snowfall had turned into a light rain through the area earlier in the evening, according to CHP.Officials urge motorists to continue to drive with caution through the area.

California bill could ban the sale of Skittles, Hot Tamales and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

A bill being considered by the California State Assembly would ban the sale of Skittles, Hot Tamales candy, Dubble Bubble Twist Gum, and other food items containing potentially dangerous and toxic chemicals.Introduced by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), AB 418 proposes that California stop allowing the manufacture, sale and distribution of foods that contain Red Dye No. 3, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Bromate, Brominated Vegetable Oil, or Propyl Paraben.These chemicals have been linked to health problems including increased risk of cancer, damage to the immune system and behavioral issues in children, Gabriel's office said in a news release. California bill would require schools to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender While many Californians won’t recognize these chemicals by name, they can be found in popular food and drink items. According to experts, Titanium Dioxide can be found in cupcakes, trail mix and ice cream. Propylparaben can be found in...

New bill would eliminate limits on reducing old, low-level felonies to misdemeanors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:09:54 GMT

Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) has introduced a bill that would eliminate the deadline to apply for reducing old low-level, non-violent felony convictions to misdemeanors. The bill would take away the limit that was approved by voters in 2014 under Proposition 47 and would enable Californians with low-level felonies to move past more than 5,000 permanent restrictions on their lives. Proposition 47 changed the penalty for simple drug possession and five petty theft related crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor. There are more than 40,000 different permanent restrictions on people with felony convictions nationwide, including restrictions on available jobs, housing and education. The bill would also ensure that those eligible to reduce an old felony on their record to a misdemeanor will have the opportunity to do so. “An old conviction on a person’s record often does not reflect the reality of who someone is and what they have accomplished,” sai...