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Self-professed ‘Wolf of Airbnb’ pleads guilty to wire fraud for defrauding landlords

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A Florida man who dubbed himself the “Wolf of Airbnb” pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge Monday, admitting gaining about $2 million illegally by defrauding landlords and cheating a government pandemic program.Konrad Bicher, 31, of Hialeah, Florida, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court, agreeing not to appeal any prison sentence that is roughly four to five years long. The wire fraud charge otherwise carried a potential 20-year prison sentence.Bicher also agreed to forfeit $1.7 million and make restitution of $1.9 million. A sentencing date was not immediately set.U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement that Bicher proudly referred to himself as the “Wolf of Airbnb” but admitted that his businesses were premised on fraud after he entered lease agreements based on false pretenses and made false statements to obtain U.S.-guaranteed loans.“Bicher lined his own pockets by abusing government programs and tenant protections intended to benefit those in c...

4 bodies found in charred remains of Arkansas house died from gunshot wounds, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Four people found dead in a burned down Little Rock house were killed from gunshot wounds, including one self-inflicted, police said Monday.Little Rock Police released the cause of death following an autopsy of the four bodies that were found in the charred remains of a house in southwest Little Rock early Friday morning. The Little Rock Fire Department has said the cause of the fire is under investigation.Police did not release the identities of the people found dead in the fire and said they’re notifying next of kin. They did not release ages of the four people or say if the four were related.Police said the investigation into the deaths is ongoing. The Associated Press

Prosecutors files charges in shooting that killed 3 and wounded 6 in Kansas City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 26-year-old man was charged Monday in a weekend shooting that killed three people and wounded six more in Kansas City, police said. Keivon Greene is accused of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, and prosecutors said they expect to file more charges. A second suspect was involved in the shooting, according to a probable cause statement. Responding officers found two men and a woman dead from gunshot wounds at around 4:30 a.m. Sunday in a parking lot where a crowd had gathered near an auto shop known to host informal after-hours get-togethers, police said. According to the probable cause statement, one of the wounded told police the shooting started after she greeted one of the suspects and his girlfriend with a hug.The victim’s boyfriend then told the suspect to “watch his hands.” When the victim and her boyfriend began to walk away, the suspect took out a gun and fatally shot him in the back, according to the statement. Another person pul...

Levy sanctions against foreign aggressors targeting Canada with disinformation: MPs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

OTTAWA — The House of Commons defence committee is urging the Liberal government to levy sanctions against individuals and organizations who target Canadians with disinformation. In a new report calling for stronger cybersecurity, the committee warns of increasingly sophisticated disinformation and foreign influence campaigns by China, Russia and other aggressors. Canada has developed national strategies, launched and funded cybersecurity initiatives, adopted legislation and fostered closer international co-operation in cyberspace, the report acknowledges. Overall, however, the committee says more could be done to strengthen Canada’s cybersecurity and cyberwarfare efforts, and to improve resilience to threats from home and abroad. During committee hearings, witnesses stressed that Canada should encourage the development of international norms and frameworks for addressing these threats. The committee recommends using existing sanction regimes against people and entities trying to ma...

Skilling: Sunshine to return Tuesday, Wednesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

Sunshine is set to return Tuesday and Wednesday boosting temps in the process.It follows the warmest & wettest weekend to date of 2023—with 0.81" of rain at O'Hare and 1.45" at Midway. The peak area rainfall over the past 3 days has been the 1.88" which fell near Oak Lawn.While many areas received more than an inch of rain, areas farther south weren't as fortunate. Only 0.26" was reported at Coal City, 0.27" at Ottawa, 0.22" at Jasper, IN and 0.35" at Hebron, IN as examples.Even in areas which received rain, the weekend downpours weren't drought busters. At O'Hare, as an example, weekend rainfall boosted the total which has fallen since April 1 to 4.99"---just 43% the normal of 11.71" for the period. That leaves a deficit of 6.72" in place and shows how difficult it can be to address moisture deficits which have taken months to accumulate.This past weekend saw the year's high single daytime temp to date at O'Hare—a reading of 93-deg—and Sunday recorded an 85-deg temp. The weeken...

MedWatch Daily Digest: Next big advance in cancer treatment could be a vaccine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

For Monday, June 26, WGN’s Ben Bradley and Jackie Bange have the latest on new information, including the following: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Vaccines show promise in cancer treatmentAfter decades of limited success, scientists say the research is at a significant turning point when it comes to cancer treatment. These aren't traditional vaccines that prevent disease, but shots to shrink tumors and stop cancer from coming back. Targets for these experimental treatments include breast and lung cancer, with gains reported this year for deadly skin cancer melanoma and pancreatic cancer. Scientists predict more vaccines will be out in five years. Daily pill could help treat obesity Treating obesity may soon be as easy as taking a daily pill. New research shows that high-dose oral versions of the medication in the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy may work as well as the popular injections. The pills also appear to work even in hard-to-treat people with diabe...

Armed pair who allegedly robbed Red Line rider sought by police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police seek the public's help with identifying two male suspects linked to an armed robbery on the CTA Red Line, according to police. Mass Transit detectives say the armed robbery incident occurred Sunday around 2:40 a.m. at the 69th St. Red Line stop at 15 W. 69th St.SEE ALSO: Photos show suspect accused of robbing 68-year-old victim on Blue LinePolice say two men approached a CTA passenger, displayed a knife and demanded the victims' property by force.No additional information was made available by the police. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAnyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com. Tipsters may also contact (312) 745-4706.

US reports first spread of malaria cases since 2003, CDC says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The United States has seen five cases of malaria spread by mosquitos in the last two months — the first time there's been local spread in 20 years.There were four cases detected in Florida and one in Texas, according to a health alert issued Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Malaria is caused by a parasite that spreads through mosquito bites. Infected people can suffer fever, chills and flu-like illness. If it goes untreated, infected people can develop severe complications and die. The largest death toll in recent years has been seen in children in sub-Saharan Africa. New sighting of ‘Frankenfish’ that can slither, breathe on land prompts reminder from officials Health officials are warning doctors, especially those in southern states where the weather is more friendly to the tropical mosquito that spreads malaria, to be aware of the possibility of infection. They also should think about how to access IV artesunate, which is the first-line t...

What to know about NASCAR's Chicago Street Race Week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

CHICAGO — The event has been discussed and debated for nearly a year, earning supporters along with detractors along the way.After nearly a year of preparation, the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race Week has finally arrived. With the construction continuing downtown and with teams beginning to arrive along with curious fans from around the country, the city is preparing for a downtown event like no other in its history.WGN News Now takes a look at what to look for this week as the drivers take to the streets of Chicago for two days of competition.NASCAR Chicago Street Race signs hang downtown on June 12, 2023. The BasicsNASCAR is making its first appearance in the Chicagoland area since 2019 when they raced at the 1.5-mile tri-oval at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. This marks the first time that a major motorsports race is being staged in downtown Chicago. The Xfinity Series will be the first to race on Saturday, July 1, with their race, The Loop 121, beginning at 4 p.m. central...

Idaho prosecutors to seek death penalty for Bryan Kohberger

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:29 GMT

(NewsNation) — Prosecutors in Moscow, Idaho, intend to seek the death penalty against Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students last November.The state, in the court notice filed Monday, said it found several aggravating factors in the stabbing deaths, which Idaho law requires exist to pursue the death penalty. Kohberger is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. The four students were found stabbed to death Nov. 13 inside their off-campus rental home. Colorado Springs shooter pleads guilty; victims call him a ‘monster’ who hunted LGBTQ+ patrons Police allege cellphone tower data shows Kohberger was in the vicinity of the home multiple times in the days and weeks leading up to the stabbings.Prosecutors have also said in court filings DNA on a knife sheath left at the scene matches Kohberger's. His defense attorneys are seeking all DNA profiles that were collected during ...