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On anniversary of Geraldo's Al Capone vault broadcast, WGN unlocks another mystery safe

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

On this day 37 years ago, Geraldo Rivera’s legendary two-hour live special “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults” was broadcast across the country.“Directly beneath me, in this hotel’s rubble-strewn basement, a massive concrete chamber has been discovered,” Rivera said at the top of the broadcast. “And there is evidence to suggest that that vault once belonged to Al Capone, the richest, most powerful gangster of his time.” More Coverage: WGN Celebrates 75 Years He used explosives to open Capone’s vaults at the old Lexington Hotel, hoping to discover prohibition-era secrets.Would it be dead bodies? Could it be cash? Weapons? Bootlegged booze?  Thirty million viewers tuned in, making it the "highest-rated syndicated special" in history.In the end, the vault only held an empty whiskey bottle.“I wonder if I can get a deposit on a 60-year-old bottle?” Rivera asked. “It seems at least, up to now, we’ve struck out with the vault. I’m disappointed about that, as I’m sure you are. This is one...

Former Colorado school bus driver facing 30 child abuse charges for hard brake

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (KDVR) — A former bus driver for Douglas County School District is facing 30 misdemeanor child abuse charges for an incident caught on camera in early March in Colorado.Brian Fitzgerald, 61, was driving students from Castle Rock Elementary School on March 1, when he addressed the children on the bus. What Purina says it’s doing to eliminate odor at Denver plant "You guys need to be in your seats," Fitzgerald said on the intercom. "You want to see how dangerous that is?"Moments later, Fitzgerald reportedly hits the brakes of the bus, causing some children to bump into the seats in front of them. A speedometer on the video recording shows the speed drop from 9 mph to zero.Castle Rock Police investigated the incident and filed the case with the District Attorney's office. The citation includes 30 misdemeanor charges for knowing and reckless child abuse. One of the 30 charges noted an injury. The case is now in the hands of the 18th Judicial District."The video is i...

Police ID man in east Austin homicide

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Friday, the Austin Police Department identified a man killed in an east Austin homicide that occurred Tuesday, according to a APD news release.At approximately 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, APD officers and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to a call of a break-in at a residence in the 7600 block of Bethune Ave., police said. APD: East Austin resident shot man in self-defense after he broke into home The caller reported the man, Samuel Wolf, 61, was banging on the door and tried knocking it down while the caller tried to hold it closed, police said.Wolf entered the home through a window, and the caller fired at Wolf, the release said. He died on the scene.Furthermore, officials said the death occurred out of self-defense, according to police. No charges will be filed at this time, the release said.Police are investigating the incident as Austin’s 23rd homicide of the year. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2023? The incident remained under investigation Fr...

Have It Your Way! McDonald's first fully automated restaurant —with no human contact in Fort Worth

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

DALLAS (KDAF)— Electric cars, remote work, and even electric homes are all examples of how technology is transforming the world. McDonald's has now taken the initiative to make the lives of their customers easier and more convenient by introducing technology-driven solutions. The business opened its first fully functional-based technology restaurant, making it possible for North Texas residents to access their meals without having to interact with a person - only with a robot.Several videos have circulated on social media showing the restaurant without any seating or dining areas, indicating the restaurant is just a grab-and-go establishment.MKV Enterprises Franchisee owner Keith Vaneck and General Manager Rosemin Jussab, are the ones responsible for the restaurant's new concept. Left to Right: General Manager Rosemin Jussab and Franchisee Keith Vanecek at MKV Enterprises McDonald's website wrote that when Rosemin was entering her eighth year at the Haslet location, Keith ...

Judge dismisses trespassing charges against environmental activist Winona LaDuke

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

AITKIN, Minn. — Trespassing charges filed against environmental activist Winona LaDuke in Aitkin County in connection with the controversial Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement project have been dismissed.Senior Judge Leslie M. Metzen dismissed two counts of misdemeanor trespass Tuesday for lack of probable cause.On Dec. 5, 2020, LaDuke and five other individuals were present at an Anishinaabe prayer lodge near the banks of the Mississippi River on Minnesota state forestland in Aitkin County.Also that day, signs were posted indicating that the area of the prayer lodge was within an exclusion zone where land clearing was to take place to facilitate the construction of Enbridge Energy’s Line 3.Winona LaDuke has stepped down as the leader of a Native American environmental group she founded 30 years ago, a resignation that came just days after a jury sided with a former employee in a sexual harassment case. Honor the Earth Co-Executive Director Krystal Two Bulls made the announcement...

Wild winger Mason Shaw gets sellout crowd rocking with ‘LET’S PLAY HOCKEY!’ call

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

Mason Shaw slipped on his Wild jersey, rode the elevator up to the concourse and crutched his way though a sea of fans before taking his position near the top of Section 123.He ran his fingers through his hair as he gazed around the rink and took a few deep breaths as the pump-up video played. He felt his heart start to race as soon as his teammates hit the ice.No matter. The nerves could wait. This was his moment. He grabbed the microphone and took center stage.After delivering a speech that rose in a crescendo, Shaw uttered the iconic words with an incredible amount of energy.“LET’S PLAY HOCKEY!”The sellout crowd nearly blew the roof off the Xcel Energy Center.Though he wasn’t able to be on the ice for Game 3 between the Wild and the Dallas Stars — the 24-year-old winger tore his anterior cruciate ligament for the fourth time earlier this month — Shaw still did his part on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center. He joked that he wrote something out before the g...

Minnesota regulators warn about moldy hemp-derived edible cannabinoid product

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has issued a consumer advisory for Wonky Weed brand Delta-9 THC syrup after an inspection revealed mold contamination.According to a news release from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, mold growth was discovered in the products during a recent inspection by the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy.The inspection was related to an ongoing civil lawsuit against Northland Vapor Co. Moorhead LLC, Northland Vapor Co. Bemidji LLC and Wonky Confections LLC, alleging they have violated Minnesota’s new hemp-derived edible cannabinoid laws.Wonky Weed THC syrup products were distributed in Minnesota and nationally through online and retail sales, the release said.Customers who bought these products should throw them away, the release said. No illnesses associated with mold contamination in the products have been reported at this time in Minnesota.Those who have become sick after consuming the products should contact their health care provider.Adverse event...

Kim Potter, Brooklyn Center officer who shot Daunte Wright, to be released from prison Monday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

A white former police officer convicted of manslaughter after mistaking her handgun for a Taser and fatally shooting Black motorist Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center in 2021 is set to be released from prison Monday.Minnesota Department of Corrections spokesman Andy Skoogman announced Friday that former officer Kim Potter was to be released after serving about 16 months of her two-year sentence. He said the exact timing of her departure Monday from Minnesota Correctional Facility-Shakopee won’t be disclosed for security reasons.“Our criminal investigative analysts are working closely with law enforcement to monitor the situation to ensure Kim Potter, like all incarcerated persons, is safe as she leaves our facility,” Skoogman said in a statement.Potter killed Wright after a traffic stop in April 2021. The shooting happened as Derek Chauvin was on trial in Minneapolis on murder charges in George Floyd’s killing. Wright’s death sparked several days of protests.Hennepin County Dist...

Unknown substance splashing cars in Coxsackie

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

WEST COXSACKIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Driving through one community in Greene County could leave a sticky substance on your car. NEWS10 reports from West Coxsackie on safety concerns over what's dripping under a bridge.Here in West Coxsackie residents are driving underneath the railroad pass on Mansion Street, coming out with an unknown substance splashed on their cars. Silent candlelight vigil for Kaylin Gillis  “[It’s an] oozy substance and it dries on the paint, and that becomes a powder, eventually. It seems to be metallic and somewhat like asphalt,” explains area resident Michael Wilhelmsen.Mark Evans has been the Mayor of Coxsackie for nearly 15 years and says this bridge has been problematic for the duration of his term. He’s been reaching out for help but says it’s landing on deaf ears.“It's incredibly frustrating. I keep getting Facebook messages and text that people are sending me pictures of their cars I just have no answers for that, and it seems like it should be an ea...

Fire caused by hoverboard lithium ion batteries

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:12:17 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Firefighters in the city of Albany put out a fire caused by a hoverboard. Officials said the lithium ion batteries used to power the hoverboard started the fire around 11:20 p.m. Thursday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! More than a dozen of the batteries were scattered all over the room where the hoverboard was being stored after they fell out. Fire officials remind people to properly use lithium ion batteries, and if they do spark, to leave the area immediately and call for help.