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Bankman-Fried’s trial exposed crypto fraud but Congress has not been eager to regulate the industry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — The conviction of former cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried for stealing at least $10 billion from customers and investors is the latest black mark for the cryptocurrency industry, but in Washington, there seems to be little to no interest in pushing through regulation. When cryptocurrencies collapsed and a number of companies failed last year, Congress considered multiple approaches for how to regulate the industry in the future. However, most of those efforts have gone nowhere, especially in this chaotic year that has been dominated by geopolitical tensions, inflation and the upcoming 2024 election. Ironically, the failure of Bankman-Fried’s FTX and his subsequent arrest late last year may have contributed to the momentum for regulation stalling out. Before FTX imploded, Bankman-Fried spent millions of dollars — illegally taken from his customers it turns out — to influence the discussion around cryptocurrency regulation in Washington and push...

'We want to do this right:' CPD opens new training facility to local media, showcase mock training

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

CHICAGO — With the Chicago Police Department still lagging far behind on consent decree reforms, police officials defended the department's pace Friday, calling it a long and hard journey.CPD also brought in local media to tour their new public safety training facility Friday, where they showcased a mock training scenario in action — officers responding to a person in crisis and finding a peaceful solution."What we don't want is for our officers to rush in, feel like they have to make an immediate decision, and act," said CPD Chief of Constitutional Policing and Reform Angel Novalez. "What we're doing, right, is avoiding and mitigating the opportunities of escalation."By the end of the year, police officials said CPD's more than 10,000 officers will have completed 40 hours of training, which includes the Integrating Communications Assessment and Tactics (ICAT) training that started back in April and focused on case studies, repetitive training drills and scenarios.Officers are also ...

Chicago to replace thousands of pipes, strengthening lead protections in drinking water

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Illinois and Chicago leaders announced the dispersal of $336 million to Chicago to aid efforts in removing lead service lines across the city.An example is already being seen on the city’s South Side."We’re pulling out the lead and putting in a copper line," said Chicago Department of Water Management Commissioner Andrea Cheng, describing steps behind lead service line replacements.The task will be done to replace water mains and up to 30,000 service line connections throughout the city. Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth spoke about the importance of the move. "In just our state, we have 23% of the entire nation's supply of lead service lines are right here in Illinois and most of it is in Chicago and Chicagoland area," the state senator said.On the national level, there are about 9 million lead service lines, of which 400,000 are in Chicago."It’s an honor to be here and see money we appropriate in Washington actually coming to the neighborhoods of Chicago," said Illinois S...

1.2M patients impacted after Cook County Health data breach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — Patient data with the Cook County Health was exposed as part of a leak, though the county's servers and systems were unaffected. A company that previously provided medical transcription services for Cook County notified CCH that their system was illegally accessed in April of this year. As a result, records for 1.2 million patients were impacted.Personal patient information that could have been accessed included names, dates of birth, addresses, medical record numbers, encounter numbers, medical information, and dates/times of service. After loss of baby, couple honors her memory with NICU little libraries Approximately 2,600 of those patient records may also have included Social Security Numbers.CCH said letters will be sent to impacted individuals with more information. Patients should expect the letters to arrive in the mail next week. Those affected are also asked to monitor their credit reports and medical bills for any suspicious activity."CCH is committ...

Memphis pastor who was on 'American Idol,' 'The Voice' charged with identity theft

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — A well-known Tennessee pastor who appeared on singing competitions "American Idol" and "The Voice" was arrested and charged with identity theft.Pastor Steven Flockhart of 901 Church in Shelby County was charged with identity theft and theft of merchandise $2,500-$10,000 on Thursday. Who is ‘Dollarita Steve’? SF software engineer goes viral after earthquake Flockhart is known for his brief success on "American Idol" and NBC's "The Voice" in 2012.Reports say that in 2019, Flockhart and another member of the church agreed to open a joint credit card specifically for the church. The victim stated that Flockhart called him and requested his personal information, which he reluctantly gave. Steven Flockhart (Shelby County Sheriff's Office)In September 2023, the victim said that he noticed his credit score had dropped a significant amount. When searching for an answer as to why, he noticed that a credit card through PayPal had been opened under his name.Reports sho...

Passengers sue after off-duty pilot's alleged attempt to shut down engine during flight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

(The Hill) – Passengers of an Alaska Airlines flight that was nearly downed due to an alleged attempt by an off-duty pilot to shut down the engines last month have filed a class-action suit against the airline.The lawsuit alleges that the airline did not properly follow its policy by allowing Joseph Emerson to fly in the cockpit’s jump seat, despite him admitting that he was not right of mind. The suit’s three plaintiffs said they suffered emotional distress from the incident.According to prosecutors, Emerson was sleep-deprived, depressed and on psychedelic mushrooms when he took the flight and attempted to shut down the plane’s engines. He was restrained by the cabin crew and later charged with attempted murder. Southwest Airlines pilot hangs from window to retrieve passenger’s cell phone "The airlines need a wake-up call,” attorney in the suit Daniel Laurence said in a statement. “We understand that most pilots are heroes every day for safely operating our airliners. But they ar...

Indiana attorney general reprimanded for comments on doctor who provided rape victim's abortion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) — Indiana's attorney general violated professional conduct rules in statements he made about a doctor who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio in the weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, according to a court opinion filed Thursday.The case sparked national attention after Dr. Caitlin Bernard discussed providing the 10-year-old girl with a medication-induced abortion during a July 1, 2022, interview with the Indianapolis Star. At the time, Ohio law prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy but the girl could still be provided a legal abortion in Indiana.The Indiana Supreme Court's disciplinary commission found Todd Rokita, a Republican who opposes abortion, "engaged in attorney misconduct” during an interview he gave on a Fox News show in July 2022 about Bernard, an Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist.The opinion specifically faulted Rokita for describing Bernard on the show as ...

APD release body cam video after officers shot man in north Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is police officer body camera video released by the Austin Police Department Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. This video was edited for time and sensitivity.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department released body cam footage Friday of a deadly shooting involving police officers on Oct. 22 in north Austin.The man who died was identified as Cristobal Ordonez Flores, 57, according to police. APD officers involved in fatal north Austin shooting Shortly before 8 p.m., officers responded to an apartment complex on Northgate Boulevard for a report of an intoxicated person threatening a woman with a gun, according to police. Around 8:19 p.m., 911 received a dispatch call indicating a child was also in the apartment.APD said officers tried to get the man to come out, but he wouldn’t. Around 8:30, officers saw the man on the balcony with the gun and fired a “less lethal” weapon at him, then he went back inside.APD called in the SWAT team, but before it arrived, offic...

Has Austin's craft beer boom started to fizzle?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – After what felt to many like a craft brewery boom over the last decade, several breweries have had to close their doors in recent years.In north Austin, Adelbert’s Brewery closed its doors in 2022 after over a decade in service; in October, Circle Brewery closed after 15 years; and as recently as this week, Osckar Blues Brewery reportedly suddenly shut down. “A lot of people I know in the brewing industry are struggling – they're at least down revenue-wise,” said Amos Lowe, Co-owner of Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. “Compounding that problem is the cost of ingredients has gone through the roof. For example, I'm paying 70% more now for malted barley than it was two years ago. Some of that you can pass on to the customer, and you can adjust prices to a point. And then you have to sort of make sure that people are still going to come and buy your beer. You can't price yourself out of the market,” he continued. In addition to that, soaring rent prices and property t...

What do Kansas State coordinators think about Texas QB Maalik Murphy, red zone battle?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman isn't quite sure what to think about Texas redshirt freshman quarterback Maalik Murphy.In a press conference Thursday, Klanderman said since there's so little video to review of Murphy and how he runs the Texas offense, it will be a reactive scenario for him. No. 7 Longhorns have to be sure-tacklers to stop Kansas State’s punishing rushing attack "I don't know that we know what's going to come with Maalik Murphy right now," Klanderman said. "That will unfold itself as it goes."Klanderman thinks Murphy is "very capable" of running the entire offense like Quinn Ewers would. Still, there's a level of mystery to him in regards to the complexity Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will put in the gameplan.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters"I just don't know how much complexity they're going to put on some of tha...