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St. Louis police credited a hotel staff’s “bizarre call” with helping rescue two women who were being held captive in their rooms. The women – ages 21 and 36 – pleaded with employees to help them when their alleged captors briefly left them alone last Saturday, local Fox 2 news reported.  They had been on a terrifying 10-day trip that started with a “moving job” in Florida. Then, three suspects allegedly took them to the Atlanta area and then finally to St. Louis, where the women were “frightened about what might be next,” according to the local news outlet.  “It wasn’t until they wound up in the area of Atlanta, Georgia, that they were told they weren’t going to be allowed to leave,” Sgt. Charles Wall, a spokesman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, told Fox 2.  KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR REMEMBERS DRAGGING ‘COLD, HEAVY CHAIN’ FROM CAPTOR’S DUNGEON DURING RESCUE St. Louis police did not say how long the women were in the city’s downtown Hampton Inn hotel. Fox News Digital left messages for police for more information and arresting documents. ANONYMOUS LETTER ABOUT MISSING WOMAN LEADS POLICE TO ‘UNUSUAL DIG SITE’ One of the three suspects – Nikki Rebarcak, 41 – was arrested after hotel staff told police she was back in the building.  She was charged with two counts of kidnapping and released on her own recognizance, but at least two other male suspects escaped, police told Fox 2.  The case raises fears of a human trafficking ring.  St. Louis officers are working with federal law enforcement and prosecutors to see if this is an isolated incident or part of a larger criminal network.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME “If (the suspects) have similar types of involvement with other agencies out of state, across the country, other similar incidents, those are all key indicators to get you to look at maybe some type of ring involved in this type of activity,” Sgt. Wall told Fox 2 in an interview. Police have identified one of Rebarcak’s alleged co-defendants and are actively searching for him, according to the local news outlet. Hotel ownership did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 



Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/us/alert-st-louis-hotel-staff-helps-save-kidnapped-florida-women-from-captors-report

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Publish date : 2023-11-03 17:34:59

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The FBI is investigating a Texas sheriff who faced complaints of corruption from his own deputies for years before drawing broader scrutiny for his agency’s response to a mass shooting, according to a woman interviewed by federal agents. The woman said she’s twice met with a pair of FBI agents in recent months after contacting them about what she feels was the sheriff’s botched investigation of her brother’s killing. Jenifer Jones told The Associated Press the agents gathered records accusing San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers and his staff of wide-ranging misconduct and told her they were looking for potential civil rights violations. During hourslong interviews, Jones said they asked specific questions about cases and events well beyond her brother’s death. Federal investigators’ interest in the rural sheriff comes after an AP investigation found longstanding accusations that Capers has ignored deputies’ misconduct and neglected basic police work while pursuing asset seizures that boost his office’s $3.5 million budget but don’t always hold up in court. TEXAS SHERIFF WAS NEVER INVESTIGATED DESPITE YEARS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT CORRUPTION, ACCORDING TO DEPUTIES TEXAS SHERIFF TELLS CONGRESS COUNTY ‘UNDER SIEGE’ AS DEPARTMENT SHARES MIGRANT SMUGGLING CASES It’s unclear how far along the FBI investigation is or when it might be concluded. Many federal investigations never result in criminal charges. An FBI spokesperson said the agency neither confirms nor denies investigations. Capers did not directly respond to calls seeking comment, but his second-in-command said they haven’t heard from agents and that their office is always open to outside scrutiny. “I look forward to the visit, if they’ll show up here and ask the other half of the story,” Chief Deputy Tim Kean said. The probe follows years of complaints by the sheriff’s staff to state and federal law enforcement. Capers gained prominence in May while leading the dayslong search for a man who fatally shot five neighbors in the county, which is an hour’s drive from Houston. But he also drew criticism for initially providing inaccurate information about deputies’ response time and from some residents who said they felt neglected by and even fear the sheriff. The time agents spent with Jones shows they have “a great deal of interest in information she’s providing,” said Michelle Lee, a retired FBI agent in Texas. She noted that’s a strong indicator of an open investigation, but warned that such probes can go on under-the-radar for years. Jones, 47, said she reached out to the FBI over the summer, hoping the scrutiny of Capers following the shooting would make it easier for her to draw attention to the sheriff’s investigation into her brother’s death. TEXAS SHERIFF’S DEPUTY KILLED RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC FIGHT, SUSPECT ARRESTED Jones’ brother, John Wayne Dodge, was fatally shot in 2020 and sheriff’s deputies arrested his son for murder. But in 2022 prosecutors dropped the case “in the interest of justice,” court records show. Jones believes another man is responsible for her brother’s death and was never adequately investigated. San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon said information about that man was also presented to a grand jury in 2020. Dillon said that he couldn’t comment on another agency’s investigation, but that after taking office last year he concluded there wasn’t “sufficient evidence or cause to proceed” with the case against Dodge’s son. In September, Jones said she met with two FBI agents from Bryan, Texas. During the interview, she said they indicated there might not be much they could do about Dodge’s case but asked for her help connecting them with people who may have been wronged by the sheriff. Jones said she also gave the agents a copy of a police consultant’s report that compares the sheriff’s office to organized crime. The county leaders who paid nearly $50,000 for the report last year disregarded its recommendation to ask the Texas Rangers’ public corruption squad to investigate Capers. TEXAS SHERIFF OPENS CRIMINAL PROBE INTO DESANTIS OPERATION TO FLY MIGRANTS TO MARTHA’S VINEYARD Agents would consider it a “red flag” that officials ignored the conclusion of a report they paid for, Lee said. Jones provided the names and official email addresses of the agents she met with. A law enforcement official confirmed agents with those names work for the FBI in Bryan. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Jones said she met with them again in October, providing more records and contact information for other people who were interested in talking about the sheriff. She recalled one agent telling her they were looking for cases in which people’s rights were violated. Jones said she wants county residents to know there is an outside authority they can turn to with complaints about the sheriff. “I feel like the victims of this county have nowhere else to go,” she said.



Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/us/tx-sheriffs-office-probed-fbi-corruption-allegations

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Publish date : 2023-11-03 12:55:36

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“Game of Thrones” may be over, but winter is still coming. That means the dreaded cold and flu season is right around the corner.  “A visit with a clinician has become increasingly common for upper respiratory symptoms since the COVID pandemic,” Mark Fendrick, M.D., a general internist at the University of Michigan, who is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, told Fox News Digital.  HAVE A COLD OR FLU? HERE’S HOW TO KNOW IF YOU CAN STILL WORK OUT: ‘USE THE NECK CHECK’ “However, it is much more likely that cold symptoms will be self-limited and not require more than your favorite home remedy,” added Fendrick, who has studied the common cold. While there’s no specific treatment for the common cold, there are some instances when antivirals are prescribed to treat the flu, the doctor noted.  “Doctors can only prescribe recommended treatment for specific causes that are less common than the common cold, such as antivirals for influenza or COVID-19 or antibiotics for bacterial infections such as strep throat,” Fendrick said. FLU PREVENTION TIPS FROM FLORIDA’S SURGEON GENERAL: A ‘DAY-TO-DAY’ HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IS KEY It’s important to understand the signs and symptoms that should alert you to seek medical attention when you have a cold or the flu this winter season, he said. Here’s what to know. The common cold can be caused by as many as 200 respiratory viruses, but the most prevalent is the rhinovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.  The flu is caused by influenza viruses that generally infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs, per the CDC. The cold and flu share many of the same symptoms, which means it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between the two conditions.  People are generally sicker with the flu, experts agree. AFTER LOSING HER LEG TO THE FLU, VIRGINIA WOMAN URGES PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED: ‘DON’T WASTE TIME’ Flu symptoms are more intense and come on quicker than the common cold, which generally has milder symptoms. “The cold and flu can sometimes be complicated by pneumonia, bacteremia and rarely even central nervous system involvement,” Dr. James H. Conway, pediatric infectious disease physician and medical director of the immunization program at UW Health Kids in Madison, Wisconsin, told Fox News Digital. When respiratory viruses infect the nose, the body responds by making mucus to help clear out the viruses, according to the CDC. SKELETONS FROM 1918 FLU PANDEMIC REVEAL CLUES ABOUT THOSE MOST LIKELY TO DIE, STUDY FINDS People may develop nasal congestion, which is more common with colds. They may also experience sneezing, coughing or a sore throat. Over the next several days, the mucus may change color to white, yellow or green. This color change is a natural progression of a cold, so antibiotics that fight bacteria are not typically prescribed, per the CDC. Most people with colds don’t develop a fever, so that symptom combined with headache and body aches could indicate influenza. Symptoms from a cold usually peak within two to three days.  Conway recommends watching for symptoms that indicate a cold or flu may have turned into a more serious infection. These may include higher fevers, he said, since most viral infections don’t generally cause that symptom. COVID-19, FLU AND RSV VACCINES ARE ALL AVAILABLE THIS FALL: SEE WHAT SOME DOCTORS RECOMMEND AND WHY Other warning signs include shaking chills, fast or labored breathing, and any type of bad headache or confusion, he added.  “Any of these viral illnesses can also lead to ear infections or sinus infections,” Conway said.  In those cases, fever with ear pain or facial pain is often seen. Most illnesses from a cold or the flu last fewer than 10 days; but if symptoms persist and a person hasn’t gotten better by the end of that timeframe, it’s important to see a health care professional, per the CDC. STUFFY NOSE? COMMON OTC NASAL DECONGESTANTS WITH PHENYLEPHRINE DON’T WORK IN TABLET FORM, EXPERTS SAY If you are unsure whether your symptoms are serious, always talk to your health care provider, either in person or via a virtual appointment. “The increased availability of telemedicine provides an opportunity for many individuals to describe their symptoms and other important clinical information (such as the presence of fever) without an in-person visit, so their clinician can determine whether further evaluation of treatment is needed in most cases,” Fendrick told Fox News Digital. People who are at high risk of complications from the flu should contact their health care provider early in their illness to determine whether they should get a prescription for an antiviral medication like Tamiflu. This includes those who are 65 and older, young children, pregnant women and those who have had asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart disease or stroke. Tamiflu can be prescribed within 48 hours of the start of the flu illness in people 2 weeks of age and older, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER The oral antiviral medication reduces the duration of the flu by attacking the virus and preventing it from multiplying in the body, the FDA added. Adults should carefully watch for warning signs in children with the flu, experts advise. “In babies, it’s trickier, so poor feeding is something else to watch for,” Conway said. Children with the flu may also start to experience breathing difficulties.  Parents should take a child to the doctor or emergency room right away if they notice the child’s lips turning blue or the ribs pulling in with each breath.  Complaints of chest pain also warrant a visit, according to the CDC. Dehydration is also common among children with the flu, so parents should seek medical attention if the child has not urinated for eight hours or has no tears when crying, the agency added. Other emergency warning signs are when young children become more fussy or drowsy than usual, or if they are not alert or interacting when awake, according to the CDC. The keys to prevention, Conway stated, are getting flu vaccinations and having ill people stay home to prevent the spread. For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.



Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/health/cold-flu-season-coming-know-warning-signs-symptoms

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Publish date : 2023-11-03 08:15:46

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A man convicted of murder in Venezuela who managed to cross the southern border was found living in state-funded migrant housing on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, according to a statement released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The fugitive, identified by Boston 25 News as 38-year-old Jordano Gotopo-Lopez, was convicted of homicide in his home country of Venezuela, where he has been wanted since 2006 for a violation of his sentencing conditions there. Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested Gotopo-Lopez on Oct. 27 at a migrant housing facility on Joint Base Cape Cod in Bourne.  MAYORKAS CONFIRMS OVER 600,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS EVADED LAW ENFORCEMENT AT SOUTHERN BORDER LAST FISCAL YEAR ICE said Gotopo-Lopez “failed to disclose” his previous conviction when he was arrested for illegally entering the U.S. in Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 31.  Gotopo-Lopez was processed in Texas and given a notice to report himself to immigration authorities in 60 days, but he never showed up. MAYORKAS CONFIRMS OVER 600,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS EVADED LAW ENFORCEMENT AT SOUTHERN BORDER LAST FISCAL YEAR When Gotopo-Lopez was discovered by authorities at the Cape Cod shelter, he admitted that he had been convicted of murder and was wanted in Venezuela, ICE said. BORDER PATROL STOPS RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON TERROR WATCH LIST AT SOUTHERN BORDER He was arrested without incident and will remain in custody until his removal from the U.S., according to ICE. ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons said that his team remains committed to “identifying, apprehending and seeking the removal of unlawfully present fugitives who pose a real threat to public safety.” “The people of Massachusetts have a right to be made aware of potential risks to their public safety, especially when an unlawfully present fugitive living in housing provided by the Commonwealth, is present in their community,” Lyons said.  HIGH MIGRANT NUMBERS BREAK MULTIPLE RECORDS IN NEW BLOW TO BIDEN BORDER STRATEGY “ERO Boston remains committed to identifying, apprehending and seeking the removal of unlawfully present fugitives who pose a real threat to public safety. We will continue to safeguard our communities and fulfill our mission in Massachusetts and throughout New England. The hospitality of the people of the Commonwealth must never be taken advantage of by those who violate our immigration system and threaten the security of our residents,” Lyons said. ICE said that in fiscal year 2022, ERO removed 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories. The government agency noted that there have been 198,498 associated charges and convictions, including 21,531 assault offenses; 8,164 sex and sexual assault offenses; 5,554 weapons offenses; 1,501 homicide-related offenses; and 1,114 kidnapping offenses. Fox News Digital reached out to ICE for additional information.



Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/us/illegal-immigrant-convicted-murder-venezuela-found-living-state-funded-housing-massachusetts

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Publish date : 2023-11-03 02:27:02

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Students at a high school in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) walked out in protest of the district’s gender policy that allows non-binary, gender-fluid and transgender students to use whichever school bathrooms and locker rooms they want based on their chosen gender.  Around 50-100 students at Woodgrove High School participated in the walkout to protest Policy 8040, which the Loudoun County School Board implemented in 2021, ABC WJLA reported. The students said they wanted LCPS to revert to a policy that provided female and male-only spaces, including bathrooms, locker rooms and showers. “In the locker rooms in the morning it’s an invasion of privacy, as I said because when men and natural-born males are in our locker rooms, and they are showering in the morning, natural-born females can walk in there as they please,” one male high school student told WJLA. “And that is not OK. And it goes against what we believe in.” LOUDOUN COUNTY FATHER ARRESTED AT SCHOOL BOARD EVENT SAYS SCHOOL TRIED TO COVER UP DAUGHTER’S BATHROOM ASSAULT A female student told the local news outlet she stopped using the bathroom at school because of the policy, calling it a “massive safety risk” that LCPS doesn’t “do anything about.” LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIT WITH LAWSUIT FOR ‘MORAL CORRUPTION OF CHILDREN,’ PARENTAL ‘VIOLATIONS’ “We express these concerns and they ignore us and write us off as right-wing crazies,” she said. “We’re not crazy. We just don’t want to be in danger on a daily basis in this building. I think it’s people finally stepping up and just being sick of it. We’re sick of being here and just being completely ignored. I stopped using them [the bathrooms] because I don’t know what’s going to happen to me in there. And people can be like, ‘Oh, well, that’s paranoid’.” “I’m telling you right now half the women in this building feel the same way,” she added. “We don’t use the bathrooms. We hold our pee until we can’t. I mean, there are girls in PE [Physical Education class] who still get changed in the bathroom stalls in there because they’re afraid of who might waltz in.” Another male student told WJLA that he would like to be able to change after football practice and not feel uncomfortable that “other genders” are watching him.  “I feel that girls feel the same way about the situation. How would you feel if you were a female changing with a male?” he asked. LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NAMES NEW SUPERINTENDENT AMID CONTROVERSY OVER RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULTS Some counter protesters waived pride flags in support of the bathroom policy, the outlet reported.  “I’m here to support all of the children,” one of them told WJLA. “No matter who they are. Yours, mine, all of them.” One student said the “entire school” should be part of the walk out, but another explained “there are a lot of people who are scared to speak out against it, so they stayed inside because they don’t want to see the backlash.” LCPS did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.  CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP For more Culture, Media, Education, Opinion and channel coverage, visit foxnews.com/media



Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/media/loudoun-county-high-school-students-walk-protest-transgender-bathroom-policy

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Publish date : 2023-11-02 22:30:20

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