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Prosecutors ask Congress for help in 'race against time' to protect children from AI dangers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

(The Hill) -- The attorneys general in all 50 states are calling on Congress to look into how artificial intelligence (AI) can exploit children through pornography and put forward legislation to address it. “We are engaged in a race against time to protect the children of our country from the dangers of AI,” the prosecutors wrote in the letter. “Indeed, the proverbial walls of the city have already been breached. Now is the time to act.”The top prosecutors sent a letter Tuesday to Congressional leadership, asking lawmakers to “establish an expert commission to study the means and methods of AI that can be used to exploit children specifically.” The letter notes that AI can be used to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and deepfakes that can exploit abused children.“As Attorneys General of our respective States and territories, we have a deep and grave concern for the safety of the children within our respective jurisdictions,” the prosecutors wrote. “We also have a ...

Chicago shootings and murders drop, others crimes rise, according to police stats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

CHICAGO — As summer draws to a close – a season when crime typically spikes – newly released numbers from the Chicago Police Department show shootings and murders in Chicago have declined for the third straight year.  However several other categories of crime continue to surge.Police stats show 1,988 people were shot and 418 people were murdered in the first eight months of the year. Shooting incidents are down 12% while murders are down 9% for the year.  Both are the lowest numbers since before the pandemic but still higher than 2019.  Police say the homicide clearance rate is 50%, which would be the highest murder solve rate since 2014.The number of car thefts in the city has doubled this year compared to last year and is up 226% from 2019.  A police press release notes there have been 835 carjackings in the city, down 26% compared to last year while arrests have gone up. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesCritics have previously accused the department of “downgrading” certai...

People are easier targets for identity theft after natural disasters. Why?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Information theft is on the rise. Over 1.1 million people in the U.S. alone reported the crime to the Federal Trade Commission in 2022. When a thief opens accounts in your name or otherwise uses your data, you might feel powerless. But there are steps you can take to prevent the worst outcomes.Colleen Tressler, a senior project manager for the FTC, has tracked consumer issues including identity theft for more than three decades. She said frauds and scams often emerge during specific emergencies such as the COVID pandemic and in the wake of climate-related catastrophes.“They’re imposters, so they’re going after your personal information and your financial information however they can," she said. “They'll relate it to anything in their deck of cards — to COVID, to the weather.”People in a heightened emotional state in the wake of a wildfire or hurricane should be extra careful of impersonators asking for identifying details, Tressler said. Scammers might pretend to be ...

'So much pain': Family of young girl and father killed in hit-and-run crash suing two men

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The family who lost a young girl and her father to a hit-and-run crash in east Austin are suing two men who they believe are responsible.   They hope this puts pressure on the men to come forward, even though the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has not been able to file any charges or make any arrests as of Monday. The hit and run happened on Delta Post Drive in June 2023. Father, 3-year-old daughter on ATV die in hit-and-run crash Family members drive past the crash site — where there's now a small memorial — everyday. It's a painful reminder of losing Azeneth Gomez-Rodriguez and her father Jonathan Gomez-Guajardo. “I'm depressed, [and] I'm sad," Gabriella Rodriguez said. "He took my husband my daughter. Her birthday was on August 10. She was so close to being five years old. I didn't get to celebrate with her. She was so excited to go to kinder...My husband, he had so much stuff ahead. He was the hard working man.”  Gabriela Rodriguez...

St. Paul students head back to school, including new use for Jackson Elementary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

St. Paul Public Schools welcomed some 30,000 students back to school Tuesday as classes resumed for grades 1-12, with kindergarten and preschool students starting Thursday.Among those returning students were roughly 250 children attending East African Elementary Magnet School, which opened for the first time Tuesday in the former Jackson Elementary building. Jackson closed last year as part of a districtwide consolidation, but the building now is part of an effort to stop a decadelong enrollment decline by competing with East African charter schools.Principal Abdisalam Adam welcomes students to the East African Elementary Magnet School in St. Paul on Tuesday. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)Outside temperatures were expected to reach the low-to-mid-90s Tuesday, making for an uncomfortable first day of school for many students and staff as most St. Paul schools lack air conditioning.New to Minnesota schools this fall, students across the state can get free school meals, which the state i...

Tickets on sale for Adirondack Thunder 2023-24 season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - As summer turns to fall, Glens Falls' hometown ECHL hockey team is gearing up for another season of games. The Adirondack Thunder has started single-game ticket sales for the 2023-24 hockey season. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The Thunder season kicks off with a home opener at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, when the team welcomes the Maine Mariners to town. Another guest of note coming to Glens Falls is the Florida Everblades, the defending Kelly Cup Champion team, who will come for games on February 7, 9, and 10.“We’re excited to welcome back fans to Cool Insuring Arena this season,” said Adirondack Thunder Team President Jeff Mead in a release on Tuesday. “We had a historic second half of the regular season, amazing crowds, and we’re looking to keep that momentum going this season.” Everything happening in Lake George this September Scheduled games are posted until April 2024. Tickets for the season ca...

Enjoy stargazing at Grafton Lakes State Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

GRAFTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Calling all stargazers! On September 15, head to the Deerfield Pavilion at the Grafton Lakes State Park for a fun night observing the night sky. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The star party is free to the public. Pre-registration is not required. The Albany Area Astronomers will provide visitors with telescopes. Visitors should enter via the main entrance and take the first left off the main entrance road. There will also be signs for the program. The park reminds visitors to drive slowly at night. The event runs from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Albany man sentenced to prison for attempted burglary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 25-year-old from Albany was sentenced to a determinate term of eight years in state prison after pleading guilty to first-degree attempted burglary. Earlquan Emanuel was also sentenced to five years of post-release supervision. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! According to the indictment, Emanuel entered a residence on December 23, 2022, and forcibly stole property. Emanuel is also said to have displayed a firearm. The incident occurred around 580 Myrtle Avenue in Albany.The initial indictment included one count of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. Two no-contact orders of protection were also issued.

Great Danes defense correcting missed plays at Marshall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The University at Albany football team has begun to regroup after suffering its' first loss of the season to Marshall over the weekend. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! It's not easy pushing an FBS team to the limit, but that's what the Great Danes did Saturday in Huntington, West Virginia until the Thundering Herd found their way in the second half. Despite the UAlbany struggling to make certain plays down the stretch, the squad is directing their focus on how they can grow from the experience. Helping to lead that charge is senior linebacker Dylan Kelly, who led the Great Danes in tackles Saturday with 12. "Defensively, the first half was...shutting out an FBS school like them is obviously great, but the second half, the third quarter (we) really just struggled, said Kelly. "I think we got too ahead ourselves. We weren't fitting our gaps, we weren't making the tackles and I could say for myself I was just miss...

Illinois troopers to increase September night patrols

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:12 GMT

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. -- Illinois State Police say that they will be conducting evening patrols during September in Madison and St. Clair Counties. They will be looking for seatbelt violations, speeding, distracted driving, criminal violations, and drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol.Over half of all fatal crashes in Illinois occur at night. Troopers will have an increased presence on area interstates between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. They say the deaths are from a fatal mix of impaired driving combined with unbuckled drivers. Call for Help closure has East St. Louis mothers crying for aid Illinois State Police will be conducting Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement patrols.Plus, there will be Roadside Safety Checks in Madison and St. Clair Counties. They will also be checking to see if children are in car seats and if vehicles are up to code.There were increased police patrols near Edwardsville from August 18th through Labor Day. They were also conducting a high-visibility “Drive ...