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Politics
Virginia Councilman Accused Of Encouraging AI Child Abuse Images, Urging Abuse: DOJ Virginia Councilman Accused Of Encouraging AI Child Abuse Images, Urging Abuse: DOJ
Virginia Councilman Accused Of Encouraging AI Child Abuse Images, Urging Abuse: DOJ A Virginia town councilman is accused of actively encouraging online users to create AI-generated images of children being sexually abused, then urged others to do the same, federal authorities announced. Steven Wayne Erickson, 48, of Pulaski, was arrested on Thursday, July 23, on federal charges of receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia. Erickson serves on the Pulaski Town Council and works as the Pulaski County Work Report Program coordinator.  It was previously reported that Erickson once se…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Personal Data Of Chick-Fil-A Customers In MD Exposed In Cyberattack: What To Know Personal Data Of Chick-Fil-A Customers In MD Exposed In Cyberattack: What To Know
Personal Data Of Chick-Fil-A Customers In MD Exposed In Cyberattack: What To Know Chick-fil-A customers in several states are being warned that hackers may have accessed personal information stored in their loyalty accounts. The fast-food chain sent notification letters to affected Chick-fil-A One members on Monday, July 20, after identifying suspicious login activity involving its website and mobile app. The company determined on Monday, July 13, that the attackers may have accessed information in certain accounts. Unauthorized parties launched an automated cyberattack between Wednesday, June 17, and Friday, June 19, using email addresses and passwords obtained fro…

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by Chris Spiker
News
2 Countries Face Highest US Travel Warning: Key Risks 2 Countries Face Highest US Travel Warning: Key Risks
2 Countries Face Highest US Travel Warning: Key Risks Two destinations carrying Washington’s starkest warning now present Americans with sharply different dangers and, in one case, a major obstacle to returning home. The US Embassy in Niger highlighted the country’s Level 4 advisory on Thursday, July 9. The State Department updated its separate warning for the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday, July 15. Level 4 is the department’s highest advisory and means Americans should not travel to either country. Niger’s advisory cites terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, civil unrest, and limited medical care. The State Department ordere…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Popular Restaurant Chain Responds As Cyclospora Outbreak Grows Popular Restaurant Chain Responds As Cyclospora Outbreak Grows
Popular Restaurant Chain Responds As Cyclospora Outbreak Grows Sweetgreen says it's not connected to the widespread Cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce. The salad chain responded to concerns from customers in an Instagram post on Wednesday, July 22. The message comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 4,173 confirmed Cyclospora cases as of Tuesday, July 21. The CDC is also aware of more than 7,400 additional reported cases that have not yet been laboratory confirmed, with many of those reported in Michigan and Ohio. Federal and state health officials are investigating multiple Cyclospora clus…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Is Your Salad Safe? Questions Linger As Federal Response Faces Scrutiny Is Your Salad Safe? Questions Linger As Federal Response Faces Scrutiny
Is Your Salad Safe? Questions Linger As Federal Response Faces Scrutiny A staple of salads, sandwiches, and tacos is leaving consumers with an uncomfortable question: Is it safe to eat? Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Tuesday, July 21, that a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak had been brought under control after officials identified a source and companies began recalls. “We do have the outbreak under control,” Kennedy said. “We have an extensive forensics, epidemiological forensics, and we’ve identified the source of the outbreak. We and the companies that are involved have implemented a recall.” However, the Centers for Dise…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Cheez-It Launching New Flavor Inspired By Popular Beer Brand Cheez-It Launching New Flavor Inspired By Popular Beer Brand
Cheez-It Launching New Flavor Inspired By Popular Beer Brand A popular beer brand is putting its flavor into a new type of Cheez-It. Coors Light is teaming up with Cheez-It to launch limited-edition Beer Cheese-flavored crackers, Mars, Incorporated said in a news release on Wednesday, July 22. The new snack will be available at retailers nationwide beginning in August while supplies last. The cheesy crackers feature the taste of Coors Light-flavored beer cheese with a savory, tangy profile and toasted spices. "Our obsessed fans are constantly looking for bold new ways to enjoy Cheez-It, and we had the golden opportunity to bring one of America'…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Engine Starters Could Catch Fire In 318K+ Recalled BMWs, Toyotas Engine Starters Could Catch Fire In 318K+ Recalled BMWs, Toyotas
Engine Starters Could Catch Fire In 318K+ Recalled BMWs, Toyotas More than 318,000 BMW and Toyota vehicles are being recalled because an engine starter can overheat and catch fire. BMW of North America issued the recall for 318,495 vehicles, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report released on Wednesday, July 8. The recall includes certain 2021-2025 BMW vehicles and 2023-2024 Toyota Supras. The engine starter may overheat because of unexpected wear on an internal component. In some cases, the starter may fail to work properly, preventing the engine from starting. Owners are advised not to park the affected vehicles inside gar…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Dangerous Headrests Spark Huge Recall Of Popular Child Car Seats Dangerous Headrests Spark Huge Recall Of Popular Child Car Seats
Dangerous Headrests Spark Huge Recall Of Popular Child Car Seats Nearly 60,000 Evenflo child car seats are being recalled because the headrest can shift during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Evenflo Company issued the recall for 59,661 Reo by Revolve360 child seats, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report submitted on Wednesday, July 22. The recall affects the Danvers, Chelsea, Brookline, Lenox, Holden, and Nantucket models. The headrest may shift in certain rear-facing or forward-facing positions during a crash. The problem means the child seats don't comply with federal safety standards for child restraint systems,…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Dog Ordered Euthanized After Attack On NY Teen: Owner Shares Her Side Dog Ordered Euthanized After Attack On NY Teen: Owner Shares Her Side
Dog Ordered Euthanized After Attack On NY Teen: Owner Shares Her Side A dog that bit and seriously injured a 17-year-old girl while she was walking her family's dog in New York has been euthanized following a court order, as its owner says she was unable to raise the money needed to bring the family pet home. Newburgh (Orange County, NY) police responded to 165 Fullerton Ave. at approximately 7:46 p.m. Sunday, May 18, to investigate a reported dog bite, where officers learned the teen had been attacked by a loose dog named Luna while walking her family's dog on a leash, police said in a press release on Friday, July 24. The victim suffered a puncture wound and…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Wanted Virginia Driver Busted After Hit-Run Reveals Open Booze, Ignition Interlock: Sheriff Wanted Virginia Driver Busted After Hit-Run Reveals Open Booze, Ignition Interlock: Sheriff
Wanted Virginia Driver Busted After Hit-Run Reveals Open Booze, Ignition Interlock: Sheriff If there was a wrong decision to make, deputies say Gordon Bruce made just about all of them. Stafford County deputies arrested the 60-year-old Fredericksburg man, after what started out as a midday hit-and-run rapidly spiraled into one long day for everyone involved. The chain of events unfolded around 4:55 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, along Stafford Lakes Parkway. Deputies say Gordon Bruce, 60, of Fredericksburg, rear-ended another driver before fleeing the scene and running a red light. It didn't get him very far. Responding deputies found Bruce's vehicle nearby with heavy front-end dam…

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by Zak Failla
Traffic
New Details Released After 9-Year-Old Dies In Sully Square E-Scooter Crash (UPDATED) New Details Released After 9-Year-Old Dies In Sully Square E-Scooter Crash (UPDATED)
New Details Released After 9-Year-Old Dies In Sully Square E-Scooter Crash (Updated) New details released Friday by Fairfax County Police are shedding light on the crash that killed a 9-year-old boy riding an electric scooter in Herndon, as investigators continue working to determine exactly what happened. The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, in the 3000 block of Madden Court in the Sully Square community. Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives say a 2012 Honda Odyssey was making a left turn from Highland Mews Court onto Madden Court when it collided with the child, who was riding an electric scooter in the parking area. The boy suffered life-threatening…

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by Zak Failla
News
TikToker Acquitted In Neighbor's Death Gets 12 Years In Florida Kidnapping Case TikToker Acquitted In Neighbor's Death Gets 12 Years In Florida Kidnapping Case
TikToker Acquitted In Neighbor's Death Gets 12 Years In Florida Kidnapping Case TikToker and former National Guardsman Zachary Latham, who was acquitted in the high-profile killing of his New Jersey neighbor, has been sentenced to prison in Florida for stalking and attempting to kidnap a woman after she ended their relationship. The 24-year-old former Vineland, NJ man was sentenced as a Habitual Violent Felony Offender to 12 years in prison with a 10-year minimum mandatory after pleading guilty in Lee County, FL, the State Attorney's Office announced Monday, July 21. The victim met Latham online while he was living in New Jersey, but after he moved to Southwest Florida…

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by Cecilia Levine