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Quebec man sentenced to prison for creating AI-generated, synthetic child pornography

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

MONTREAL — A Quebec man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for using artificial intelligence to produce synthetic videos of child pornography.Steven Larouche, 61, of Sherbrooke, Que., pleaded guilty to creating at least seven videos with so-called deepfake technology, which is used to superimpose the face of an individual onto the body of another person. He also pleaded guilty to possessing hundreds of thousands of computer files of child pornography, for which he was sentenced an additional four and a half years.Provincial court judge Benoit Gagnon wrote in his ruling, issued earlier this month, that he believes this was the first case in the country involving deepfakes of child porn. He said he worries what will happen as criminals use the technology to put the faces of children whose images they find on social media onto videos of other children being sexually assaulted. “The use of deepfake technology in criminal hands is chilling. The type of software a...

Brazil judge orders temporary suspension of Telegram

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — A federal judge in Brazil on Wednesday ordered a temporary suspension of messaging app Telegram, citing the social media platform’s alleged failure to provide all information Federal Police requested on neo-Nazi chat groups. The move is regarded as part of the country’s push against a rise in school violence.The judge also increased the daily fine for non-compliance to 1 million reais (about $200,000), from 100,000 reais previously, according to the ruling, which was provided by the Justice Ministry’s press office.The ruling from a federal court in Espírito Santo state said “the facts shown by police authorities show a clear purpose of Telegram of not cooperating with the investigation.” Brazil’s federal police confirmed in a statement that the push to block Telegram is already on course.Telegram’s press office didn’t immediately respond to an Associated Press email requesting comment regarding whether it was aware of the ruling, and it...

Driver crashes into business at Huntley strip mall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

HUNTLEY, Ill. — A driver crashed into a business Wednesday afternoon at a strip mall in Huntley.Footage from Skycam 9 shows a car and building damaged after a crash in the 13300 block of Village Green Drive. Homewood man killed in petroleum plant blast was also wrestling coach It's unclear at this time if anyone was injured.Around 5 p.m., video from Skycam 9 showed the car being towed away from the scene.This is a developing story and will be updated.

Some Metra train lines delayed due to issues at Chicago Union Station

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Several Metra train lines aren't able to enter or leave Chicago's Union Station due to Amtrak switching issues and are creating major delays, according to Metra. Riders on the BNSF, SouthWest Service and Heritage Corridor may have delays getting into and departing Union Station. Driver crashes into business at Huntley strip mall According to Metra's website, this is because of ongoing Amtrak switch problems.Metra said the service disruption plan at Union Station is being implemented.Riders can check the latest rider alerts from Metra online.The BNSF line runs to Aurora, the SouthWest Service line runs to Manhattan and the Heritage Corridor line runs to Joliet. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Some Streamwood residents concerned after reports of car break-ins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

STREAMWOOD, Ill. — Some residents in the Village of Streamwood said they’re on alert after several overnight car break-ins were reported Monday morning.“It’s a quiet neighborhood. Seeing it was a little shocking, but I think we have to be aware now,” said Neil, who lives in the Concord Station subdivision, where one of the incidents occurred.Streamwood police said they took three reports of incidents that happened overnight Sunday into Monday morning, two of which happened on Hummingbird Lane, with a third on Providence Lane, all reportedly happened between 3-4 a.m.Elizabeth Barahona was one of several victims who woke up to find someone had rifled through their vehicles. She said her truck was hit by thieves, which was all caught on her doorbell camera. Woman carjacked at gunpoint by 5 men in Lincoln Park: police Barahona said she went out to her vehicle around 6 a.m. when she found her pursue emptied on the passenger seat. Once she realized what happened, Barahona got on social ...

David Ross pays tribute to late Murphy's Bleachers owner Beth Murphy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

CHICAGO — As the Lakeview community mourns the loss of a popular business owner and prominent member of the neighborhood, so does the manager of the Chicago Cubs. Before his team's start to their three-game series with the Padres this week, David Ross gave a tribute to Beth Murphy, the late owner of Murphy's Bleachers, during a news conference Tuesday. The head of the popular bar located just outside of Wrigley Field and president of the Wrigleyville Rooftop Owners Association died at 68 on Monday after a five-year battle with cancer. "Beth is a obviously a staple of this neighborhood and Murphy's and the establishment on the corner there a lot with (Murphy's general manager) Freddy (Fagenholz), who runs it," said Ross on Tuesday. "Beth was just a phenomenal human and has opened up that space for a lot of events for a lot of my family."Murphy was the owner of the popular bar located at the corner of Sheffield and Waveland Avenues since 2003 after the death of her husband Jim. A form...

Video: Wisconsin officers pull 84-year-old to safety as van erupts in flames

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

KENOSHA, Wis. (WFRV) - Officers in southeast Wisconsin were able to pull a driver to safety after their van erupted in flames during an attempted traffic stop.According to the Kenosha Police Department, the incident happened just after 9 p.m. on Tuesday when officers noticed a minivan driving with a flat tire with sparks coming from the wheel.Officers say that while attempting to stop the vehicle, the 84-year-old driver did not pull over, and the moment the van erupted in flames was captured on dash cam video. One man sent to the hospital and one man arrested in Shawano stabbing incident The van can be seen quickly becoming engulfed in flames and eventually coming to a stop.Quick-acting officers can then be seen running toward the flames and eventually pulling the 84-year-old driver to safety.It was noted that nobody sustained any major injuries. Additional details weren't immediately available.

'We feel isolated from society': Migrants in Chicago seek assistance with housing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Marlin is part of a recent wave of migrants from Venezuela seeking asylum in the US. She arrived in Chicago with her five kids by plane almost a week ago and is staying at the Olive Branch Mission in West Englewood. Speaking to WGN News in Spanish, she says the family is grateful for the accommodations.“We have a bed, food and have also received coats,” she said.   Migrants sleeping on floors of Chicago police districts But the mother adds that living conditions are not ideal for the children. “We're not in a place where our kids' mental health is prioritized or where they can run around and play,” she said.  Marlin said that she is left feeling disconnected.  “We feel isolated from society," she said. "Our kids need psychological help and need to go to school." Marlin met with a social worker to express her concerns but said she was told to wait. The mother of five said that she worries she'll miss out on opportunities for her and her children. Lightfo...

Piping plover Imani returns to Montrose Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

CHICAGO — One of Chicago's famous piping plovers is back at Montrose Beach. How the story of two little birds captivated Chicago Imani, the chick of beloved piping plovers Monty and Rose, was spotted in Chicago, much to the delight of local bird lovers. Beloved piping plover Monty dies unexpectedly The official Chicago Piping Plover account confirmed the news on Twitter.Imani hatched two years ago and has made the trip back to Montrose Beach both years.

Grandmother delivers her own grandson in Cleveland family's living room

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:53 GMT

CLEVELAND (WJW) - When she wasn't able to get to the hospital in time, one Ohio woman found herself giving birth in her own living room. What makes this delivery even more special is that the woman's mother got to deliver her own grandson."I was having contractions but they were really irregular," Cleveland mom Breanna Johnson recounted to Nexstar's WJW. As a mother of one already, she said she knew what she was experiencing. 5 honored for rescuing missing boy, 3, from New York train tracks "I said, 'We aren't going anywhere, he's coming,'" Breanna explained. She wasn't due until next week, but the baby had other plans.Ceth Johnson, the boy's father, immediately called 911. "I'm on the phone with dispatch, getting blankets, towels, everything that we need. They are telling me we need to do this," he told WJW.Luckily, Breanna's parents just so happened to be at the house."My father lays me down on the floor and the only other person here to catch the baby was my mom," sai...