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YouTube’s recommendations send violent and graphic gun videos to 9-year-olds: study

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — When researchers at a nonprofit that studies social media wanted to understand the connection between YouTube videos and gun violence, they set up accounts on the platform that mimicked the behavior of typical boys living in the U.S.They simulated two nine-year-olds who both liked video games. The accounts were identical, except that one clicked on the videos recommended by YouTube, and the other ignored the platform's suggestions.The account that clicked on YouTube's suggestions was soon flooded with graphic videos about school shootings, tactical gun training videos and how-to instructions on making firearms fully automatic. One video featured an elementary school-age girl wielding a handgun; another showed a shooter using a .50 caliber gun to fire on a dummy head filled with lifelike blood and brains. Many of the videos violate YouTube's own policies against violent or gory content.The findings show that despite YouTube's rules and content moderation e...

Drier, warmer weather returns for a couple of days

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We are now enjoying above-normal May rainfall after more than a week of on-and-off showers and thunderstorms.Drier, hotter weather comingA ridge of high pressure and drier northwesterly flow kicks in Wednesday and Thursday, removing rain chances from the forecast. Seasonably hot afternoons return with highs in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees.Temperatures warm Wednesday and ThursdayNext severe thunderstorm riskA cold front moves southeast across our area late Friday night into Saturday morning, leading to our next chance of rain and thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center's Day 4 outlook is suggesting possible strong to severe thunderstorms during this time. The chance of precipitation will be 40%. Stay tuned for specific timing details.Severe weather possible late Friday nightThe front passes out of the area Saturday morning leaving a breezy north wind and keeping weekend temperatures cooler and more comfortable.A few showers and thunderstorms will remain possib...

San Marcos approves new contract with police union

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) - The San Marcos Police Department will soon work under a new contract. Tuesday night, the San Marcos City Council voted to pass the new agreement. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: San Marcos to redraw contract with police union This comes after three months of negotiations after the former agreement was repealed by local activist group Mano Amiga. The group was pushing for the following to be included in the new agreement: End the 180-day rule: Expand timeline for investigating officers for alleged wrongdoingEnd delays for officers under investigation before formal interviewersCivil Service Commission instead of a third-party arbitrationMake documented misconduct more transparentEnd vacation forfeiture as a substitute to suspensionMano Amiga calls the demands the 5 Hartman Reforms, which refers to former San Marcos Police Sgt. Ryan Hartman. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: San Marcos police officer: ‘I caused the death of somebody by me not paying attention’ In June 2020, Ha...

Trevor Plouffe’s post-playing career brings him to Twins’ broadcast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

LOS ANGELES — Trevor Plouffe didn’t think he would be nervous in the days before his Bally Sports North debut.He had spoken with Justin Morneau and Glen Perkins, his former Twins teammates. He picked Rockies’ sideline reporter/host Kelsey Wingert’s brain. He reached out to Jerry Blevins, another former player, who does work with SNY in New York.He was as prepared as he could be. And yet, there he was on Monday, set to dive into a new career opportunity experiencing some jitters.“I’m so happy,” he said. “I want to feel those nerves again. You don’t feel them too often. Like as a player, I felt them every single day and I haven’t really had that, save for a few days since I’ve been done playing. But to feel that again and have to really prepare for something is something that I’ve been looking for.”Upon the conclusion of his nine-year major league career — most of them spent in Minnesota — Plouffe has taken on a burgeoning second career in sports media.He was an early investor in Jomb...

Importance of ‘see something, say something’ after alleged pipe bomb arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

FORT PLAIN, N.Y. (NEWS10) — After a pipe bomb was found at a residence in Fort Plain, Montgomery Police now want residents to make sure that if they see something, they should say something to law enforcement as soon as possible.“Yeah, we just encourage people if they see something for any type of circumstance. Just pay attention,” Jeff Smith, Montgomery County Sheriff, said. “You don’t wanna be a nosy neighbor, but pay attention to something out of the norm.” Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police say a contractor was working on a house around upper main street last week, and they discovered a device that appeared to be a pipe bomb. Multiple agencies responded, and several roads were shut down for hours. The New York State Police Bomb Squad destroyed the device.Police say in addition to noticing if something doesn’t look right in their neighborhood, people should also pay attention to any odd packages that arrive in the ma...

Remains of World War II veteran from Overland returning home this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

OVERLAND, Mo. – Relatives of Melvin Meyer have been holding out hope for decades they could find the answers they had been looking for. They heard stories their loved one was a war hero, but were never able to hold a memorial service.“It was heart-wrenching, because all they wanted to do was find out what happened,” said Nedra Orf, Meyer’s great-niece.Meyer was part of an air mission just days before the D-Day invasion. He was joined by other service members for an air raid over Germany. Their plane was struck by gunfire and cashed. Survivors became prisoners of war. Meyer was declared missing.Family members recently received hopeful news. The U.S. Department of Defense notified them of the possibility Meyer’s remains had been discovered. The crash site was discovered in 2012. Excavation efforts led to some remarkable finds, including Meyer’s crucifix, his rosary, wallet, and other personal items.“It gave us goosebumps,” Orf said. Top Story: St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner ...

Contact 2 gets answers on storm damaged vehicles at GM’s Wentzville plant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

WENTZVILLE, Mo. - Saturday's hailstorm in Wentzville not only grabbed the attention of the viewer who shared a video with FOX 2, but Brian Maloney caught wind of the severe weather more than 800 miles away in Lubbock, Texas."I'm part of a Facebook group, 2023 Canyons, and Colorados, and they reported over the weekend several people, some that work at dealers that approximately 3,300 new Chevy Colorados or Canyons that were damaged by hail at the plant or holding facilities," Maloney said.Missouri weather wouldn't ordinarily matter to Maloney, but he said he ordered a 2023 Chevy Colorado from his local dealer in March. Just last Thursday, he learned his truck was built at the Wentzville plant."I hope mine wasn't involved and hope it's not on the list," Maloney said. Illinois girl abducted at 9 found safe 6 years later in North Carolina; mom charged FOX 2 was at GM's Wentzville plant in January when the next generation of Chevy Colorados and GMC Canyons rolled off the assembly line....

Homeowners fed up with flooding in their south St. Louis County neighborhood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Sunday’s flooding woes created a geyser in an Affton neighborhood when the water pressure forced a sewer grate in the middle of the street 10 feet into the air.It was an incredible sight to see.Residents said they’ve been dealing with extreme water woes for years. Susie Reuter said she had to redo her home time and time again. She witnessed the sewer grate blow its top off.“When it gets too much rain in too short a time, everything is like a bowl, and I live at the bottom of it," Reuter said. "And all the rain comes here through these grates, and it drains out. The water can’t go anywhere; it’s too forceful; it just shoots up into the air and creates a lake."On Tuesday, she and her father were trying to recover from this one, caulking the windows and disposing of debris. Top Story: St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner resigning immediately "It gets really bad where there’s a big lake here; you see all that debris, everything funnels into a lake, then it f...

Regional prosecutors offer to help next St. Louis Circuit Attorney 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

CLAYTON, Mo. - Prosecutors from St. Charles, Lincoln, Franklin, Jefferson, Warren, and St. Louis counties are offering support to the next St. Louis Circuit Attorney. Kim Gardner abruptly announced her immediate resignation on Tuesday. Area prosecutors have been communicating with each other and announced on Tuesday that they are ready to provide expertise and legal advice to the next top prosecutor in the City of St. Louis. Joe McCulloch is one of those prosecutors. He is the current prosecuting attorney for St. Charles County, and said troubles with the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office affect the entire region. “It absolutely does,” McCulloch said. “Crime is a regional problem.”  Top Story: St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner resigning immediately He said it’s too soon to know the length of time area prosecutors will be spending assisting St. Louis City but hopes the result is an office fulfilling its duties. McCulloch pointed to prosecuting cases and findin...

Rockies lose 3-1 pitcher’s duel to Reds at Coors Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:31:51 GMT

On a Tuesday night when pitchers thrived at Coors Field, the margin for error was razor-thin.Rockies right-hander Peter Lambert lived that reality in a 3-1 loss to the Reds in front of an announced crowd of 20,611. The game took just 2 hours, 5 minutes. Pitching in relief in the seventh, Lambert gave up a two-out walk to Tyler Stephenson, followed by a two-run, first-pitch homer to center by Nick Senzel to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead. The Reds tacked on a bonus run in the eighth off of Justin Lawrence, who came into the game having given up no earned runs in 15 of his 18 appearances. Curt Casali drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on Jonathan India’s groundout and scored on Matt McClain’s single to center.The contrast between the game’s two starting pitchers was striking and compelling. Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson made his big-league debut at age 25. Rockies right-hander Chase Anderson, 35, pitched in his 202nd game and made his 184th start.The odd coupl...