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Church sex abuse report gives voice to survivors: ‘I just want the darkness … to finally come to light’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

Jean Marbella, Abigail Gruskin, Angela Roberts | (TNS) The Baltimore SunBALTIMORE — Time has moved on. Many are gray-haired now, and their abusers long dead or otherwise beyond being prosecuted.But with Wednesday’s release of the Maryland attorney general’s sweeping report on decades of child sex abuse in the Baltimore archdiocese, these now grown Catholic schoolchildren feel a measure of vindication — however delayed, however incomplete.“It’s been a long time coming,” said Linda Malat Tiburzi, a Baltimore woman who was among the students raped in the 1970s by their teacher, John Merzbacher, at Catholic Community Middle School in South Baltimore.“I just want the darkness, the crimes, the heinous things that were done to children to finally come to light,” she said.The 456-page report shines a harsh light on the physical and sexual violence exacted on children by clergy and other employees of the archdiocese, and how the church covered up the crimes and failed to protect its youngest...

Report shows ‘astonishing’ depravity in sexual abuse of more than 600 in Baltimore’s Catholic archdiocese

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

Lee O. Sanderlin and Jonathan M. Pitts | (TNS) The Baltimore SunBALTIMORE — A four-year investigation of Baltimore’s Catholic archdiocese reveals the scope of 80 years of child sex abuse and torture and how church officials often covered it up and, in some cases, paved the way for further abuse.Among the stories: A deacon who admitted abusing more than 100 children. A priest who chained and whipped boys for his own gratification. Another priest who, after receiving psychiatric treatment, went on to abuse 20 students at a Baltimore boys’ school.The Maryland Attorney General’s Office released Wednesday its “Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.” Its nearly 500 pages tell how 156 clergy and other church officials tormented more than 600 children and young adults, abuse dating back to the 1940s. The Baltimore archdiocese covers Baltimore City and nine counties in Central and Western Maryland.The report names at least 36 abusers who are not listed on the Archdioce...

With pothole season underway, St. Paul asphalt plant roars to life after holding pond-related delay

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

Last year drivers filed 85 claims against the city of St. Paul over pothole-related car damage. That total has already been eclipsed several times over this season, even with winter snowfall yet to fully melt. Claims in the past two months alone surpass 250, with more expected.“It gives you a sense of the scale,” said St. Paul Public Works Director Sean Kershaw.The silver lining? On Wednesday night, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency gave the all-clear to a rebuilt holding pond at the city’s asphalt mixing plant on Burgess Street, which had to be reconstructed after a leak was discovered last year. The plant roared into operation Thursday morning, with Kershaw, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, state Sen. Sandy Pappas and other city officials cheering it onward.“Happy Asphalt Day!” shouted the mayor, who was also accompanied by City Council Member Mitra Jalali and representatives of the St. Paul Building and Construction Trades Council and the Laborers&...

NYPS: Gloversville man arrested on drug and gun charges

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- State Police, with the assistance of the Johnstown Police Department, arrested a Gloversville man on charges stemming from multiple incidents. Joseph A. Politsch, 33, was arrested at his home on March 29 and arraigned at the Gloversville City Court. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police say Politsch had a firearm despite an active court order preventing him from lawfully possessing any firearm. In another incident, Politsch had allegedly held a victim against their will while threatening to harm them with a brandished firearm.Police executed a search warrant at his residence and discovered an illegal quantity of cannabis, felony-weight narcotics, and multiple illegally possessed firearms. Politsch was charged with the following:Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third DegreeCriminal Possession of Cannabis in the First DegreeCriminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree...

Albany man arrested in child pornography investigation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- State police arrested Taykwun Smoaks, 30 of Albany. Smoaks was allegedly involved in child sexual exploitation. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police explain Smoaks is accused of having and promoting images consistent with child sexual exploitation. His arrest follows an investigation and execution of a search warrant on his home in Albany on April 5. The investigation stemmed from a cyber tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. ChargesPromoting a sexual performance by a childCriminal possession of a sexual performance by a childSmoaks was arrested and processed at Latham state police. He was taken to the Albany County Correctional Facility where he was held until arraignment on April 6, in the Albany City Court and released to the supervision of probation.

Albany Police: Green Island man arrested on rape charge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Green Island man was taken into custody following an investigation into an incident on March 22. According to police, an 18-year-old female reported she had been forcibly sexually assaulted by Robert M. Edwards Jr., 21. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Village of Green Island Police and Sheriff's Investigators conducted a thorough investigation into the report. Edwards was arrested on Wednesday, April 5, and charged with one count of Rape in the First Degree. Edwards was arraigned in the Village of Green Island Court and remanded to the custody of the Albany County Correctional Facility without bail.

North Adams man pleads guilty to intent to distribute heroin

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. (WWLP) — A North Adams man has agreed in a deal to plead guilty to several charges for possession of an illegal firearm, ammunition, and heroin. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! In court on Wednesday, 31-year-old John Bump Jr. of North Adams pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, and possession of ammunition. As part of a plea deal, the charge of illegal possession of a large-capacity firearm was dismissed.North Adams and Adams police were conducting a drug investigation in March at Bump's home. On March 9, officers were preparing to conduct a search warrant when Bump was seen leaving his home with a backpack and getting into a vehicle. Officers stopped the car and searched Bump, seizing $470 in cash and 70 wax baggies of heroin. They also searched the backpack and seized a Ruger 9mm handgun, a magazine with 14 rounds of ammunition, 300 wax baggi...

Schodack bus stop arm cameras to go live in April

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

SCHODACK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Stop arm cameras are being installed on Schodack Central School District busses the week of April 3 and are expected to be completed this month. Once the installation is finished, the district will use them to deter drivers from illegally passing school buses when the stop arms are extended. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The district explains if a driver passes a Schodack bus when its stop arm is extended, meaning students are in the process of entering or exiting the bus, the cameras will automatically record a video of the incident along with the car's license plate number. The cameras installed by BusPatrol are working with school districts to improve student safety. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, the majority of school bus accidents occur when students are crossing the road, not from actual car collisions with a bus.When the cameras automatically detect a car ...

Things to do in the Capital Region this weekend: April 7-9

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The weekend is almost here! From to concerts to Baby Animal Days to Easter egg hunts, there are quite a few things happening on April 7, 8, and 9. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Here are some of the events going on around the Capital Region this weekend.Friday, April 7Easter egg hunts around the Capital RegionICFS Presents: Goodzilla Friday Double Stomp!, Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, 7 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Proctors website.KISStory & Monsters of Rock, Cohoes Music Hall, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Cohoes Music Hall website.Lords of 52nd Street, Rivers Casino, 7 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Rivers website.Baby Animal Days, Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Egg-Stravaganza by Wonderland, Via Port Rotterdam, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.Adirondack Thunder vs. Maine Mariners, Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, 7 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Seat Geek website. Schene...

Pittsfield man sentenced to prison after found unconscious with gun, heroin in car

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) — A Pittsfield man was sentenced to prison for illegal possession of a firearm and a large-capacity feeding device after officers found him unconscious in his car. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Michael Rahilly, 36, of Pittsfield, was charged with the following:OUI DrugsPossession With Intent to DistributePossession of Large Capacity Device (firearm)Possession of a Firearm in FelonyAccording to a press release from the Berkshire County District Attorney, on Nov. 17, 2022, Rahilly was located unconscious in his car at the intersection of Green River Road and New Ashford Road in Williamstown. He was awoken by Officer Shuan William who noted multiple indicators of opioid-related impairment. Officer William moved to the side of the vehicle and saw a handgun protruding from underneath the driver's seat. Rahilly was taken into arrest. Officer William recovered a firearm (15-round, Glock .40), drug paraph...