Fire Department provides free smoke detectors after deadly fire claims 3 lives

The Baltimore City Fire Department hosted a multi-agency Fire Safety Neighborhood Sweep Saturday morning, days after a fatal fire claimed the lives of three people, including two children.

City leaders went door to door as part of a fire safety initiative in and around the 3400 block of East Lombard Street in southeast Baltimore.

“A raging fire claimed the lives of three of our Baltimore family members. One family member being lost in a fire is too much, but three is just hard to wrap your mind around,” City Fire spokesman Kevin Cartwright said. “We (knocked) on doors, offering to install free smoke alarms, basic home fire safety inspections, as well as providing a literature to help them know how to keep themselves safe from the dangers of residential structure fires.”

Cartwright said the home where the fatal Highlandtown fire began, did not have working smoke detectors.

“We don’t have to have this happen in our city. We want every single family, every single household, to have a fire safety plan,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. “But also, everyone in Baltimore should have a working smoke detector because we will give it to you for free.”

A US company is accused of illegally hiring children to clean meat processing plants

 U.S. authorities have accused another sanitation company of illegally hiring at least two dozen children to clean dangerous meat processing facilities, the latest example of illegal child labor that officials say is increasingly common.

The Labor Department asked a federal judge for an injunction to halt the employment of minors by Tennessee-based Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, saying it believes at least four children were still working at one Iowa slaughterhouse as of Dec. 12.

U.S. law prohibits companies from employing people younger than 18 to work in meat processing plants because of the hazards involved. The Labor Department alleges that Fayette has used underage workers in hazardous conditions where animals are killed and rendered. The agency says children sanitize dangerous equipment, including head splitters, jaw pullers and meat bandsaws.

Police suspend investigation into Ravens WR Zay Flowers, no charges filed

Baltimore County police suspended an investigation into Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers without filing charges, according to documents obtained by WBAL NewsRadio.

An investigation started in January over an alleged domestic incident. On Tuesday, a mostly redacted report showed a detailed timeline of the investigation.

On Jan. 21, police officers in Acton, Massachusetts, contacted Baltimore County police, saying they received a report of an assault that happened in Owings Mills on Jan. 16.

According to the report in Acton, the woman said she was bruised in an assault, and she told police she was hesitant to provide information because the person involved was a high-profile NFL player. The woman told police the brother of the person involved pulled out a gun.

A woman is heard crying on a 911 call before she told the operator she is OK and hung up.

The woman never responded to detectives who were investigating the incident. Through his attorney, Flowers declined to talk to the detectives handling the case.

The report indicated the case was suspended as of last Friday. Investigators do not intend to press charges.

Since the investigation is suspended, if the department feels charges are warranted later, the case could be reopened.

Keefe D’s Trial Moved Back to November After Hiring New Attorney

Duane “Keefe D” Davis appeared in court on Tuesday (February 20), where he learned that he is now scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 4 for the murder of 2Pac. 

This comes as Davis’ new attorney, Carl “E.G.” Arnold, requested more time to review the discovery material in the case. Arnold also stated after the hearing that he’s confident that Davis will make bail, adding that he’ll have to put up $75,000 and potentially qualify for house arrest. Arnold stated, “He’s upbeat that he can possibly get out of here real soon.” 

FDA warns against smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar without needles

Smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels for medical purposes without piercing the skin could be dangerous and should be avoided, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.

The caution applies to any watch or ring, regardless of brand, that claims to measure blood glucose levels in a noninvasive way, the agency said. The FDA said it has not authorized any such device.

The agency’s notice doesn’t apply to smartwatch apps linked to sensors, such as continuous glucose monitoring systems that measure blood sugar directly.

Roughly 37 million Americans have diabetes. People with the disease aren’t able to effectively regulate their blood sugar because their bodies either don’t make enough of the hormone insulin or they have become resistant to insulin.

Corrections deputy accused of misconduct involving inmate

A 20-year-old corrections officer is facing felony charges after she was caught having sex with an inmate while on the job!
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According to the NY Post, Akira Jones started working at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Memphis, TN as a corrections deputy in May 2023. During her time, she allegedly became involved in an intimate relationship with one of the inmates of the jail. In December, a complaint was filed against Akira claiming her relationship was exposed.  
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She was immediately placed on leave, as an ensued. After the investigation, Akira was then arrested and charged with a felony charge of sexual contact with prisoners.
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“The SCSO will not tolerate the misconduct of any employee and will continue to hold our employees accountable to the highest ethical standards to ensure our public’s trust,” Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. stated.
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Damn girl I hope the D was good enough to catch a charge for! 😩

9-Year-Old Finds Drugs, Hands Them Over to Police Leading to His Mother’s Arrest

A child in Henderson, NV found drugs at home and turned them into the police, leading to the arrest of his mother, Kendra Long. The incident unfolded on video, showing the child handing over a bag of drugs to the police. The father had called the police after the child showed him substances found in the house during a FaceTime call. The drugs were discovered under the mother’s nightstand, and they were later identified as more than 100 grams of methamphetamine. Long was arrested for drug trafficking and child abuse. Despite posting bail, she violated a family court order and received probation, which prosecutors claim she also violated. The child is commended for his honesty, and he is currently living with his father. Long’s lawyer declined to provide a statement.

Shooting after Chiefs Super Bowl parade seemed to stem from dispute among several people, police say

The mass shooting that unfolded amid throngs of people at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration appeared to stem from a dispute between several people, authorities said Thursday.

Police Chief Stacey Graves said that the 22 people injured in the shooting ranged between the ages of 8 and 47 years old, half of whom were under the age of 16. A mother of two was also killed.

Three people were detained — including two juveniles — and firearms were recovered during the mayhem, police said. But investigators are calling for witnesses, people with cellphone footage and victims of the violence to call a dedicated hotline.

“We are working to determine the involvement of others. And it should be noted we have recovered several firearms. This incident is still a very active investigation,” Graves said at a news conference.

Woman, baby found dead in west Baltimore apartment

The bodies of a woman and a baby were found Tuesday morning in west Baltimore, police said.

City police said officers were called around at 9 a.m. to an apartment in the 1800 block of McCulloh Street, where they found a 32-year-old woman and a 13-month-old child dead.

Police said there were no signs of foul play or anything suspicious and that detectives are investigating the deaths as “questionable.”

The causes of the deaths remain under investigation.

Wintry mix to impact Tuesday morning commute

The rain is expected to change into the wintry mix around 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the middle of the Tuesday morning commute. It will end around 10 a.m. with only a trace of accumulation possible for most of the area. The northern suburbs near the Pennsylvania line could up to 2″ of snow, but less will stick to the roads.

Most of the roads will remain above freezing but the wintry mix will still reduce visibility so be careful on slippery and slushy roads as they will stay wet do to the ground temperatures.

A Winter Storm Watch is in place for the following counties: Frederick, Baltimore, Carroll, and Harford. A Winter Storm Warning is in place for Allegany and Garrett Counties. A Winter Storm Advisory is in place for Washington County.