Tag Archives: Minors

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey Announces Emergency Regulation on Gender Transition Interventions for Minors – Missouri Attorney General’s Office

  1. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey Announces Emergency Regulation on Gender Transition Interventions for Minors Missouri Attorney General’s Office
  2. Missouri AG announces rule aimed as ending transgender care for minors St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  3. Missouri attorney general issues rules to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender kids St. Louis Public Radio
  4. Missouri Attorney General Bailey issues emergency regulation against gender transition interventi… KMOV St. Louis
  5. Missouri attorney general announces rule aimed at ending transgender care for minors St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Bodies of 3 adults, 5 minors found inside Enoch City home

ENOCH, Utah — Eight bodies were found inside an Enoch City home Wednesday; all suffering from gunshot wounds, police say.

Enoch City officials said three adults and five minors were among those found inside the home in the 4900 North block of Albert Drive. Police were called to the house in reference to a welfare check and found the bodies inside.

All the victims were members of one family, but it’s not known why a welfare check was performed or whether police had any prior involvement with the family.

“This is not normal, this is not something that happens often at all, and in a small community in rural Utah. We’re all family, so this affects everybody and everybody had some connection to the individuals and some connection to the family,” said Enoch City City manager Rob Dotson.

Names and ages of the victims have yet to be released, but those that knew the family were shocked to hear what had happened.

“I just feel terrible, they were just really nice people and I mean, it’s going be one of those things that who knows,” said neighbor Tom Deville.

Officials added that they do not believe there is a threat to the public or that any suspects are at large.

The five minors were all students in the Iron County School District. The district said a Crisis Intervention Team will be at schools to help students and staff who need assistance emotionally dealing with the incident.

“We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will make every effort to help you and your child as needed,” the district wrote in a statement.

FOX 13 News

In a post to social media, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox shared his sadness over what occurred Wednesday.

“Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless violence. Please keep the community of Enoch in your prayers.”

An active investigation is currently underway.

Stay with fox13now.com and FOX 13 News for the latest on this breaking news story

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FBI issues public safety alert, says 3,000 minors have been ‘sextortion’ victims: ‘Horrific increase’

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

The FBI issued a national public safety alert Monday warning that more than 3,000 minors have been targeted in the past year across the Unites States in online “financial sextortion” schemes. 

The schemes, primarily targeting boys, involve coercing children and teens into sending explicit images online and then extorting them for money. Over the past year, law enforcement has received over 7,000 reports related to the online financial sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 confirmed victims. 

The FBI says more than a dozen suicides were linked to these sextortion schemes, a large percentage of which originate outside the United States, and primarily in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast. 

As many children enter winter break this holiday season, the FBI, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, sounded the alarm over what they categorize as an “explosion” of these incidents, imploring parents and caregivers to educate their children. 

FBI WARNS TEEN BOYS INCREASINGLY TARGETED IN ONLINE ‘SEXTORTION’ THEMES 

“The FBI has seen a horrific increase in reports of financial sextortion schemes targeting minor boys—and the fact is that the many victims who are afraid to come forward are not even included in those numbers,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. “The FBI is here for victims, but we also need parents and caregivers to work with us to prevent this crime before it happens and help children come forward if it does. Victims may feel like there is no way out—it is up to all of us to reassure them that they are not in trouble, there is hope, and they are not alone.” 

FBI Director Chris Wray testifies during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing titled Threats to the Homeland, in Dirksen Building on Thursday, November 17, 2022. 
(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Financial sextortion schemes occur in online environments where young people feel most comfortable, using common social media sites, gaming sites, or video chat applications that feel familiar and safe, the alert says. On these platforms, online predators often use fake female accounts and target minor males, between 14 to 17 years old but the FBI has interviewed victims as young as 10 years old. 

Through deception, predators convince the young person to produce an explicit video or photo. Once predators acquire the images, they threaten to release the compromising material unless the victim sends money or gift cards. Often the predators demand payment through a variety of peer-to-peer payment applications, according to the FBI. 

In many cases, predators release the images even if payments are made. The shame, fear, and confusion that victims feel when they are caught in this cycle often prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse, the alert says. 

Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters building in Washington D.C., United States, on November 29, 2022. 
(Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

“This is a growing crisis, and we’ve seen sextortion completely devastate children and families,” Michelle DeLaune, CEO of the NCMEC, said in a statement. “As the leading nonprofit focused on child protection, we’ve seen first-hand the rise in these cases worldwide. The best defense against this crime is to talk to your children about what to do if they’re targeted online. We want everyone to know help is out there and they’re not alone.”

The FBI says if young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and should report it. Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov. 

The NCMEC has outlined steps parents and young people can take if they or their child are a victim of sextortion, including to “remember the predator is to blame, not your child or you” The center advises to get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the predator. Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail and continued harassment. 

This file image shows a child porn investigator. 
(Arne Dedert/picture alliance via Getty Images)

The NCMEC says to report the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature and block the predator, but do not delete the profile or messages because that can be helpful to law enforcement in identifying and stopping them. NCMEC can help get explicit images off the internet. 

Parents or caregivers can visit MissingKids.org/IsYourExplicitContentOutThere to learn how to notify companies yourself or visit cybertipline.org to report to us for help with the process. 

For minors who “don’t feel that you have adults in your corner,” the FBI advises reaching out to the NCMEC for support at gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.

“The protection of children is a society’s most sacred duty,” Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said. “It calls on each of us to do everything we can to keep kids from harm, including ensuring the threats they face are brought into the light and confronted. Armed with the information in this alert message, parents, caregivers, and children themselves should feel empowered to detect fake identities, take steps to reject any attempt to obtain private material, and if targeted, have a plan to seek help from a trusted adult.” 

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“The sexual exploitation of children is a deplorable crime. HSI special agents will continue to exhaust every resource to identify, locate, and apprehend predators to ensure they face justice,” Steve K. Francis, HSI Acting Executive Associate Director, added. “Criminals who lurk in platforms on the internet are not as anonymous as they think. HSI will continue to leverage cutting-edge technology to end these heinous acts.”

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Judge orders slaughterhouse cleaners not to hire minors

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge ordered a Wisconsin company that cleans hundreds of slaughterhouses nationwide to ensure it is complying with child labor laws after investigators identified at least 50 minors scrubbing and sanitizing dangerous equipment on overnight shifts at five different meatpacking plants in three states.

As part of an agreement with the Labor Department that was announced along with Tuesday’s court ruling in Nebraska, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. also promised to hire an outside consultant to review its hiring policies and provide additional training for its managers.

Investigators with the Labor Department visited three plants owned by JBS and Turkey Valley Farms in Nebraska and Minnesota this fall and found 31 underage workers as young as 13. Since this lawsuit was filed last month, additional underage workers have been identified, including at two additional plants: the Greater Omaha Packing Co. beef plant in Omaha, Nebraska, and a George’s Inc. poultry plant in Springdale, Arkansas.

Investigators also searched a Tyson Foods plant in Sedalia, Missouri, but the Labor Department hasn’t identified any minors working there yet.

Thousands of pages of records from other plants are also being reviewed to determine if any additional minors are working there. At the plants where underage workers have been identified so far, investigators are comparing local school records with Packers Sanitation Services records to identify workers younger than 18. The company employs some 17,000 people working at more than 700 locations nationwide, making it one of the largest firms out there that cleans food processing plants.

“This case should serve as a stark reminder for all employers that the U.S. Department of Labor will not tolerate violations of the law, especially those that put vulnerable children at risk,” said Wage and Hour Regional Administrator Michael Lazzeri who is based in Chicago.

PSSI Vice President of Marketing Gina Swenson said the company already does what the government recommends to verify the age and immigration status of its employees, but it agreed to take additional steps to ensure compliance and address the Labor Department’s concerns.

“We have been crystal clear from the start: PSSI has a zero-tolerance policy against employing anyone under the age of 18 and fully shares DOL’s objective of ensuring it is followed to the letter at all local plants,” Swenson said.

The company also agreed to fire any underage workers the Labor Department identifies and sanction any managers involved in hiring them. PSSI will also work to identify any minors working for it as well and fire them.

Swenson has said that PSSI is cooperating with investigators although the Labor Department said in court documents that some local managers interfered with employee interviews at the plants.

The underage workers that investigators confirmed included one 13-year-old who suffered a serious chemical burn from the caustic chemicals used to clean the JBS plant in Grand Island, Nebraska, every night.

Investigators said in court documents that some of the teens they found working for PSSI told them that “everyone there knew” that they were minors, and in one case, a search of an employment database showed that one employee’s age came up as 129 years old when their Social Security number was checked.

The meat processing companies that own the plants where underage workers were initially identified have said they are monitoring the investigation and will consider taking action against PSSI if necessary. A representative of Greater Omaha Packing didn’t immediately respond to questions Tuesday, and no one answered the phone at the corporate headquarters of George’s Inc.

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Vanderbilt Transgender Health Clinic suspends gender-affirming surgery for minors



CNN
 — 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s transgender clinic in Nashville has paused gender affirming surgeries for patients under the age of 18, a top executive at the center told a Tennessee lawmaker Friday.

Republican Tennessee state Rep. Jason Zachary – who had asked VUMC to permanently end gender affirming surgeries for minors – posted a letter to Twitter he received from VUMC’s Chief Health System Officer, Dr. C. Wright Pinson.

In the letter, Pinson informs the lawmaker that the nonprofit hospital is “pausing” gender affirmation surgeries on patients under age 18 while it reviews “new recommendations.”

The move came amid pressure from Tennessee’s Republican leaders who sent a letter to the hospital last week requesting that Vanderbilt Medical halt all gender transitioning surgeries on minors.

Gender-affirming care uses a multidisciplinary approach to help a person transition from their assigned gender – the one the person was designated at birth – to the gender by which the person wants to be known.

Pinson said the suspension is due to an ongoing review of new guidance on treating transgender patients issued by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health, and notes the review “may take several months,” according to the letter.

A spokesperson for VUMC confirmed to CNN Friday that the letter is legitimate but declined to elaborate further on the clinic’s new policy.

Pinson’s letter said the Transgender Health Clinic, which was established in 2018, has provided surgical services for an average of five minors per year. In all those cases, the patients were at least 16, had parental consent and “none have received genital procedures,” the executive said.

Restrictions on gender affirming procedures for minors have become a contentious political issue in some states, including in Texas, where there’s an ongoing legal battle over whether parents who allow gender affirming care for their children can be investigated for “child abuse.”

Major medical associations – including the American Medical Association – have agreed gender-affirming care is clinically appropriate for children and adults with gender dysphoria, which according to the American Psychiatric Association, is psychological distress that may result when a person’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth do not align.

Last year, the Tennessee state legislature passed a law banning hormone therapy for children who have not reached puberty, and Republican lawmakers are discussing passing additional restrictions next year.

The ACLU of Tennessee released a statement last month condemning legislators’ plans for additional restrictions.

“Parents, patients and medical professionals, not politicians, should decide what medical care is in the best interest of any particular young person,” ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Kathy Sinback said in a statement. “Medical and mental health treatment for transgender individuals is guided by evidence-based clinical guidelines, as well as existing state law that already regulates health care for trans Tennesseans. Efforts to restrict trans Tennesseans’ access to health care is vast government overreach and ACLU-TN stands ready to fight back against intrusions into the private medical decision-making rights of parents and families when seeking gender-affirming care.”

The VUMC executive’s letter acknowledged the possibility of new legal restrictions on gender affirming care, saying the facility would comply with Tennessee law.

“We understand this issue is likely to be taken up by the General Assembly in its next legislative session,” said Pinson. “As always, we will assure that VUMC’s programs comply with any new requirements which may be established as a part of Tennessee law.”

The letter goes on to say VUMC’s policies “allow employees to request an accommodation to be excused from participating in surgeries or procedures they believe are morally objectionable.” Zachary, in his tweet, characterized this statement as a promise to “honor religious objectors.”

State House Republican leader William Lamberth called VUMC’s decision a “win.”

“This is a win for the safety of our children, but we’re committed to ensuring this never happens in Tennessee again,” Lamberth tweeted.



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James Lambert beating: Teen girl turns self in to police in deadly attack on 73-year-old man in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A 14-year-old turned herself in to police late Wednesday morning in connection with a deadly attack on a 73-year-old man in Philadelphia last month.

The teen has not been identified but her attorney told Action News she is being charged as an adult with murder and conspiracy.

Richard Jones, 14, also turned himself in to police alongside his attorney on Monday. Jones is charged with murder and criminal conspiracy in connection with the attack.

A 13-year-old girl and a 10-year-old also spoke with police, but are not facing charges.

The 14-year-old girl, Jones and others were allegedly involved in the June 24 attack on the 2100 block of Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philadelphia.

RELATED: Officer creates portrait of 73-year-old man killed in North Philly attack

Police say 73-year-old James Lambert, affectionately known as “Simmie,” was attacked by four males and three females. Many of the suspects are believed to be in their early to mid-teens.

Police said the suspects struck Lambert several times with objects, knocking him to the ground.

In surveillance video released by police on Friday, the suspects can be seen attacking the victim with a traffic cone.

Police say Lambert suffered injuries to his head and later died.

Homicide Capt. Jason Smith says at least two teens took part in the beating. The medical examiner says Lambert died from blunt force trauma.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Department Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334/3335.

Copyright © 2022 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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James Lambert beating: Teen charged with murder in deadly attack on 73-year-old man in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A 14-year-old who surrendered to police Monday in connection with a deadly attack on a 73-year-old man in Philadelphia last month is now charged with murder.

Action News was there as Richard Jones surrendered to police alongside his attorney on Monday.

Jones has also been charged with criminal conspiracy. The 10-year-old was released and hasn’t been charged.

Jones and others were allegedly involved in the June 24 attack on the 2100 block of Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philadelphia.

RELATED: Officer creates portrait of 73-year-old man killed in North Philly attack

Police say 73-year-old James Lambert, affectionately known as “Simmie,” was attacked by four males and three females. Many of the suspects are believed to be in their early to mid-teens.

Police said the suspects struck Lambert several times with objects, knocking him to the ground.

In surveillance video released by police on Friday, the suspects can be seen attacking the victim with a traffic cone.

Police say Lambert suffered injuries to his head and later died.

Homicide Capt. Jason Smith says at least two teens took part in the beating. The medical examiner says Lambert died from blunt force trauma.

Lambert’s family tells Action News they are glad the teen turned himself in, but they are praying the rest of the suspects will do the same.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Department Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334/3335.

Copyright © 2022 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Yankees Sign Shane Greene To Minors Deal

The Yankees have signed right-hander Shane Greene to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com.

Greene has some great seasons on his track record but has struggled recently. Last year, he lingered on the free agent market into May, at which point he signed with Atlanta. Unfortunately, he was slow to get into a groove after that delayed start, posting an 8.47 ERA over 17 innings before being released. He latched on with the Dodgers and was better with them, posting a 4.05 ERA in a small sample of 6 2/3 innings.

He re-signed with the Dodgers on a minors deal in the offseason and has his contract selected just over a week ago. After a single appearance wherein Greene threw two scoreless innings, he was designated for assignment to open up a roster spot for David Price.

The Yankees have seen their pitching depth take a few hits in recent days, with announcements on back-to-back days that Luis Gil and Chad Green will both require Tommy John surgery. That was followed by both Aroldis Chapman and Jonathan Loaisiga hitting the injured list, for achilles tendinitis and shoulder discomfort, respectively. With four arms suddenly being subtracted from their pitching corps in short order, it makes perfect sense that they would look for reinforcements. Greene will head to the RailRiders and try to work his way back to the big leagues.

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Yankees bring back Shane Greene, add bullpen depth in minors

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Yankees added some bullpen depth in the minors, signing right-hander Shane Greene to a minor league deal on Thursday and sending him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. 

The 33-year-old was most recently with the Dodgers and made one appearance with Los Angeles this season before being designated for assignment on May 17. 

Shane Greene returned to the Yankees on a minor-league deal.
Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Originally a 2009 draft pick of the Yankees, Greene was part of the three-team trade with Detroit and Arizona that brought Didi Gregorius to The Bronx. Greene went on to become an All-Star with the Tigers in 2019. 

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Chaos in the Loop: Lightfoot bans unaccompanied minors from Millennium Park on weekend evenings after teen killed near The Bean

Following another night of springtime chaos downtown, Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday announced she’s banning minors from Millennium Park on weekend evenings unless they’re accompanied by an adult.

Declaring the city “cannot allow any of our public spaces to become platforms for danger,” Lightfoot said unaccompanied minors won’t be allowed in one of the city’s most iconic tourist attractions after 6 p.m. from Thursday through Sunday, unless they’re with “at least one responsible adult.”

The mayor announced that measure after a frenetic stretch from Saturday evening into early Sunday that started with crowds of young people congregating in the Loop — and ended with a 16-year-old boy fatally shot near “The Bean,” two men wounded in a separate attack nearby and 26 juveniles and five adults arrested.

“Tragically, a young person — a teenager — lost his life last night in Millennium Park,” Lightfoot said in a statement Sunday announcing the 6 p.m. curfew. “I suspect an overwhelming majority of the youth who were in the park were there to have a good time and enjoy a summer evening. But the scene devolved into one of chaos and unnecessary violence.”

The new policy “will be strictly enforced and violations will be dealt with swiftly,” according to Lightfoot, who added: “Anyone coming into our public spaces should expect to enjoy them peacefully and must respect and exhibit basic community norms of decency. We simply will not accept anything less.”

Chicago police block traffic near State and Monroe streets late Saturday after crowds of young people flooded the Loop.

Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown wouldn’t give specifics on how officers will enforce the new policy.

“It’s got to be strategic and surgical in the way we do it, one step at a time instead of this broad measure that you might have to pull back because it’s too broad and not effective,” Brown said during a news conference Sunday afternoon.

The ACLU of Illinois said Lightfoot’s rule suggests the park “should not be available for all residents of Chicago.”

“The vague description — relying on an undefined ‘responsible adult’ — allowing young people to be present in the park and the promise of strict enforcement will result in unnecessary stops and arrests and further strain relations between CPD and young people of color,” Ed Yohnka, spokesman for the ACLU of Illinois, said in a statement.

Police said eight guns were recovered in connection to the “disturbances involving large crowds in the downtown area,” which came just three days after an unsanctioned North Avenue Beach “takeover” gave way to similar mayhem on the Near North Side that didn’t grow violent.

Brown said the department is monitoring social media accounts that share locations for the meet-ups, which they’ve found to be run by young people. The department is looking into whether they can charge the owners of those accounts with inciting the gatherings.

“We want to hold people accountable for the promotion leading to the behavior,” Brown said.

The situation on Saturday escalated about 7:30 p.m., when Seandell Holliday was shot in the chest in the 200 block of East Randolph Street near the iconic “Cloud Gate” statue more commonly known as “The Bean,” according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The teen was rushed to Lurie Children’s Hospital and pronounced dead.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested by police moments later and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery and unauthorized use of a weapon, police said. A 16-year-old was also arrested with a “ghost gun” near the scene, Brown said.

Crowds flock to “The Bean” on Sunday, a day after a 16-year-old boy was fatally shot near the iconic attraction.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

The shooting comes days after another attack on Tuesday evening, when a 19-year-old man was wounded by gunfire near “The Bean” as he rode in a car in the first block of North Michigan Avenue, police reported at the time.

Lightfoot called Saturday’s fatal shooting “utterly unacceptable.”

“Tonight, a mother is grief-stricken, mourning the loss of her child and searching for answers,” Lightfoot said. “My heart is breaking for the mother as she grieves this unspeakable loss.”

At the same time, she also urged “parents and guardians to step up, to ensure that your children understand basic values of respect, and that you take responsibility for knowing at all times where your children are and who they are with.”

Later Saturday, as officers attempted to disperse the large crowd moving through the downtown area, police said two men were wounded in a separate shooting in the 300 block of South State Street, less than a mile away from “The Bean.” They were among a group walking in the area around 11:40 p.m. when two people started shooting at them.

One of the men, thought to be between 18 and 20 years old, was struck in his neck and chest and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, officials said. The other man, 18, was shot in the hand and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

Two minors were taken for questioning, police said.

On Sunday morning, police released a preliminary statement reporting at least 26 minors and four adults had been arrested in relation to the disturbances downtown.

Five of the arrests were for gun-related violations, and seven firearms were recovered, police added. At least two officers were hurt.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th), a mayoral candidate and one of Lightfoot’s fiercest City Hall critics, said what’s currently playing out in Chicago is “beyond disheartening,” not “beyond repair.” He insisted the most pressing issue is inaction from Lightfoot and other leaders, not “the youth coming to downtown.”

“Their individual and collective silence gives permission for this behavior to continue,” Lopez wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “We will only change Chicago’s trajectory if people have the courage to speak out.”

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