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Senate votes to advance short-term funding bill to avoid government shutdown 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

The Senate voted Tuesday to advance a short-term funding measure to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the week. The Senate voted 77 to 19 to advance the legislative vehicle they will use for a continuing resolution funding government until Nov. 17. The vote puts the Senate on a path to pass a continuing resolution (CR) later this week that it could then send to the House to avoid a shutdown on Oct. 1. The House has been stuck on how to move forward with funding the government amid disputes among Republicans in the majority. If the Senate does approve a CR, it could put pressure on the House to bring it to the floor and avoid a shutdown, particularly in the lower chamber has not made much progress on its own. The Senate legislation will fund the federal government until Nov. 17, the week before Thanksgiving, and provide approximately $6.15 billion in funding for Ukraine and $5.99 billion in disaster assistance.  The legislation will also temporarily extend the expiring a...

Highland Park City Council to discuss remembrance committee to help develop memorial for mass shooting victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — City officials in Highland Park are trying to move forward with a plan to remember and honor those killed in a mass shooting during a Fourth of July parade in 2022.On Tuesday night, the Highland Park City Council is taking steps toward the city's permanent recognition of the victims of the mass shooting. More Coverage: Highland Park Parade Shooting During a meeting, council members will hear recommendations from staff about the formation of a "Remembrance Committee" that would be tasked with advising the council on the type of memorial, its location and how long it would take to develop.Staff are recommending that the committee be made up of City Council and Park District board members. Bucktown residents voice concerns after man beaten, robbed in broad daylight Making sure there is engagement with the public and with victims during the planning process is among the chief considerations. City staff are recommending focus groups and workshops and say they wa...

Evanston residents protest Ryan Field Renovations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — Evanston residents rallied against renovations planned for Northwestern University's Ryan Field Tuesday, saying they don't want Evanston to turn into another Wrigleyville."If we look at Wrigley [Field] as an example," said Trisha Connolly, an organizer of the rally. "How many local business are still there? Large hotels, sports bars, if that’s what we want next to a neighborhood, that’s okay for the people who want that, but we like the local charm and we want to support more of that."The latest plan put forward by Northwestern was introduced before the Evanston Land Use Commission meeting earlier this month. The amended plan included concessions like dropping the number of proposed concerts from ten to six, and limiting community activities at the stadium to just 60 days a year.Other financial commitments from the plan include $10 million directed toward a technology upskill program aimed at helping adults develop technological skills, along with $500,000 going to ...

Red Cross seeks Chicagoans' help with critically low blood supply

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Amid a growing blood shortage nationally, the first since the pandemic, the Red Cross is seeking help from locals across the Chicago area.  The Guild Social Row Club on the city’s Northside aims to help the process.  Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood donor Kara Crawford on Tuesday said she hopes to do her part. “This is my second time. I wanted to check out the space, it's near my house and I keep hearing about the need, so I thought I would come,” she said. Chicago youth earned over $33.9M over the summer thanks to employment program Crawford is one of dozens of donors who answered the call for help. Why? Currently, there is a 30,000 blood unit shortage. Blood is broken down into types, with O being the most common. O-negative is considered the universal donor, meaning any can receive that type of blood. Donated blood is separated into plasma, red and white blood cells, platelets, antibodies and other components. The Red Cross sup...

Tuesday Forecast: Mainly cloudy with scattered storms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Mainly cloudy Tuesday with scattered storms. Winds: ESE 5-10 G15. High: 72. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mainly cloudy tonight with scattered storms. Winds: ESE 5-10 G15. Low: 62.Wednesday Forecast: Mainly cloudy, scattered storms. Winds: E 5-10. High: 68.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

El Paso mayor chartered buses of migrants to come to Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Democrats have blamed Republican governors for sending migrants to their cities and called it an "inhumane stunt."But some of the migrants who arrived in Chicago over the weekend came on buses chartered by the Democratic mayor of El Paso, Texas. More migrants arrive in Chicago from Texas-Mexico border Some migrants are so desperate to cross the border, they rode on top of train cars into Texas."Railroad operators went as far as warning us of the dangers and telling us to wait for different trains if they didn't have enough wagons," one migrant said. "But we were so eager to get our destination that we take the risk to get to our destination."El Paso's mayor said his city is at a breaking point as nearly 2,000 migrants arrive per day. The city sent two buses to Chicago in recent days, the first time that's happened in nearly a year."Every individual that boards one of these busses is going voluntarily," Jorge Rodriguez with El Paso Emergency Management said. "They sign a ...

Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson dies at 86

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, whose deft glovework and folksy manner made him one of the most beloved and accomplished athletes in Baltimore history, has died. He was 86.The Orioles announced his death in a joint statement with Robinson's family Tuesday. The statement did not say how Robinson died.The Orioles held a moment of silence before their game against the Washington Nationals, and the teams lined up outside their dugouts to pay their respects. Also before the game, fans gathered around the 9-foot bronze statue of Robinson inside Camden Yards.“Great player, great guy on the field, great guy off,” said fellow Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, who was overcome with emotion. “Respectful, kind. And you don’t meet too many guys like that. Brooks was a genuine person. There was no acting. Brooks was just a genuine person.”Coming of age before the free agent era, Robinson spent his entire 23-year career with the Orioles. He almost single-handedly helpe...

Luck, fate, and coincidences save baseball coach who suffered cardiac arrest on field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

RENNER, S.D. (KELO) — A South Dakota baseball coach is alive today thanks to a series of lucky coincidences or, as some might call it, fate. Friday afternoon, Shane Vanderloo was alone at the Renner baseball field doing maintenance, something he enjoys. At a spot between third base and home plate, he suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed. Moments later, Jeff Mott and Jamie Sorum happened to be driving home from the lake when Jamie spotted someone lying on the infield.The two men discovered Shane unconscious and started CPR. Shane was purple and it didn't look good, but they kept going. Mott spotted a woman and yelled at her to find an AED."My full concentration was on just keeping the man alive. That was it. There was no excitement, everybody stayed calm. There [were] three people out there, we all worked as a good team, and I was just hoping and praying that this man would come out of it," Mott recounted to Nexstar's KELO. A woman arrived with the AED, and they followed the automat...

Texas Comptroller: Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot receive pay back from suspension time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot receive back-pay for the months he was suspended from office after the Texas House impeached him, the state's top accountant said in a letter Tuesday.Paxton demanded a reimbursement of his $153,750 annual salary for the time period in which he wasn't getting a paycheck. He's also threatening legal action against Comptroller Glenn Hegar if he does not comply, according to a letter obtained by the Texas Tribune."Public servants may continue to receive a salary while on leave for investigatory purposes,” wrote First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster in the letter. "This office is considering all legal avenues to correct this injustice."Once the House impeached Paxton on May 27, he was automatically temporarily suspended from office without pay. The three-term Republican was reinstated as attorney general following his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, in which senators found him not guilty of 16 articles of impeachme...

Man charged in 2022 'random' sex assault arrested repeatedly while on bond

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Travis County judge raised the bond Tuesday for a man accused in an alleged 2022 sex assault. The man is now charged with criminal trespass in a second case, and sex assault and aggravated kidnapping in a third. Police first arrested Dublas Vasquez in November of last year in connection with a sexual assault near downtown Austin's Sixth Street in June. PREVIOUS: Car in downtown rape arrest linked to additional incident: Affidavit The Austin Police Department said the case took so long, in part, due to "many unique characteristics and challenges to investigating these offenses that are not typically seen in other crimes. This incident involved an unknown suspect, which caused a considerable amount of time and effort to identify the suspect."In court Thursday, the suspect's attorney Jorge Vela repeatedly questioned the credibility of that investigation citing, in part, discrepancies that arose during the alleged victim's conversations with police. According to the...