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Arkansas lawmakers OK anti-abortion monument at Capitol

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A monument marking the number of abortions performed in Arkansas before Roe v. Wade was struck down would be built near the state Capitol under a bill lawmakers sent to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday.The majority-Republican House approved by a 60-19 vote a proposal allowing the creation of a “monument to the unborn” on the Capitol grounds. The bill, which the Senate approved earlier this month, requires the secretary of state to permit and arrange the placement of the monument. It also requires the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission to oversee the selection of the artist and the design of the monument with input from anti-abortion groups.Republican Rep. Mary Bentley, the bill’s House sponsor, said the legislation would allow the state to raise private money for a memorial to “remember those children we were not able to protect and we will not be able to forget.”A law Arkansas approved in 2019 banning nearly all abortions took effect last year when t...

Johnson, Vallas pick up endorsements, supporters trade barbs on campaign trail for mayor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Candidates for Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas each picked up endorsements Tuesday."I am here today to proudly announce my strong support for Brandon Johnson as the next mayor of the city of Chicago," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th Dist.).Schakowsky and members of the Personal PAC — an organization focused on protecting reproductive rights — announced their support for Johnson, while Alderwoman Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) threw her hat in the ring with Vallas, along with aldermen Felix Cardona Jr. (31st Ward) and Ariel Reboyras (30th Ward). In announcing her endorsement, Tabares took a shot at Johnson on the topic of public safety."Every Chicagoan who is concerned about rising crime should be aware of one thing," Tabares said. "Brandon Johnson will defund the police and Paul Vallas will put crime reduction and public safety first."Schakowsky, meanwhile, took issue with Vallas and his personal opinion on abortion."We can’t take any chances," Schakowsky...

Man wanted for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing woman in South Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are searching for a man who allegedly stabbed a woman multiple times amid a domestic incident last month.According to police, Valentin Jacobo is suspected of stabbing a woman in the 8100 block of S. Brandon Ave., in South Chicago, on Feb 17. He faces an attempted murder charge, as well as domestic battery. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesPolice described Jacobo as a Hispanic male, 5-foot-9-inches, weighing 180-190 pounds. No one is in custody. Anyone with information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

A year later, Chris Collins answers the challenge to turn around Northwestern

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

EVANSTON - One year ago on Tuesday came a news release to members of the media that cover Northwestern athletics that bluntly stated the situation with the men's basketball program.Dated March 14, 2022, athletic director Dr. Derrick Gragg had a statement on the state of the team that had endured five-straight losing seasons after a breakthrough NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. That included a 15-16 record in 2021-2022, prompting a meeting between the AD and Chris Collins. While the head coach's contract ran through 2024-2025, the statement made clear that a critical time was ahead for the man that had led the program to its first "Big Dance" just five years earlier.“I have tasked Coach Collins with making necessary changes to build towards success in the 2022-23 campaign. I am extremely grateful to all our supporters for their dedication and, most importantly, to our student-athletes for always representing our University with pride and passion," said Gragg at the end of the stat...

Illinois ban on cash bail in hands of state’s Supreme Court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois lawmakers’ effort to end cash bail is in the state Supreme Court’s hands after justices heard arguments Tuesday on behalf of top Democrats, and a group of prosecutors and sheriffs who are challenging the law.The state Supreme Court ordered in January that the provision would not take effect as anticipated and agreed to an “expedited” review following a Kankakee County judge’s ruling that the General Assembly’s elimination of cash bail was unconstitutional. Illinois Supreme Court halts elimination of cash bail in SAFE-T Act Brief arguments before the Supreme Court’s seven justices in Springfield on Tuesday largely centered on whether lawmakers have the authority to make such a sweeping change to pretrial procedures.The clampdown on courts that require a monetary payment before a defendant can be released from jail ahead of a criminal trial is part of a criminal justice package that Illinois Democrats wrote following the killing of George Floyd by Minnea...

Daughter roasts Illinois dad in sweet and funny obit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

ALTON, Ill. (KTVI) - An obituary roasting an Alton, Illinois man is getting a lot of positive attention online. Kenne Pluhar, 62, passed away on his birthday, March 2, 2023. His daughter, Halliea Milner, told Nexstar's KTVI it took 45 minutes to write a very honest, touching, and hilarious memorial for her father. Many people on Reddit say they wish more obituaries were like this.Kenne Pluhar Jr. (Courtesy: Halliea Milner)Milner begins the obituary with this line:"Kenne died in ICU at St Anthony’s after losing a battle with sepsis – at the age of 62, after 50 years of crap – starting with everyone and everything he could find to fight in Alton, IL, this hard as nails, redneck, SOB finally found something meaner and more stubborn than himself."The obituary continued:"Like any good card-carrying, Ray Ban wearing, camo coverall lovin’ redneck, Kenne had 3 true loves: hunting, fishing, and drinking. He liked “both kinds of music - country AND western”. Like every sad cowboy song, he cou...

CTA Brown Line train evacuated due to downtown power outage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Rush hour commuters on the CTA Brown Line were evacuated at Wells and Wacker due to a local power outage, city fire personnel said Tuesday.Fire crews respond downtown to a power outage that caused a Brown Line to be evacuated. (Photo: CFD)While no injuries have been reported, Chicago Fire says power loss to the third rail caused the Brown Line train to cease, thus blocking other trains from traveling.Because dozens of people were on board, emergency crews led passengers off the train down a catwalk to Merchandise Mart station. In the latest update, Chicago fire said, "multiple CTA lines [are] affected as all power is cut near Merchandise Mart to allow tracks to be crossed."Crews remain on scene to conduct repairs. This is a developing story. Check back fro updates.

Giant hornet's nest on City of Georgetown land keeps locals away from their own backyard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A giant hornet's nest hangs near a backyard fence belonging to the Grace family. The threat of it falling and cracking open has kept the family out of the space for months now and has yet to find a service willing to remove it.The pale-grey and white nest is about the size of a basketball and looks almost like it could be made out of paper mache.The hundreds of furry buzzing bodies that crawl over its surface though, gave the hidden hive away to Monica Grace once leaves on its host tree fell of this winter.She reached out to KXAN via our ReportIt tip line to raise awareness about her hornet-removal struggles.The nest has been made by the insects on property owned by the City of Georgetown.KXAN.com reached out to the city about this issue, it encouraged any residents dealing with a similar nest to hire a private contractor to remove it.Grace said she has tried doing just that, but to no avail. She said that one company declined performing the removal out of...

1 dead after 2-vehicle crash in north Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person is dead after a two-vehicle crash in north Austin Sunday, according to an Austin Police Department news release.Shortly before 6 p.m., APD officers responded to the crash between an SUV and a pickup truck in the 6300 block of West U.S. 290 Highway, the release said.According to police, the SUV driver was taken to a hospital, where they later died. The person was not identified by police Tuesday. MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2023? The driver and passenger inside the pickup truck were taken to the hospital for non-serious injuries and were cooperating with the investigation, police said.This now makes Austin's 20th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 20 fatalities for the year, according to the release.Anyone with any information should contact APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at (512) 974-8111. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling (512) 472-8477.

SXSW: Michael J. Fox treats Parkinson's with laughter in new Apple TV+ documentary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie," but what does the word "still" mean to the iconic actor?Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at 29 but he first thought it was a bad hangover. Life for the 61-year-old is much different than it was before but "still" he stays strong when, at times, it may be hard for him.Fox and the team behind his new Apple TV+ documentary attended South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on Tuesday and were greeted with a warm welcome, tears, smiles and laughter.Fox told KXAN he was excited about seeing the film Tuesday and he shared his excitement about hitting up the pool after the premiere.Michael J. Fox at 'STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie' premiere at 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival at The Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas. (KXAN/Ricky Garcia)Michael J. Fox at 'STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie' premiere at 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival at The Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas. (KXAN/Ricky Garcia)Par...