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Despite promises of plans, Chicago migrant crisis gets worse

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

CHICAGO — As overnight temperatures fell into the 30s for the first time this fall, the migrant crisis is only worsening and there are no signs they’ll be moving out of police stations, outdoor encampments, or O’Hare Airport any time soon.Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration signed a $29M contract with Garda World on Sept.12 to open a winterized tent facility that could house, feed and provide other services for migrants. Lawsuit filed against city to end inhumane conditions for Chicago residents, migrants However, city records reviewed by WGN Investigates show no payments have been made to the company and the mayor’s team has yet to announce where it would be located, let alone when it could open. Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the seemingly stalled project.Meanwhile, the number of migrants staying at Chicago police stations has nearly doubled since the end of August. There are currently 2,894 migrants staying at CPD districts, up 75% ...

Coast Guard says it has recovered remaining parts of submersible that imploded, killing 5

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

The Coast Guard has recovered remaining debris from a submersible that imploded on its way to explore the wreck of the Titanic, killing all five onboard, deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean's surface, officials said Tuesday.The salvage mission conducted under an agreement with the U.S. Navy was a follow-up to initial recovery operations on the ocean floor roughly 1,600 feet (488 meters) away from the Titanic, the Coast Guard said. It said Tuesday that the recovery and transfer of remaining parts was completed last Wednesday, and a photo showed the intact aft portion of the 22-foot (6.7-meter) vessel. ‘I wasn’t scared’: Chicagoland man talks about his journey to the Titanic on same submersible lost at sea Investigators believe the Titan imploded as it made its descent into deep North Atlantic waters on June 18. The multiday search mounted after Titan went silent captured attention around the world. The submersible was attempting to view the British passenger liner that sank in 1912.The...

Hundreds gather to show support, solidarity in wake of Israel-Hamas attacks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

GLENCOE, Ill. — As the war between Israel and Hamas continues community members in Chicagoland are coming together in a showing of solidarity.Several prayer vigils were held Monday night and another gathering was held Tuesday morning in Glencoe. Hundreds of people came together for the community-wide solidarity event hosted by the Jewish United Fund (JUF) of Chicago.Governor JB Pritzker addressed the crowd and condemned the actions against Israel, while calling for solidarity and prayer for impacted families and the men and women of the Israeli defense forces.“Today we come together in solidarity to mourn and grieve for the victims of the horrific violence against Israel,” Pritzker said. “Prayers are called for, but they are not enough, not nearly enough. Children, students, elderly, mothers and fathers, innocents are dead and injured at the hands of Hamas.” Biden condemns Hamas brutality in attack on Israel and calls out rape and torture by militants “We are here at a synagogue w...

Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton 'fighting for her life' in ICU: daughter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Olympic gold medalist and West Virginia native Mary Lou Retton is in an intensive care unit and "fighting for her life" as she battles pneumonia.According to a *spotfund set up by her daughter, McKenna Kelley, Retton has been in the ICU for "over a week now" and has not been able to breathe on her own. Kelley said that out of respect for her mother's privacy, she would not disclose any more details, but she did say that Retton is uninsured."Please consider helping our family out," Kelley wrote in an Instagram story. "And most importantly please continue to pray."Retton, a Fairmont, West Virginia, native, made history as a gymnast particularly during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles when she received two perfect 10 scores in the floor and vault categories just weeks after receiving an operation on her knee.In that same Olympics, Retton became the first American in history to win all-around gold for gymnastics and also won two silver medals and two br...

A new NBA book has a look at the Bulls' 'first dance'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

CHICAGO — While everyone knows about "The Last Dance" of the 1990s Chicago Bulls, there are likely not as many who know about what could be considered their first. That would be the 1987-1988 season, when Michael Jordan officially arrived as a superstar in the NBA and the team took major steps towards becoming a contender. Of course, they weren't there yet, because there were a few other teams that were competing for the NBA crown at that time."When The Game Was War: The NBA's Greatest Season" by author Rich Cohen chronicles that campaign through the Bulls, Celtics, Lakers, and Pistons with a focus on each team's star. That would be Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Isiah Thomas, each of whom would have a major impact in 1987-1988 and through the next two decades in the league. During that season, the Bulls won 50 games while also capturing their first playoff series in the Jordan era, with the guard earning his first NBA MVP award along with his only league Defensive Player of...

Titan submersible implosion: More presumed human remains recovered, Coast Guard says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

(AP) — The Coast Guard has recovered remaining debris, including presumed human remains, from a submersible that imploded on its way to explore the wreck of the Titanic, killing all five onboard, deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean's surface, officials said Tuesday.The Coast Guard said that the recovery and transfer of remaining parts was completed last Wednesday, and a photo showed the intact aft portion of the 22-foot vessel. Additional presumed human remains were carefully recovered from within Titan’s debris and transported for analysis by U.S. medical professionals, the Coast Guard said."Additional presumed human remains were carefully recovered from within Titan’s debris and transported for analysis by U.S. medical professionals," the Coast Guard said in a release. Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton ‘fighting for her life’ in ICU: daughter The salvage mission conducted under an agreement with the U.S. Navy was a follow-up to initial recovery operations on the ocean floor roughly 1,6...

Del Valle ISD, Leander ISD superintendents testify in court over A-F school rating

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Several Texas superintendents testified on Tuesday in a lawsuit requesting the Texas Education Commissioner not to release A-F school ratings this year.The lawsuit, which more than 100 school districts across the state have joined, alleges the Texas Education Agency has not provided adequate notice of changes to how the 2022-23 A-F rating will be calculated.“I think it is clear we have a unified front with a very similar argument that the commissioner has in our mind, broken the law and has to be accountable to that,” said Leander ISD Superintendent Dr. Bruce Gearing.District leaders, including Superintendents from Kingsville ISD, Leander ISD, and Spring Branch ISD, testified Commissioner Mike Morath held Zoom meetings with districts in February and over the summer outlining the proposed “A-F refresh.”But district leaders said there is still uncertainty around changes to how the state will calculate student progress under the new metrics, and the agency has yet to ap...

As tensions over conflict in Israel escalate, here's how Austin is fighting hate crimes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After Council Member Alison Alter's synagogue was lit on fire by a man in 2021, Alter spearheaded the charge to launch a new City of Austin anti-hate campaign. It's called "We All Belong." Right now, as tensions at home escalate over a war in Israel, local leaders say that message is more important than ever. "One of the things that we know is any time there is an incident like this in Israel, that incidents of antisemitism, in particular, tend to go up," Jackie Nirenberg, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Austin, said. Man accused of intentionally setting Austin synagogue on fire pleads guilty The campaign is twofold: First, it helps connect people with ways to report hate incidents, whether that be through the ADL, 3-1-1 or the police department. But the other arm aims to get people educated and involved. That includes bringing community groups to the table to host events -- like a concert or a dance -- where educational information can also...

Texas considers new border laws targeting illegal entry, human smuggling

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas Senate Committee on Border Security on Tuesday considered legislation that would create a new state-level offense for illegal immigration and increase criminal penalties for smugglers operating a "stash house."Senate Bill 11 by State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, would create a Class A misdemeanor for people crossing into Texas from a foreign nation outside of an official port of entry, and a state jail felony for repeat offenders. The Texas Department of Public Safety would be tasked with enforcing the law and detaining offenders inside facilities operated by Operation Lone Star, the state's effort to secure the southern border independently of the federal government.The bill exempts people who have been granted asylum or other protection to reside in the United States by the federal government, such as under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. However, the law would not accept status under Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Per...

Election 2023: Mounds View mayor special election

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:00 GMT

MOUNDS VIEW MAYOR SPECIAL ELECTIONOn Nov. 7, Mounds View voters will elect a mayor in a special election.Zach Lindstrom, candiate for re-election to City Council in Mounds View in the November 2023 election. (Courtesy of the candidate)General information about the Nov. 7 election is online at twincities.com/tag/elections. In addition, twincities.com/news/politics/elections will have a full voters guide with candidates for Ramsey, Dakota and Washington county races online this month. To find out where to vote, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s online polling place finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.Zach LindstromAge: 42What qualifies you to hold the position? I’m on the council now and have worked hard to bring change to the landscape of the city council. I am in tune with the community and work hard to represent everyone as fairly as possible. I think it’s important for a leader to be willing to work with everyone and understand as much about issues as pos...