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Investigation continues into deadly central Illinois truck crash that caused toxic chemical leak

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Authorities resumed their investigation Sunday of a central Illinois truck crash that killed five people, injured five others and prompted an evacuation for hundreds of residents after a toxic chemical leak. The tanker truck, which was carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia, was drained and moved to a “secure location” for a National Transportation Safety Board investigation, authorities said late Saturday as residents were allowed to return to their homes in the Teutopolis area. NTSB authorities planned a news conference Sunday. “Testing has indicated that the danger from the anhydrous ammonia has dissipated,” Teutopolis Assistant Fire Chief Joe Holomy said late Saturday. A semitruck carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia toppled about 9:25 p.m. Friday in Teutopolis, spilling more than half its 7,500-gallon (28,390-liter) load, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Teutopolis is about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northeast of St. Louis. Eff...

European Parliament president backs UN naming an envoy to help restart Cyprus peace talks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The president of the European Parliament said Sunday she has conveyed the legislative body’s support for the appointment of a United Nations envoy to evaluate the chances of resuming stalemated talks to reunify ethnically divided Cyprus.Roberta Metsola said she personally communicated the position of the European Union’s legislature to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York last month. Metsola said she told Guterres that Europe “would never be complete as long as Cyprus remains divided.”“This is not just a Cyprus question, but it is a European question,” she said after talks with the island nation’s President Nikos Christodoulides.Metsola also attended a military parade Sunday to mark the 63rd anniversary of Cyprus’ independence from British colonial rule.Christodoulides told reporters Sunday that consultations continue on the appointment of a U.N. envoy. He has made resuming reunification talks with breakaway Turkish Cypriots a focal ...

Jailed Maldives’ ex-president transferred to house arrest after his party candidate wins presidency

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

MALE, Maldives (AP) — Jailed former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen was transferred from prison to house arrest on Sunday, fulfilling the campaign promise of his party candidate who won the presidential election runoff. Yameen is serving a prison term for bribery and money laundering during his presidency from 2013 to 2018. His transfer has been ordered by outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the request of President-Elect Mohamed Muiz. Muiz will be taking oath on Nov. 17. The elections commission on Sunday released the formal results of Saturday’s runoff, which showed 54.04% of the vote for Muiz with Solih receiving 45.96%. The first round took place earlier in September with none of the eight candidates securing more than 50%.The election was perceived a virtual referendum on which regional power — China or India — would have the biggest influence on the Indian Ocean archipelago state located strategically along a key East-West shipping route. Muiz, considered pro-C...

PHOTOS: Sphere in Las Vegas opens its doors for first time

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Celebrities, Las Vegas City officials, and fans all came together Friday night to see the newest addition to the Las Vegas skyline, Sphere, open its doors for the first time. Irish rock band U2 took the stage for a sold-out concert on Friday for the first show in their UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency. The band has more than two dozen performances scheduled through Dec. 16 with ticket prices ranging from $400 to $1,450. Celebrities from all corners including actors Aaron Paul, Adam Scott, Bryan Cranston, Dakota Fanning, musician Diplo, boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya, and more made an appearance for the inaugural event. Madison Square Garden Chairman James Dolan arrives to opening night of Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (Justin Walker / KLAS)Actor and comedian Adam Scott at the opening of Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 29, 2023 (KLAS)Actor Luke Wilson at the opening of Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 29, 2023 (KLAS)Actor and television host Mario...

Paul Lisnek on government shutdown passing, GOP debate, & more

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Weekend Morning News to discuss the aftermath of the government shutdown threat passes.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Kevin Powell from WGN Radio joins Weekend Morning News on Bears

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

Kevin Powell from WGN Radio joins Weekend Morning News to discuss the Bears future.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

SNAP food stamp eligibility is changing: Do you qualify now?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Starting Oct. 1, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is raising its income limits, meaning people who previously weren't eligible to receive grocery assistance may now qualify.A family of four, for example, used to be cut off if they made more than $3,007 per month. Now, they can make $3,250 and still qualify for government help covering food staples. As the price of groceries is expected to keep rising into 2024, the monthly allotment of benefits is also going up in an attempt to keep up with inflation. SNAP benefits are increasing Oct. 1: Here’s how much If you're not sure if you qualify, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service suggests you check with your state's program. While SNAP is a federal program, each state operates its own version, and may have different or expanded eligibility requirements than what is outlined below. (You can see a state-by-state directory of resources here.)There are three different ways to evaluate if you're eligible for SNA...

Sunday Brunch: Strawberry matcha sandwiches with Yokocho

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

Join WGN Weekend Morning News with Tamir Chuluunbaatar from Yokocho to make Strawberry matcha sandwiches.

Minnesota PWHL team sets training camp roster

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

Minnesota’s Professional Women’s Hockey League team has rounded out its training camp roster. The yet to be named team will bring 40 players into camp when it begins Nov. 15.Where training camp will be also hasn’t been determined, but the team will begin a 24-game regular season schedule in early January and play its home games at Xcel Energy Center.Head coach Charlie Burggraf, and assistants Mira Jalosuo and Jake Bobrowski, will have a group of 40 in camp, from which they will choose 23 for the opening night roster. That list includes undrafted free agents Lauren Bench, Lauren Bench, Abigail Boreen, Patti Marshall and Catie Skaja, all former Gophers players, and forward Sammy Davis, the first overall pick in the 2020 NWHL draft.Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the PWHL salary cap is set at $1.265 million for a team of 23 players. Three players must make at least $80,000 per season and the bottom nine must make at least $35,000.Before the Sept. 15 draft, general manager Na...

Lisa Jarvis: Social media is just one online habit hurting teens

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:56:37 GMT

Last spring, my tween was begging for more independence, starting with being allowed to walk home from school alone. The mile-plus walk involves crossing a few busy streets. I was hesitant; she doesn’t have a phone, so she had no way to contact me if something went wrong. But we practiced a few times (with me trailing her a block behind) to be sure she was confident of the route and talked about what she would do in various scenarios.Then, we allowed her to do something that some parents in our uber-connected era might find truly wild: roam free.The chance of something happening to her is vanishingly low, but it still took a few days to shed my anxiety. I reminded myself that building her independence requires mutual trust — and that comes with accepting some risk.And failing to give kids sufficient independence carries risks, too. That’s a recurring theme of “Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World,” a new book by Devorah Heitner. There ...