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Chicago city council meets after bullying allegations

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council met Tuesday to consider bringing up censuring Mayor Brandon Johnson's former council floor leader over a case of alleged bullying last week.Last Thursday, Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) said he had to stand between Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward), the former floor leader, and Ald. Emma Mitts (37th Ward) so Mitts could enter the chamber to vote on an advisory referendum that would ask Chicago voters to decide if the city should remain a sanctuary city. Lights shut off during immigration chaos at Chicago City Council special meeting The former floor leader was trying to prevent the chamber from having enough elected leaders to conduct a meeting legally.“It’s completely unacceptable to grab, restrain and block one of our colleagues and physically restrain and block to do her dully elected job,” Lopez said.On Monday, Ramirez-Rosa resigned his two leadership positions and issued an apology saying, “I feel awful about everything that happened. I have ...

Investigation underway after woman, 12-year-old girl robbed, carjacked on Far South Side

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

CHICAGO — An investigation is underway after a robbery and carjacking on the city's Far South Side last week, police say.According to Chicago police, it all unfolded just before 9 p.m. on Thursday in the 9300 Block of South Pleasant Avenue in the city's Beverly neighborhood.  Chicago crime experts offer tips on how to avoid carjackings, minimize harm Police say a 46-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl were exiting a black Audi A7 in the area when they were approached by two men on foot. The two men then held the victims up at gunpoint and pushed the older woman to the ground before demanding her car keys.According to police, the two men then took the victim's belongings and fled the scene in the stolen car, heading eastbound. Neither of the victims were injured in the robbery and carjacking and police say no arrests have been made.  Tips from Chicago crime experts on how to avoid robberies, minimize harm Anyone with information that could help authorities in their investi...

Democrat Andy Beshear wins reelection in Kentucky governor's race

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear was projected to win reelection in Kentucky, according to Decision Desk HQ, fending off a challenge from his Trump-backed Republican challenger. Beshear, who has seen strong approval despite being the Democratic governor of a red state, defeated Republican state Attorney General Daniel Cameron after a competitive race, winning his second term in the governor’s mansion. He will hold onto the seat he flipped blue back in 2019, when he beat then-Gov. Matt Bevin (R). Polls generally showed Beshear holding onto a lead ahead of Tuesday’s elections — but an Emerson College Polling survey released last week found Beshear and Cameron tied at 47 percent each. Kentucky has been a closely watched contest amid the off-year elections, sandwiched between last year’s midterms and next November’s presidential election. The gubernatorial race in the Bluegrass State — as well as another in Mississippi — are being looke...

WWE NXT is moving to the CW Network in 2024

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

(KTLA) -- The WWE announced that its television program NXT is headed to the CW Network in October 2024 as part of a new five-year deal. NXT is one of WWE's most important weekly properties and showcases the company's "up-and-coming" entertainers, known as WWE Superstars. The CW will broadcast 52 live weekly events as part of the agreement, according to a joint statement from the network's parent company, Nexstar Media Group, and the WWE. Russian Olympic officials appeal suspension by IOC The program currently airs on the USA Network and has also operated as a digital-exclusive property in the United States.Dennis Miller, president of The CW Network, said NXT will play an integral role in the company's continued expansion into live sporting events.WWE Superstars are pictured in this promotional image from World Wrestling Entertainment. Beginning in October 2024, WWE NXT will be broadcast exclusively on the CW. (CW/WWE)"WWE NXT is a perfect fit for The CW thanks to its dynamic you...

ELECTION RESULTS: 2023 November election in Texas

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

App users, view full election results by tapping here.

Community members rally to revive historic Taylor theatre

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — A business owner in Taylor is leading the charge to give the historic Howard Theatre an encore. She said as more development moves into the city, she wants to preserve this nearly century-old staple from being torn down.Channing Kingery-Bowles owns the Taylor Soap Bar just a few shops away from the Howard Theatre on Main Street. She said she first saw for sale signs go up in the theatre's windows roughly six months ago.As she waited to see if another local would buy it, Kingery-Bowles said she became increasingly worried the city's longtime theatre would be no more."I was very concerned with all the development coming to the area that someone might come in and tear it down. I didn't want to see that happen," Kingery-Bowles said.She said the theatre had faced some hardships in recent years. Kingery-Bowles said the theatre was closed throughout the pandemic, then reopened from time to time. However, a flood last year has caused this move to sell."It was just a w...

Hays CISD needs 15 additional School Resource Officers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- On Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners approved a resolution supporting Hays CISD in providing an armed School Resource Officer at each campus. The resolution states that the county, the Hays County Sheriff's Office and Hays CISD are working together on a plan to get 15 additional SROs."The HCISD and the HCSO envision implementing a phase-in approach to providing such additional SROs as funding is allocated for the positions," the resolution stated. House Bill 3 This comes as new legislation, House Bill 3, requires school districts to have at least one armed security officer at every campus. Districts have the option to claim a Good Cause Exception to HB 3. Hays CISD did that back in August. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hays CISD approves good-cause exception for HB 3 According to the resolution, the district said it can’t comply because of a “lack of available qualified personnel.”The resolution said the board would develop and document an alternative sta...

Black tech group launches in Austin after AfroTech 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The country's largest black tech conference, AfroTech, is moving to Houston next year, after hosting it in Austin for the past two years.Now, there's a brand new tech group that just launched, hoping to keep the momentum going. It's called, "Black in Tech Group." You could consider it a possible solution to AfroTech's relocation, though forming the community has been years in the making. Black Professional Alliance (BPA) launched the Black in Tech group at its Code & Culture event during AfroTech 2023. "These resources are...for the most part, free," said Nic Hollins, director of technology for BPA. "AfroTech does have a charge to it. So, with this being something that's sustainable throughout the year, you will get similar access."Hollins said through Black in Tech Group, people will have access to workshops, mentorship opportunities and other engaging opportunities to those in tech climb the ladder. There's a specific focus on growth opportunities in Austin, Ho...

St. Paul and Minneapolis report among largest decreases in shoplifting, new study finds

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

A new study of shoplifting in 24 cities found reports were up in the first half of this year compared to the same time in 2019, but St. Paul and Minneapolis were among the cities with the biggest drops in shoplifting reports.The Council on Criminal Justice notes in its report released Tuesday that it doesn’t examine possible reasons for the trends.“Potential factors include changes in retailers’ anti-theft measures and changes in how retailers report shoplifting to law enforcement, which could be based on their perceptions of the extent to which local police or prosecutors will apprehend suspects and pursue criminal charges,” the report says.In St. Paul, for example, some big-box stores that were open in 2019 no longer have stores in the city, including Walmart and T.J. Maxx.“There are many factors that contribute to crime trends in St. Paul, and we are encouraged that our numbers are down,” said Alyssa Arcand, a St. Paul police spokeswoman.“There have ...

2,600 submissions for new Minnesota state flag/seal design to be unveiled this week

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:47:17 GMT

From the artistic to the simplistic to the sarcastic, the more than 2,600 submissions for a new Minnesota flag and seal run the gamut. And the public should get its first glimpse of the entries later this week.The State Emblem Redesign Commission on Tuesday said it plans to launch a website where the public can view designs and comment on submissions. An early preview of the website showed several designs that included stars — evoking Minnesota’s nickname as the North Star State — and loons as central images.Others were whimsical in nature, including one that played off the tendency of people to draw out the pronunciation of the word “bag” as “bayg.”The panel said some applicants included private information, which delayed the website’s rollout.Later this month, members will narrow the field to five finalists. And it will select single designs for the flag and official seal in December. The new designs will take hold next year unless the Legislature votes to veto them.Submissions we...