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Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson attends last meeting as Cook County commissioner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago's Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson attended his last meeting as Cook County commissioner Thursday.Johnson's mayoral inauguration is slated for May 17.Before he had the opportunity to speak before the county board, each member took the time to offer their gratitude and well wishes as he prepares to take office.In those comments, several board commissioners also hinted at challenges and barriers they've faced with fifth-floor administration. Some saying this is an opportunity to open a door for good and to work collaboratively with the mayor's office — something President Toni Preckwinkle says has been difficult, but not naming an administration specifically.Hours before the meeting, the mayor-elect announced the formation of the "Chicago For The People Transition Committee" and 11 subcommittees. The committee and subcommittees are made up of people from different sectors, including Chicago's business, activists and government communities. ‘Pressure’s a privilege:’ Why...

Dwyane Wade says his family left Florida because they 'would not be accepted' there

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

(The Hill) -- NBA legend Dwyane Wade says he and his family moved away from Florida because of the recent wave of anti-LGBTQ laws being passed there, saying his family “would not be accepted” in the state. During an interview on Showtime’s “Headliners,” Wade explained to host Rachel Nichols that the reason he doesn’t live in Florida anymore is because of the push from state lawmakers to implement anti-LGBTQ laws in the state. "A lot of people don't know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions," Wade told Nichols during the sit-down interview, which is set to air Thursday. Wade, a three-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat, is the father to 15-year-old Zaya Wade, who came out as transgender in 2020."I mean, obviously, the tax [situation] is great. Having Wade County is great. But my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And so that's one of the reasons why I don't live there,” Wade told Nichols.  ...

18-year-old woman killed in Matteson double shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

MATTESON, Ill. — An 18-year-old woman was killed following a double shooting Wednesday night in Matteson.Just before 9:55 p.m., Matteson police were dispatched to the 3700 block of 214th Place on the report of shots fired.When they arrived, police said they discovered a 21-year-old man in front of a residence with a gunshot wound to the leg. The man was transported to St. James Hospital after a tourniquet was applied.Inside a vehicle parked at the residence, an 18-year-old woman was discovered suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead a short time later.Neither victim was a resident of Matteson, police said. Man shot while inside vehicle in Joliet; critical condition Police believe the shooting was isolated and no suspects are in custody. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 708-503-3130.

Texas House passes bill reducing penalties for low-level marijuana possession

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) – On Thursday, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill that would reduce the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana.In addition to marijuana, House Bill 218 also relates to the possession of certain tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), certain synthetic cannabinoids and drug paraphernalia.The bill would reclassify the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana or cannabis concentrate as a Class C misdemeanor, which is a citable offense, but it is not subject to an arrest. There could, however, be a fine of up to $500.HB 218 was approved after a third reading by members of the House Thursday. The bill now heads to the Texas Senate for review.

Harm reduction group clashes with Texas lawmakers over fentanyl legislation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Crammed into Texas Sen. Joan Huffman's office chanting "shame," a group of Texans confronted staffers on Thursday, demanding the senator uses her leadership role to take action on legislation related to addressing the fentanyl crisis.The Texas Harm Reduction Alliance is calling on Huffman — who chairs the Criminal Justice Committee — to advance several bills that aim to decriminalize the use of fentanyl testing strips. Currently, under the Texas Controlled Substances Act drug testing equipment such as these strips are classified as drug paraphernalia, making it illegal for people to recreationally test.The test strips cost roughly a dollar and can be used to test drugs, powders and pills for the presence of fentanyl, which is significantly more powerful than other drugs and can be fatal. Earlier this month, the Texas representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 362, which would allow people to safely test their drugs for fentanyl "without the risk of pros...

UT researchers create e-tattoo that could help detect heart disease

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An electronic tattoo could help save your heart. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed an ultrathin, lightweight electronic tattoo, or e-tattoo, that attaches to the chest for continuous, mobile heart monitoring outside of a clinical setting. It's a continuation of an earlier chest e-tattoo project, according to a release from UT. It's wireless and mobile and is enabled by a series of small active circuits and sensors carefully arranged and linked by stretchable interconnections and conforms to the chest via a medical dressing, the release said. The clear devices are less intrusive than other monitoring systems and more comfortable for patients. Related: UT, Texas A&M researchers make e-tattoos to show if someone is stressed The e-tattoo includes two sensors that together provide a clear picture of heart health, giving clinicians a better chance to catch red flags for heart disease early.UT researchers create e-tattoo that could help ...

New Project Connect renderings feature light rail buildout opportunities in the future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After debuting five light rail design options last month, Austin's Project Connect leaders have released new renderings that highlight future expansion and light rail buildout opportunities under each proposal.Austin Transit Partnership, CapMetro and city leaders shared the updated renderings during the city's Housing and Planning Committee meeting Tuesday. All three entities are currently gathering public feedback on the options through May 2, with a final version set to be announced in June. PREVIOUS REPORTING: Project Connect debuts 5 scaled down light rail options "The full vision is there, and will be completed," said Annick Beaudet with the City of Austin's Project Connect office. "We're committed to that. It's just, because of funding constraints we've talked about extensively over the past year, we're building a core system as an initial investment."Both Austin Mayor Pro-Tem Paige Ellis and Austin City Council Member José “Chito” Vela have requested more c...

Texas House passes sweeping bills on teacher pay, school funding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas House passed sweeping legislation on Thursday impacting school funding, teacher pay, and the way new educators will prepare to enter the classroom. The legislation is in response to a steep increase in the number of teachers leaving the profession.The most recent data from the Texas Education Agency shows 16% more educators left the profession in 2021-22 than in the previous school year. The previous school year saw a 26% increase from the year before.House Bill 100, filed by Rep. Ken King, R- Canadian, would move to calculate the amount of money districts receive from the state based on enrollment – and not attendance, and raise the per pupil funding, or the student allotment, from $6,160 to $6,250. The Exit: Teachers Leave. Students Suffer. The bill would also raise and restructure the law which determines the minimum salary a district can offer a teacher. The salary schedule proposed would require districts to pay educators more based on both experienc...

Dungeons & Dragons was invented in this Wisconsin town. Why no statue?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

Christopher Borrelli | Chicago TribuneWhen Ed Schwinn thinks about the history of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin — and as president of the board of directors for the Geneva Lake Museum, he thinks about it quite a bit — he thinks of a summer retreat, a tourist town that has fewer than 10,000 year-round residents. He thinks of his own family living there year-round for 34 years. He thinks of his grandfather, who helped steer the Schwinn Bicycle Company into becoming a household name, buying a second home on the lakefront in the 1920s. He notes that a lot of summer families have long since become permanent residents, though “when I grew up on Lake Geneva, people with homes on the lakefront shut off the water on Labor Day, slipped a key under the mat and went home until May.”He thinks of all those wealthy, famous names associated with the history of the town — the Schwinns, the Wrigleys, the Maytags, the Wards — then admits, “No matter how many well-known families have been coming here a centur...

Wild send clear message ahead of Game 6 against Stars: ‘This series isn’t over’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:53 GMT

The question was simple as Matt Dumba stood in the Wild locker room following a blowout loss to the Dallas Stars in Game 5.What gave him the confidence that the Wild could keep their hopes of winning the Stanley Cup alive in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series?“This series isn’t over,” Dumba said. “Simple as that.”No, it’s not, and on Friday night at the Xcel Energy Center, the Wild understand the task at hand. If they win, they will force a do-or-die Game 7 in Dallas. If they lose, they will be going home.“We have to go through this adversity to get to where we want to go,” Wild coach Dean Evason said. “This is a good opportunity for us to play our best hockey right now.”There have been stretches of good and bad from the Wild throughout the first-round series with the Stars.They were fantastic in a Game 1 victory, with No. 2 goaltender Filip Gustavsson making a franchise-record 51 saves. They were erratic in a Game ...