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Indiana governor signs ban on gender-affirming health care

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s governor signed a bill banning all gender-affirming care for minors Wednesday, joining at least 12 other states that have enacted laws restricting or banning such care.Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the legislation after Republican majorities in the Legislature approved it. The law will go into effect July 1, and trans youth currently taking medication to transition would have until the end of the year to stop doing so.Holcomb had told reporters Tuesday that the bill on his desk was vague and had not indicated he would sign it or veto it.“Permanent gender-changing surgeries with lifelong impacts and medically prescribed preparation for such a transition should occur as an adult, not as a minor,” Holcomb said in a statement.Opponents of the legislation said the types of care the bill would ban, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers, are vital and often life-saving for transgender kids. Medical providers say most of the procedures banned...

Firefighter dies after Gold Coast high-rise blaze; second in last 2 days

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter died Wednesday following a high-rise fire in Gold Coast. He is the second CFD member to die in as many days.At around 7:20 a.m., CFD tweeted that they responded to the 1200 block of North Lake Shore Drive, which is near the intersection of Division, for a still-and-box response.Then a short time later, a mayday response was called for a firefighter down. Chicago fire said Lt. Jan Tchoryk, 55, was making his way up the stairs to the 27th floor when he went down.He was rushed by colleagues to the lobby. He died as a result of his injuries, CFD said.Three other firefighters were taken to the hospital in fair condition and two civilians were injured as well.The fire department said the fire was initially out and they were just battling hot spots. However at around 8:55 a.m., the fire reignited and large flames were shooting out of another unit. CFD lost the ability to use elevators and said there are no sprinklers on the floor.On Tuesday morning, the dep...

CPD: SWAT at Trump Tower for domestic-related incident

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

CHICAGO — SWAT officers are at Trump Tower for a domestic-related incident.Just after 11:15 a.m., CPD was dispatched to the building, located in the 400 block of North Wabash. Authorities called in SWAT after they believed the incident was domestic-related. Police did not provide additional details, but said it's an isolated incident and there's no threat to the public.A WGN News crew at the scene said residents are not being allowed back into the building at this time.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

CNN's Don Lemon threatened female coworker in 2008: report

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

(The Hill) -- CNN host Don Lemon, one of the most recognizable personalities across the cable news business, has a history of making offensive remarks to and threatening female staffers who anger him, according to a new report. Variety published an extensive exposé on Lemon's conduct relating to women this week, alleging a pattern of abusive and threatening behavior by the former prime-time anchor, who currently hosts CNN's revamped morning program along with Kaitlin Collins and Poppy Harlow. The report alleges that, among other incidents, while Lemon was anchoring CNN's "Live From" program in 2008, he became angry when he was passed over for a reporting assignment for Kyra Phillips, who has since left the network. Citing unnamed sources at the network at the time, Variety reported Phillips received two threatening text messages from an unknown sender after she was granted the reporting mission that said, “Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it." Why Ron DeSa...

Cubs have a 1st in 2023 Wednesday: A postponement

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

CINCINNATI — The Cubs had a first for the 2023 season on Wednesday, and if history shows, it probably won't be the last over the next six months.After all, mother nature isn't afraid to mess with the Major League Baseball schedule.On Wednesday, the Cubs' game with the Reds at Great American Ball Park has been called off due to rain in the Cincinnati area. It's the first time that's happened for the clubs this season and it comes less than a week into the 2023 campaign. The contest will be made up as part of a split doubleheader that will be played on Friday, September 1. Game 1, which is the rescheduled game from Wednesday, will be played at 12:10 p.m. central time. Game 2, the originally scheduled contest, will be played at 5:40 p.m. central time.This ends the series between the Cubs and the Reds with the teams splitting the two games they played. After the hosts won Monday night 7-6, the visitor's offense responded with a huge offensive effort on Tuesday.Thanks to three RBI nights...

WGN at 75: Ozzie Guillen has many stories to tell

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

CHICAGO — He's one of the rare individuals in the history of the "Windy City" to find success not only as a professional athlete but also as the leader of one of Chicago's teams. Because of that, Ozzie Guillen isn't short on stories to tell about his time with the White Sox.The three-time American League All-Star and 1985 Rookie of the Year played for the south siders from 1985 through 1997. After winning the World Series as a third base coach with the Marlins in 2003, which included a memorable NLCS comeback win over the Cubs, Guillen returned to Chicago to take over the White Sox. In his second year, the club snapped their 88-year championship drought with a World Series sweep of the Astros in one of the greatest playoff runs in Major League Baseball. Guillen would win another American League Central division championship in 2008, including the famous "Blackout" one-game playoff win at then US Cellular Field, managing through 2011.Even after his time in the dugout has been complet...

2 drag restriction bills approved by Texas Senate

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas House of Representatives will soon take up a pair of bills officially passed by the Senate Wednesday that would enact new consequences for drag-related events held in the state. Lawmakers first approved an expanded version of Senate Bill 12, which would make it a crime to hold a drag show or any other performances considered overtly sexual if they're in front of or could possibly be seen by minors. The bill passed by a final vote of 20-11. It received initial approval Tuesday after a tense exchange during a debate. Ban on transgender youth treatments passes Texas Senate The legislation would levy a penalty of up to $10,000 against any business owner hosting a “sexually oriented performance” with anyone who’s younger than 18 present. A city or county would also not be able to host these kinds of performances on public property, according to the proposal. The bill defines “sexually oriented performance” as a “male performer exhibiting as a female, or a fem...

City of Austin to consider its role in creating mental health diversion center

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- During next week's Austin City Council meeting, members will discuss how much of a stake the city will have in Travis County's plan to build a mental health and substance use diversion center. "I think it's important to make sure that we play a role in this, and making sure that we're able to put forward whatever resources that are needed to make this diversion center a reality," Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri said. He brought the resolution forward. The city helping foot the bill for the project is something Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea brought up before the item passed through that body a couple of weeks ago. "That's a discussion that will take place on the dais, but I think we need to play as an active role as possible," Qadri said.Students at the LBJ School of Public Affairs calculated an estimate of how much the facility would cost, according to the report. To build a 32-bed diversion center at just over 30,000 square feet, it would cost the county ...

The rain is gone but strong winds remain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Most of the area did get some rain with a few thunderstorms this morning. However, not all locations had measured precipitation, among them Austin and San Marcos.Most rain totals averaged around .10" to .25" but there were a few areas that did pick up about .50" to .66".The "big winners" from this morning's rainLIVE RADARLIVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONSNorth winds are blowing through the area with some gusts in excess of 20 to 25 mph. Dew points have dropped the 20s and 30s along and west of I-35. The dry air, very low soil moisture and the strong winds are creating a critical fire danger for the rest of the afternoon. The National Weather Service has seven of our counties under a RED FLAG WARNING.Red Flag Warning in effect until 4 PM WednesdayRain and thunderstorm chances come back tonight and remain part of the forecast until Saturday morning. There will be times when the rain gets briefly heavy, something accounted for in the long-range precipitation from the American mod...

Overall home values in Williamson County decline — what it may mean for your property taxes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:19 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 5, 2023.GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — The Williamson Central Appraisal District released its appraisal valuation notices last week. The overall average was that homes were appraised roughly 12% less than they were in January 2022.Alvin Lankford, WCAD chief appraiser, said this is the first overall decline in valuations he's seen in the county in 23 years, following record valuations last year. Austin housing market ‘trending in the right direction,’ board of realtors says In 2022, residential values had a drastic increase of more than 45%."So, in the 23 years I've been here, I've seen in the last two years a record increase and record decrease," Lankford said.Lankford said prices and interest rates started to level out in the middle of 2022, which has carried into 2023.Just because property or home values are lower does not mean owners will save money when it comes time to pay their property taxes.Lankford...