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LIVE BLOG: Vallas, Johnson face off in WGN's Chicago Mayoral Debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

CHICAGO -- The two election runoff candidates for Chicago's Mayoral race will face off in what could be the final debate before the April 4 election.The Your Local Election Headquarters: Chicago Mayoral Debate will take place Tuesday at 7 p.m. at WGN's studios on Chicago's North Side.You can watch the entire Chicago Mayoral Debate right here in this article.Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet for their third debate since they were announced as the runoff winners from the Feb. 28 election.During the February election, Vallas received 33% of the votes compared to Johnson’s near 22%.Since then, Vallas has been endorsed by at least 20 council members and three of his rival candidates, including Ja'Mal Green, along with the FOP and a number of trade unions.Johnson’s endorsements include national leaders, like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Illinois' Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as well as the Chicago Teachers Union and several public sector unions. Finalists...

YCLUB.io Attends The Palm Beach International Boat Show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

Project Connect debuts 5 scaled down light rail options

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin residents are getting their first look at the future of light rail in the city, with five scaled-down proposals on the table for Project Connect's mass transit system. The new options will be on display at an open house at the Austin Public Library's Central location from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday.Voters approved the multi-billion-dollar Project Connect back in November 2020, greenlighting a property tax revenue stream to go toward the expansion of bus transit along with the creation of a light rail system. The conceptual version voters approved highlighted Blue and Orange light rail lines; improvements to CapMetro's existing MetroRail Red regional line; a future MetroRail Green regional line; as well as enhanced MetroRapid bus routes and the Gold Line.Project Connect Initial Investment Service Level MapDownloadWhy Project Connect paused light rail designs last summerAmid rising construction costs, increased real estate valuations and scope changes, Austin Transit Part...

New bills take aim at Texas program blocking driver license renewals over unpaid traffic tickets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas program that allows judges to block driver license renewals over unpaid traffic tickets will face possible changes, and even repeal, this legislative session.It comes after a KXAN investigation revealed more than 980,000 current court orders to block drivers from getting their license renewed, as of October 2022. Those were sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety vendor OmniBase.Already, more than 445,000 Texans can’t get their license renewed or replaced if they are flagged under the state’s Failure to Appear and Pay program, according to DPS data. The system, critics say, leaves some of the state’s poorest drivers in debt, without a license for years, and at risk for more charges — and even jail time — if they get on the road. Nearly 1M drivers at risk of losing licenses. Are you one of them? “I think a cynical person can say this just looks like a way for them to make money,” Bernal said. “This is not a street crime. [These are] traffic tickets. ...

Push to protect retail workers against shoplifters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Experts say more than $13 billion worth of goods are stolen from retailers every year and only one in 48 shoplifters are caught. Our Capitol Correspondent, Amal Tlaige spoke with experts about proposed legislation to strengthen anti-theft laws and protect retail workers here in New York.  Albany Police warn of spike in car thefts citywide "Because we just feel like we have been abandoned. Cops cannot do anything to arrest these people then… what else can we do?" asked Zori Estevez, a head cashier at City Fresh in Brooklyn. She said as much as she enjoys working with her colleagues, her job has put her in some scary scenarios. "People go in to steal, but they’re willing to do whatever they need to do in order to leave with the merchandise, so sometimes we get shoved, we’ve had instances where knives are pulled out, we’ve even had people with guns… so it’s just like, we’re just trying to make a living," said Estevez. Which is why Senator Jessica Scarcella-Span...

Man rents Times Square billboard for $150 to propose to girlfriend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) — A Connecticut man wanted an extra special way to propose to his girlfriend of six years. Jose Negron, of Waterbury, chose to pop the question to his girlfriend, Alicia, in Times Square— beneath a giant billboard reading, "Will You Marry Me?" over a picture the couple and their son. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! People all around stopped and applauded as they realized what was happening with Negron on one knee under the billboard. And Alicia said "yes!""I'm shocked! Very surprised. I looked up and I saw the 'Will you marry me?'" Alicia saidNegron booked his photo on the billboard through Timessquarebillboard.com for $150. Jaime Suarez, owner of the billboard, said he came up with the idea during COVID. Police looking for mother of newborn boy abandoned outside Massachusetts home For individuals like Negron, the image appeared for 15 seconds once per hour for 24 hours. Local businesses can advertise on ...

Healthcare workers rally at the NYS Capitol

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Albany saw one of the largest rallies since the pandemic. Thousands of healthcare workers from the 1199SEIU Union gathered in Albany on Tuesday. The group marched around the New York State Capitol Building to draw attention to the struggles the health care system is facing since the pandemic."I worked on the COVID floor for almost two years," said Lorraine Thomas. "It’s getting better now since the pandemic is over, but it’s very bad because of short of staff and funding."The healthcare workers called for $2.5 billion dollars to be included in the final state budget."How many people would continue to work 15 years without having a wage increase? But that’s exactly what the hospitals are doing in terms of Medicaid payments," said Kenneth Raske, President of the Greater New York Hospital Association.The union would like to see an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates by 10% for hospitals and 20% for nursing homes. It would like to keep an increase in wages f...

Colorado man in hot tub attacked by mountain lion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. (KXRM) — A mountain lion attacked a Colorado man as he relaxed in a hot tub over the weekend, according to wildlife officials. The man said he was sitting with his wife in the in-ground hot tub at a rental property in Nathrop, roughly 100 miles west of Colorado Springs, Saturday night when the mountain lion attacked. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! While speaking with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife's (CPW) Southeast Region, the man explained he and his wife were sitting in the hot tub "when he felt something grab his head." The couple screamed and splashed water at the animal, which they were able to identify as a mountain lion when the victim's wife shined a flashlight on it.The mountain lion backed up about 20 feet from the couple, and as they continued to scream at the animal, it moved up to the top of a hill where it crouched down and watched them. When the couple got inside the rental home, they ...

Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - Exactly one week after she was last seen alive, a missing St. Charles woman has been found dead, police confirmed Tuesday. One person has been taken into custody and is expected to be charged in her death.Chief Bill Carson, Maryland Heights Police Department, said the body of Jacquelyn "Jacque" Elizabeth Mitchell was found inside an apartment in the 2200 block of Palestra Drive. She was 39.Authorities from St. Charles and Maryland Heights made the discovery Monday evening. Carson said Mitchell had been dead for approximately six days.A cause of death was not announced. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW The suspect, a 49-year-old man, lives at the apartment on Palestra. He was arrested Monday evening. Carson said the...

Missouri AG files amended petition in effort to oust Kim Gardner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:07 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Attorney General has amended his petition in a quo warranto case against St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, the latest effort to remove her from office.Bailey originally filed a writ of quo warranto against Kim Gardner on Feb. 23, accusing her of neglecting her duties as circuit attorney. A judge granted Bailey more time to amend his quo warranto last week, and he met Tuesday's deadline for filing it. The new filing comes after Gardner barely met a deadline to file her response to Bailey’s original motion to have her removed as circuit attorney. Gardner called the Missouri Attorney General’s ongoing effort to oust her from office a “gross power grab” in legal filings and has maintained her office, despite political pushback to resign. Trending: After two escapes, bear from Saint Louis Zoo moving to Texas Bailey says his office, over the past three weeks, has interviewed multiple witnesses, reviewed court files, and analyzed more than 30,000 docu...