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Republican Rep. Gallagher won’t run for US Senate in Wisconsin, leaving open field

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced Friday that he won’t run for U.S. Senate in 2024 against Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, leaving an open GOP field with no declared candidates in the battleground state.Gallagher was the highest profile Republican said to be considering a run against Baldwin, who is seeking a third term after an 11-point win in 2018. Baldwin is viewed as a formidable opponent due to her strong showing six years ago, her high profile across the state and her ability to raise money.Democrats, including Baldwin, are defending 23 seats in the U.S. Senate in 2024, including two held by independents who caucus with Democrats. That’s compared with just 10 seats that Republicans hope to keep in their column.Wisconsin’s other senator, Republican Ron Johnson, narrowly won reelection to a third term in November. Baldwin will be on the ballot in a presidential year in a state where four of the past six presidential elec...

Man pleads guilty to helping 2 others accused in the fatal shooting of rapper Young Dolph

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee man pleaded guilty Friday to helping two other men charged with fatally shooting rapper Young Dolph in a daytime ambush at a Memphis bakery.Jermarcus Johnson, 26, pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact. Judge Lee Coffee approved a plea deal with prosecutors, allowing him to avoid trial.Johnson acknowledged helping the two alleged shooters communicate after the killing while they were on the run from authorities and helped one of the alleged shooters communicate with his probation officer after the killing.The Associated Press

Texas businessman tied to impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton to appear in federal court

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A businessman at the center of the scandal that led to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s historic impeachment is set to make an initial appearance in federal court Friday morning following his arrest by the FBI.Nate Paul, 36, was taken into custody and booked into an Austin jail on Thursday afternoon, according to Travis County Sheriff’s Office records. Federal prosecutors are yet to reveal what charges led to his arrest, but the records showed he was being held on a federal detainer for a felony.The Austin real estate developer’s arrest followed a yearslong federal investigation. Paxton involved his office in that probe, setting off a chain of events that ultimately led to his impeachment and suspension from office last month.A lawyer for Paul, David Gerger, said his client may comment after his court appearance. One of Paxton’s defense attorneys, Dan Cogdell, said he had no additional information on the arrest.FBI agents examining Paul’s troubled real ...

OPP searching for 3 missing kids from First Nation in Muskoka

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

Provincial police in Bracebridge are looking for three children who went missing in Muskoka earlier this week.The three were last seen in the Wahta Mohawk Territory on June 5. The First Nation is just west of Bala Ont. and about halfway between Barrie and Parry Sound.Police are looking for 15-year-old Josiah, 12-year-old Winter, and seven-year-old Summer, who all have brown hair.An Amber Alert has not been issued.Anyone with information is being asked to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122.#MISSING: #BracebridgeOPP attempting to locate 15-year-old Josiah, 12-year-old Winter, and 7-year-old Summer. Last seen June 5, 2023 in the Wahta Mohawk Territory. Any information, please call the #OPP at 1-888-310-1122 ^am pic.twitter.com/zmXWJpyG0p— OPPCommunicationsCR (@OPP_COMM_CR) June 9, 2023    

Missouri Supreme Court declines to halt August execution of man convicted of killing child

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

The Missouri Supreme Court has turned aside an appeal by a man scheduled to be executed in August for killing a 6-year-old girl.Johnny Johnson, 45, was convicted of first-degree murder in in the 2002 death of Casey Williamson in suburban St. Louis. He faces execution Aug. 1 unless the courts intervene or Republican Gov. Mike Parson grants clemency.Johnson’s lawyers said in the appeal that he is incompetent to be executed because his schizophrenia prevents him from understanding the link between his crime and the punishment. The appeal said Johnson has delusions about the devil using his death to bring about the end of the world.The Missouri Attorney General’s Office challenged the credibilty of the psychiatric evaluation and said medical records indicate that Johnson is able to manage his mental illness through medication. The state Supreme Court, in a 6-1 ruling, agreed.Johnson was staying with friends in Valley Park, Missouri, in July 2002, when Casey went missing. Doz...

Reports: Former Italian Premier Berlusconi readmitted to hospital 3 weeks after release

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

MILAN (AP) — Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has been admitted to a Milan hospital where he spent 45 days this spring being treated for a lung infection and chronic leukemia, Italian media reported Friday.The 86-year-old media mogul and former three-time premier was readmitted to San Raffaele Hospital, where he was expected to spend at least one night, Italian news agency LaPresse reported, citing anonymous sources. Berlusconi spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation. Berlusconi was discharged from San Raffaele exactly three weeks ago. His Forza Italia Party is part of Premier Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition but currently has no Cabinet posts. Berlusconi holds a seat in the Italian Senate.The Associated Press

Mayor Johnson addresses Basic Income Guarantee Conference

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

CHICAGO — A government guaranteed minimum income for all is the dream of those behind the Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) Conference, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the annual gathering Friday. Trump indicted: What to know about the documents case and what’s next The two-day conference is being held in Chicago and marks the 21st time these like-minded individuals have come together. According to the conference website:"The event has grown over recent years to become the annual national conference for the basic income movement, bringing together grassroots activists, policy wonks, artists, pilot administrators, social and economic justice organizations, think tanks, researchers, community-based nonprofits and more. The goal of the conference is threefold: 1) to take stock of the current state of the movement 2) to inspire, conspire and collaborate on efforts for the upcoming year; and 3) provide a space to build strong relationships for coordinated, highly collaborative w...

ISP: Person injured in seven-vehicle car crash on I-57

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

CHICAGO -- Illinois State Police responded to a seven-vehicle car crash that left a person injured Friday morning.Police responded to a crash on Interstate 57 southbound near the Ca- Sag Channe in Calumet that involved six cars and a dump truck. SKYCAM 9 Woman found shot in West Side apartment fire dies: officials All lanes are closed due to the crash investigation and traffic is being diverted off at 127th Street. One person was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. There is no additional information at this time.

Destination Illinois: Floatzilla

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

Take a cruise down the Mighty Mississippi with paddlers from all across our region, in hopes of breaking the world record for the largest floating raft. Linsey Tobin dives in for River Action's Floatzilla in Destination Illinois.For more information, click here.

Women won't achieve pay parity until 2056, report finds

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:40:26 GMT

(The Hill) - Women with full-time, year-round work will not achieve pay parity with men until 2056, if trends continue as they have since 1967, according to a new report out Thursday from the Center for American Progress (CAP).In anticipation of the 60-year anniversary of the 1963 Equal Pay Act becoming law, CAP — a left-leaning think tank in Washington, D.C., — published an analysis seeking to measure the law’s impact by tracking trends in employment and wages since its passage. The law sought to protect workers from pay discrimination based on sex.   In 1963, full-time, year-round working women earned 59 cents to a man’s dollar. When accounting for all working women that year, including those working fewer hours or weeks, women earned 37 cents to a man’s dollar. The gender pay gap has steadily shrunk in the years since, and CAP has attributed it to passage of the Equal Pay Act, and to subsequent legislation building on its policies. In 2021, full-time, yea...