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Illinois moves toward gender inclusivity as others move away

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois bills that would update existing laws to be more gender inclusive and add protections for LGBTQ marriages are ready for action by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who said he will sign them.The trio of state bills passed last week are meant to move the state in the “opposite direction” of those restricting LGBTQ youth, said Sen. Mike Simmons, the bills’ sponsor and the first and only current “out” LGBTQ lawmaker in the Illinois Senate.Illinois is one of several U.S. states that have moved to counteract a surge of anti-LGBTQ legislation in mostly Republican-led states.On the same day just a few hours away, Indiana’s governor signed a bill that will require schools to notify a parent if a student requests a name or pronoun change at school, one of several bills this legislative session targeting LGBTQ people in the state. Illinois’ neighbors to the west, Missouri and Iowa, have gone in a similar direction by restricting gender-affirming care and the bathrooms transgender st...

AP photos from Sri Lanka, Ukraine were Pulitzer finalists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

The Associated Press was a finalist in two Pulitzer Prize categories — for breaking news photography of Sri Lanka’s political crisis, and for feature photography of the elderly in Ukraine.That was in addition to the two Pulitzers AP was awarded on Monday: one for its coverage of the siege of Mariupol, Ukraine; the other for breaking news photography in Ukraine.The AP images from Sri Lanka captured the full range of human emotion. Protesters pumping their fists in the air shouting anti-government slogans, and also shielding themselves from tear gas and water cannons. Crowds of Sri Lankans storming the office of the prime minister after the president fled the country, and others celebrating inside the president’s official residence by jumping in the pool and using the gym equipment.The Sri Lanka photos were made by Eranga Jayawardena and Rafiq Maqbool. In Ukraine, the grueling effects of war on the elderly were shown by AP photographers in a range of settings: people being...

Multiple in custody after fatal shooting of CPD officer: Sources

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Sources tell WGN that several people have been taken into custody in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Chicago police officer Areanah Preston, who was shot and killed outside her home in Avalon Park Saturday.A day after the shooting incident, police reported a SWAT incident in the 7600 block of South Bishop Avenue around 8:25 p.m. Sunday night. Police cleared the scene early Monday morning.Police have not identified why the SWAT situation took place. Meanwhile, multiple individuals were taken into custody near the corner of 77th Street and Bishop Avenue early Monday morning, a source told WGN. Areanah Preston, 24. (Credit: CPD News Affairs)Preston had just completed a tour of duty when she was found with a gunshot wound outside her Avalon Park home in the 8100 block of South Blackstone Avenue, around 1:42 a.m. Saturday.Originally reported as being off-duty at the time of the shooting, Chicago police later ruled that Preston was on-duty at the time of the incident. CPD in...

Iconic 'Superdawg' celebrates 75 years of serving Chicago's favorite foods

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Superdawg, a fixture in Chicago’s food scene, is turning 75-years-old on Tuesday May 9. There will be a city ceremony that will dedicate an honorary street named for the founders of the beloved fast food joint.  Since it opened at 6363 N. Milwaukee Ave. in 1948, it’s been one of the city’s favorite hot dog stands. It is still a functioning 1950s-era a throwback drive-in restaurant, complete with service from “car hops.”  The iconic building is decorated with the 12-foot-tall papier mâché  “Superdawg statues” known as Maurie and Flaurie, named for the restaurant’s founders, Maurie and Flaurie Berman.“So Maurie and Flaurie became the Superdawg characters on the roof, papier mâché bending as hot dogs do toward each other,” said Scott Berman, the oldest son of Maurie and Falurie, and a co-owner of Superdawg. “He is standing in a strongman pose and she is standing in a demure pose, looking lovingly at him.”The Bermans met at Von Steuben High School and opened Superdawg as a way...

Skilling: Cloudy week, but sunshine right around corner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

Temps down more than 30 degrees from Sunday's levels Monday, largely the product of a winds off the 48 degree lake waters. Warming returns over coming week with temps surging from 69 Tuesday to 77 Wednesday, 81 Thursday and 79 Friday, but expect easterly lake breezes to cool immediate lakeshore areas each day this week. Weather dries and mixed sun appears Tuesday with lots of sun Wednesday, but we weather returns with Gulf moisture late week and this weekend.What a difference a day makes! Chicagoans experienced a jarring 24 hour temp pullback of more the 30 degrees Wednesday afternoon--and this after the warmest weekend of 2023, including Sunday's recording a record-tying 87 degree high.The southbound pnuemonia front which induced Sunday afternoon and evening's sharp pullback ignited explosive t-storm development mainly south of Chicago late Sunday into Sunday night. These storm's lightning displays and hail production impressive there with some stunning rainfalls--like the 3.66" wh...

CPSA joins FOP, calls out City for sending migrants to police stations for days on end

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Another police union is calling out the City of Chicago for sending newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers to police stations for extended periods of time.James Calvino, president of the Chicago Police Sergeants' Association, penned an open letter to the City where he claims, "families are remaining in stations for days and, sometimes weeks at a time."The full letter can be read at the bottom of this article.WGN previously reported on migrants having to camp out in the entrance of the Chicago Police Department's 14th District police station, where Chicago Fraternal Order of Police president John Catanzara voiced his displeasure over how the migrant situation at police stations is being handled. Paul Lisnek discusses latest on migrants, ComEd four verdict and more "Apparently the police department is now a homeless shelter and taxi service,” said Catanzara at the time. “We’ve been receiving calls for the better part of a week plus now about this issue, that’s only gett...

Wisconsin boy missing for 2 days is found safe in remote Michigan park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

SILVER CITY, Mich. (AP) — An 8-year-old Wisconsin boy missing for two days in a remote, rugged northern Michigan park was discovered near a log Monday and appeared to be in good shape, authorities said.The park posted a photo of one of the searchers carrying Nante Niemi on his back. Another photo on Facebook shows the boy wearing a dirty sweatshirt and munching on a Clif bar. Missing 9-year-old Chicago boy located Nante had been gathering wood while camping with his family when he was last seen Saturday afternoon in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the western Upper Peninsula. He was found around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, approximately two miles from the campsite.Overnight temperatures had been in the 40s.“He had braved the elements by taking shelter under a log where he was ultimately found. He is in good health and reunited with his family,” state police said in a statement.More than 150 people from various law enforcement groups joined the search on foot, in th...

Biden unveils new airline passenger protections for flight delays, cancellations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – President Joe Biden said new rules will be formally introduced later in 2023 to require airlines to compensate passengers for more than just ticket prices if cancelations and significant delays are the airline's fault.The Biden administration wants to implement new rules for airlines which the president said “will make it mandatory -- not voluntary, mandatory -- for all U.S. airlines to compensate you with meals hotels, taxis, ride shares.”The rules will also reimburse consumers for rebooking fees and ticket costs if the airline is at fault for flight cancelations or significant flight delays, not including flight changes due to weather.President Biden says those are compensations that airline passengers in Europe and Canada are already guaranteed.“And guess what? It works. One study found that the European Union required airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays -- the number of flight delays went down,” Biden said.President Biden also announced the...

When will Project Connect announce light rail design selection?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for May 8, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Project Connect leaders gear up for the unveiling of the program's initial light rail investment, staff are previewing estimated ridership at each station under the five design proposals. Officials are expected to present a final proposal at Austin Transit Partnership's May 24 board meeting, with an official decision made between ATP, the City of Austin and CapMetro on June 6.Here's a breakdown of each version paired with the number of stations, length of the initial route and estimated ridership. Anticipated ridership is based on current census population and employment estimates, CapMetro's current and 2040 future bus network, current bus stop boardings, data from the Federal Transit Administration and traffic analysis data from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.38th Street to Oltorf Street to Yellow Jacket LaneOption No. 1 anticipates between 14 and 15 light r...

INTERACTIVE MAP: Austin voters approve proposition expanding police oversight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Voters in Austin overwhelmingly approved expanding police oversight. Proposition A received 79% support in Saturday's election, while Prop B was rejected by more than 80% of voters."It's a really big victory. There's a strong mandate for improving police oversight and transparency in the city," said Equity Action Board President Chris Harris. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Austin Police oversight vote: early voting results are in The vast majority of voters approved of Prop A, while rejecting Prop B.In the 231 precincts in which at least one vote was cast, Prop A prevailed in 220 precincts, while Prop B was rejected by voters in 227 precincts.Use our interactive map below to see how your neighborhood voted.What happens now?The measure expands civilian oversight over the Austin Police Department in several ways. It allows the Office of Police Oversight to participate in investigations of officer conduct including anonymous complaints. It also gives its members direct access to...