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Mississippi activists ask to join water lawsuit and criticize Black judge’s comments on race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Activists in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital city are trying to join a federal lawsuit against the city for violating standards for clean drinking water, even as they say the Black judge presiding over the case is stirring racial division.The activists from the Mississippi Poor People’s Campaign and People’s Advocacy Institute filed court papers Wednesday asking to intervene in the federal government’s lawsuit against Jackson. During a news conference Wednesday, activists said they spoke for residents in the 80% Black city who want more say over reforms to the water system. “We feel like our lives are on the chopping block here in the city of Jackson,” said Danyelle Holmes, an organizer with the Mississippi Poor People’s Campaign. “We could no longer sit by idly as government agencies allow residents to be told that it’s OK to drink unclean water.”The federal government has taken legal steps to scrutinize Jackson’s water quality for over ...

Judge Chutkan denies Trump’s request to recuse herself in federal election subversion case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said Wednesday she won’t recuse herself from Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case in Washington, rejecting the former president’s claims that her past comments raise doubts about whether she can be fair.Chutkan, who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama and was randomly assigned to Trump’s case, said in her written decision that she sees no reason to step aside. The case, scheduled for trial in March, accuses the Republican of illegally scheming to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.There’s a high bar for recusal, and legal experts had widely considered Trump’s request to be a long shot aimed at undermining the legitimacy of the case publicly that could only sour the relationship between the judge and the defense in court. Alanna Durkin Richer And Eric Tucker, The Associated Press

A murder suspect mistakenly released from an Indianapolis jail was captured in Minnesota, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A murder suspect who was mistakenly released two weeks ago from jail in Indianapolis was captured Wednesday by the U.S. Marshals Service in Minnesota, where he faces charges in a 2021 killing, police said.Kevin Mason, 28, was apprehended in the afternoon in St. Paul, said Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal, who added in a statement that he’s grateful to the Marshals Service “for concluding this manhunt and safely bringing Mason back into custody.”Mason was arrested in Indianapolis on Sept. 11, but a preliminary review found he was released two days later because of a faulty records review by clerks with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, officials have said.Last week the sheriff’s office announced that the Marshals Service would be leading the search and was offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Mason’s arrest. The sheriff’s office also said it had determined that he left Indianapolis on the evening of Sept. 13.Mason’s...

Michigan judges ordered to honor pronouns of parties in court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all judges to address people in court by the pronouns they use or by “other respectful means.”“We serve the entire public and are required to treat those who come before us with civility and respect,” Justice Elizabeth Welch said. “The gender identity of a member of the public is a part of their individual identity, regardless of whether others agree or approve.”The statewide rule was approved, 5-2.Some transgender, nonbinary or gender-fluid people use they, them and their as a gender-neutral singular personal pronoun.“Courts must use the individual’s name, the designated salutation or personal pronouns, or other respectful means that is not inconsistent with the individual’s designated salutation or personal pronouns,” the Supreme Court said.During a public comment period earlier this year, some critics cited religious reasons for not wanting to address someone by a pronoun they use.The rule, which kicks in Jan. 1, will...

Biden vetoes two Republican-led bills to undo protections for prairie chicken and northern bat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has vetoed Republican-sponsored bills to undo federal protections for two endangered species that have seen their populations plummet over the years: the lesser prairie chicken and northern long-eared bat.The two GOP measures would overturn “science-based rulemaking” that offers important protections for the once-abundant species and would undermine the Endangered Species Act, Biden said. “The lesser prairie-chicken serves as an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies, making the species an important measure of the overall health of America’s grasslands,” the White House wrote late Tuesday in a veto statement about the prairie bird. It’s a member of the grouse family found in parts of the Midwest and Southwest, including the oil-rich Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas. The bird’s range also extends into parts of Colorado, Oklahoma, and Kansas.Environmentalists have long sought stronger federal protections for the prair...

See the Haunted Houses in the Chicagoland area in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

CHICAGO - It's that time of year when everyone will dare to be scared - and we've got a few places that can help you find that Halloween spirit.WGN News Now has come up with a list of Haunted Houses in the Chicagoland area that are slated to be opened in late September or early October. 64 Fall Festivals and events coming to Chicagoland this autumn Here are some of the places we've found that you can visit over the 2023 Halloween season.Chicago Nightmare on Clark StreetBamboo Club - 3505 North Clark Street, ChicagoOpen through Oct. 31WebsiteThe Catacombs 6143 W. Irving Park Road, ChicagoOct. 6 - Oct. 29WebsiteNorth SuburbsDungeon of Doom600 29th Street, ZionSept. 29 - Nov. 4WebsiteScream Scene4701 Oakton Street, SkokieOct. 6 - Nov. 4WebsiteFright Fest Six Flags Great America - 1 Great America Parkway, GurneeNow until Oct. 31WebsiteNorthwest SuburbsRealm of Terror421 W. Rollins Road, Round Lake BeachSept. 29 - Oct. 29WebsiteEvil Intentions900 Grace St, ElginSept. 29 - Oct. 31Websit...

Mother of child killed in Uvalde mass shooting visits Highland Park ahead of run for mayor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — A mother of one of the children killed in the Uvalde mass shooting was in Highland Park Wednesday, looking to gather support from a community that also has scars from a mass shooting, as she runs for mayor in the Texas town."When I heard she was running for mayor, I thought we have to support her in anyway we can," said Stephanie Jacobs, a Highland Park resident. "Our community and her community are tied by tragedy."Jacobs spoke of Kimberly Rubio, whom she met while the two were in Washington D.C., lobbying for change when it comes to gun violence.Rubio's 10-year-old daughter Lexi was one of the 19 children and two school staff members who shot and killed in Uvalde on May 24, 2022. "I lost my daughter, Lexi, she was 10 in the Robb Elementary school shooting," Rubio said. "She was in Mr. Reyes' class, 111, and he was the only survivor so, all 11 students in that classroom died that day." More from Alyssa: ‘We complied’: More North Side armed robberies reported...

Doctor, retired music teacher team up to bring healing music to suburban hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — A retired music professor and a cardiologist have formed an usual, but popular duo at Edward Hospital in Naperville.At the hospital, there's a volunteer music program called, Music from the Heart, which makes what unfolded in the lobby this year even more poignant.Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, Philip Spencer's fingers dance across the piano keys in hopes it brings a little joy to the patients and medical staff passing by. More from Erin: Suburban choir shares joy of music by giving ukuleles to kids in hospitals "Playing here really demonstrated the power of music to do more than entertain,” he said. "How music can help them celebrate, help them grieve. It can help them learn.”During one day’s performance, a cardiologist by the name Dr. David Kim found himself drawn to that piano."I mustered up enough courage to go up to him and ask him if he knew a song in a certain key," he said.And that was beginning of perhaps the most unusual musical duo the hospital h...

RV destroyed in fire at suburban gas station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

STICKNEY, Ill. — Emergency crews are on the scene of a fire at the gas station in the southwest suburbs.Fire trucks and EMS responded to the gas station in the 3800 block of South Cicero in Stickney near the border of Cicero and Chicago around 3:30 p.m.Southbound Cicero Avenue is shutdown at Pershing as crews continue to investigate. Heavy delays are reported in both directions. No other details are available at this time.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

3 Illinois sheriff's deputies suffer burns in dynamite disposal operation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:54 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Three northern Illinois sheriff's deputies injured while disposing of dynamite in neighboring Wisconsin remained hospitalized with burns Monday, authorities said.The deputies are being treated for burns described as non-life-threatening, said Cori Hilliard, a spokesperson for the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.The deputies were called out Saturday morning to help the Rock County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin on a report of dynamite in a trailer in Beloit, the Winnebago sheriff's office said. An Abe Lincoln photo made during his 1858 ascendancy has been donated to his museum in Illinois The property where the dynamite was found had been sold at auction and was in the process of having its ownership transferred, Capt. Josh Lund, of the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, said.The dynamite had been on the property “for quite some time,” Lund said.It wasn't clear how the deputies sustained the burns.