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Youngkin and NAACP spar over felony voting rights ahead of decisive Virginia elections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia NAACP said Monday that Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration lacks clear standards for restoring voting rights to convicted felons who served their sentences, leaving many frustrated and unable to vote in Tuesday’s nationally watched state elections. The group’s assertion followed the administration’s release Friday of more records related to how the state makes its decisions. The documents include emails between state officials and people whose requests were denied. “The Governor has deemed you ineligible for rights restoration at this time,” the emails state, while telling applicants they can reapply in a year.Applicants received no explanation or justification for their denials, while the state has provided no stated standards for who is eligible or ineligible for restored voting rights, the NAACP said in a statement Monday. In a late August email released by the state, someone who was clearly upset by the rejection pressed for m...

Florida dentist convicted of murder in 2014 slaying of his ex-brother-in-law, a law professor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A jury on Monday convicted a Florida dentist of murder in the 2014 shooting death of his former brother-in-law, a prominent law professor slain outside his Tallahassee home in the wake of a bitter custody battle with the dentist’s sister. The jurors signaled Monday in returning a verdict that they believed the prosecutors’ contentions that the defendant, Charles Adelson, paid to have Florida State University professor Dan Markel killed that year.Adelson was convicted of first-degree murder along with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and solicitation of first-degree murder, The Tallahassee Democrat reported after jurors returned with their verdict Monday afternoon.Adelson’s sister Wendi Adelson had divorced from Markel and shared custody of their two kids. She wanted to move from Tallahassee in the north of the state to South Florida to be closer to her family. However, a judge at the time ruled Wendi Adelson couldn’t relocate without Markel’s c...

Skilling: Beautiful start to the week for Chicagoland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

What a to start the new week!  Temps surged into the low 70s today—following a weekend which ended up 6-degrees warmer than the weekend which preceded it. The likely ultimate high near 73-degrees Monday will come in 20-degress above normal and, while not a record for Nov 6th, CLOSE!  Only two Nov 6's over the 153 year term of official records here in Chicago have been any warmer----75-degrees on this date in 1975—48 years ago—and a 75-degree high Nov 6, 1916---107 years ago.The mild air is the product of a westerly or "zonal" flow across the Lower 48.  This is a pattern in which upper level steering winds sweep mild oceanic air off the Pacific and across the country. Zonal flows are frequent visitors in many El Nino cool seasons and it's the fact they guide maritime rather than chilly continental air our of Canada across the country that mild temps dominate such cool seasons. It doesn't by any means that cold blasts will be completely absent—but they may end up less frequent th...

CFD rescue residents from 3 alarm high rise fire on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

CHICAGO -- Several people were rescued Monday morning when a fire broke out in a South Side high rise.According to the Chicago Fire Department, crews responded to the 3500 block of Cottage Grove in Chicago's Oakland neighborhood around 7 a.m. on Monday. Chicago police officer shot and wounded on South Side 150 fire crews arrived on scene and learned the fire broke out on the seventh floor of the high rise. Crews rushed to get people out safely as the fire grew.Fire officials said the fire was caused by the careless use of smoking materials.Just over 100 people live in the building, but there's no word on when they may be allowed back inside.

Video shows rarely-seen 30-foot whale shark feeding in Hawaiian waters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) – Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) shared an exciting video of a 30-foot whale shark feeding during their fieldwork off Kaneohe Bay on Thursday.“It is surprising. They are here more often than we think, however they are probably hard to come across because like I said, I didn’t see this animal until I hopped in the water," said Mark Royer, University of Hawaii shark researcher.HIMB Shark Research Lab researchers said they found the shark after spotting seabirds flying over what they suspected was bait. The growing trend of bespoke baby names: Would you buy a name? When they dove into the water they were surprised to see something much bigger than what they expected – a 30 foot whale shark feeding on nehu, or Hawaiian anchovy.“While all the small nehu were being drawn to the surface from all the predators, the whale shark was coming in and using its massive mouth to come up to the surface, open it, and then the suction would cause all the fi...

Illinois bill could give temporary Bally's Casino more time at Medinah Temple location

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

CHICAGO -- Bally's Casino could be at the former Medinah Temple in Chicago's River North neighborhood for a bit longer than planned.The location is supposed to be temporary and they're set to move to a permanent downtown location in 2026. Bally’s Casino, a first for Chicago, celebrates official launch in River North As of November 2023, state gambling laws in Illinois cap temporary stays at three years, including a 12-month extension. Under a proposed bill advancing in Springfield, casino operators with Bally Casino's could ask for a longer time frame.Bally's Casino has yet to comment on the legislation.

Firearm injuries among children double amid pandemic, study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

The gun epidemic in the United States was much worse for children during the pandemic, according to a new report.A retrospective study of firearm-related injuries found visits to pediatric emergency rooms doubled during the pandemic. The study found that deaths from gun injuries in children and teens also doubled.Dr. Jennifer Hoffman, an emergency room physician at Lurie Children's Hospital, is the lead author of the study and joined WGN Evening News at 4 p.m. to discuss the report."With the pandemic, we saw a drastic increase in firearm purchases, which might have led to the tragic spikes in injuries and deaths from firearms among children and adolescents,” Hoffman said. More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Table 1. Characteristics of Pediatric Firearm Injury Emergency Department Visits by Pandemic Time PeriodDownloadFigure-1DownloadFigure-2DownloadFigure-3DownloadWatch the full interview in the video player above.Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily...

Video: Homeowner exchanges gunfire with intruders in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- A Los Angeles homeowner exchanged gunfire with a pair of intruders in an incident caught on video Saturday evening.The homeowner, who did not want his identity released, said he pulled into his gated driveway and was walking to the front door when the masked suspects jumped over a wall. ‘Can’t keep living like this’: Ohio man’s home struck by car for 4th time Home surveillance video shows one suspect, who appeared to be holding a handgun, charging at the man as he goes to open his front door. A homeowner in Central L.A. repels a would-be robber on Nov. 4, 2023. The would-be home invaders hopped the home's wall and approached the homeowner at the front door. Nov. 4, 2023. The would-be home invaders hopped the home's wall and approached the homeowner at the front door. Nov. 4, 2023. The would-be home invaders hopped the home's wall and approached the homeowner at the front door. Nov. 4, 2023. The homeowner pulled out a gun and opened fire on the robbers. Nov. 4...

Battleship Texas to get long-term home in Galveston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

TEXAS (KXAN) — Battleship Texas will get a new place to call home in Galveston. The Port of Galveston board of trustees approved a lease at Pier 20 with The Battleship Texas Foundation last Tuesday. The lease will last 10 years with renewal options. Rent will be $480,000 per year.Battleship Texas, also known as the USS Texas, was used during the First World War and Second World War, according to the battleship's foundation. In 1948, the USS Texas was donated to the state as a museum and memorial. The lease is contingent on outside approvals, such as the General Land Office, the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers. Thomas Perich, the foundation's chairman, said the state gave the foundation $60 million to refurbish the ship. The foundation manages the ship under a long-term lease with the state. In 2022, the ship was taken from the Houston Ship Channel to Galveston for repairs.

Sonny Gray named Cy Young Award finalist; Twins extend veteran a qualifying offer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:44:04 GMT

Sonny Gray was honored as one of the top three pitchers in the American League this season, named a Cy Young Award finalist on Monday for the second time in his career.Thirty members of the Baseball Writers Association of America voted on the award — two from each AL market — before the postseason began, and the winner will be announced on MLB Network during a show that begins at 5 p.m. CST on Nov. 15.Toronto starter Kevin Gausman and New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, the front-runner for the award, were also named finalists.Gray, whom the Twins extended a qualifying offer to on Monday, was recognized for a season in which he did not miss a start, posting a 2.79 earned-run average across 184 innings. The starter was remarkably consistent, limiting opponents to three or fewer runs in all but three games.He finished with a 5.3 bWAR (Wins Above Replacement per Baseball Reference) and was named the Twins’ Most Valuable Player. Gray is the first Twins pitcher since Kenta Maeda was the Cy...