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Prosecutors oppose a defense request to exhume the body of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter’s father

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Federal prosecutors on Wednesday opposed a request by lawyers for the Pittsburgh synagogue gunman to exhume the body of his father for the purpose of proving paternity.Robert Bowers’ lawyers want the body exhumed for a DNA test after prosecutors raised questions about paternity during Bowers’ trial for the 2018 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue. Bowers, a 50-year-old truck driver from suburban Baldwin, faces a possible death sentence after being convicted in June of killing 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue.Trying to persuade jurors to spare his life, the defense said Bowers has a family history of mental illness and has introduced evidence that his father was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The defense asserts Robert Bowers also has schizophrenia and opened fire at the synagogue out of a delusional belief that Jews were helping to commit a genocide against white people.The government urged the trial judge to reject the defense request, saying he does...

Potential for severe weather threatens area; heat advisory in effect

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Hot and humid Wednesday with highs in the lower 90s and heat index values that could top out over 100 degrees.  Scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon are possible with potentially severe storms. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here A list of warnings, watches and advisories below:A Heat Advisory is in effect starting at 12 p.m. Wednesday through 9 p.m. in the orange counties. (map below) Peak heat indices of 100-105 degrees are expected. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air conditioning when possible and limit time in sun. Check on relatives and neighbors. Take precautions working and spending time outdoors.Our skies will become mostly clear tonight. It will stay warm and humid as temperatures fall into the lower 70s.  Thursday will be mostly sunny, hot and humid with highs in the mid-90s inland and mid-80s lakeside.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

A south suburban village is making their pitch to be site of Bears' new stadium

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — There is another municipality in the Chicagoland area that's hoping to catch the Bears' attention in their search for a place to build a new stadium.This time, it's a village in the south suburbs. Late last week, Richton Park president Rick Reinbold sent a letter to Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren to make his pitch to the city to be the home of a new stadium for the NFL franchise. The village becomes the latest to show their interest after the Bears announced in June that Arlington Park, which the team officially purchased in February, was not their "singular focus" when it came to a new stadium. In the letter, Reinbold pitched a few advantages that Richton Park could offer, including being 30 minutes southwest of The Loop along with easy access to I-57, I-80, I-94, I-294, and I-355. The village is also connected to downtown and other parts of the area through the Metra Electric railroad.Reinbold also pointed out that the village has more than 1,000 acres of...

Gov. Pritzker's anti-homelessness effort receives legislative support

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

CHICAGO — An effort by Governor JB Pritzker to eliminate homelessness in Illinois has received some legislative assistance.According to a June press release from Pritzker's office, "the Home Illinois plan expands affordable housing options, targeting individuals in high-risk situations (including homeless college students and those leaving medical care), and providing comprehensive support for individuals experiencing homelessness." UFO hearing live: Lawmakers hear testimony on alleged secret program Wednesday morning the governor signed a bill into law codifying Home Illinois. The signing took place at Featherfist, which is a Chicago-based organization working to eliminate the cycle of homelessness.Watch the entire bill signing event in the video above.

320 evacuated after teen allegedly sets fire to Hilton hotel sofa after fight with mom, Florida officials say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

OCALA, Fla. (WFLA) — A 16-year-old girl was arrested Tuesday and accused of setting fire to a sofa at a Hilton hotel in Florida "after fighting with her mother," police say.Fire crews were called to a structure fire at the Hilton Ocala in Ocala, Florida, around 3:25 a.m. Upon arrival at the hotel, crews found staff evacuating all 320 guests from the building. Family’s TikTok video of ‘unsanitary’ conditions at SC hotel goes viral With the help of a thermal imaging camera, firefighters were able to identify the source of the blaze, which had "consumed a couch and scorched an adjacent wall," by the time crews could put it out."The fire was extinguished entirely within seven minutes of arrival," Ocala Fire Rescue said.(Courtesy of Ocala Fire Rescue)An investigator also responded to the hotel given the "deliberate nature" of the incident, fire officials said.Shortly after, police arrested a 16-year-old girl visiting from Peoria, Illinois, who allegedly started the fire after fighting ...

Trump records video encouraging Republicans to vote early

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

(The Hill) -- Former President Donald Trump recorded a video released on Wednesday encouraging Republicans to vote early, coming one week after he offered muddled messaging over the strategy.The Republican National Committee (RNC) launched a "Bank Your Vote" campaign last month in an effort to encourage Republicans to vote early. The initiative aims to educate GOP voters on absentee voting, ballot collection and in-person early voting.Trump offered his strongest support yet of early voting in a roughly 40-second video shared by the RNC."The RNC is leading the fight to help secure your vote in 2024 as well. They're fighting bad Democrat laws, putting folks on the ground to serve as poll workers and poll watchers and engaging attorneys to monitor every step of the voting process," Trump said."We must defeat the far left at their own game or our country will never recover from this disastrous crooked Biden administration. Sign up at bankyourvote.com now and join the Republican effort t...

'Weird Al' Yankovic's wife, Suzanne, alerts California officials to potentially dangerous road hazard

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

(KTLA) – Officials in Santa Monica, California, are working to remove a crumbling portion of the bluffs above Pacific Coast Highway after the potential hazard was noticed by Suzanne Yankovic — wife of musician "Weird Al" Yankovic — and other passersby.Suzanne Yankovic posted an Instagram video of the bluff earlier this month. It was then seen by Los Angeles County supervisors who alerted the city of Santa Monica. "I noticed this crack from the bluffs, seems precarious fyi," Suzanne Yankovic wrote in the post, tagging city officials.A portion of the Santa Monica bluffs that appears to be in danger of collapsing is seen on July 25, 2023. (KTLA)If the cliffside were to collapse, it could be catastrophic to those driving on the freeway below. Michael Jackson sexual abuse lawsuits may be revived It is unclear whether a collapse would have occurred within days or years, so officials took action right away. A crane was brought in to break apart the top portion of the unstable bluff wi...

Hot & Humid Air On The Way; Slight Risk Of Severe Weather Wednesday. Seasonal "Normal" Temps reached their peak Wednesday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

We'll begin to see a slow decline in Chicago's normal temps. NOT TO WORRY, warm-weather enthusiasts! It's a VERY SLOW process. Normal temps will drop only 4-degrees to 80/63 over the coming 36 days by the end of August, 2023 (which begins a week from today).The daily period of daylight has been in GRADUAL DECLINE since Chicago (and the northern hemisphere's) LONGEST DAY--also the day of the "summer solstice", which marks the beginning of the astronomical summer season.There's Plenty of Warm—Even Hot—weather in the PipelineThis is a fact Chicago weather history has made quite clear over the years. But the gradual loss of daylight and the sun's slow shift to a more southerly trek across the sky each day gradually impacts temps by altering the amount of energy the sun delivers to us each day.INTERESTINGLY, Alaska-based National Weather Service climatologist Dr. Brian Brettschneider (https://twitter.com/Climatologist49) makes note of the change which begins today in a blog post in which...

The Book Burrow to dig in to new space

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

Author's Note: This video previously aired during KXAN's 4 p.m. show on July 7. PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) -- The only bookstore in one Central Texas town will be able to relocate to a new space after an outpouring community and online support, according to a press release from its owner.The Book Burrow, a queer-owned bookshop in Pflugerville, sold nearly 2000 books in just under two weeks, surpassing store owner Kelsey Black's original goal by almost double.“I am blown away with all of the love and support we were shown during these past few weeks,” Black said. “I owe each person a debt of gratitude for reaching out in our time of need. I will forever be grateful for each individual who supported us, shared our posts, and volunteered their precious time to help us. Thank you for being a part of our community.”The store, previously located inside the Pflugerville wine bar Three Legged Goat, will now live at unit #G in the Pecan Street Plaza (401 W. Pecan St.). The move was necessita...

Del Valle ISD to add full-time campus security at elementary schools

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:13:21 GMT

DEL VALLE, Texas (KXAN) – The Del Valle ISD school board voted Tuesday night to add full-time security at elementary schools to meet the requirements of a new state law. The trustees voted to create the position of an Armed Safety Security Coordinator and hire nine additional district police officers. The district estimated the plan would cost $1.1 million and come from the district's General Fund which is also known as the operating budget. Trustees will vote to amend that budget in August, according to the district. The district said it had to act to fulfill the requirements of House Bill 3. That law, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June 2023, "requires each school board must ensure at least one-armed security officer — specifically, a commissioned peace officer — is present during regular school hours at each campus", according to the agenda item posted online. Each board must determine the appropriate number of armed security officers for each district campus, the district said.Th...