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FACT FOCUS: Online posts spread misinformation about FEMA aid following Maui wildfires

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

In the aftermath of the deadly Maui wildfires, some social media users are discouraging residents from accepting disaster aid by falsely claiming the Federal Emergency Management Agency could seize their property if they do.“If you own land in Lahaina, do not sign anything for FEMA,” a woman says on a video circulating widely on social media. “That is why they’re holding back all of the donations and saying, Hey, you want food come sign this?”But disaster recovery experts and lawyers stress accepting aid doesn’t give FEMA any such powers to take private lands and that the posts are misrepresenting federal law. Here are the facts.CLAIM: FEMA can seize the private property of any Maui resident that signs up for disaster assistance.THE FACTS: The federal agency says the claims are “absolutely false” and encourages Hawaiians to visit a website it launched recently to address rumors and frequently asked questions in the aftermath of the fires, which have claimed more than 100 lives.“Appl...

Could a municipal sales tax be the solution for Toronto’s financial woes?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

As the City of Toronto considers how to fill an immediate $1.5 billion hole in its budget, reaction is flowing in on the list of revenue-generating options that are now being considered. Amid soaring inflation, taxes may not be the most popular move but a one per cent sales tax is now being considered along with hiking existing revenue tools such as the land transfer tax on luxury homes and parking fees. Even then, the city says implementing those measures would only cover 40 per cent of its deficit. At least one business group believes these measures will only drive people away. “People will just go outside the City of Toronto to buy their goods,” says Jay Goldberg of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “A commercial parking tax, that’s going to hurt small businesses. I think looking for savings is the number one way to go.”Political science professor Myer Seimiatycki believes a sales tax would be a big part of the solution. “That is the single m...

Natural history museum closes because of chemicals in taxidermy collection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota museum has closed after almost 40 years over concerns that the chemicals in its taxidermy collection could endanger visitors and staff, the affiliated zoo announced Thursday.The Great Plains Zoo said Thursday that it is has closed the Delbridge Museum of Natural History in Sioux Falls. The zoo’s CEO Becky Dewitz said strong chemicals were used in the taxidermy process and that tests found detectable levels of those chemicals in the museum, KELO-TV reported. It wasn’t an easy decision to close the museum but it’s the right one, she said.“The specimens were harvested in the 1940s through the 1970s. Prior to the 1980s, it was common to use strong chemicals in the taxidermy process all over the world for preservation of the hides,” the zoo said in a statement on its website. The museum’s collection of animals on display was one of the largest in the region. Sioux Falls businessman Henry Brockhouse assembled the collection t...

Fire breaks out at high-rise in Lake View

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

CHICAGO — Emergency crews are on the scene of a fire that broke out at a high rise in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood on Friday afternoon.Black smoke could be seen bellowing from a window in the upper levels of the building at around 5:50 p.m. Chicago police officer facing additional sexual abuse charges Currently, it is unclear how the blaze broke out or if anyone was injured.This is a developing story, stay with WGN News for the latest updates.

Chicago police officer facing additional sexual abuse charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

CHICAGO -- New felony charges have been filed against a Chicago police officer previously accused of sexually abusing a teenager in Norridge.According to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, 30-year-old David Deleon was arrested in March for sexually abusing a minor in Norridge is now facing new charges of child sexual assault.Deleon was stripped of his police powers by the Chicago Police Department after he was arrested by Norridge Police and charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor and aggravated battery for an attack on a 17-year-old victim. 6 robbed at gunpoint at different locations on Chicago’s North Side Norridge PD seized Deleon's cell phone following his arrest and forwarded evidence to the CPD, the Cook County Sheriff's Office, and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.Further investigating showed Deleon sexually assaulted and abused minors and recorded videos of himself with them on multiple occasions. The videos reportedly showed Deleon with the victim...

Northwestern hires a new baseball coach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — After their last coach was relieved of his duties amid controversy, Northwestern has picked the man to lead their baseball program into a new era.He comes to Evanston from a fellow Big Ten school..@NU_Sports has announced that Ben Greenspan will be the baseball program's next head coach to replace Jim Foster..He comes to Evanston after being the associate head coach/recruiting coordinator for Michigan last season..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/OVnFr9zuwC— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) August 18, 2023The school announced that Ben Greenspan, the former associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for Michigan, is the new head baseball coach. He replaces Jim Foster, who was let go after an investigation into problematic behavior in his one season as the leader of the program. According to Northwestern, the firm DHR led the search."After an extensive nationwide search, Ben's experience and coaching prowess quickly set him apart within the candidate pool," said No...

81-year-old woman dead after early-morning fire in Winfield

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. — An 81-year-old woman is dead after an early-morning fire at a condominium on Friday, according to the Winfield Police Department.Authorities say the fire broke out just after 4 a.m. in Winfield, on the 0N100 block of Windermere Road, in the High Lake Condominium Subdivision. 6 robbed at gunpoint at different locations on Chicago’s North Side According to police, five people were rescued from eight units that caught fire and crews from the seven different fire departments were called in to help battle the blaze.Authorities say one of those rescued, an 81-year-old woman, was taken to a nearby hospital where she later died from injuries sustained in the fire. Police have not yet identified the woman and say an autopsy is scheduled to take place on Saturday.Authorities have not provided updates on the condition of any of the other residents that were rescued. 1 killed in rollover crash on I-80 in Ottawa According to police, the DuPage County Fire Investigation ...

It was a rare Friday for the Cubs in 2023 this week at Wrigley Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

CHICAGO — A very positive trend for the 2023 Cubs didn't continue on Friday afternoon. When the team has been at home on the final day of the work week, wearing their "City Connect" Wrigleyville jerseys, they've been hard to beat. But the struggling Royals found a way to break through against the Cubs, rallying in the final innings to win it 4-3 at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon. Losing on this day of the week hasn't been very common for David Ross' team during the 2023 season as the Cubs have been strong when playing on Fridays. They're 14-5 when playing on the last day of the workweek and even had five-straight wins in June and July.In what at times has been an up-and-down season, playing well on Fridays has been one of the more consistent things for the team, but it had a detour in the middle of August. The Cubs managed to erase a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when two RBI singles by Jeimer Candelario and Nico Hoerner were squeezed around an error on Christopher Morel's ground...

Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman isn't sure when he'll be able to take the mound again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman is dealing with persistent pain because of a right rib cartilage fracture.Stroman said he isn't sure when he'll be able to take the mound again.“I can’t be too active; it’s not like I can do too much right now,” he said during Friday’s 4-3 loss to Kansas City. “I guess the best thing is to kind of let it heal itself.“I can barely turn right now. Breathing’s tough at some points and I can’t sit for long periods of time. I’m just taking it day by day.” Marcus Stroman’s time out of the Cubs’ rotation will be longer after injury update Stroman was placed on the 15-day IL on Aug. 2 with right hip inflammation. The All-Star right-hander was slated to start Wednesday against the White Sox, but he had some discomfort in the rib area after throwing a bullpen session Sunday in Toronto. He visited a doctor Monday and had an MRI that showed the cartilage fracture.The Cubs want Stroman to be symptom-free before he resumes b...

Clear the Shelters: Austin pets wait for fosters, new owners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's not a secret that the Austin Animal Center has an overcrowding problem. Austin Pets Alive! (APA) and other groups are assisting with the overflow, but the only true solution is for the public to step up and foster or adopt animals.Alison Swearingen, APA Dog Adoption Manager, tells KXAN that the overcrowding means that animals are sheltered in rooms they would not normally occupy, such as the facility's conference room."We are constantly fighting a space crisis," Swearingen said. "So is the city shelter Austin Animal Center -- we are doing our best to support them while also being about 50 dogs over capacity on our own right now." Enter the ‘Match the Met with the Pet’ contest Animals pictured below were available for adoption at the time of writing, but may not still be available.First up, the cats:Greece 14 (KXAN Photos/Cora Neas)Wild Goose Chase (KXAN Photos/Cora Neas)Valletta (KXAN Photos/Cora Neas)Paul McCartney (KXAN Photos/Cora Neas)Runaway Jane (KXAN P...