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Gag order issued ahead of Texas AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial after ‘inflammatory’ remarks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A top Texas Republican who will oversee Attorney General Ken Paxton ‘s impeachment trial issued a sweeping gag order Monday that scolded “inflammatory” public comments made by lawyers on both sides ahead of the historic September proceedings.The order by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the powerful leader of the state Senate, underscored how Paxton’s fight for his political survival over accusations of abuse of office has drawn some of Texas’ brashest and highest-profile legal figures.The impact was swift: Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, Paxton’s lead attorney, canceled a news conference scheduled for Tuesday after the order was issued. The news conference had been announced in a statement that accused a “kangaroo court” in the Texas House of driving the impeachment. “The court finds that individuals involved in the trial of impeachment will likely continue to make public prejudicial and inflammatory statements unless this order is issued,” Patrick w...

Several top editors at Penguin Random House accept buyout offers, layoffs also underway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Some of publishing’s most celebrated and enduring editors are leaving Penguin Random House after accepting buyout packages. Meanwhile, an undetermined number of company-wide layoffs has begun, according to publishing officials.Longtime editors of such prominent writers as Anne Rice, Lorrie Moore and Nobel laureates Alice Munro and Elie Wiesel are among those stepping down by the end of the year. Penguin Random House declined Monday to comment on any individual staff members, but multiple publishing officials with knowledge of the buyouts confirmed that departing editors include Vicky Wilson, Jonathan Segal and Ann Close. The officials were not authorized to discuss the decisions and asked to not be identified. “All of us at Penguin Random House greatly respect the life-changing decisions of those U.S. colleagues who have chosen to take the recent company-wide Voluntary Separation Offer,” reads a Penguin Random House statement provided Monday to The Associated P...

Family speaks out after 10-year-old boy flung from Antioch carnival ride

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

ANTIOCH, Ill. — A day after a 10-year-old boy was thrown from a carnival ride in the Far North Suburbs, a family member came forward to give an update on his condition and how the surrounding community has come together to support the family."My daughter called me in hysterics as soon as it happened. She didn't know what to do," said Dawne Pohlman, grandmother of 10-year-old Huntley Daniels. "The support has been there, 100%. Antioch's behind him, we've gotten all kinds of calls and texts. The support has been really good."Pohlman said the family is shaken up by what happened, but that her grandson is tough, resilient, and loves his cars—saying that he can spot a Ferrari from a mile away.Huntley was among the many kids enjoying the carnival known as 'The Taste of Antioch,' an event the family has been to many times over the years, when tragedy struck around 2:40 p.m. Sunday.Huntley slipped through his harness on a ride called 'Moby Dick,' and was thrown from the ride. According to o...

Teen in critical condition after car crashes into Hinsdale sub shop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

HINSDALE, Ill. -- Multiple people have been hospitalized, including a 14-year-old in critical condition, after a car crashed into a Hinsdale sandwich shop Monday afternoon.According to the Hinsdale Police Department, a car crashed into Fontano's Subs near the intersection of Chicago Ave and Lincoln Street in Hinsdale just after 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Plane debris falls into backyard of Far Northwest Side home The owner of Fontano's Subs told WGN-TV that a man was driving a jeep out of Fuller's Car Wash across the street and somehow lost control before slamming into the sandwich shop. The driver was uninjured in the crash.The Hinsdale PD report that a 14-year-old was struck outside of the sandwich shop and critically injured. They were transferred to a local hospital before being airlifted to Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago Hospital.Three people inside the restaurant were struck by the vehicle or debris due to the crash. They were transported to Advocate Good S...

Wisconsin police chief, 2 CPD chief's being considered for Chicago's next 'Top Cop' position

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

CHICAGO -- When the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability confirmed its finalists for Chicago’s next police superintendent last Thursday it started a 30-day clock for Mayor Brandon Johnson to make his pick.Mayor Johnson received the names last week, and on Monday, the mayor said he’s still looking closely at the contenders."It’s going to be important that we go a little bit deeper with our conversations," Mayor Johnson said. "I’ll have a conversation individually with all three candidates that have been provided to me."The Chicago mayor can hire one of finalists or he can reject all three and order a new search.Two candidates for $260,000 a year job come from within CPD’s ranks -- Chief of Counterterrorism Larry Snelling and Chief of Constitutional Policing and Reform Angel Novalez.As well as Shon Barnes, who serves as the police chief in Madison, Wisconsin. 3 finalists for Chicago police superintendent announced Mayor Johnson has repeatedly said he believes it...

Cody Bellinger's enjoying a strong July - but will it finish with the Cubs?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

CHICAGO — One way or the other, the player whose enjoyed success in his first season with the Cubs is going to have an impact on the team in 2023 and beyond.Either Cody Bellinger is going to stay in Chicago and aid a run toward the playoffs or he'll be traded to add assets to the club for the future. The team's standings over the next few weeks could have a lot to do with that, and the former National League MVP is giving the team a number of things to think about.Bellinger is playing this season on a one-year, $17.5 million deal with a mutual option for 2024 that includes a $5.5 million buyout.Over the course of July, the outfielder and first baseman has been on a tear at the plate, especially this weekend against the Red Sox. Bellinger went 4-for-11 with three home runs and six RBI, including a grand slam in the Cubs' only win of the series on Saturday. That's boosted his average for July to .444 with a .480 on-base and .822 slugging percentage in his 12 games this month. Bellinge...

Pregnant woman dies after truck hits alligator in Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

REFUGIO COUNTY, Texas (KVEO) — A woman and her unborn child are dead after a truck hit an alligator on a Texas highway and rolled, according to authorities.Deputies with the Refugio County Sheriff's Office say they responded to a rollover on State Highway 35 north of Corpus Christi Sunday morning.According to authorities, the alligator was in the middle of the road when it was struck. The truck appeared to have rolled over a fence before coming to rest yards from the roadway, pictures from the scene show. Woman gored by bison at Yellowstone National Park suffers ‘significant injuries’ Two adults and three children involved in the rollover were transported to nearby hospitals.One of the adults, identified as Gabrielle Breaux of Louisiana, died at an area hospital. Breaux was pregnant, Texas Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Sgt. Harold Mallory told STexasNews.com.According to Mallory, the four others involved in the crash are expected to survive. Additional det...

North Carolina man finally able to celebrate high school graduation after 47 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT) - Friends and family, classmates and congregation gathered on Saturday to celebrate the graduation of Bishop Samuel Jones Jr.On Saturday, Jones, who will turn 66 on Tuesday, celebrated his graduation. His wife Regina Jones said this day is a special one."It brings closure. It brings healing and it brings a sense of accomplishment and a sense of pride for him to finally be able to tell his story," Regina Jones said.In 1976, Samuel Jones was not allowed to attend his own graduation from Chocowinity High School. Powerball jackpot rolls to $900M: When’s the next drawing? Jones says his grade was one point too low in pre-algebra to graduate. However, nobody informed him or his family about the grade. When Jones showed up to pick up his cap and gown on the day of graduation, he was told he wasn't going to graduate.  He had no idea he wasn't on track to graduate; he was a good student, Jones says. His mother worked in the Beaufort County Schools sy...

Austin 6th Street redevelopment plan may face crucial vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — Austin City Council on Thursday could vote on whether to allow buildings of up to 140 feet high on a portion of Sixth Street between Sabine and Neches streets.The agenda for the Council meeting notes there will be a public hearing and possible vote on amending the land development code to facilitate that change.The rezoning is needed by Stream Realty Partners LLC to transform a portion of the historic strip that is now a nightlife district packed with bars. In plans that were first revealed in 2022, the company has proposed erecting multiple buildings, with one reaching as high as 122 feet, and extending sidewalks.Read the full story in the Austin Business Journal.

Rethinking I-94: MnDOT highlights 10 scenarios, but some want a do-over

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:20 GMT

When Houston’s massive Katy Freeway was further expanded to become the widest freeway in the world, drivers were in for an unfortunate surprise. Traffic increased, and rush hour travel times decreased by as much as 55 percent, evidence of a dynamic dubbed “induced demand” — more lanes just draw more drivers attracted to the possibility that bigger means both better and faster, resulting in quite the opposite.The Minnesota Department of Transportation hit a new milestone this week in an ongoing effort to rethink how to shape Interstate 94 from downtown Minneapolis to the edge of downtown St. Paul. But some transit and neighborhood advocates along the corridor say the recently-narrowed slate of options do more to promote speedy car travel than healthy, safe communities.“Go back to the drawing board,” said Mary Morse Marti, a former executive director of the transportation advocacy organization Move Minnesota, addressing a group of MnDOT engineers an...