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Worries grow that Trump indictment will eclipse other probes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The indictment against former President Donald Trump involving a payoff to suppress claims of an extramarital sexual encounter is raising concerns that it could undermine public confidence in what democracy experts view as far more important investigations.Trump is facing multiple investigations related to his refusal to accept his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. That includes whether he pressured election officials to overturn the results, encouraged fake electors from battleground states and his role in the events that led to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.Jeffrey Engel, founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University, called the indictment this week from a New York grand jury “the appetizer to their main course still to come.”“That main course, literally, is democracy at stake and who we are as a nation,” he said.The New York investigation that led to Thursday’s indictment involved hush money paid t...

WATCH LIVE | ComEd discusses preparations in advance of powerful, fast-moving storms in Chicago area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

The Chicago area is under a moderate risk for severe weather for Friday.Two rounds of storms are forecasted between the hours of 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. The first round set to move into the Chicago area around 4 p.m. as super cell thunderstorms. These storms pose a tornado threat and a golf-ball sized hail threat. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here A cold front then moves through around 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. bring another round of very quickly moving severe weather. These storms also pose the threat of tornadoes. The storms are likely to move through at a rate of 50-60 mph so any tornado warnings will be quick and offer not much time. It's advised that residents be prepared in advanced and stay tuned to WGNTV and the weather app for alerts and updates.Tom Skilling also suggests anyone with any porch furniture or outdoor items susceptible to strong wings should bring them inside. These storms are set to bring potentially dangerous and destructive w...

Dangerous storms, tornado warnings over US Midwest, South

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Massive storms brewing over at least 15 states in the Midwest and southern U.S. on Friday have meteorologists urging people to brace for dangerous weather including tornadoes, saying the conditions are similar to those a week ago that unleashed a devastating twister that killed at least 21 people in Mississippi.More than 85 million people were under weather advisories Friday as the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center forecast an unusually large outbreak of thunderstorms with the potential to cause hail, damaging wind gusts and strong tornadoes that could move for long distances over the ground.Forecasters issued a tornado warning for parts of central and southwestern Arkansas on Friday afternoon after reports of a funnel cloud. Residents were told to take cover in basements and interior rooms away from windows.Ping pong ball-sized hail was reported in Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa.The area at greatest risk for storms on Friday follows a large stret...

Jonathan Toews is returning to the Blackhawks' lineup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

CHICAGO - The captain of the Blackhawks is making his return to the ice before the end of the 2022-2023 season and the expiration of his contract.After being out of the lineup for the last two months due to symptoms of long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome, Jonathan Toews will play for the team this Saturday when they host the Devils at 7 p.m. at the United Center.Head coach Luke Richardson confirmed the news to reporters after the team's practice on Friday.The captain took the ice for the team during morning skate on Tuesday, which was the first time he'd done so with the team since the Blackhawks' game against the Oilers on January 28. Before that, he'd spent the previous two months getting back to health with a number of off-ice workouts.It's especially important for Toews to return since he is in the final year of his contract with the team he's spent his entire career with in the NHL. With the team rebuilding, it's unclear if the captain would take a new deal with the...

Orangutan learns how to nurse from breastfeeding zookeeper at Virginia Zoo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

Above video courtesy of Jim Andelin and the Metro Richmond Zoo.CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) - A zookeeper at the Metro Richmond Zoo helped teach an orangutan how to breastfeed her newborn baby.According to the zoo, Zoe the orangutan's first baby had been hand-raised, so when she delivered her second baby on Dec. 12 she needed guidance with breastfeeding. Trump’s historic indictment: Five takeaways It was the zoo's veterinarian who contacted Whitlee Turner, a zookeeper and mother of a newborn herself, to ask if she would breastfeed her baby Caleb in front of Zoe to give the orangutan a feeding lesson.Turner agreed and she and her son arrived at the orangutan's indoor enclosure soon after the birth of Zoe's unnamed baby boy.It was the zoo's veterinarian who contacted Whitlee Turner -- a zookeeper and mother of a newborn herself -- to ask if she would breastfeed her baby Caleb in front of Zoe to learn by example. (Courtesy of Jim Andelin and the Metro Richmond Zoo)According to the...

'Inappropriate, offensive': Ohio school bus driver resigns after video goes viral

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

AMHERST, Ohio (WJW) - An Ohio school bus driver accused of using inappropriate language with students in a viral video has resigned.According to a letter sent to parents, the Amherst Exempted Village School District confirmed that they are investigating an incident involving one of their bus drivers Wednesday."This evening, I received a video circulating on social media of a bus driver using inappropriate and offensive language towards students," the letter read. "The behavior exhibited by the bus driver is unacceptable and will not be tolerated." Man arrested in Painesville standoff that placed school district on lockdown The video found on social media platforms like TikTok appears to show a bus driver yelling obscenities at students.The letter states that the driver has resigned and the school district is investigating. "The actions of the bus driver do not represent the values and standards we uphold as a district and do not reflect our commitment to providing a safe...

Llano County ordered to return removed books to its library system by federal court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — In a civil court case against Llano County, a federal court partially granted a preliminary injunction, ordering the return of books previously removed from the county’s library system.According to court documents, the county must also update the library system’s searchable catalog to reflect that the books were available for checkout and keep them from removing any more books.On Oct. 28, a lawsuit brought by Llano County residents was brought against their county government and library system in connection to “removed” books at the public libraries. RELATED: Llano County Library in federal court case over removed books A motion to dismiss the lawsuit was also partially granted by the court related to the library's OverDrive e-book catalog. Those books will not return to the OverDrive catalog because the library now uses a different e-book digital service.According to a past KXAN report, attorneys for the plaintiffs said that the books were targeted fo...

Man arrested, guns found after Austin road rage incident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was booked into jail Wednesday in connection to a January road rage incident on the Interstate 35 frontage road, the Austin Police Department said in a release.On Jan. 30, a caller told APD a man pulled a gun out and pointed it at two people, including a child, in another vehicle in the 5700 block of the South I-35 frontage road, which is in central Austin near Koenig Lane, APD said.Detectives identified the man as 23-year-old Austin Martin, the release states.Firearms discovered at Austin home. Photo: Austin Police DepartmentMartin was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, APD said.KXAN has reached out to an attorney representing Martin. This story will be updated if we receive a statement.Deeper into the investigation, detectives conducted a warranted search of Martin's home and found 19 firearms on March 29, according to APD.Martin remained in custody at Travis County jail Friday, and according to jail records, his bond was set ...

Around 80 Austin Police retirements expected in April

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As shortages in the Austin Police Department continue the Austin Police Retirement System said it was expecting about 80 retirements by the end of April.These retirements would come as APD’s contract expires Friday, March 31.“I expected to be here another two and a half years at least, but decided to go now that the contract was going away,” said Mo Forshee, who recently retired from APD after 23 years. “I think everyone saw the writing on the wall and so you got a lot of early retirements.” Texas DPS to begin assisting APD with patrols Thursday to help during staffing shortage The City of Austin and the Austin Police Association (APA) came to an agreement on a four-year contract following about a year of negotiations, but Austin City Council later voted 9-2 to pursue a one-year extension agreement with APA instead. The council majority wanted to wait to pursue a long-term deal until voters weigh in on two police oversight measures, which will hit the ballot in May...

Valatie man sentenced to 10 years for sexual assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:07 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Friday, Heath Harrison, 48, of Valatie, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison with 20 years of post-release supervision. Harrison pleaded guilty to one count of Rape and will be registered as a sex offender. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “I would also like to thank Emily Horton of the START Children's Center who worked directly with the victim and our office on this case," said District Attorney Donnelly. "Young victims need a place where they can feel secure, talk freely and heal after their trauma, and the START Center enables them to do just that."