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Politics in 2024: A look ahead at next year's election season in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

As 2023 draws to a close, Illinois is shaping up to be at the center of the 2024 political election season. History will be made, with much of it coming in the Midwest.The Supreme Court of Michigan has decided that former President Donald Trump can stay on the primary ballot after Colorado disqualified him for engaging in insurrection.Trump’s legal woes -- his ballot eligibility and 91 criminal counts across four cases – are sure to dominate headlines in 2024."It’s time for the Republican Party to unite to come together and focus our energy and resources on beating crooked Joe Biden and taking back our country," Trump said. Chicago selected to host 2024 Democratic National Convention Despite his troubles, polls show Trump as the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.The contest kicks off on Jan. 15 in Iowa."Let’s finish this job, I know we can," said President Joe Biden, who is all but certain to secure his party’s nomination. Biden wanted South Carolina to...

'That '70s Show' actor Danny Masterson begins lengthy sentence at California prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

(KTLA) – Actor Danny Masterson, known for his role in the sitcom “That ‘70s Show," was received by the North Kern State Prison on Wednesday, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The 47-year-old was sentenced to 30 years-to-life in prison on Sept. 7 for raping two women. South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun of Oscar-winning film ‘Parasite’ found dead An initial jury failed to reach verdicts on the three counts of rape Masterson was facing in December 2022 and a mistrial was declared. Prosecutors retried Masterson on all counts earlier this year, and he was found guilty of two of the three counts on May 31. He had been held in Los Angeles County jail in the months since while post-sentencing hearings were held and issues resolved, including the turnover of all the guns Masterson owned, some of which had to be located.His wife, actor Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce in the weeks that followed the verdict after a marriage of nearly ...

These states have the most LGBTQ residents: research

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

(The Hill) — California has the largest number of LGBTQ Americans, according to new research, while Washington, D.C., has the greatest percentage of LGBTQ residents and the South claims a larger share of LGBTQ adults than any other region.A report published by the Williams Institute at the University of California Los Angeles found an estimated 5.5 percent of U.S. adults, or about 13.9 million individuals, identify as LGBTQ, based off data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2021-2022. About 14.3 percent of D.C.'s population identifies as LGBTQ, while Oregon and Delaware, coming in at second and third, respectively, have LGBTQ populations of 7.8 and 7.5 percent. Vermont and New Hampshire are close behind — 7.4 and 7.2 percent, respectively, followed by Washington state at 6.9 percent and Colorado and Maine, where LGBTQ residents accounted for 6.8 percent of each state's population. California, the largest state by population, has the most LGBTQ residents — 1,54...

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, convicted in mom's murder, to be released from prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

(WPHL) – Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who infamously plotted to kill her mother, is expected to be released from prison on Thursday after serving more than seven years behind bars.The now-32-year-old was sentenced to 10 years in prison in July 2016 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her mother Clauddine "'Dee Dee" Blanchard. Gypsy’s ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, is serving a life sentence for fatally stabbing Dee Dee.For those unfamiliar with the case, which inspired the Hulu series "The Act," some experts believe Gypsy was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy -- a condition where a parent, guardian or caretaker fabricates symptoms to make it look their child is sick. Man with machete, knife arrested outside US Capitol: police Throughout her childhood, Gypsy was forced to use a wheelchair and undergo unnecessary medical procedures. Dee Dee began subjecting Gypsy to false medical diagnoses shortly after her birth in 1991, first claiming the infant ...

Austin Police: Female recruitment increasing "faster than anticipated" under Chief Henderson

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department made a pledge in 2022 to work toward having women make up 30% of the police force by 2030. It's called the "30x30" initiative. "With a consistent effort passionately supported by Chief Robin Henderson, we have increased the numbers faster than anticipated," APD said in an email response to our questions about the progress of the initiative. "The Austin Police Department will remain steadfast in advancing the representation of women in policing for the foreseeable future." Chief’s Run features 25 APD cadets graduating next week Below is a breakdown of the female recruitment numbers spanning from the class that graduated in Nov. 2022 to the current cadet class still going through the academy.APD provided female recruitment data broken down by cadet class applicants and hires. (Credit: APD)"The most recent class, which started in September, started at 29% female," APD said. "The four classes prior showed a combined average of 16...

APD says suspect was holding BB gun before northeast Austin officer-involved shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who was armed with what police said appeared to be a rifle is dead after an Austin Police Department officer opened fire Tuesday afternoon in northeast Austin, according to APD Chief Robin Henderson. APD later confirmed Wednesday that the rifle the male had was a BB gun.APD said the officer-involved shooting took place in the 1500 block of East Howard Lane. That's near Dessau Road. Photos from the scene show police at an apartment complex in the area. APD investigating an officer-involved shooting off Howard Lane in north Austin. (KXAN Photo/Brianna Hollis)Henderson said at about 1:18 p.m., officers responded to a gun/hotshot call concerning a male in a parking lot firing what appeared to be a rifle. The first police unit then arrived at the scene at 1:25 p.m., and a second officer shortly after. As the two officers drove through the parking lot, Henderson said one officer communicated over the radio that a man had pointed a gun at them as they drove past. Nume...

Crow Wing County commissioners will vote to express their criticism of Minnesota’s proposed new state flag

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

BRAINERD, Minn. — Crow Wing County commissioners plan to send a letter to the governor and state legislators to voice their opposition to the revised state flag.Commissioner Paul Koering added the issue to the agenda Tuesday. Koering said he wanted to get a feeling for where commissioners in the north-central Minnesota county stood as he’s heard criticism from his constituents from a couple of phone calls and a lot of social media posts regarding the new flag.“I’ve heard displeasure, a lot of displeasure from my constituents about this changing of the Minnesota flag,” Koering said. “In my mind it feels like we’re whitewashing our history because somebody is offended by something on the flag, which I don’t understand at all.”Koering noted there has been an ongoing debate about removing Confederate Civil War images and statues that offend some. Koering said he was just reminding everyone that such symbols represent the nation’s history, whether it’s ugly or bad.The current Minnesota s...

Vadnais Heights Christmas ATV joyride through motorsports store caused $150K in damage, charges say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

A 30-year-old is charged with breaking into a Vadnais Heights business on Christmas, getting on an ATV inside and leaving behind more than $150,000 in damage as he rode it through the store.Ramsey County sheriff’s deputies responded to Tousley Motorsports about 6:20 a.m. Monday on a report of a glass-break alarm. Security cameras showed a person was inside the business. He was crashing an all-terrain vehicle into merchandise and fixtures, and “drove directly” toward a deputy at the south door, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday.The man — wearing a Tousley jacket, bright red shoes and a red helmet that the sheriff’s office said was stolen from the business — crashed through the store’s gate on the stolen purple ATV and kept driving, the complaint said.Austin Michael Erickson (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Deputies caught Austin Michael Erickson, of Vadnais Heights, after he ran from the ATV toward a woode...

Timberwolves tend to make life tough on Mavericks star Luka Doncic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

Luka Doncic dominated Minnesota in the first half of the meeting between the Timberwolves and Mavericks earlier this month in Dallas.The all-world guard had 26 points and eight assists in the first two quarters.But the Timberwolves got the better of Doncic after the break, forcing him into five turnovers. That has been a more accurate representation of the way the matchup has played out during Doncic’s career.No one shuts down Doncic, who is one of the very best offensive players in the world. But Minnesota has done a better job than most at making his life difficult.For his career, Doncic is averaging 24.1 points per game against the Timberwolves, the third-lowest of all teams and lowest among Western Conference foes. He is averaging 7.8 rebounds, tied for the fifth-lowest among all opponents.Against the Wolves, Doncic is shooting just 44 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point range.On a team level, Doncic and the Mavericks are 2-5 in their past seven games with t...

What Missourians need to know as lawmakers return to Jefferson City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:10 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Lawmakers will return to the Missouri State Capitol next week to kick off the 2024 Legislative Session.As we turn the calendar to a new year, it means it's time for the General Assembly to return to Jefferson City to start session. While every member has an agenda of what he or she would like to accomplish by May, with 2024 as an election year, it could complicate the process."It's a mess and I use that word intentionally," House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, said. "I'm definitely worried about how this legislative session is going to go."While some are concerned about what is to come in the new year, others are optimistic."There will be shenanigan days; hopefully those are outnumbered by the normal ones," Senate President Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said.Over in the lower chamber, House leadership is expecting fewer pieces of legislation to make it to the governor's desk this year. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for ...