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Federal judges question Alabama’s new congressional map, lack of 2nd majority-Black district

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Federal judges reviewing Alabama’s new congressional map on Monday sharply questioned if state lawmakers ignored the court’s directive to create a second-majority Black district, so minority voters have a fair opportunity to influence elections. The three-judge panel held a hearing as they weigh whether to let the map stand or to step in and draw new congressional districts for the state. The panel heard arguments Monday but did not indicate when it would rule.Alabama was forced to draw new district lines after the U.S. Supreme Court, in a surprise June decision, upheld the panel’s earlier finding that the state’s then-map — which had just one Black-majority district out of seven in a state where more than one in four residents is Black — likely violated the federal Voting Rights Act. Lawyers for plaintiffs in the case argued Monday that the new plan, which maintains one majority-Black district, still discriminates against Black voters. They said ...

EXPLAINER: Why is a police raid on a newspaper in Kansas so unusual?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tensions between public officials and the press are hardly unusual. To a large extent, it’s baked into their respective roles.What’s rare in a democratic society is a police raid on a news organization’s office or the home of its owner. So when that happened late last week, it attracted the sort of national attention that the town of Marion, Kansas, is hardly used to.The Marion Police Department took computers and cellphones from the office of the Marion County Record newspaper on Friday, and also entered the home of Eric Meyer, publisher and editor. The weekly newspaper serves a town of 1,900 people that is about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri.Within two days, the raid drew the attention of some of the nation’s largest media organizations, including The Associated Press, The New York Times, CNN, CBS News, the New Yorker and the Gannett newspaper chain.WHAT PROMPTED THIS ACTION?Police said they had probable cause...

Alberta premier offers up contradictory versions for imposed wind and solar pause

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has offered conflicting explanations for why her government put a temporary ban on large wind and solar energy projects.Smith told reporters in Calgary today the Alberta Utilities Commission and the Alberta Electric System Operator wrote to the government on July 21 asking for a pause.But neither letter asks for such a moratorium. When reporters pressed Smith on the contradiction, the premier said the Utilities Commission did ask for the pause, but her office has declined to clarify when or how it did so, and the commission could not be immediately reached for comment.Smith’s government has faced criticism for announcing the moratorium on Aug. 3 with no advance notice and without consulting stakeholders, jeopardizing billions of dollars in potential investment in renewables.Smith says it should have been obvious drastic action was coming given she spoke publicly in the spring about whether renewable energy was sufficiently backstopped by natu...

Northwestern sued again over troubled athletics program. This time it’s the baseball program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Three former members of Northwestern University’s baseball coaching staff filed a lawsuit against the school on Monday, saying they lost their jobs for trying to report bullying and derogatory abuse by the team’s head coach, who has since been fired.The ex-staffers say Jim Foster’s coaching was rife with toxic and volatile behavior throughout the 2022-23 season, and that the school protected Foster after they filed a human resources complaint against him. Northwestern says the lawsuit suit “lacks merit” and vowed to fight it in court, and Foster did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.Foster was sacked on July 13, just three days after football coach Pat Fitzgerald was dismissed because of a hazing scandal. The university faces more than a dozen lawsuits for hazing, racism and bullying in its football — and now baseball — programs.“Only when the media found out about Coach Foster’s abuse did Northwestern choose to do something...

Skilling: Hot, humid weather to follow soaking rains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago area will continue to see rain throughout Monday evening into Tuesday morning. Rainfall totals of 0.90″ to as much as 2.70″ are likely to fall with the potential for a few heavier totals of as much as 2.50 to 5″ not out of the question given the involvement of t-storms. The Chicago area—particularly from the I-80 to I-88 corridor—is being advised of AN EXCESSIVE RAINFALL RISK by the Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.    Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here A Flood Watch has been issued for portions of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry counties in Illinois.hicago residents are being asked to conserve water on Monday as showers and storms sweep across the area. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago has declared Monday as an “Overflow Action Day.”Gusty winds will also be a factor along Lake Michigan. Wind gusts over the shoreline and open waters of the lake will build as high as 30 to 45 mph at times toni...

Bears add former Falcons starter to their defense

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — As the Bears look to build up some depth on their defense, they're adding a player to the roster they faced during the 2022 season.In fact, he was a starter for the Falcons when they faced them in Atlanta in Week 11.The Bears have claimed linebacker Mykal Walker off waivers..The 2020 fourth round pick of the Falcons started 12 games with Atlanta last season. .@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/LMsFWbMtlP— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) August 14, 2023On Monday, ahead of their second preseason game with the Colts, the Bears claimed linebacker Mykal Walker off waivers. He joins the team after spending his first three seasons with the Falcons, who selected him out of Fresno State in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He'll take the field for the Bears when they have joint practices with the Colts in suburban Indianapolis on Wednesday and Thursday.Walker played in 49 games over three seasons with Atlanta with 20 starts, 12 of which came during last season. He had 107 ...

"Three decades of service:" Mayor Johnson introduces pick for next CPD Superintendent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

CHICAGO — During a press conference at city hall on Monday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling as his choice for the department's next superintendent. "He will build upon his three decades of service, most recently, of course, as Chief of the Bureau of Counterterrorism, after rising through the ranks of this department," Mayor Johnson said. The mayor says Snelling is a proven leader with an impressive reputation and resume who will unify CPD and ensure Chicagoans are safe. Johnson chooses Larry Snelling to be next CPD Superintendent "We will work together to continue to build the partnerships that ensure every single voice is heard, that every resident feels safe and those who are most impacted by crime in our city have a seat at the table in influencing the solutions that our communities deserve," Johnson said. Snelling, a lifelong South Sider, says he is eager to begin his new role. "Every member of this city has to be a s...

Clarence Avant, nicknamed the ‘Godfather of Black Music,’ dies at 92

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

(KTLA) – Recording industry insider Clarence Avant, who garnered the nickname of the "Godfather of Black Music," died at his Los Angeles home Sunday night, according to a family statement released Monday. “Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss,” said the statement, which was released by Avant's son Alex, daughter Nicole and her husband, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos.No cause of death was given. ‘He will be moderately missed’: Viral obit details the eccentricities of Kentucky man Avant’s achievements were both public and behind the scenes, as a name in the credits, or a name behind the names. Born in a segregated hospital in North Carolina, he became a man of lasting and wide-ranging influence, in part by minding two pieces of advice from an early mentor, the music manager Joe Glaser: Never let on how much y...

MedWatch: Altering genes to fight addiction, mental health maps and vaccines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

For Monday, Aug. 14, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Gene therapy could reduce alcohol use The gene therapy is already in use for Parkinson's patients and now doctors say it works to reduce chronic heavy drinking., Oregon Health and Science University scientists found by implanting a type of molecule to promote cell growth, they can reset the brain's dopamine reward pathway. The effects lead to a dramatic reduction in alcohol cravings and alcohol use. Since the procedure involves brain surgery, experts say even though it is incredibly effective, it should be reserved for only the most severe cases of alcohol use disorder. Brain scans reveal changes linked to different mental illnessesVisualizing mental health issues is possible with brain scans. New maps reveal the individual brain changes linked to different mental illnesses. Scanning nearly 1300 people with various mental health challenges highlighted the diversity acros...

Texas House committee suggests possible path for school voucher program in new report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:48:27 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Ahead of an expected special legislative session related to public and private education, a select Texas House committee is proposing an avenue for creating a school voucher program, one of Gov. Greg Abbott's priorities that did not get accomplished during the regular session. The select committee issued a report on Friday that outlines a potential compromise for leaders on school vouchers and also addresses a variety of issues facing Texas schools as many head back to school this week. The bipartisan 15-member committee issued a number of recommendations related to issues like teacher retainment, student outcomes and overall public school finance. A school voucher program would allow parents to use public dollars to help pay for private school education. During the regular session, the Senate passed a voucher bill but it never made it across the finish line in the House — where several rural conservatives did not get on board after expressing concerns about how i...