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Drinking water testing ordered at a Minnesota prison after inmates refused to return to their cells

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

STILLWATER, Minn. (AP) — State officials have ordered additional tests on drinking water at a Minnesota prison after concerns about the water’s quality and other issues were raised when dozens of inmates refused to return to their cells during a heat wave earlier this month.The “additional and more comprehensive water testing” has been ordered at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater “to assure staff and incarcerated individuals that the water is safe for drinking,” the Department of Corrections said in a statement released over the weekend. On Sept. 3, about 100 inmates in one housing unit refused to return to their cells in what one former inmate there called an act of “self-preservation” amid dangerously high temperatures in the region.Advocates said the inmate action was an impromptu response to unsafe conditions, including what they said was brown-colored drinking water, excessive heat, lack of air conditioning and limited access to showers and ice during o...

As US East Coast ramps up offshore wind power projects, much remains unknown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

POINT PLEASANT BEACH,N.J. (AP) — As the U.S. races to build offshore wind power projects, transforming coastlines from Maine to South Carolina, much remains unknown about how the facilities could affect the environment.And that worries some people, particularly those who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.“We don’t have the science to know what the impact will be,” said Jim Hutchinson, managing editor of The Fisherman magazine in New Jersey. “The attitude has been, ‘Build it and we’ll figure it out.’”The wind power industry disputes such claims, citing years of studies.So far, four offshore wind projects have been approved by the federal government for the U.S. East Coast, according to the American Clean Power Association. Vineyard Wind will place 62 turbines about 15 miles off Martha’s Vineyard, generating enough electricity to power 400,000 homes.South Fork Wind will place 12 turbines in the waters off Long Island, New York, about 35 miles east of Montauk Point, to power 70,0...

Cease-fire declared after days of intense fighting in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

SIDON, Lebanon (AP) — An “immediate and lasting cease-fire” was declared Monday after a top Lebanese general met with officials from rival Palestinian factions, following days of fighting in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, which left several people dead and dozens wounded.It was the latest in a series of cease-fires that only lasted for hours before fighting erupted again. It was not clear if this truce will hold and whether rival groups will abide by it. The announcement was made in Beirut by the General Security Directorate.Gunfire and explosions were heard throughout the day inside the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, claiming the life of one person. Stray bullets and shells hit residential areas in the country’s third-largest city.The fighting that broke out Thursday night after nearly a month of calm in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp near the port city of Sidon between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah group and militant Islamist groups has left six people dea...

Protests against Israel’s judicial overhaul kick off at Supreme Court a day before crucial hearing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of Israeli protesters flooded the streets outside Israel’s Supreme Court in Jerusalem on Monday, a day before it hears a pivotal case against the curbing of the high court’s powers by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government. Beating drums, waving blue-and-white Israeli flags and brandishing signs that said “Freedom” and “Hands off our Supreme Court!,” thousands of protesters from cities nationwide swarmed the main intersection outside the high court in a mass rally against the government’s deeply contentious judicial overhaul that has triggered one of the biggest domestic crises in Israeli history.On Tuesday, all 15 of Israel’s Supreme Court justices will appear on the bench for the first time ever to hear appeals by rights groups and individuals against the first major part of the overhaul, which the the government pushed through parliament in July. The divisive law cancels the court’s ability to block govern...

Trial date set for Highland Park parade shooting suspect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — The trial date has been set for the man charged in the deadly Highland Park parade shooting.The trial date for Robert Crimo III has been set for Dec.11. Crimo III, the man who prosecutors say opened fire on crowds of people watching the Highland Park Fourth of July parade in 2022, is facing more than 100 charges, including dozens of first-degree murder and attempted murder charges. Illinois judge refuses to dismiss case against father of Highland Park parade shooting suspect Seven people were killed, dozens were hurt and countless others were traumatized in the shooting.Crimo III pleaded not guilty and is currently being held without bond.The 22-year-old may also appear in another Lake County case prosecutors have brought against his father. Father charged with helping suspect in Highland Park shooting obtain gun license to ask judge to toss case In August, a judge refused to dismiss the reckless conduct case against Robert Crimo Jr. A trial date was set for ...

A groom dresses up like Mike Ditka for his wedding - just like his bachelor party

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

CHICAGO — After earning some fame from his Bears-themed bachelor party in 2022, a Chicago-area resident repeated the theme on his wedding day. Lincoln Park resident Jake Mazanke was married on Saturday, and like he famously did last November, donned a Mike Ditka outfit for part of the reception. (Courtesy: Jake Manzake)He along with his groomsmen took some time to put on the sweaters with the "Bears" across the chest while also wearing sunglasses. Both were signatures of Ditka's gameday outfit when he was head coach of the Bears from 1982-1992, including the Super Bowl XX win over the Patriots in January 1986. Their time in the Ditka gear included the groomsmen taking part in a choreographed dance to "Bear Down, Chicago Bears." It came just a day before the team opened up their 2023 season against the Packers at Soldier Field, which didn't go as well as the dance as the team lost to the Packers 38-20.(Courtesy: Jake Mazanke)This comes after Mazanke wor...

Midday Fix: Dean Richards chats with the stars of THE LEHMAN TRILOGY

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

Mitchell FainAnish JethmalaniJoey SlotnickCheck Out:THE LEHMAN TRILOGYBroadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place175 E. Chestnut, ChicagoSeptember 19-Octber 29Homehttps://timelinetheatre.com/http://www.BroadwayInChicago.com

Not enough evidence to charge BTK serial killer in Oklahoma cold case, district attorney says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) -- An Oklahoma district attorney said Monday there was insufficient information to pursue charges against the serial killer known as BTK in an Osage County cold case.Last month, Osage County authorities said Dennis Rader, the Kansas man convicted of being the BTK serial killer in Wichita, was “a prime suspect" in some unsolved missing persons cases, including that of Cynthia Dawn Kinney, of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.Last week, the Osage County, Oklahoma, undersheriff said they have at least four “pretty strong connections” to cold case investigations linked to Rader that they feel could go to trial.On Monday, District Attorney Mike Fisher said he was not at a point where he could press charges against Rader. Still searching: Parents of Cynthia Dawn Kinney speak out "As of this date, the information that has been shared is insufficient to file criminal charges against Dennis Rader," he said in a press conference. "Given the interest that this information has...

Paintball Explosion: Daytime vs Spotlight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

Spotlight Chicago is kicking off today at 3 p.m. with Ji Suk Yi and Sarah Jindra. They will be checking out all the cool things to see and do across Chicago and beyond. Now that Daytime Chicago and Spotlight Chicago teams are all work shoulder to shoulder and are one big happy family, we thought a little playful competition would be good for team building. T.J. and Romero from Paintball Explosion put the four hosts through the paces. Daytime Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

RESULTS: This is the best KXAN viewer photo of August 2023, as voted by you

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:35:36 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here at KXAN, we get hundreds of photos sent to us each month by viewers just like you.We want to showcase some of the best pictures we receive, so we narrowed them down to our 10 favorites for the month.The winning photo will move on to represent August in the Best Viewer Photos of the Year competition once 2023 is said and done.#10. Burn Scar (1.0% of votes)Cedar Park, Aug. 10. Courtesy Joseph Talafous.Charred trees in the aftermath of the Parmer Lane Fire in Cedar Park, as seen on Aug. 10, 2023. (Courtesy Joseph Talafous)#9. Distant Shower (2.2% of votes)Mansfield Dam Park, Aug. 1. Courtesy Sara Parhizkar.A rain shower is seen in the distance from Mansfield Dam Park, on Lake Travis, on Aug. 1, 2023. (Courtesy Sara Parhizkar)#8. Amazing Rays (2.8% of votes)Walburg, Aug. 9. Courtesy Margie Reed.Anticrepuscular rays seen in Walburg on Aug. 9, 2023. (Courtesy Margie Reed)#6 (tie)....