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Appeals court says Georgia may elect utility panel statewide, rejecting a ruling for district voting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that Georgia can keep statewide elections for its five-member commission regulating utilities, overturning a lower court judge who found statewide elections illegally diluted Black votes.The ruling is important beyond Georgia’s Public Service Commission because it could help protect certain statewide elections in other states subject to scrutiny for racial discrimination under the Voting Rights Act. It also could signal limits to a new wave of voting rights litigation after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key part of the law this year in an Alabama case.In August 2022, U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg had ordered Georgia’s commissioners elected by district, the first time a statewide voting scheme had been overturned by a federal judge. But a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Grimberg went too far.“Georgia chose this electoral format to protect critical policy interests and there is no ev...

Colorado funeral home owners where decomposing bodies found returned to state to face charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The owners of a defunct Colorado funeral home where 190 sets of decomposing human remains were found have been returned to the state to face hundreds of felony charges.Carie Hallford appeared in District Court in Colorado Springs via video on Wednesday. District Judge Samorreyan Burney maintained her bail at $2 million cash during the advisement hearing, KRDO-TV reported. Jon Hallford’s advisement hearing was Friday and his bail also remained at $2 million.Carie Hallford’s public defender had asked for her bail to be reduced to $50,000, citing her lack of a criminal record, but Burney noted she faced more than 250 felony charges. Both Hallfords face 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, over 50 counts of forgery, five counts of theft and four counts of money laundering, federal court records said.Neither entered a plea. Their next court appearances are set for Dec. 5.Court records say the Hallfords are both being represented by the public defend...

Navy Pier celebrates 'Light up the Lake 2023'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

CHICAGO — If you're looking for a fun way to spend the holiday season, Navy Pier has transformed into a magical winter wonderland, thanks to thousands of holiday lights decorating the pier.One of the winter activities set up includes an ice-skating rink, where visitors can skate for free if they bring their own skates, or pay $15 to rent a pair.If Chicagoans are looking to let out a little aggression, there is also outdoor ax throwing, which participants can chip in $5 for five axes, or $12 for 12.Indoors at Navy Pier, visitors can find the Future Frost Exhibit highlighting work from local artists and a market called "Lolita's Bodega Artisan Markets," which showcases local vendors from across the City. More from Jewell: The busiest travel day around Thanksgiving, by the numbers "This is my first winter in Chicago and we were just looking at things to do," said Suzi Katz, a visitor at Navy Pier Friday. "We were like, 'we have to go skating,' so here we are, enjoying the cold weathe...

Hamas frees 24 hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire deal.The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar.The agreement opened the way for sorely needed aid to flow into Gaza for beleaguered residents. It was also a moment of hope for families in Israel and elsewhere worried about loved ones taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the war.With the truce’s start Friday morning, Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians saw quiet for the first time after seven weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment, which has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and flattened vast swaths of residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well. Israel allows for temporary ceasefire...

Corey Perry sits again as Blackhawks remain quiet about forward's status

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Corey Perry was a healthy scratch for Chicago's game against Toronto on Friday, and Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson declined to provide any update on the forward's status with the team.The 38-year-old Perry has four goals and five assists in 16 games in his first season with the team. He skated for almost 15 minutes during a 3-2 loss to Buffalo on Sunday, and then was a healthy scratch for Wednesday night's 7-3 loss at Columbus.“He won't be in the lineup today,” Richardson said before the matchup with the Maple Leafs, “and I'm unable to give any more information at this time.” Korchinski scores in OT and Dickinson gets hat trick as Blackhawks beat Maple Leafs 4-3 Asked if Perry's absence was his decision or coming from above him, Richardson responded: “That's just going to be kept internal for now in the organization. Hopefully we'll be able to give updates soon, but we can't give a timeline on that.”Perry was acquired in a June trade with Tampa Bay. He then agreed...

Korchinski scores in OT and Dickinson gets hat trick as Blackhawks beat Maple Leafs 4-3

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie defenseman Kevin Korchinski scored 4:30 into overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on Friday to stop a five-game slide.Jason Dickinson scored three times for Chicago, completing his first career hat trick 15 seconds into the third period. Arvid Soderblom finished with 34 saves.“There’s been a lot of emotions going around,” Dickinson said. “A positive win at home, doing the right things, details, all of that leads to a really good feeling to head forward.” Blackhawks’ Taylor Hall is expected to miss the rest of the season with a right knee injury The last-place Blackhawks improved to 4-10-0 in their last 14 games.“We needed this and really dug down and got it,” coach Luke Richardson said. “We were more into the battle.”Calle Jarnkrok, Ryan Reaves and Nicholas Robertson scored for Toronto, which had won four in a row. Max Domi had two assists and Ilya Samsonov made 30 stops.The Maple Leafs had a 3-1 lead midway through the second...

Obituary: Former St. Paul City Council Member Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Megard remembered for ‘tireless’ community work

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

Family and former colleagues of a longtime St. Paul activist and former city council member are remembering her for community work and a strong belief in government’s ability to improve lives.Two-term Council Member Roberta “Bobbi” Megard died Nov. 16 at age 87. Megard represented northwestern St. Paul’s 4th Ward on the council after being elected in 1993, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1997 and 2001.One of her lasting marks is on downtown housing, said Ann Cieslak, who was a legislative aide to Megard for four years. Cieslak remembers Megard making early calls for more housing in the struggling downtown district, which has since seen significant residential development.Megard was an advocate for affordable housing as well as a critic of former Mayor Norm Coleman’s unwillingness to raise property taxes, something she said would only shift problems to future St. Paul residents, Cieslak said.Megard was a frequent foil to Coleman, who was elected in 1993 as a Democrat but became a...

Cody Schrader runs for 217 yards and a TD, No. 9 Missouri beats Arkansas 48-14

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Cody Schrader ran for 217 yards and a touchdown and No. 9 Missouri limited Arkansas to 87 yards in the first three quarters to help the Tigers win their regular-season finale, 48-14 on Friday.Missouri (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) had it best regular-season record since 2014 to likely secure a berth in one of the New Year’s Six bowl games.Schrader ran for 194 yards and a TD in the first half as the Tigers built a 20-0 lead against the overmatched Razorbacks (4-8, 1-7). Brady Cook had a 6-yard run in the half and threw two TD passes.Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson went down on the first play of the Razorbacks' second drive. Jefferson took off up the middle for a gain of 22 yards, but was twisted up when he was tackled and had to be helped off the field, nursing a lower-leg injury.Missouri took advantage of five Arkansas fumbles, including one on Jefferson’s injury, recovering four and turning them into 24 points. The last turnover came as Jacolby Cri...

Christmas past coming back to life in St. Charles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

ST CHARLES, Mo. -- Trees lining Old Main Street are trimmed, and holiday traditions are kicking off for the St. Charles Christmas Tradition’s 50th season.Pipers were piping as drummers were drumming, all as Santa's started strolling. Kicking off the tradition that’s been around for ages, the start of the season was clearer to see on Black Friday afternoon.“This is truly a tradition for many families, and we love the fact that we get to see the same people, new people, and people from all over the world. They to come to this event; it's heartwarming," said Debbie Ladd, the Managing Director of St. Charles Christmas Traditions.There are 33 Christmas actors along Old Main Street, and you can collect character cards during their skits. The event runs until December 24th. Learn more here.

Gov. Parson pardons more than any Missouri governor since the 1940's

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:26 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Governor Mike Parson has pardoned more than 600 people in the past three years. That's more than any Missouri governor since the 1940's.Parson is a former sheriff; he says he still believes in law and order and that criminals must be held accountable. But he adds, "It doesn't mean they've been criminal all their lives.""I think it's important to me that we set a standard so people know what happens when you commit a crime. There are going to be consequences. You've learned to accept that, and once you realize that, yeah, I made a mistake," said Gov. Mike Parson.So far, Gov. Parson has granted 613 pardons and commuted 20 sentences. He has also denied about 2,400 clemency requests.