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In closing days of Mississippi governor’s race, candidates clash over how to fund health care

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Thursday that he is working to ease financial problems for struggling hospitals — but the Democratic nominee for governor, Brandon Presley, said Reeves is hurting the state by refusing to expand Medicaid.In the final days before the Nov. 7 general election, both candidates spoke to hundreds of business people during Hobnob, a social event hosted by Mississippi Economic Council, the state’s chamber of commerce.“Our nation is struggling, particularly in rural areas with health care,” Reeves said. “And I want everyone to know that I am committed to addressing the problem.”Under a proposal Reeves released last month, hospitals would pay higher taxes so the state could draw more federal Medicaid money. It’s unclear whether the plan will receive federal approval, or how long that process could take. Reeves said the changes would generate about $689 million, which would be split among hospitals in the stat...

AFN chief warns lawyers may ‘take advantage’ of child-welfare settlement recipients

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

OTTAWA — The interim national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is urging those eligible to receive compensation from a landmark class-action settlement to be careful that lawyers do not try to take advantage of them.Interim national chief Joanna Bernard says she’s heard about lawyers reaching out to eligible claimants to represent them after the Federal Court approved $23 billion in compensation for more than 300,000 First Nations children and their families over chronic underfunding of on-reserve child-welfare services.Bernard says a system is in place to dole out monies, and claimants don’t need costly representation from lawyers, who she warned could try to “take advantage of our people.”The settlement this week came more than 15 years after the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society jointly launched a human-rights complaint that sparked a years-long legal battle with the federal government.One class-action la...

Volunteer youth bowling coach and ‘hero’ bar manager among Maine shooting victims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

A volunteer youth bowling coach known for encouraging children and a bar manager whose father said died “a hero” were among the at least 18 people killed and 13 injured in two mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine. According to Maine State Police, seven people died Wednesday night at Sparetime Recreation bowling alley, six were male and one was female. Eight more people, all male, died at Schemengees Bar and Grille; seven were killed outside the establishment; one inside. Three others died after being taken to area hospitals.Authorities have not released the victims’ names, but their family members have been confirming their deaths.BOB VIOLETTE:Retiree Bob Violette, 76, devoted himself to his volunteer job coaching the youth bowling league that was practicing Wednesday night, said Patrick Poulin, whose teenage son has been a member for three years.“He’s taught so many people over the years how to bowl, and he wasn’t getting paid,” he said. “We’ve really been focused on tryin...

Wife of ex-Alaska Airlines pilot says she’s in shock after averted Horizon Air disaster

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The wife of a former Alaska Airlines pilot who prosecutors say tried to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight while riding in the cockpit jump seat said Thursday she knew her husband was struggling with depression but that she was in a state of shock over his arrest.“This is not my Joe,” Sarah Stretch told reporters after attending her husband Joseph Emerson’s first appearance in federal court in Portland, Oregon.“He never would’ve done that. He never would’ve knowingly done any of that,” she added, her voice quivering. “That is not the man that I married.”Ethan Levi, a defense attorney for Emerson, said that Emerson was not suicidal or homicidal while on board the Horizon Air flight. “There was no intention to harm himself or other people,” he said.Levi added that Emerson wanted to thank the flight crew for their “timely and heroic actions.”State and federal prosecutors accused Emerson of trying to engage an emergency fire suppression system while ridi...

Galewood residents opposed proposed shelter for migrants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Community members in Galewood are upset over a plan to house migrants inside an industrial building at 1900 North Austin.There are several businesses operating here but residents said they were told a 3,000-square-foot vacant space inside would be converted to a migrant shelter next month. Residents continue to protest against plan for Brighton Park migrant camp The building is currently zoned as commercial. During a city meeting on the migrant crisis Thursday afternoon, officials were asked about another commercial building in West Town identified as a possible shelter space. The city says it is working quickly to get migrants indoors and out of police stations as colder weather approaches."We didn't vote for our neighborhoods to be infiltrated like this," Bryant Gallimore, a Galewood resident, said.From commercial spaces to a planned tent base camp in Brighton Park, the city is clashing with neighbors against migrants moving into their areas.Officials said they are try...

Tentative deal between UAW, Ford has Chicago autoworkers excited about the future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

CHICAGO — Nearly 17,000 striking auto workers have left the picket lines after the tentative deal was reached with Ford Motor Company. The United Auto Workers union said Wednesday it agreed to terms with the Detroit automaker, ending the nearly 6-week-old strike.On Chicago's East Side, Local 551 union members celebrated the victory. "There was a big sigh of relief last night and a lot of celebration," said UAW Local 551 president Chris Pena. Autoworkers reach a deal with Ford, a breakthrough toward ending strikes against Detroit automakers Ford was the first of Detroit's big three (General Motors and Stellantis) automakers to negotiate a settlement after thousands of workers walked off the job in mid-September. Locally impacted was the plant in Hegewisch where workers striked for 27 days. Local 551 union member Scott Houldieson said picketers were fighting for their future. The four-year deal still has to be approved by 57,000 UAW leadership and union members at the company, but ...

Downton Abbey Experience opening in Skokie this November

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — Locals won't have to go far to step into the world of the British drama Downton Abbey. Starting next month, the Downton Abbey Experience is coming to Old Orchard Mall in Skokie. Limited engagement for the experience that transports guests to post-Edwardian England opens on Nov. 10 and runs through March 31, 2024.Guests can waltz through some of the sets from Miss Patmore's Frenetic Kitchen all the way up to the glamorous dining room.  Fans can also peruse through props and gaze at costumes worn by characters on the show. Click here to join the waitlist. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Downton Abbey ran for six seasons on PBS, spawning two feature films.

Celebrating the life of WGN's beloved 'Mr. Crane'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

Sad news to share from our WGN family, a remarkable man, Mr. Bill Crane has died.He worked behind the scenes here for 45 years.“Mr. Crane, as we called him respectfully, might have been one of the happiest, funniest, intelligent and amazing men you'll ever meet. The man never took a day off, except for the month of February, to spend with his beloved wife, children and grandchildren.He's been the twinkle of everyone's eye at WGN. When we heard the news of his passing Thursday morning, so many people huddled together telling wonderful stories.There's no one else like him, nor will there ever be.Mr. Crane was an audio engineer who worked long past most people's age of retirement.At 84 years old, he said coming here each day, being part of the news, meeting the newsmakers and doing a job he loved, helped keep him young.Before Channel 9, Mr. Crane was a popular DJ in Chicago in the ‘60s and ‘70s He also served in the United States Navy.  He still wore that uniform to work every year on ...

Additional downpours coming after significant rainfall event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After 6-8 inches of welcome rain in the Hill Country Wednesday night into early Thursday, and flow returning to many of our creeks and rivers, we are expecting another wet and gray day on Friday.Storms early Thursday brought rain totals as high as 8.34" on the San Saba/Llano County line, 7.41" in western Llano County, and 6.53" in Lampasas County. Some parts of Austin tallied nearly 4" of welcome rain. View your neighborhood rainfall totals Storms also brought one confirmed tornado at 8:01 a.m. four miles north-northwest of Lockhart, well southeast of Austin. The Natl. Weather Service will conduct a damage survey to determine the intensity and size of the tornado early Friday. The Flood Watch continues through midnight for additional runoff issues as some low water crossings remain closed and dangerous. Remember, "Turn Around, Don't Drown!"Flood Watch in effect through midnightDeep, tropical moisture swings back over our area Friday,...

Is the recent storm going to fill Lake Travis?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A classic October rainstorm fueled by tropical moisture from Hurricane Otis led to over 8 inches of welcome rainfall in parts of the Hill Country Wednesday night. But with the rain falling on drought-stricken soil, how much of an impact will it make on our lake levels? KXAN First Warning Weather forecast Rain totals were as high as 8.34" on the San Saba/Llano County line, and 7.41" near Castell in western Llano County. Heavy rain falling in a short period of time briefly boosted the Llano River into a minor flood stage Thursday morning.All of that water flows from the Llano River into Lake LBJ, which the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) defines as a 'pass-through lake', maintaining a relatively stable level. This led the LCRA to open one floodgate partially on Wirtz Dam and two floodgates at downstream Max Starcke Dam. This is dumping more than 100,000 gallons of water per second directly into Lake Travis."This is a good slug of water that is going into [Lake...