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Almost half of midterm voters cast ballots early or by mail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

Almost half of all voters in the 2022 midterm elections cast their ballots before Election Day either by mail or through early voting, with Asian and Hispanic voters leading the way, according to new data the U.S. Census Bureau released Tuesday.The heavy use of both early voting and voting by mail occurred even as Republican-led states have tightened rules on both voting methods over the last two years, and it marked a steep rise from the two previous midterm elections in 2018 and 2014. Only the 2020 presidential election, during the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic, had a greater share of of U.S. voters who cast ballots early or by mail — more than two-thirds of voters did so.In the 2022 midterm elections, two-thirds of Asian voters and almost three-fifths of Hispanic voters cast ballots by mail or at early-voting sites, while less than half of white and Black voters did so, according to Census Bureau survey data.Unusual dynamics drove midterm turnout last year including the U.S...

2 critical after Southwest Side crash involving school bus, students with special needs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

CHICAGO — Several people were hurt Tuesday in a crash involving a school bus on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Students with special needs were among those taken to the hospital, the Chicago Fire Department said.Crews including several ambulances responded to 31st Street and Kedzie Avenue around 11 a.m. in the city’s Little Village neighborhood for reports of a head on crash.According to police, an SUV driven by a man, attempted to pass a semi truck. The SUV then went into oncoming traffic and struck the school bus head on.According to the Chicago Fire Department, 16 total people were transported to area hospitals. Two drivers were taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to CFD.Police said nine students, ages 16-18, were taken to the hospital for evaluation but no series injures were reported. FBI: Armored truck robbed in Homewood; bank robbed on North Side A Special Olympics event was taking place nearby at La Villita Park. The driver of the SUV was issued citations fo...

3 people beaten, robbed in Little Village

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are investigating after three people were robbed at gunpoint on Chicago’s Southwest Side.According to police, a 72-year-old man, a 60-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman were in the 2700 block of South Lawndale around 5 a.m. Tuesday when a white car pulled up and four men exited the car. FBI: Armored truck robbed in Homewood; bank robbed on North Side The group of men displayed two guns and demanded money.Police said the 72-year-old man was struck in the head. The 60-year-old man was struck in the head and robbed of money. The woman was robbed but not injured.The group of men then got in the car and left the scene.Police have not released any additional information.No one is in custody.

Chicago's Divvy to become biggest bikeshare in North America by service area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Divvy bikeshare system operator, Lyft, are expanding its service area and increasing its fleet size.Plans were announced at a Tuesday afternoon event to add 3,000 classic pedal bikes to the system, along with 253 new Divvy stations primarily targeting neighborhoods traditionally underserved by the bikeshare. CDOT officials are aiming for citywide accessibility. FBI: Armored truck robbed in Homewood; bank robbed on North Side Caroline Samponaro, head of transit and micromobility policy at Lyft, stated with this expansion, Chicago's Divvy Bikes would become the largest bikeshare by service area in North America. The announcement comes as May gets underway, marking National Bike Month and a turn towards warmer weather, and thus an increase in cyclists on the roadways.

'Some Like It Hot' leads Tony Award nominations with 13 nods

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — “Some Like It Hot,” a Broadway musical adaptation of the cross-dressing movie comedy that starred Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, waltzed away Tuesday with a leading 13 Tony Award nominations, putting the spotlight on a show that is a sweet, full-hearted embrace of trans rights. With songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and starring Christian Borle and J. Harrison Ghee, who all got nominations, the show follows two musician friends who disguise themselves as women and join an all-girl band to flee Chicago after witnessing a mob hit. Like the movie, there are men in dresses trying to pass as women. But this time, the dress awakens something in Ghee’s character, akin to a transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly.“The only thing we wanted to do was to be honest and we wanted to treat these characters with dignity,” said Matthew López, who wrote the Tony-nominated book with Amber Ruffin and has a Tony already for the play “The Inheritance.” “Sometimes the best wa...

Snake makes home in traffic signal breaker box, causes intersection power outage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A large snake that made its home inside a traffic signal breaker box in Virginia was removed after it flipped a switch that controls the light.According to the Prince William County Police Department, the breaker box powered a traffic signal at the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Sudley Manor Drive. When the snake flipped the breaker switch, the signal was shut off. Because of molted skin and waste found inside, it is believed that the snake had been living in the box for some time, police said.The snake did not damage anything inside the box.A large snake that made its home inside a breaker box that powers a traffic signal in Prince William County was removed by police after it flipped a switch that controls the signal. (Photo: Prince William Police)Since snakes gain body heat from their environment, it's not unusual to find them hiding in places to keep warm. A crash investigator and animal control officer removed the snake unharmed...

Next step for Bears' rookies? Number assignments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

LAKE FOREST - One of the things that fans enjoy from year-to-year is to see what numbers their favorite players will be assigned for the upcoming season.That includes the rookies, who are joining the Bears for the very first time. Ahead of the team's mini-camp this weekend, the team assigned the first year players the numbers they'll wear to start out their NFL careers. Some were able to keep their college digits but many others are starting anew in Chicago.Here are the number assigned to the Bears' 2023 draft picks. Darnell Wright - OT - #58 (Wore Same at Tennessee)Gervon Dexter Sr. - DT - #98 (Wore #9 at Florida)Tyrique Stevenson - CB - #29 (Wore #2 at Miami)Zacch Pickens - DT - #96 (Wore #6 at South Carolina)Roschon Johnson - RB - #30 (Wore #2 at Texas)Tyler Scott - WR - #13 (Wore same at Cincinnati)Terell Smith - CB - #32 (Wore #4 at Minnesota)Noah Sewell - LB - #44 (Wore #1 at Oregon)Travis Bell - DT - #73 (Wore #96 at Kennesaw State)Kendall Williamson - S - #36 (Wore 21 at St...

Former NFL player Henry Ruggs to plead guilty in crash that killed woman and her dog

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs is expected to plead guilty in a deadly DUI crash case, according to his attorneys.Ruggs, 23, is accused of driving 156 mph under the influence and crashing into a car killing 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog in Nov. 2021. Prosecutors said Ruggs' blood alcohol level was 0.16 which is twice the legal limit in Nevada.Ruggs' attorneys, who appeared in court Tuesday morning, waived his right to a preliminary hearing which was set to take place on Thursday. They told the court the former Raiders player will enter a plea to lesser charges during a court hearing on Wednesday, May 10, and will plead guilty to one count of felony DUI causing death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Under the plea deal, Ruggs will face three to 10 years in prison.Henry Ruggs appears in court on March 22, 2023. (KLAS)Ruggs' current charges are DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm, two cou...

Two more dry days before possible storms Thursday night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Clouds returned overnight along with warmer morning temperatures and humidity. Most lows were in the low to mid 60s Tuesday morning. Camp Mabry was an exception with a low of 68°.Afternoon highs will be in the low to mid 80s. Gradual clearing will continue for the rest of the day.Fog will return after midnight until around 10 a.m. Wednesday. Tomorrow will be partly cloudy with highs a few degrees higher than today's. An upper-level low is found this afternoon in the eastern Pacific west of Los Angeles. It will move into southern California by Wednesday then head towards the plains states. An upper-level disturbance in the southwest wind aloft will move towards the area increasing the chance for showers and thunderstorms.Rain beginning during the afternoon will increase into the evening with a potential for strong to severe storms. The main threats will be sizeable hail and strong, potentially damaging winds.The timing of the strong to severe storms looks to be in th...

Today is the last day to give your feedback on Austin's Project Connect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:25:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Time is running out to let transportation officials know how you feel about the redesigned light rail options for Austin's Project Connect.Building a light rail in Austin is proving to be an incredibly heavy lift. Flashback to November 2020, when voters approved drastic improvements to Austin's mass transportation system. The vision looked to include several light rail lines, a new downtown tunnel system and added bus routes. New Project Connect renderings feature light rail buildout opportunities in the future After skyrocketing construction costs, the Austin Transit Partnership has scaled back the plan significantly. ATP released in late March five options that should land closer to the $7.1 billion plan approved by Austin voters."We have three that are called on street and we have one that is called partially elevated, and another that was called partially underground," Jocelyn Vokes, ATP's public involvement manager, said.All five new routes have a portion of t...