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Former New York congressman wants to retake seat as Santos’ legal woes mount

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi on Tuesday launched a campaign to retake the New York congressional seat held by Rep. George Santos as the besieged Republican congressman faces a sprawling list of criminal charges. Suozzi had represented the 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Long Island and northeast Queens, before an unsuccessful campaign for governor last year. The Democrat announced the congressional bid in a statement on X, formally known as Twitter, and said a formal campaign kickoff will come after local elections next month.“Today I’m filing a committee to run for Congress in November 2024,” he said. “The madness in Washington, D.C., and the absurdity of George Santos remaining in the United States Congress is obvious to everyone.”A handful of candidates have emerged to vie for the seat in what is expected to be part of a group of competitive congressional races in New York that could determine party control of the House. Santos’ seat i...

2 Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies in critical condition after fire in mobile gun range trailer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two veteran Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were seriously hurt Tuesday when a fire broke out inside a trailer serving as a mobile shooting range north of Los Angeles, authorities said.The deputies were listed in critical but stable condition after being burned in the 53-foot (16-meter) trailer, prompting Sheriff Robert Luna to close other mobile ranges county-wide as investigators look into what caused the blaze.“We need to know why it happened and get to the bottom of it so we prevent it from happening again,” Luna said during a news conference at the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where the deputies were hospitalized.Luna did not immediately release the names of the deputies. He said one has been with the department for 21 years and the other has 17 years of service.Crews fought the fire for more than four hours, beginning around 9:30 a.m., and expected to extinguish it Tuesday afternoon. They were challenged by live ammunition still inside the traile...

Skilling: Frost Advisory issued for second night in a row for Chicagoland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

WE ENTER A SECOND CONSECUTIVE NIGHT in which a majority of the Greater Chicago area is under a FROST ADVISORY.The only area exempted from the frost threat are, as they were last night, are Lake and Cook counties in Illinois; Kenosha county in Wisconsin and LaPorte county in Indiana. This follows the chilliest night of the season across the area. O'Hare's temp drop to a season's low of 42 overnight—the chilliest overnight low since early May---5 months ago. Area low temps dipped to 30 at Sugar Grove and Rockford; to 31 at Rochelle, Kirkland, South Beloit and Elwood; and to 32 at Warrensville, Bonfield and Chebanse Tuesday morning.Lows Tuesday night/Wed morning will drip to 40 in the city—but as low as 31 at the coldest spots under clearing skies and amid light winds—the perfect meteorological set-up for maximum cooling.  This puts prospects for frost formation away from the city and warmth of Lake Michigan on the high side again tonight.A POWERFUL AND WET AUTUMN STORM IS TO DEVE...

Hundreds gather to show support, solidarity for Israel in wake of Hamas attacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

GLENCOE, Ill. — As the war between Israel and Hamas continues community members in Chicagoland are coming together in a showing of solidarity.Several prayer vigils were held Monday night and another gathering was held Tuesday morning in Glencoe. Hundreds of people came together for the community-wide solidarity event hosted by the Jewish United Fund (JUF) of Chicago.Governor JB Pritzker addressed the crowd and condemned the actions against Israel, while calling for solidarity and prayer for impacted families and the men and women of the Israeli Defense Forces.“Today we come together in solidarity to mourn and grieve for the victims of the horrific violence against Israel,” Pritzker said. “Prayers are called for, but they are not enough, not nearly enough. Children, students, elderly, mothers and fathers, innocents are dead and injured at the hands of Hamas.” Biden condemns Hamas brutality in attack on Israel and calls out rape and torture by militants “We are here at a synagogue w...

Thousands attend New York City rally in support of Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (WPIX) – Thousands of people gathered to attend a rally in support of Israel on Manhattan’s East Side Tuesday evening. The crowd packed into Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza at 47th Street and Second Avenue, located up the street from the Israeli consulate and near the United Nations. Biden confirms Americans among hostages captured in Israel Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, other elected officials and religious leaders were expected to attend.The rally is being held in the wake of the deadly attacks in Israel by the militant group Hamas.New York City is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, with about 2 million Jewish people living in the city and surrounding areas.Watch the video player for more on this story; this story is developing.

Chicago police investigate hazmat incident in Wrigleyville

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department is investigating a hazmat incident Tuesday afternoon in Wrigleyville.The incident was reported around 2:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of West Waveland. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines According to police, one person was taken to Illinois Masonic in unknown condition after he came in contact with a skin irritant.According to a statement from the Chicago Cubs, an employee had an allergic reaction, was taken to a hospital and was eventually released.Police said the department's bomb squad is on the scene investigating. The Cubs said the employee detected a "foreign substance" in a small package.Additional details haven't been released at this time.

'What are we going to do now': Fayette County residents concerned after hospital closure announced

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) — St. Mark's Medical Center in La Grange announced it is closing its doors and ceasing all operations Oct. 12.A news release said the closure results from St. Mark's "ongoing inability to meet its financial obligations.""Living here and living in the country is a joy," said Fayette County resident Bill Koenig. "Virtually everything you would need has been here except for now the hospital."Struggles to keep St. Mark's Medical Center running have been going on for a while, but the recent announcement to cease all operations has Koenig and others worried."I have heart problems," Koenig said. "I have cancer, both liver and kidney cancer."He said trips to the emergency room over the years have saved his life. Now he will have to drive much further to have any procedures or for emergencies."It is definitely going to be a challenge for my crews," said Josh Vandever, director of emergency medical services with Fayette County.The closure means his crews will be t...

DPS urging Texans to 'remain vigilant' after Israel attacks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety said it has concerns after the recent attacks against Israel and want to remind Texans to remain vigilant at all times, as well as report any suspicious activity, according to a news release from DPS.DPS responded to Gov. Gregg Abbott's directive this week to work with local partners and federal intelligence agencies to heighten public safety measures due to the Israel attacks, the release said.However, DPS said it is not aware of any specific, credible threats to Texas at this time. Though, the department said it has concerns the current conflict could inspire homegrown violent extremists and foreign terrorist organizations in the United States to target the Jewish community and institutions that are associated with Israel outside of the Middle East, according to DPS.The agency encourages Texans to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity via iWatchTexas. The iWatchTexas program is a critical resource used for reporti...

Former la Barbecue employee suing restaurant after losing fingers in meat grinder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A former employee of la Barbecue in Austin is suing the restaurant and its owners after a 2016 incident that caused him to lose four fingers. The lawsuit follows 2022 insurance fraud charges from the Texas Department of Insurance. In 2016, Aaron Gomez was working to prepare sausage overnight at la Barbecue when his glove caught in the meat grinder, causing him to lose four fingers on his left hand, the lawsuit said. A lawsuit filed Tuesday is seeking a jury trial to recover Gomez's full range of damages, his attorney Jon Clark said. Gomez is suing la Barbecue, the estate of Leann Mueller, restaurant manager Alison Clem and Paychex Business Solutions.KXAN has reached out to the defendants regarding the lawsuit. A Paychex spokesperson said the company does not comment on pending litigation. This article will be updated if any statement is received. Gomez said the meat grinder switch worked sometimes and didn't work sometimes. His attorney said employees were told to pl...

Judge finds man mentally ill, not guilty of killing father in St. Anthony home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:41 GMT

A Ramsey County judge has acquitted a man in the beating and stabbing death of his 88-year-old father at their St. Anthony home nearly two years ago.Judge DeAnne Hilgers found Rodney Berg Christopherson, 49, not guilty by reason of mental illness in the December 2021 murder of Donald Allan Christopherson, who died of head trauma and blood loss caused by sharp-force injuries. Christopherson showed “he was laboring under such a defect of reason as not to know the acts constituting the alleged offense were wrong,” the judge wrote.Rodney Berg Christopherson (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)Hilgers’ ruling was issued last week; a bench trial was held in July.Christopherson, who had been diagnosed with psychotic disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, struck his father in the head with a metal mallet and stabbed and slashed him with a knife, according to court documents.The elder Christopherson had a long career as chief of pharmacy services for the Vet...