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Opponents of Maine’s new abortion law won’t seek to nullify it through a referendum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Groups opposed to Maine’s new law expanding abortion access won’t attempt to nullify the statute through a so-called People’s Veto referendum.Republican Rep. Laurel Libby, leader of the Speak Up for LIFE group, said Wednesday that allies decided that the costs of collecting signatures and running a campaign represented too big of a hurdle. Instead, the groups intend to focus on electing candidates who are opposed to abortions.“At the end of the day, we want to put our effort into the most effect place possible,” Libby, a Republican from Auburn, told The Associated Press. That means flipping legislative seats, she said, particularly in the Maine House.The bill signed into law by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills last month allows abortions at any time if deemed medically necessary by a doctor, making the law one of the nation’s least restrictive. The previous law, the Reproductive Privacy Act of 1993, banned abortions after a fetus became viable out...

Northwestern athletic director blasts football staffers for ‘tone deaf’ shirts supporting Fitzgerald

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg criticized assistant football coaches and staff members for wearing shirts supporting fired coach Pat Fitzgerald at practice Wednesday, calling them “inappropriate, offensive and tone deaf” given the hazing and abuse scandal engulfing the program and other teams.“Let me be crystal clear,” he said in a statement. “Hazing has no place at Northwestern, and we are committed to do whatever is necessary to address hazing-related issues, including thoroughly investigating any incidents or allegations of hazing or any misconduct.”Gragg said he and the university were unaware that staffers owned the black shirts with “ Cats Against the World ” and Fitzgerald’s old number “51” in purple type or would wear them at practice. He issued the statement after interim coach David Braun called it a free speech issue and said his focus was on supporting his players and staff rather than whether the shirts were tone deaf.Three players ex...

Census workers logged hundreds of cases of violence, harassment by public: documents

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada documents show workers who went door-to-door to collect data for the 2021 census logged hundreds of workplace injuries and at least 15 assaults by members of the public.The data tables obtained by The Canadian Press through access-to-information law list 680 injury reports, including more than 280 cases of harassment or violence. In some of the most extreme examples, employees were punched, threatened with firearms, spat on or sexually assaulted.In one case, a census interviewer was assaulted by a resident using a “pellet gun,” while another had a “gun pointed at her from another vehicle,” the documents say.One worker was knocked down stairs after being punched in the face by a resident, and had to go to the hospital.Another census employee was unwillingly detained in the home of an angry resident, the documents say. The event was reported to the RCMP.In at least three separate instances, people collecting data for Statistics Canada...

Shot fired at SWAT teams in Austin as they investigate armed robbery case; suspect barricaded inside

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

CHICAGO — FBI and Chicago SWAT teams have been focused on a home Wednesday in Chicago's Austin neighborhood.Their attention has been focused on a home in the 5400 block of West Walton Street. 4 dead, including suspected ‘aggressor,’ after shooting inside home in Crystal Lake: police It all started just before 7 a.m.A law enforcement source said members of the violent crimes task force served a warrant at a tri-level apartment building in connection with an armed robbery investigation.The task force is made up of members of the FBI, Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police and the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Niles introduces feral cat program for rat control When officers made contact with the suspect, a shot was fired in their direction. No one was hurt and no one returned fire.The man then barricaded himself inside where he has been ever since.As of 4 p.m., the situation is still ongoing.

Chicago's first para archery tournament shows off skills, heart

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

CHICAGO — The the sport of archery requires precision, strength and accuracy. But even more...it demands heart.  Something every athletes brought at this week’s when Chicago hosted its first ever para archery competition Behind the Bow.Para athletes from more than 10 countries descended on the city’s Dunbar Park Field.Paralyzed from the chest down, Andre Shelby has been shooting for nearly a decade and won gold at the Paralympics in both Rio and Toronto.  More from Erin: Camp provides Chicago kids refuge from violence, stress "It's almost like a rehab, a continuous rehab because you're constantly learning," Shelby said. "It just gives you a drive and sense of worth almost."The event is what he and everyone else on the line needs to qualify for Paris next summer.Keira Cromwell, a 17-year-old from Indiana, was inspired by another girl with a bow."My love of archery actually began when the movie ‘Brave’ came out, the Disney movie,” she said. “I saw it in theater and I ...

MedWatch Daily Digest: The dangers of thirdhand smoke — and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

For Wednesday, Aug. 9, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Experts warn of danger of thirdhand smoke In rooms where people smoke regularly, tobacco and nicotine linger long after the cigarette goes out. The Department of Energy's Berkeley Lab warns it results in toxic indoor pollutants  Chemicals from the surface of the contaminated surfaces rise back into the air and are inhaled damaging the lungs. Men and women respond differently to stressMen and women respond differently to stress biologically. Chronic stress alters the brain cells of males and females in unique ways. Weizmann Institute of Science researchers say the finding opens the door for personalized therapy for depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders like obesity and diabetes. Mental and physical disorders caused by chronic stress affect men and women, but experts say only by studying the individual manifestation can we arrive at effective, lasting th...

Former Ravinia Festival employee charged with forging checks, stealing over $110K

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

CHICAGO — A Lake County woman is charged with theft and forgery for allegedly stealing more than $110,000 from the Ravinia Festival Association when she was an employee, according to the Attorney General’s office. Michelle Bringham, 39, of  Glenview, faces up to 20 years in prison. The Attorney General's Office noted that Bringham worked as an accounting coordinator with the Ravinia Festival Association, a nonprofit that operates the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. ‘Protect our carriers’: Chicago postal workers call for end to violent attacks According to Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Bringham wrote checks to a fake vendor to steal funds from the nonprofit. Prosecutors allege that Bringham also allegedly used another employee’s signature stamp on checks without the employee’s permission.“It is unacceptable for an employee to abuse their position as a fiscal officer to forge checks and steal from a nonprofit organization,” Raoul said in a release announcing the charges. “I want ...

CPD: 21-year-old man beaten to death in Gage Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

CHICAGO — A 21-year-old man is dead after being found unresponsive inside a Gage Park residence, according to the Chicago Police Department.Police said officers were called to a residence in the 4900 block of South Maplewood Avenue around 2 p.m., after a 21-year-old man was found unresponsive by a family member.Initial investigation showed the victim suffered blunt force trauma to the head and was pronounced dead on scene. Charges dropped against former CPD officer in 2021 North Ave beach incident Police have no one in custody.If you or someone you know has information that can help police make an arrest and conviction in the investigation of this incident, anonymous tips can be filed online with CPD at cpdtip.com.

Utah man killed in FBI raid linked to threats against Biden

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

A Utah man was shot and killed Wednesday morning during an FBI raid linked to threats against President Biden and other Democratic officials. The FBI said the incident occurred after special agents attempted to serve arrest and search warrants at a residence in Provo, Utah.  Sandra Barker, spokesperson for the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, said the shooting is under review by the FBI and declined to offer additional details, calling the incident an “ongoing matter.”  Secret Service spokesperson Alexi Worley said in a statement that it is aware of the FBI investigation involving an individual in Utah “who has exhibited threats to a Secret Service protectee.” Craig Deleeuw Robertson of Provo was under investigation for making threats against Biden and facing a charge of that crime, according to a sealed criminal complaint obtained by The Hill. "I hear Biden is coming to Utah. Digging out my old ghillie suit and cleaning the dust off the M24 snip...

Faith-healing couple plead guilty to denying medical treatment for 13-year-old son

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:31 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Two members of a faith healing church in Oregon City pleaded guilty to denying their son medical care on Tuesday.Brittney and Jake Heimbigner, members of the Followers of Christ Church, admitted they didn't get their 13-year-old son dialysis treatment in a case stemming from September of 2021.In the plea bargain, the prosecutor is recommending 15 days in jail and three years' probation. Oregon Gov. Kotek signs bills aiming to bolster behavioral health, Measure 110 "Our office makes this offer having considered the significant harm that (their son) suffered, the awareness of the risk to him that both defendants demonstrated in their statements to police, and their disregard of that risk by failing to seek medical care until confronted by law enforcement," wrote Deputy District Attorney Bryan Censoni in court documents.Sentencing will be scheduled for sometime after the first week of September.Since 2008, the Heimbigners are the sixth couple to be prosecuted...