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Amid polarization, minority party lawmakers face penalties

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Republicans removed the state’s only nonbinary legislator from House committees after the lawmaker provided refuge to a transgender rights activist. In Florida, two Democratic leaders were arrested for participating in a protest over abortion restrictions. And in Tennessee, three Democratic House members are facing expulsion for using a bullhorn in the House chamber to show support for demonstrators demanding gun control.In an increasingly polarized political atmosphere, experts say these kinds of harsh punishments for minority party members standing up for principles they believe in are becoming more common, especially when acts of civil disobedience clash with the rigid policies and procedures of legislative decorum.The modern-day division between Democrats and Republicans is at its highest level since immediately after the Civil War, said Scot Schraufnagel, a political science professor at Northern Illinois University who has studied and writte...

Russian charged with war crimes: Ukrainian kids can go home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, who is being sought for war crimes for deporting children from Ukraine, told a U.N. meeting Wednesday that they were taken for their safety and Moscow is coordinating with international organizations to return them to their families.Ambassadors from Western countries boycotted the informal U.N. Security Council meeting, sending low-level diplomats instead. And diplomats from the United States, Britain, Albania and Malta walked out when Maria Lvova-Belova started to address the meeting by video link. The International Criminal Court last month issued an arrest warrant for her and Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. Russia, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month, called Wednesday’s meeting to counter what it claims is disinformation about the Ukrainian children. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters before the meeting...

As bankruptcy ends, board seeks to boost Puerto Rico economy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — As Puerto Rico emerges from a drawn-out bankruptcy process, a federal control board that oversees the island’s finances announced Wednesday that it will focus on growing the U.S. territory’s economy.The board’s new executive director, former New York state budget director Robert Mujica, unveiled a new fiscal plan that will serve as the island’s economic blueprint for the near future.It demands that Puerto Rico overhaul its education, tax and infrastructure sectors and attract more investors by strengthening its fragile power grid and making it easier to do business on an island known for its clunky bureaucracy.“There’s no time to waste,” Mujica said at a press conference.In recent years, the U.S. government allocated more than $120 billion to help Puerto Rico offset the impact of the pandemic and natural disasters ranging from earthquakes to major hurricanes. But Mujica noted those were “one-time infusions that temporarily boosted output” and fueled econ...

Chicago police send large response to downtown Trump Tower

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A large Chicago police presence arrived Wednesday afternoon at the Trump International Hotel and Tower, located in the city’s central Loop near the Chicago River. Chicago police media representatives have not provided details about why officers were called to the building, which is a mix of condos and hotel rooms. The Associated Press

Indiana governor signs ban on gender-affirming health care

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s governor signed a bill banning all gender-affirming care for minors Wednesday, joining at least 12 other states that have enacted laws restricting or banning such care.Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the legislation after Republican majorities in the Legislature approved it. The law will go into effect July 1, and trans youth currently taking medication to transition would have until the end of the year to stop doing so.Holcomb had told reporters Tuesday that the bill on his desk was vague and had not indicated he would sign it or veto it.“Permanent gender-changing surgeries with lifelong impacts and medically prescribed preparation for such a transition should occur as an adult, not as a minor,” Holcomb said in a statement.Opponents of the legislation said the types of care the bill would ban, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers, are vital and often life-saving for transgender kids. Medical providers say most of the procedures banned...

Firefighter dies after Gold Coast high-rise blaze; second in last 2 days

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter died Wednesday following a high-rise fire in Gold Coast. He is the second CFD member to die in as many days.At around 7:20 a.m., CFD tweeted that they responded to the 1200 block of North Lake Shore Drive, which is near the intersection of Division, for a still-and-box response.Then a short time later, a mayday response was called for a firefighter down. Chicago fire said Lt. Jan Tchoryk, 55, was making his way up the stairs to the 27th floor when he went down.He was rushed by colleagues to the lobby. He died as a result of his injuries, CFD said.Three other firefighters were taken to the hospital in fair condition and two civilians were injured as well.The fire department said the fire was initially out and they were just battling hot spots. However at around 8:55 a.m., the fire reignited and large flames were shooting out of another unit. CFD lost the ability to use elevators and said there are no sprinklers on the floor.On Tuesday morning, the dep...

CPD: SWAT at Trump Tower for domestic-related incident

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

CHICAGO — SWAT officers are at Trump Tower for a domestic-related incident.Just after 11:15 a.m., CPD was dispatched to the building, located in the 400 block of North Wabash. Authorities called in SWAT after they believed the incident was domestic-related. Police did not provide additional details, but said it's an isolated incident and there's no threat to the public.A WGN News crew at the scene said residents are not being allowed back into the building at this time.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

CNN's Don Lemon threatened female coworker in 2008: report

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

(The Hill) -- CNN host Don Lemon, one of the most recognizable personalities across the cable news business, has a history of making offensive remarks to and threatening female staffers who anger him, according to a new report. Variety published an extensive exposé on Lemon's conduct relating to women this week, alleging a pattern of abusive and threatening behavior by the former prime-time anchor, who currently hosts CNN's revamped morning program along with Kaitlin Collins and Poppy Harlow. The report alleges that, among other incidents, while Lemon was anchoring CNN's "Live From" program in 2008, he became angry when he was passed over for a reporting assignment for Kyra Phillips, who has since left the network. Citing unnamed sources at the network at the time, Variety reported Phillips received two threatening text messages from an unknown sender after she was granted the reporting mission that said, “Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it." Why Ron DeSa...

Cubs have a 1st in 2023 Wednesday: A postponement

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

CINCINNATI — The Cubs had a first for the 2023 season on Wednesday, and if history shows, it probably won't be the last over the next six months.After all, mother nature isn't afraid to mess with the Major League Baseball schedule.On Wednesday, the Cubs' game with the Reds at Great American Ball Park has been called off due to rain in the Cincinnati area. It's the first time that's happened for the clubs this season and it comes less than a week into the 2023 campaign. The contest will be made up as part of a split doubleheader that will be played on Friday, September 1. Game 1, which is the rescheduled game from Wednesday, will be played at 12:10 p.m. central time. Game 2, the originally scheduled contest, will be played at 5:40 p.m. central time.This ends the series between the Cubs and the Reds with the teams splitting the two games they played. After the hosts won Monday night 7-6, the visitor's offense responded with a huge offensive effort on Tuesday.Thanks to three RBI nights...

WGN at 75: Ozzie Guillen has many stories to tell

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:10 GMT

CHICAGO — He's one of the rare individuals in the history of the "Windy City" to find success not only as a professional athlete but also as the leader of one of Chicago's teams. Because of that, Ozzie Guillen isn't short on stories to tell about his time with the White Sox.The three-time American League All-Star and 1985 Rookie of the Year played for the south siders from 1985 through 1997. After winning the World Series as a third base coach with the Marlins in 2003, which included a memorable NLCS comeback win over the Cubs, Guillen returned to Chicago to take over the White Sox. In his second year, the club snapped their 88-year championship drought with a World Series sweep of the Astros in one of the greatest playoff runs in Major League Baseball. Guillen would win another American League Central division championship in 2008, including the famous "Blackout" one-game playoff win at then US Cellular Field, managing through 2011.Even after his time in the dugout has been complet...