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GOP attorneys general cite affirmative action ruling in warning to companies over ‘discrimination’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Thirteen state attorneys general – all Republicans – sent a letter Thursday to the CEOs of the U.S.’s 100 biggest companies, warning of legal consequences for using race as a factor in hiring and employment practices.The letter cited the Supreme Court’s recent and controversial affirmative action ruling — which declared that race cannot be a factor in college admissions, striking down decades-old practices aimed at achieving diverse student bodies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. The states’ top government lawyers argued that the June ruling could also apply to private entities, like employers.“Treating people differently because of the color of their skin, even for benign purposes, is unlawful and wrong,” they wrote. The GOP officials also suggested that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs could be a form of discrimination.This letter and similar actions have strengthen concerns about how impacts of the Supreme Court’s af...

Firefighters battle fire at senior living apartments in Schaumburg

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Firefighters in Schaumburg are battling a fire Friday afternoon at senior living apartments.The apartment building is near West Wise Road and Roselle Road.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesVideo from Skycam 9 showed flames coming from the roof of the building.This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Trial date set for father of suspected gunman in Highland Park parade shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois judge on Friday set a Nov. 6 trial date for a father charged with helping his son obtain a gun license three years before the son allegedly shot dead seven people at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago last year.The father, Robert Crimo Jr., told Judge George Strickland at a hearing in Waukegan — north of Highland Park, where the shooting occurred — that he was waiving his right to a jury trial. That means Strickland will hear evidence and issue verdicts at the end of the bench trial.Earlier this year, Crimo Jr. pleaded not guilty to seven counts of reckless conduct — one count for each person killed. Each count carries a maximum 3-year prison term.In search for accountability on mass shootings, Chicago lawyer charts new course: Suing gun manufacturersThe judge Friday also set an Aug. 7 hearing for arguments on a defense motion challenging the constitutionality of laws that underpin charges against the father. Judge Strickland w...

Alderman used weed law to harass critics, IG report finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago alderman is accused of directing city workers to target a critic who lives in his ward by going after the man’s garden.While the Inspector General’s report does not identify the alderperson, previous reporting, and the alleged victim say he is Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th Ward). “Jimmy is such a snowflake he employs his friends to gang up on people who disagree with him,” said Pete Czosnyka, a North Side’s 45th Ward resident. Police: Six Flags Great America worker who ‘accidentally bumped’ ride passenger attacked The Inspector General investigated and concluded: A “sitting alderperson directed City employees to issue unfounded citations for overgrown weeds and rodents to the home of a constituent who had been publicly critical of the alderperson.” The IG found the alderperson was in “breach of fiduciary duty” for “unauthorized use of City property” and has now referred the matter to the Chicago Board of Ethics.The weed fines totaled more than $700, according to Czos...

Chicago man who took photo from Pelosi’s office sentenced for Capitol riot role

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man who stole a prized photograph from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced on Friday to more than four years in prison for his role in the mob’s attack on the building.Kevin James Lyons, 40, took a wallet from a Pelosi staffer’s coat and a framed photograph of Pelosi with the late Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights movement icon who died in July 2020. Lyons also mockingly called out Pelosi’s name during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.“In the context of the actions of the riotous mob, some of whom were baying for blood, Lyons’ invocation of the Speaker’s name could only be intended and understood as a threat of violence,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.Investigators haven’t recovered the photograph of Pelosi with Lewis, which was taken during a 2019 visit to Africa, her last trip abroad with the Georgia Democrat before his death. The framed photo, taken from a mantle in the California Democrat’s office, ...

Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Crenshaw push for provision to authorize psychedelic research in defense bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- A bipartisan group of lawmakers pushed to add a provision in the defense bill that would allow for research on psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder."Psychedelics have shown so much promise," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said."There's a realization that these therapies are working," Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) said. Friday, Ocasio-Cortez and Crenshaw worked together to authorize medical research of psychedelic drug therapies in this year's National Defense Authorization Act.Why?"To help members of our armed forces suffering from PTSD," Ocasio-Cortez said. "As well as helping thousands of survivors of sexual assault, trauma, violence, and beyond."Said Crenshaw: "There's a lot of people in our country that could use effective treatments that are feeling hopeless right now."Currently, the U.S. government classifies psychedelics in the same category as heroin and meth, but health experts say they deserve a second look."They're a major adv...

Iowa 6-week abortion ban signed into law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Friday signed Iowa's new abortion ban into law, effectively outlawing most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.The ban will take effect immediately, further eroding abortion access across the Midwest, where it is already extremely limited."I have never been prouder to sign a bill into law," Reynolds said while signing the bill at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa.The GOP-led state legislature passed the ban earlier this week after an all-day special session, and the law is already facing a legal challenge.Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic and the ACLU of Iowa filed a lawsuit in district court less than 12 hours after the bill passed Tuesday.The state passed a nearly identical version of the law in 2018, but it was halted by a court because Roe v. Wade was still in effect. Last month, the state Supreme Court deadlocked 3-3 on whether to let the law take effect. Abortion is banned in almost all cases in the neighbori...

Austin-area volunteer youth coach charged with child sex crimes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who coached for the Lake Travis Youth Association (LTYA) was arrested on multiple sex crime charges, court documents state. According to a warrant issued for Rusty Whittaker in North Carolina, he faces the following charges:Statutory rape of a child by an adultStatutory sex offense with a child under the age of 15Two counts of indecent liberties with a childFirst-degree sexual exploitation of a minor Soliciting prostitution of a minorAccording to the volunteer status list for LTYA, Whittaker passed a background check that is up for renewal in March 2025. The list also states he completed a program related to the organization's abuse prevention policy."Safety of our players and our community is the foremost priority for us," said Scott Cronk, the executive director of LTYA. "We have a policy that requires volunteer coaches to complete background checks, and nothing of this nature was revealed."Cronk said Whittaker passed his most recent background check in March...

LIVE BLOG: 685 fans donated, $129K raised so far for Family Eldercare Summer Fan Drive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — For more than 30 years, Family Eldercare has been running a Summer Fan Drive to keep people cool amid Texas' summer heat.This year's drive comes on a week with multiple days in a row topping out over 100°. KXAN meteorologists forecast the excessive heat will continue for the next one to two weeks. On Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., people can drop off their fans at KXAN, Roger Beasley Mazda locations and Whittlesey Landscape Supplies. They can also donate online. KXAN will be tracking the number of fans collected and money raised and will share updates in this story. How to donate to the 33rd Family Eldercare Summer Fan Drive Fan donations trackerMonetary donations trackerLive blog3 p.m. So far, 685 fans were donated and $129,400 was raised. 1:45 p.m.2023 Summer Fan Drive with Jim Spencer (KXAN Photo)2023 Summer Fan Drive with Jim Spencer (KXAN Photo)2023 Summer Fan Drive with Jim Spencer (KXAN Photo)Fan donations for the 2023 Summer Fan Drive (KXAN Photo/Grace Reade...

Austin City Council to vote on creating 'police reserve' of retired officers for events

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- According to last minute Austin City Council agenda items published Friday, council members could vote to create a "police reserve" unit to help the Austin Police Department with large events as it faces a staffing crisis. "I think that we're at a we are at a point with our staffing at the police department where we need all the help we can get," Council Member Mackenzie Kelly said. "And by creating a reserve police officer program, we will get additional officers who've previously worked for the department and are retired and able to assist with the staffing needs." According to documents, the unit would consist of no more than 75 members. All temporary officers involved would have to have a "permanent peace officer license." The police chief will be tasked with appointing members to the unit and they must be approved by Austin City Council prior to joining the unit, documents say. Public safety leaders: APD overtime payment delays linger Dennis Farris, the presi...