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Mayor Johnson delivers first budget address

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered his first budget address Wednesday. It is expected to cover everything from filling the more than nearly $540 million budget shortfall to the growing cost of the migrant crisis.The mayor has been warning for weeks this was going to be a challenging budget.Johnson came into office with progressive goals — opening mental health clinics and pouring millions into programs for the homeless, and his treatment not trauma plan.Johnson wants to do this without raising property taxes and with some federal relief dollars ending.While campaigning for mayor, Johnson proposed a number of revenue generating ideas, most included fees and taxes aimed at the wealthy.The Chicago Sun-Times reports Johnson recently hinted the elimination of 1,700 police vacancies. The nearly $540 million gap for next year, according to the Chicago Tribune report, is attributed to revenues dropping and expenditures growing by about 9% over this year's budget.The migrant crisis is...

Kendall Jenner visits college bar KAMS in Champaign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A member of the Kardashian/Jenner family was in Champaign Tuesday night to promote her new tequila brand.Kendall Jenner visited KAMS bar, located at 102 East Green Street, on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. Jenner was there for a happy hour to promote her "818 Tequila" — which is named after her home area code.Cellphone video, captured by the daughter of WGN Morning News anchor Robin Baumgarten, shows Jenner taking a selfie amongst a sea of bar patrons. The bar, that dubs itself as "Home of the Drinking Illini," shared photos and video on its Instagram page of Jenner serving drinks of her tequila and interacting with fans.

Former NFL player Sergio Brown to be charged with first-degree murder after mother found dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

(WGN) – Former NFL player Sergio Brown will be charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his mother, according to officials in Illinois.Myrtle Simmons-Brown, 73, was discovered dead in a creek behind her home, in Maywood, Illinois, on Sept. 16. Police said Brown lived there as well.Last month, Maywood police stopped short of naming Brown as a person of interest, but said they would like to talk to him. At the time of Simmons-Brown's discovery, both Brown and his mother were originally classified as missing persons.Brown is a former safety for Notre Dame who played seven seasons in the NFL. Previous: Family of Myrtle Simmons-Brown look for answers in homicide investigation A few days after Simmons-Brown’s body was found, videos of Brown surfaced on social media, where he appeared to be outside of the United States.In one of the videos, Brown claimed to have been kidnapped twice, while in another he appeared to be laughing, while surrounded by messages from th...

Around Town checks out Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago901 W Kinzie St.Chicago, IL 60607GuinnessBreweryChicago.com

Chicago Red Stars make a change in leadership before end of 2023 season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

CHICAGO — In an era of change for Chicago's National Women's Soccer club, the current on-field leader is on the way out. Chris Petrucelli's time in that position comes to an end less than two years on the job.The @chicagoredstars announce that manager Chris Petrucelli will not return for the 2024 season..Ella Masar, an assistant coach, will take his place for the season finale against OL Reign on Sunday at SeatGeek Stadium..Petrucelli was manager the last 2 seasons..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/taQoiGAWXr— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 10, 2023The veteran soccer manager will not be retained for the 2024 season and won't lead the club in their 2023 season finale against OL Reign on Sunday at SeatGeek Stadium. Assistant coach Ella Masar will be the interim manager for that match before the team does a full search in the offseason.Petrucelli was 16-18-19 in just short of two seasons, leading the team to the NWSL playoffs in 2022.“We appreciate Chris’s service as coach, especia...

WATCH: Tiger shark battles sea turtle off of Hawaii

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) - A boat tour off of the coast of Hawaii captured a rare sight on video: a tiger shark attacking a sea turtle.Kaimana Ocean Safari owner Kayleigh Grant called the scene "nature's natural process" -- the shark on the hunt for food and the turtle fighting for its life.Grant had taken her boat tour out on their regular route when suddenly, about a half-mile off Kealakekua Bay, the shark was seen repeatedly ramming into the green sea turtle.The turtle gave its best effort to fight off the shark, attempting to turn its shell toward the predator."And it works pretty well," said Grant on the turtle's defense. "Tiger sharks are made to hunt sea turtles, though, and so they have really sharp, serrated, strong teeth that are good for getting through that shell." Sighted: Rare creature along the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Green sea turtles are the largest hard-shelled sea turtles in the world, reaching lengths of 4 feet and weighing over 300 pounds, according to the Maui O...

Kaitlin Armstrong attempts escape ahead of Austin murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Kaitlin Armstrong, the woman accused of killing professional cyclist Moriah “Mo” Wilson, attempted to escape the custody of Travis County Sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday morning, sources first confirmed for KXAN.Armstrong is now back in custody, according to a sheriff’s office spokesperson.   BACKGROUND: Kaitlin Armstrong’s murder trial date moved KXAN is working to confirm details about how and where she became separated from authorities.Armstrong’s trial was set to begin October 30 in Austin, where she faces a first-degree murder charge.According to police, Wilson was shot and killed at a home in east Austin in May 2022. Police questioned Armstrong at the time but did not arrest her. When a warrant was issued for her arrest days later, it was discovered Armstrong had fled the country. Kaitlin Armstrong captured in Costa Rica, records show bail set at $3.5 million After more than a month on the run, in June 2022, Armstrong was re-apprehended at a Costa Rica...

New study identifies serious gaps in Texans' health care access

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

HOUSTON (KXAN) — A study published on Wednesday by the Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF) claimed that polling data of Texans shows a "growing health care affordability and access crisis" in the state.“This is more than a health care crisis; It’s a statewide crisis,” said Dr. Ann Barnes, EHF president and CEO, in a press release. “These numbers paint a grim picture of the barriers Texans face in accessing essential medical care.”Some data points in that press release include:68% of Texans skipped or postponed medical care because of cost;66% of Texans without insurance do not have a primary care doctor;50% of Texans put off necessary health care; and,35% did not fill a prescription because of cost.The first data point is up from 59% in 2022.The struggles to afford health care varies by race and income. The study found 62% of Hispanic Texans and 55% of Black Texans reported difficulties in affording healthcare costs, compared to 44% of white Texans.The study's sample size was 1,201 ad...

Austin EMTs, firefighters help deliver baby girl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new bundle of joy calls Austin home after Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services and Austin Fire Department crews helped deliver a baby girl Tuesday.ATCEMS said in a social media post medics were dispatched early Tuesday morning following reports of a pregnant patient having contractions. When crews arrived, they saw "their patient in active labor, with the baby crowning," per the post.Within 10 minutes, ATCEMS and AFD teams helped deliver the baby girl, adding both the mom and infant are doing well.

Pioneer Press marks 175th anniversary with commemorative photo book

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

In April 1849, the safety pin had just been invented and the rules of a new game called base-ball were being hammered out in the area around New York City.The United States was on its 12th president, while most of Europe was still ruled by monarchs.The fastest way to travel from the East Coast to the West Coast was a five-month steamship journey around South America.And the first issue of the Minnesota Pioneer – earliest ancestor of the Pioneer Press – was printed in the drafty spare room of a carpentry shop in downtown St. Paul, which was then just a muddy little river town of a few hundred inhabitants.Minnesota’s oldest newspaper, the Pioneer Press will celebrate its 175th birthday on April 28. We’ll be marking the occasion with a variety of special content and products over the next six months.Scheduled to be published in November 2023, “Twin Cities Snapshots” features more than 250 images from the Pioneer Press’s photo archive.The first of these is a hard...