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Beacon Hill’s Republican leaders express hesitancy with Healey’s temporary shelter funding plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

Beacon Hill’s top Republicans cast doubt Tuesday on a Healey administration proposal to use surplus dollars to plug Massachusetts’ emergency shelter system’s $224 budget deficit this fiscal year, and help pay off a $915 million tab shelters are expected to run up next fiscal year.Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and House Minority Leader Brad Jones expressed hesitancy about using $700 million in surplus dollars leftover from the COVID-19 pandemic to address financial challenges in the shelter system, arguing the plan Gov. Maura Healey released Monday is only a temporary solution to a potentially long-term problem with no end in sight.Tarr said he is “hesitant to see us use those funds” because they came from sources — robust tax revenues during the pandemic and large amounts of federal aid — that Massachusetts is not likely to see again.“Once they’re gone, they won’t be available for any other contingency that might arise,” he told the Herald. “That being sa...

Trump kicked off Colorado ballot in 14th Amendment case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

Colorado’s highest court on Tuesday knocked former President Trump off the state’s Republican primary ballot under the 14th Amendment in a 4-3 ruling, making it the first state to block him from seeking the presidency because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The court put its ruling on hold until Jan. 4, so Trump can first seek review from the Supreme Court. Assuming he does, Trump’s name automatically remains on the ballot until the justices resolve the appeal. In a major legal blow to Trump, the court affirmed he engaged in insurrection by inflaming his supporters with false claims of election fraud and directing them to the Capitol — preventing him from a second White House term under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection clause.” The state justices determined that the office of the president is covered under the insurrection clause, which specifically lists those who previously took oaths to support the Constitution as “a member of Congress,” “officer of t...

Missouri Supreme Court strikes down law against homelessness, COVID vaccine mandates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a law that threatened homeless people with jail time for sleeping on state land. Judges ruled unanimously to toss the law for violating a section of the Missouri Constitution that prohibits legislation from containing multiple unrelated subjects. In this case, the sweeping 64-page bill also dealt with city and county governance and banned COVID-19 vaccine requirements for public workers in Missouri. Judges ruled that the law is “invalid in its entirety,” Judge Paul Wilson wrote in the court’s decision. The judges’ ruling means unhoused people no longer face up to 15 days in jail and a $500 fine after an initial warning for sleeping on state land without permission, and vaccine mandates for public workers now are allowed in Missouri.The law, enacted in 2022, also had prohibited state funding from being used for permanent housing for homeless people, instead directing it toward temporary shelters and as...

DeSantis calls a legal complaint against his campaign a ‘farce’ as he pushes toward Iowa caucuses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Ron DeSantis wrinkled his face as he talked to reporters Tuesday and declared a Federal Elections Commission complaint filed against his presidential campaign “a farce.” “I mean, give me a break,” DeSantis told reporters after headlining a morning campaign event in Iowa.It was the latest hurdle for the Florida governor with fewer than four weeks left in an Iowa campaign he says he expects to win. A campaign watchdog group accused DeSantis’ campaign of coordinating in violation of federal law with the outside super PAC responsible for millions of dollars in advertising and the organizational groundwork supporting him in the leadoff caucus state. “Trust me, I have no — there’s a lot of things that happen that I wish I had control over,” DeSantis said in response to a question about the complaint. Neither the complaint nor the staff turnover in his political operation — including the departure of the super PAC’s chief adviser on Saturday — seem...

UN votes unanimously to start the withdrawal of peacekeepers from Congo by year’s end

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Security Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to start the withdrawal of the U.N. peacekeeping force from Congo before the end of the year as the conflict-ridden country prepares to elect its next president on Wednesday.The resolution adopted by the U.N.’s most powerful body orders “the gradual, responsible and sustainable withdrawal” of the peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, starting in South Kivu in eastern Congo, and the gradual handover of its responsibilities to the Congolese government.In a speech to the U.N. General Assembly in September, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, who is running for re-election against about 20 candidates, called for an accelerated withdrawal of the 15,000 peacekeepers. He has said “the phased withdrawal of the U.N. mission must be responsible and sustainable.”Congo’s Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula and the U.N.’s top official in Congo, Bintou Keita, signed agreements on Nov. 21 to end the presence of U.N. peac...

Skilling: Partly sunny, mild Wednesday ahead for Chicagoland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

Chicagoans shivered through a second day of arctic air with Tuesday producing a high of just 32-deg---the coldest day of the month.  Even colder were the wind chills which ranged from 10 to 22-deg all day.  The chill followed the coldest morning lows: 18 at O'Hare and 19 at Midway with 11-deg lows west of the city---in 3 weeks.It's the coldest spell of weather in 3 weeks and represents only the 2nd December 2023 day to produce a BELOW NORMAL average temp.  The cold spell is particularly jarring since it's come in a month with only 2 days BELOW NORMAL.  Yet even with today's chill factored in, December 2023 is running 5.7-deg ABOVE NORMAL and 4.3-deg warmer than the opening 19 days of the month a year ago. The good news is MILDER PACIFIC AIR IS ON THE MOVE and temps Wednesday afternoon are expected to be nearly 10-deg warmer than today.  Daytime average temps return to ABOVE NORMAL STATUS Wednesday and current modeling establishes an ABOVE NORMAL OVERALL TEMP PATTERN throug...

Nicki Minaj 'Pink Friday 2' tour coming to Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Barbz in Chicagoland can now rejoice as Nicki Minaj will make her way back to the Windy City this spring.Nicki Minaj will bring her "Pink Friday 2 Word Tour" to the United Center in Chicago for two nights, on April 24 and 25. Did you know this famous Christmas song was originally written for Thanksgiving? The 12-time Grammy Award nominated artist has over 55.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify Music, with her hit song "Starships" having over one billion streams. Minaj broke into the Billboard Hot 100 after her feature on Lil Wayne's 2010 single "Knockout."Minaj has released several records in the last decade, but "Pink Friday 2" bookends her 2010 debut album, "Pink Friday." New Netflix report reveals what we spent the most – and least – hours watching The events will start at 8 p.m. on both Wednesday, April 24 and Thursday, April 25.For more ticket information click here. Tickets are now on sale.

Ed Burke trial: No verdict reached as first full day of jury deliberation wraps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

CHICAGO — Jurors in Ed Burke’s federal trial began their first full day of deliberations Tuesday but were ultimately dismissed for the day after a verdict was not reached.Ed Burke appeared in Judge Virginia Kendall’s courtroom the morning of Dec. 19 after the jury sent a written question to the bench.  As lawyers gathered in Judge Virginia Kendall’s courtroom to answer a jury question, representation for Peter Andrews disclosed that he was hospitalized. No further information was given about Andrew's condition when reporters asked. The jury inquiry had to do with Count 13 – against Charles Cui, the Portage Park businessman accused of attempting to bribe Burke to get help with a permit for a Binny’s pole sign and also with a potential tax increment financing designation for the commercial property he owns on Irving Park Road.  Cook County homeowners to receive $30.5M in property tax refunds: Here’s how to check if you’re getting one Judge Kendall and lawyers wou...

Emergency crews battle fire on Far North Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

CHICAGO — Emergency crews are on the scene of a fire that broke out at a building on the city's Far North Side on Tuesday evening.SkyCam9 was over the scene in the 4600 block of North Sheridan Road in Uptown around 5:35 p.m. when several emergency vehicles could be seen outside of the building. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Currently, it is unclear what sparked the blaze or if anyone was injured.

Chicago businessman convicted in $4M bank fraud scheme

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:05 GMT

CHICAGO — After a week-long trial, a Chicago businessman has been convicted of defrauding several financial institutions out of $4 million.A jury convicted 48-year-old David Izsak on ten counts of financial institution fraud on Friday. Car crashes into building, catches fire in Northbrook According to the U.S. attorney's office, Izsak, a licensed real estate professional and the sole proprietor of Premier Assets Inc. and Premier Properties Enterprises, both based in Skokie, engaged in a scheme to defraud financial institutions by "obtaining residential loans through false statements, concealing the existence of unpaid loans, and falsely obtaining credit," between 2005 and 2018.The U.S. attorney's office said Izsak submitted, or caused to be submitted, fictitious lien releases to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, but the releases were not from the lender and the loans were not paid in full.According to the U.S. attorney's office, in one instance, Izsak sold a property to an unsusp...