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Lawmaker pauses filibuster on agreement to debate trans bill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

A lawmaker who has been holding up the work of the Nebraska Legislature for weeks to protest a bill that would ban gender-affirming therapies for minors has paused her persistent filibuster in a deal that will see lawmakers debate the bill next week. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, of Omaha, had been staging a filibuster of every single bill before the legislative body — even ones she supported — since late February to protest the bill. Introduced by a freshman lawmaker and supported by hard-right conservatives, the bill would outlaw gender-affirming therapies such as hormone treatments and gender-affirmation surgery for those 18 and younger. Cavanaugh launched her effort when the bill advanced out of committee, introducing amendment after amendment and spending as much time as Nebraska rules allowed on the microphone to hold bills hostage on the legislative floor. She said she would continue to do so through the end of the 90-day session.“I will burn the session to the ground over this bi...

Report: 'The Wire' star Lance Reddick dies at 60

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

Actor Lance Reddick, best known for his roles in "The Wire" and "John Wick" has died at the age of 60, according to TMZ.Reddick's body was found in his Los Angeles home Friday morning, TMZ said. Foul play is not suspected.Reddick played the well-regarded police executive Cedric Daniels from 2002 to 2008 in the hit HBO show "The Wire." Ticketmaster gives partial refund, lower fees to Cure fans after Robert Smith’s crusade He also played Charon in the John Wick movie franchise in addition to several film and television roles. Reddick was currently on a press tour for the fourth installment of the movie, TMZ said.Other notable roles Reddick had were Detective Johnny Basil in "Oz", Phillip Broyles in "Fringe" and he was in four episodes of "Lost."Reddick was born and raised in Baltimore, the setting of "The Wire."

Wisconsin residents bought $121M worth of Illinois weed in 2022

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Potheads in Wisconsin accounted for an estimated $36.1 million in tax revenue on marijuana purchased in Illinois, according to a new report.The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's report said more than half of cannabis sales in counties bordering Wisconsin were made by out-of-state residents.Wisconsin residents are estimated to have spent $121 million on weed in Illinois in 2022. Can I share weed in Illinois? Recreational marijuana is not legal in Wisconsin, but it is in each of its surrounding states. In total, thirty-seven U.S. states currently have some form of marijuana legalization."It should upset every Wisconsinite that our hard earned tax dollars are going across the border to Illinois. This is revenue that could be going toward Wisconsin’s public schools, transportation infrastructure, and public safety," Senate Minority Leader Melissa Asgard (D-Madison) said in a statement, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I...

Democrats outline immigration plan amid workforce shortage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – Democrats say they have a plan that will deal with the nation's immigration problems and help boost the labor market easily, however Republican lawmakers are skeptical.The U.S. is facing a big workforce challenge and California Congressman Lou Correa says immigrants are the solution.“We have a shortage of workers in this country. Whether it's Silicon Valley, high tech workers,” Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) said. “Fifty percent of our farm workers are undocumented, what are you going to do? [Are] you going to deport them?“Congressman Correa and fellow Democrats say there's a simple solution – updating the Immigration Registry Act.The registry act gave immigrants a path to legal status if they entered the U.S. before 1972. Correa says it's time to update the law “so anybody that came into the country before 2015, has a good moral character…has the opportunity to apply for a green card.”By using 2015 as the cutoff, Democrats say future illegal immigration would be disc...

Illinois deputy shot in head with BB gun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputy is recovering after being shot in the head with a BB gun.Police said deputies were conducting a welfare check Thursday afternoon at a home on S. Greenview Avenue.A suspect was found in the back yard of the home; he pointed a BB gun at the deputy and fired.The deputy was treated at the hospital and later released.The unidentified suspect is in jail, authorities said.

Illinois prison guard sentenced for inmate beating death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) -- A former correctional officer at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. Sterling, Ill., was sentenced Thursday for beating an inmate to death in 2018.According to a United States Attorney’s Office press release, 31-year-old Alex Banta was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release in connection to the death of Larry Earvin.Banta and two others assaulted Earvin as they were transporting him from residential housing to segregated housing. Earvin was handcuffed at the time.Earvin suffered serious bodily injury, including multiple broken ribs, a punctured mesentery, and other serious internal injuries, which resulted in Earvin’s death in June 2018.Banta and the other defendants attempted to falsify documents filed with the prison and lied to state police about the incident. Illinois prison guard pleads guilty to inmate beating death Banta was sentenced for conspiracy to deprive civil rights and deprivation o...

Illinois launches $30M program to distribute air purifiers in schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois will distribute more than 60,000 HEPA purifiers to schools across the state to help reduce transmission of respiratory viruses, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced Thursday.The IDPH is using $29.6 million in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.The state said it will target school districts that serve lower-income communities, and counties with elevated air pollution counts. Illinois bill would put the brakes on video conference calls while driving "There is nothing more important to me than keeping Illinoisans safe and healthy—especially when it comes to our youth," said Governor JB Pritzker."We know that our children need to stay healthy and study in classrooms that are well-ventilated in order to thrive and succeed. Thanks to this $30 million investment, schoolchildren will experience cleaner air—preventing illness and absenteeism, while improving our children...

WATCH: SpaceX launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

CALIFORNIA — SpaceX has launched one of its Falcon 9 rockets Friday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. WGN Morning News' St. Patrick's Day Extravaganza kicks off at Bourbon Street! The space-centric company sent 52 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E). The launch took place at 2:26 p.m CT.Watch the full launch, and landing of the rocket back on Earth, in the video above.

Taco Bell bringing back 'Volcano' menu items, including one from the '90s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

IRVINE, Calif. (WBOY) — Taco Bell announced Thursday the return of its "Volcano Menu," which stems from an item introduced nearly three decades ago in 1995.The Volcano Menu, to be available in late June, features three main offerings in its lineup: the Volcano Burrito, the Volcano Taco, and an optional "Lava Sauce" (a spicy cheese sauce) which can be added to any menu item. Taco Bell of the future: New restaurant opens with 4-lane drive-thru system The Volcano Burrito was the first of "Volcano" item to debut on Taco Bell's menus in 1995 as a promotional tie-in to the film "Congo," according to an online Taco Bell resource hosted by Fandom, which was created and edited by fans. (A representative for Taco Bell was not immediately available to confirm the debut dates.) A commercial released upon the Volcano Burrito's debut detailed its ingredients, which included seasoned beef, beans, rice, a three-cheese blend and "fiery red sauce." Other items, including the Volcano Taco, Volcano ...

Records: Travis County judge sentences son for father’s 2022 murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A son convicted in the January 2022 murder of his father was sentenced to serve 20 years in state prison Wednesday.Travis County court records said 32-year-old Rico Manalang pleaded guilty to the murder the same day he was convicted and sentenced.In addition to the 20-year prison sentence,  Manalang must also pay $445 in court fees. RELATED: Police: Son killed father via ‘blunt force trauma’ while both living out of pickup According to a past KXAN report, Austin Police arrested Manalang in connection with the Jan. 23, 2022, death of his father, 59-year-old Joseph Manalang. At the time, both were experiencing homelessness and living out of a pickup truck.The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy revealed Joseph died of “blunt force trauma.”APD said Manalang was connected to his father’s death from “evidence seized inside the truck,” according to the previous report.Travis County jail records showed Manalang was booked into the facility Jan. 28, 2022. ...