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Putin meets with Hungary’s prime minister in rare in-person talks with an EU leader

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks on Tuesday with Vladimir Putin in a rare in-person meeting for the Russian president with a leader of a European Union country.Orbán and Putin met in Beijing before an international forum on one of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature policies, the Belt and Road Initiative. Their meeting focused on Hungary’s access to Russian energy. EU and other Western leaders have largely eschewed contact with Putin over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in February. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met with Putin in person in April 2022.“Hungary never wanted to confront Russia. Hungary always has been eager to expand contacts,” Orbán told Putin, according to a Russian translation of his remarks broadcast on Russian state television.Bilateral ties between the two countries have suffered because of EU sanctions against Moscow, he said.Hungary’s stance on the war has confounded its European partners and led ...

Eviscerated goat found in passenger's baggage at O'Hare Airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

WARNING: Photos below are extremely graphic and may be upsetting to some readers. Viewer discretion is advised.CHICAGO — A passenger's luggage was confiscated and destroyed at O'Hare International Airport after an inspection found 15 pounds of raw goat organs, among other items, inside of it.U.S. Customs and Border Protection said two passengers arrived to O'Hare from the Democratic Republic of Congo on Oct. 10, and were referred to agriculture specialists for inspection.According to a release, CBPAS (U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists) found one pound of unknown meat, 2 pounds of garden eggs, and 15 pounds of raw goat viscera —including the trachea, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and entire digestive system. The luggage was seized and destroyed "to keep livestock diseases and plant pests out of the United States," according to CBP.“There are real dangers these items can have if they are introduced in the U.S. economy,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, CBP Di...

Jordan fails to win Speakership on first ballot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) failed to win the Speakership in the first round of voting Tuesday after 20 Republicans withheld support from his bid, denying him the votes needed to secure the gavel.The vote was 200 for Jordan, 212 for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), six for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and seven for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.).Seven voted for other candidates, including former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).The House is now expected to head to a second ballot, setting the stage for another protracted race to win the gavel. In January, it took McCarthy 15 ballots over the course of four days to be elected to the top spot.Tuesday marked exactly two weeks since eight Republicans joined with Democrats in ousting McCarthy from the Speakership, a historic vote ...

Arguments delayed in Amundsen Park migrant shelter legal battle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

CHICAGO —  A controversial migrant housing plan for Chicago's Northwest Side was the subject of a court hearing Tuesday morning. While neighbors in Galewood and North Austin hoped to have answers to arguments heard, unfortunately, that is not the case. The presiding judge said the issue did not constitute an emergency. At least not yet. As a result, the judge set a new date at the end of the month to hear arguments on whether or not migrants should be moved into Amundsen Park.  West Side residents demand return of programs to Amundsen Park The hearing also revealed that the city does not plan to move migrants into the park's fieldhouse for at least seven days. Last week, at least five residents filed an emergency Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on Oct. 10 to block the city from reneging on their word about moving migrants into the Amundsen Park fieldhouse. The court filing came after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office announced plans around turning Amundsen Pa...

Woman, 57, fatally struck by Metra train at North Chicago station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — A pedestrian was struck and killed after attempting to cross the tracks at a north suburban train station, North Chicago police said Tuesday. According to police, around 9 a.m. Monday, authorities responded to the North Chicago Metra Station at 1633 Lakeside Avenue for a report of a pedestrian struck by a train. Pedestrian struck and killed on DuSable Lake Shore Drive Christina Egidi, 57, of Grayslake was pronounced dead at the scene.A preliminary investigation shows that the pedestrian was attempting to cross the tracks when she was struck by an express train she had mistaken for a train stopping at the station. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines The incident remains under investigation by the Metra Police Department and the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

New research links symptoms of long Covid to serotonin levels — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

For Tuesday, Oct. 17, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Long Covid linked to low serotoninPatients with long Covid can experience neuro-cognitive difficulties like brain fog and memory loss. the study by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania shows long Covid can deplete what's known as peripheral serotonin, the kind that circulates in our bodies, not just the brain. Researchers say proteins released by the immune system to fight the virus set off inflammation that cuts down on levels of serotonin. The more long Covid symptoms patients had, the lower their peripheral serotonin levels. Study authors say this can offer doctors a baseline and treat low levels of serotonin with supplementation. New approach to treating brain cancerA new approach to treating one of the most common brain cancers. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center bio-engineers teamed with neurologists using nanotechnology to cross ...

Group raises awareness on Texas constitutional amendment to invest $1B in state parks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A group called the Texas Coalition for State Parks is trying to spread awareness about a proposition up for vote in Texas' upcoming election that would fund state parks. LIST: The 14 constitutional amendments Texas will vote on in November Proposition 14, or Senate Joint Resolution 74, is a proposed Texas constitutional amendment “providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.”According to reporting from the Texas Tribune, the fund would invest more than $1 billion for state parks. It would buy more land for the state parks system, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, the Tribune reported. Voter Guide: What you need to know ahead of the November 2023 election The Texas Coalition for State Parks held an event at Pease Park on Tuesday to raise awareness about the propositi...

From winter this morning to late summer by Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas weather the next few days will feature a taste of all four seasons. Today will be sunny with highs headed to the middle to upper 70s, an autumn feel.Mild air this afternoonThis comes after morning lows that made it feel like winter as many minimum readings were in the mid to upper 30s to low 40s.The winds are back out of the south to southeast this afternoon allowing for a warming into the 80s on Wednesday and Thursday for a taste of spring.A cold front will slide across the area Thursday, passing Austin in the early afternoon. A northwest wind will be left after the front passes. However, there won't be any cooling. Highs will go from the mid to upper 80s Thursday to the lower half of the 90s Friday, which would be late-summer readings.Highs in the 90s will continue in some areas on Saturday and Sunday. What's more is that high temperature records could be tied or set.The upper-level high giving us the dry air aloft today will eventually break down by...

Frozen treat maker breaks ground on Lockhart factory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) - On Tuesday, the Ziegenfelder Company broke ground on its new manufacturing factory in Lockhart, about 30 miles south of Austin. The company makes Twin Pops and Monster Pops, frozen treats you can find in stores across the country."We have a lot of customers, a lot of consumers in Texas. Texas is one of our largest states," Ziegenfelder Company President Kevin Heller told KXAN. This will be the fourth factory for the company. It could be open and running by the end of 2024.Rendering of future Lockhart Twin Pops Factory (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)The new location is being built just west of State Highway 130. The $46 million facility is expected to bring 100 jobs. The Austin Business Journal reported last year it will be one of the city's largest private-sector employers. Last year, Lockhart city leaders approved a Chapter 380 agreement to provide a partial five-year C...

2023 Elections: What you need to know about city, school board races in the east metro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:44 GMT

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7, but you can vote early if you want.General information about the Nov. 7 election is online at twincities.com/tag/elections.In addition, twincities.com/news/politics/elections will have a full voters guide with candidates for Ramsey, Dakota and Washington county races online this month.Here’s some information on candidates for 2023 elections in Ramsey, Dakota and Washington counties.How to registerYou can register to vote in Minnesota on Election Day, or now, at your polling place if you bring proof of residence such as a driver’s license or a photo ID along with an approved document such as a utility bill, mortgage statement or lease agreement. Check your registration status and find more information at the Minnesota secretary of state’s voter registration page.Sample ballotTo see who’ll be on your ballot, check the Secretary of State’s Minnesota sample ballot page.How to vote on election dayAs long as you haven’t ...