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What’s next on the debt ceiling: Selling the plan and making a deal into a law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — After weeks of negotiations, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have announced an “ agreement in principle ” to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and avoid a potentially catastrophic default.The agreement includes spending cuts demanded by Republicans, but it is short of the reductions in the sweeping legislation passed by the Republican-led House last month.To reduce spending, as Republicans had insisted, the package includes a two-year budget deal that would hold spending flat for 2024 and impose limits for 2025. That’s in exchange for raising the debt limit for two years, until after the next election.It also expands some work requirements for food-stamp recipients and tweaks an environmental law to try to streamline reviews to build new energy projects.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the United States could default on its debt obligations by June 5 if lawmakers do not act in time to raise the federal debt ceiling.A look at what’s ...

Debt ceiling tests Speaker McCarthy as he rides breezily through high-wire act of his career

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — One morning amid the debt ceiling crisis, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy climbed onto his mountain bike and took a ride along the National Mall, marveling at the monuments.The next day he arrived for negotiations at the Capitol carting in tortilla chips and queso for the beleaguered reporters waiting outside his office during the 24/7 talks.McCarthy, with his laid-back California vibe, was never Washington’s bet to become speaker, having almost missed seizing the gavel in a history-making spectacle at the start of this year.But the 58-year-old is now leading House Republicans in the high-wire act of his career: Having negotiated with Democratic President Joe Biden over raising the nation’s debt limit, he now must deliver the votes to pass the spending cuts package into law.The standoff is being watched the world over as the United States stares down a June 5 deadline when it could run short of cash to pay its bills, potentially hurling the American economy into chaos...

Memorial Day Parades & Ceremonies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

Memorial Day is Monday May 29.Several ceremonies and events will be held throughout the weekend in Chicago and the suburbs. Below is a list of some of those events.Southside Memorial Day ParadeMonday, 3 p.m – 5 p.m.7750 S Emerald AveChicagoMemorial Day ParadeMonday 10 a.m.Culminates at William McKinley American Legion Post 1956 W. 35th Street, ChicagoMemorial Day ParadeMonday, 10:30 a.m.Westmont, IllinoisWestern Springs Memorial Day ParadeMonday 9 a.m.Tower Green914 Hillgrove AveWestern Springs, ILMemorial Day Parade and CeremonyMonday 10  a.m. Glendale Avenue and Elm StreetWinnetka, ILMemorial Day ParadeMonday 9:30 a.m.Grayslake Heritage Center, 164 Hawley StGrayslake, ILMemorial Day ParadeMonday 3 p.m.1 E Benton StAurora, ILMemorial Day Parade & CeremonyMonday, 5:45 a.m.Settlers' Park, 24401 W, 24401 Lockport StPlainfield, IL

Warm, dry Memorial Day — then temps climb

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

The holiday weekend will continue to be mild and dry.A warmup begins Tuesday bringing hot and sunny weather to the area.

APD looking for missing woman last seen in northwest Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is asking for help finding a missing woman last seen in northwest Austin. APD said Donita Silk, 62, was seen walking away from her home on Solano Drive. She was reported missing at 11 p.m. Friday.Photos of Donita SilkSilk was last seen wearing a light blue collared shirt with flowers on the collar and blue jean pants. She is described as a 5-foot-3-inch tall white female with brown hair and green eyes, weighing 110 pounds. Police said she has memory loss and early-onset dementia with no access to a car. APD said Silk is new to the Austin area. People with information about her location are asked to call 911 immediately.

A little rain today then a much better chance tomorrow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas will have another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms today similar to Saturday. Most of the area will stay dry.Much of Saturday's rain fell in the Hill Country. There were a few reporting stations that measured more than one inch of rain. A rain gauge 11 miles west-northwest of Lampasas picked up 1.39" during the afternoon. A gauge six miles south of San Saba recorded 1.15".A few showers did cross out of the Hill Country into northwest Bastrop, northern Travis and western Williamson Counties. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL REPORTS The chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon will be 20%. The forecast also includes another day with a high below normal under a mostly cloudy to overcast sky.All highs below the normal of 90°Memorial Day stormsNumerous showers and thunderstorms are part of the Memorial Day forecast. There will be a few pockets of heavy rain leading to a forecast of a marginal (category 1 of 4) flash flood threat.Most all area...

Sinking graves, missing headstone highlight lack of cemetery regulation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — From skydiving in their sixties to numerous vacations and spending time with family and friends, John and Alice Touchstone, according to their granddaughter, lived their lives to the fullest.“I mean my grandma and grandpa never met a stranger,” Allison Vanzant said.  “Touchstone Plumbing," the family business John founded in 1979, is a staple in south Austin and Vanzant said he often donated his plumbing services for causes like Habitat for Humanity.John Touchstone skydiving in his 60s (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)John & Alice Touchstone. John passed away in 2021, Alice in 2020 (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)John Touchstone sits with his great-grandson in 2016 inside the family-owned business he founded, Touchstone Plumbing (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)Alice Vanzant skydiving in her 60s (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)Family says John & Alice Touchstone enjoyed many vacations together (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)“They set the bar pretty high for grandparents,” Vanzant said.But...

ABJ: Behind Kroger's push into competitive Austin grocery market

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — The Kroger Co. debuted its grocery delivery service in Austin about a year ago. The nation's largest traditional supermarket chain has grown to reach 90 ZIP codes and aims to capture more market share and mindshare in the Texas capital.The expansion put Kroger (NYSE: KR) in a competitive grocery market: the Austin metro is home to about 40 locations — and counting — of H-E-B LP, seven of Whole Foods Market Inc., five of Sprouts Farmers Market Inc., plus additional smaller chains and boutique stores.But Austin's fast-growing economy and population enticed Kroger to make the push. The Cincinnati-based company wants to serve customers with fresh produce, convenience and affordable prices, said April Martin, head of e-commerce corporate affairs and communications. Plus, it already has plenty of experience in Texas, with about 40 stores across the Houston and Dallas areas, according to a Google Maps search.Read the full story at...

STL Boy Scouts placing flags for Memorial Day 'good turn' today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Some of the 5,000 area boy scouts will be placing hundreds of thousands of flags on grave sites out at Jefferson Barracks. It's all meant to honor our country's veterans.The Council Jewish Committee on Scouts will also be assisting the Jewish war veterans post 644. They'll be placing flags at several other locations throughout the city and county. Road rage shooting in St. Charles County: One hurt, suspect wanted About 400 scouts will place around 8,500 flags at the locations. This is the 73rd year the scouts will be doing this.Approximately 25 million flags have been placed through the program.  

Progressives fight to win Denver City Council runoffs — facing big spenders backing more moderate candidates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:18 GMT

Denver City Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca is facing an avalanche of opposition spending and a well-backed runoff challenger four years after the proud democratic socialist ousted a two-term incumbent.This time, though, she has company — as part of a trio of liberal runoff candidates seeking to push the council leftward.The runoff elections, with voting underway and ending June 6, could set the course for a more assertive legislative counterweight to the next mayor if CdeBaca retains her seat and voters in adjacent districts elect two progressive newcomers who also have the backing of the Denver Democratic Socialists of America and the Colorado Working Families Party.The prospect has rallied much of Denver’s political and business establishment in support of their more moderate runoff opponents, including first-term Councilman Chris Hinds in central District 10.The high stakes have fueled significant outside spending and sometimes-wild claims amid arguments about the directi...