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Drama plagues bid to restrict changes to Ohio Constitution

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s constitution is caught in a high-stakes tug-of-war. With an effort to enshrine abortion rights looming this fall, an influential mix of Republican politicians, lobbying organizations and business interests is positioning to try to make another change to the state’s founding document first. They’re pushing an amendment that would raise the threshold for passing future constitutional changes, including the abortion question, from the current 50%-plus-one to 60% of Ohio voters.“This issue isn’t just about abortion,” said Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis, who represented a cross-section of conservative causes at recent strategy talks on the subject. “This is about family farming. This is about small businesses. This is around Second Amendment rights, setting the minimum wage.”Despite that powerful line-up of conservative support, getting the 60% question to the ballot this August has been fraught with complications.First, there&#...

Man in critical condition after being struck by vehicle in East York

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after being struck by a vehicle in East York.Emergency crews responded to a crash at Barrington and Doncaster Avenues, near Main Street and Danforth, around 6 a.m. Thursday.Police tell CityNews pedestrian was unloading groceries from the back of his car when a black Honda crashed into his vehicle. The impact knocked the man backwards and he smacked his head on the pavement.Paramedics confirm he was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.The investigation is ongoing.

Norway expels 15 Russian diplomats suspected of spying

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norway’s government said Thursday that it was expelling 15 Russian diplomats from the country, saying they were suspected of spying while working at the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said the move was “an important measure to counter and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway, and thereby secure our national interests.”The Russians declared persona non grata “must leave Norway within a short time,”.Huitfeldt said, adding: “We will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for a visa to Norway.”Norway’s government said the activities of the expelled diplomats were “incompatible with their diplomatic status.” The foreign minister stressed that Oslo wants “normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway.” The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would respond in kind to Norway’s action, Russia’s Tass and RIA Novosti news agencies rep...

Biden to expand some migrants’ health care access: officials

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to announce that his administration is expanding eligibility for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges to hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, according to two U.S. officials briefed on the matter.The action will allow participants in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, to access government-funded health insurance programs. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter before the formal announcement on Thursday.The 2012 DACA initiative was meant to shield from deportation immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents as young children and to allow them to work legally in the country. However, the immigrants were still ineligible for government-subsidized health insurance programs because they did not meet the definition for having “lawful presence” in the U.S. That’s what Biden’s ...

3 shot, 1 fatally, in off-campus shooting near Northwestern University: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — Three people were shot, one fatally, Wednesday evening in an off-campus shooting near Northwestern University, according to police.The medical examiner's office identified the victim as 18-year-old Jacquis Irby.According to a tweet, the university said police are investigating shots fired at Clark Street Beach. Evanston police said it happened in the 1800 block of Sheridan Road.Three people, who are not Northwestern University students, were shot, according to the Evanston Police Department.Commander Ryan Glew said an 18-year-old man was killed, one boy, 15, is in critical condition and another boy, also 15, suffered a minor gunshot wound.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesThe suspects involved in the shooting went north towards campus, police said. Evanston police said the shooting isn't affiliated with the university and there is no indication of an active shooter. No one has been taken into custody yet, but Evanston police said there does not appear to be an...

Funeral services Thursday for fallen CFD Lt. Jan Tchoryk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

CHICAGO — The first of two funerals for Chicago firefighter who died in the line-of-duty last week will happen Thursday.Lieutenant Jan Tchoryk will be laid to rest following services at St. Johns Ukrainian Church on the city's Far Northwest Side. Hundreds are expected to attend the funeral services.Last Wednesday, the 26-year veteran of the department collapsed while responding to a fire in the 1200 block of North Lake Shore Drive at a Gold Coast high-rise. The fire was on the 27th-floor and the elevators were out. Firefighters had to use the stairs to get to the fire.A short time later, a mayday response was called for a firefighter down. Fallen Chicago Fire Department lieutenant remembered during visitation services The Chicago Fire Department said Lt. Jan Tchoryk was making his way up the stairs when he went down at the 11th floor. He was rushed by colleagues to the lobby where life-saving measures were performed. He died as a result of his injuries, CFD said.Tchoryk was also a...

12-year-old boy shot on Chicago's South Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

CHICAGO — A 12-year-old boy was shot Thursday night on the city's South Side.The shooting happened around 8:50 p.m. in the 5600 block of South Michigan in the Washington Park neighborhood.According to police, the 12-year-old was standing in an alley speaking to a friend, when he was shot by someone. The boy was struck in the leg and ran to a neighbor's house for help. 3 shot, 1 fatally, in off-campus shooting near Northwestern University: police He was then transported to Comer Children's Hospital and is listed in good condition.No one is in custody. Area Two Detectives are investigating.

Thursday Forecast: Mostly sunny, low 80s

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

Thursday's forecast is looking mostly sunny, Soutwest winds 10-15 with a high of 83.Thursday Night: Mostly clear with increasing clouds late, SSW 5-10, low of 60Full forecast details at the WGN Weather CenterFriday: More clouds, cooler lakeside, SE 5-10 G15. 79/73

Millennials became homeowners later than their parents and grandparents. Here's why.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

(The Hill) – Millennials are now a homeowner-majority generation — a milestone achieved amid a global pandemic and an unsteady housing market. The country’s largest generation has added millions to the homeowner ranks in the last decade alone and reached 18.2 million owners last year, according to recent data from the listing website RentCafe. But this population, comprised of Americans born between 1981 and 1996, reached this hallmark of the American dream later than both their parents and grandparents, when their average age was 34. Generation X and baby boomers achieved this feat at ages 32 and 33 respectively. IRS warns of deadline to claim $1.5B in 2019 tax refunds: These states are owed the most “There was a long-standing belief that millennials never wanted to own and were perfectly content renting. That belief has proven to be false. The reality was — millennials were simply delaying big life moments compared to prior generations,” Zonda chief economist Ali Wolf ...

Man found guilty of spitting at police gets 70 years in prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:33 GMT

LUBBOCK, Texas (KLBK/KAMC) -- A Texas man was sentenced to 70 years in prison Wednesday after he was found guilty of harassing a public servant for spitting at Lubbock police officers. Larry Pearson, 36, was arrested in May 2022 for domestic violence after a victim flagged down an officer in northeast Lubbock, prosecutor Jessica Gorman said. The victim told police that Pearson had hit her several times and that he had a gun. Gorman said that firearm turned out to be an airsoft gun. A police report at the time stated the victim had "multiple visible injuries" on her face. Gorman said after Pearson was taken into custody, he was upset the victim was not arrested instead. That's when he started kicking at the doors in the officer's vehicle. When the officers opened the door to tell him to stop, Gorman said he spit at both officers. Walmart closing locations across 12 states this year: Here’s where Gorman said Pearson kept spitting after he arrived at the Lubbock County Detention Cen...