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Fewer transit safety incidents after Toronto police boost: TTC data

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

New data from Toronto’s transit agency shows safety incidents were down in February after police boosted patrols in the system and the agency added extra security guards and outreach workers.The monthly Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) report from CEO Rick Leary shows the total number of offences against customers was 111 in February, down from 136 in January.TTC spokesman Stuart Green had previously said the transit agency saw 116 incidents in January, down from 145 the month before, but the report states data for those months may have inaccuracies.Police announced in late January that more than 80 officers would work overtime shifts at TTC locations following a series of violent incidents on the system, including stabbings, BB gun shootings and an alleged swarming.The city and TTC also announced it would add 50 contract security guards and 20 outreach workers to the system as an interim response.Police have since ended the extra patrols, and the force has said on-duty office...

Israeli PM retracts firing of defense minister amid tension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday retracted his decision to fire his defense minister over criticism of the government’s contentious plan to overhaul the judiciary.In a televised speech, Netanyahu said that Yoav Gallant is staying in his post. “I decided to put the differences we had behind us,” he said.Netanyahu announced late last month that Gallant was fired. The decision set off a wave of spontaneous mass protests and a general strike that threatened to paralyze the country, forcing the Israeli leader to suspend his divisive plan to overhaul the judicial system.The Associated Press

NY state budget delayed again amid talks on bail, housing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state lawmakers passed another weeklong extension for the state’s budget Monday to ensure state operations run undisrupted and workers get paid as budget negotiations continue. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli highlighted the need for lawmakers to push the deadline yet again when he sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday urging her to take action to ensure 83,000 state workers get paid in time for the next payroll cycle.State lawmakers will not be paid themselves until a budget is passed, DiNapoli’s office said, and it is not clear how long it’ll take Democratic legislative leaders to reach an agreement. The legislators missed the original April 1 deadline for adopting a state budget because of disagreements over the governor’s proposals to change bail rules and create new housing. There has been “zero movement in discussions” on any other issues besides bail and housing in a state budget that is now more than a week late, state ...

55-year-old man dies after hit-and-run in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

CHICAGO — A man died following a hit-and-run Saturday night in Austin.Just before 9:50 p.m., police responded to 5100 block of West Jackson Street on the report of a hit-and-run.A 55-year-old man was walking northbound on Laramie in the crosswalk when a gray Jaguar sedan made a turn eastbound and struck the man.The man suffered major head trauma and was pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai. U of C issues alert after 3 robberies in 3 days near campus The sedan did not stop and continued eastbound on Jackson. No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Merrionette Park PD raises over $16K for officer's wife who died suddenly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

MERRIONETTE PARK, Ill. — A GoFundMe fundraiser, organized by the Merrionette Park Police Department, has raised over $16,000 in honor of a fellow officer's wife who suddenly passed away.Kris Chlapecka, who has worked in law enforcement for many years, received a call last Thursday that his wife, Suzanne, was experiencing difficulty breathing while at work. She was rushed to an area hospital where she later passed away, according to the department.The couple have a 7-year-old daughter together. Suzanne was an instructional math coach at an elementary school in Glen Ellyn. Suburban woman found guilty after pregnant nurse kicked in stomach The Merrionette Park Police Department started the fundraiser Friday to help Chlapecka with his wife's funeral expenses. As of 1 p.m. Monday, it had already raised $16,563.For more information, go to: www.gofundme.com

Chicago State goes on strike for faculty pay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

CHICAGO — The union and Chicago state administration remains at an impasse when it comes to their issues, most notably, a wide gap on faculty pay. Chicago State and the faculty union met as recently as Saturday trying to come to an agreement.WGN spoke to a member of the negotiating team. He says what they’re asking for per year over a four-year contract is less than $400 thousand dollars.  Suburban woman found guilty after pregnant nurse kicked in stomach "It's less than the president's salary, less than a half percent," Economics Professor Ernest Coupet said.Chicago State is the first of three universities in Illinois that are having contract negotiation issues with their faculty. The faculty at Governors State University is expected to become the second state university faculty to go out on strike Tuesday.Eastern Illinois University in downstate Charleston, is also looking at a possible strike.

Texas DA calls Gov. Abbott's vow to pardon man who killed protester 'deeply troubling'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza called Gov. Greg Abbott's promise to pardon convicted murderer Daniel Perry "deeply troubling" in a statement Sunday.On Friday, a jury found Perry guilty of murdering Garrett Foster during a July 2020 protest in Austin but not guilty of an aggravated assault charge. Perry has not yet been sentenced for the conviction.But by Saturday afternoon, Abbott declared on social media that he would sign a pardon recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for Perry "as soon as it hits my desk." The Governor also said that he has instructed the agency to "expedite its review" of the case. Abbott calls for pardon of Daniel Perry after guilty murder verdict In Garza's Sunday statement, the DA noted that the jury deliberated on their verdict for 15 hours, after days of court proceedings.You can read the full statement below:PR-Abbott-PerryDownload"In our legal system, a jury that gets to decide whether a defendant ...

A little rain before two days of a bright sky

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A few small showers were over the western Hill Country to start the day. Late-morning showers and thundershowers fell over the western half of Gillespie County. The rest of the day will be overcast with a chance of seeing additional showers and thunderstorms mostly in the Hill Country. Any rain would end during the evening leaving the area dry overnight. This forecast repeats tomorrow. The rain chances both days are low.The Hill Country gets a little more rain late this afternoonAfternoon highs both afternoons will be in the low to mid 70s. A few days of sunshine will bathe Central Texas Wednesday and Thursday with highs both days in the upper 70s to around 80. It will be nice to see almost a complete day of sunshine.Another upper-level trough will move from the western states into the middle of the country late in the week increasing the chance of seeing some rain by Friday afternoon with only a few hundredths measured. That will bell be followed by the next cold f...

Austin FC grants 7-year-old's Make-A-Wish, signs him as honorary player

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A seven-year-old boy's dreams came true last month thanks to Austin FC, St. David's HealthCare and the Make-A-Wish Foundatin. Eli Saenz has been fighting an ongoing battle with cancer, which is currently in remission, and loves soccer, Austin FC and the color green. Those loves, plus the atmosphere at Q2 Stadium, motivated him to choose an experience with the Verde as his Make-A-Wish wish, an Austin FC release said. Eli went to an Austin FC training session, played soccer with his favorite players and was invited to the Austin FC vs. Colorado Rapids match as a special guest of the team. Austin FC also signed him as an honorary player. Austin FC, St. David's HealthCare, and Make-A-Wish grant 7-year-old Eli Saenz's wish (Credit: Austin FC) Austin FC, St. David's HealthCare, and Make-A-Wish grant 7-year-old Eli Saenz's wish (Credit: Austin FC) Austin FC, St. David's HealthCare, and Make-A-Wish grant 7-year-old Eli Saenz's wish (Credit: Austin FC) Eli ate lunch with Aus...

How researchers use mushrooms to break down cigarette butts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 10, 2023.AUSTRALIA (KXAN) -- Researchers in Australia are tackling a major, continent-wide issue: littered cigarette butts.According to the World Wildlife Fund Australia, half of the roughly 18 billion cigarettes smoked a year end up in a landfill.The company taking the lead, Fungi Solutions, uses fungi to divert waste from landfills and create natural alternatives to plastics. Cigarette butts will be broken down in an Australian-based trial by a familiar fungus: the oyster mushroom. In 2021, scientists began training the oyster mushroom to essentially eat these cigarette butts.The early success and now implementation of this trial will limit the amount of chemicals that will end up in Australia's waterways or limit the negative impacts these butts have on the ecosystem and wildlife. Many fisheries have even captured butts in many fish and whales' stomachs. Cigarettes also leach toxic waste that can end u...