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‘No Labels’ movement says it could offer independent presidential ticket in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A national political movement that could offer an independent presidential ticket in 2024 as an alternative to major-party nominees said Monday it has now won ballot access in 10 states, after North Carolina election officials formally granted official status to a “No Labels” affiliate.The State Board of Elections voted 4-1 on Sunday to recognize the No Labels Party as an official North Carolina party following a successful petition effort. It joins four other recognized parties with which voters can now choose to be registered and field candidates.The new North Carolina party is linked to a national No Labels effort that lists a wide array of mostly centrist political leaders backing it. They include ex-North Carolina GOP Gov. Pat McCrory, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Democrat who became an independent.No Labels is poised to offer an independent ticket for president and vice president if Democrats and Repub...

Singh joins Alberta NDP in push for 2035 net-zero grid, while Sask. NDP wants 2050

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

OTTAWA — New Democrats in two Western provinces are split over the Liberal government’s goal of a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, with the federal party now saying it supports that timeline.Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault released draft regulations last week aimed at making good on the Liberals’ pledge to rid the grid of emissions, sparking sharp reactions from provincial governments in Alberta and Saskatchewan about the 12-year deadline.Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck has also come out swinging against the Liberal policy, saying it’s unrealistic to replace the province’s generation capacity with renewables in that timeline.She believes 2050 is a more attainable goal. “With more than two-thirds of SaskPower’s generation coming from fossil fuels today, it isn’t realistic to replace all that generation capacity with renewables in the timelines proposed by the federal government,” Beck said in a statement.In neighbouring Alberta,...

New image of Our Lady of Guadalupe unveiled at shrine in Des Plaines

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

DES PLAINES, Ill. — A new image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be unveiled at the shrine in Des Plaines on Monday evening.Back in June, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrated its 10th anniversary and the current Archbishop of Mexico City, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, gifted the shrine the image, which bears his coat of arms.The image symbolizes the connection between the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City and the shrine in Chicago, a place of worship for many across the country who flock to the site for the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe each December.Sunlight, dust and moisture had taken their toll on the old image, so there is a lot of excitement surrounding the new depiction.A rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. on Monday at the shrine before a mass is held at 7 p.m.Afterwards, a procession and the enthronement will take place, which will make the new image official.The ceremony will take place outdoors in the plaza of the shrine located near Central Road an...

'Three decades of service:' Mayor Johnson introduces pick for next CPD Superintendent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

CHICAGO — During a press conference at city hall on Monday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling as his choice for the department's next superintendent. "He will build upon his three decades of service, most recently, of course, as Chief of the Bureau of Counterterrorism, after rising through the ranks of this department," Mayor Johnson said. The mayor says Snelling is a proven leader with an impressive reputation and resume who will unify CPD and ensure Chicagoans are safe. Johnson chooses Larry Snelling to be next CPD Superintendent "We will work together to continue to build the partnerships that ensure every single voice is heard, that every resident feels safe and those who are most impacted by crime in our city have a seat at the table in influencing the solutions that our communities deserve," Johnson said. Snelling, a lifelong South Sider, says he is eager to begin his new role. "Every member of this city has to b...

Downpours to cause flooding concerns before heat, humidity settle in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

An unusually strong August storm threatens additional heavy, occasionally thundery downpours that are likely to continue sweeping the Chicago area—particularly the area from the I-80 to I-88 corridor northward—from time to time through midnight to 1 a.m. Tuesday morning. Additional showers, more sporadic, are to continue beyond that into the opening hours of Tuesday.  Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here The storm has already dropped 1.50" of rain at Midway and just over 0.26" at O'Hare as of the 3:30pm post time for this message and the latest forecast.  But the rains are hardly over.  It's widespread rainfall totals of 0.90" to as much as 2.70" are likely to fall with the potential for a few heavier totals of, as much as 2.50"-5" not out of the question, given the involvement of t-storms. The Chicago area—particularly from the I-80 to I-88 corridor—is being advised of AN EXCESSIVE RAINFALL RISK by the Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.  &...

Woman connected with Vanessa Guillén's death sentenced to 30 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

WACO, Texas (KXAN/KWKT) – A woman charged in connection with the death of U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release.Cecily Ann Aguilar, 25, entered a guilty plea to one count of accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of false statement or representation. She appeared before Judge Jeffrey C. Manske in November 2022 – where she admitted to being an accessory after the fact and making false statements to law enforcement. Woman pleads guilty to four counts in connection with Vanessa Guillén’s death Guillén disappeared in April 2020 after meeting with Specialist Aaron Robinson in an arms room on Fort Cavazos, which was called Fort Hood at the time, KWKT reported. Guillén’s body was found in July 2020. Robinson later died by suicide when confronted by authorities about Guillén’s disappearance. Aguilar was facing eleven counts connected to Guillén’s murder, including Tampe...

Texas Longhorns offensive line strikes NIL deal with nonalcoholic beer company

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It started with The Pancake Factory, and now the Texas Longhorns offensive line is part of another NIL deal.Athletic Brewing, makers of nonalcoholic beer and sparkling hop water, and the Longhorns offensive line have formed a partnership and will formally introduce it Aug. 19 at the Hancock Center H-E-B, located at 1000 E. 41st St.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersDJ Campbell, Cameron Williams, Hayden Conner, Neto Zulu, Kelvin Banks Jr., Cole Hutson, Christian Jones and Jake Majors will all be on hand to sign autographs and host a nonalcoholic beer sampling at the grocery store from 1-3 p.m.The new NIL deal for the linemen comes after the landmark NIL partnership started by Horns With Heart, now part of the Texas One Fund. The Pancake Factory initiative pays participating offensive linemen $50,000 for contributing to various charitable activities.

Washington County to break ground on new environmental center in Forest Lake

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

Prep work on Washington County’s new Northern Environmental Center in Forest Lake has begun, and construction is slated to start Sept. 11, county officials said Monday.The $18.3 million project, located on the southeast quadrant of U.S. Highway 61 and 202nd Street in Forest Lake, will be the county’s second household hazardous waste collection center and yard debris environmental center. It will open in the fall of 2024.(Courtesy of Washington County)The county currently has an environmental center in Woodbury where residents can dispose of hazardous materials, electronics and food scraps.The new center in Forest Lake will allow residents in the northern part of Washington County to dispose of those without having to travel such a long distance, said David Brummel, the director of the county’s public health and environment department.“It will put all county residents within a 25-minute drive of an environmental center,” Brummel said. “We have this long and skinny county,...

COVID-19 is ‘heating up all around’ this summer. Should we be wearing masks again?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

The uptick in coronavirus transmission this summer has not brought major alarm from health experts.But it is raising questions about whether the risks are high enough to go back to safety measures that many have abandoned.Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious diseases expert, said transmission is increasing and “we haven’t seen the crest yet” of the wave.Most people have stopped wearing masks and aren’t likely to follow suggestions to return to that practice all the time again.But swearing off masks for good — even when sitting on a plane next to someone who is coughing or sneezing — would unnecessarily put people at higher risk for illness.“I think there’s, like, an in-between” message, Chin-Hong said. There are people who may want to avoid contracting COVID-19 “because it’s disruptive to life.”Chin-Hong said he’s aware of people who’ve had to change big travel plans to Europe and Africa because of illness.“Right now, when things are heating up all around the country w...

High school football: After three seasons away, coach Dave Zeitchick is back in the Highland Park saddle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:06 GMT

Last fall marked the first in 32 years that Dave Zeitchick did not coach football.The longtime Highland Park coach stepped away from that post following the 2019 season, believing it was best for himself and the program to be led by a fresh face.In 2020, he was an assistant coach for Irondale, working on the staff of Scots alum Ben Fuller. In 2021, he worked on Tartan’s football staff.Then came last year, when he and his wife dedicated many weekends to watching their son, Seth, play his senior football season at Gustavus Adolphus. During a game midway through the Gusties’ season, Zeitchick’s wife looked over at him and said, “You’re going to coach again, aren’t you?”Highland Park varsity football coach Dave Zeitchick, facing at front left center, works with players in St. Paul on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023 — the first day of high school football practice this fall. Zeitchick is back as Highland Park’s coach after originally retiring from the position following the 2019 campai...