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Debt limit talks halted again at Capitol as Republicans, White House face ‘real differences’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

By LISA MASCARO, FARNOUSH AMIRI and ZEKE MILLER (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Debt limit talks halted again late Friday at the U.S. Capitol shortly after resuming, another sudden turn of events after negotiations had come to an abrupt standstill earlier in the day when Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said it’s time to “pause” negotiations, and a White House official acknowledged there are “real differences.”Top Republican negotiators for McCarthy exited the brief meeting shortly after talks restarted Friday evening. They said there were no further negotiations planned for Friday and they were uncertain on next steps. But a top White House adviser to President Joe Biden said they were hopeful for a resolution. The negotiators are racing to strike a budget deal to resolve the standoff.“We reengaged, had a very, very candid discussion, talking about where we are, talking about where things need to be, what’s reasonably accep...

Boston City Councilor Arroyo denies working with Rollins to tip election outcome

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo denied colluding with former U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins to influence the outcome of last year’s election for Suffolk DA.Arroyo told reporters Friday that he had no knowledge that Rollins was leaking sensitive information on his behalf, and denied pressuring the state’s top prosecutor to investigate his primary opponent.“I never asked her to do this,” Arroyo said. “And this report makes clear that there’s no evidence of that fact.”Arroyo sought to distance himself from Rollins in his latest interview, marking a change in tone from the statement he released two days earlier, when he described her as a longtime friend he often sought out for advice and counsel.He described Rollins’ actions as “unethical,” and said her decision to step down as U.S. Attorney was “appropriate,” given the violations highlighted in two bombshell reports released by the feds this past Wednesday. Rollins submitted her letter of resignation to President Biden on Friday.A...

Following dissolution of Peel Region, there are questions about who’s next?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

The Ford government’s decision to dissolve Peel Region has raised many questions about how this might impact other regions across the province. The province tabled legislation on Thursday that will begin the process of turning Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon into independent cities and towns by Jan. 1, 2025. The new legislation will establish a transition board which the province says will oversee the process and ensure it is fair and balanced.With Mississauga and Brampton being the third and fourth largest cities in Ontario, the government is confident they’ll work better independently. But what about regions that oversee much smaller communities?The province says it is also appointing a facilitator to begin reviewing the community needs of Durham, Halton, Niagara, Simcoe, Waterloo and York and determine if it should pursue a similar-type dissolution for those regions. “We’re the only government in the history of Ontario that’s actually giving peopl...

3-year-old boy critically injured in McKinley Park crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A 3-year-old boy is in critical condition after a crash Friday afternoon in McKinley Park, according to Chicago police. Around 4:30 p.m., a 16-year-old boy hit a driver trying to turn left from South Ashland Avenue onto 35th Street, according to police. Parents want answers after 2 Chicago elementary schools went on lockdown The 16-year-old boy and the driver of the other car weren't injured, police said.A 3-year-old boy who was in the car trying to turn left was taken to Stroger Hospital with a head injury in critical condition, police said.A 42-year-old man who was also in the car was taken to Stroger Hospital with minor injuries in good condition.No citations have been issued at this time.The crash is still under investigation, police said.

Chicago man sentenced to 23 years for Lombard 7-Eleven robbery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. -- A Chicago man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his role in the robbery of a 7-Eleven in Lombard last year.Lennell Owens, 47, and Reginald Allen, 54, both of Chicago, entered the 7-Eleven convenience store on the 800 block of South Westmore-Myers Road in Lombard around 6:45 p.m. on June 11, 2022. Parents want answers after 2 Chicago elementary schools went on lockdown According to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, the two Chicago men approached the counter and 54-year-old Allen demanded money from an employee who was working at the cash register.47-years-old Owens then went to the back of the store with another employee and stole cartons of cigarettes from the shelves as well as the employee’s cell phone at gunpoint.While Owens was in the back of the store, Allen remained at the counter and collected the money from the cash register. Following the robbery, both men left the store and drove away in a Jeep Wrangler southbound on Westmore-...

Woman says lemur attacked her at Texas aquarium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Charmaine Dickerson's trip to visit her boyfriend ended in pain — and she's considering a lawsuit. "I remember looking down and my face was, like, dripping blood," she said. In viral video, man says Tampa owes each Black resident $3M in reparations The culprit was a lemur at the Austin Aquarium in Austin, Texas, according to Dickerson. The location is one of two in the United States that allows guests to interact with lemurs, according to the aquarium's website. Dickerson said she signed up for an "animal encounter," where she was told she could pet a lemur under supervision of a handler. "I take probably two steps in, the lemur lurches at me," she said. "It lands on my shoulder. I turned my face. There's a bite on this side, and then a scratch. I just felt bleeding."Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. Charmaine Dickerson said the lemur bit her on her upper cheek. The aquariu...

Transgender Texan, family start new life in New Zealand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lauren Rodriguez has a limit of 20 boxes to pack up everything that matters most to her ahead of a big move from the Austin area next month. One already contains dozens of figurines she collected since childhood, which she said will help make where she's headed next feel much more like home. "I'm excited, but I've got a million little things to do between now and then," Rodriguez said from the short-term rental where she's staying temporarily outside of Austin. Texas Democrat faces censure, primary challenger after vote on health care ban for transgender minors Last year she talked to KXAN about putting what she called her "dream home" on the market, and someone finally bought it in April. The sale is allowing her to leave Texas, perhaps for good, and reunite with her transgender son, Greyson. While sitting on the bed in her cramped rental, she scrolled to a picture on her phone showing her son before he boarded a flight in February. "This is at the Austin airport...

Texas may soon have a process to remove local prosecutors who won’t pursue abortion, election cases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — The Texas Senate passed a bill Friday that would allow locally elected prosecutors who choose not to enforce certain laws to be removed for misconduct.The bill is part of a larger effort by Republicans to rein in “rogue” district attorneys in Texas’ large, left-leaning counties who have said they do not intend to prosecute abortion cases and, in some cases, have adopted policies about prosecuting low-level theft and drug offenses.“There must be a mechanism in place in Texas to remove prosecutors who simply refuse to enforce Texas laws which have been made by this Legislature or any legislature,” bill sponsor state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, said on the floor Friday.The version of House Bill 17 that passed the House last month included caveats to explicitly protect prosecutors from removal for things like diversion programs, in which people accused of low-level crimes like drug possession can take classes instead of going to jail. The Senate remo...

Movie review: New additions give ‘Fast X’ boost, but franchise may be running on fumes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

In the last exciting installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise, 2021’s “Fast 9,” the gang drove a car into space, tangled with a long-lost brother and pushed the physical limits of various vintage Dodge Chargers in far-flung locations around the globe, as Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) is wont to do.Since then, there have been a few external shake-ups in the “Fast” world: Longtime director Justin Lin departed the franchise only a week into filming on “Fast X,” which is now being billed as part one of a three-part finale, and he’s been replaced with a franchise super fan: “The Transporter” director Louis Leterrier, who swooped in to save the day like a member of Dom’s family piloting a muscle car out of an aircraft.But rest assured, family, in “Fast X,” the Coronas are cold, the booties are shaking and the sleeves remain optional. Leterrier, working with a script credited to Lin and Dan Mazeau, takes to his turn behind the wheel with the enthusiasm of a kid who just g...

Saratoga Springs woman accused of assaulting child

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:52 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Saratoga Springs woman is accused of abusing a child. Police said Gloria Rhodes, 50, was taken into custody Friday morning after staff at the alleged victim's school noticed the child was injured. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The child was treated a a hospital. Police said a safety plan was put in place with help from the New York State Office of Child Protective Services.Rhodes is charged with second degree assault and is being held in jail on bail.