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WATCH LIVE | Pritzker signs new law making changes to Illinois' supervised release system

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

ILLINOIS — Governor JB Pritzker is set to make changes to the state's Mandatory Supervised Release System (MSRS) when he signs Senate Bill 423 into law. Friday Forecast: Thunderstorms, dangerous heat across Chicago area SB423 will bring several changes to the MSRS including:Parolee or releasee will submit to a urinalysis test only if there is documented, reasonable suspicion of illicit drug useThe Prisoner Review Board shall, rather than may, reduce the period of mandatory supervision when certain educational milestones are achievedEliminates several conditions related to release of a minorAllows for the use of technology in lieu of appearing in person for required reporting or meetings by the parolee or releaseeRequires the Prisoner Review Board to provide a list of steps or requirements for granting early dischargePritzker is scheduled to sign the bill at a Friday event featuring rapper/activist Meek Mill, entrepreneur Michael Rubin, and REFORM Alliance.WGN plans to livestream t...

Texas teachers fired for attending drag show: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

HOUSTON  (NewsNation) — Two teachers in the Houston area were reportedly fired this month for attending a drag show, the Chron in Houston reported.Kristi Maris and her co-worker attended a drag show at Hamburger Mary's in downtown Houston. Maris shared photos on Facebook with the caption, "This was such a blast!" according to the Chron reporting. Maris later received a call from First Baptist Academy, the school at which she had taught for 19 years, and was reportedly fired. "I feel like we were treated like criminals," Maris reportedly told a local ABC station. Houston, San Antonio sue Texas over ‘Death Star’ law restrictions When asked about the firing, the school responded that employees "will act in a godly and moral fashion at work, on Facebook and in my community," ABC 13 reported.Maris reportedly said she didn't think a drag show violated the school guidelines. "They're entertainers. I would've never thought in a million years that this would happen. Never. We were in...

Incandescent light bulb ban goes into effect next week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

DALLAS (NewsNation) — Starting next week, Americans will only be able to purchase LED lights from retailers across the nation as an official ban on incandescent lightbulbs will go into effect.Come Tuesday, while it won't be illegal to own incandescent light bulbs, it will be illegal for stores to sell them and companies to manufacture them.The federal government’s warnings started in January and have been getting progressively more aggressive as they want to make sure Americans don’t go back in time. The government announced a ban on the manufacturing and selling of incandescent bulbs, saying it will help Americans save money and help the environment.Everyone will have to purchase LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs instead.However, some critics of the ban are calling it government overreach, saying lawmakers should let Americans make their own decisions about the light bulbs in their houses.The Department of Energy says LED lights provide more light using 75%...

Ford recalling 870,000 F-150 pickups over malfunctioning parking brakes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 870,000 newer F-150 pickup trucks in the U.S. because the electric parking brakes can turn on unexpectedly.The recall covers certain pickups from the 2021 through 2023 model years with single exhaust systems. Ford's F-Series pickups are the top-selling vehicles in the U.S.The company says in documents posted by government safety regulators Friday that a rear wiring bundle can come in contact with the rear axle housing. That can chafe the wiring and cause a short circuit, which can turn on the parking brake without action from the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.Drivers may see a parking brake warning light and a warning message on the dashboard. 2.5M vehicles with ‘urgent recalls’ unrepaired in US Ford says in documents that it has 918 warranty claims and three field reports of wire chafing in North America. Of these, 299 indicated unexpected parking brake activation, and 19 of these happened while the trucks we...

Family sues Hays County corrections officer after inmate killed in hospital shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The family of an inmate who was shot and killed by a corrections officer in a hospital last December is now suing the officer. Joshua Wright was being held pre-trial when he was shot and killed in a Kyle hospital by Isaiah Garcia. Wright was accused of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. PREVIOUS: Hays County corrections officer on leave after fatal officer-involved shooting at hospital in Kyle Garcia had worked as a corrections officer for the Hays County Sheriff's Office since 2018. He was on duty guarding Wright when the shooting happened. HCSO said Wright assaulted Garcia before trying to escape the hospital. Garcia was indicted in April on a deadly conduct charge. He was booked into the Comal County Jail Thursday and released the same day.In May, he pled not guilty. RELATED: Hays County former corrections officer pleads not guilty in hospital shooting The family of Joshua Wright released a statement saying while the lawsuit won't bring Joshua...

Texas man finds his biological mother after journey across nearly 3 decades, 4 states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Meet Sean Anthony Johnson, a man on the journey of a lifetime.It's a journey that would take 27 years of research, span across four states, and connect him with family members who he didn't know existed."Well, let me just take you on the journey," said Johnson, who worked at ASARCO for 20 years, and recently met his biological mother after a nearly three-decades-long search. "My biological mother's maiden name is Williams." Sean was adopted at birth back in August of 1966 by a nurse named Margaret Johnson, also known as Maggie, but when she passed away on Sept. 3, 1996, he said his journey to find his biological mother began."Before she died, she gave me her blessings for me to find my biological mother. She said, her name is 'Diane Williams, she lives in Louisville, or Lexington (Kentucky)," said Johnson, "Back then in '96, you know, we didn't have Google like we do now. So basically, I had to do a lot of my research through the library."Johnson told...

Map shows Texas' contaminated Superfund sites near you

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – More than 1,300 sites around the country are suspected of being so contaminated, hazardous or polluted — or at risk of becoming so polluted — that they have been deemed a national cleanup priority. About 50 of those "Superfund" sites are found in Texas. The Environmental Protection Agency identifies these as places that pose a risk to people's health because they have been contaminated by hazardous waste. Since 1980, the agency has taken charge of cleaning up those sites under a law with the nickname "Superfund." (Its full name is The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or CERCLA.) Texas' Superfund sites include poorly managed waste management facilities, refineries, and old chemical companies. AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile? Maps show which cell provider gives your area best coverage As of July, the EPA lists 55 contaminated places in Texas on the National Priorities List. "It is a list of the worst hazardous waste sites identified by...

Dick's House of Sport opens in Latham

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The new Dick's House of Sport held their grand opening in Latham Jul. 28, 2023. The store is nearly 100,000 sq. ft. and, in addition to selling sports essentials, you can try out the gear in batting cages, golf simulators or try the climbing wall. Michael Smith, Executive Director, said its the interactive experience that makes their store unique. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “It makes everyone feel included because they can actually try the equipment," Smith said. "They can get their hands on with it and decide which one is going to be best for them when they actually go out to use it. It invites the community in to do stuff, we’re going to be able to do birthday parties on the rock wall and different events throughout the store.” This is the 10th Dick's House of Sport to open in the country. The new store is located in the Latham Farms plaza.

Colorado breweries win impressive 33 medals at national beer competition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

Colorado beer makers made a remarkable showing at the 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship, collecting 33 medals – more than double the state’s haul in 2022.According to an announcement in early July, judges evaluated more than 9,000 beers submitted from breweries across North America and awarded medals in more than 100 different style categories.The biggest winner from the Centennial State was Bull & Bush Brewery, which scored four medals and placed No. 5 overall in the competition. The Denver-based beer maker earned two gold medals for barrel-aged recipes – Royal Oil and its 49th Anniversary Ale – plus two silver medals for its 6 Hour Scotch Ale and Hucklesherry Hounds, a barrel-aged fruit beer.Erik Peterson, co-owner of Bull & Bush Brewery, said it was the company’s first time to enter the U.S. Open Beer Championship and his team was shocked by the results. The competition reaffirmed the brewery’s ability to produce high-quality barrel-aged beers despite being a small outfit....

Bicylist killed in northeast Denver crash with commuter rail train

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:59:40 GMT

A bicyclist is dead after a crash with a commuter rail train in Denver.Police were investigating the crash near the intersection of Havana Street and Smith Road in northeast Denver near the Denver County Jail, according to a Denver Police Department posting on Twitter.The crash happened Thursday night shortly after sunset along the Regional Transportation District A-Line, forcing drivers in the area to find other routes.TRAFFIC: #DPD is investigating a fatal crash involving a bicyclist and a light rail train at Havana and Smith. SB Smith road is closed. Alternate routes advised. pic.twitter.com/2rZCiCqwVI— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) July 28, 2023Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Crash on Colorado 66 east of Longmont leaves motorcyclist dead Crime and Public Safety | Driver of stolen vehicle crashes into Lakeside Amusement Park Crime and Public Safety | Colorado cop on trial for putting suspect in car hit by train test...