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Senate is set to confirm 3 military nominees but GOP senator still blocking hundreds of others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

The Senate is poised to confirm a new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Wednesday as Democrats try to maneuver around holds placed on hundreds of nominations by Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville over the Pentagon’s abortion policy. Tuberville has been blocking the Senate from approving military nominations in groups, frustrating Democrats who had said they would not go through the time-consuming process of bringing up individual nominations for a vote. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., reversed course on Wednesday and moved to force votes on three of the most senior nominees: Gen. CQ Brown to replace Gen. Mark Milley as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when Milley resigns on Sept. 30, as is required by law; Gen. Randy George to be Army Chief of Staff and Gen. Eric Smith, who is nominated to be commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. Tuberville did not object to the confirmation votes, saying he will maintain his holds but is fine with bringing up the nominati...

Biden and Brazil’s Lula focus on workers’ rights while publicly playing down differences

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, played up their mutual affection for workers’ rights Wednesday as the leaders of the Western Hemisphere’s two largest democracies met in New York, steering clear in public about their differences on Ukraine and other matters.They announced a new partnership on supporting labor while avoiding openly discussing disagreements such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and the U.S. embargo of Cuba. In remarks to reporters, Biden and Lula were eager to display their shared goals on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.Biden sought to tie the meeting to domestic matters. Long a champion of labor unions, Biden is navigating strikes in the U.S. by autoworkers, screenwriters and actors who are seeking better pay and protections in a changing global economy. He has declined the request by the United Auto Workers leader to join the picket line.“When the middle does well, everybody does well,” Biden told L...

Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams has resigned

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — One of the biggest mysteries for the Bears early in the 2023 season has been the absence of their defensive coordinator Alan Williams over the last week. On Wednesday, his time with the team officially came to an end. The Bears have announced that defensive coordinator Alan Williams has resigned. .@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/NfOi5HiK70— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) September 20, 2023Williams officially resigned as defensive coordinator after a little over a season in that role. He had missed the Bears' game against the Buccaneers on Sunday due to what was termed a personal matter.After the Bears announced his resignation, Williams had this statement. It is with great regret that I tender my resignation as the Defensive Coordinator of the Chicago Bears Football Club effective immediately.I am taking a step back to take care of my health and my family. I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Chicago Bears, a storied NFL franchise with a rich history. The M...

Man charged with shooting, killing brother in Bolingbrook

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. —  A detained Bolingbrook man is now charged with the shooting death of his brother following what police called a domestic dispute earlier in the week.Authorities announced the arrest of 28-year-old Timothy Terrell Davis in Joliet on Monday afternoon. Romeoville suspect dead after shooting in Oklahoma Davis allegedly shot his 33-year-old brother Devon Davis, who succumbed to his injuries after being taken to the hospital. Bolingbrook police say the two were involved in a "family argument" Monday inside a duplex in the 300 block of Walnut Circle just before 2 p.m.Following the Sept. 18 deadly shooting, Devon Davis allegedly fled the scene. A brief search ensued, prompting schools in the area to be placed on lockdown. Darien police stated that Daviis was eventually taken into custody in Will County around 4 p.m. Emergency officials update on clean-up efforts after flooding in Calumet City Timothy Davis is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and unl...

Biden admin cancels $37 million in student loans for some University of Phoenix students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

(The Hill) — The Biden administration announced Wednesday it is canceling $37 million in student loan debt for students of the online University of Phoenix. The money will cancel the debt for 1,200 former students who the administration said were tricked into believing the for-profit school had connections with Fortune 500 companies. The borrowers who received forgiveness had to apply for the Borrower Defense program, which the Education Department uses to forgive student loans for those who have been defrauded by their university.The University of Phoenix had to pay $191 million in 2019 to settle claims brought against them accusing the school of using deceptive advertising to attract students.  Who qualifies for $0 student loan payments? “My Administration won’t stand for colleges taking advantage of hardworking students and borrowers. As long as I am President, we will never stop fighting to deliver relief to borrowers who are entitled to it – like those who attended Unive...

Migrant tent cities come with child care — and questions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Nearly two weeks after Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson revealed plans to erect tent cities to accommodate an influx of migrants, WGN Investigates has new information on the accommodations they can expect.The city quietly signed a $29 million contract with Garda World last week to erect, staff and operate the facilities. Each tent must be able to house 250-1,400 people.The company must also provide migrants with bedding, laundry, showers, 3-meals a day and security.There is also a line that says the tents can be heated to 70 degrees if the outside temperature is 40 degrees leading to questions about their warmth in colder weather. Related: Johnson proposes plan to house migrants in camps with military-grade tents “I can only imagine what’s going to happen what’s going to happen trying to keep an outdoor tent warm in the winter when we know single digit temps will be the norm come January or February,” 15th Ward Ald Ray Lopez said.The tent city contract also calls for severa...

Suspect in slaying of Illinois family believed dead in Oklahoma shooting: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

CATOOSA, Okla. (WGN) — A 31-year-old man, who was deemed a suspect in the slaying of a Romeoville, Illinois, family Sunday, has been found dead with a gunshot wound in Oklahoma, according to police.On Sunday, police in the Illinois village 30 miles southwest of Chicago conducted a well-being check on the family of four after one of them did not show up to work. Upon arrival, Romeoville Police found two adults, their two children, and three dogs with fatal gunshot wounds. The adult victims were identified as Alberto Rolon, 38, and Zoraida Bartolomei, 32. Police said the deceased children, ages 7 and 9, belonged to both Rolon and Bartolomei. The children’s identities have not yet been released.The shooting "was not a random incident," Deputy Chief of Police Chris Burne said in a Tuesday afternoon update.In a Wednesday update, Romeoville Police explained they identified a person of interest in the deaths shortly after the shooting: Nathanial Huey Jr., 31, of Streamwood, Illinois. A fem...

Did Jason Kelce confirm Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce dating rumors?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — You probably heard the rumors from Inez, but maybe you can't believe a word she says.Jason Kelce, brother of Travis Kelce, recently said the Kansas City Chiefs star and Grammy Award-winner Taylor Swift are "100% dating" — only to add that he was joking. During an appearance on 94WP Morning Show, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce jokingly said he believes the rumors about Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift dating to be true. Cruel Summer: Travis Kelce fails to give Taylor Swift his phone number "It's hard to answer because I don't really know a lot about what's happening in Travis' love life," Jason Kelce said during the show. "I try to keep his business kind of his business, stay out of that world. But having said that, I think he's doing great and I think it's all 100% true."He then quickly followed up, saying, "No, I'm joking, I don't know what's happening."Rumors of the romance started after Travis said in a "New Heights" podcast episode that he failed...

'I was just doing my job,' Alabama band director says about football game arrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – An Alabama high school band director said he was just “doing my job” when police officers arrested him and shocked him with a stun gun after he refused to immediately stop the band as it played in the bleachers following a football game.The Alabama Education Association (AEA) hosted a press conference Wednesday to discuss the arrest of Minor High School Band Director Johnny Mims.“The things that happened in that game should've never happened," Mims said. "I was not trying to be defiant to the police department, I was just trying to do my job.” Video shows Alabama police arrest band director who refused to stop performance Mims, a member of the AEA, was shocked by a Birmingham Police Department officer after a football game on Thursday, Sept. 14. When asked by officers to make the band stop playing, Mims instructed his band to keep performing.A verbal and physical altercation ensued, during which a BPD officer used a stun gun on him. At...

AFD responding to 2 grass fires in south Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Fire Department has responded to two grass fires in northeast Austin, the agency said on social media.AFD said it responded to the grass fire in the 13200 block of South Interstate Highway 35, and the grass fires are spreading quickly.AFD said there are no road closures due to the fire.This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.