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Diverse Republican presidential primary field sees an opening in 2024 with voters of color

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — During Donald Trump’s first visit as president to Chicago, a frequent target in his attacks on urban violence, he disparaged the nation’s third largest city as a haven for criminals and a national embarrassment.At a recent town hall, Republican presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy sat alongside ex-convicts on the city’s South Side and promised to defend Trump’s “America First” agenda. In return, the little-known White House hopeful, a child of Indian immigrants, found a flicker of acceptance in a room full of Black and brown voters.The audience nodded when Ramaswamy said that “anti-Black racism is on the rise,” even if they took issue with his promise to eliminate affirmative action and fight “woke” policies.“America First applies to all Americans — not just the few that Republicans talk to,” he said.Race has emerged as a central issue — and a delicate one — in the 2024 presidential contest as the GOP’s primary field so far features fou...

Government tries to claw back money so Jan. 6 rioters don’t profit from online appeals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

Less than two months after he pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol, Texas resident Daniel Goodwyn appeared on Tucker Carlson’s then-Fox News show and promoted a website where supporters could donate money to Goodwyn and other rioters whom the site called “political prisoners.”The Justice Department now wants Goodwyn to give up more than $25,000 he raised — a clawback that is part of a growing effort by the government to prevent rioters from being able to personally profit from participating in the attack that shook the foundations of American democracy.An Associated Press review of court records shows that prosecutors in the more than 1,000 of the Jan. 6, 2021, criminal cases are increasingly asking judges to impose fines on top of prison sentences to offset donations from supporters of the Capitol rioters.Dozens of defendants have set up online fundraising appeals for help with legal fees, and prosecutors acknowledge there’s nothing wrong with asking for help for...

Debt ceiling deal: What’s in, what’s out of the agreement to avert US default

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reached an agreement in principle on legislation to increase the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid a federal default.Negotiators are now racing to finalize the bill’s text. McCarthy, R-Calif., said the House will vote on the legislation on Wednesday, giving the Senate time to consider it before June 5, the date when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the United States could default on its debt obligations if lawmakers did not act in time. While many details about the deal are unknown, both sides will be able to point to some victories. But some conservatives expressed early concerns that the compromise does not cut future deficits enough, while Democrats have been worried about proposed changes to work requirements in programs such as food stamps.A look at what’s in and out of the deal, based on what’s known so far:TWO-YEAR DEBT INCREASE, SPENDING LIMITSThe agreement would keep nondefense spending...

What’s next on the debt ceiling: Selling the plan and making a deal into a law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — After weeks of negotiations, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have announced an “ agreement in principle ” to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and avoid a potentially catastrophic default.The agreement includes spending cuts demanded by Republicans, but it is short of the reductions in the sweeping legislation passed by the Republican-led House last month.To reduce spending, as Republicans had insisted, the package includes a two-year budget deal that would hold spending flat for 2024 and impose limits for 2025. That’s in exchange for raising the debt limit for two years, until after the next election.It also expands some work requirements for food-stamp recipients and tweaks an environmental law to try to streamline reviews to build new energy projects.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the United States could default on its debt obligations by June 5 if lawmakers do not act in time to raise the federal debt ceiling.A look at what’s ...

Debt ceiling tests Speaker McCarthy as he rides breezily through high-wire act of his career

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — One morning amid the debt ceiling crisis, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy climbed onto his mountain bike and took a ride along the National Mall, marveling at the monuments.The next day he arrived for negotiations at the Capitol carting in tortilla chips and queso for the beleaguered reporters waiting outside his office during the 24/7 talks.McCarthy, with his laid-back California vibe, was never Washington’s bet to become speaker, having almost missed seizing the gavel in a history-making spectacle at the start of this year.But the 58-year-old is now leading House Republicans in the high-wire act of his career: Having negotiated with Democratic President Joe Biden over raising the nation’s debt limit, he now must deliver the votes to pass the spending cuts package into law.The standoff is being watched the world over as the United States stares down a June 5 deadline when it could run short of cash to pay its bills, potentially hurling the American economy into chaos...

Memorial Day Parades & Ceremonies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

Memorial Day is Monday May 29.Several ceremonies and events will be held throughout the weekend in Chicago and the suburbs. Below is a list of some of those events.Southside Memorial Day ParadeMonday, 3 p.m – 5 p.m.7750 S Emerald AveChicagoMemorial Day ParadeMonday 10 a.m.Culminates at William McKinley American Legion Post 1956 W. 35th Street, ChicagoMemorial Day ParadeMonday, 10:30 a.m.Westmont, IllinoisWestern Springs Memorial Day ParadeMonday 9 a.m.Tower Green914 Hillgrove AveWestern Springs, ILMemorial Day Parade and CeremonyMonday 10  a.m. Glendale Avenue and Elm StreetWinnetka, ILMemorial Day ParadeMonday 9:30 a.m.Grayslake Heritage Center, 164 Hawley StGrayslake, ILMemorial Day ParadeMonday 3 p.m.1 E Benton StAurora, ILMemorial Day Parade & CeremonyMonday, 5:45 a.m.Settlers' Park, 24401 W, 24401 Lockport StPlainfield, IL

Warm, dry Memorial Day — then temps climb

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

The holiday weekend will continue to be mild and dry.A warmup begins Tuesday bringing hot and sunny weather to the area.

APD looking for missing woman last seen in northwest Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is asking for help finding a missing woman last seen in northwest Austin. APD said Donita Silk, 62, was seen walking away from her home on Solano Drive. She was reported missing at 11 p.m. Friday.Photos of Donita SilkSilk was last seen wearing a light blue collared shirt with flowers on the collar and blue jean pants. She is described as a 5-foot-3-inch tall white female with brown hair and green eyes, weighing 110 pounds. Police said she has memory loss and early-onset dementia with no access to a car. APD said Silk is new to the Austin area. People with information about her location are asked to call 911 immediately.

A little rain today then a much better chance tomorrow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas will have another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms today similar to Saturday. Most of the area will stay dry.Much of Saturday's rain fell in the Hill Country. There were a few reporting stations that measured more than one inch of rain. A rain gauge 11 miles west-northwest of Lampasas picked up 1.39" during the afternoon. A gauge six miles south of San Saba recorded 1.15".A few showers did cross out of the Hill Country into northwest Bastrop, northern Travis and western Williamson Counties. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL REPORTS The chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon will be 20%. The forecast also includes another day with a high below normal under a mostly cloudy to overcast sky.All highs below the normal of 90°Memorial Day stormsNumerous showers and thunderstorms are part of the Memorial Day forecast. There will be a few pockets of heavy rain leading to a forecast of a marginal (category 1 of 4) flash flood threat.Most all area...

Sinking graves, missing headstone highlight lack of cemetery regulation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — From skydiving in their sixties to numerous vacations and spending time with family and friends, John and Alice Touchstone, according to their granddaughter, lived their lives to the fullest.“I mean my grandma and grandpa never met a stranger,” Allison Vanzant said.  “Touchstone Plumbing," the family business John founded in 1979, is a staple in south Austin and Vanzant said he often donated his plumbing services for causes like Habitat for Humanity.John Touchstone skydiving in his 60s (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)John & Alice Touchstone. John passed away in 2021, Alice in 2020 (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)John Touchstone sits with his great-grandson in 2016 inside the family-owned business he founded, Touchstone Plumbing (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)Alice Vanzant skydiving in her 60s (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)Family says John & Alice Touchstone enjoyed many vacations together (Courtesy Allison Vanzant)“They set the bar pretty high for grandparents,” Vanzant said.But...