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Jurors begin deliberations in 'ComEd Four' bribery trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- The first day of deliberations took place Wednesday for jurors in the "ComEd Four" bribery trial.Jurors needed clarification from Judge Harry Leinenweber early Wednesday morning as they were seeking clarification on the statue of limitations and a confusing date listed in the criminal indictment. Jurors also asked for the precise definition of the word, "overt."Judge Leinenweber tried to provide guidance for the jurors as they wade through evidence in this grueling political corruption trial. Man stabbed to death during fight inside Irving Park apartment Legal observers believe the jurors in the "ComEd Four" trial are facing a daunting challenge of sorting through seven weeks of complicated testimony, evidence, and secret recordings. The "ComEd Four" on trial are former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty. All have pleaded not guil...

MedWatch Daily Digest: How excess weight impacts the brain – and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

For Wednesday, April 26, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Boston Children's Hospital neuroscientists found young people with an abnormally high body mass index display changes in cognitive performance, brain structure and brain circuitry compared to those with a normal BMI.Why a little exercise can go a long way to helping people reduce or halt substance use.Hair relaxers can lead to infertility according to researchers with the Boston University School of Public Health.

New bipartisan bill would support parental consent for kids to use social media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - A group of Senators from both parties say their new bill protects kids from the harms of social media."Our bill is a common sense, bipartisan approach to help to stop this suffering," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said."Enough is enough. The data speaks for itself," Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said.The legislation would ban social media accounts for anyone under the age of 13 on social media platforms like Tiktok, Instagram, and Snapchat."Social media companies have had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing…they have failed to deliver," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said.Murphy says the bill also requires parental permission from users under the age of 18."This bill gives parents the ability to decide, with their children, when is the right time to step into this world," Murphy said.To enforce these requirements, the bill would create a new government-run age verification system."This is simply applying the age-old wisdom of mankind from the real world to the...

The most popular used cars in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

After supply chain issues pushed used car prices up drastically in 2021 and 2022, they have finally begun to dip. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index—the most common measure for inflation—the price of used cars and trucks dropped a national average of 13.6% from February 2022 to February 2023.Stacker used data from iSeeCars.com to identify the five most popular used cars sold in Illinois in 2022. Cars are ranked by market share, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent; though some appear the same, the more precise percentages are not equal. The iSeeCars.com analysis included more than 9.8 million used car sales from the last five model years, from 2017 to 2021. Cities with the worst commute in Illinois #5. Ram 1500- Share of statewide used car sales: 2.0%#4. Jeep Grand Cherokee- Share of statewide used car sales: 2.1%#3. Chevrolet Silverado 1500- Share of statewide used car sales: 2.3%#2. Ford F-150- Share of statewide used car sales: 3.0%#1. Chevrol...

Man stabbed 71-year-old, then attempted to rob him at CTA Blue Line station, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man is accused of stabbing a 71-year-old man before a robbery attempt at the CTA Blue Line station in Jefferson Park, police said Wednesday. The stabbing and attempted robbery occurred on April 14 in the 4900 block of N. Milwaukee Ave.Easton KirkpatrickEaston Kirkpatrick, 32, is charged with attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery with the use of a deadly weapon. He is due in court on Thursday.

Texas lawmakers consider bills to end driver license holds based on unpaid fines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texans who spent years unable to renew their driver's licenses over unpaid, and for some – unaffordable, traffic tickets pleaded with lawmakers Tuesday to repeal a state program dating back to 1996.The program called Failure to Pay and Appear allows judges to order a hold on a Texas driver renewing their license if they fail to appear in court or pay a misdemeanor traffic ticket.OmniBase Service of Texas is the only company contracted to operate the system for the Department of Public Safety Driver License Division and the hundreds of participating counties. Drivers are required to pay a fee to OmniBase in addition to the traffic ticket to renew their license.   ‘How can you wait 6 months?’ Texans report long waits to get a driver license Fernando Martinez, a construction worker, told lawmakers a traffic ticket he received when he was 19 years old – which he said he was unable to afford at the time, led to a 17-year-long cycle of fines and fees to get his lice...

'That's not fair housing': Latest issues related to housing discrimination claims in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Knowing your rights is critical, to make sure you're not being discriminated against in the housing market.The City of Austin's Civil Rights Division is bringing some fair housing issues to light."An increased and the number of folks [saying] 'Hey, I've been in this home renting as a renter for 15 years,' and all of a sudden, because of the housing market, people are charging, increased prices that are beyond their salaries," Interim Director with the City of Austin's Civil Rights Department, Dr. Tamela Saldana said. "That's not fair housing."Zenobia Joseph, an Army Veteran and Austin renter said she's facing eviction because her complex wants her to switch units. Joseph said she's lived in her current unit for 20 years. "It was just well, you can just move someplace else on the property," Joseph said. "You're then telling me my rent will go up $150 if I move!"According to Joseph, her fair housing case is going to court. She hoped to find direction and resources Wed...

Where do the 5 Texas Longhorns fall in ESPN's full mock NFL Draft?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Predicting any kind of draft is essentially an act of futility. It might be obvious where the top players could be selected, but anything after that, it's mostly conjecture and nobody knows until it happens. ESPN's Matt Miller decided he'd give it a shot, anyway.Miller, one of the network's NFL draft analysts, put together not just a mock draft for the first round, but all seven rounds. And like most folks who consider themselves experts in guessing what front offices will do, he sees Bijan Robinson going off the board in the first round.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/newslettersHe sees the Los Angeles Chargers taking the Longhorn great at No. 21. He quoted an NFL general manager saying Robinson could go as high as No. 10 to the Philadelphia Eagles. In a recent interview on the ESPN program NFL Live, Robinson said he'd like to play with Eagles quarterback Jalen H...

'It can and has destroyed families': Travis County fentanyl deaths more than double between 2021, 2022

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Fentanyl-involved accidental overdoses more than doubled between 2021 and 2022, as Travis County leaders detail an ongoing public health crisis.The 2022 annual report from the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed there were 417 accidental overdose fatalities countywide in 2022, with 245 of those linked to fentanyl. By comparison, 308 total people died from fatal accidental overdoses in 2021, with 118 of those involving fentanyl."The problem has grown significantly worse," Travis County Judge Andy Brown said during a press conference Wednesday morning. As Travis County nears its fiscal year 2023-24 budget approval, Brown said he will be asking county commissioners for $750,000 next fiscal year to support an overdose fund. He said the necessity to build a more robust response network and expand its critical infrastructure and support for community partners is critical.At the state level, Brown called on politicians to approve a number of init...

Texas Doula Association formed to advocate for growing profession

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In order to better advocate and regulate professional birth companions, or doulas, in Texas, several doula groups in the state formed the Texas Doula Association (TDA), announcing it in a press release on April 19.“We couldn’t be more excited to start this new chapter in doula advocacy in Texas. We believe that doulas can and will create happier, healthier pregnancy, birth, and parenting experiences for Texans," said TDA President Qiana Arnold in the release.The organization's scope covers "all types of doulas" from "full-spectrum" doulas, who focus on the reproductive process, and end-of-life doulas, who focus on death.According to the group's website, it is focused on establishing a high standard of care, reducing barriers to entering the profession and better integration with Medicaid. The organization is already working with Texas lawmakers on bills to advance these goals.TDA Secretary Quanisha McGruder said that the organization came together quickly earlier th...