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Here's what's in, what's out of the debt limit bill to avert US default

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP/WGN) — President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have been working the phones in an intense push to sell Congress on the 99-page bill that would suspend the nation's debt limit through 2025 to avoid a federal default while limiting government spending.The Democratic president and Republican speaker have to win their respective parties’ support for the plan in time to avert a default that would shake the global economy. On Tuesday, lawmakers will begin scrutinizing and debating the legislation, which also includes provisions to fund medical care for veterans, change work requirements for some recipients of government aid and streamline environmental reviews for controversial pipelines and other energy projects.The modest deal gives both men wins to tout, with Biden protecting major parts of his agenda from Republican cuts and McCarthy scoring several conservative spending caps and changes to government programs. McCarthy has pledged that the House will vote ...

Former Cubs pitcher apologizes for sharing homophobic social media post

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass apologized Tuesday for expressing support on social media for anti-LGBTQ+ boycotts of Target and Bud Light.Bass shared a post on his Instagram stories Monday urging others to spurn the American companies over support for they showed for the LGBTQ+ community. Both companies are dealing with fallout from those campaigns, which have included hostile and homophobic criticism and calls from LGBTQ+ activists not to cave to anti-LGBTQ+ groups.The right-handed reliever made a brief statement on the field but did not take questions before the Blue Jays hosted Milwaukee.“I recognize yesterday ​​I made a post that was hurtful to the Pride community, which includes friends of mine and close family members of mine,” Bass said. “I am truly sorry for that.”Bass said he had addressed teammates about the controversial post and apologized to them for sharing it. LGBTQ+ activists call for new strategies to promote equality after Target backl...

Chicago City Council to vote on making outdoor dining permanent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago City Council is expected to vote Wednesday on a plan to make outdoor dining permanent across the city.During the COVID pandemic, many businesses needed patios to stay afloat and continue serving customers. Those temporary rules could now become part of the city’s municipal code."It will attract visitors and it’s something we need," 50th Ward Alderperson Debra Silverstein said.President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, Sam Toia, said if passed, this would be quite a win for bars and restaurants."Restaurants have been going through a rough time over the last few years cause of the pandemic inflation and the sidewalk ordinance. Today will help restaurants move forward in the summer months." Toia said. "Citizens and tourists love eating outdoors we are the best summer city in America and this outdoor ordinance makes us an even better summer city."If approved by the city council on Wednesday, the new plan would allow aldermen to approve or deny expan...

ISP: Suspect steals school bus, leads police on chase through 2 Indiana counties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

SHELBY COUNTY, Ind. — A police pursuit of a stolen school bus came to an end late Tuesday morning after the chase led officers across two separate counties in Indiana. Booking photo of Chad MurdockChad A. Murdock, 32, of Cincinnati was arrested after the conclusion of the chase and faces multiple charges including criminal recklessness with a vehicle, resisting law enforcement and criminal mischief. Police: Wanted woman walking with her children fired gun at officers According to Indiana State Police, Murdock stole the school bus from the Cincinnati area before leading numerous police departments on a chase that lasted nearly an hour and went through parts of both Decatur and Shelby counties, leaving a trail of damage in the pursuit's wake. State police said troopers were first tipped off about the stolen school bus at approximately 10:15 a.m. Ohio authorities said the stolen bus was being tracked on westbound I-74 and was near Batesville in Ripley County. Photo of the stolen sch...

Search underway for missing Chicago teen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 14-year-old who was last seen on Tuesday, May 23.Lemarius Petty, 14, was last seen on the 7000 block of South Maplewood in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood near Marquette Park on Tuesday, May 23. Search underway for missing Chicago woman last seen on May 21 Petty was last seen wearing a grey hoodie, black pants, and black Nike gym shoes. He is described as 5-foot-10, weighing 180 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.Anyone with information regarding Lemarius Petty's whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-747-8380.

'As far as I know he's under the rubble': Families fear loved ones still in collapsed Davenport building

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

(WHBF) - Five people are still missing after an Iowa apartment partially collapsed over the weekend, including two people who may still be in the wreckage, according to Davenport Mayor Mike Matson.One mother fears her son is one of those residents still inside the collapsed building."As far as I know he's under the rubble," Ryan Hitchcock's mother, Linda Feliksiak, told Nexstar's WHBF on Tuesday. "I want them to get him out."She hasn't been able to reach him via mobile phone."They said they pinged his phone... the carrier. It's supposedly over there," Hitchcock's stepfather, Pat Feliksiak, said as he pointed to the collapsed building. Pets rescued from collapsed Davenport building Another family fears their loved one is still in the building. Mike Collier told WHBF Tuesday morning that he believes his cousin, Brandon Colvin, is still in the building after he did not show up for a Memorial Day gathering. He's also calling for the city to fully search the six-story building before i...

Man arrested in 'multiple murders', city official calls him 'serial killer'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Raul Meza Jr., 62, confessed to murdering his roommate, Jesse Fraga, and implicated himself in the murder of Gloria Lofton, 66, in 2019, three years after he was released from the Travis County Jail, per Austin Police. APD said they are looking into 8-10 more cold cases Meza may be connected to. Meza is currently detained in Travis County Jail. Meza told police that he wanted to kill again. "Here's a serial killer that justice was not served. It was a travesty of justice," said Interim Assitant City Manager Bruce Mills, who was also the primary investigator on the 1982 case where Meza raped and murdered 8-year-old Kendra Page. "We don't know how many more people he killed or would have killed," Mills said. Mills recalled Meza pleading guilty to Page's murder. For reasons he still does not entirely understand, the case did not go to trial, he said at a Tuesday press event. "We never really got solid answers on that," Mills said. "I think 11 years later, this guy was...

Austin's Project Connect clears state opposition... for now

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A bill that aimed to derail Project Connect, Austin's massive transportation plan, was killed in the regular session. But lobbyists and attorneys behind the “No Blank Checks” bill believe legal challenges are still likely in the future. "I feel confident that we're going to celebrate that Austin gets the light rail that its people want," Mayor Kirk Watson said Tuesday. But Watson also said legal challenges were likely to be part of the project's future. HB 3899 aimed “to ensure local government corporations in Texas follow the same rules as cities and counties when issuing debt backed by property taxes," a release said. Under the bill, any local government corporation created through a tax rate increase election would be required to abide by the same rules cities and counties do when issuing debt. In the case of the Austin Transit Partnership — the organization created to oversee Project Connect — HB 3899 would apply to any debt they issue in the future for the...

Isolated evening showers, then a drier stretch of weather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Following a few isolated evening showers on Tuesday, temperatures rise to the warmest levels in a week with dry weather expected on Wednesday and Thursday.A ridge of high pressure coming in from the west leads to the pleasant, hot weather midweek. BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin We are tracking the next storm system moving our way Friday into the coming weekend, bringing the return of scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Some storms may contain heavy rain for those who see them this weekend, with 0.75" to 1" of rain possible. INVESTIGATION: LCRA didn't plan for climate change until KXAN investigation FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Stay up-to-date with the First Warning Weather teamFollow the KXAN First Warning Weather team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.You can also follow our meteorologists' individual accounts for livestrea...

What should I do if I'm caught in a bee swarm attack?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:24 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above is KXAN's coverage from May 29 of the bee swarm.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Memorial Day, Austin-Travis County EMS responded to reports of a bee swarm attack near a Travis County park which left seven people injured. It happened during peak swarming season in Texas, which typically runs from late March through June. Swarming season occurs when honeybees' hives are overcrowded, leading to the need for a new colony, according to PCI Pest Control. RELATED: 7 people treated after ‘bee swarm attack’ near south Austin park But what do you do if you're caught in a swarm attack? Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service stressed the importance of trying to outrun the swarm.That same sentiment was echoed by Juliana Rangel, an associate professor of apiculture at Texas A&M University. Bee colonies can live and build hives in cavities in places like a tree or a building, or they can set up a clustered colony as a swarm.Typically, she said swarms are more gentle beca...