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Preparation underway to turn vacant lot into migrant camp in Brighton Park 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

CHICAGO — Migrants are coping with the frigid temperatures and snow that swept across Chicagoland on Sunday as the city prepares to begin work on a winterized tent camp in Brighton Park on Monday — and neighbors in the area continue to push back on the plans.A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson said there is no date yet to begin construction, even though 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez told constituents it would start Monday.For several weeks, dozens of residents have shown up every day to voice their concerns and opposition to the city's proposal to house migrants at the vacant property located near West 38th Street and South California Avenue. Police warn residents on West, Northwest sides after string of armed robberies Ald. Ramirez said residents in the area are disappointed. "This is outrageous what they're doing here," Yuan Mo, a resident in the area, said. For weeks, crews have been busy coming in and out of the property with bulldozers and other cons...

'Glitch' in Ed Burke proceedings after attorney tests positive for COVID-19

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

CHICAGO — The Ed Burke trial has another challenge to its timeline after a defense attorney tested positive for COVID-19.Following a break for Thanksgiving, Judge Virginia Kendall announced a "little bit of a glitch in our proceedings" after an attorney for one of Burke's co-defendants came down with COVID-19.Todd Pugh represents Peter Andrews, a longtime aid to Burke, and will view the proceedings Monday via a video conference.It's a significant development because Andrews directly factors into the Burger King portion of the trial. Evidence related to the alleged Burger King scheme is being presented Monday.Nobody else involved in the trial has tested positive, though the 79-year-old former alderman, who retired in May after 54 years, and his attorneys were all wearing masks as a precaution.Burke is facing 14 counts of racketeering, bribery and extortion.Prosecutors have been outlining four alleged scheme in which they said Burke abused his public office to enrich himself or seek f...

$465: Diplomas for sale in Louisiana's off-the-grid schools, with no classes required

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, La. (AP) — Arliya Martin accepted her high school diploma with relief and gratitude.It was her ticket to better-paying work, she felt, after getting kicked out of high school and toiling for eight years at factory jobs to support her children.But Martin didn’t take any classes or pass any tests to receive her degree. She got it in July from a school where students can get a high school diploma for $465.Unlike public schools, formal homeschooling programs or traditional private schools, nearly 9,000 private schools in Louisiana don’t need state approval to grant degrees. Nearly every one of those unapproved schools was created to serve a single homeschooling family, but some have buildings, classrooms, teachers and dozens of students.While unapproved schools account for a small percentage of the state’s students, those in Louisiana’s off-the-grid school system are a rapidly growing example of the nation’s continuing fallout from COVID-19: families disengaging from tradit...

How you can send holiday letters to Illinois veterans

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) -- The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) announced on Monday that it is launching a campaign to send holiday letters to veterans.According to an Illinois news release, the 2023 "Operation Rising Spirit" campaign asks service organizations, schools, communities, and individuals to write letters of appreciation to Illinois Veterans.The letters will be equally distributed to veterans in the state veterans homes in Chicago, Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy.“Last year, over 5,000 letters were distributed to veterans in our care which provided an abundance of holiday cheer into the homes,” said Director Terry Prince. “We encourage volunteer groups, families, and schools to participate in this kind gesture of gratitude to Illinois veterans.”Operation Rising Spirit was originally launched in 2020 to support veterans who were unable to visit family and friends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Illinois launches letter-writing campaign to veterans Anyone...

Like Texas' Jonathon Brooks, OKST's Ollie Gordon II emerged from relative unknown to star in 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Coming into the season, Texas and Oklahoma State both had questions about who would emerge in the offensive backfield. It's safe to say that both teams answered them, and then some.Both teams had to replace production from the previous year — the Longhorns had two outstanding runners taken in the NFL Draft and the Cowboys graduated dynamic quarterback Spencer Sanders while 2022 leading rusher Dominic Richardson transferred to Baylor — and neither team was quite sure how to go about that. Instant Analysis: A blowout before the title game is exactly what the Longhorns needed For Texas, it ended up being a committee led by Jonathon Brooks until his knee injury, and now CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue among others are chewing up yards. For Oklahoma State, it was a sophomore who turned into the nation's leader in rushing yards this season, Ollie Gordon II.A four-star recruit from Fort Worth, Gordon burst onto the scene in Stillwater once Big 12 play began. The sophomore has r...

Winter much of the week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures this afternoon will not escape the 50s as most highs will peak in the low to mid 50s. The area will be a little warmer tomorrow and especially Thursday.Winter's chill in autumnThe day dawned with sun and fair-weather clouds. Most lows were in the 30s with a freeze at Lampasas (29°), Llano (30°), San Saba (31°) and Marble Falls (32°). Camp Mabry's low was 36°. It was two degrees cooler at the airport.Today and tomorrow will be dry. Tomorrow's warmer air will be helped along by a mostly sunny sky expected in the afternoon.Change happens Wednesday, especially in the evening. A low rain chance pops in the late-afternoon forecast increasing Wednesday night to Thursday morning. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast during the day with a slug of upper-level moisture moving in on the southwest flow aloft.Good rain chance Wednesday night to Thursday afternoonIt will be a short-lived round of rain as the upper energy helping to fuel the rain moves away from the ...

John Shipley: It’s almost December, time to defend Gophers’ P.J. Fleck — again

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

It’s been less than a calendar year since Minnesota’s football team wrapped up its second straight victory over Wisconsin, plus a fourth bowl victory in five years. The Gophers also are a week away from accepting a bowl invitation they don’t deserve.So, naturally, it’s time, again, to explain the college football landscape to any Gophers fans who haven’t been paying close attention since, say, Glen Mason won 10 games at Kansas in a conference called the Big 8.You might not like P.J. Fleck’s schtick, or believe it’s real. You might find it impossible to defend all of his in-game decision-making, or his radio plea for the regular folks to start buying NIL-sponsored apparel. But in terms of program building, the man is doing his job.Some of us are old enough to remember way back to 2019, when Fleck’s team finished 11-2 and ranked 10th in the final Associated Press poll — 10th! — after beating ninth-ranked Auburn in the Outback Bowl. For a program like Minnesota’s, in what was then a 12...

Timberwolves’ chances of advancing in in-season tournament are slim. But here’s how it could happen

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

After falling to Sacramento at home on Saturday, Minnesota’s hopes of advancing in the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament are in shambles.That’s an interesting spot to be in considering the Timberwolves are 2-1 in group play and can improve to 3-1 with a victory Tuesday over Oklahoma City.But only eight of the NBA’s 30 teams reach the in-season tournament quarterfinals. You have two paths to advancing to that point: You can win your group or claim your conference’s one wildcard spot.The Timberwolves would have clinched Group C with a win Saturday over the Kings. Because Sacramento won that game, the Kings are in the driver’s seat in the group. If the Kings beat Golden State on Tuesday — and they’ll be favored to do so — they’ll win the group outright.If they lose to the Warriors, the door cracks open for the Timberwolves.If Golden State beats Sacramento and Minnesota beats the Thunder, the Warriors, Timberwolves and Kings would all finish 3-1 in group play, and all three teams wou...

Have an opinion on finalists for Minnesota’s new flag? Now’s your chance to share.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

The commission tasked with choosing a new flag and seal for the state of Minnesota is taking public input on its final designs as its end-of-year deadline approaches.Anyone interested in leaving a comment on the six flag submission finalists and five seal submission finalists can now do so on the State Emblems Redesign Commission website.Last week, the 13-member commission narrowed down finalists from the more than 2,600 design submissions it received in October. State lawmakers earlier this year passed legislation to change the state’s symbols, and created the commission to handle the process.One of the finalists for the Minnesota state flag design as selected by the State Emblems Redesign Committee in St. Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2022. (Courtesy of the State Emblems Redesign Commission)Critics of the current state flag, which shows the state seal on a blue background, say it’s unmemorable, unoriginal due to its resemblance to many other state flags and offensive for its dep...

Schuyler time capsule exhibit opening at Albany Institute

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Institute of History and Art announced the upcoming launch of a new exhibit showcasing the time capsule uncovered from the base of the Philip Schuyler statue formerly in front of Albany City Hall. The exhibit opens to the public on December 6. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The time capsule was unearthed on June 10 following the statue's removal. The exhibit, titled “The Time Capsule: What We Found Under Philip Schuyler”, will include all the objects found in the box as well as enclosed documents, photographs and publications. “The box placed under the Schuyler Statue was a gift to ‘future Albany’ and its contents offer a glimpse into our rich past. The day our tireless Department of General Services crew unearthed the time capsule was very exciting, and now the entire City of Albany has an opportunity to see all the objects and a significant portion of the documents, photographs, and publi...