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Kansas nears ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature gave final approval Thursday to a ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, and they appear for now to have the votes to override the Democratic governor’s expected veto.The state Senate voted 28-11 to approve the bill, which would impose the ban for K-12, college and club sports, starting July 1. It next goes to Gov. Laura Kelly, as the state House approved it two weeks earlier on an 82-40 vote. Kelly vetoed two previous versions of the ban. Republicans made it a major issue when she ran for reelection last year, focusing multiple television ads on it. While she won a narrow victory, supporters of a ban appeared to pick up just enough legislative seats to have the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a veto.If they are successful, Kansas would join at least 18 other states with laws limiting girls’ and women’s sports to athletes who had female anato...

Bears awarded another draft pick in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

LAKE FOREST - Ryan Poles got some more good news on Thursday when it comes to a very important weekend in April.On Thursday, the NFL awarded the Bears a compensatory pick for the upcoming 2023 draft that will take place from April 27-29 in Kansas City. Poles will now have an extra seventh round selection as the Bears will have the 41st pick in that round and the 258th overall. The awarding of the selection is based on the number of compensatory free agents lost compared to the number that were signed by a team the previous year.In order to determine that, the NFL uses a formula that includes average salary per year, snap count, and postseason awards per player.With this added selection, Poles now had nine draft picks to work with this April as he looks to build up the Bears' roster ahead of the 2023 season. Thanks to a 3-14 record in 2022, he holds the No. 1 overall selection, which figures to net a hefty return from a team in need of a quarterback to draft at that position. The odd...

Chicago mayoral candidates prepare for second debate before runoff election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson are going head-to-head in their second forum since February's election.Both candidates will square off again Thursday evening as they build up momentum for their campaigns and hope to sway more voters and endorsements their way.On Thursday morning, Johnson was endorsed by the Illinois Nurses Association. SEE ALSO | Sparks fly in first Chicago mayoral runoff debate as candidates trade barbs"I am so grateful to have you alls support," Johnson said. Coming off the heels of Wednesday night's forum with opponent Paul Vallas, Johnson said he feels confident he's the best fit for the City of Chicago."The next mayor of the City of Chicago is among the working class of Chicago," Johnson said.During the Feb. 28 election, Vallas received 33% of the votes compared to Johnson's near 22%.Vallas has received major endorsements from large business groups, including GOP donor Ken Griffin."I've gotten contributions from individuals ...

Suburban social worker accused of grooming, abusing minors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

MCHENRY COUNT, Ill. — A Far North suburban case manager for an area nonprofit social service agency is accused of child abuse, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.Mohammad Mohsin Khan, 35, of Gilberts, faces charges of grooming, two counts of battery and two counts of disorderly conduct following a five-month investigation that began in September of 2022.SEE ALSO | Suburban man charged in Wisconsin woman’s death 23 years agoKhan allegedly had contact and communication, sexual in nature, with several juvenile victims. Multiple victims corroborated the allegations, deputies added.Khan was taken into custody by deputies without incident. Khan was issued a $10,000 bond in court on Thursday.

Some dead in shooting at Jehovah's Witness hall in Germany

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Shots were fired inside a building used by Jehovah's Witnesses in the northern German city of Hamburg on Thursday evening, and several people were killed or wounded, police said.The shooting took place in the Gross Borstel district, a few kilometers (miles) north of the downtown area of Germany's second-biggest city.“We only know that several people died here; several people are wounded, they were taken to hospitals,” police spokesman Holger Vehren said. He said he had no information on the severity of the injuries suffered by the wounded. Police did not confirm German media reports, which named no sources, of six or seven dead.The scene of the shooting was the Jehovah's Witnesses' Kingdom Hall, a modern and boxy three-story building next door to an auto repair shop. Vehren said police were alerted to the shooting about 9:15 p.m. and were on the scene quickly. He said that after officers arrived and found people with apparent gunshot wounds on the ground floor, they he...

Anker recalls over 40K mobile power banks due to fire risk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

(WHTM) — Anker Innovations is voluntarily recalling roughly 42,000 of its mobile power banks, as the batteries inside can overheat and catch fire. The recall is for all Anker 535 Mobile Power Bank (PowerCore20k) devices with model number A1366. These banks can be used to charge multiple devices such as laptops, tablets, and phones with a 30W maximum output. Gun used in Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ shooting ‘destroyed by the state,’ defense lawyer reveals The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it has received 10 reports of the products overheating, including one report of minor injuries. The power bank is equipped with two USB cables and comes in a variety of colors. The power bank measures 3 inches wide, 6 inches long by 1 inch deep. "Anker" is engraved on the front and model number A1366 can be found on the back. The item was sold in Target stores nationwide and online at Anker, Amazon, and eBay from October 2022 through January 2023 for about $70, according to CPSC. Fantasia T...

Graham leads effort to label Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – Following the kidnapping of four Americans in Matamoros, Mexico -- which ended with two Americans murdered -- Republican lawmakers in Washington want to pass a bill to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is helping to lead the effort to categorize Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations but points out lawmakers have been trying to do that for over a decade.“We're going to destroy their business model and their lifestyle,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).California Democratic congressman Pete Aguilar says the decision to label cartels as terrorists should involve the Department of Homeland Security and others but agrees Mexican drug cartels are a big problem.“There's no doubt that what the cartel is seeking to do is disastrous, it's harmful, it puts people's lives in jeopardy,” Rep. Aguilar said.That's why Sen. Graham says the terrorist designation is needed but says labeling Mexican drug cartels as...

Lawmakers concerned about threat China could pose to U.S. and the world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- Lawmakers from both parties say they're concerned by the steps China is taking to advance its ambitions."At the expense of U.S. and Democratic interests and therefore we must take a whole of government approach to meeting that threat," Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI.) said.Magaziner worries about the spread of Chinese propaganda to the rest of the world."Expand on the methods that the CCP is using to influence public opinion," Brown University Political Science Assistant Professor Tyler Jost said."Domestic propaganda has worked," Jost said. "It is easy to see how they would assume that those same types of propaganda would work on foreign audiences."Experts also say that to reinforce their propaganda, the Chinese gather data on anti-Asian hate in America"Which oftentimes calls out these types of events, both broadly in terms of race and specifically on anti-Asian racial issues," Jost said.Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) is concerned about how the U.S. responded to th...

Severe thunderstorms possible overnight with large hail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A cold front returning to the area overnight triggers scattered to numerous thunderstorms, some of which may turn severe and bring large, damaging hail. NEW BLOG: La Niña has ended — Here’s what’s next and when El Niño could begin The same cold front that brought a brief respite from the heat and humidity Wednesday evening returns Thursday night, but this time packs more a punch. Numerous thunderstorms are expected overnight, some of which may contain large hail. Keep your KXAN Weather App nearby with alerts enabled for your location should dangerous weather strike. We will keep you advised on KXAN.High-resolution radar forecast overnightSome areas may record 1-2" of beneficial rain from the stronger storms.Forecast rain totalsCooler weather blows in briefly Friday behind the front with high temperatures dropping to the 60s. A temperature roller coaster ride continues thereafter with very warm conditions Saturday, then a more extended period of cool spring weather...

Additional water restrictions possible this summer if dry weather continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- New projections from the Lower Colorado River Authority show that if drier-than-normal weather continues, the combined water storage in lakes Travis and Buchanan may drop below a threshold that would trigger additional water restrictions in Austin this summer.Even with periodic rain events, much of Central Texas, including the Austin area, has stacked up a 16-20" rainfall deficit in the last year -- rainfall we should have received but haven't. This has led to low lake levels and severe drought conditions.12-month rainfall deficit (Southern Regional Climate Center)The dry, warm weather pattern led to record-low water inflows into the Highland Lakes in 2022. Even less water flowed into lakes Travis and Buchanan last year than it did during the record-hot 2011. And things have not improved. Water inflows so far this year have been even lower than the first few months of 2022.New projections from the Lower Colorado River Authority show that under continued dry or extre...