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City spending rises, as does skepticism, amid Johnson's first budget address

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

CHICAGO — With budget season underway, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is increasing city spending by $236 million. While the city leader does so without raising taxes, City Council members are skeptical.Johnson called his first budget proposal a down payment on his progressive agenda. Rather than pursue $1 billion in investments, as he promised on the campaign trail, the mayor is taking a more modest approach – closing a projected $538 million gap while holding the line on property taxes. "My budget team and department heads have been hard at work developing a plan that not only closes the budget gap but makes strategic investments in people and communities," Johnson said Wednesday. Restraining order filed against Chicago to block Amundsen Park Fieldhouse migrant shelter The mayor has proposed money for youth employment - 4,000 more opportunities for summer jobs - bringing the total to 28,000. Johnson also wants $250 million in homelessness support, additional funds for the city’s ...

Sam's Club cuts membership to $15 before the holidays

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — Sam's Club has cut the price of its annual membership by 70%, just in time for the holidays. The standard Sam's Club membership is currently only $15 for the first year. It's normally $50.Meanwhile, the Plus membership, which offers free shipping and other perks, is currently $55 for the first year, compared to its usual $110 price. Judge gives $725M Facebook settlement final approval Sam's Club said this is the best Plus membership offer of the year. "We’re offering an incredible value with our October membership promotion by giving shoppers access to our Plus membership at its lowest price of the year just in time for the holiday shopping season," Scott Ludwig, Sam's Club vice president of membership, said in a release.But you'll have to act fast. The sale only lasts until Sunday, Oct. 15. Customers can snag the deal online here or in store. Sam's Club is also currently holding a "Super Savings Event" online -- just as Amazon holds its Prime Days....

'Emotionless answers': Parents of Gabby Petito react to the Laundries' depositions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

VENICE, Fla. (WFLA) — The second day of depositions with Brian Laundrie's parents was filled with more tension and more revelations about the aftermath of Gabby Petito's death."We learned a lot in the last two days that we didn't know before," said attorney Pat Reilly.Roberta Laundrie, Brian's mother, was questioned by Reilly on Wednesday in Venice, Florida, ahead of the civil trial slated for May. Brian's father, Christopher Laundrie, was deposed Tuesday. ‘Gut-wrenching’: Parents of Gabby Petito, Brian Laundrie meet for first time since Petito’s murder Questions were said to surround the infamous “burn after reading” letter that Roberta purportedly wrote Brian. In the letter, she allegedly offered her son a shovel and garbage bags if he needed to dispose of a body."There is pure evil in this world," said Nichole Schmidt, Gabby's mother, after listening to Roberta's deposition over Zoom. "I have witnessed it firsthand."Joe Petito, Gabby's father, said the Laundries refused to loo...

Algonquin woman pleads guilty but mentally ill in stabbing deaths of her boyfriend's parents

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

ALGONQUIN, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois woman has pleaded guilty but mentally ill in the 2020 stabbing deaths of her boyfriend's parents.Arin M. Fox, 42, pleaded guilty last week in McHenry County to one count of murder in exchange for prosecutors dismissing three additional murder counts and charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated battery and domestic battery, The Daily Herald of Arlington Heights reported.Authorities allege that Fox stabbed Noreen S. Gilard, 69, and Leonard J. Gilard, 73, to death in November 2020 inside their Algonquin home. They were the parents of her boyfriend at the time. She then drove their car to Douglas County, Colorado, where she was arrested. ORIGINAL: Woman charged in murders of elderly couple found dead inside Algonquin home A stipulation signed by Fox says all parties agree that Fox, also of Algonquin, had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia by three doctors. That document quotes a clinical psyc...

New Jersey mom worries for son fighting in Israel: 'So many feelings all at once'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

WYCKOFF, N.J. (WPIX) - A New Jersey mother is anxiously waiting for her son to come home as he serves in the Israel Defense Forces."There's so many feelings all at once," Nancy Dubin explained to Nexstar's WPIX. "I am proud of him, I am so proud of this kid. You can be proud of somebody and still feel abject terror at the same time, right?"Dubin describes the feeling as an out-of-body experience. Her son, a 20-year-old infantryman in the IDF, is fighting for his country amid war and turmoil. After Ari Dubin graduated from high school in New York City a few years ago, he moved to Israel to serve in the nation's army. Thousands attend rally in support of Israel in NYC "Something in his kishkas (gut) told him that he wanted a true Israeli experience," said Nancy, who recently became a cantor at Temple Beth Rishon in Wyckoff, where she also serves as a teacher at its religious school.Since the attacks in Gaza and Israel that began on Saturday, her worry for her son has ratcheted up, a...

WATCH: Video appears to show murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong running from corrections officers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Cell phone video appears to show murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong running from Travis County corrections officers when officials said she tried to escape custody after a south Austin doctor's appointment Wednesday morning. A spokesperson for the sheriff's office said officers caught up to her and restrained her within about 10 minutes. BACKGROUND: Kaitlin Armstrong captured in Costa Rica, records show bail set at $3.5 million In the video from KXAN viewer Theresa Rangel, you can see what looks like Armstrong - with her hands restrained - running on a hill next to the medical office's parking lot with an officer chasing her. You can also see the woman in the video try to jump over the fence. Watch the full video at the top of this article.Armstrong is accused of killing professional cyclist Moriah “Mo” Wilson at an east Austin home in May 2022.Armstrong was questioned by police after the deadly shooting but was not arrested. After a warrant was issued for her arres...

Armed with new contract, Wild wing Marcus Foligno sharpens his edge

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

Marcus Foligno is an amiable, and affable, person — likely a big reason he has become a veteran leader on a Minnesota Wild team that begins its regular season Thursday night against the Florida Panthers at Xcel Energy Center.But it’s not just about being a nice guy for Foligno, a power forward who seemed to find an immediate home in Minnesota after being acquired in the June 2017 trade that sent Jason Pominville and Marco Scandella to Buffalo.Foligno, 32, isn’t afraid to throw his weight around on the ice. In fact, it’s a major part of a role he plays so well that general manager Bill Guerin signed the 6-foot-3, 226-pound left wing to a four-year extension that will kick in next season.“Guys like Marcus,” Guerin said after completing his extension, “there’s not a ton of them anymore.”Teammates know that Foligno will throw his body into the corners, finish his checks, rush the crease and, if necessary, drop the gloves. After a training camp practice at TRIA Rink last week, Foligno wa...

MO Supreme Court hears racial discrimination suit against former Harley-Davidson plant 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A case before the state's highest court Wednesday involved racial discrimination and a hostile work environment at a now-closed Harley-Davidson plant. Just before the Harley-Davidson plant in Kansas City closed in 2019, court documents allege there were incidents of violence toward Black workers. The decision before the seven-judge panel is whether all the plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit were subject to a hostile work environment. Nimrod Chapel, Jr., is the attorney representing the 18 former employees. Chapel told the Missouri Supreme Court Wednesday that starting in 2017, a noose was found in the women's restroom, then a swastika and other racist graffiti appeared. The lawsuit names both Harley-Davidson and Syncreon, a contractor brought in by the motorcycle manufacturer to help with production.  Monthly $500 payments coming soon for some St. Louis families "Because the 11 appellants have failed to please anything they have personally experienced," Timot...

CSU Rams defense searching for answers after loss at Utah State

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

Through five games this season, it’s been boom or bust for the Colorado State defense.The Rams are fourth among FBS teams with 3.8 sacks per game and tied for 16th in turnovers gained with 11.But they rank 125th out of 130 FBS teams in scoring defense, allowing 36 points per game, and are 128th out of 130 in total defense, allowing 478.4 yards per contest.Against Utah State last week, the Rams allowed 639 yards to the Aggies. For a team that was confident in its depth and talent on that side of the ball, the numbers aren’t corresponding with the optimism the team had before the season got underway.“Defensively, we played well in spurts, but we gave up too many big plays,” CSU head coach Jay Norvell said of the defensive performance against Utah State. “I think that is the main thing that we are majorly concerned of, is the big plays that we’re giving up.”Those explosive plays, ones that gained more than 20 yards, have hurt the Rams, not only last week, but in previous games as well....

Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland on goaltending behind Alexandar Georgiev: “That narrative is still to be written”

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

LOS ANGELES — A nearly-flat salary cap over the past several seasons has made it tough for teams at the top of the NHL to maintain their place among the league’s best.General managers like Colorado’s Chris MacFarland have had to get creative to patch holes, whether they are significant ones or just shoring up the edges of the roster. For MacFarland this offseason, that meant retooling the Avs’ forward depth, a process that left Colorado with five new forwards in the top three lines for Wednesday night’s season-opener against the Kings.“We’re happy with our offseason,” MacFarland said. “We wanted to get deeper. I think we did that up front. The moves we made … they have to do it on the ice. But we’re excited to get it going and see what it looks like.”The total cost ($12.8 million in cap space) is barely more than Nathan MacKinnon’s average annual salary. The last addition was Tomas Tatar, a consistent 20-goal scorer t...