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Aldermen vote for more independence from Mayor's office

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

CHICAGO —The group of aldermen are pushing for more independence from the mayor's office happening just a week before a new mayor is elected to run the city.The aldermen are looking to increase the number of committees and subcommittees from19 to 28 which would include adding a youth services subgroup and another focused on entertainment and conventions. The group also wants council members to pick their own committee chairs instead of thew power belonging to the mayor.City Council has allowed mayors to hand-pick committee chairs for the past few decades, helping ensure the mayor could push through their legislation more quickly.Another change is stopping ordinances from being introduced last minute without making information available to the public. A rare Michael Jordan card is up for auction Even though the vote is taking place Thursday, any rules approved later would still have to be re-approved by the newly elected City Council once the new term starts.WGN reporters spoke to ...

70% of doctors say COVID misinformation has negatively impacted patients' health: poll

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

(The Hill) -- More than 70 percent of physicians surveyed in a new poll said that misinformation has made it harder to treat patients with COVID-19 and ultimately harmed patient health. In a new poll by the de Beaumont Foundation and Morning Consult, 72 percent of U.S. physicians said that misinformation made it harder to treat COVID-19 patients, while the same number said it has negatively impacted patient outcomes.More than 80 percent of physicians polled said that there is a problem with misinformation when it comes to both COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 treatments. Additionally, 44 percent of physicians said that more than half of the information about COVID-19 that they personally consume is misinformation. The physicians polled largely agreed on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, with more than 90 percent saying that the vaccines are safe and effective. ‘Havana syndrome’ could be the result of electromagnetic weapon: declassified report The spread of misinformation h...

The end for 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'? Jeff Garlin weighs in on the rumors

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

CHICAGO — It's a sitcom that's been running on and off since 2000, but is this finally the end for "Curb Your Enthusiasm"?Tweets from producer Jon Hayman along with director and executive producer Robert B. Weide indicated that filming had been completed for the 12th and final season of the show. Both were later deleted, but die-hard fans of the sitcom have been wondering what the fate of the Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe-winning sitcom will be.As it turns out, one of the actors in "Curb Your Enthusiasm" picked the right time to make his way to Channel 9.On Thursday, Jeff Garlin, who portrays Larry David's manager and best friend Jeff Greene, was on WGN Morning News to discuss the rumors about the end of the show. The Chicago native, who got his start in comedy at The Second City, has been a regular on the show for the previous 11 seasons. It's for that reason that he was quick to question whether the "Curb Your Enthusaism" is indeed finished."The way the show works, and has alway...

Looking for a used car? Here's why you should buy now

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

Well, it was nice while it lasted.For nearly a year, the average used vehicle in the United States had been edging toward affordable again for millions of people. The relief felt belated and relatively slight, but it was welcome nonetheless.From an eye-watering peak of $31,400 in April of last year, the average price had dropped 14% to $27,125 early this month.Now, with the supply of used vehicles failing to keep up with robust demand, prices are creeping up again, with signs pointing to further increases ahead. So many buyers have been priced out of the new-car market that fewer trade-ins are landing on dealer lots. Deepening the shortage, fewer used vehicles are coming off leases or being off-loaded by rental car companies.Average list prices for used cars have edged up by about $700 in the past month, and Alex Yurchenko, chief data officer for Black Book, which tracks prices, expects them to keep rising at least into summer.“If you have to buy a used vehicle," he suggested, "righ...

Texas judge strikes down ObamaCare's free preventive services requirement

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

(The Hill) – A federal judge in Texas struck down a key provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires insurers and employers to cover preventive services for free, including cancer screenings and HIV drugs.The ruling by Judge Reed O’Connor of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas — who previously struck down the entire ObamaCare law before it was upheld by the Supreme Court — applies nationwide.It immediately jeopardizes access to treatment for the approximately 100 million Americans who use free preventive services annually, and it leaves the door open for insurers to impose deductibles and copays for potentially life-saving screening tests. Texas school superintendent resigns after leaving firearm unattended in school The ACA requires insurers to cover, without cost-sharing, more than 100 preventive health services recommended by the U.S Preventive Services Task Force. Cost sharing will likely deter patients — particularly those of limited means — fro...

Drizzle and showers today ahead of record heat

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Not a whole lot of sunshine expected today but with a stout southerly flow, we won't need it for today's warm up.Today will feature scattered showers and fairly widespread drizzle. Most of the drops won't be heavy, but it'll be enough to make for wet roads and damp conditions the majority of the time.Limited rainfall amounts with today's drizzle and scattered showers Afternoon highs will warm into the middle and upper 70s, a little above average for this time of year. Breezy winds out of the southeast will reach sustained speeds of 15-25 mph with gusts up to 30 mph - so fair warning allergy-sufferers, it's probably going to be one of those days.Unseasonably warm Thursday afternoonA strong Pacific storm passing to our north will drag a cold front through our area late in the day tomorrow. This front has the potential to trigger isolated storms and showers along, but mainly east of I-35 late in the day, but not severe weather is expected to stay primarily northeast o...

Daniel Perry trial day 2: Fiancée of killed BLM protester testifies

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Holding back tears before she began to speak, Whitney Mitchell prepared to testify in the murder trial of a man accused of killing her soon-to-be-husband three years ago. Daniel Perry entered a not-guilty plea in court Tuesday. He faces a murder charge. Trial set to begin this week for man accused of shooting, killing Austin protester in 2020 She and Foster met as teens in high school in 2009. After a year together, Mitchell said she got sick. That sickness led to her losing both of her arms and legs. Follow reporter Sam Stark's live updates from Day 3 of court below:Tweets by SamCStark Though the two had only been together a short time, Mitchell said Foster stuck by her side. He went from her boyfriend to caregiver."He helped me get dressed in the morning, brush my teeth, wash my hair … everything you would do in your everyday life, he did that for me," Mitchell said. She and the prosecution both referred to him as her husband in court Tuesday because of how long ...

'Explosive growth': 20+ new restaurants, retail stores coming to Kyle

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) - The City of Kyle is booming with business. Costco opened its doors in the city Thursday morning. Costco to open Kyle warehouse Thursday Officials with the retail giant said it was one of their biggest grand openings, with hundreds lined up outside eager to get their carts. Hundreds of people walked through Costco's doors in Kyle Thursday morning. Many said they've been waiting years and years for this. (Photo: KXAN's Sarah Al-Shaikh)Costco is just one of several businesses opening in Kyle this year as the city continues to grow. "We have over 30 restaurants under construction and in development right now," said Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell.Mayor Mitchell said the city is putting a lot of focus on quality of life for residents. "Just Costco alone has more than 230 employees. 130 of them live right here locally," the Mayor said. "That's the fulfillment of the dream: live, work and play and shop right here in the City of Kyle."The city's Director of Economic Devel...

Police respond to schools in Lockport, Buffalo

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) -- New York State police say there were a series of swatting incidents across the state this week, including here in western New York. Police say "all of the reports are unfounded." Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "The State Police is aware of swatting incidents that have occurred across the state, in which a caller states that there is an active shooter in a school," New York State police said. Swatting is an informal term defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as "the action of making a false report of a serious emergency so that a SWAT team will go to a person's home, by someone who wants to frighten, upset or cause problems for that person."Police are investigating these suspicious calls. Locally, police were seen responding in Lockport and Buffalo Thursday morning. Lockport High School is currently under lockdown after a single call directed to the school took place. Lockport police say there were no...

Berkshire County man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:13:13 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- A Berkshire County man has pleaded guilty to two counts of Possession of Child Pornography and one count of Dissemination. The charges stemmed from an investigation into a CyberTip. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The defendant, Dale Wilson or Hancock, asked for probation (house arrest) with conditions. On March 27, Wilson was given 10 years of probation with a suspended sentence if Wilson were to re-offend in the next ten years. Wilson's probation conditions include:Continue sex offender treatmentContinue mental health treatment and sign releases for probationEngage with community support services and follow recommendationsContinue to reside with his mom unless a change of residence is approved