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Hong Kong activists behind Tiananmen vigil jailed for months

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Three former organizers of Hong Kong’s annual vigil in remembrance of victims of China’s 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests were jailed Saturday for four and a half months for failing to provide authorities with information on the group in accordance with a national security law.Chow Hang-tung, Tang Ngok-kwan and Tsui Hon-kwong were arrested in 2021 during a crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy movement following massive protests more than three years ago. They were leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and were found guilty last week. The now-defunct alliance was best known for organizing candlelight vigils in Hong Kong on the anniversary of the 1989 Chinese military’s crushing of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, but it was voted to disband in 2021 under the shadow of the Beijing-imposed national security law. Supporters say its closure has shown freedoms and autonomy that were promised when Hon...

WGN's Bronagh Tumulty named MVP at Dancing With Chicago's Celebrities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN's Bronagh Tumulty was named the MVP Friday at the annual Dancing With Chicago Celebrities competition. It was held at Navy Pier.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesThe event raises money for breast cancer research and makes screenings accessible for women. The last two MVPs have now come from WGN, with Bronagh joining Sean Lewis. WGN’s Sean Lewis is ‘Dancing with Chicago Celebrities’ MVP, raises $37K for charity The award goes to the local celebrity who raises the most money for breast cancer research.

Cloudy, chilly conditions for Chicago's St. Patrick’s Day Parade weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

The start of spring is near but winterlike conditions in Chicagoland persist. The second weekend of March will be no different, meteorologist Tim Joyce explains. Saturday: Low 31 High 37Cloudy and chilly. Snow developing in the evening. 1-3" for most around Chicagoland. A bit more toward the WI/IL border, less in southern Chicagoland. E 10-15 mphFull forecast details at the WGN Weather CenterSunday: Low 31 High 39Snow tapering off into isolated snow showers. Chance of a few PM rain or rain/snow showers in the afternoon. Extended outlook calls for a return to chillier weather for the work week. Mostly cloudy on Monday with a high of 35 about ten degrees below normal. The chill in the mid-30s continues on Tuesday with a bit more sunshine. Mostly sunny on Wednesday and highs getting back towards the normal of mid-40s. Thursday looks like the mildest day of the week with highs near 50 and a chance of rain. St. Patrick's Day next Friday looks like a rain/snow mix is possible an...

Colder air to descend across area heading into mid-month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

SPRING AHEAD TONIGHTDaylight time begins at 2 AMILLINOIS SITES REPORTING 2” OR MORE SNOWFALL AS OF FRIDAY MORNINGSATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWING THURSDAY NIGHT’S SNOWFALLThough somewhat difficult to delineate due to contamination from overlying cloudiness, the extent of Thursday night’s snowfall can be discernedGFS MODEL FORECAST SNOWFALL ENDING 7 AM CDT SUNDAYGenerally 2-3” of snow forecast across metro areaEUROPEAN MODEL FORECAST SNOWFALL ENDING 7 AM CDT SUNDAYSimilar 1-3” totals projected for Chicago areaSATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT SYSTEMMajor wintry impacts to stay well to our northFORECAST UPPER-LEVEL PATTERN AND SURFACE WINDSValid 1 PM MondayForecasts are in close agreement in developing a lobe of cold air over the Great Lakes region by Monday. The resulting “dip” in jet stream flow will create a new surge of polar air.FORECAST MEAN TEMP DEPARTURE FROM NORMALValid March 11-15Temps are forecast to average about 8 degrees below normal during the March 11-15 period. Normal highs during...

SXSW means big bucks for Airbnb hosts, but are they licensed?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) —With thousands of people coming to Austin for South by Southwest, many will choose to stay in Airbnb's around the city, but there are rules if someone is operating one.Joe Arenella has been renting his Airbnb out for eight years, each year he makes sure to get his license to operate in Austin."We are booked for SXSW, ACL, Formula 1," said Arenella.He expects to make a lot of money during these big weekends. With so many people coming to town, Arenella said he is usually booked. Austin City Council members approve crackdown on short-term rentals, like Airbnbs "For locals in Austin, South by Southwest represents a significant economic opportunity with hosts collectively earning more than $13 million over lasts years festival," said Haven Thorn, a spokesperson for Airbnb.To operate a short term rental, the City of Austin requires owners to get a new license yearly.In December, the city's code department said there are about 11,000 short-term rentals in Austin, but only...

2 fatally shot in Andover home, but Anoka County sheriff says there’s no public threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

Authorities are investigating in Andover after they say a man and a woman were found fatally shot in a home early Friday.According to the Anoka County sheriff’s office, deputies responded shortly before 6:30 a.m. to the residence in the 14900 block of Osage Street Northwest on a report of two unconscious individuals.Deputies found the man and woman dead of apparent gunshot wounds. None of the other occupants in the home were injured.The sheriff’s office said that while the investigation was continuing, there was no threat to the public.The deceased individuals were not immediately identified.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Food organizations in Minnesota and North Dakota brace for end of E-SNAP food benefits Crime & Public Safety | Fridley woman, 68, struck by hit-and-run driver dies 9 days later Crime & Public Safety | Workers at Federal Ammunition in Anoka urged to test for lead exposure

Kirkwood elementary school custodian saves student with Heimlich maneuver 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

KIRKWOOD, Mo. - On February 28, Robinson Elementary School head custodian Bryan Freeman became a hero, but if you ask him, he just did what anyone else would have done.“I think it was great that I was able to help,” Freeman said. “But a hero? Not really.”Freeman was watching over students in the school cafeteria when a third-grader started to choke. Without hesitation, Freeman rushed to the student’s aid.“He was sitting at the table, kind of bent over, and he was pulling on his shirt,” Freeman said. “Tears were rolling down and spit was coming out of his mouth.” Top story: Battlehawks athletic trainer dies at team hotel He said he started the Heimlich maneuver, and about 25 seconds later, the student was able to breathe again.“He is always quick to respond,” said Angeline O'Neal-Hogrefe, principal of Robinson Elementary School. “I was not surprised at all when I heard he was the one to take action.”The student was taken to the nurse’s office, and his parents were notified. The nex...

St. Louis fire chief warning to railroads, hand over life-saving supplies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson says he’s been battling for about a decade for the railroads to bring critical safety supplies closer to the city.He said there’s no question we’ll need those supplies.“It’s not if, it’s when. We know it’s going to happen,” Jenkerson said.He was referring to the explosive train derailment in Ohio. He said it’s almost always on his mind.“We’ve got an issue right now,” Jenkerson said. Top story: Battlehawks athletic trainer dies at team hotel He explained that certain toxic chemicals need specific fire suppression agents to combat.“We tried imploring the railroad to… give us the products," Jenkerson said. "Give us the equipment to provide foam and provide fire-fighting type supplies on top of these trains, and it was like, 'Okay, we’re going to do it.' It never materialized.”On the other side of the state, the railroads are currently storing those fire suppression chemicals, according to Jenkerson.“Everything’s still in Kansas City, ...

You Paid For It: Alton mayor speaks out about journey since taking office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

ALTON, Ill. - Alton's former pastor turned mayor spoke out about his journey since taking office.David Goins gave up being a pastor at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church to run for the city's top job, which he won in 2021.After nearly two years as Alton’s first African American mayor, he said he’s making progress but has not accomplished all he set out to do."If there’s any failure, it’s just that we have not been able to address all the streets that we would like to address," Goins said. “If you want to try to consider that a failure, there are still a lot of derelict homes.” Top story: Battlehawks athletic trainer dies at team hotel He said Alton is dealing with a $1.6 million budget shortfall. However, Goins said it was $3.8 million when he took office.When the city received $21.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, it gave the city a big boost, Goins said.Alton spent $7 million of the ARPA funds to upgrade the HVAC systems in the city buildings. The city boug...

6 teens arrested for alleged hate crime attack in Westminster

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:01:23 GMT

Six teenage boys were arrested for an alleged hate-crime-fueled attack in Westminster.The victim was a 15-year-old boy, according to the Westminster Police Department.The male suspects were three 15-year-olds, two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old, all from Westminster or Garden Grove.The attack took place on Feb. 21 when a school resource officer was notified of a fight at Gillespie Park around 11:20 a.m.The victim told police around 10 suspects “jumped him in the park” when they thought he was filming them with his cell phone.The group of suspects kicked and assaulted the victim “numerous times in the head, face, and torso while yelling racial slurs at him,” authorities said.The attack left the victim with abrasions on his face, police said.On March 3, investigators tracked down and arrested six suspects allegedly involved in the assault and theft of the victim's cellphone.All suspects were arrested on charges of Robbery, Assault with a Deadly Weapon: Not Firearm, and Hate Crime/Vi...