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Taylor Swift, a Kennedy, doggie treats and tuna: 5 memorable moments from the historic Ed Burke corruption trial

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

CHICAGO — The historic Ed Burke corruption trial has wrapped up after six weeks at the Dirksen Federal Building.On Monday, jurors began deliberations to decide the fate of Burke, once the most powerful of the 50 Chicago City Council members.PHOTO: Kevin Doellman/WGNWGN's Mike Lowe has been on the scene for the entirety of one of the more memorable events in the long annals of Chicago politics.Here are five memorable moments from the Burke trial that stood out to Lowe:Number 5A juror brought a bag of doggie treats to the courthouse. The comfort dog ate the entire bag and got sick, causing a delay.Number 4Pop icon Taylor Swift was mentioned not once, but twice, during the proceedings.Number 3Chris Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy, showed up in a walking boot to support his friend, Ed Burke.Chris Kennedy showed up to the Ed Burke trial in a walking boot to support his friend, Burke. Number 2Former Alderman Danny Solis, who had not been seen in public for five years, called a ride ...

Skilling: Cloudy week ahead for Chicagoland

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

It's been cold and windy. Gusts have topped 40 mph.Temps have been falling all day. The high of 36 occurred at midnight.The air is cold aloft and the city is beneath the gusty backside circulation of the same storm which has swept up the Eastern Seaboard producing over a foot of rain in sections of South Carolina and more than 5" of rain in sections of northern New Jersey even as winds gust from, 45 to 65 mph have raked the Mid Atlantic and New England Coasts.The cold air flowing over warm lake water has produce lake effect snows--downwind of the Great Lakes and snow showers and flurries here in Chicago.  At one point around midday, winds were gusting to 45 mph and snow reduced visibilities for 3 minutes at Midway Airport to 3/4 mile.Despite the chill today, December is running more than 6-deg ABOVE NORMAL and more than 4-deg warmer than the opeing 18 days of the month a year ago.A chilly Tuesday is ahead--but temps will warm as the week progressed reaching the 40s Thursday and into...

5 charged in connection with retail thefts around DuPage County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. — Authorities in DuPage County say they are on high alert this holiday season following a string of arrests in connection with retail thefts at businesses across the county.On Monday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced five arrests in connection with three separate retail thefts that allegedly unfolded in the past week. Aurora police launch new system to report non-emergency incidents and crashes online All five individuals who were allegedly involved in the thefts have been charged with one count of burglary and one count of retail theft.Juan Andres Gomez-Hernandez is accused of stealing around $304 worth of clothing from a JCPenney in LombardOn Thursday, 24-year-old Juan Andres Gomez-Hernandez, who currently resides in Chicago, was taken into custody after he was allegedly caught stealing around $304 worth of clothing from a JCPenney in Lombard.The state’s motion to detain Gomez-Hernandez pre-trial was granted.Juan Sebastian Rojas Jaimes (...

Why El Niño could wreck plans for a snowy Christmas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

(The Hill) – Federal forecasters are shutting down dreams of a snowy Christmas this season for most of the U.S., according to a recent analysis from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center warned last week that a likely strong El Niño winter will result in warmer-than-average temperatures and increased precipitation across parts of the United States. El Niño is a climate phenomenon that brings warmer sea temperatures near the equator and occurs every two to seven years on average.“Based on the latest forecasts, there is now a 54% chance of a ‘historically strong’ El Niño during the November-January season,” Climate Prediction Center forecasters wrote in their discussion post last week.An El Niño winter typically means that the southern half of the United States, including California, will see more precipitation than usual from December to February. California and the Southeast are most likely to see above average levels o...

Who is the NFL's oldest active player?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — For years, Tom Brady was the oldest active NFL player until his retirement in 2022. So, who's the oldest active NFL player now that Brady is out of the league?At age 41, Seattle Seahawk Jason Peters holds the title, according to Sports Illustrated. He'll turn 42 in January.Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Jason Peters (70) on the sideline prior to an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)Peters, a native of Queen City, Texas, played his college football at the University of Arkansas, where he was recruited as a defensive tackle before moving to tight end, according to the U of A's Razorback website.The former Hog went undrafted and was picked up by the Buffalo Bills in 2004 as a free agent. Two years later, he made his first career start with the Bills at right tackle on the offensive line.Since that first start in 2006, Peters has played for five different NFL teams: the Bills, the Philadelphia ...

Police release bodycam video of shooting involving officer, suspect in Austin shooting spree

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department released video from officers' body-worn cameras that captured the moments leading up to and following a shooting that was part of a shooting spree across Central Texas earlier this month.Additionally, APD identified the officer who was shot and injured in the incident as Detective Joseph Strother. After the shooting, Strother was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, where he was treated and later released to recover at home, police said.    Shooting spree suspect had ‘minimal’ connection with Austin area, affidavit says On Monday, APD released body-worn camera from Strother and Officer Khristof Oborski.Police also released one police radio traffic audio file, and all three videos can be viewed on APD's YouTube Channel.Shane James, 34, is accused of killing six people and injuring three others during a series of shooting Austin and Bexar County on Dec. 5.James is facing 10 charges, including multiple capital murd...

Affidavit: Man told police Manor parking lot shooting was in 'self-defense'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

MANOR, Texas (KXAN) -- After a deadly shooting in the Manor Walmart parking lot last week, the man accused of murder told police the shooting was in "self-defense," according to court documents obtained by KXAN. An arrest affidavit for Juan Acuna Gaona, 26, of Manor detailed the events that led up to the shooting. Luis Frias-Hernandez, 19, of Elgin was identified by Manor police as the man who died in the shooting. Manor Police arrest suspect, identify victim in Walmart parking lot shooting According to the affidavit, the Manor Police Department got an anonymous tip stating that their employee had called "screaming" that her boyfriend killed someone in Manor. The caller identified the employee, and police interviewed her. The woman told police that her new boyfriend -- Acuna Gaona -- shot and killed someone in the Manor Walmart parking lot, according to the affidavit. She told police he was dropping her off at her car so she could drive home when a white truck parked next to them....

Minnesota court backs major permit for proposed NewRange (PolyMet) copper-nickel mine

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed a decision by a state agency to grant a major permit for the proposed NewRange copper-nickel mine, saying regulators adequately considered the possibility that developers might expand the project in the future.It was a win for NewRange Copper Nickel, which remains stalled by court and regulatory setbacks. The $1 billion open-pit mine near Babbitt and processing plant near Hoyt Lakes would be Minnesota’s first copper-nickel mine. It’s a 50-50 joint venture between Swiss commodities giant Glencore and Canada-based Teck Resources. The project was renamed NewRange Copper Nickel in February but it’s still widely known by its old name, PolyMet.The issue in this series of appeals was whether the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency should have looked deeper into whether the developers harbored expansion plans that went beyond what their original permits would allow when regulators issued an air emissions permit for the proje...

Flooding impacts residents across Capital District

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

CAPITAL DISTRICT, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The intense rain and flooding caused an array of headaches across the region, from flooded roads, delayed projects, and damage to ceilings and basements. NEWS10 rode through flooded out parts of the region and saw damages residential in nature.Basements, roofs and drainage systems all took the brunt of this rainfall. Property Manager Pete Restaino described damages to one apartment complex on Lake Avenue. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! “This is what happened, we got a leak from the roof, came down through this bathroom, and the two bathrooms below us all the way down to the basement,” said Restaino.They called Quick Response, it’s one of several services that had their hands full Monday. CEO Vincent Laurenzo Jr. said it was “one of those days”.“Call volume has been very high. When you get this abundance of rain in a condensed time, you get a lot of water coming through roofs, a lot of water coming in t...

Aurora paramedics tell jury they did everything they could to help Elijah McClain

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:01:01 GMT

Elijah McClainThe two Aurora paramedics charged in the death of Elijah McClain testified Monday that they did everything they could to help the 23-year-old during the fatal 2019 encounter, taking the stand in their own defenses during a joint jury trial in Adams County District Court.The two men said they followed their training and protocols. But prosecutors on cross-examination poked holes in the paramedics’ depiction of their own actions, using body-worn camera footage, reports and earlier interviews to contradict several details in the men’s accounts.Paramedics Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper are each charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault in connection with McClain’s death. Aurora police officers stopped, tackled and restrained the unarmed Black man as he walked home on the night of Aug. 24, 2019, after a teenage 911 caller reported McClain was wearing a ski mask and acting strange.On the witness stand Monday, the two paramedics...