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AP Election Brief | What to expect in Pennsylvania as a special election decides statehouse control

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Voters in suburban Philadelphia are set to decide party control of Pennsylvania’s state House of Representatives on Tuesday with their pick to replace a Democrat who resigned.Also on the ballot in Pennsylvania are primary elections for state Supreme Court and Philadelphia mayor, with the winner of the Democratic primary all but sure to become the city’s next leader in this fall’s general election. The race with the biggest immediate consequence is the special election in state House District 163 in Delaware County, a suburb of Philadelphia. Democrat Mike Zabel, who won by 32 percentage points in November, resigned after allegations of sexual harassment.Democrat Heather Boyd, a former congressional and state legislative aide, faces Republican Katie Ford, a military veteran, school volunteer and behavioral therapist, in the special election.If Ford wins, and if Republicans hold on to a central Pennsylvania seat as widely expected in a second special election on Tuesd...

In Pakistan clashes, Khan showed he commands huge crowds. What’s driving them?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier this week has shown how quickly his fervent loyalists can mobilize in large numbers. Within hours of his detention, his supporters torched vehicles and buildings, and attacked police and military facilities to express their fury over the treatment of the 70-year-old opposition leader. Khan’s supporters have emerged as a major force, challenging the authority of the government and military, aware that they can shift the political balance through unrelenting pressure.Here’s a look at who they are and what’s driving them:WHAT IS IMRAN KHAN’S APPEAL?Khan has been a star in Pakistan for decades. As an athlete, in 1992 he led the country to its only World Cup victory in cricket, a massive sport in South Asia. That made him a hero to tens of millions of people before he even entered politics.He founded Pakistan’s first cancer hospital, named after his mother, and ventured into philanthropy. ...

16-year-old boy charged with kidnapping, robbing man at gunpoint last October

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

CHICAGO — A 16-year-old boy is charged with kidnapping a man at gunpoint and robbing him of his belongings last October.The teen faces one felony count of armed robbery and one felony count of aggravated armed kidnapping.Police said he was identified as one of the offenders who forced a 22-year-old man at gunpoint to the 9000 block of South Wallace before robbing him on October 25, 2022. Man, 55, robbed at gunpoint inside Northwest Side motel room The teen was arrested Thursday and charged accordingly.

How far will the Bears travel during the 2023 season?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

LAKE FOREST — The Bears' 2023 schedule is now set and a few fans are already starting to plan out their trips to see the team. Some are choosing to do so on the road, and the good news is that the team's travel for the upcoming campaign is much lighter than other teams in the NFL. According to Bookies.com, the Bears will have the third-lowest amount of air miles during the 2023 season for their nine games away from Soldier Field. See the Bears full 2023 schedule They'll go a total of 12,253 miles over the course of the season with an average trip of 1,361.4 miles as they cross over 16 time zone. That's just above the rival Packers (11,956) and Bengals (11,942), who have the shortest amount of travel per mile in the NFL this upcoming season.Matt Eberflus' team almost had a little farther to travel this year as they were a candidate to play a game against the Chiefs in Frankfurt, Germany. But the league decided to put the Dolphins in that game on November 5 instead, as the Bears w...

A preview performance of Lyric Opera's West Side Story

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

Iconic musical West Side Story returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago June 2 - June 25. Ryan McCartan (Tony) and Kanisha Marie Feliciano (Maria) joined us in studio for their first television performance together, singing "Tonight."Click here for details and tickets.

White Castle offering free hamburgers for 'National Slider Day'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – White Castle, the fast-food restaurant beloved by both Harold and Kumar, is celebrating National Slider Day with discounts and free hamburgers. The Ohio-based chain is offering free cheese sliders in stores on Monday, May 15, in celebration of the company's self-proclaimed "National Slider Day.""It’s fun to celebrate the burger that put White Castle on the map over 100 years ago and launched an entire fast-food industry," said Jamie Richardson, the vice president of White Castle, in a press release issued earlier this week. "What better way to show some slider love than by giving away a free cheese slider to those who crave the brand?" Burger King to bring Spider-Man themed Whopper to menus nationwide No other purchases are necessary to claim the free cheese slider, but customers will have to show a digital coupon upon ordering.Each customer is also limited to one free slider per visit.White Castle is offering free cheese sliders in stores on...

TxDOT prepping for weekend flooding risk

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

AUTIN (KXAN) -- Emergency crews across the region are preparing to respond to this flood risk, and that includes the Texas Department of Transportation.Traffic anchor Erica Brennes sat down with Bradley Wheelis, a spokesperson for the TxDOT Austin office, to learn more about the role they play during flooding events.Erica: "Brad, there's a lot of rain predicted for the Austin area. Multiple inches. What are the TxDOT crews doing to prepare for this upcoming storm?"Brad: "TxDOT crews are on standby to respond to any weather-related incidents. For the most part, our crews help in setting up barriers when roadways are flooded, but we assist in any which way we can during one of these severe weather events."Erica: "Are there any added challenges regarding brush that may be leftover washing, downstream blocking drains, culverts, that sort of thing that TxDOT has to deal with or monitor after the winter storm."Brad: "That's always a concern. Anytime you have a weather event like this, esp...

Bills by the handful perish as Texas House hits crucial late-session deadline

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) -- Some lawmakers cheered, others anguished as the Legislature zoomed past a crucial midnight deadline Thursday, leaving more than 140 House bills on the scrap pile.Democrats had maneuvered since the start of the week to delay action in the House, dragging out debate in an effort to wear down the Republican majority, which still had multiple bills on guns and the treatment of transgender Texans awaiting passage at the deadline.The “chubbing,” as the delaying strategy is called, continued Thursday. At one point, El Paso Democrat Joe Moody questioned Rep. Mark Dorazio, R-San Antonio, about whether he had seen the entire “Leprechaun” filmography to research his bill on linking debit card transactions to the Texas Bullion Depository, which holds silver and gold.As some yawned at their desks as debate wore on, other lawmakers turned to humor, whistling the sound of bombs falling to indicate a bill dying.Among the doomed GOP bills were Rep. Ellen Troxclair of Austin...

Southeast Austin charter school increases security after threatening letter

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – An Austin charter school said Friday it would operate on a normal schedule after it informed parents on Thursday of a letter threatening harm to the campus on Monday, May 15. According to officials at Wayside: Sci-Tech Middle School, they contacted Austin Police about the threatening letter and "the investigation determined where the threat originated and the individual was taken into custody."Wayside told parents in the letter there was "no longer an active threat to the STMS school community at this time." The campus said it would increase security as a precaution and counselors would be available Friday to support scholars, staff and families who need it. Wayside: Sci-Tech Middle School is in southeast Austin, located on the northeast corner of Interstate 35 and William Cannon.

EMS sending boats to South Texas in preparation of flash floods

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Heavy rainfall in the forecast could bring about flash flooding this weekend, and with the potentially severe storm, Austin-Travis County EMS has deployed a boat team to south Texas.Around 6 a.m. Friday, a crew consisting of five special rescue operations personnel towed off two boats from the ATCEMS Station 1 in south Austin.In Austin, two other fully staffed MS boats would stay in town to help locally, while a third boat is on standby. Their deployment is part of a partnership with a state and FEMA rescue task force based in College Station.In the past, they've been sent off to save lives during hurricanes Ian, Harvey and even Katrina.Keep in mind, these boats are used for any type of emergency incident, with their primary objective including water rescues, such as pulling people out of flooded lakes and rivers.“We’re going to have a high volume of rain this weekend, so there are houses that will need to evacuate and people may be stuck,” ATCEMS Commander Craig Smi...