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Opening statements delivered in ComEd bribery trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Federal prosecutors in Chicago delivered their opening statement to jurors in the bribery case involving former executives and lobbyists for the ComEd, the largest electric utility in Illinois.For more than an hour, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker laid out a years-long effort to influence and curry favor with Michael Madigan, the former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives who controlled the flow of legislation in the state capitol for more than three decades.“The defendants sought to bribe Mike Madigan in order to influence his actions in the General Assembly, to ensure that he didn’t take action to hurt the company in the General Assembly and to reward past beneficial conduct to ComEd in the general assembly with legislation that was worth hundreds of millions of dollars,” Streicker told jurors. ComEd bribery trial begins for 4 accused of influencing Michael Madigan Between 2011 and 2019, the four defendants conspired to arrange jobs and contracts f...

PHOTOS: Van full of marijuana explodes on California highway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KRON) -- First responders were already busy with storm-related emergencies on Tuesday when a van exploded and caught fire on a California highway.Santa Rosa Fire Department firefighters saw the flaming van on Highway 101's onramp at 3rd Street at 9:34 a.m. Can I bring weed purchased in Illinois to other states? Once firefighters doused the fire, they found "several 55-gallon bags full of marijuana 'shake' soaked in butane," SRFD wrote. The driver suffered burn injuries and was transported to a hospital.(Image courtesy SRFD) Butane is a highly explosive material used to convert marijuana plants into oil, also known as "dabs" or "wax." (Image courtesy SRFD) The Santa Rosa Fire HazMat Team assisted SRPD with the explosion investigation and ensured additional hazards were mitigated before reopening the onramp.

Alderman proposes 'Chicago Plow the Sidewalks' pilot program to City Council

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago alderman is expected to propose an ordinance to City Council for a pilot municipal sidewalk snow and ice removal program.Alderman Gilbert Villegas held a press conference Wednesday morning with details on the Chicago Plow The Sidewalks Pilot Program.The intent is to make sure seniors and those with physical disabilities can get out of their homes and to stores for food and other supplies.The alderman wants $750,000 to fund the pilot program.Villegas points to the city of Toronto, which already plows its sidewalks.

Woman gets 6 years after posing as decorated injured Marine for benefits: DOJ

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

(The Hill) -- A Rhode Island woman who for five years used stolen patient information from the veterans’ hospital where she worked to pretend to be a former Marine with cancer and rake in more than $280,000 was sentenced Tuesday to nearly six years in prison. A U.S. District Court in Providence also ordered Sarah Jane Cavanaugh, 32, to pay full restitution for the $284,796.82 in falsely collected benefits, charitable contributions and donations. Cavanaugh, who never served in the U.S. military, pretended to be a Purple Heart- and Bronze Star-decorated Marine Corps veteran, claiming to have been wounded by an IED in Iraq and to have developed cancer from burn pits and other service-related activity. She attended public events in full uniform, wearing a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star she purchased and allowing herself to be introduced to friends, charities, businesses and organizations she then exploited or defrauded, according to court documents. &n...

Ohio shop faces grim reality amid train derailment exodus: 'The damage is already done'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

(NewsNation) — Business owners in East Palestine, Ohio, are still struggling more than a month after the train derailment and toxic chemical release. As more residents flee the town, Nate Velez, the owner of Velez Engines, told NewsNation he hasn't heard anything from customers, the EPA or FEMA."It's it's basically like no one's there," he said. "No phone calls. No customers. Nothing."Velez said he doesn't see a future in East Palestine for his business or for his family. "It's not a very wealthy town, to begin with. So I think it's, you know, the damage is already done. Now, at this point, why would you try to rebuild there? You know, even if it is actually safe, which who knows, you know? The stigma will be there forever," he said. Scammers target Ohio residents after train derailment Velez's family currently lives outside East Palestine, but they're staying in short-term rental units and are constantly moving. He said it's a very stressful situation for him and other residents...

Search team rescues lost hikers stranded during Nor'easter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

MOUNT WASHINGTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Two hikers who lost their way in a Massachusetts forest during a Nor'easter were rescued early Wednesday morning.According to the Massachusetts State Police, at 7:48 p.m. Tuesday, one of the hikers called 911. The caller told troopers he and his friend had gone for a hike on the Alander Trail in Mount Washington State Forest but because of the bad weather and darkness, they could no longer see the trail markings and could not continue to a cabin they were headed to at the mountain peak. The heavy falling snow covered their tracks and they could not retrace their steps back out of the forest. Snow a no-show for traditionally wintry cities The state forest encompasses 4,619 acres of state land located on Massachusetts' border with New York and Connecticut. The hikers said that they were approximately two miles into the forest. They were told to stay where they were while a search and rescue team equipped with snowmobiles would head out. East StreetD...

First Warning: Potential storms, wind chills below freezing, and even snow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Rain and thunderstorms return to your Central Texas forecast Thursday. The forecast calls for mostly rain with a few isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon. Much of that rain looks to fall in our eastern counties. Late-morning to afternoon showers ThursdayThe Storm Prediction Center has adjusted its Slight Risk area for the potential of severe thunderstorms. The risk of these storms will be greatest Thursday night to early Friday morning.Updated Severe Storms Risk areaThe setup for Thursday night includes a disturbance in the upper levels of our atmosphere working together with the next cold front. Sufficient moisture from a strong southerly flow will interact with the much drier air behind the cold front leading to the threat of severe thunderstorms late Thursday into early Friday. Storms will be increasing after 8 p.m. Thursday nightStorms ongoing overnightThe primary weather threats will be strong, damaging winds and hail.Updated forecast rain totals find the...

Gas prices in Texas have dropped by a third since record highs 9 months ago today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gas prices in Texas have dropped by a third since hitting record highs nine months ago today.On June 15, 2022, a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Texas cost an average of $4.70.As of Wednesday, the statewide average is now $3.07, a drop of $1.63, according to AAA data. That's a decrease of 34.7%. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas sets new statewide record for gas prices Drivers in El Paso are paying the most at the pump, with an average of $3.36 per gallon. Abilene has the cheapest gas currently, at $2.95 a gallon. The Wichita Falls, Beaumont, Houston and San Angelo metro areas also have averages below $3 a gallon.The map below shows average prices in metro areas across Texas. The darker the red, the higher the price. Why some Texas towns pay so much more for gas There are several factors that can explain why some cities see higher gas prices than others. AAA says individual retailers set their own prices, so local supply and demand can cause prices to fluctuate. Distrib...

A massive seaweed blob is headed to Florida — rotten stench included

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

A blob of sargassum seaweed thousands of miles long is headed to Florida, the Caribbean and eventually the Gulf of Mexico, scientists say.Dubbed the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt by scientists, the swath of tendrilled, somewhat rubbery seaweed has become an annual, often stinky occurrence in the last few years, swamping beaches and resorts from South Florida, through the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico with mats of the macroalgae, which then decomposes, releasing hydrogen sulfide. The gas has an odor reminiscent of rotten eggs, and can cause respiratory problems.Early chunks of the grass mats may start arriving in South Florida in the coming weeks, but the belt is so long the mats are expected to pile up and waft their stench over local beaches through October.Though common for centuries — Christopher Columbus spotted sargassum floating in the middle of the Atlantic on his way to the Americas in the 15th century — 2011 saw a surge in the algae’s surface area that has continued...

Aaron Rodgers plans to play for Jets in 2023, awaits Packers’ move

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:10 GMT

Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday he intends to play for the New York Jets in 2023 after 18 seasons in Green Bay as the four-time NFL MVP quarterback waits for the Packers to trade him.Rodgers made his comments during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube and Sirius XM. The 39-year-old Rodgers said he believes the Packers want to move on and make 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love their starting quarterback.“At this point, as I sit here, I think since Friday I’ve made it clear that my intention was to play and my intention was to play for the New York Jets,” Rodgers said. “I haven’t been holding anything up at this point. It’s been compensation the Packers are trying to get for me, kind of digging their heels in.”Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy has acknowledged the team granted the Jets permission to talk to Rodgers. The Jets sent a contingent that reportedly included owner Woody Johnson, coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas to Rodgers’ home in Southern Cal...