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In Mexico, Yellen announces economics sanctions as the US aims to crack down on fentanyl trafficking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday announced economic sanctions against 15 people and two companies that the United States says are linked to a Mexican drug cartel as she visited Mexico City for talks with officials about efforts to fight fentanyl trafficking.“We cannot end the U.S. opioid crisis and achieve greater security without looking beyond our borders,” she said.Yellen traveled to Mexico this week after the Treasury Department announced a strike force to help combat illicit fentanyl trafficking as the U.S. and China step up efforts to stop the movement of the powerful opioid and drug-making materials into the U.S. When President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in California in November, they announced that China would instruct chemical companies to curtail shipments of the materials used to produce fentanyl to Latin America.The new sanctions were imposed on 15 Mexicans and two Mexican-based companies linked, directly or ind...

Man shot in apparent road rage incident at gas station on South Side: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was shot at a gas station in an apparent road rage incident on the city's South Side, according to police.The shooting happened around 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Falcon gas station in the 7800 block of South Western Avenue in the Ashburn neighborhood.Police said the 37-year-old man was outside the gas station when an unknown person exited a vehicle and approached him. The two got into a verbal altercation, and the offender then fired shots in the man's direction.The victim sustained gunshot wounds throughout the body. He then self-transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center and is listed in stable condition. 2 Chicago officers among 3 seriously injured in West Side fire; man’s body found No one is in custody. Area One detectives are investigating.The scene remains active. An investigation is underway.

Man unaccounted for after fire found dead inside West Side home; 2 officers among 3 injured

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A man unaccounted for after a fire has been found dead inside a home on the city's West Side.The man's body was located in the fire debris, according to officials. The blaze started around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday on the 1200 block of South Kedvale in North Lawndale. Officials said police were in the area and responded to the scene before the fire department arrived.According to authorities, two responding officers were on the porch of the home when it collapsed. One officer remains hospitalized and his condition has stabilized.A 75-year-old woman, identified as Dessi Street, was able to get out of the home but was critically injured and transported to Mount Sinai Hospital. The woman's son was unaccounted for, but his remains were located around 10 a.m. Wednesday. The man has been identified as 37-year-old Carl Street.The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

Ed Burke trial: 'Shakedown' described on witness stand as Burger King saga continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

CHICAGO — Federal prosecutors are continuing to present evidence Wednesday in Ed Burke's alleged "shakedown" of Burger King franchise owners.Jeff MacDonald was an executive for Tri City Foods, a subsidiary of the Dhanani Group, which is a company that operates hundreds of Burger King franchises around the country.MacDonald oversaw the remodeling project of the restaurant at the corner of 40th Street and Pulaski Road, which is in Burke's former ward.Burke's accused of extorting the business owners by pressuring them to hire his private law firm to do their tax appeal work.After meeting with Burke about the remodeling project, MacDonald sent an email to other executives saying that the alderman would not sign off on the project unless the company agreed to make charitable donations.MacDonald later described that as a "shakedown." Ed Burke trial: Alleged’ shakedown’ of Burger King owner once again the focus Defense attorneys sought to show that the idea of charitable donation was Bur...

P!nk bringing 'Summer Carnival 2024 Tour' to Soldier Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

CHICAGO — P!nk is returning to Chicago!The Grammy-winning artist is bringing her 'Summer Carnival 2024 Tour' to Soldier Field on Aug. 24 of next summer. Sheryl Crow will be the special guest.Pre-sale for tickets begins Thursday. General ticket sales will be available starting Monday, Dec. 11. SEE ALSO: Limp Bizkit ‘Loserville Tour’ with Corey Feldman as opening act coming to IllinoisLast summer, P!nk performed at Wrigley Field on Aug. 12.For more information, click here.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Leaders, agencies respond to fatal shooting spree in Austin, Bexar Co.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested on capital murder charges following a fatal shooting spree Tuesday in Austin and Bexar County.Sources told KXAN the suspect was 34-year-old Shane James. Travis County jail records showed James booked into the jail early Wednesday and charged with capital murder of multiple people.Interim Chief Robin Henderson said the man was accused in the deaths of two people on Shadywood Drive in south Austin, as well as the shooting of an Austin ISD officer at Northeast Early College High School Tuesday morning.The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office also said the man was a suspect in a double homicide near San Antonio. The two people killed were identified as James' parents. RELATED: Six people dead after shooting spree in Austin, double homicide in Bexar Co. State and local officials and agencies responded following the incident. Here’s what they had to say:Travis County District Attorney’s OfficeOur hearts break for the shooting vic...

October 2023: Which local restaurants received a perfect health inspection score?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Public Health released its October health inspection scores, with 558 locations (restaurants, grocery stores, school cafeterias, etc.) examined. Approximately 65% of those inspections earned scores above 89, and 63 locations (11.3%) earned perfect scores.However, only three Austin restaurants earned perfect scores in October 2023:Distant Relatives, a food truck typically located at 3901 Promontory Point Dr.Este, located at 2113 Manor Rd.Leyu Ethiopian Restaurant, located at 3400 Comsouth Dr. (delivery/pick up only)A few chain restaurants also earned perfect scores:Einstein Bros. Bagels, located at 12532 FM 2244 Rd., Bee CaveJack in the Box, located at 9825 Burnet Rd., AustinJuiceland, located at 1109 East Fifth St., AustinWhataburger, 9516 North Lamar Blvd., AustinOn average for 2023, APH inspected around 626 locations per month.Currently, 2023’s average monthly rate of perfect inspections is around 11.6%. In 2022, APH issued 962 perfect scores — just 10.1% of...

The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 14: Pair of Vikings could stand out in fantasy playoffs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

While the NFL season still has a full month of merriment to go, Crunch Time for fantasy mavens is now.Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (2) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 in Minneapolis. Chicago won 12-10. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)For most leagues, Week 14 is the regular season finale, with three weeks of playoff combat to follow. And the NFL schedule those weeks will play a huge factor.The schedule in Weeks 15 through 17 is shaping up well for a pair of Vikings. Running back Alexander Mattison and tight end T.J. Hockenson may stand out against three not-too-imposing defenses: Cincinnati in Week 15, Detroit in Week 16 and Green Bay in Week 17.Next week, we’ll take a look at the players who could face tough sledding against prolific defenses during the fantasy playoffs. But for today, here are players who could overperform when you need them most, and the defenses they will face over the next thre...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s time capsules to be on display at MN History Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

Last spring two time capsules were discovered in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s Eagan headquarters while facility managers were looking through document archives in preparation to move to a new building.The time capsules, which contained well-kept photographs and documents from as far back as the 1930s, were concealed behind the building’s cornerstones, and no current employees had knowledge of their existence. They even contained a 1970 edition of the Pioneer Press. After their discovery, the contents of the time capsules were donated to the American Historical Society.On Saturday, those documents, brochures, and photographs will be on display for Free Admission Day at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. sponsored by and in celebration of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s 90th anniversary. Attendees will get full access to the History Center as well, allowing them to view the rest of the exhibits.More information about the...

Minnesota expects $2.4 billion surplus, but shortfall on horizon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:52 GMT

Minnesota’s estimated budget surplus is expected to be about $2.4 billion over the next two years, according to a new state estimate, but a shortfall could be on the horizon.The Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday said the projected revenue surplus for 2024-2024 has grown by $808 million since the end of the 2023 legislative session — a trend officials said was due in part to higher expected consumer spending and corporate profit growth.But higher expenses expected down the road on health and human services and educational spending will raise total spending in the years 2024-2027, resulting in a negative structural balance, the agency said Wednesday.An exact figure for the potential shortfall was not immediately available Wednesday morning, but the Office of Management and Budget is releasing a complete series of its most recent budget and economic forecast Wednesday afternoon.Minnesota in recent years had a series of record projected surpluses, which reached a record in Fe...