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GOP boycott in Oregon halts bills on guns, abortion and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Most Republican members of the Oregon Senate failed to show up for the second straight day Thursday, delaying action by the majority Democrats on bills on gun safety, abortion rights and gender-affirming health care.The stayaway prevented a quorum, with Senate President Rob Wagner calling for another try on Friday. Republican lawmakers have used walkouts in the past, but this time — if they continue to stay away — they’ll be testing a law approved overwhelmingly in a ballot measure last November that bans lawmakers with 10 unexcused absences from running for reelection.The boycott comes as several statehouses around the nation, including in Montana and Tennessee, have become battlegrounds between conservatives and liberals. Oregon has increasingly been divided between liberal population centers like Portland and Eugene and its mostly conservative rural areas.The leader of Senate Republicans, Sen. Tim Knopp, spoke on the phone Thursday with Democratic Gov. Tina Kot...

Official: WVa pesticide facility wouldn’t pass zoning muster

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia logging company hoping to locate a toxic-spewing facility in the picturesque Allegheny Mountains won’t be allowed to build in that particular spot due to a zoning issue, a local official said Thursday night.Allegheny Wood Products wants to construct a fumigation facility in the Hardy County community of Baker to treat logs before they are shipped overseas. The state Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Quality has said it tentatively plans to issue an air permit that would let the facility emit up to nearly 10 tons of the pesticide methyl bromide into the atmosphere each year.But during a public hearing, Hardy County Planner Melissa Scott said the proposed location off U.S. Route 48 is zoned for agricultural use, not industrial use. Scott read a letter approved by the county commission on Tuesday that said “the requirements for Hardy County zoning compliance have not been met.” Local residents have bombarded re...

Water beads could pose life-threatening risk to children: Health Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

Health Canada is warning parents and guardians to be mindful of purchasing water beads for their children after several international incidents where youths who had ingested them sustained life-threatening injuries.Health Canada said the tiny beads — also known as jelly beads, hydro orbs, crystal soil, sensory beads or orb beads — are water-absorbing and can grow up to 1,500 times their size when placed in water.The primary point of focus is cautioning parents to ensure children don’t swallow these beads, which can be fatal.“Water beads can be very harmful if swallowed or put in the ears or nose,” Canada’s health agency said. “If ingested, water beads can continue to grow inside the body leading to potentially life-threatening injuries, such as intestinal or bowel obstruction.”Health Canada noted that water beads are most often found in a wide range of products that may be accessible to children. These include toys, art kits, stress ba...

US to control land sales to foreigners near 8 military bases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreign citizens and companies would need U.S. government approval to buy property within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of eight military bases, under a proposed rule change that follows a Chinese firm’s attempt to build a plant near an Air Force base in North Dakota.The Treasury Department’s Office of Investment Security is set to propose the rule on Friday. It would give expanded powers to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which screens business deals between U.S. firms and foreign investors and can block sales or force the parties to change the terms of an agreement to protect national security. Controversy arose over plans by the Fufeng Group to build a $700 million wet corn milling plant about 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the Grand Forks Air Force Base, which houses both air and space operations. As opposition to the project grew, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, all Republicans, raised ques...

Alabama inmate who escaped with jailer help enters plea deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama inmate charged in the death of a jail official who helped him escape pleaded guilty Thursday to escape in exchange for having the murder case dismissed. Casey Cole White entered the plea agreement in Lauderdale County Court, avoiding a June trial on the felony murder charge. He continues to await trial on a separate murder charge. Authorities said White escaped from an Alabama jail in 2022 with the help of Vicky White, the assistant director of corrections for Lauderdale County and a 17-year veteran of the sheriff’s office. Law enforcement officials initially thought that the inmate had kidnapped the female jailer but later learned the pair had a jailhouse romance. An 11-day manhunt for the pair ended in Indiana as authorities caught up with them. Casey White was recaptured, and Vicky White died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Casey White was charged in her death because Alabama law allows someone to be charged with murder if someone is killed whi...

Friday classes canceled after fire at Glenbrook South High School

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

GLENVIEW, Ill. — Friday classes are canceled at Glenbrook South High School after a fire on Thursday afternoon.The school said the accidental fire was reported shortly before dismissal around 3 p.m. and the fire alarm was activated. IDOT announces new construction project on Kennedy Expressway The school said no homework will be due until classes resume and AP exams will be rescheduled.No injuries were reported, according to public safety officials and the school.The school said no one is allowed back in the building until an all-clear has been given by the fire department. They said anyone who tries to go into the building will be turned away. All home athletic events, except for the men's lacrosse game and Thursday night's band concert have been canceled.The school said students' items will stay where they left them.

2 men accused of taking $1.1M during armored truck robbery tracked down using Apple AirTag

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

Investigators tracked down two suspects accused in connection with an armored truck robbery Tuesday, thanks to the help of a hidden Apple AirTag inside a bin of stolen money, court documents show.In a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in federal court, authorities recommended Devonte Davis, 26, and Darrell Singleton, 18, be charged with armed robbery. Singleton was already wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in another armed robbery of a Brink’s truck last October, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Chicago Field Office confirmed.According to authorities, the robbery happened at approximately 9:25 a.m. Tuesday outside Jewel-Osco on 183rd Street in south suburban Homewood. Brink’s records show the robbers took approximately $1.1 million, court documents reveal. FBI: Armored truck robbed in Homewood; bank robbed on North Side The criminal complaint alleges two guards exited the armored truck and went into the store. When one returned, he was appro...

Chicago police find 13-year-old girl missing from Little Village

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police have found a missing 13-year-old girl last seen Wednesday. IDOT announces new construction project on Kennedy Expressway Chicago police said Thursday the teen had been located.

Passenger who missed flight makes bomb threat, forces evacuation at LAX

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — A JetBlue flight from Las Vegas was evacuated after landing in Los Angeles on Thursday after reports of a suspicious package on board.At around 2 p.m., authorities said a disgruntled passenger who missed his flight made a statement saying his luggage “contained a possible bomb” aboard the aircraft. RECALL: Advil sold at Family Dollar may have been improperly stored The JetBlue plane landed at Los Angeles International Airport and was moved to an isolated area. Passengers and crew aboard the plane were evacuated and taken back to the terminal on shuttle busses as police inspected the aircraft.A JetBlue flight from las Vegas to Los Angeles was evacuated after reports of a suspicious package on board. (KTLA)A JetBlue flight from las Vegas to Los Angeles was evacuated after reports of a suspicious package on board. (KTLA)A JetBlue flight from las Vegas to Los Angeles was evacuated after reports of a suspicious package on board. (KTLA)A JetBlue flight from las Vega...

Trash or treasure: Unclaimed property now up for auction in Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:55 GMT

CHICAGO — Trash or treasure? Illinoisans can decide as the state is currently auctioning off unclaimed items. State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says more than 200 unclaimed property items are now up for auction. (Photo/WGN)"We have all types of interesting items out there," said state Treasurer Michael Frerichs on the more than 200 unclaimed property items now up for auction. When someone dies in Illinois and their personal items go unclaimed, the state steps in."It’s frequently because they passed away and they didn’t tell her love ones about it," Frerichs said. "If they don’t know where to claim it, it gets turned over to us and we love to reunite people with this property, their children or grandchildren. But after about 10 years, if we can't track them down, we need to create space in our vault." Illinois firefighters get hands-on training with electric vehicles Occasionally, that rare sports item comes up."That Mickey Mantle baseball card that your father had in the safe depo...