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Wisconsin Assembly’s top Republican wants to review diversity positions across state agencies

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican lawmaker who forced the Universities of Wisconsin to reduce diversity positions called Tuesday for an in-depth review of diversity initiatives across state government and repeated his claim that he has only begun to dismantle equity and inclusion efforts in the state.Assembly Speaker Robin Vos made the remarks after the Legislature’s employment committee voted to release $107.6 million to cover a 6% raise for about 35,000 UW employees over the next two years. Vos agreed to release the money for the raises and construction projects across the university system after regents voted last week to freeze diversity hires, re-label about 40 diversity positions as “student success” positions and create a position at UW-Madison focused on conservative thought.Vos, who is white, said after the regent vote that he had only just begun to remove “these cancerous DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) practices” from UW campuses. He signaled on Tuesda...

Concerns rise after boy dies while staying at Pilsen migrant shelter

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

CHICAGO -- Questions still remain after a 5-year-old died after suffering a medical emergency while staying at a temporary migrant shelter in Pilsen over the weekend.According to the mayor's office, 5-year-old Jean Carlos Martinez died after falling ill while living in the temporary migrant shelter located on the 2200 block of South Halsted Street in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood on Sunday.Martinez reportedly suffered from a medical emergency before being transported to Comer Children's Hospital where he later died.“City officials are providing support to the family and are still gathering information on this tragedy,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “My heart and my prayers go out to the Martinez family.”The New Life Centers church in Little Village are reportedly working with the victims family for services, case management, funeral, planning support and any ongoing care for the family. ORIGINAL: 5-year-old child living at migrant shelter in Pilsen dies: Mayor’s office His death rev...

Woman found dead after apartment fire in Waukegan

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — Authorities say a woman was found dead after an apartment fire in Waukegan over the weekend.The Lake County Coroner’s Office offered an update on the deadly fire on Tuesday afternoon and said the 42-year-old victim, a Waukegan resident, was found dead inside the unit where the blaze broke out on Saturday. 5 charged in connection with retail thefts around DuPage County Officials say the fire started just before 8 p.m. inside an apartment in the 2700 block of West Glen Flora Avenue.Crews say they received several calls about the fire and after arriving on scene they found heavy flames coming from a first-floor unit, where they later located the victim. Aurora police launch new system to report non-emergency incidents and crashes online According to the Lake County Coroner’s Office, an autopsy that was performed on Monday indicated that the woman likely died from smoke inhalation as a result of the fire.Currently, it is unclear what sparked the blaze and an invest...

Man finds hundreds of rare 1920s baseball cards in deceased father's closet

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

(KTLA) — Few things stand the test of time like the bond between father and son. One of those things is baseball.For one Sacramento man, those things are intersecting in an unexpected way.Hidden in a forgotten corner of a home in the town of Tracy sat a tin cigarette box that once belonged to a man named Ed, a longtime collector of baseball memorabilia. Family finds 1 million copper pennies while cleaning out L.A. home Ed lived in Oakland during the early 1920s, starting his collection in his adolescence. He would often receive baseball cards as gifts from family members and, over the years, the number of cards in his possession continued to increase.Babe Ruth, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, and Ty Cobb found their way into Ed's collection, which he kept safe for decades in a 1900s-era Pedro Cut Plug Tobacco tin. Hundreds of vintage and rare baseball cards, including 20 Babe Ruth cards, will soon head to market after they were found in a Northern California home. (Auction Monthly)Ed's so...

Texas Governor signs controversial immigration bill into law

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- On Tuesday, thousands of migrants wait to be processed by border patrol agents in Eagle Pass, Texas. According to border officials, this month Eagle Pass saw an average of 2,000 illegal crossings per day. Officials say on Monday, that number doubled. “The single highest day that we've ever had on record in terms of people being apprehended illegally at the southern border,” Sen. John Thune (R-SD) said. “Our country cannot be secure while we have 10,000 people a day pouring across our southern border.” Thune said on Tuesday that the numbers alone stress the need for new border policy. But without a federal plan in place, Texas Governor Greg Abbott took matters into his own hands. On Monday, Abbott signed “Senate Bill 4” into law, giving local police the authority to arrest migrants who illegally cross the Texas-Mexico border between ports of entry. “Now they are going to have the ability to arrest them and prosecute them and make them subje...

Biden, Roberts speak at Sandra Day O'Connor's funeral service

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Hundreds filled the pews at the National Cathedral Tuesday, as they paid respect to the late Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, including President Joe Biden."President Reagan described her as and I quote, a person for all seasons," the president said.O'Connor was the first woman to join the Supreme Court, nominated by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the Senate unanimously."I was the ranking member of that committee and the day's business was momentous. The nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor," President Biden said.O'Connor spent more than two decades on the Supreme Court and was a crucial vote on decisive cases. Chief Justice John Roberts says she left a mark on the country."Her leadership shaped the legal profession, making it obvious that judges are both women and men," Roberts said.Roberts told the crowd gathered at the National Cathedral that Justice O'Connor did more for the court than just break barriers. "The time when women were not on the ...

Former Super Bowl champ arrested for alleged robberies in Los Angeles

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

(KTLA) — Former NFL player and Super Bowl champion Derrick Ward was arrested Monday on suspicion of robbery, Los Angeles police confirmed. Ward, who played running back for the New York Giants when they won the championship in 2008, was arrested by officers in North Hollywood, according to the LAPD. Police officials could not confirm any further details about the arrest but NBC News reported that Ward, 43, was allegedly involved in the robberies of at least five businesses, including gas stations. Derrick Ward of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to a game on December 20, 2009, in Seattle. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)Ward was not suspected of using a firearm during the robberies, according to the report. He did allegedly use force and fear to get money, TMZ reports.He was being held Tuesday on $250,000 bail, police records show. Burglar takes presents from under O.C. family’s Christmas tree: video Ward, who was born in Los Angeles and attended Valley View High School in Mor...

Senate funding battle continues

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - The Senate is scrambling to pass critical aid for Ukraine, Israel and the border before Christmas.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) would not answer questions about his plans to call a vote before breaking for Christmas, but time is running out.“Getting a substantive border security deal passed before Christmas is impossible,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.)Thune says Democrats’ unwillingness to back more stringent immigration policies will push negotiations into the new year.But others, including Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) are more optimistic that a deal is in reach."I think there's been some movement on the part of the White House," said Wicker.Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are pleading with the White House not to give into what they describe as inhumane border policies."We agree the border must be fixed but not at the expense of our values,” said Schumer.Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)  is the Democrats' lead negotiator."I'm plan...

Travis County primary election contract reached, county-wide voting to remain

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Contract negotiations between parties heading into the Travis County primary election were unusually contentious as the Travis County Republican Party chair said he was seeking a more secure election."In the past we have worked less effectively than I would have liked to have gotten additional election integrity into our primary contracts," Matt Mackowiak said. "This time, we have the strongest election integrity provisions in Travis County history." Tuesday, Travis County Commissioners approved a contract between the parties, which was agreed on late Monday night, according to those involved in negotiations. In that contract there are roughly half a dozen changes on the Republican side of things, including having the option to hand count Republican votes and get additional information from the clerk on who voted where. "We will have cast vote record reports and other reports that are required to be provided now by a vote center location basis in addition to county-...

Austin police identify 21-year-old man killed in Loop 360 crash

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:19:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department confirmed a 21-year-old man died in a fatal crash on South Capital of Texas Highway Dec. 7.Officers responded to a single vehicle crash in the 2400 block of South Capital of Texas Highway (or Loop 360) around 12:40 p.m. on Dec. 7. APD confirmed Tuesday 21-year-old Byron Gutierrez-Rodriguez was one of the vehicle's passengers and had died at the scene. MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2023? Austin-Travis County EMS medics evaluated the driver and one other passenger in the vehicle, who each refused transport to a hospital, APD added in the release.The crash is the 83rd fatal crash in Austin this year, with a total of 86 traffic fatalities in the year to date. At this point in 2022, APD officials said there had been 104 fatal crashes that resulted in 108 deaths.Those with any information regarding the crash are asked to call APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. Those looking to submit an anonymous tip can do s...