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Scrutiny of Arkansas governor’s $19,000 lectern deepens after new records are released

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — New public records have widened questions over when Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office planned to use Republican Party funds to reimburse the state for a $19,000 lectern, which was bought in June using a government credit card. The Arkansas GOP paid for the lectern in September, but the words “to be reimbursed” were only added later to the original invoice, records released this week show. The undated reimbursement note adds to weeks of scrutiny over the purchase, which has dominated political talk in Arkansas. A legislative panel is expected to vote this week on a lawmaker’s request for an audit of the lectern’s purchase.An email about the reimbursement note was among dozens of documents released to The Associated Press on Monday under a Freedom of Information Act request related to the lectern. Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey, who requested the audit, told the AP that the email “further indicates the need for a full blown audit to get all the ...

Nebraska voters will decide at the ballot box whether public money can go to private school tuition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s top election official confirmed Tuesday that state voters will decide next year whether public money can go to private school tuition. A petition effort to get the question on the November 2024 ballot far exceeded the number of valid signatures needed to put the controversial question before voters, the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office said in a written statement.The effort seeks to repeal a measure passed by the Nebraska Legislature earlier this year allowing millions in state income tax to be diverted to organizations that grant private school tuition scholarships. That passage set up a battle between powerful education unions and heavily-funded conservative groups trying to make their mark on school policies following COVID-19 lockdowns and ongoing fights over transgender policies.In August, the Support Our Schools referendum petition effort turned in 117,000 signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State, nearly double the more than 61,000 valid ...

London’s Luton Airport suspends flights after fire breaks out at one of its parking lots

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

LONDON (AP) — An airport in London said all flights have been suspended late Tuesday after a fire broke out in one of its parking lots.Luton Airport, located about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of central London, said that “all flights are currently suspended as emergency services respond to a car fire that has spread in Terminal Car Park 2.”“Access to the airport is currently restricted and we ask that people do not travel to the airport at this time,” the airport said on X, formerly known as Twitter.Video posted on social media and on British news outlets’ websites showed police and fire department vehicles gathered outside a multi-story parking lot which had its top level engulfed in orange flames. No other details were immediately available.The Associated Press

Virginia’s Democratic members of Congress ask for DOJ probe after voters removed from rolls in error

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Democratic members of Virginia’s congressional delegation have called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate after an apparent administrative error led to at least 275 people being improperly removed from the state’s voter rolls. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration acknowledged last week that it was working to address the problem, which it said stemmed from a misclassification of felony probation violations as felony convictions in data transmitted to the elections department by the state police. In Virginia, a felony conviction automatically results in the loss of a person’s civil rights, such as the right to vote, serve on a jury, run for office and carry a firearm. The governor has the sole discretion to restore those civil rights, apart from firearm rights, which can be restored by a court.Officials initially said the number of impacted voters was unclear; they have since said that 275 have been identified so far, ...

Former New York congressman wants to retake seat as Santos’ legal woes mount

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi on Tuesday launched a campaign to retake the New York congressional seat held by Rep. George Santos as the besieged Republican congressman faces a sprawling list of criminal charges. Suozzi had represented the 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Long Island and northeast Queens, before an unsuccessful campaign for governor last year. The Democrat announced the congressional bid in a statement on X, formally known as Twitter, and said a formal campaign kickoff will come after local elections next month.“Today I’m filing a committee to run for Congress in November 2024,” he said. “The madness in Washington, D.C., and the absurdity of George Santos remaining in the United States Congress is obvious to everyone.”A handful of candidates have emerged to vie for the seat in what is expected to be part of a group of competitive congressional races in New York that could determine party control of the House. Santos’ seat i...

2 Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies in critical condition after fire in mobile gun range trailer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two veteran Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were seriously hurt Tuesday when a fire broke out inside a trailer serving as a mobile shooting range north of Los Angeles, authorities said.The deputies were listed in critical but stable condition after being burned in the 53-foot (16-meter) trailer, prompting Sheriff Robert Luna to close other mobile ranges county-wide as investigators look into what caused the blaze.“We need to know why it happened and get to the bottom of it so we prevent it from happening again,” Luna said during a news conference at the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where the deputies were hospitalized.Luna did not immediately release the names of the deputies. He said one has been with the department for 21 years and the other has 17 years of service.Crews fought the fire for more than four hours, beginning around 9:30 a.m., and expected to extinguish it Tuesday afternoon. They were challenged by live ammunition still inside the traile...

Skilling: Frost Advisory issued for second night in a row for Chicagoland

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

WE ENTER A SECOND CONSECUTIVE NIGHT in which a majority of the Greater Chicago area is under a FROST ADVISORY.The only area exempted from the frost threat are, as they were last night, are Lake and Cook counties in Illinois; Kenosha county in Wisconsin and LaPorte county in Indiana. This follows the chilliest night of the season across the area. O'Hare's temp drop to a season's low of 42 overnight—the chilliest overnight low since early May---5 months ago. Area low temps dipped to 30 at Sugar Grove and Rockford; to 31 at Rochelle, Kirkland, South Beloit and Elwood; and to 32 at Warrensville, Bonfield and Chebanse Tuesday morning.Lows Tuesday night/Wed morning will drip to 40 in the city—but as low as 31 at the coldest spots under clearing skies and amid light winds—the perfect meteorological set-up for maximum cooling.  This puts prospects for frost formation away from the city and warmth of Lake Michigan on the high side again tonight.A POWERFUL AND WET AUTUMN STORM IS TO DEVE...

Hundreds gather to show support, solidarity for Israel in wake of Hamas attacks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

GLENCOE, Ill. — As the war between Israel and Hamas continues community members in Chicagoland are coming together in a showing of solidarity.Several prayer vigils were held Monday night and another gathering was held Tuesday morning in Glencoe. Hundreds of people came together for the community-wide solidarity event hosted by the Jewish United Fund (JUF) of Chicago.Governor JB Pritzker addressed the crowd and condemned the actions against Israel, while calling for solidarity and prayer for impacted families and the men and women of the Israeli Defense Forces.“Today we come together in solidarity to mourn and grieve for the victims of the horrific violence against Israel,” Pritzker said. “Prayers are called for, but they are not enough, not nearly enough. Children, students, elderly, mothers and fathers, innocents are dead and injured at the hands of Hamas.” Biden condemns Hamas brutality in attack on Israel and calls out rape and torture by militants “We are here at a synagogue w...

Thousands attend New York City rally in support of Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (WPIX) – Thousands of people gathered to attend a rally in support of Israel on Manhattan’s East Side Tuesday evening. The crowd packed into Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza at 47th Street and Second Avenue, located up the street from the Israeli consulate and near the United Nations. Biden confirms Americans among hostages captured in Israel Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, other elected officials and religious leaders were expected to attend.The rally is being held in the wake of the deadly attacks in Israel by the militant group Hamas.New York City is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, with about 2 million Jewish people living in the city and surrounding areas.Watch the video player for more on this story; this story is developing.

Chicago police investigate hazmat incident in Wrigleyville

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:28 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department is investigating a hazmat incident Tuesday afternoon in Wrigleyville.The incident was reported around 2:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of West Waveland. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines According to police, one person was taken to Illinois Masonic in unknown condition after he came in contact with a skin irritant.According to a statement from the Chicago Cubs, an employee had an allergic reaction, was taken to a hospital and was eventually released.Police said the department's bomb squad is on the scene investigating. The Cubs said the employee detected a "foreign substance" in a small package.Additional details haven't been released at this time.