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Kansas oil refinery agrees to $23 million in penalties for violating federal air pollution law

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas refinery has agreed to pay more than $23 million for violating the federal Clean Air Act and breaching a 2012 settlement for earlier pollution problems, the U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.The federal agencies said the violations by Coffeyville Resources Refining and Marketing and its affiliated companies, collectively known as CRRM, resulted in illegal emissions from 2015 to 2017 that included an estimated 2,300 excess tons (2,000 metric tons) of sulfur dioxide from its oil refinery in Coffeyville in southeastern Kansas.But CRRM’s efforts to come into compliance with federal requirements since the investigation began have already eliminated more than 39,000 tons (35,000 metric tons) per year of carbon dioxide emissions that can contribute to climate change, the agencies said in a joint news release. That’s equivalent to using nearly 4 million fewer gallons of gasoline per year, they said.The EPA al...

Big game trophy hunters among targets of new ban on importing raw ivory into Canada

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadian trophy hunters will be barred from bringing home elephant tusks or rhinoceros horns as Canada adopts new trade controls to help stop the critical decline in the animals’ populations.Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says that as of January 8, raw ivory will only be allowed to be imported into Canada for research and scientific purposes or for use by law enforcement.Canada currently allows raw ivory to be imported for personal reasons, including as trophies from hunting.Elephants and rhinoceros have become critically endangered, in large part because of the demand for their ivory tusks and horns.Kelly Butler, campaign manager for Humane Society International/Canada, says more than 400 elephant tusks were legally imported into Canada between 2010 and 2019, and 95 per cent of them were for personal use, including as the trophies of big game hunters travelling back from Africa.Butler says more than 700,000 people petitioned Canada to make this change, and ad...

Second suspect arrested in Morgan State University shooting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — A second suspect has been arrested in a shooting at Morgan State University that left five people injured during homecoming celebrations at the historically Black college in northeast Baltimore, federal authorities said Monday.Jovon Williams, 18, was arrested Friday and charged with attempted first-degree murder and other counts, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. He was taken into custody in Washington, D.C., where he also faces drug and gun charges in a separate case. Police have already arrested another teen they said was involved in the shooting, but he hasn’t been publicly identified because he’s a minor. Officials said neither suspect has a known connection to the university.The shooting took place Oct. 3 after a coronation ceremony for this year’s Mister and Miss Morgan State. Students were making their way from a campus auditorium to the student center for a coronation ball when gunfire sent them scattering. Four of the victims were students, and police...

Car crashes into business in Oak Lawn

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

OAK LAWN, Ill. — A portion of South Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn was closed on Monday afternoon after a car crashed into a business near 105th Place, police say. According to a post shared by the Oak Lawn Police Department on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, a section of South Cicero Avenue was closed between 105th place and 107th Street after a car crashed into the Dollar Tree store in the area. Police say the the northbound lanes have since reopened but the southbound lanes will remain closed until about 5 p.m. on Monday. Chicago Traffic: Visit the WGN News traffic map for the latest real-time updates Currently, it is unclear what led to the crash or if anyone was injured. This is a developing story, stay with WGN for the latest updates.

Missing teen last seen leaving home in Edison Park

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

CHICAGO — A search is underway on Monday for a teen girl missing from her home on the city's North Side, police say. According to Chicago police, 16-year-old Nevin Shehadeh, has been missing since around 10 a.m. on Sunday. Police say the teen girl was last seen leaving her home in the 7600 block of West Devon Avenue in Edison Park and has not been heard from since.  Car crashes into business in Oak Lawn Officers say the teen girl, who has black hair and hazel eyes, stands 5-foot-6 and weighs around 240 pounds. Authorities did not provide a description of what the girl was wearing at the time she went missing. Officers notified the public about Shehadeh's disappearance in a news release sent out on Monday morning.  Illinois among states impacted by Listeria outbreak linked to peaches, nectarines and plums Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 16-year-old Nevin Shehadeh is asked to call CPD Area 5 Detectives at 312-746-6554.Tips for police can also be filed at&...

Palatine man arrested after high speed chase ends after crashing into parked cars

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

PALATINE, Ill. — A Palatine man attempted to evade police officers Sunday night before crashing into a group of parked cars, police say. According to the Palatine Police Department, officers were driving on North Rand Road and Williams Drive around 9 p.m. on Sunday when they attempted to stop a vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Rand Road. Man hit by car while crossing street in Des Plaines Police say the driver refused to stop and fled into a nearby parking lot on the 1300 block of Geneva Drive.While in the parking lot, the suspect was reportedly driving recklessly and crashed into multiple parked cars.According to police, the driver, 24-year-old Carlos Miranda Pina, of Palatine, then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended by police a short time later. Palatine officers recovered a loaded handgun at the time of the arrest.Pina faces several charges, including unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleein...

‘Epidemic of violence’ against transgender community highlighted in new report

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights group, on Monday released its annual report on fatal violence against transgender and gender-nonconforming people in the U.S., describing the past year as an “epidemic of violence” targeting the community. At least 33 transgender and gender-nonconforming people were killed in the last 12 months, according to Monday’s report, released on Transgender Day of Remembrance. An overwhelming majority were young people of color, with Black transgender women disproportionately impacted.  FBI crime statistics show anti-LGBTQ hate crimes on the rise Most victims were killed by a friend, family member or romantic partner, the report said, and guns were involved in most cases. A 2022 report from Everytown for Gun Safety, a national gun control organization, found that known transgender homicides had jumped 93 percent over four years — from 29 killings in 2017 to 56 in 2021 — ...

'Suspicious item' reported at Austin airport

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Law enforcement is investigating after a "suspicious item" was reported at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, officials posted on social media just after 4:30 p.m. Monday.Airport officials said traffic in the upper-level departures area is diverted to the commercial lane, with delays anticipated.This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.

Report: Parents should be cautious of these toys ahead of holidays

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new report outlines the dangers of some toys ahead of the holiday shopping and gifting season. The 2023 Trouble in Toyland report warned specifically about smart toys and the "threats that come with some of them," the 55-page report from U.S. PIRG Education Fund said. "Multiple toys from major manufacturers have been discontinued in recent years after research from various groups showed that children’s voices, images, locations and other information was being improperly collected or hacked," the annual report said. Kian Zozobrado, the communications manager at TexPIRG Education Fund, said the report focuses on smart toys because they're a growing interest to families and the smart toy industry is growing. Some of the issues include privacy concerns and whether the toy connects to wireless internet or Bluetooth. This connects children to outside the home and potentially connects the children to other people, Zozobrado said. Parents should also talk to their children...

Karl W. Smith: How America can get its debt back under control

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:17:37 GMT

With its $33.7 trillion of debt and trillion-dollar budget deficit, the U.S.’s deteriorating fiscal situation is impossible to ignore. To simply balance the budget, a 29% across-the-board cut in spending would be necessary, even if the tax cuts enacted by the Trump administration are allowed to expire at the end of 2025.Rising interest rates have made the situation even worse. Analysis by Bloomberg Economics’ Maeva Cousin and David Wilcox shows that what appeared to be a sustainable debt situation just a few years ago has become thoroughly unsustainable. No wonder Fitch Ratings joined S&P Global Ratings in stripping the U.S. of its AAA credit rating, and Moody’s Investors Service warned it may do the same.But while everyone is focused on the spending side of the equation, perhaps the way out of this debt quagmire is on the economic side.Related ArticlesOpinion | Jamelle Bouie: When it comes to disdain for democracy, Trump has company Opinion | ...