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Dolton dysfunction: Bills go unpaid amid questionable expenses

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

DOLTON, Ill. — Dolton may be a small south suburb, with less than 21,000 residents, but WGN Investigates found its political leaders have big bills and expensive taste.In the first of our two-part series, we reported how some residents, village employees and business owners claim Mayor Tiffany Henyard retaliates against her political opponents. Now, we bring you the story of a spending spree that’s causing questions and concern.“We still have areas that need trees cut, streets paved, alleys paved [and] sidewalks fixed,” said Dolton Trustee Tammie Brown. “It’s a lot that’s going on.”And a lot that’s being spent – not on critical repairs – but on travel, meals and more. Part 1: Claims of political targeting spark drama in Dolton WGN Investigates obtained copies of credit card statements that show village officials spent more than $24,000 at restaurants during a recent 12-month span. Other questionable expenditures include the streaming service Hulu and hotel rooms in Elk Grove ...

Northwestern Medicine surgeons use breast implants to save man's life

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

Some of the most skilled surgeons in Chicago broke barriers in the pandemic and beyond to breathe new life into patients. But the latest patient created a new challenge, forcing doctors with Northwestern Medicine to perform a lung transplant using a breast implant. It was a first for Dr. Ankit Bharat, one of the most experienced thoracic surgeons in the United States. But why the double-D breast implants? “We were looking for the biggest thing that would fit in there, the chest cavity, and he has a big chest cavity, so hence the double-Ds,” Bharat said. That was the strategy – breast implants -- to help save the life of 34-year-old Davey Bauer. A smoker since the age of 21, Bauer traded cigarettes for vaping in 2014. “I thought it would be a safer alternative and in hindsight, it seems like I should have quit sooner,” Bauer said. Dr. Rade Tomic, a pulmonologist with Northwestern Medicine, spoke about the dangers of vaping. “Vaping is very bad ...

Hollywood actors' union reaches tentative deal with studios to end strike

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

(KTLA) — The union representing hundreds of film and television actors has agreed in principle to a deal with the motion picture studios, signaling the coming end of a four-month strike that brought the industry to a standstill.According to an email sent to members Wednesday evening, the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee approved a tentative deal with the major film studios.The three-year contract agreement must be approved by votes from the union’s board and its members in the coming days, but the leadership declared the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.The total value of the contract totals more than $1 billion, the negotiating committee says, with increased pay for members, increased residual payments related to streaming content and better health and pension benefits.The studios and Hollywood’s actors union also appear to have come to an agreement regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of media, a major sticking point throughout the duration of negot...

One seriously injured after semi-vehicle crash in northwest Austin

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Officials are responding to a semi-vehicle crash in northwest Austin, which left one person seriously injured, Austin-Travis County EMS said on social media Wednesday.Shortly before 8:40 p.m., medics said the crash happened in the 7300 block of McNeil Drive, which is near Highway 183.Medics said one vehicle went through a metal barrier to the surface street below.One person was found on Highway 183 and another found on McNeil Drive, medics said. One person was taken to St. David's Round Rock with "potentially serious injuries," according to officials. A second person refused transport.Medics said to expect major traffic delays and seek an alternate route.No other details from the crash were available Wednesday.

Timberwolves blow out shorthanded Pelicans in complete performance

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

The Timberwolves displayed a mark of a good team Wednesday at Target Center: They blew out a team they should blow out.Facing a Pelicans team down three starters and six rotational pieces in total, Minnesota dominated every facet of the game from start to winning, cruising to a 122-101 victory.Minnesota’s offense was rolling, as the Timberwolves hit five of their first six 3-point attempts and never looked back. Pick any player, and he surely shined offensively.Anthony Edwards tallied 26 points and eight assists. Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting. Rudy Gobert finished with 17 points — including 9-for-12 shooting from the free-throw line — and 20 rebounds. Mike Conley had 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting. Even Nickeil Alexander-Walker tallied eight assists off the bench.As a team, the Wolves shot 55 percent from the field and 41 percent from deep.Minnesota scored 72 points in the first half alone. It hasn’t been uncommon in recent years for the Wolves to ...

Real Estate Agent catches land selling scam

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (NEWS10) — The Vermont District Attorney’s office says identity theft is one of the top ten scams in the state. But Jenifer Hoffman, Owner of Hoffman Real Estate, had no idea that a potential client looking to sell land was a possible scammer who had stolen someone’s identity.“When I ultimately sent them all of the marketing information. And we went back and forth talking about the pricing strategy; he said that he agreed with everything I was proposing and that they were ready to proceed,” she said. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Even though none of the meetings were in person … she couldn’t help but feel that the deal was running too smoothly, especially when she asked for ID and then received passport photos. Hoffman looked deeper and found out that the real owners had moved out of the area 30 years ago, and while they still owned the land, they had not contacted her to sell it for them. The town was able to...

City sells stolen car in error; won’t share profits with victim

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

BALLWIN, Mo. – A double dose of bad news for a Ballwin woman, whose car was stolen, then recovered, and then mistakenly sold by the tow lot.Her car was stolen in St. Louis, where the city tow lot admitted its mistake. However, it won’t turn over profits on the sale.“It’s pretty sad that I’m a victim twice,” Rachel Addison said.Addison said her 2006 Pontiac G6 was stolen within a week of her buying it. She hadn’t yet secured insurance for the vehicle when a car thief struck in south St. Louis this past May. One month later, her car was recovered and taken to the city’s impound lot.“Every day I hoped I’d get it back, but I never got that phone call,” she said.Addison only learned it had been recovered when she took the initiative to keep calling, but the tow lot reported they’d sold it.A city hall spokesperson confirmed this to FOX 2: “The tow lot staff acknowledges this mistake and has taken corrective action with the employee.” Close Thanks for signing up! ...

SNAP scam: Mother reports EBT card hacked

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

GRANITE CITY, Ill. – Illinois state officials are warning of a new scam that could affect your family. It comes after a Granite City woman said she went to pay for her groceries with her government benefits, only to find out a thief had drained her account. And she's not alone.Leeann Abbott and her two children, Rylee, 6, and Ronnie, 2, rely on SNAP benefits. Abbott is a single-working mom. But when she tried to use her electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card Monday at a nearby grocery store, she was told she didn't have enough money in her account. Abbott receives $750 per month to spend on groceries for her young family.Abbott said the money was supposed to go into the account by midnight Monday. She said she immediately filed a fraud report with the Illinois Department of Human Services. They told her it would be 10 to 15 days before she'd be reimbursed and printed her a record of her EBT card transactions. Those transactions showed the card was used in California and drained with...

St. Louis hockey club mandates neck guards following pro’s death

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Hockey can be a dangerous sport.“We are basically skating on razor blades,” Mike Richards, the director of hockey at St. Louis Rockets Youth Hockey Club, said.With players moving at high speeds and crashing into one another, “It can happen just like that.”William Meyland-Smith plays for the club’s 8-and-under team.“You could like fall on the ice and crack a bone,” Meyland-Smith said.To keep himself protected, he wears all the usual gear, like elbow pads, a helmet, shin guards, and shoulder pads. Results: November 7 Missouri Special Election William and all the other 600 players in the club are now also wearing neck guards.“Player safety is always on our mind,” Ron Skinner, the Rockets executive director, said.According to Skinner, the Rockets are the first club team in the Missouri Hockey League to mandate neck guards. Neck guards are a relatively thick layer of material that is worn around the neck to prevent cuts and lacerations.“I think that down the road we are goi...

Nonprofit celebrates 30 years of home repair assistance for St. Louisans

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 12:36:51 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The nonprofit Rebuilding Together St. Louis is celebrating three decades of helping people in the community with home repairs."Where I had the leak, they redid the ceiling for me and they did the yard. I am truly grateful and blessed," Sandra Walls said.Walls said Rebuilding Together changed her life when they came out earlier in the year to fix her home with repairs, some of which she didn't even know she needed."They gave me a new roof; they put in LED lighting in the hallway and basement; and then they also gave me a new hot water tank," she said.Walls attended Wednesday evening’s event to celebrate 30 years of the organization that helps so many people across the area. Results: November 7 Missouri Special Election "Over the last 30 years, we've helped more than four thousand homeowners in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. We've done more than 70 community spaces where we work on community centers or schools or community gardens," Elaine Powers, Rebuilding Togeth...