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Kentucky governor says state-run disaster relief funds can serve as model for getting aid to victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

State-run disaster relief funds that funneled millions in charitable donations to tornado- and flood-stricken Kentucky can serve as models for quickly getting aid to storm victims, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday in response to an auditor’s review of the programs.The Democratic governor portrayed the findings as a vindication of how the relief funds were managed, showing that millions could be quickly and accurately doled out without lengthy application processes. Beshear set up the funds following tornadoes that ravaged parts of western Kentucky in late 2021 and massive flooding that inundated the state’s Appalachian region in 2022.The special examination of the funds by state Auditor Mike Harmon’s office was released this week. It determined that inappropriate payments from the tornado relief fund amounted to a tiny fraction of the total spent through June 30 of this year. Those inappropriate payments included duplicate payments, overpayments and payments to peop...

Guyana military helicopter crash kills 5 officers and leaves 2 survivors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana’s government said Thursday that five military officers aboard a helicopter that crashed near the border with Venezuela have died and two others survived.The military helicopter had vanished Wednesday about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of the Venezuelan border during bad weather while transporting officers carrying out a routine inspection of troops in the forested area. Searchers found the wreckage Thursday.“My heart pains and drowns in sorrow at the tragic (loss) of some of our finest men in uniform,” President Irfaan Ali said in a statement posted on social media, calling the loss “immeasurable.”Ali identified those who died as a retired brigadier general, a colonel and two lieutenant colonels. The two survivors include the co-pilot, and their conditions weren’t immediately known.Prime Minister Mark Phillips said authorities are still trying to determine what caused the helicopter to crash, with officials stressing during a news conference W...

Hundreds of Slovaks protest the new government’s plan to close prosecutors office for top crimes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Hundreds of people rallied Thursday in the Slovak capital to protest the new government’s plan to close the special prosecutors office that deals with major crimes, including high-profile murders, terrorism and graft. The demonstrators in Bratislava — a crowd of about 2,000 people — say the plan is a threat to the rule of law. The rally, which took place outside the government headquarters, was organized by the opposition Progressive Slovakia, Christian Democrats and Freedom and Solidarity parties.The organizers say the planned changes to the country’s penal code are designed to help people suspected of corruption who are close to the leftist Smer, or Direction, party of Prime Minister Robert Fico. The rally ended without any violence and the organizers promised more protests. The changes to legislative process will put the prosecution of major crimes back in the hands of regional prosecutors offices, which have not dealt with them for almost 20 years, is...

New AFN chief ‘absolutely’ supports Ontario chiefs in push for carbon price review

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

OTTAWA — The incoming leader of the Assembly of First Nations says she’ll back demands by chiefs in Ontario for a judicial review of Canada’s carbon price. Cindy Woodhouse, a former regional chief from Manitoba, was elected Thursday as the assembly’s national chief — leader of the largest First Nations advocacy organization in the country, representing more than 600 communities. The Chiefs of Ontario, which represents 133 First Nations, asked the Federal Court to undertake a judicial review of the federal government’s carbon pricing system.Shortly after taking the oath of office, Woodhouse told a news conference in Ottawa  that she’s “absolutely” willing to support the application, and wants the AFN to take a closer look of its own at the carbon regime. “From what I’m hearing, it’s going to hurt our people,” she said. “We should have a proper legal strategy on that, as well as a political lens on it.”The O...

What's next for the Mayor's migrant plan in Chicago? Lawmakers demand answers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

CHICAGO -- A Chicago alderman is demanding answers from the Mayor's office on what went wrong with the Brighton Park migrant camp.On Tuesday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said that Illinois will not proceed with the Bright Park migrant camp, citing concerns related to insufficient soil sampling and remediation.A nearly 800-page report released by the IEPA on Friday found elevated levels of mercury, lead, and arsenic. The city run migrant camp planned on housing around 2,000 migrants before the state said they would not fund the site. Faith, community leaders gather to discuss Chicago’s welcoming city ordinance “We still don’t know how much money was spent to even build up to what was at Brighton Park,” 40th ward Alderman Andre Vasquez said.Ald. Anthony Beale, Ald. Raymond Lopez, and Ald. Anthony Napolitano sent a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson's office on Wednesday demanding the resignations of the leaders responsible for the failed migrant camp site."Chicago taxpayers cannot afford...

Police: Suspect in Romeoville family's slaying had relationship with one of the victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — Officials in Romeoville on Thursday released new details in the killing of a family of four in September. Alberto Rolon, 38, Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, and their two sons, ages 7 and 9, were killed in their home on the 500 block of Concord Avenue during the weekend of Sept. 18. The family’s three dogs were also killed.Nathaniel Huey Jr., of Streamwood, was suspected in their deaths. According to police, Huey Jr. was located in Catoosa, Oklahoma a few days after the family was killed. He was driving a vehicle with Ermalinda Palomo when police found him. The vehicle attempted to elude police and it was involved in a fiery single-car crash. Two gunshots were heard at the scene by responding officers. Palomo was located with a gunshot wound and was transported in critical condition. She later died. Romeoville suspect dead after shooting in Oklahoma Huey Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene.On Thursday, officials with the Village of Romeov...

Journey and Def Leppard announce stadium tour, including stop at Wrigley Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

CHICAGO — Two of music's biggest rock acts are coming together to take over the 'The Friendly Confines' next summer.Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Journey and Def Leppard announced Thursday that their 'Summer Stadium Tour 2024' is coming to Wrigley Field on July 15. The Steve Miller Band will also join the classic rockers for the outdoor show. Carrie Underwood a headliner for this year’s Windy City Smokeout Presale starts Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. General admission tickets will go on sale Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. P!nk bringing ‘Summer Carnival 2024 Tour’ to Soldier Field The 23-city tour includes stops in other Midwest cities, including St. Louis, Detroit, Minneapolis and more.Click here for more information.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Advocates, lawmakers mark 11 years since Sandy Hook shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – It's been more than a decade since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary took the lives of 26 people."The amount of people who have lost a loved one due to gun violence just keeps getting bigger," Sam Schwartz, an advocate whose cousin was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, said.Thursday, advocates against gun violence and lawmakers joined together to mark the 11th anniversary coming up next week and recognize the work to prevent gun violence. "You are making a difference. You are making a difference, never doubt it," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-C.T.) said.Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-C.T.) praised the work of these advocates and families."And the cumulative impact of all of that is that the politics have fundamentally changed over the past ten years," Murphy said. This comes a day after the deadly shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Rep. Jim Himes (D-C.T.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-C.T.) say last year's Safer Communities Act was...

Doctors demand ceasefire in Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - A group called Doctors against Genocide joined Democrats demanding a ceasefire on Capitol Hill today.They say nearly 300 doctors have been killed by Israeli air strikes since the war began leaving civilians stuck in the crossfire with nowhere to turn for basic care.On Capitol Hill Thursday, doctors said many with relatives trapped inside Gaza demanded a cease fire."Our families are not just numbers, they are beloved aunts, they are cousins, they are physicians they are pharmacists, and they are children".They say Israel’s bombings have pushed Gaza’s health care system to the brink of collapse.Democratic Congresswomen Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib say Congress and the White House should not turn a blind eye to suffering."Let me be clear these are war crimes," said Bush. Meanwhile Tlaib stressed, "The dehumanization in violence is horrific."Israeli forces insist they are warning civilians of incoming strikes.But the United Nations says there are no safe places lef...

Plan to cap insulin prices gains traction in Senate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:03 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- There's a bipartisan effort in the Senate to cap insulin prices, and lawmakers pushing it believe it's gaining momentum. Georgia native Lacy McGee was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 17. Since then, she's relied on insulin to live. "12ish years with diabetes has been very marked by how difficult and expensive this disease is," McGee said. During times when she's had insurance, she's struggled to afford it. When she hasn't had insurance, she's been forced to scour Facebook pages, meet sellers in parking lots, or rely on friends with leftover insulin from dead relatives. "All I wanted was to manage my diabetes and it felt like no matter what I tried everything was another obstacle to try to get my medication," McGee said. Now McGee says she's on an insurance plan which gives her more reliable access to the drug. But she knows the lack of accessibility still effects millions of others. "It places people with chronic illness i...