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22 attorneys general oppose 3M settlement over water systems contamination with ‘forever chemicals’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Twenty-two attorneys general urged a federal court Wednesday to reject a proposed $10.3 billion settlement over contamination of U.S. public drinking water systems with potentially dangerous chemicals, saying it lets manufacturer 3M Co. off too easily.The deal announced in June doesn’t give individual water suppliers enough time to determine how much money they would get and whether it would cover their costs of removing the compounds known collectively as PFAS, said the officials with 19 states, Washington, D.C., and two territories. In some cases the agreement could shift liability from the company to providers, they said.“While I appreciate the effort that went into it, the proposed settlement in its current form does not adequately account for the pernicious damage that 3M has done in so many of our communities,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leader of the multistate coalition.3M spokesman Sean Lynch said the agreement “will ...

Sesame is being newly added to some foods. The FDA says it doesn’t violate a allergy law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

Food manufacturers who deliberately add sesame to products and include the ingredient on labels are not violating a new federal food allergy law, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a food safety advocacy group, had petitioned the FDA to halt an unintended consequence of the January law — more companies adding sesame to foods that didn’t have it before. But the agency denied the advocacy group’s request.More than 1.6 million people in the U.S. are allergic to sesame, food allergy experts say. Food allergies can lead to serious, even deadly reactions.Sesame can be found in obvious places, like sesame seeds on hamburger buns, but it is also a major ingredient in everything from protein bars to ice cream and is added to sauces and spice mixes. Restaurant chains like Olive Garden, Chick-Fil-A and Wendy’s — as well as bread makers whose products are in grocery stores and schools — are adding sesame to their products. P...

One in hospital after Oak Park building explosion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

OAK PARK, Ill. — One person is in the hospital after a building exploded in Oak Park early Wednesday evening.According to Oak Park village officials, the Oak Park Fire and Police Departments were called to the 200 block of South Maple Avenue on reports of a fire with collapsed wall sections.Officials said one was person was taken from the scene to Loyola university Medical Center, where their condition is unknown at this time.First responders are asking locals to avoid the area as emergency crews work to process the scene. ‘Muddy’ the blue police dog statue stolen, CPD says No other information is available at this time.Stay with WGN News as this story will be updated as more information becomes available.

I-65 reopened in NW Indiana after Hazmat situation involving tanker crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — I-65 near Merrillville has reopened to traffic both directions after a crash involving a tanker led to a hazmat situation Wednesday afternoon.According to Indiana State Police, traffic was originally diverted at U.S. 30 (exit 253) and S.R. 2 (exit 240) as emergency crews work to disconnected the cab from the trailer of the tanker and safely remove both from the area. It is unclear at this time what materials were being transported by the tanker, necessitating a hazmat situation.

Amid Chicago migrant crisis, councilmembers growing impatient

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago City Council members on Wednesday voiced their frustration at an emotional hearing on migrants, as a patchwork of city, state, and private agencies still grapple with the challenge of housing and feeding the newcomers. Many of the migrants were bussed to Chicago by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.With families sleeping in police stations due to temporary housing shortages and a host of other problems, the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights delivered their report to city leaders. Migrants attacked in two separate robbery attempts near City shelters “We’re currently at 14 shelters across the city," said Matthew Doughtie, with Chicago’s Emergency Management Services, under the Office of Emergency Management. "On the 24th, we opened up our latest shelter, a former Super 8 motel at 7300 N. Sheridan."The most recent move comes as temporary shelters continue to phase out. "It’s occurring right around the time we are required to vacate Wright College and the gym at Dal...

Alicia Navarro, Arizona girl missing since 2019, has been found safe in Montana

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – An Arizona girl who went missing in 2019 has been found safe, Glendale police announced Wednesday.Navarro was found in a small town in Montana near the Canadian border, according to Jose Santiago, the media manager at the Glendale Police Dept. Santiago declined to release the name of the town during a news conference Wednesday, citing Navarro's privacy, but added that it is located about 40 miles from the US-Canada border."She is by all accounts safe. She is by all accounts healthy," Santiago said. "We are happy, and at the same time, we are hopeful we will be able to supply this family with a little more closure."The missing teen went to a local police station and identified herself, police said, but it's not yet clear how she wound up in Montana. How a Netflix true crime show helped find a missing teenager Navarro, who is on the autism spectrum, was 14 when she left home in September 2019, leaving a note for her mother that read "I ran away. I will be back, I swear. ...

WNBA player charged for allegedly strangling, hitting wife: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas Aces player Riquna Williams has been charged after police say she hit, kicked, and strangled her wife in a domestic violence incident that lasted an hour, according to police documents. Williams, a member of last year's championship team, is facing five felony charges, including counts of domestic battery, domestic battery by strangulation, assault with the use of a deadly weapon, and coercion of domestic violence with force or threat to force, court records show.According to an arrest report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to Williams' home on Tuesday around noon after her wife called 911. Williams and her wife have been together for four years and were married in September. Family charged in alleged multi-million dollar ‘Seinfeld’-like recycling scheme Speaking with police, Williams' wife said the veteran WNBA player had been standoffish and would not spend any time with her for the past couple of days. The vi...

Alpha Phi Alpha moves 2025 convention out of Florida over 'racist' policies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

The Black men’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has announced it will move its 2025 general convention from Orlando in light of “racist” policies. The fraternity announced the news Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, citing “Governor DeSantis’ harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black Community,” as the reason behind the decision.  Willis L. Lonzer III, the fraternity’s general president, told The Hill that last week’s controversy surrounding new education standards in the state became the tipping point in the fraternity’s decision.“Governor DeSantis has continuously advocated for laws and policies that negatively impact Black people and other marginalized communities,” Lonzer said.“We start first with the laws rejecting the teaching race and the cultural diversity of our nation. We can even talk about the bill that he supported, banning [diversity, equity and inclusion] initiatives in colleges and universities. But the fina...

'The walk home never feels safe': UT students talk West Campus safety

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Students from The University of Texas will come back to campus for the fall semester in the next few weeks, but it comes as students are raising concerns about safety in West Campus."On campus specifically I have never run into any issues," said UT student, Paulina Pearson. "But definitely in West Campus is where I see people yelling at me."Pearson says she has had a few run-ins in West Campus that have left her concerned."Some guy followed my roommate into our apartment the other day and he was screaming at her and followed her in," said Pearson.People using drugs and begging for money on the Drag is a common sight for students.KXAN viewers have also reached out about a homeless encampment near the University of Texas CO-OP. Drug paraphernalia and human feces were spotted by KXAN crews when we stopped by.KXAN reached out to the City to see if anything is being done to help people experiencing homelessness in West Campus. ‘There are used needles, used condoms’: Wes...

ATCEMS: Two people found unresponsive in east Austin park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Officials responded to a park in east Austin Wednesday for reports of two people that were unresponsive.Austin-Travis County EMS said a call came in at 4:25 p.m. to Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach off Robert T. Martinez.ATCEMS said medics attempted to resuscitate one person but they were unsuccessful. That person was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:14 p.m.The second person was taken to the hospital in serious, potentially life-threatening condition.