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Justices cancel order cutting 16 years off murder sentence

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Justices on South Carolina’s highest court on Wednesday erased an order that cut 16 years off a convicted murderer’s sentence, a deal the inmate won by reporting another prisoner’s escape that had gone undetected for two days.The 3-2 ruling came less than two hours after the South Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments about Jeroid Price’s case. The justices wrote that they would explain their decision later and ordered law enforcement to immediately find Price and bring him back into state prison custody.During arguments Wednesday, the justices said they didn’t like that the deal was kept secret, including from the parents of the man Price killed. The high court also noted that no formal hearing was held before Price walked out of prison 19 years into his 35-year sentence for a 2002 killing at a Columbia club.The elected prosecutor signed off on the deal and he appears to be blamed for not following procedure.“We are here to right...

Skilling: Frost advisory overnight for Chicagoland

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

A Frost Advisory is out for the second night Wednesday going into Thursday morning. Clear skies and light winds provide the perfect backdrop for cooling. The only area which may be spared frost are areas near Lake Michigan in Cook County.This comes after a cool day with March level temps which rose no higher than the low 50s and a morning which saw April's 2nd cool low temp in the city of 31 at O'Hare and 34 at Midwest. Inland temps dipped as low as 24 degree in sections of McHenry County---and mid to upper 30s were common away from Lake Michigan and the immediate city.Temps rebound 12 degrees into the mid 60s Thursday for the first time since last Friday, though easterly lake breezes off the 46 degree waters of Lake Michigan will keep beaches and lakeside areas cool.A northeast bound Texas weather disturbance brings clouds back to the are Thursday night and Friday and threatens some rain later Thursday night into Friday morning—especially southern sections of the area.A cold, unset...

Cook County board to consider flavored nicotine ban

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

CHICAGO — An ordinance to ban the sale of flavored nicotine products in suburban Cook County will be introduced Thursday at the Cook County Board Meeting.County officials said it's an attempt to stop a young, new generation from getting hooked on nicotine. Is vaping making your kid a lifelong addict? Banning the sale of flavored nicotine products at retailers in unincorporated Cook County is something Commissioner Donna Miller wants to do. The ban would include products that contain menthol, fruit, candy dessert or alcohol flavors. Miller said it's all about stopping youth from starting. Juul Labs agrees to pay $462 million settlement to 6 states "A seventh-grader told me that when she is on social media they are constantly targeting her to try flavored nicotine," Miller said. "She thought that sounded like a bad idea."The full board will vote on the proposed ordinance on Thursday. Miller was joined by other county officials including Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck who is the chief operat...

Jurors begin deliberations in 'ComEd Four' bribery trial

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

CHICAGO -- The first day of deliberations took place Wednesday for jurors in the "ComEd Four" bribery trial.Jurors needed clarification from Judge Harry Leinenweber early Wednesday morning as they were seeking clarification on the statue of limitations and a confusing date listed in the criminal indictment. Jurors also asked for the precise definition of the word, "overt."Judge Leinenweber tried to provide guidance for the jurors as they wade through evidence in this grueling political corruption trial. Man stabbed to death during fight inside Irving Park apartment Legal observers believe the jurors in the "ComEd Four" trial are facing a daunting challenge of sorting through seven weeks of complicated testimony, evidence, and secret recordings. The "ComEd Four" on trial are former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty. All have pleaded not guil...

MedWatch Daily Digest: How excess weight impacts the brain – and more

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

For Wednesday, April 26, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Boston Children's Hospital neuroscientists found young people with an abnormally high body mass index display changes in cognitive performance, brain structure and brain circuitry compared to those with a normal BMI.Why a little exercise can go a long way to helping people reduce or halt substance use.Hair relaxers can lead to infertility according to researchers with the Boston University School of Public Health.

New bipartisan bill would support parental consent for kids to use social media

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - A group of Senators from both parties say their new bill protects kids from the harms of social media."Our bill is a common sense, bipartisan approach to help to stop this suffering," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said."Enough is enough. The data speaks for itself," Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said.The legislation would ban social media accounts for anyone under the age of 13 on social media platforms like Tiktok, Instagram, and Snapchat."Social media companies have had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing…they have failed to deliver," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said.Murphy says the bill also requires parental permission from users under the age of 18."This bill gives parents the ability to decide, with their children, when is the right time to step into this world," Murphy said.To enforce these requirements, the bill would create a new government-run age verification system."This is simply applying the age-old wisdom of mankind from the real world to the...

The most popular used cars in Illinois

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

After supply chain issues pushed used car prices up drastically in 2021 and 2022, they have finally begun to dip. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index—the most common measure for inflation—the price of used cars and trucks dropped a national average of 13.6% from February 2022 to February 2023.Stacker used data from iSeeCars.com to identify the five most popular used cars sold in Illinois in 2022. Cars are ranked by market share, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent; though some appear the same, the more precise percentages are not equal. The iSeeCars.com analysis included more than 9.8 million used car sales from the last five model years, from 2017 to 2021. Cities with the worst commute in Illinois #5. Ram 1500- Share of statewide used car sales: 2.0%#4. Jeep Grand Cherokee- Share of statewide used car sales: 2.1%#3. Chevrolet Silverado 1500- Share of statewide used car sales: 2.3%#2. Ford F-150- Share of statewide used car sales: 3.0%#1. Chevrol...

Man stabbed 71-year-old, then attempted to rob him at CTA Blue Line station, police say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man is accused of stabbing a 71-year-old man before a robbery attempt at the CTA Blue Line station in Jefferson Park, police said Wednesday. The stabbing and attempted robbery occurred on April 14 in the 4900 block of N. Milwaukee Ave.Easton KirkpatrickEaston Kirkpatrick, 32, is charged with attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery with the use of a deadly weapon. He is due in court on Thursday.

Texas lawmakers consider bills to end driver license holds based on unpaid fines

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texans who spent years unable to renew their driver's licenses over unpaid, and for some – unaffordable, traffic tickets pleaded with lawmakers Tuesday to repeal a state program dating back to 1996.The program called Failure to Pay and Appear allows judges to order a hold on a Texas driver renewing their license if they fail to appear in court or pay a misdemeanor traffic ticket.OmniBase Service of Texas is the only company contracted to operate the system for the Department of Public Safety Driver License Division and the hundreds of participating counties. Drivers are required to pay a fee to OmniBase in addition to the traffic ticket to renew their license.   ‘How can you wait 6 months?’ Texans report long waits to get a driver license Fernando Martinez, a construction worker, told lawmakers a traffic ticket he received when he was 19 years old – which he said he was unable to afford at the time, led to a 17-year-long cycle of fines and fees to get his lice...

'That's not fair housing': Latest issues related to housing discrimination claims in Austin

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:50:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Knowing your rights is critical, to make sure you're not being discriminated against in the housing market.The City of Austin's Civil Rights Division is bringing some fair housing issues to light."An increased and the number of folks [saying] 'Hey, I've been in this home renting as a renter for 15 years,' and all of a sudden, because of the housing market, people are charging, increased prices that are beyond their salaries," Interim Director with the City of Austin's Civil Rights Department, Dr. Tamela Saldana said. "That's not fair housing."Zenobia Joseph, an Army Veteran and Austin renter said she's facing eviction because her complex wants her to switch units. Joseph said she's lived in her current unit for 20 years. "It was just well, you can just move someplace else on the property," Joseph said. "You're then telling me my rent will go up $150 if I move!"According to Joseph, her fair housing case is going to court. She hoped to find direction and resources Wed...