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Debt ceiling impasse: McCarthy presses Biden to negotiate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Tuesday he’s increasingly concerned about President Joe Biden’s unwillingness to negotiate on lifting the nation’s borrowing authority, saying in a letter to the president that the White House position could “hold dire ramifications for the entire nation.”Rather than open direct talks on the debt ceiling, which the Democrats agree must be raised, Biden and his party’s lawmakers are challenging Republicans to publicly present their own budget proposals — something McCarthy has so far declined to do.For now, the Treasury Department has resorted to “extraordinary measures” to avoid default on the nation’s $31.4 trillion borrowing authority. But those measures will run out — and put the U.S. at risk of being unable to pay all of its bills — possibly as early as June.The White House has emphasized that Biden is not willing to entertain proposed cuts in programs simply in exchange for lifting the ...

Brazil hits 700,000 virus deaths, 2nd highest in the world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s government on Tuesday reported the 700,000th death from COVID-19 in the South American nation, which has the second most victims of the virus after the United States.Brazilian health experts say most people dying of COVID-19 in recent days are either unvaccinated or suffer from other debilitating diseases. “The vaccine currently available in every health care unit in Brazil could have changed the lives of families who lost beloved ones in the pandemic,” said the country’s Health MinistryHealth Minister Nisia Trindade criticized former President Jair Bolsonaro for his handling of the pandemic. Bolsonaro, who became ill with COVID, later declined to take the coronavirus vaccine and flouted health restrictions.“We have to look at the past, but at the same time we have to say the health ministry cannot make the mistake of not coordinating, not taking care, not treating (the disease). We need to be united so new tragedies do not happen,” Trinda...

NCIS, rescue canines join search in Waukegan for missing Navy sailor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The Naval Criminal Investigative Service on Monday continued their search in Waukegan for missing Navy sailor Seamus Gray, with rescue canines focusing on an area near Government Pier. Despite divers from the Waukegan and Gurnee fire departments searching the area, the whereabouts of Gray were not discovered. The news is the latest development in the disappearance of the 21-year-old, who has not been seen or heard from since March 18. As the search continues, the military service member's mother, Kerry Gray, has since returned to Florida after traveling to Illinois. In a March 26 Facebook post, Gray said it appears her son was in a tragic accident. While she described the days since her son has gone missing as "grueling, nauseating, heartbreaking and quite honestly soul-crushing," in an earlier Facebook post, she thanked the Waukegan first responders for their efforts. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Police in Waukegan searching for missing 21-year-old Navy sailor"I'm holding on...

Illinois considers letting non-citizens become police officers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

There's a push to crack down on banking executives responsible for the collapse of their financial institutions.Iowa could ban the state's public universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. And Illinois lawmakers consider a proposal to let people who aren't United States citizens become police officers.We'll talk about that this morning with Scott County Democratic Party Chair Kay Pence and former Iowa State Rep. David Millage, a Republican.We start in Illinois with House Bill 37-51. This proposal would allow people who aren't U. S. citizens to become police officers in the state. They do have to be in the country with legal authorization to work.Applicants have to meet all other requirements for the job, just not citizenship. That would make DACA recipients eligible.We know police departments across the country are having problems recruiting officers."I think it's a good idea," Pence said. "They've been having trouble finding and retaining police o...

Man stops traffic to help teacher, children escape Nashville school shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — There are many unsung heroes from Monday's school shooting that left seven dead (six victims and the shooter), including teachers that ushered kids to safety. Some headed through the wood line seeking shelter at the fire department, while others crossed Hillsboro Road, gathering at an apartment until given the clear.Jason Hoffman was driving down Hillsboro Road when he heard gunfire."I think I heard at least maybe 10-15 shots," Hoffman explained. Covenant School Shooting: Victims in shooting were not targeted by shooter, police say He says he hunkered down, seeking cover in his car as he tried to leave the area before a woman, who appeared to be a teacher, jumped out of the wood line, waving him down with dozens of children."When I saw the kids coming out of the woods, it just really hit me," he said.Without hesitation, Hoffman began stopping traffic on the busy four-lane road.  Bodycam video shows moments police killed active shooter at Nashville ...

Florida board bans 'This Book Is Gay' from middle school libraries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The school board of Hillsborough County, Florida, held a special meeting on Tuesday and voted to ban a book from all public middle schools in the area. The book, titled "This Book Is Gay", explores a number of topics, including stereotypes and "coming out." Advocates and the book's author say it was written to help young people who are beginning to explore their sexuality.Controversy over the book began last year when a parent filed a complaint because the book was available in the Pierce Middle School library in Tampa. A committee at the school reviewed the book and decided it should stay. Their decision was appealed, and then a district committee reviewed the book, and also voted that it could remain on library shelves. That decision was appealed, leading to Tuesday's special school board meeting. Italian mayor invites Florida parents to see David sculpture after uproar More than 60 people showed up to the meeting to discuss both sides of the i...

Hawaiian hula teacher latest to appear on US quarter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) — A commemorative quarter honoring the late, legendary Hawaiian hula teacher rolled out on Monday.Edith Kanakaʻole is one of five American women to be minted on new quarters this year as part of the American Women Quarters Program.Kanakaʻole was selected to be honored for her efforts in preserving Native Hawaiian knowledge, serving the Hawaiian community, and applying a new lens to academic science. These are the hardest to find state quarters: Where does yours fall? “She was a renowned practitioner of, and an authority on, modern Hawaiian culture and language," said Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson. “Edith Kanakaʻole believed that the oli, or Hawaiian chants, formed the basis of Hawaiian values and history."U.S. Mint said that Kanakaʻole was a clear role model for all Americans.The portrait of Kanakaʻole was designed by U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program Designer Emily Damstra and sculpted by U.S. Mint Medallic Artist Renata Gordon. Boy Scout...

Video shows guards walking away during fire that killed 40

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) — After migrants in northern Mexico placed mattresses against the bars of their detention cell and set them on fire, guards quickly walked away and made no apparent attempt to release the men before smoke filled the room and killed at least 40, surveillance video showed Tuesday.Hours after the fire broke out late Monday, rows of bodies were laid out under shimmery silver sheets outside the immigration detention facility in Ciudad Juarez, which is across the U.S. border from El Paso, Texas, and a major crossing point for migrants.Twenty-nine people were injured and were in “delicate-serious” condition, according to the National Immigration Institute.At the time of the blaze, 68 men from Central and South America were being held at the facility, the agency said.In the video, two people dressed as guards rush into the camera frame, and at least one migrant appears by the metal gate on the other side. But the guards did not appear to make any effort to open th...

Austin ISD discusses school safety improvements

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Safety changes came quick to school districts across Texas following the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde."Checking every exterior door, interior door as well as documenting all the times it has occurred, really trying to promote a culture of safety and security," said Austin ISD interim superintendent Matias Segura.Austin ISD is one of the largest districts in the state and announced upgrades to door locks, cameras and safety policies and procedures shortly after the Uvalde shooting."We adjusted our operational procedures so that whenever there is a deficiency identified, whether it is a door that may not be locking, or a camera that is not working, it becomes a priority and is addressed in a very short period of time," Segura said. Austin ISD updates school safety protocols for next year Safety and security committee meetings moved to monthly to address any issues quickly. Before the change was made the meetings were held once a quarter.The district will also l...

Jonathan Bernstein: Wisconsin judicial election is bad for democracy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:49:54 GMT

If you want a good summary of all that’s wrong with U.S. politics right now, you could do worse than “The most important U.S. election this year is the runoff for a seat on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court.”The April 4 run-off vote for a swing seat on the court would typically attract little notice. But Wisconsin, a fiercely divided state, is expected to be a battleground in the 2024 presidential contest, giving the seven justices enormous influence should the White House face a court challenge.The State Supreme Court also could wind up ruling on abortion rights and other hot-button topics that could reverberate nationally.That such a small election has taken on such import is fascinating for political observers. Yet it’s an election that shouldn’t be occurring in the first place. Judicial elections are a terrible idea — bad for voters who don’t have the specialized knowledge to evaluate the candidates and bad for the courts because it unde...