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Defense budget speeds toward $1 trillion, with China in mind

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon intends to load up on advanced missiles, space defense and modern jets in its largest defense request in decades in order to meet the threat it perceives from China. The spending path would put military’s annual budget over the $1 trillion threshold in just a matter of years, its chief financial officer said Monday. The administration is asking Congress for $842 billion for the Pentagon in the 2024 budget year. It’s the largest request since the peak of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in the mid-2000s, when the weight of hundreds of thousands of troops deployed in those overseas conflicts ballooned overseas war spending.Now, the budget could surge again. That’s in part to meet the higher cost of weapons and parts, but also to answer the vulnerabilities that the Ukraine war has exposed in the U.S. defense industrial base, and the strategic threat the U.S. sees from China’s rapidly growing nuclear arsenal, its hypersonic capabilities and its ga...

National Council of Canadian Muslims calls for action after TTC attack

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is calling for Toronto police to investigate an alleged hate-motivated crime on the TTC.At approximately 5 p.m. on Mar. 9, a woman wearing a hijab was allegedly threatened by a man with a large knife on a train moving between Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station and Finch West Station. The NCCM said that the woman ran across several subway cars until a bystander pulled the emergency alarm on the train.“I was just trying to get to Spadina station to meet with some friends. I never thought something like this could happen on public transit in front of all these people. The moment I saw him take out his knife, I ran and ran until I was out of breath and a stranger helped me. I’ve never been so afraid in my life,” said the victim in a statement.“I hope the police find this man and take him into custody and get him some help so he doesn’t do this to any other Muslim woman again.”Several questions about Muslims and Islam were aske...

Flood problems grow as new storm heads toward California

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A levee break on a storm-swollen river in California’s central coast doubled in size Monday, complicating repair efforts and spilling floodwaters into farmland and agricultural communities — even as yet another atmospheric river took aim at the swamped state. The Pajaro River’s levee rupture has grown to 300 feet (90 meters) since it failed late Friday, officials said. More than 8,500 people were evacuated.Built in the late 1940s to provide flood protection, the levee has been a known risk for decades with several breaches in the 1990s. Emergency repairs to a section of the berm were undertaken in January. A $400 million rebuild is set to begin in 2025.The river separates Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of San Francisco.Monterey County officials also warned that the Salinas River could cause significant flooding of roadways and agricultural land, cutting off the Monterey Peninsula from the rest of the cou...

Taste of Chicago to be held in September in Grant Park

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

CHICAGO — The Taste of Chicago will take place in September, the City announced Monday.The food festival will remain in Grant Park, but will take place the weekend of September 8 – 10.Concerns were raised last week as the traditional time period for the Taste of Chicago is early July. This year, Grant Park is set to be the site of NASCAR’s Street Race weekend. The race will take up a portion of Grant Park for nearly six weeks due to set up, the event itself and tear down.  Previous Coverage: Taste of Chicago’s future uncertain as NASCAR takes over Grant Park Grant Park is also booked from May 18 through August 13 with other events, including Suenos Music Festival and Lollapalooza. To accommodate, officials have reschedule the Taste for September and have also added “Taste of Chicago pop-ups” in three neighborhoods this summer; Humboldt Park (June 24), Pullman Park (July 15), and Marquette Park (August 5).

WATCH LIVE | Gov. Pritzker signs bill mandating paid leave for Illinois workers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to sign a bill Monday which will mandate paid leave for nearly all Illinois workers.It's called the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. It's a bill that was passed by the Illinois General Assembly earlier this year and is now making its way to the governor's desk.It will require employers in the state to give their employees time off based on the hours they've worked, and unlike before, they can be used for any reason. Most employees will get a minimum of 40 hours, or what's equivalent to five days, of paid leave per year and employers will have the option to offer more if they'd like.The time will be available for use on the worker's 90th day of employment. While the time can be used for any reason, an employer can still require prior notice before taking the time off.Up to 40 hours of unused paid leave can be carried over annually, but employers are not required to pay out the balance if a person leaves th...

Illinois law would ban vaping in public places

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Il. (WTVO) — Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban the use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices indoors.The measure would also ban vaping within 15 feet of entrances.Sen. Julie Morrison (D) proposed adding e-cigarettes to the list of tobacco products already banned under the Smoke Free Illinois law. Can I buy weed off the street in Illinois? Dr. Tabitha Wells, the Board Chair of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, warned lawmakers that vaping fumes contain formaldehyde and other toxins that can be harmful to users and those around them, the County Herald reported.New York, California, and New Jersey already ban vaping devices from indoor use.Supporters of the bill say that vaping should be treated just like smoking. Opponents argue that vaping is a healthier alternative to tobacco smoking.

Can I buy weed off the street in Illinois?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Recreational marijuana has been legal in Illinois for three years, and it has been an economical boon, soaring past $1.5 billion in 2022.There were 113 licensed cannabis dispensaries in Illinois in January, with an additional 189 in the process of being approved.However, many residents might be wondering if dispensaries are the only places where they can legally buy weed. Can I bring weed purchased in Illinois to other states? The short answer is yes, according to Illinois Cannabis Information. People 21 and older in the state can legally purchase the drug, but only from state-approved marijuana dispensaries.The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is in charge of licensing dispensaries in the state, but county and municipal governments have final say on whether the sale of marijuana is permitted in their jurisdiction.While people 21 and older can legally purchase marijuana in the state, there are certain instances where it is not re...

Illinois mother files wrongful death lawsuit against Lyft, others

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) – The mother of a Lyft driver who was shot and killed in Urbana has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.Marla Rice’s son, 29-year-old Kristian Philpotts, was working as a Lyft driver to save money for veterinary school. On Jan. 12, 2022, Philpotts was shot and killed during a robbery while he was driving three teenagers in Urbana, Ill.Rice has now filed suit against Lyft, the accused shooter and the suspect's mother. The suit claims all three negligently and/or intentionally caused her son's death. Chicago man files class action suit against Buffalo Wild Wings, says boneless wings are just nuggets An attorney for Rice says the suspect requested a ride using his mother's account. Police said the suspect and two other teenagers planned to rob Philpotts and a gun was fired during their attempt, hitting Philpotts.The car crashed and Philpotts later died.Tyjohn Williams was charged with first-degree murder on Jan. 14, 2022.The investigation is still ongoing.

Chicago Fire FC signs lease for West Side practice facility

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

CHICAGO - A major project for Chicago's Major League Soccer team took a big step toward reality on Monday.Chicago Fire FC along with the Chicago Housing Authority announced the signing of a ground lease for a new training facility in the Roosevelt Square neighborhood. Formerly the ABLA homes for CHA, the 23.3-acre site borders Roosevelt Road, Ashland Avenue, 14th Street and Loomis Street. Previous Coverage: Chicago Fire FC training facility continues to draw concerns from community This comes after the Chicago City Council approved the proposal for the property back in September, reversing a previous decision. Per the Fire, construction is expected to begin later this spring.Today, @ChicagoFire FC and the Chicago Housing Authority announced the signing of a ground lease for a new training facility in the Roosevelt Square neighborhood. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/PRIJgEvJZ9— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) March 13, 2023The club plans to use the land to build a 53,000 square-foot, ...

Texas state park to reopen temporarily ahead of impending sale, permanent closure

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A popular Texas state park will temporarily reopen to visitors this week ahead of its impending sale and permanent closure later this summer.Fairfield Lake State Park, about 70 miles east of Waco, was closed to the public at the end of February, after almost 50 years in operation.The land is not owned by the state. The current property owner, Vistra Energy, is in contract to sell the land to a Dallas-based developer, Todd Interests. That developer plans to turn the site into an exclusive gated community with multi-million dollar homes and a private golf course, according to the Dallas Morning News.The Parks and Wildlife Department was given a 120-day termination of lease notice on Feb. 13, meaning the state would have to vacate the property by June 13. Lawmakers last week urged the TPWD to consider reopening the park in the meantime. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Lawmakers ask for state park to temporarily reopen "I trust you guys know how much time you actually need to put t...