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South Carolina Senate again rejects near-total abortion ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina senators rejected a bill that would have banned nearly all abortions in a conservative state that has increasingly served patients across a region where Republican officials have otherwise curtailed access.A 22-21 vote Thursday marks the third time a near-total abortion ban has failed in the Republican-led chamber since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last summer. Six Republicans helped block motions to end debate and defeated any chance the bill passes this year.The chamber’s five women filibustered the proposal in speeches highlighting the Senate’s male majority that they criticized for pushing debates on abortion over other pressing issues.Republican Sen. Penry Gustafson spent over 30 minutes Wednesday detailing the bodily changes throughout every stage of pregnancy. Gustafson said she spoke so long because the millions of women addressed in the bill had not been heard. She emphasized her “pro-life” position but said the proposal l...

Motive may never be known in Canada killings of 11, cops say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

MELFORT, Saskatchewan (AP) — Police in Canada said Thursday they may never know why a man went on a stabbing rampage that left 11 people dead and 17 injured last year.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police released details at a news conference on the Sept. 4 killings in James Smith Cree Nation and the nearby Saskatchewan village of Weldon, but they did not pin down the motive.Myles Sanderson, the 32-year-old accused in the attacks, died in police custody a few days later.Supt. Joshua Graham, the officer in charge of major crimes, said Myles Sanderson and his brother Damien Sanderson went to the James Smith Cree Nation to deal drugs on Sept. 1.The day before the massacre, Damien Sanderson told people at a nearby bar they had a “mission to do” and that “people would hear all about it in the next few hours.” Damien Sanderson, however, was one of the first people killed the morning of the rampage.Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, said since...

Nebraska 6-week abortion ban fails to advance in Legislature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An effort to advance a bill that would ban abortion around the sixth week of pregnancy fell one vote short of breaking a filibuster in the Nebraska Legislature on Thursday.This means the bill is unlikely to move forward this year.It was the second straight year that an effort to restrict abortion access in the state failed. Nebraska currently bans abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, a law that has been in place since 2010.The bill would have banned abortion once cardiac activity can be detected. On Thursday, a vote to end debate so the bill could advance to a final round of debate failed 32-15. The motion needed 33 votes. It failed to get that crucial vote when Republican Sen. Merv Riepe abstained. Riepe is a cosigner of the bill, but expressed concern that a six-week ban might not give women enough time to even know they were pregnant. She introduced an amendment Thursday that would have extended the proposed ban to 12 weeks and add to the bill’s ...

Suspect in fatal Hawaii cockfight shooting pleads not guilty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — A man accused of firing into a large crowd at a Hawaii cockfight in a shooting that killed two people pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges Thursday. At a brief arraignment for Jacob Borge, 23, his attorney, Mark Kawata, entered the pleas on behalf of his client, who appeared via video from a jail where he’s being held without bail.Borge was indicted on 11 felony charges including murder and attempted murder stemming from the April 15 shooting that wounded three other people at the illegal cockfight in a rural and remote neighborhood outside Honolulu. The medical examiner’s office identified those killed as Gary Rabellizsa, 34, and Cathy Rabellizsa, 59.Borge and a 16-year-old boy turned themselves in to Honolulu police after they were identified as suspects. Police have said petitions were filed against the juvenile for the same charges as Borge.Borge’s supporters who attended the arraignment declined to comment after the hearing. He is sch...

Jurors in 'ComEd Four' bribery trial face daunting challenge, legal experts say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

CHICAGO -- The second day of jury deliberations in the "ComEd Four" bribery trial took place Thursday.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 guilty to multiple charges, including bribery conspiracy.On Thursday, jurors had several more questions for Judge Harry Leinenweber, including a pair of requests for hard copies of trial transcripts and transcript binders. As the jury grapples with a complicated nine count indictment, the defendants potentially are looking at serious jailtime. Cow located in Niles after ‘senior prank’; students cited Potentional jail time and fines for the "ComEd Four," includes a guilty conspiracy verdict on Count 1 could lead to a maximum  $250,000 fine or 5 years imprisonment or both, according to the US Attorney’s office.Also, a bri...

1 dead in 4-car crash on Jane Adams Tollway in Schaumburg

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — One person is dead in a crash involving several cars Thursday afternoon on the Jane Adams Tollway in Schaumburg, according to Illinois State Police.The crash happened in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 near Meacham Road. Cow located in Niles after ‘senior prank’; students cited Four vehicles were involved, state police said. One driver died and the three other drivers were taken to a hospital with unknown injuries.As of 4:45 p.m., traffic is still moving on the shoulder while investigators are on the scene.The identities of those involved haven't been released.

Most common jobs 150 years ago in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact the global economy, the current job market is a hot topic in the news cycle. But while the pandemic itself is, historically, something of an economic aberration, the U.S. economy that we know today has a long and storied history of expansions, recessions, and evolution.At the time of the American Revolution, most of the job market in the U.S. revolved around agriculture or food acquisition in some way. Many individuals and communities farmed for subsistence, not even growing enough to have an excess to sell for profits. As the fledgling country grew, so did its economy, springing forth during the Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s and early 1800s, and inexorably shifting the nation's economic focus from agrarian efforts to those of manufacturing, trade, and other forms of business. Inventions like the steam engine and cotton gin accelerated production, feeding a booming job market that was met with immigrants eager to find work.By...

Indiana woman accused of posting another woman's nude pictures on Facebook

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

SPICELAND, Ind. (WXIN) — An Indiana woman reportedly told police she posted nude images of a known acquaintance to Facebook in order to "get back" at her for a perceived betrayal. The 26 year-old now faces one count of distribution of an intimate image, a misdemeanor. According to court documents, the woman, of Spiceland, Indiana, found the nude photographs and videos of the victim on her boyfriend's phone and ended up posting them on Facebook, in addition to sending them to the victim's close friends. Indiana student was told to eat his own vomit with a spoon as staffers watched, police say In the Facebook post, the woman shamed the victim and accused her of having sex with her boyfriend and his best friend. The victim told police this accusation was a lie. The victim explained to police that the intimate images had been made for her boyfriend who, in turn, shared them with the Spiceland woman's boyfriend. The victim had not given the woman permission to publicly post her intimat...

Skilling: Cloudy weekend ahead for Chicagoland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

Chicagoans were treated to the warmest temps Thursday of the past 6 day—with a 66 at O'Hare marking at 14 degrees increase over Wednesday's 52. Easterly lake breezes off the 46-deg lake waters held shoreline and beach temps to the 50s.Downstate clouds and showers are northbound—but to a rendezvous with a portion of the Chicago area by morning and into the early or mid afternoon hours Friday. Modeling suggests Chicago proper has the highest chance for some showers in the 6 p.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. Friday time frame.More important is the spin-up of a significant and slow moving upper air low pressure which will be home to a pool of chilly, unstable air aloft beginning this weekend and carrying over into the opening days of next week. Such weather systems associate themselves with clouds and instability showers—and this one will be no different.While rains won't be continuous, the prospect for showers roaming the area is to be elevated Saturday through Tuesday—and the presence of sun-blocki...

Dansby Swanson gets a 1st with the Cubs in win vs Padres

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:06 GMT

CHICAGO - He's been able to pull off a lot so far in his first month as a member of the Cubs, but a major first happened for Dansby Swanson on Thursday. The shortstop, who has shown more power over his last two seasons, hit his first home run as a member of the team against the Padres at Wrigley Field. It was the final big moment for the Cubs in a pleasant afternoon in which they defeated San Diego 5-2 to take the series 2-1. Swanson's long ball came in the seventh inning of his 23rd game of the season and was one of three the hosts hit on the afternoon. Eric Hosmer and Nelson Velazquez went back-to-back with solo shots in the second inning as the Cubs have now put at least one pitch into the seats in their last eight games.This is another highlight for the shortstop in what's been a consistent start to his Cubs' career after signing a 7-year, $177 million contract. Before Thursday, he was hitting .274 with three doubles and five RBI, adding to that by going 2-for-4 with the homer a...