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Biden’s envoy for Iran placed on leave while facing a review of his security clearance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration’s special envoy for Iran has stepped aside from his duties pending a review of his security clearance by U.S. authorities.Rob Malley has led administration efforts to revive the faltering Iran nuclear deal and resolve issues related to detained Americans in Iran, but has not been active in his job for weeks. There was no immediate indication of why Malley’s clearance was being reviewed, but a State Department official said the agency’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security was leading the inquiry. That official spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity due to privacy reasons.Malley did not immediately respond to a query about the situation from The Associated Press but said in a short statement to numerous news outlets that he had “been informed that my security clearance is under review.”“I have not been provided any further information, but I expect the investigation to be resolved favorably and soon. In the meantime, I am on leave,” he said...

CPD officer jumps into Lake Michigan, rescues drowning woman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer is being hailed a hero for going above and beyond the call of duty, jumping into Lake Michigan on Thursday to save a drowning woman. She says she has her mom to thank. It was around 5:30 a.m. that 18th District CPD officer Joanna Tys received a distress call for a woman in the water. "Once we approached, right away I was thinking, 'Is anybody going to be jumping in?'" Tys said. "We knew the marine unit was on their way."Although the rescue boat was en route, it was still several minutes away. "Four minutes is a long time. The lady, I believe, was out there for 15 to 20 minutes already, so I decided it was time for me to jump in," Tys said. "I looked at one of my coworkers. We signaled to each other."With her vest, duty belt and shoes off, Officer Tys jumped from the North Avenue Beach Pier into Lake Michigan to save the 26-year-old victim. "I used to take swimming lessons thanks to my mom and all the summer camps she signed me up for, so I was very...

Skilling: Cloud, hazy to continue into Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

A wide swath of the Midwest is outlooked by the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center for potential severe weather Thursday.A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was effect for LaSalle County Thursday afternoon. Additionally, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was also in effect for the most of the Chicago area Thursday evening. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 5PM for most of the #Chicago area. Widespread wind gusts up to 80 mph are expected, scattered hail up to tennis ball size & a couple of tornadoes are possible. Have multiple ways to receive warnings this afternoon. #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/3rINNq8qVV— Mike Janssen (@MikeJanssenWX) June 29, 2023A strong thunderstorm swept portions of Cook County just after 5 a.m.Another wave of showers and thunderstorms is to sweep into the area this afternoon with potentially more significant coverage than the storms which swept through portions of the Chicago metro area this morning. Interactive Radar: Track showers...

Man with ties to Jan. 6 riot arrested near Obamas' DC home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

(The Hill) – D.C. police and federal law enforcement arrested a man near former President Obama’s home in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, officials said.A spokesperson for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department said 37-year-old Taylor Taranto was arrested and charged as a Fugitive from Justice — defined as anyone who has fled from authorities to avoid prosecution for a crime or avoid giving testimony — pursuant to an arrest warrant, which was not specified.Multiple outlets are reporting that the warrant relates to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.MPD said Taranto was arrested in the 2400 block of Kalorama Road Northwest in D.C., but did not confirm ties to the insurrection. The Obamas own a home in the Kalorama neighborhood. Wet bulb temps reach 'extreme threat' level in South CBS News, which first covered the incident, reported that Taranto ran toward the Obama home, was spotted by Secret Service and then attempted to flee before he was arrested. NBC News reports that T...

A major UPS strike is looming — here's what that means for your packages

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

Tens of thousands of unionized workers for the United Parcel Service are on the verge of going on strike as negotiations between the company and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for better benefits and working conditions reach a critical point.Workers dialed up the pressure on the shipping giant this week, demanding the company present its “best and final offer” by Friday, June 30, or it would begin the largest single employer strike in decades.A Teamsters representative did not respond to a request for clarification on what a strike may consist of for workers and consumers and when it might commence.UPS has said it transports about six percent of the nation’s GDP on a daily basis, and more than three percent of the global GDP.More to the story: Teamsters strike with UPS could snarl commerce as labor flexes muscleThe UPS Teamsters contract expires July 31 and if a deal isn't made soon, a chunk of its workforce could have picket signs in hand later this summer.Just over a m...

Rapper Travis Scott won't face criminal charges in deadly Astroworld crowd surge: lawyer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas grand jury has declined to indict rapper Travis Scott in a criminal investigation into a massive crowd surge that killed 10 people at the 2021 Astroworld music festival in Houston, his attorney said Thursday.Lawyer Kent Schaffer confirmed that the grand jury had met and decided not to indict his client on any criminal charges stemming from the concert. Schaffer said he was not sure what charges the grand jury had considered.“He never encouraged people to do anything that resulted in other people being hurt,” Schaffer said, adding that the decision is “a great relief.”Houston police and federal officials have been investigating whether Scott, concert promoter Live Nation and others had sufficient safety measures in place. Kylie Jenner, Travis Scott changing son’s name because it ‘didn’t feel like it was him’ Schaffer said he feels sympathy for those who were killed at the festival and their families.FILE - Travis Scott performs at Day...

What will colleges do in wake of affirmative action ruling?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

The Supreme Court just shot down the use of race-based admissions in a move that will force many colleges to change the standards by which they admit students. The ruling came in response to cases against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), which both released statements that didn’t outline their next steps but emphasized their commitment to diversity on campus. The situation is bound to lead to other fights as many are already speculating colleges are going to try to find loopholes in the court’s ruling, with Democrats and supporters of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts forcefully denouncing the move.“The Court recognized the Constitution guarantees equal treatment for all races, and exceptions to that rule should be rare and fleeting. I do not expect universities to take this decision lightly — DEI has become one of the highest (if not the highest) priority at many schools — and I expect universities to look for looph...

'Doesn't represent our family's values': San Marcos couple sues over historical balcony tied to KKK

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) --- A couple in San Marcos is suing the city over a century old metal balcony on their home. On the balcony is the initial of a previous homeowner who had historical ties to the Ku Klux Klan. The letter "Z" is at the center of the lawsuit. Kristy Money and her husband Rolf Straubhaar are taking on the City of San Marcos and its Director of Planning and Development Services. "It doesn't represent our family's values," Money said. History of the "Z"The metal decor sits on top of a balcony on their home in the Burleson Historic District. According to the lawsuit, previous homeowner Frank Zimmerman installed it. Money said it wasn't until she did more research into Frank Zimmerman that she found out about his ties with the KKK. (Photo: KXAN) Money said it wasn't until she did more research into Frank Zimmerman that she found out about his ties with the KKK. (Photo: KXAN) Money said she and her husband didn't know about Zimmerman's Ku Klux Klan ties until after b...

A snail causes an Austin Woman's dog to become severely ill, racks up thousands in vet bills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Emily Holden said she brought her dog, Royce, to the veterinarian for a mass on his leg in May. While there, she mentioned to the vet that Royce drank an abnormal amount of water the night before.“They said, ‘Well, you know, let's run a panel, and we'll see if anything turns up,’” she recalled. Unfortunately, something did turn up.  “The blood test results came back, and they said that his calcium was extremely high,” Holden said. These results precipitated a slew of tests costing thousands of dollars while Royce’s health began deteriorating, Holden said. “He was lethargic, not eating, vomiting multiple times an hour,” she said. “He was not doing well.”Veterinarians believed that Royce’s symptoms were consistent with lymphoma, a type of cancer, though they couldn’t see it on the imaging. The only oncology appointments available were towards the end of the summer, but luckily, a spot opened up at the Heart of Texas in Round Rock. There, the ve...

Two Minnesotans, including SPPD employee, win gold medals at Special Olympics World Games

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:09:25 GMT

Two Minnesotans returned home this week with gold medals from the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.Matthew Krohn, of Inver Grove Heights, took the top honor in the 25 meter backstroke. Tiffany Carey, of Brooklyn Park, won the gold medal for all-around artistic gymnastics; silver for the uneven bars; and bronze medals for both the vault and floor.Matthew Krohn won a gold medal in the 25-meter backstroke during the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.(Courtesy of Curt Krohn)Krohn, a St. Paul police department employee who cleans the department’s headquarters, said Thursday he was a little nervous at first, when the competition began, and overall had “a blast” at the World Games.His mom and dad, Chris and Curt Krohn, joined Matthew in Germany. “We were just elated,” Curt Krohn said of seeing their 27-year-old son win a gold medal. “It was an unbelievable feeling.”Carey described her experience as “unforgettable.” Her parents, Mar...