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Politician gets house arrest in Dominican corruption case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A judge in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday ordered an ex-presidential candidate held under house arrest and two former high-ranking officials jailed while awaiting trial in a record $347 million embezzlement case linked to illegal campaign financing.Gonzalo Castillo, a former public works minister who won 37% of the vote when he ran in the 2020 general elections and lost to current President Luis Abinader, was held under house arrest on $365,000 bond. Donald Guerrero, former treasury minister, and José Ramón Peralta, former administrative minister to the presidency, were ordered held without bail for 18 months.The judge also banned former comptroller general, Daniel Omar Caamaño, from leaving the country, and placed former director of the State Sugar Council, Luis Miguel Piccirilo, under house arrest.It wasn’t immediately clear if their attorneys would appeal the decision. A total of 20 suspects have been arrested in the case. Officials of ...

Hail, wind, rain: Thunderstorms blow into Chicago area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

CHICAGO — A potential for a severe weather threat is expected for the Chicago area Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Winnebago, McHenry, Boone Lake, Kane, McHenry and Cook until 2:30 p.m.Strong winds, hail and rain are expected with these storms. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here A powerhouse northbound warm front is going to sweep into the Chicago area Tuesday evening introducing warm and humid air. Temps will be surging into the low 70s across our southern suburbs Tuesday while holding in the 40s as east winds blow into areas along Lake Michigan Tuesday from Chicago north. By and during tonight (Tuesday night), the warm humid air is to win out--taking control of the weather scene here. At times it's not raining, we'll actually be able to throw open the windows and bask in the warm air.It's the warm, humid air mass which threatens active and possible severe thunderstorms.Latest warnings and watches from ...

35-year-old woman shot to death in South Side residence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

CHICAGO — A woman was found shot to death inside a South Side residence Tuesday morning.Just after 9:50 a.m., police responded to a residence in the 5500 block of South Lowe.Police found a 35-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her chin. She was pronounced dead at the scene and it's being investigated as a homicide.No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Is it safe to live in a house where meth was cooked?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

DENVER, Colorado (KDVR) — A condominium that recently hit the market in Denver's Capitol Hill area is turning some heads with its property overview. The 567-square-foot condo, located at 985 N. Corona Street in Denver, is listed at $252,000. It has one bedroom, one bathroom and plenty of potential, according to the listing — in addition to some issues."Due to methamphetamine contamination, it has been tagged by the City & County of Denver. There is an ORDER TO VACATE/ACCESS RESTRICTED/NO TRESSPASSING NOTICE placed on the front door by Denver Public Health & Environment," the condo's listing, which appears on sites such as Zillow and Redfin, states. Forecasters warn of more severe storms and tornadoes in South and Midwest Should "methamphetamine contamination" be a dealbreaker for potential buyers?How are former meth labs cleaned?According to 2019 research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, people who move into former meth la...

Drag queen Heklina found dead in London

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

(KRON) -- Longtime San Francisco drag performer Heklina has died in London, according to fellow drag queen and friend Peaches Christ. Both performers were in London together starring in "Mommie Queerest," a self-described "wild drag parody" of the 1981 film "Mommie Dearest.""This morning, in London, England I went to collect my dear friend Heklina, who is costarring with me in a Mommie Queerest show here, and found her dead," wrote Peaches Christ, a.k.a Joshua Grannell, on Facebook. "I do not know her cause of death yet. I know this is shocking news and I am beyond stunned."A social media post from the London theater where the show was playing confirmed the death of Heklina, whose legal name was Stefan Grygelko. CDC warns amid salmonella outbreak affecting multiple states "Heklina is not just my best friend, but a beloved icon of our community," Grannell continued. "I am a mess."Heklina was 54 years old, Variety reports.Tributes began to pour in as news of Heklina's death spread. ...

Ban on transgender youth treatments passes Texas Senate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Senate approved legislation Tuesday banning treatment options for transgender young people, and it will ultimately apply to those already receiving that kind of health care in the state after a reversal among Republican lawmakers. Senate Bill 14, spearheaded by Republican State Sen. Donna Campbell of New Braunfels, passed by a vote of 19-12 along party lines. The legislation now moves to the Texas House of Representatives for debate, where it has to clear before the governor can potentially sign the bill into law. Activists: Transgender Day of Visibility still vital as legislative threats loom The legislation includes a number of provisions affecting the state's doctors and the transgender minors they might treat. It prohibits anyone under 18 from receiving puberty-blocking medication, hormone therapy or surgeries for "the purpose of transitioning a child's biological sex." Doctors could also lose their medical license in Texas if they provide these opti...

Texas French Bread fire leads to new official AFD protocol related to water

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 4, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department has formalized a new system to alert the proper agency if their work fighting a fire will impact local waterways in any way — a change prompted by a fire at Texas French Bread Company last year.In general, an eight-month study found "firefighting activities present a relatively low risk of harm to aquatic life or other significantly adverse water quality impacts." And, AFD is already in the habit of letting the Austin Watershed Department know if any hazardous material has been released or any spills have happened that could affect water quality. The AWD "protects lives, property and the environment of our community by reducing the impact of flood, erosion and water pollution," according to its website. After devastating fire, Texas French Bread reopens as a food truck However, this collaboration was prompted by a March 2022 City Council resolution, whi...

New nonprofit created to preserve, enhance Zilker Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new community board has been created to help preserve and elevate Zilker Metropolitan Park in Austin.Zilker 351 is a new nonprofit organization set to oversee the 351-acre park, according to an announcement made by a 10-member community board of directors Monday.Zilker 351 will concentrate its efforts on "supporting current park operations through advocacy, fundraising, streamlining communications among the Zilker groups, and volunteer coordination," per the release. “Andrew Zilker said that Zilker Park ’ought to belong to all the people of Austin,’” said Karen Blizzard, interim executive director of Zilker 351, in the release. “Zilker 351 envisions a park that welcomes all visitors to experience its natural beauty, vibrant programs and recreational opportunities, for years to come. We are thrilled to formally come together as Zilker 351 and be advocates of our city’s crown jewel.”The 10-member board includes:Jesús Aguirre, CEO of Waterloo GreenwayHeidi Anderson, ...

Donald Trump in New York City courtroom for arraignment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

By MICHAEL R. SISAK, ERIC TUCKER, JENNIFER PELTZ and WILL WEISSERT (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump surrendered to authorities Tuesday at a Manhattan courthouse ahead of his arraignment on criminal charges stemming from a hush money payment to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign.Trump himself described the experience as “SURREAL” as he traveled from Trump Tower to a lower Manhattan courtroom, where he was to face a judge as the first former president in American history to be criminally prosecuted.A stone-faced Trump entered the courtroom shortly before 2:30 p.m. without saying anything.The arraignment, though expected to be brief and procedural in nature, amounts to a remarkable reckoning for Trump after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings. The case is unfolding against the backdrop not only of his third campaign for the White House but also against other investigations in Washington and Atlanta that might yet ...

Wild no longer control their own destiny. What do they need to win Central Division?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:18:10 GMT

The ship has most likely sailed on the Wild winning the Western Conference.Though it’s not impossible for the Wild to mount a comeback — not yet at least — a couple of losses to the Golden Knights have dropped them five points back with five games to go.Now the Wild (44-23-10, 98 points) need to shift their focus to simply winning the Central Division. They dropped to second place behind the Dallas Stars (42-21-14, 98 points) via the tiebreaker on Monday night and the Colorado Avalanche 45-24-6, 96 points) are right behind with two games in hand.The good news for the Wild is as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Tankathon, they have an easier strength of schedule than both the Stars and the Avalanche down the stretch.Here a look at games left for each team:Wild (five games): Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville PredatorsStars (five games): Philadelphia Flyers, Vegas Golden Knights, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues (twice)Avalanch...