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Democratic U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer from Oregon says he won’t run for reelection next year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s Democratic U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer announced Monday that he won’t be running for reelection next year.Blumenauer has represented Oregon’s solidly Democratic 3rd Congressional District since 1996. The district includes north Portland and much of its southeast.The 75-year-old has served in public office for roughly five decades, starting with his first term in the Oregon House in 1973. He also served as a commissioner in Multnomah County, home to Portland, and on the Portland City Council.In a news release from his office, he said it was a difficult decision not to seek reelection but that he was proud of Congress’ accomplishments during his tenure.“From my first minutes on Capitol Hill I have worked to promote a more civil and functioning Congress,” he said in the release. “I firmly believe that when we focus on things that bring people together rather than divide them, that is when we make real progress.”“But simpl...

Senate Democrats plan to subpoena Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo over Supreme Court justices’ travel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats said Monday they plan to subpoena Republican megadonor Harlan Crow and conservative activist Leonard Leo for more information about their roles in organizing and paying for luxury travel for Supreme Court justices.The announcement by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee comes as the court is being pressed to adopt an ethics code, a move that has been publicly endorsed by three of the nine justices.The committee could act as soon as next week to authorize Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the panel’s chairman, to issue subpoenas to Crow, Leo and another wealthy donor, Robin Arkley II. Crow has been identified as a benefactor of Justice Clarence Thomas for more than two decades, paying for nearly annual vacations, purchasing from Thomas and others the Georgia home in which the justice’s mother still lives and helping pay for the private schooling for a relative. Leo, a Federalist Society executive who worked with former President Donald Tr...

Raptors shooting woes continue in loss to Trail Blazers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

The Toronto Raptors failed to capitalize from beyond the arc as their shooting struggles continued in a 99-91 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.It was the Raptors third-straight defeat. Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam each had a team-high 20 points, but Toronto’s bench struggled immensely, including guard Gary Trent Jr., who went 1-for-7 on the night. Rookie Gradey Dick missed all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, while OG Anunoby, Dennis Schröder, Siakam and Barnes combined to shoot 4-for-22 from three.“We couldn’t get buckets. That was the theme of the night,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said.The Raptors entered the contest having shot 38.8 per cent from three-point range through their first three games of the NBA season. The Raptors finished 13.8 per cent from three on Monday night, compared to Portland players shooting 31.4 per cent. The Blazers also out-rebounded the Raptors 51 to 47. Jakob Poeltl had a double-double with...

Police: Man arrested after throwing pipe bombs at San Francisco police car during pursuit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A man has been arrested for allegedly knocking a parishioner unconscious inside a San Francisco Catholic church and throwing pipe bombs at a patrol car during a car chase, authorities said Monday.The 42-year-old Concord man was arrested Sunday by California Highway Patrol officers in Martinez, east of San Francisco, following a 30-minute pursuit, San Francisco Assistant Police Chief David Lazar said.The suspect was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, unlawful possession of an explosive device and other crimes.Police were called after the man punched a parishioner in the head during mass at the Saints Peter and Paul Church in the city’s North Beach neighborhood, temporarily knocking him out, Lazar said.Peter Marlow, spokesperson for the San Francisco Archdiocese, told KTVU-TV, that the man assaulted the parishioner Sunday evening after being reprimanded for failing to eat the consecrated host at Communion.The man pulled a knife as he left the church an...

Lawsuit seeks to block dispensary from opening in old Rainforest Café

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

CHICAGO — There’s a battle brewing over the future of a well-known River North property.Under one proposal, a company called Bio-Pharm LLC would open a marijuana dispensary in the 20,000-square-foot building at 605 North Clark Street.The property has been vacant since 2020, when the Rainforest Café closed amid the pandemic.The restaurant chain, known for its giant tree frog on the property, had been open 23 years.Bio-Pharm is a social equity applicant, meaning it’s led by a minority ownership group. It was awarded a conditional license by the state last year, but its plan to open the dispensary has stalled, in part, amid opposition from some neighbors and pending legal action.The most recent lawsuit, filed today in Cook County Circuit Court, was brought by the owners of Green Rose, a rival dispensary, also led by a minority ownership group. Recent Investigates: Expenditures tied to former Chicago detective now more than $80 million Green Rose is one of four dispensaries currently ...

Local nonprofit, CPD to open temporary emergency assistance center after 15 injured in North Lawndale shooting

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

CHICAGO — Gunfire erupted at a Halloween party in North Lawndale early Sunday morning leaving 15 people injured.Police say the person who allegedly fired the shots into the crowd was taken into custody shortly after and charges are pending. In the meantime, police have teamed up with a North Lawndale nonprofit to bring a critical resource to the community to help those impacted by the tragedy.According to police, two people, a 48-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were both critically injured in the shooting and 13 others, ages 26 to 53, were reportedly in good condition when taken to the hospital. Evanston teen taken hostage by Hamas returns home Mike Trout, the Executive Director of the Young Men's Educational Network, spent his day getting the word out about CPD's plan to open an emergency assistance center in his building following the shooting.“It’s disconcerting when you wake up in the morning and you hear that 15 people have been shot in your neighborhood and then to real...

CPD: 14-year-old diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar missing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing teen who has been missing since Friday, Oct. 13.Mallarie Walker was last seen near Gladys Avenue and Springfield Avenue in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood on Friday, Oct. 13. Evanston teen taken hostage by Hamas returns home Walker is described as 5-foot-3, weighing 140 pounds, with black braids and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black jeans.Walker reportedly has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.Anyone with information regarding Mallarie Walker's whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-746-8251.

Illinois teen taken hostage by Hamas returns home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. (WGN) — An Illinois teen who was taken hostage by Hamas during its raid on Israel earlier this month has returned home. Natalie Raanan, who was taken hostage during the Oct. 7 raid on Israel by Hamas, was released on Oct. 20, for humanitarian reasons after an agreement between the Palestinian militant group and the Qatari government. Mother, daughter from Evanston who were held hostage by Hamas have been released Yinam Cohen, the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest, said Natalie returned home Monday to Evanston, a suburb of Chicago.In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 18, after Natalie's recent high school graduation. (Raanan Family via AP)Evanston mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas seen with authorities following release.“I am relieved to see Natalie back home in Chicago. Her family members have been anxiously waiting for her return, and today I am sharin...

Almanac for October 31, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

'The Voice' season 24 battle rounds ramp up

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:42 GMT

(WCMH) — NBC's “The Voice” returns Monday with an all-new episode featuring more contestants going head-to-head in the Battle rounds.The show has released a new clip featuring Team Legend's Elizabeth Evans of Arlington, Texas paired against teammate Kaylee Shimizu from Ewabeach, Hawaii. After singing a duet of Olivia Rodrigo's “Traitor,” both received praise from the coaches. Ohio’s Jackson Snelling’s return on ‘The Voice’ “Elizabeth and Kaylee, that was fantastic, unbelievable vocal range and power,” said Reba McEntire. “Elizabeth, when you opened your mouth and hit that big note, I was just in awe. And Kaylee your range is incredible. Y'all just really did complement each other, love the harmonies.”Niall Horan told the pair their performance was the best version of the song he had heard. He complimented Kaylee's control over her “runs” and the range of her voice. Horan told Elizabeth that her “identity as an artist” was rare in the competition and gave her an advantage over othe...